The Burl Becomes the Blossoming


Book Description

Poetry writing has proven proficient at helping me see what is there to be seen. I will see or hear or reflect on something which then provides an image, a nuance that emerges in a word, a line. The single line and image, written, provides a cadence, a focus of sound and echo that invites a second line, and more. Usually, they come quickly and run until they tell me they are done and the poem is complete. This book draws upon such poems over a pair of sweeps of my history plus a sampling of more current poems that strike me as desirable in this collection. These pieces of my past often recollect for me the occasion but also leave that occasion obscured and allow the poem to do its work of creating an image and a flow in my own mind. The poems, in my experience, write their meaning on my mind. And, I hope, on yours as well. For then the poems do their work.




An Eighth Collection of Reflective Prayers


Book Description

These Reflective Prayers are the result of permitting a gentle reading of the lectionary texts for a given service to resonate in me and emerge as a searching engagement of the word with my spirit in a mood of settled joy. The ninety samples are the most recent, in order, at the time of publication.




A Ninth Collection Of Reflective Prayers


Book Description

These Reflective Prayers are the result of permitting a gentle reading of the lectionary texts for a given service to resonate in me and emerge as a searching engagement of the word with my spirit in a mood of settled joy. The ninety samples given are the most recent, in order, at the time of publication.




Psalms and Selected Canticles


Book Description

The Book of Psalms in the Bible attracts a great deal of devotional attention from many people, including this author. This attention turned in the Spring of 1993 toward a project of translating the Psalter from the original Hebrew. This was as a spiritual as well as scholarly task for me. The end product, with a few other Hebrew poems added to the collection, came complete in the Spring of 1994. In the late summer of 2022, I took to revisiting my work, revising and correcting it as I found it necessary, and brought to this format in the late Autumn of the same year. I had sought to provide a translation in the immediacy of the present tense, as free as I could manage of the generic masculine, and as lively as I could manage to formulate. I wanted to convey the energy of spirit and of devotion that I felt in the text as I had engaged it. As I brought my revisitation to a conclusion, I felt I had achieved what I had hoped and wished to share it all with what readers I may accumulate, hopefully you.




Miscellaneous Short Bible Studies


Book Description

These are bible studies of a limited scale, developed and led by the author with two of the congregations he served. The first congregation was in Mantua OH in the late 1970s, from which the first three bible studies arose: Ruth, Lamentations, and The Infancy Narratives. The second congregation was in New Martinsville WV from 1998 through 2003, these being done is a slightly different style: Psalms of Ascent, Selected Psalms, The Speech of Stephan, Encountering God, Matthew 5 and Matthew 6 & 7. I sought to bring a serious, somewhat scholarly approach to the study of the bible among those congregation members who chose to attend. This revisiting of those studies prove once again their value to me. I hope they prove to be so for you as well.




Murder in the Family


Book Description

In 1987, Kirby Anthoney, a 23-year-old drifter, sexually assaulted and murdered his aunt and young cousins in Anchorage, Alaska. Now, Burl Barer tells the true story of the crime police called one of the most grisly and disturbing in the history of the Alaskan homicide. of photos.




SF UNIVERSE - The Ultimate Collection


Book Description

SF UNIVERSE - The Ultimate Collection stands as a monumental anthology, embracing a vast array of themes such as exploration, the human condition, and the endless possibilities of science and technology. It unites a remarkable spectrum of literary styles, from the pioneering works of Mary Shelley and H.G. Wells to the modern musings of Philip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegut. Within its pages, readers will find a rich tapestry of speculative thought, ranging from the utopian visions of Edward Bellamy to the dystopian warnings of Ayn Rand, showcasing the evolution of the genre and its profound impact on contemporary literature. Notably, the collection doesnt shy away from the obscure or the avant-garde, offering pieces that have defined and expanded the boundaries of the science fiction genre. The authors represented in this anthology come from diverse backgrounds, each contributing their unique voice to the grand choir of speculative fiction. From the scientific romances of Jules Verne to the cosmic adventures of E. E. 'Doc' Smith, the collection spans over two centuries of literary history, embodying key cultural and literary movements such as Romanticism, Modernism, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction. These authors, many of whom were pioneers in their own right, have collectively influenced generations and helped to shape the trajectory of science fiction as a serious literary endeavor, making it a reflective mirror of humanity's greatest hopes, fears, and philosophical inquiries. SF UNIVERSE - The Ultimate Collection is an indispensable treasure trove for enthusiasts and scholars alike, presenting a unique opportunity to explore the myriad worlds of science fiction. Readers are invited to embark on a journey through time and space, to engage with the works of giants upon whose shoulders the genre stands. This anthology does not merely offer stories; it provides a panoramic vista of humanity's greatest imaginative achievements, encouraging a deeper understanding of our sociopolitical landscapes and the human psyche. Whether a long-standing aficionado or a curious newcomer to the genre, this collection promises to enlighten, entertain, and inspire, making it an essential addition to any literary library.




