Inhuman Swill | Blog | William Shunn

Inhuman Swill : Page 9

Why is my blog called Inhuman Swill? Because you can unscramble the pieces to make William Shunn.

On "The Labyrinth" podcast with Cesar Torres

My good friend Cesar Torres recently had me on Episode 29 of "The Labyrinth," his fine podcast about the strange and unusual. We talked about my Mormon upbringing, how I tried to avoid writing a novel, what not to do... read

Le mot juiced

I read the following essay, which appears in somewhat different form in the epilogue to The Accidental Terrorist, in the Essay Fiesta series at The Book Cellar in Chicago, on December 21, 2009. There is no worse feeling than, five... read

Tasting notes

Malt Caramel Subtle peppery undertone Juniper Crisp pine Grapefruit aroma Chocolate Mellow hops Rich toffee notes Freshly baked biscuits Clean desert aroma Citrus weed Tangy cactus spine Horse blanket Slight nuttiness Hints of bourbon Smoked rubber Magnesium flare Coconut oil... read

What scares me most about Mitt Romney

Does the candidate believe that running for president is God's plan for him? read

For Ella, on her ninth birthday

How can you live with a dog, with its lifespan of ten to fifteen years, and not realize how quickly the clock is ticking? read

The fourth largest church in America?

As the Republican National Convention gets into full swing today, one of the topics that probably won't be talked about very much is Mitt Romney's religion. It's odd that this has become such a non-issue during the campaign, given that... read

“Let's see where our Curiosity takes us”

One of my earliest memories is of standing with my father after dark on the front lawn of our home in Highland Park, Los Angeles. He pointed at the moon and told me, "There are men up there right now."... read

Biking on Bryn Mawr

Biking on Bryn Mawr Avenue, clear sky, afternoon sun, I pull over to the curb for the ambulance hurtling my way. But it turns on Clark, and as I pass through the intersection I see the gapers gathered, the body... read

In the marvelous mind of Gene Wolfe

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the Sanfilippo Estate last Saturday afternoon. I certainly didn't expect to feel as if I were literally walking into the mind of Gene Wolfe, but that's what it was... read

Lost things

On my walk this morning I encountered lost things here and there: A glove. A key ring. A hearing aid. Me. read