Hat tip to John Duke.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Murder on Sisters' Row is another in Victoria Thompson's "Gaslight Mysteries" series. The setting is 19th century New York, and in this one Sarah Brandt, a midwife, is asked to help deliver a child in a brothel. She gets involved with the young mother and tries to get help from a charity. Soon afterward, the founder of the charity is murdered, and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy investigates, with Sarah's help. Great setting, and if you like historical mysteries, here's one to check out.
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck -- Don Rosa
Carl Barks's stories about Scrooge McDuck were one of the things I discovered on my own as a kid. Nobody had to tell me they were something special. I just knew it, and they were among my favorite comics. Later on (years later on) I found out that plenty of other people loved Scrooge and had continued reading the comics about him for a lot longer than I had. I never became fanatical about Scrooge, but even now I enjoy reading one of the old comics if I run across it, and I was happy to hear from Rick Robinson about Don Rosa's The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, which won the Will Eisner award for "Best Serialized Story" in 1995. (Yes, I'm ten years behind. For me that's about normal.)
Don Rosa has done a lot of Uncle Scrooge stories, but this is a little different. It's a 12-part serial based on the "facts" of Scrooge's life as discovered in Carl Barks' classic stories. Rosa says that every fact about Scrooge's early life, "no matter how minute or obscurely buried the morsel of history might have been" is included in his serial, each chapter of which is followed by Rosa's comments on the story and the facts therein (where they came from, any inconsistencies, and so on). I have to say that I enjoyed this "graphic novel" about as much as any book I've read lately. It made me feel a little like a kid again, waiting at the door for the postman to show up with the latest issue of Walt Disney's Comics & Stories. Check it out.
Another Trip Update
My San Francisco Life: Anniversary Trip to Sonoma: "Anniversary Trip to Sonoma
We took Mom and Dad up to Sonoma to burn some Marriott points at the Sonoma Lodge in celebration of their anniversary. The first stop was Benziger Winery, where we had a quick picnic before the rain started."
We took Mom and Dad up to Sonoma to burn some Marriott points at the Sonoma Lodge in celebration of their anniversary. The first stop was Benziger Winery, where we had a quick picnic before the rain started."
2011 Robert E. Howard Days
2011 Robert E. Howard Days to Celebrate Several Milestones: "It’s that time again and Conan fans from all over will gather in the town of Cross Plains, Texas June 10-11 to honor Robert E. Howard’s works and life.
Robert E. Howard Days 2011 will be held Friday and Saturday, June 10-11th. Howard History will be the theme, celebrating four anniversaries: 100 years of Cross Plains, 75 Years honoring the legacy of Robert E. Howard, 50th Anniversary of the 1st publication of Glenn Lord’s seminal REH Publication: The Howard Collector, and the 25th Anniversary of the first REH Days."
Robert E. Howard Days 2011 will be held Friday and Saturday, June 10-11th. Howard History will be the theme, celebrating four anniversaries: 100 years of Cross Plains, 75 Years honoring the legacy of Robert E. Howard, 50th Anniversary of the 1st publication of Glenn Lord’s seminal REH Publication: The Howard Collector, and the 25th Anniversary of the first REH Days."
Forgotten Films: On Guard
Couldn't find a trailer for this one.Okay, I'm feeling quite intellectual this evening because I've watched a movie with subtitles. It was also the most entertaining movie I've seen in a long time. When it comes to buckling swashes, this French movie makes The Mask of Zorro look like a pathetic wannbe.
One thing I really liked was the filming of the action scenes. Nobody's jumping around on trampolines or doing wire work. The fencing looks like actual fencing, without any of the MTV-inspired quick cutting that ruined most of the action scenes in movies like Gladiator for me.
The cinematograpy is excellent. The movie glows, and the scenery is beautiful. I wish I'd seen this movie in a theater.
As for the plot, it's the old revenge story, with action that hardly ever lets up. Everybody in the movie seems to be having a grand time, and there's plenty of humor mixed into the action. Wit and energy: what a concept!
Why doesn't Hollywood make movies like this anymore? Probably because it's "old-fashioned." Maybe I enjoyed it so much because I'm an old poop.
One thing I really liked was the filming of the action scenes. Nobody's jumping around on trampolines or doing wire work. The fencing looks like actual fencing, without any of the MTV-inspired quick cutting that ruined most of the action scenes in movies like Gladiator for me.
The cinematograpy is excellent. The movie glows, and the scenery is beautiful. I wish I'd seen this movie in a theater.
As for the plot, it's the old revenge story, with action that hardly ever lets up. Everybody in the movie seems to be having a grand time, and there's plenty of humor mixed into the action. Wit and energy: what a concept!
Why doesn't Hollywood make movies like this anymore? Probably because it's "old-fashioned." Maybe I enjoyed it so much because I'm an old poop.