The Ultimate SF Collection: 150 Classics


Book Description

The Ultimate SF Collection: 150 Classics is an unparalleled compilation that traverses the broad spectrum of science fiction, showcasing the rich diversity and profound depth of this genre. From the proto-science fiction elements of Mary Shelley's groundbreaking work to the complex social commentaries of H.G. Wells, and the pioneering space operas of E.E. Smith, this anthology celebrates the multifaceted nature of science fiction. It navigates through various literary styles, from adventure-laden narratives and speculative technological wonders to dystopian visions and philosophical explorations, offering readers a comprehensive journey through the evolution of the genre. Standout pieces include timeless classics that have become cornerstones of science fiction, reflective of the era's technological aspirations and societal fears. The contributing authors and editors, a constellation of literary luminaries, bring together an extraordinary range of perspectives, each infusing the collection with unique insights grounded in their distinct historical and cultural contexts. Authors like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells are credited with the genesis of speculative fiction, while pioneers like Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe introduced elements that would define the genre. This anthology not only highlights seminal works that contributed to the development of science fiction but also aligns with various literary movements, from Romanticism to Modernism, enriching the readers' understanding of its thematic diversity. The Ultimate SF Collection: 150 Classics offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the expansive universe of science fiction. It is an essential read for aficionados and newcomers alike, providing a broad compilation that celebrates the genre's ability to question the known and imagine the unknown. This anthology encourages readers to explore the depths of human imagination, the ethical dilemmas of science and technology, and the endless possibilities of alternative realities. It is an invitation to traverse time, space, and dimension through a literary lens, fostering a deeper appreciation of the genre's contribution to culture and society.




5Ive Aitch


Book Description

5ive Aitch, In the meeting of Manikin Ann, is about a quest to help save these thirteen princesses who in their life time had gotten taken advantage of right at the moment when their lives were truly crumbling apart by this unknown stranger who was a true sweet talker and who told them he could set everything right back in their lives that was only if they took up his offer and would be able to keep a promise which they would have to fulfill and keep or if not their souls he would take just as their troubles would never rest a days sleep. While by this poor boy named Podgy who moved to a new town named FallenForHer, it wasnt too long after until he quickly fell in love with this gorgeous girl named 5ive, the older sister of Doodlebug the first friend he made and who was willing to help him win her sisters heart by getting her the one thing that surely would the Book of Hearts . . . the book which held all of the secrets and was the key factor in how to help save each one of the thirteen princesses, while by the love Podgy had and with Doodlebugs help it quickly put 5ive in the spotlight.




Night-blooming Cereus


Book Description

But I see that this intimacy, this talking about my own interior, puts you off. The fact that I've abandoned my cigars for a dark burl pipe and carry the tobacco in a square of white crumpled paper, as he did, instead of a pouch. That I peruse used book shops for old French paperbacks whose unread pages must be slit apart. François Raspail's Annuare de la Sant, for example, lies at this very moment on my bedside table. I feel you're a good enough friend that I can tell you that I've started--very two weeks or so--to visit a prostitute. And I don't shun disease. One must learn to suffer without complaint and abide pain without reluctance. It is thus--from pain--that pearls are born, a product of the oyster's sickness. It was Van Gogh who taught me all this, my friend, and another lesson too: one pays for even the smallest success. Each of the stories in Night-Blooming Cereus is set in a different place and time, yet they all deal with the same underlying theme: how the imagination, in its infinite variety, seeks to transcend external events. A small Jewish boy's life during the Nazi era grows rich with the sounds and sights of the Arabian Desert when he finds an aged copy of Travels in Arabia Deserta in an Amsterdam cellar. An effete and scholarly collector begins to imitate Van Gogh, the painter he worships. An old woman's life is shaped by remembrance as she lies in her hospital bed and recounts a voyage through the Greek Islands during World War II. A reporter remembers his part in a college rape as he interviews a Serbian general being held for war crimes in a Dutch prison. A housekeeper embroiders her deepest yearnings into the laundry of the residents of a rooming house. K. A. Longstreet's stories are appealing and varied. This collection is unusual in many ways, not the least of which is its breadth. Each story exhibits a dexterous use of detail, often historically based, in providing a landscape for the characters' experiences and musings.