WORLD OF MONSTERS IS BACK ONLINE

Hi, monster fans. Well, it was a while coming, but after frying a capacitor on my motherboard, buying a replacement laptop, file recovery and assorted other tasks, I'm pretty much back up and running. I've still got a bit of organizing to do, but I'll be able to provide some entertainment in the meantime.

During my blog hiatus, I was suddenly slammed with multiple writing assignments (with deadlines). Consequently, my priority is publishing over posting, so there may be some shorter and sporadic entries here for a while.

In other news, there's just a few more days to vote in the Rondo Awards. Voting ends at the stroke of midnight, May 1, 2026 EST (that means folks on the West Coast have until 9:00 pm.). If you haven't already, I'd sure appreciate it if you would cast your vote for World of Monsters for best website and ‘The Phantom of the Opera, A Centennial Retrospective,’ by John H. (typo, should be M) Navroth, CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN #42 for best article.

Click HERE to see the ballot. You're not required to cast a vote in every category. You could even send a simple email to David Colton at taraco(at)aol.com and just vote for my entries if you like.

Thanks for your support and there's much more monster goodness to come!

RONDO AWARDS ARE HERE!

Now hear this, monster lovers! Just recently posted is the ballot for the esteemed 2023 Rondo Awards. For years now, the "Rondo's" as they are affectionately called, recognize excellence in the field of horror movies, publications and other media, as well as personalities who have significantly contributed their talents to the genre.

The good news: WORLD OF MONSTERS has once again been nominated for Best Website. In addition, my article, "The Lost World: Cinema's First Great Dinosaur Movie" from PREHISTORIC TIMES #147 has been nominated in the Best Article category.

If you all would be so kind to support WOM and my writing efforts by heading over to the ballot and voting for me in those two categories I would most humbly appreciate it.

You don't have to vote in all categories on the ballot if you elect not too. I'm sure you could even email the Master of Ceremonies, David Colton with your WOM votes and he would accept them in that format.

Once again, I appreciate your consideration!

Pick up a copy of PREHISTORIC TIMES #147 HERE.

FINAL DAY TO VOTE FOR RONDOS

Today is the last chance for you to show your support for MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD. Vote by clicking on the banner above. Or, send an email to taracoATaol.com even if you want to just cast a vote for MMW. Voting closes at midnight tonight, Eastern Standard Time.

TWO DAYS LEFT TO VOTE FOR RONDOS

There's still time to vote for MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD for Best Website/Blog in this year's Rondo Awards. Click on the banner above!

MMW NOMINATED FOR RONDO AWARD EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW

MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD has once more been nominated for a Rondo Award in the "Best Website/Blog" category. That means that it has been nominated every year since it first began way back in 2010. Since then, MMW has been selected for "Honorable Mention" three times. With your help, monster lovers, maybe it can be a winner this year.

If you are a regular reader of MMW, click on over to the Rondo Awards website and spend a few minutes to access the ballot and cast your vote for all the best horror of 2017, and please put a big "X" in the spot for MMW!

The "Rondos", as they are called, are a big deal in the horror community and it would be awfully swell to be recognized again. I hope I've provided enough entertainment and chewy monster goodness over the years to warrant your vote.

I sincerely thank you in advance.

To vote, click HERE.

VOTE FOR MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD!

Voting for the 14th annual Rondo Awards is closing this April 15th. For those not familiar with the quirkily-named competition, the Rondo Awards are given yearly in categories such as Best Movie, Best Magazine, Best Artist, etc., in the world of horror media. This year's awards are dedicated to Sir Christopher Lee.

MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD has been nominated in the category for Best Website or Blog of 2015. MMW has been up for a Rondo in all six years of its existence and has received an Honorable Mention three times. You could say we're always a bridesmaid, never the Bride of Frankenstein.

Won't you support MMW by voting it the Best Blog of 2015? It easy -- all you have to do is click on the banner under the title at the top of this page and you will be taken directly to the Rondo Awards ballot.

Your don't have to vote in every category if you don't want to. If you'd rather just cast a quick vote for MMW, you can do it by sending an email HERE.

Things get a little murky down here in the Mysterious Mansion, so having a Rondo Award would certainly brighten up the place. If you have enjoyed visiting this site, please show your support by voting for MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD as the Best Blog in 2015.

Thank you, monster lovers!

A FINAL MESSAGE FROM RONDO . . .

Go HERE to vote!

VOTE FOR MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD!

WHERE'S RONDO?

He's off getting his head measured for the latest Rondo Awards. Vote for MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD for Best Blog!

RONDO'S A "BIG DEAL"

Don't be a blockhead -- vote for MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD in the BEST BLOG category!

RONDO SEZ . . .

I don't ask much of readers of this blog -- visit regularly, leave comments, and consider joining the Cult of Monsters is about it. Well, you may know it's voting time again, in what turns out to be the eleventh year of the much-respected RONDO AWARDS. And . . . guess what? MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD has once more been nominated for Blog of the Year, and I am asking YOU to cast your vote for my blog.

