Halloween Special: My Two Stories of High Strangeness
Halloween Special: My Two Stories of High Strangeness
Halloween Movie Recommendations, Very Short Fiction, and Independent Book Promotions
Join Intelligence Officer Brendan Sean Murphy as he voyages into space in a struggle for peace and his own sanity. My first novel Fallen is available for $0.99 on Kindle, free on Kindle Unlimited, and $19.95 on paperback!
Fallen will be coming off Kindle Unlimited on October 26. This will allow the book to be sold on other platforms!
True Tales That Formed an Open Mind
Objectivity, logic, and the scientific method have been themes stressed in my life. My family members who taught me these things had training in the fields of law, engineering, agriculture, and business. While I took a different path that placed me in the social sciences and multiple deployments, my softer skills complimented the rigorous methods that my family instilled in me.
Sometimes, when discussing the possibility of alien life or even a minority of UFO/UAP reports, friends are surprised that I tell them, "While I do not know for sure, I am open to the possibility." They usually respond with, "But Patrick, you always demand sourcing and evidence for things. How can you possibly think these extraordinary stories are true?"
Let me share with you stories that happened to my family and me.
The Light Outside the Farmhouse
My grandparents were two salt-of-the-earth people living on a farm eight miles from the closest small town. Grandpa was a strong Presbyterian, grandma was a strong Missouri Synod Lutheran, and both were tough people. Once, grandpa ran out in the middle of the night with his shotgun to confront suspected thieves lurking in the dark. He was not a man easily intimidated.
When I was young, I wondered why grandpa would look at the night sky and sometimes ask me if there were "people up there in the stars." I never understood why a farmer would be interested in such things. Then I found out why.
One night during the 1970s, my grandfather and grandmother were sleeping in different bedrooms on separate floors. Sometime late, a bright light shone into grandpa's bedroom. Then, the light began to shift as if it were attached to some object circling the farmhouse. For over a minute, it completed an orbit around the home all the while pouring a blinding spotlight through various windows. Grandpa was terrified and stayed in bed. Then, the light turned off, and all was silent.
The next morning, grandpa started his day too scared to talk about it. Only when grandma mentioned how she saw the light and how it frightened her did he discuss how he saw it, too.
Something odd visited the farm. Whether it was aliens, some preternatural force, or bored Air Force pilots with some new toy, my grandpa and grandma never forgot that terrifying night. Their stories taught me to be open-minded when people report bizarre occurrences.
The Sensation and the Sound
There was another event when I was younger than ten. It was a cloudy but nice weather day, and I was playing in the backyard of my small hometown. I was minding my own business about 10 yards (about 9 meters) away from our "Eagles Nest" wooden structure (think of treehouse but on silts instead nestled in a tree. Suddenly, I had the urgent need to hide. Whether it was a voice that told me to hide or an internal drive, I cannot say.
Dashing as fast as my little legs could pump me, I ran to the Eagles Nest and scurried up the ladder. Once in, I ducked and covered myself on the wooden boards underneath the plastic canvas tarp.
That's when it happened. A deafening airplane engine-like roar accompanied a blasting downdraft. I dared not move or peak my head. Though I remember the tarp adding to the ruckus as its flapping threatened to tear it free for its fastening.
Just as soon as it started, it stopped.
The fear in me was also gone, though a feeling of discomfort remained. I got up, climbed down the ladder, and went inside my house. I didn't say a thing until hours later when I asked my mother if she had heard anything. She remarked that she heard something loud and thought it odd, but after mentioning it, she seemed not too interested in thinking about it more. For some reason, I kept what happened to me to myself. It seemed wrong at the time to do so, but I couldn’t get past that mental barrier.
I still don't understand what happened that day. Was something protecting me from a grave danger, or was it something a little kid couldn't comprehend? A large object above my small town shouldn’t have gone unnoticed, yet no one had an incident like mine. At various times, I have wondered about that day, and while I almost certainly will never figure out what happened, it does give me an appreciation for how deep the unknown parts of the cosmos can be.
Very Short Fiction
VSS365 Word: Flame
"Aryana."
The way her name flowed off his tongue still calmed his soul. She moved gracefully like a cat, smiled coyly, and her touch was softer than silk. It was her embrace, though, he missed the most.
She was gone now. An old flame. How he regretted leaving.
