Brad Middleton 🇨🇦
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b-middleton.bsky.social
Brad Middleton 🇨🇦
@b-middleton.bsky.social
Vintage horror paperback collector. Vampire aficionado. Musically stuck in the 1980s. Author of UN-DEAD TV (2016) and THE GREAT FRIGHT NORTH (202?). My sanity is maintained by reading, cooking, and baking. And writing, of course.
With 5 books on the go, why did I just choose to tackle Simmons's The Terror, as well? 'Tis a mystery! #booksky

Shadow on the Hearth, Judith Merril; Dreamland, Garfield Reeves-Stevens; Vermilion, "Nathan Aldyne"; Tolerable Levels of Violence, Robert G Collins; House of Creeping Horror, George Worts
October 2, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Today's thrift store find:

Saint Ursula's Convent (1824; 1981)
Julia Catherine Beckwith Hart

Written when Hart was 17 years old, this is considered the first Canadian novel by a Canadian. While I certainly knew of this book, I wasn't actively seeking it out. Alas, to the #tbr pile it goes!
September 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Catching up on some vampire-themed short stories by these Canadians, published in American anthologies:

Nancy Kilpatrick, Robert J. Sawyer, Tanya Huff, Nigel Bennett, Lucien Soulban, and Kelley Armstrong.

Dracula in London (2001)
Blood Lite (2008)
By Blood We Live (2009)
September 21, 2025 at 8:59 PM
August 29, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The Donnelly Album (1977)
Ray Fazakas

I have a few books about the Donnelly family massacre & this one has been on my to-buy list for some time. The thrifting gods were kind! Not only did I find the original hardcover (signed!) but also the 2nd edition reprint from 1998.

#booksky
#blackdonnellys
August 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Shadow of a Broken Man (1978)
George C. Chesbro

This is a fun read that I could not put down. I've since bought the next 2 books in the series.

The main character, a criminologist & P.I., is a former circus performer of short stature & each case has an occult or fantastical element.

#booksky
August 19, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Gene Day was a Canadian artist who was a driving force in comic fandom. His fanzines like Dark Fantasy gave many Canadian artists and writers their first chance to showcase their work to a much wider audience.
August 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This "crazed firebug" looks like a younger Trump dealing with a failed business venture (or covering up a crime)

#lockhimup
August 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
MIND-FORCE WARRIOR (1990)
David Peters

A teacher uses his psionic powers to keep unruly students in line. Just kidding. He leaves the kids alone but is hunted by the gov't. This is a rare case where I hope the cover art is true to the story. JUST LOOK AT IT!

#booksky
#scifi
#telepathy
#telekinesis
August 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
VORTEX (1977)
Jon Cleary

A murder-mystery wrapped in a natural disaster story (on trend for the 1970s).

What stunning artwork! Unfortunately, there's no artist credit and no signature that I can find.

#booksky
#disaster
#tornado
#Missouri
#vintagepaperback
August 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
THE TRIBE (1981)
Glenn Chandler

Next up in the reading queue is this nasty bit of business. I'm looking forward to / dreading this one lol.

#booksky
#horrorsky
#horror
#vintagehorror
#vintagepaperback
#cannibalism
August 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Thrifted this gem for $2! I hadn't realized the book was so scarce, so it's been bagged until I have the time to read it.

CHASING THE DRAGON (1985)
Cathy Smith

She was a groupie & drug dealer who was implicated in John Belushi's death. She was also involved with Gordon Lightfoot & Levon Helm.
August 2, 2025 at 3:27 AM
A few beauty shots of low tide at Annapolis Royal. Went for a stroll, then antiquing and thrifting! A perfect vacation outing, in my humble opinion 👌

#canada
#novascotia
July 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
I have to say, this is the most civilized road trip I've ever been on. Espresso on the go! The perfect kick to get me through the first leg (a 12 hour drive).

Hello Maritimes! I'm in New Brunswick heading to Nova Scotia.

#canada
#travel
#coffeaddict
July 14, 2025 at 9:24 AM
The face I'm submitting to Bluesky for verification
July 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
#nowplaying

Internationalists (1985)
The Style Council

#80s
#pop
#np
#vinyl
July 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Listening to one of the greatest albums of all time. Hard to believe it was released over 20 years ago. Sounds even more amazing on vinyl!

AMERICAN IDIOT
Green Day

#nowplaying
#np
#vinylcollector
June 28, 2025 at 10:54 PM
ARIAS & SYMPHONIES (1982)
Spoons

#Canadian
#synthpop
#80s
#nowplaying
#vinyl
May 18, 2025 at 11:49 PM
DANCE (1981)
Gary Numan

#nowplaying
#vinyl #lp
#80s
May 18, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I buy most vintage books from Canadian publisher #PaperJacks that I find in the wild because they're often scarce. This one looks interesting:

THE MISSING SEVEN HOURS (1978)
David Haisell

#ufologist Haisell writes about CDN British expats who experienced a range of odd phenomena.

#ufo
#Canada
May 17, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Selections from TRUE DETECTIVE magazine, August 1950. Stunning artwork! Cover by Richard Cardiff.

#vintage
#truecrime
#magazine
#pulp
May 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Mail call! One of the rarest Canadian #horror novels.

COLD FRONT (1982/2025)
Barry Hammond

After failing for years to find a copy in the wild I was excited to learn that it was being reprinted. But with the exchange rate & shipping it's the most I've ever paid for a new paperback! Zoiks

#booksky
April 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Is it a sign that you've truly made it when you spy a first edition of your only published book at an antique store? Granted, it was published about 12 years ago.

It was a stark reminder that I must finish my new book, which I started researching just after this one was published!

#authorsky
April 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Canadians must reject the divisive, anti-Canadian, Trump-style politics of Polievre and vote for the only leader who can navigate our country through this mess. I've voted #Liberal. I truly hope that the majority of Canadians do, as well.

#canadapoli
#electionscanada
#canada
#politics
April 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The Openers of the Gate (1930)
L. Adams Beck

UK-born Canadian Elizabeth Louisa Moresby used this pen name among others. The tales have similar themes, such as India, past lives & vibrations--akin to psychic energies. There's a quaint #ghost story & one with an #occult detective.

No dust jacket 😭
April 5, 2025 at 9:43 PM