A lifelong Southern Brooklynite, Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines the darker side of Coney Island and the police shenanigans that have been a tradition in the neighborhood for over 150 years. First up, its a brief history of the police in the city of New York- from the arrival of the Dutch in the 17th century to the establishment of a modern constabulary. The remarkable lawlessness and corruption of the Tammany Hall / Boss Tweed era spills over in the township of Gravesend (Brighton Beach, Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay) when the Grand Poobah of the town John Y McKane starts his own police force – a private thugs army of 100 coppers recruited from the worst rat holes in the city. Then its the neighborhood of West Brighton, the home of the amusement district during The Gilded Age and the birthplace of Vaudeville and Burlesque. The dividing line was Ocean Parkway and the corrupt Coney cops kept away – immigrants, socialists, bohemians and the working poor from the Elite East side. 

Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia (who grew up in Brighton Beach) examines the Jewish Festival of Freedom , Pesach or Passover. First up its the Jews in Egypt and The Book of Exodus – essentially the national epic of ancient Israel from both a spiritual and historical perspective. Then its the how and why two separate Jewish springtime festivals (unleavened bread and the Paschal Lamb ) were fused together into one mega-celebration. Next up , King Josiah (640-609 BC) and his progressive social and religious reforms plus the Roman Flavian Dynasty (69-96 AD) whose persecution of the Jews and destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem is a further step in the evolution of the modern day Passover celebration. Then its Haggadah – the sacred Passover text and a living historical book that is filled with legends , miracles , prayers , songs , stories and parables. And last but not least its The Seder Meal itself – a culinary celebration that unites the entire family with a festive spirit , ancient traditions and religious observance. 

In the conclusion to GRR’s highly acclaimed groundbreaking mini series, Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia chronicles the works of writers and dreamers from the 1980’s into the 1990’s. First up, its Pat Cadigan – whose dark and comprehensive Cyberpunk visions feature a dystopian world dominated by Mega corporations and the intricacies of the human computer interface. Then its , C.J. Cherryh – whose vast, extensive and complex science fiction mythos is not always easy to follow but well worth the effort. Up next, Joan D Vinge, whose sci fi work is grounded in fairy tales and fables. Followed by Nancy Kress – who has a gift for assimilating complex subjects and topics into her fascinating prose.  Next up, Connie Willis – whose time traveling tales showcase a sense of style , an eye for detail and a gift for empathy. And last but not least its Lois McMaster Bujold- who takes joy in telling her stories and conveys that delight to the reader.  

In the third installment of GRR’s groundbreaking miniseries , Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia trucks on down to the groovy 1970s , a time when science fiction begins to view things from a variety of perspectives. And the genres particular affinity with feminism becomes clearer with the publication of some challenging works. First off, its the gifted and wise , Ursula K Le Guin , hose mind was dominated by poetry and myth. her stories are like literary landmines that explode in your mind while reading them. The master storyteller made gender analysis and gender consciousness a legitimate topic for science fiction. Then its Joanna Russ, whose smart , tough and female space trucker/ mercenary (Alyx) becomes the model for countless successors and has a liberating effect on later writers and dreamers. Her inventive , electric , experimental , biting and beautifully constructed prose are essentially a science fiction assault on our male dominated world. 

In the second installment -Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia continues hi in depth analysis of the science fiction women writers and dreamers who slowly but surely broadened the horizons of the genre. First off its the height of the cold war – the fear filled 1950’s when short stories and novels often viewed the dreaded nightmare of world wide annihilation. In an optimistic and romantic fashion – life after the collapse of civilization will be a type of pastoralic reboot , as survivors must preserve what is worthwhile and at the same time build a new and better world. writers include – Judith Merrill,Wilma Shiras, Joan Hunter Holly, Anne Mclean, Evelyn Smith and Kate Wilhelm.  Then its the turbulent 1960’s – a decade filled with world wide social and political unrest. The space race has not been as dramatic and glorious as people had hoped , and technology has not brought peace and prosperity to the planet. Some Science Fiction women writers turn away from all the violence and disappointment of the decade by crafting complex richly detailed , colorful and highly textured romantic escapist fantasy art. That utilizes many traditional science fiction elements – writers include Andrea Norton, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey. 

The first science fiction novel may have been written by a woman (Mary Shelley) but it would be almost another century before further female contributions would penetrate the realms of the sci fi universe. Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia an early science fiction buff and literary historian, chronicles the slow but steady rise of women writers and dreamers in an adventure genre that was once mostly edited, written and read by men. The arrival of the specialized pulp fiction magazines in the late teens and early twenties provides the opportunity for young , aspiring authors to showcase their talents , get published and make some cash. Some literary minded ladies jump at the chance and at first write under male pseudonyms or incognito and in collaboration with their boyfriends and husbands. The women writers of space operas, interplanetary romances , sword and sorcery epics and sci fi fairy tales bring with them new perspectives and possibilities for the examination of more serious and sophisticated issues. A type of expansion of the genres stereotypes and limitations , and a rebellion within science fiction literature itself!

Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia continues his in depth analysis of the formative years of the horror film , this time out its Germany before the arrival of Expressionism as an artistic style. First off, its the beginnings of the film industry in Deutschland and the neglected inventor/genius – Oscar Messter. Who crafts a poetic and lyrical cinematic translation of a medieval Scandinavian legend combining melodrama and romanticism. A style that continues to influence filmmakers all over the world to this very day. Then its the most confusing and complex production history ever, as two rival producers release two seperate versions of a Sherlock Holmes serial (The Hounds of the Baskervilles) at the very same time- sparking off a box office battle that would last for years.  Then its the theme of the dopplerganger or double and the remarkable career of Paul Wegener – (actor,writer,producer & director) . Whose bulky presence ignites an intellectual gauge of talent in the German film industry. With The Golem films be becomes the first master of the celluloid supernatural since Melies. Up next, its two prolific years (1917/1919) in the astounding film legacy of Fritz Lang, a wounded W.W. I vet who while convalescing from battle wounds decides to try his hand at screenwriting. These early Langian movies contain elements that would become familiar to his cinematic mold, like a speculative hero, Asian mysticism , psychic powers and a somber atmosphere. And last but not least , its the Medieval Germanic folk tale of a beautiful woman who is born without a soul and delights in luring men to their doom with her dark sexual powers. This ancient legend is modernized for the screen first in 1918 and then filmed again and adapted. 

A noted film historian and a lover of genre movies, Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines the first 25 years of the horror film (1896-1919) . A special and fascinating era in which the first steps toward cinematic art were taken by imaginative cinematic pioneers . And what are considered traditional themes, sources and motifs were imaginatively developed with an almost supernatural speed. First off its George Melies a magician from the theatrical world who seizes upon the brand new scientific apparatus of the movie camera and incorporates into his act. He no longer needed a theater to conjure up his trickery , since the world was now his audience. Melies would become the first cinematic master of the supernatural and his influence would be massive and world wide. Next up, as audiences grew more sophisticated , films grew longer and sets ,ore elaborate, the horror film would take its place in the cinematic universe . As the French silent horror film matured – film makers would draw inspiration from classic literature (Hugo & Poe) , legends , folk tales and fables. As well as the rapid and remarkable advancements in science, medicine and technology – and explore such themes as Beauty and the Beast and Darwin’s theory of Evolution.