The late Miss Jane Austen Because her books were originally published anonymously, Jane Austen was never famous in her lifetime, but she has enjoyed tremendous success ever since. Well, at least her novels have. Her work has been in print continuously since 1833. Countless film, television, and stage adaptations of her stories abound -- beginning with 1940's "Pride and Prejudice" (starring Laurence Olivier as the proud Mr. Darcy and Greer Garson as the iconic Austen heroine, Elizabeth Bennet), up through the recently aired BBC miniseries version of "Emma."  According to the IMDb, we even have "Jane Austen Handheld" to look forward to: a forthcoming film "re-telling the story of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' through the lens of a fly-on-the-wall documentary crew," starring Stephen Fry and British singer Lily Allen. Truth be told, Austen acolytes have traditionally tended toward bookish, fussy, Merchant Ivory-loving populations, but recently her work has experienced an unexpected resurgence in baser popular culture. Thanks to the immensely popular post-modern mash-ups from Quirk Classics, amusingly titled "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters," Jane is finding favor in ever-widening circles of hipster quasi-intelligentsia. Throw in a handful of zombies and teach the Bennet girls to perform the ninja-esque "pentagram of death," and kids who could barely get through the Cliffs Notes for "P&P" are suddenly devouring the tale like hungry "unmentionables" at a Meryton ball massacre. Next on the roster from Quirk is a "P&P&Z" prequel entitled "Dawn of the Dreadfuls," wherein eager readers will "watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead." Bring it on, Miss Bennet! Since entering the public domain, Austen's stories have been mined as fodder for all fashions of retelling -- from sequels and prequels to parodies to modernizations -- but the Quirk Classics editions have really broken through the popular culture barrier. Who knows what the future holds. Are we to be treated to "The Haunting of Northanger Abbey" next? How about "Emma: Story of a Female Axe Murderer"? Or perhaps "Charles Mansonfield Park"? Okay, that last one might be a stretch, but you can see the possibilities are nigh endless, which is simply due to the fact that the originals are so delightfully rich, brilliantly textured, and endlessly rewarding. To Miss Jane Austen, on this, the occasion of her 234th birthday, we wish a very joyous (and monster-free) day. Let's just hope she's not rolling over in her grave. Suggested Sites... The Republic of Pemberley - numerous discussion boards dedicated to Jane Austen, as well as information about her books and the movies they inspired. Austen.com - home of the Derbyshire Writers' Guild, one of the oldest and largest archives of Jane Austen fan fiction on the Internet. Jane Austen's World - blog which brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th century historical details. Quirk Classics - blends the work of classic literary masters with new scenes of horrific creatures and gruesome action. PBS Materpiece: Jane Austen - information on the many adaptations of Jane Austen's work created for "Masterpiece Classic" on PBS.

Directory categories: Jane Austen, Jane Austen Novels, Literary Fiction

Archived under: 19th Century, Authors, Birthdays, England, Fiction, Horror, Jane Austen, Literature, Mashups, Monsters and Creatures, Movies, Zombies

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Who knows what lurks down that corridor? (Photo by insertinanename) Last Friday was Friday the 13th, an occasion that made us wonder how superstitious our fellow Yahoos! are. We learned that some of them have natural phobias, but today, we explore the ways in which the media have done their part to nurture our fears. JoAnne: When I was a kid, my mom and sister saw "When a Stranger Calls." They told me all about it when they got home. Ever since then, I have had phone phobia. That silence you get when a telemarketer's autodial catches you before they realize they have a connection? Storms that knock phone service out? Anytime there's no dial tone. Freaks. Me. Out. I couldn't even watch "The Ring" because it starts with scary phone things. Jasmin: I can't watch horror movies at night. I just can't. A movie that's delightfully creepy during the day will scare the living daylights out of me if I watch it at night. It's not during the movie that's the issue; it's afterwards, when the normal sounds of our house (like the dishwasher running) go from being soothing to a "Did-you-hear-that?!" Helene: When I was a kid, each time I watched "Jaws," I would put my hamster cage on the floor next to my bed, because I thought that if a shark was swimming under the carpet, he would eat the hamster first, and spare my life after that snack. And while some fears aren't directly related to movies, we can only imagine that they somehow inspired some folks to be afraid: Heather: Whenever I wake up from a particularly bad nightmare, I always have to check in the closet, under the bed, and lock the door to my bedroom. I'm terrified that there might be a murderer in my room, even though I've probably got a better chance of the ceiling caving in from an earthquake than being attacked by a serial killer. Emily: Zombies freak me out. Even though I know they're not real (right? Right?!). I like being able to hear cars on the road from my bedroom, because that's how I know the zombie apocalypse hasn’t started yet. And then there are some fears that are just common-sense: Chris: Dick Cheney, swing dance classes, and Cher. Coming up tomorrow: Ways we ward off bad luck. Suggested Sites... Phobialist - what are you afraid of? Fear Net - horror movie news and clips -- but don't watch them in the dark. Zombies on the Web - one-stop shopping for zombie info and facts. How to Prepare to Swing Dance - the horror! The horror! Rotten.com: Dick Cheney - maybe not all fears are irrational...