Halloween Movie Recommendations
Best Overall Halloween Movie & Best Vampire Movie: Dracula (1931 Spanish Language Edition). Shot at night while Bela Lugosi's version was shot during the day. This one has better pacing, acting, and cinematography.
Best Werewolf Movie: Dog Soldiers (2002). A British army unit goes on a training mission in Scotland. However, they soon run across a pact of werewolves. Squad teamwork tactics are used to survive in this anti-Predator.
Best Haunted House Movie: The Uninvited (1944). While many haunted house films try to show too much, this uses implications to put a chill down your spine.
Best Evil Spirit Movie: The Exorcist (1973). You want demons. You get a demon. But if demons are real, so is God.
Best Found Footage Movie: The Blair Witch Project (1999). The almost first found footage film. Low budget makes them rely on the dark and your imagination.
Best Alien Horror Movie: The Thing (1982). This beats Alien by showing the creature again and again without losing the fright, not afraid to show the creature walking.
Best Slapstick Horror Humor Movie: Army of Darkness (1992). To take Evil Dead from horror to slapstick, sometimes you just need your boomstick. An out-of-place time traveler must battle the armies of the darkness to get back home.
Best Dark Humor Horror Movie: Tucker and Dale Versus Evil (2012). College Kids versus Hillbillies. Or is it? And who are the good guys?
Best Checking Your Brain at the Door Horror Movie: Rifftrax: Rock N Roll Nightmare (1987). This is beyond words. It involves a Canadian heavy metal band, muppets, and angels fighting Satan. The people who did the Scifi Channel-era Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Best Family Halloween Movie (Long): The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Halloweenland thinks it can do Christmas better than Christmasland. Comedic "horrors" await.
Best Family Halloween Movie (Short): It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966). Charlie Brown suffers as an outcast while Linus awaits the Great Pumpkin.
Best Halloween Sketch: The Simpson's Tree House of Horrors I: The Raven (1990) James Earl Jones narrates a surprisingly faithful adaptation of Poe's The Raven.
Other Independent Book Promotions
Explore the Future with Sci-fi and Fantasy - Free Book Samples and Short Stories
Mercy Rising by D.C. Little - Free Short Story
Stolen and raised by the enemy...
Orion was stolen from his father’s arms and raised by the Coalition’s ruthless leader. In the years after the power grid failed, coalitions rule the few that are left.
Orion rebels at the cruel ways of the Old Man, embarking on a journey of self-discovery that leaves him questioning everything he was raised to believe. Read this exclusive story!
The Warrior Prince: A Tale from the Red Tomorow by Joseph Cruz - Free Short Story
Prepare to embark on an adrenaline-fueled journey into the heart of mechanized warfare in "The Warrior Prince," a gripping prequel novella to the acclaimed series, "The Red Tomorrow." Set one year before the epic events of "The Red Frontier," this thrilling tale introduces you to the fearless Prince Tristan, a prodigious exo-mech pilot with a destiny entwined with the fate of the Zeltan Kingdom.
In a world where colossal exo-mechs dominate the battlefield, Tristan faces a monumental challenge: to prove his mettle not only to his kingdom but also to himself. He must navigate the treacherous waters of power, responsibility, and self-discovery. With his destiny before him and secrets lurking in the shadows, Tristan's journey becomes a crucible of courage and determination.
"The Warrior Prince" is a pulse-pounding adventure that will plunge you into the heart of futuristic combat. Fans of mecha science fiction will be captivated by the intricate exo-mech battles, the complex characters, and the richly woven narrative. It's a perfect entry point into the world of "The Red Tomorrow" or a thrilling continuation for loyal fans.
Get ready to experience the origins of a hero as Prince Tristan rises to meet his destiny and sets the stage for the unforgettable events of "The Red Frontier." This prequel novella is a must-read for anyone craving action-packed, futuristic warfare and a tale of a prince's journey from doubt to valor. Join the battle, and witness the birth of a legend in "The Warrior Prince."
Until Next Time
Thank you for reading this newsletter update. Next time, we will continue the religion and aliens series by looking at Islam (see previous editions of Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism and other Christian Groups). Then, I will share a very unique short story: An Odd Pilgrimage.
As always, feel free to leave a comment with any questions, reviews, thoughts, whatever about Fallen, Risen, or whatever else I have discussed; I promise to reply!