Dr. John P. Irish
@jpirish.bsky.social
Sapere aude!
2+2=4
Educator, researcher, philosopher, and SMU Mustang! Everything Fitz-James O'Brien, the Irish "Poe" #gothic, #horror, #fantasy, #scifi, #19C, #americanlit
🐴⬆️✌️💙❤️
2+2=4
Educator, researcher, philosopher, and SMU Mustang! Everything Fitz-James O'Brien, the Irish "Poe" #gothic, #horror, #fantasy, #scifi, #19C, #americanlit
🐴⬆️✌️💙❤️
About once every other year, or so, I try to tackle this novel. It is complex, gothic, and philosophical (published in 1804). Every time I can't get through ch. 3, until today. Now I'm cruising.
May 17, 2025 at 6:47 PM
About once every other year, or so, I try to tackle this novel. It is complex, gothic, and philosophical (published in 1804). Every time I can't get through ch. 3, until today. Now I'm cruising.
Teddy and I on a quick drive into Bridgeport. Love this little guy.
May 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Teddy and I on a quick drive into Bridgeport. Love this little guy.
I argue in the intro to v3 of my collection of FJOB volumes that A. Merritt's story is not just coincidentally similar to O'Brien's "The Wondersmith." 1942 copy of Merritt's novel, original copy of "The Wondersmith" (1859), and my v3 2025 @swanriverpress.bsky.social edition of FJOB.
May 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I argue in the intro to v3 of my collection of FJOB volumes that A. Merritt's story is not just coincidentally similar to O'Brien's "The Wondersmith." 1942 copy of Merritt's novel, original copy of "The Wondersmith" (1859), and my v3 2025 @swanriverpress.bsky.social edition of FJOB.
Amazing period 3 for the Stars. This was my first playoff game to attend in person, it was one for the ages. @dallasstarshistory.bsky.social #stanleycupplayoffs
May 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Amazing period 3 for the Stars. This was my first playoff game to attend in person, it was one for the ages. @dallasstarshistory.bsky.social #stanleycupplayoffs
Don't know a lot about this writer, but I found these online and could not resist. All three volumes in fine condition.
May 1, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Don't know a lot about this writer, but I found these online and could not resist. All three volumes in fine condition.
Get to spend some time this weekend in the newest @philosophynow.bsky.social magazine. Issue 167: what does it mean to be human?
May 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Get to spend some time this weekend in the newest @philosophynow.bsky.social magazine. Issue 167: what does it mean to be human?
Next deep dig into classic goth short stories. @swanriverpress.bsky.social Just picked this out of print title up off a used book site.
April 29, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Next deep dig into classic goth short stories. @swanriverpress.bsky.social Just picked this out of print title up off a used book site.
In the mail today! Seems real appropriate for the times.
April 28, 2025 at 11:50 PM
In the mail today! Seems real appropriate for the times.
I am going to spend some time today digging into this story collection from @helengrantsays.bsky.social I bought early last year. You can see why @swanriverpress.bsky.social editions are such high quality. These books rival Arkham House publications in terms of quality and appearance.
April 26, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I am going to spend some time today digging into this story collection from @helengrantsays.bsky.social I bought early last year. You can see why @swanriverpress.bsky.social editions are such high quality. These books rival Arkham House publications in terms of quality and appearance.
It's that time of the year when Elizabeth turns our yard into a oversized flower garden.
April 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
It's that time of the year when Elizabeth turns our yard into a oversized flower garden.
But I am a biased judge. 😀
April 25, 2025 at 9:57 PM
But I am a biased judge. 😀
Something to add to my Fitz-James O'Brien collection. A French edition of his stories from the 1950s. And no, I don't speak French. @swanriverpress.bsky.social
April 21, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Something to add to my Fitz-James O'Brien collection. A French edition of his stories from the 1950s. And no, I don't speak French. @swanriverpress.bsky.social
Today we showcase v3 of the Collected Speculative Fiction of Fitz-James O'Brien from @swanriverpress.bsky.social This volume will contain his strongest works.
The cover image is from the title story, "What Was It?" This was the first FJOB story I ever read. Highly engaging and philosophical.
The cover image is from the title story, "What Was It?" This was the first FJOB story I ever read. Highly engaging and philosophical.
April 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Today we showcase v3 of the Collected Speculative Fiction of Fitz-James O'Brien from @swanriverpress.bsky.social This volume will contain his strongest works.
The cover image is from the title story, "What Was It?" This was the first FJOB story I ever read. Highly engaging and philosophical.
The cover image is from the title story, "What Was It?" This was the first FJOB story I ever read. Highly engaging and philosophical.
Showcase #2 on volume 2 of the Collected Speculative Works of Fitz-James O'Brien by @swanriverpress.bsky.social: The Diamond Lens and Others (1855-1858).
This volume will contain more of the genre pieces that SRP is used to publishing. Although we took a broad definition of speculative fiction.
This volume will contain more of the genre pieces that SRP is used to publishing. Although we took a broad definition of speculative fiction.
April 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Showcase #2 on volume 2 of the Collected Speculative Works of Fitz-James O'Brien by @swanriverpress.bsky.social: The Diamond Lens and Others (1855-1858).
This volume will contain more of the genre pieces that SRP is used to publishing. Although we took a broad definition of speculative fiction.
This volume will contain more of the genre pieces that SRP is used to publishing. Although we took a broad definition of speculative fiction.
