Illustration for science fiction zine, 1993.
Morgo and Lizzie Updates
I’ve created a Morgo the Mighty page here at Skookworks. It includes all the Popular Magazine covers, the interior art, and downloads of the complete novel in both a Word doc and a PDF version.
Over at the Oz-Squad.com site, Lizzie the Girl Knight has six chapters available for your reading pleasure.
Chapter 1
The Little Matchgirl – A Dangerous Run – The Killing – A Princess – and a Strange Coincidence
Chapter 2
The Kites – The Storm – The Dragon – An Unexpected Trip – The Forest at Desert’s Edge
Chapter 3
A New World – The Orchard – The Dwarves – The Strange Door – and a Terrifying Predicament
Chapter 4
Shutting the Door – Queen Lang Li – A Hurried Departure – The Golden Bricked Road – Stalked by a Monster
Chapter 5
The Long Walk – A More Dangerous Path – Another Door – Lang Li’s Veranda – Peril!
Chapter 6
Tom and Patches Worry -Battling the Skutters – A Make-Shift Raft – The Whirlpool – The Head in the Bag
Call From Above
Illustration for “1-800-CALL-GOD” by Chuck Rothman. Published in Alternate Hilarities #4, 1993.
There Goes the Neighborhood
Illustration (I think) for “Final Solution” by Mike Resnick. Also known as “Will the Last Person to Leave the Planet Shut Off the Sun?” Published in Alternate Hilarities #6, 1994.
The Elf Critic
Illustration for “The Elf Critic” by Kathryne Kennedy. Published in Alternate Hilarities #3, 1993.
Conquering the Andersons
Illustration for “Conquering the Andersons” by Victor Gischler. Published in Alternate Hilarities #5, 1994.
Carving Jack
Illustration for a horror fiction zine, 1993.
Casting Out Demons
Story illustration for a horror fiction zine, 1990.
Commission 1990
Story illustration for a horror fiction zine, 1990
Morgo the Mighty: Post Mortem
So what did I learn from retyping Morgo the Mighty?
Number one: I wouldn’t have written the same sentences that Mr. O’Larkin did. I had to keep myself from changing the syntax of his writing. His sentences were just differently constructed than felt comfortable to me.
Number two: The synopses I’d read about this serial were mostly wrong. I didn’t have a problem with that. There are plenty of underground worlds populated by prehistoric animals. Another one wasn’t needed.
I’ve got plans for Derro, Morgo and Nurri Kala but I’ve got to clear my decks of other projects before I can devote any real attention to them. Hopefully sooner, rather than later, you’ll see them again.
I tried finding information about this serial’s author but came up light. The internet is filled with information but only the stuff that’s important to people who are alive and online now. Any further research I do will probably have to be done the old fashioned way, at a library or a records office. “Sean O’Larkin” was a pseudonym for John F. Larkin Jr. He seems to have written fiction for the pulps and scripts for plays. I don’t know when he was born or when (if) he died.
Sean O’Larkin Bibliography
* The Arson Mob, (na) The Popular Magazine Jun #2 1930
* The Devil’s Widow, (sl) The Popular Magazine Aug #1, Aug #2, Sep
#1, Sep #2 1929
* Exit Laughing, (ss) Cosmopolitan Jan 1931
* Flaming Ice, (na) The Popular Magazine Dec #2 1930
* A Hollywood Murder Mystery, (ss) The Popular Magazine Mar 1931
* The Jade Blade, (na) The Popular Magazine Oct #2 1929
* Morgo the Mighty, (n.) The Popular Magazine Aug #2, Sep #1, Sep #2 1930
* Morgo the Mighty, (sl) The Popular Magazine Oct #1 1930
* On the Spot, (ss) The Popular Magazine Feb #2 1930
God Save the Queen! a farce in 3 acts
Sean O’Larkin pseudonym of John F. Larkin Jr.
copyright Aug 21, 1930
Society Girl [SG]. Film.
Dirs. George King and Sidney Lanfield. Adapt. Charles Beahan.
Dialogue Elmer Harris. Featuring Spencer Tracy, Peggy Shannon and
James Dunn.
Production History: Fox Film. Released June 1932.
Source: Based on the play Society Girl by John F. Larkin, Jr., (aka
Sean O’Larkin) and Charles Beahan.