I put a lot of time into this thing, for the love you might say, and you have rewarded me twice before with enough votes to make "Honorable Mention". Now, I'm hoping this time that MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD can move up to the next level.

All I'm asking is that you click on the link under the MMW title at the top of this page and vote for MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD under the "Best Blog" section. There's lots of other cool categories to vote for, too. However, you are not obligated to vote in every category. Sometimes I don't myself, simply because I'm not familiar enough with the candidates or subjects.

So, before you sign off here, I ask you once again to visit the RONDO AWARDS website and cast your vote for MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD. If you've ever felt -- even for just a minute or two -- like a Monster Kid from the "Old Days" again, or if you've just started getting interested in monster 'zines by reading a review or interview here, then I've done my job. You can let me know that by voting.

Thanks, Monster Lovers!

Thanks to all you readers who voted, MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD has, for the second year in a row, received an "Honorable Mention" in the Best Blog category in the annual RONDO AWARDS. I want to thank each and every one of you who voted for my blog and for continuing to support my efforts.

As I have mentioned before, my mission here is to share with you my experiences from bygone Monster Craze days that have left a lasting impression, as well as provide comments and opinion regarding the current state of affairs with this very active industry.

You also spoke loud and clear with the last Reader's Survey when you said you liked the format and length of the postings here just the way they are. Accordingly, I will give you what you like best.

I also reminded you that MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD is available in a reader-friendly mobile phone version for all you monsters on the go.

I recently offered for sale the first-ever MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD 2011 BLOG BOOK that includes an entire year's worth of posts. It is still available at the ridiculous price of only 99 cents (order info on the sidebar).

Plus, I have a few more surprises up my sleeve that I will spring on you in the coming months.

So, once again for your readership and support. Please take the time to comment once in a while or use the reaction buttons to let me know you're out there. I REALLY APPRECIATE the time you spend here at MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD. I will do my best to give you a reason to keep coming back.

RONDO AWARDS: THANK YOU!

Now that the smoke from the fireworks has cleared, the confetti has been vacuumed up and the shades are back on the table lamps, I've had a chance to let it all soak in. A couple of weeks ago, MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD earned "Honorable Mention" by the esteemed Rondo Awards in the Best Blog of 2010 category. I say "earned" because something like that just isn't given out like Tana fluid to a thirsty Mummy.

First, you have to be nominated. On the day that happened, I must say I felt a slight rush of excitement. Nothing special, mind you -- just something akin to a werewolf staring up at the first full moon of the month.

I have to admit that Iwas a little new to all this. You see, I began this blog just a year ago this month. Before launching my own, I had visited a number of monster and horror blogs during the preceding few months, so I had picked up a little on what a "Rondo" was. It seemed a little funky and provincial at the time, but the name kept popping up in quite a number of spots. Since then I have come to realize that the Rondos are pretty much horror entertainment's version of the Oscars. So, when one is not only nominated, but wins or is runner up or honorably mentioned, it's no small thing, Brother Voodoo.

The way I understand it, the Rondos are headed up by a fellow by the name of David Colton who co-founded it with artist-extraordinaire Kerry Gammill, and are managed by a kind of advisory panel. But, when the voting starts, anyone can cast an email ballot. There's a spot for write-in votes, too (which I used myself for a couple of entries). This year almost 3,000 people voted. That ain't small Matango's, folks.

Now, I know that MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD didn't walk off with a Tim Linsey-cast Rondo bust this time around. But, I do know, however, that even winning an honorable mention is both a thrilling and humbling experience. No matter which way you drop the guillotine blade, the reality of it is that you are being recognized by both peers and fans for your accomplishment.

And that's where YOU come in, dear readers of this blog. If it weren't for you voting for what you like, this would have never happened. And for that, I'm am profusely thankful. Without your vote, I wouldn't have known just how regarded my blog is to fans, editors, and the rest of you Monserologists out there. Knowing this makes it all the more worthwhile.

Ironically, Rondo Hatton is one of my favorite movie monster players. When I first saw him lurking about as the infamous 'Oxton Creeper in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE PEARL OF DEATH, I was hooked. This weird looking dude was spooky cool! Ever since, I've always reserved a spot for Rondo among my favorites. Hopefully, some time in the future I'll have a bust of him sitting right here next to me in the MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD Mysterious Mansion.

In the meantime, I'll keep doing what I do . . . posting stuff to the blog roll that I enjoy and hope that you do, too.

Thanks again, friends and fiends!

BEAST MONSTER MAGAZINES OF 2010

With almost 3,000 votes counted, the winners were announced tonight for the 2010 RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS. The winners for best magazines were RUE MORGUE for best pro 'zine and MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT for best fan 'zine. Congratulations, David Alexander and Jim Clatterbaugh!