So the wait is finally over!
My copies of the speculative fiction of Fitz-James O'Brien finally arrived from Dublin, Ireland.
I will showcase v1 today: An Arabian Night-mare and Others (1848-1854).
@swanriverpress.bsky.social pays attention to the littlest details. Check out their other books
My copies of the speculative fiction of Fitz-James O'Brien finally arrived from Dublin, Ireland.
I will showcase v1 today: An Arabian Night-mare and Others (1848-1854).
@swanriverpress.bsky.social pays attention to the littlest details. Check out their other books
April 17, 2025 at 11:05 PM
So the wait is finally over!
My copies of the speculative fiction of Fitz-James O'Brien finally arrived from Dublin, Ireland.
I will showcase v1 today: An Arabian Night-mare and Others (1848-1854).
@swanriverpress.bsky.social pays attention to the littlest details. Check out their other books
My copies of the speculative fiction of Fitz-James O'Brien finally arrived from Dublin, Ireland.
I will showcase v1 today: An Arabian Night-mare and Others (1848-1854).
@swanriverpress.bsky.social pays attention to the littlest details. Check out their other books
O'Brien was also a playwright. His most successful play was A Gentleman from Ireland, a Shakespeare esque comedy of errors and mistaken identity. I have a performance copy of the play. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find copies of his other plays.
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
April 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
O'Brien was also a playwright. His most successful play was A Gentleman from Ireland, a Shakespeare esque comedy of errors and mistaken identity. I have a performance copy of the play. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find copies of his other plays.
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
In 1855 Edward Hayes edited a collection of Irish poetry, The Ballads of Ireland. O'Brien had three poems included in this prestigious collection.
It not too late to grab a copy of FJOB collected speculative writings. Limited to 300 copies. @swanriverpress.ie
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
It not too late to grab a copy of FJOB collected speculative writings. Limited to 300 copies. @swanriverpress.ie
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
April 6, 2025 at 10:39 PM
In 1855 Edward Hayes edited a collection of Irish poetry, The Ballads of Ireland. O'Brien had three poems included in this prestigious collection.
It not too late to grab a copy of FJOB collected speculative writings. Limited to 300 copies. @swanriverpress.ie
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
It not too late to grab a copy of FJOB collected speculative writings. Limited to 300 copies. @swanriverpress.ie
swanriverpress.ie/srp-title/co...
Always exciting when the new editions from @libraryofamerica.bsky.social start arriving. Margaret Fuller Collected Writings.
March 22, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Always exciting when the new editions from @libraryofamerica.bsky.social start arriving. Margaret Fuller Collected Writings.
One of O'Brien's unusual tales was called "From Hand to Mouth" published in The NY Picayune from Mar to May 1858. This classic is an early version of surreal fiction. Set in NY, the narrator goes through a bizarre experience in a strange hotel that has hands, ears, eyes, and noses on the walls.
March 22, 2025 at 6:24 PM
One of O'Brien's unusual tales was called "From Hand to Mouth" published in The NY Picayune from Mar to May 1858. This classic is an early version of surreal fiction. Set in NY, the narrator goes through a bizarre experience in a strange hotel that has hands, ears, eyes, and noses on the walls.
O'Brien's second big hit published in The Atlantic was a story called "The Wondersmith." An urban gothic tale about revenge, occultism, and divine justice. Considered one of the first tales involving robots, FJOB's story had wooden puppets come to life to enact a deadly horror on Christmas.
March 21, 2025 at 2:47 AM
O'Brien's second big hit published in The Atlantic was a story called "The Wondersmith." An urban gothic tale about revenge, occultism, and divine justice. Considered one of the first tales involving robots, FJOB's story had wooden puppets come to life to enact a deadly horror on Christmas.
The first big publication for O'Brien was his break out success story "The Diamond Lens." The story involves a scientist, Frankenstein like, who is obsessed with creating the world's perfect microscope. What he discovers in the microscope pales in comparison to what he discovers about himself.
March 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The first big publication for O'Brien was his break out success story "The Diamond Lens." The story involves a scientist, Frankenstein like, who is obsessed with creating the world's perfect microscope. What he discovers in the microscope pales in comparison to what he discovers about himself.
Country life and rural living. Enjoying the best Spring Break has to offer.
March 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Country life and rural living. Enjoying the best Spring Break has to offer.
The first O'Brien story I ever read was "What was it? A Mystery." A story about a haunted house where invisible creatures live. Considered one of the first stories to explore the concept of invisibility. Part of my FJOB collection includes a copy of that original 1859 Harper's New Monthly Magazine.
March 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The first O'Brien story I ever read was "What was it? A Mystery." A story about a haunted house where invisible creatures live. Considered one of the first stories to explore the concept of invisibility. Part of my FJOB collection includes a copy of that original 1859 Harper's New Monthly Magazine.
My turn in the hammock.
March 17, 2025 at 11:30 PM
My turn in the hammock.
Compare and contrast of Elizabeth Anne and myself as Spring Break begins for us. She is outside in our hammock watching reruns of The Smurfs. I am working on another paper for publication on Fitz-James O'Brien.
March 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Compare and contrast of Elizabeth Anne and myself as Spring Break begins for us. She is outside in our hammock watching reruns of The Smurfs. I am working on another paper for publication on Fitz-James O'Brien.