Monday, June 06, 2011
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
My aunt Ellen, who has a lot to answer for, gave me a book for my 9th birthday. It was called The Book of Amazing Facts, and it was filled with all kinds of trivia. I loved it, and there's little question that it contributed to my blossoming nerdhood. I've enjoyed books of trivia ever since, which is why I was glad to come into possession of Eric Grzymkowski's Attack of the Killer Facts. While Grzymkowski doesn't guarantee that every fact is really a fact, the source for each one is given. What more could you ask? If you ever wondered how many cases of rabies were reported in the U. S. in 2008 or when the last member of the Bonaparte family died, and how, or the name of the only American bird that hibernates (and who doesn't?), this is the book for you. Check it out.
Here's the Plot for Your Next Social Issue Thriller
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Straw Hat Riot of 1922 was a riot that occurred in New York City in 1922 due to people wearing straw hats past the unofficial date that was deemed socially acceptable, September 15. It lasted three days, and it led to many arrests and some injuries."
Amazon Millionaires
Amazon Media Room:News Release: "Lee Child and Suzanne Collins Surpass One Million Kindle Books Sold"
Spelling Test
Can you spell as well as the winners of the Scripps National Spelling Bee? - By Nina Shen Rastogi - Slate Magazine: "Last night, Sukanya Roy, a 14-year-old from Pennsylvania, won the 84th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling cymotrichous, a Greek-descended word meaning 'having wavy hair.' Are your orthographic skills better than an eighth grader's? Try our mock spelling bee and find out."
Scholarly Website Revisited
It's nice to know that scholarly pursuits aren't limited to the Groves of Academe. So when a worthy website such as The Encyclopedia of Women in Prison Films is called to my attention (as this one was by the inimitable Steve Stilwell, an old retired bookseller with a heart condition), I like to let others know about it.
Rocket Science -- Jay Lake
I wanted to read this book because of a review I saw here. After all, who can resist a novel set just after WWII in which a fast-talking G.I. has brought to his small Kansas hometown a spaceship dug out from under the Arctic ice by the Nazis? And who can resist reading about the complications that ensue when "Nazis, resurgent Russian Commies, Chicago gangsters and the U.S. military" all come after said spaceship? Not me. I'd never read anything by Jay Lake before, but I can see why some people think he has a bright future in the SF field. He writes clean prose, and he has a good feel for character. His research for Rocket Science seems excellent, as the setting and the people ring true. Some of the plot complications are a little hard to swallow, but it's all in good fun. It's almost as if Lake were trying to prove that he could write a book of the kind "they don't write any more." If you're up for a little SF adventure and you're not too demanding, give Rocket Science a try.
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Shamus Submissions
PRIVATE EYE WRITERS OF AMERICA ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR 2011 SHAMUS AWARDS - For Works First Published in the U.S. in 2010
The Private Eye Writers of America is calling for submissions for the 2011 Shamus Awards for private eye novels and short stories first published in the United States in 2010. The awards will be presented in St. Louis in the fall of 2011, during the Bouchercon world mystery convention.
The categories are Best Hardcover PI novel, Best First PI novel, Best PI paperback original and Best PI short story. Eligible works must feature as a main character a person PAID for investigative work but NOT employed for that work by a unit of government. These include traditionally licensed private investigators; lawyers and reporters who do their own investigations; and others who function as hired private agents. These do NOT include law enforcement officers, other government employees or amateur, uncompensated sleuths.
NOT eligible for consideration are self-published works, e-books or works for which the author is not paid. All submissions must be in hard copy.
DEADLINE for submissions is July 1, 2011.
For a copy of the full guidelines and submissions information, contact Shamus Awards Chair Ted Fitzgerald at tedfitz[at] msn.com.
The Private Eye Writers of America is calling for submissions for the 2011 Shamus Awards for private eye novels and short stories first published in the United States in 2010. The awards will be presented in St. Louis in the fall of 2011, during the Bouchercon world mystery convention.
The categories are Best Hardcover PI novel, Best First PI novel, Best PI paperback original and Best PI short story. Eligible works must feature as a main character a person PAID for investigative work but NOT employed for that work by a unit of government. These include traditionally licensed private investigators; lawyers and reporters who do their own investigations; and others who function as hired private agents. These do NOT include law enforcement officers, other government employees or amateur, uncompensated sleuths.
NOT eligible for consideration are self-published works, e-books or works for which the author is not paid. All submissions must be in hard copy.
DEADLINE for submissions is July 1, 2011.
For a copy of the full guidelines and submissions information, contact Shamus Awards Chair Ted Fitzgerald at tedfitz[at] msn.com.
Harry Bernstein, R. I. P.
iWon News - Harry Bernstein, published at age 96, dies at 101: "NEW YORK (AP) - Harry Bernstein, whose acclaimed memoir of an English childhood haunted by anti-Semitism - 'The Invisible Wall' - was published when he was 96, has died at 101."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Benny Spellman, R. I. P.
Benny Spellman, singer of 'Lipstick Traces' and 'Fortune Teller,' dies | NOLA.com: "Benny Spellman, the vocalist whose double-sided recording “Fortune Teller” and “Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)” ranks as an enduring classic of New Orleans rhythm & blues, died Friday after a long illness. He was 79."
