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RETURN OF THE SPIRITS
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
Trick or Treat! These days, that means handing out
candy, but once upon a time Halloween revelers often played nasty
tricks. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the
real history of Halloween. Also, why stories about monsters, ghouls
and the supernatural keep popping up in books and movies. And, the
secret life of puppets.
SEGMENT 1:
Nicholas Rogers is a historian at York University
in Canada and the author of "Halloween: From Pagan Ritual
to Party Night." He tells Steve Paulson that Halloween has
both pagan and Christian roots, that the modern holiday once involved
more treats than tricks, and that adults, especially the gay community,
have taken over most of the celebrating. Also, Phyllis Curott
is a Wiccan high priestess or a practicing witch. She tells Anne
Strainchamps what Wicca is all about and talks about casting spells
for practical purposes. Her book is "Witchcrafting."
SEGMENT 2:
British novelist Will Self has written some
very strange books. His latest is called "How the Dead Live."
Self reads an except and talks with Jim Fleming about spirits,
karma and the afterlife. Also, Victoria Nelson is the author
of "The Secret Lives of Puppets." She tells Steve Paulson
our anxieties about the spirit world get played out in popular
culture and that cyborgs like The Terminator are just the most
recent incarnations of puppets.
SEGMENT 3:
Laurell Hamilton has written a series of
novels featuring a character called Anita Blake. Anita is a vampire
executioner whose day job is raising the dead. Hamilton tells
Jim Fleming all about Anita's world. It's sort of like our world
except everything that goes bump is the night is real. The latest
novel in the series is "Narcissus in Chains."
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 02-10-27-A.
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Books:
- Laurell Hamilton,
Narcissus in Chains (Jove)
- Victoria Nelson, The Secret Life of Puppets
(Harvard)
- Nicholas Rogers, Halloween: From Pagan Ritual
to party Night (Oxford)
- Will Self, How the Dead Live (Grove Press)
Music:
- After Return: The Simpsons w/ "Treehouse of
Horror"
on "Brain in a Box: The Science Fiction Collection"
(CD) Rhino Entertainment
- After Nicholas Rogers:Loreena McKennitt w/ "All
Souls Night"
on "The Visit" (CD) Warner Bros. Records
- After Phyllis Curott: Chantan w/ "The Witches'
Reel" on "Primary Colours" (CD) Culburnie Records
- :29 Option: Loreena McKennitt w/ "Between
the Shadows" on "The Visit" Warner Brothers Records
- After Will Self: Thirty Years With the Armstrong
Family w/ "Ghost of John" on "The Wheel of the
Year" (CD) Flying Fish Records After Victoria Nelson: They
Might Be Giants w/ "I've Got a Fang" on "Mink Car"
(CD) Restless Records
- :29 Option: "Bride of the Monster" on
Ed Wood Soundtrack Touchstone Pictures Music
- After Laurell Hamilton: Jonathan Richman
w/ "Vampire Girl" on "You Must Ask the Heart"
(CD) Rounder Records
Distribution dates:
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Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
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