dennis scharnberg

on the grift

“No, Susannah. This is all part of my secret plan. You’re not yet smart enough to understand it all. Just be patient. Just you wait and see!”

Talbot Smalls, Barnacle Bill in Macao. (1933)

nature is unnatural

It’s that they didn’t think they were being clever. That’s what makes some of the old serials such enjoyable movies.

Logan Nygaard, A Treatise on Amusement.

a checkered past

Crime is an abstract term,” announced Elizabeth, “and it really means nothing.”

Tyler Bardwell, Heading West.

army of robots

“Yes, but in those movie serials, rope is quite useless.”

Fate Hollis, Hand Me Down.

process your emotions

“But what were his final words?” “They told me that he said the word rubbish. Just that one word.”

Fate Hollis, Hand Me Down.

cash for cars

“Of course, Bernadine, I will do what I can. But no one can guarantee complete destruction.”

Tyler Bardwell, Heading West.

management of perception

“Look at all the phones,” said Paul, miserably, upon entering the freshman cafeteria.

Tyler Bardwell, Heading West.

an excellent adventure

“They’re just names,” admitted Frederick. “Just names.”

Paul Gironda, The Magic Valley.

wild and whirling

The worst decision ever made was concerned exclusively with zeroes and ones.

Roger Hedgecook, Stolen and Sold for Parts.

searching the web

In the alley, on the back wall of the building, in large dripping letters, someone had scrawled, “I think with my knees.”

Wallace Weeks, S.O.S.