Directory categories: Superstitions, Horror Movies, Telephones, Sharks, Zombies

Archived under: Crime, Horror, Horror Films, Movies, Phobias, Serial Killers, Superstition, Telephones, Zombies

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Original cover of Michael Jackson's Thriller (Editor's Note: In light of the events of last week, we were reminded of this Spark from 2007.) After more than 15 years as a child star with The Jackson 5 and five successful solo albums, Michael Jackson hit new levels of superstardom in 1982 with "Thriller." 27 years later, Michael's sixth solo album is still an all time record-breaker, with 104 million copies sold worldwide, 80 consecutive weeks in the Billboard Top 10 (including 37 at number one), and seven Grammys. Michael earned top ten hits with seven of the album's nine tracks, including the Paul McCartney duet, "The Girl is Mine," and "Billie Jean," in which he denied allegations of fathering the child of an obsessive fan. "Billie Jean" also introduced the public to Michael's signature "Moonwalk" dance, said to be inspired by mime Marcel Marceau. The "Thriller" single went a (dance) step further with a 14-minute video directed by John Landis and narrated by the spooky voice of Vincent Price. In this horror movie spoof, Jackson turns into a werewolf, threatens to kill his date, and leads a chorus line of dancing zombies covered with grape jelly blood. Many -- especially Filipino prisoners -- cite it as the best music video ever, and there's no denying that both the album and the single made musical HIStory. Suggested Sites... Michael Jackson.com - official site of the late King of Pop. Thriller Videos - the best and the worst of aspiring Michael Jacksons, including performances by those Filipino inmates and Bollywood dancers. A Photographic History of Michael Jackson's Face - the "Thriller" makeup was frightening, but Michael's scariest face was yet to come. Thrill the World - learn how to dance like a zombie, and help break the record for simultaneous worldwide "Thriller" performances at the same time!

Directory categories: Michael Jackson, Rock and Pop Music, The 1980s, Michael Jackson Memorials and Tributes, R&B and Soul Music

Archived under: 1980s, Awards, Dance, Entertainment, Horror Films, Michael Jackson, Music, Music History, Thriller, Videos, Zombies

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Zombie like flesh! (From Diary of the Dead) Today, George A. Romero bequeaths to us "Diary of the Dead," the fifth in his signature "Dead" series that began with the 1968 classic, "Night of the Living Dead." Before you lurch out to see this latest apocalyptic installment, you'd better brush up on your zombie knowledge, so the horror-nerd sitting behind you doesn't pour fake blood on your popcorn. First, Romero's "Dead" series should not be confused with John A. Russo's "Return of the Living Dead" movies, which mix playful brain-eating zombies with the teen sex and underage drinking that defined the frightfests of the 80s. For one thing, Russo's zombies were infected by 2-4-5 trioxin, while Romero's ghouls became zombies from exposure to radiation from an exploded space probe. Some handy zombie trivia to impress your fellow movie-goers: Both the horror-punk band The Misfits and the alt hip-hop band G. Love and Special Sauce released homages to Romero's flicks (in 1979 and 2001, respectively). More than anything, remember that Romero's films brought dignity and intellect to an often corny genre. Throughout the series, zombies serve as a metaphor for our often dull and meaningless modern existences. As Barbara realizes at the end of the 1990 remake, "They're us. We're them, and they're us." Suggested Sites... MySpace: Diary of the Dead - official page for George A. Romero's zombie apocalypse film. Includes trailers, behind the scenes videos, and a horror short film contest. Romero Talks Diary! - video interview with George A. Romero in which he discusses his latest, "Diary of the Dead." Homepage of the Dead - overview of all of the films from the series as well as articles, fan fiction, art, games, and forums. Internet Archive: Night of the Living Dead - watch the 1968 zombie masterpiece. Wikipedia: Living Dead - article about Romero's "Dead" series with sections on remakes, the Russo-inspired "Living Dead" series, and Romero vs. Russo zombies.

Directory categories: George A. Romero's "Dead" Series, "Return of the Living Dead" Series, Zombies, Zombie Theory

Archived under: Death, Directors, Entertainment, Horror Films, Monsters and Creatures, Movies, Mythology and Folklore, Zombies

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Original cover of Michael Jackson's Thriller After more than 15 years as a child star with The Jackson 5 and five successful solo albums, Michael Jackson hit new levels of superstardom in 1982 with "Thriller." Celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend, Michael's sixth solo album is still an all time record-breaker, with 104 million copies sold worldwide, 80 consecutive weeks in the Billboard Top 10 (including 37 at number one), and seven Grammys. Michael earned top ten hits with seven of the album's nine tracks, including the Paul McCartney duet, "The Girl is Mine," and "Billie Jean," in which he denied allegations of fathering the child of an obsessive fan. "Billie Jean" also introduced the public to Michael's signature "Moonwalk" dance, said to be inspired by mime Marcel Marceau. The "Thriller" single went a (dance) step further with a 14-minute video directed by John Landis and narrated by the spooky voice of Vincent Price. In this horror movie spoof, Jackson turns into a werewolf, threatens to kill his date, and leads a chorus line of dancing zombies covered with grape jelly blood. Many cite it as the best music video ever, and there's no denying that both the album and the single made musical HIStory. Suggested Sites... Michael Jackson - his official website. Thriller Videos - the best and the worst of aspiring Michael Jacksons, including performances by Filipino inmates and Bollywood dancers. A Photographic History of Michael Jackson's Face - the "Thriller" makeup was frightening, but Michael's scariest face was yet to come. Thrill the World - learn how to dance like a zombie, and help break the record for simultaneous worldwide "Thriller" performances at the same time!

Directory categories: Michael Jackson, Rock and Pop Music, The 1980s

Archived under: Awards, Dance, Horror Films, Michael Jackson, Music, Music History, The `80s, Thriller, Zombies

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