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
It's Boston in 1854. Louisa May Alcott isn't famous yet, but she's already writing. She's writing sensational thrillers, and little does she know that she's about to be caught up in a real-life murder. When her best friend is found floating in Boston Harbor, it's up to Louisa to become an amateur sleuth and bring the villain to justice. Anna Maclean's Louisa and the Missing Heiress is fiction, of course, not fact, a historical mystery with a basis in fact. The Alcotts were an interesting group, and Louisa's adventures
Anna Maclean is the pen name of Jeanne Mackin, a well-known historical novelist, and you can count on historical accuracy and good writing in her new series.
Case Histories -- Kate Atkinson
Three cold cases form the basis for this novel. The cases and their roots in the past are laid out in the beginning, and then in the present a private-eye named Jackson Brodie is hired to look into them. Brodie, a former police inspector, has a number of problems of his own. His wife has left him and married another man, and he's started smoking again. His cases aren't very interesting. For example, one of them involves looking for an old woman's cats. Then the three cold cases come into his life, and things perk up considerably for him.As he begins his investigations, the lives of the principals in the cases intersect occasionally, but only coincidentally. What really interests Atkinson, it seems, is the lives of all the characters. On rara-avis, the hard-boiled list, a couple of people are discussing one of Elmore Leonard's "rules," the one about leaving out "the part that readers tend to skip" -- detailed descriptions of weather, place, things, characters, and so on. Atkinson doesn't follow this rule. In fact, most of the book is made up of those things.
There's another rule that every writer or would-be writer has heard a million times: "show, don't tell." Atkinson flouts that one, too. Probably 80% of this book is telling. And I don't see a thing wrong with that. When did the "show, don't tell" rule come along, anyway? With Hammett and Hemingway? Case Histories is a throwback to a different kind of writing, and obviously a lot of people like it. I generally prefer leaner stuff, but now and then something like Case Histories is kind of fun.
My main problem with the intertwined stories is that I knew almost from the beginning where two of them were going. There was no way to know about the third because the information wasn't there. I also knew just about exactly what was going on with the Cat Lady and how that tale would turn out. I didn't really mind. Sometimes the trip is more important than the destination. The next time you want a change of pace from the lean and mean (if you ever do), you might give Case Histories a try.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Andrew Gold, R. I. P.
Andrew Gold Dies From Heart Attack At 59 - Undercover.fm News: "Singer / songwriter Andrew Gold has died at the age of 59 from a heart attack.
Gold was best known for his 1977 hit ‘Lonely Boy’ and 1978’s ‘Thank You For Being A Friend’, the later became the theme for the hit TV series The Golden Girls that ran from 1985-1992."
Gold was best known for his 1977 hit ‘Lonely Boy’ and 1978’s ‘Thank You For Being A Friend’, the later became the theme for the hit TV series The Golden Girls that ran from 1985-1992."
Hard Case Crime Update from Charles Ardai
I know it's only June and September feels far away -- but it's only 3 months, so I wanted to make sure you knew that's when Hard Case Crime is coming back, after a whole year away.
Our year's hiatus was due to the exit from the book publishing business of the publisher we'd worked with since launching the line, Dorchester Publishing. We're now working with a new publisher, the terrific UK-based Titan Books, who in turn works with Random House in the States, and it feels like our books couldn't be in better hands.
To kick things off we'll be publishing our first ever hardcover title, a brand new novel by Lawrence Block called GETTING OFF. It's the first original novel Block has ever written for us (all our previous Block titles were reprints of his early work), and honest to god, this thing is going to startle people. For it, Block is resurrecting a female pseudonym he last used almost 40 years ago (we're publishing it as by "Lawrence Block writing as Jill Emerson"), under which he wrote six frankly erotic novels in the 60s and 70s. GETTING OFF is a Jill Emerson book all right, in terms of its rather explicit content -- but it's a Lawrence Block book, too, in terms of its compelling crime story plot and its disturbingly appealing main character, who may have the highest body count on her hands of any woman ever to headline a mystery novel, but whom you find yourself quite liking despite that.
It's hard, these days, to call a book shocking and really mean it, but I would bet money on readers genuinely being shocked by some of this book's content.
In a good way, of course.
Also coming in late September is a new story about Max Allan Collins' popular hit man character, Quarry, in QUARRY'S EX, and then in October we have two titles people have been waiting for for a long time: CHOKE HOLD, Christa Faust's follow-up to her Edgar Award-nominated Hard Case Crime novel MONEY SHOT; and THE CONSUMMATA, a novel Mickey Spillane started writing in the 1960s (and that Signet announced in its catalogue at the time), but that he set aside unfinished until shortly before his death, at which time he asked old friend Max Allan Collins to complete it for him. It's taken 44 years, but THE CONSUMMATA is finally finished and we're very excited to be the ones bringing it to readers at last. Set in Miami's Cuban-American community and starring the main character of Spillane's bestselling THE DELTA FACTOR, it's a great read, Spillane at his irrepressible Spillaniest.
If you'd be interested in writing anything about the relaunch of Hard Case Crime or about any of these four books, please drop me a note. In some cases, I know Titan Books has already shipped advance copies to people on our mailing list, so you might have ARCs already -- but if you don't and would like to read these titles, just let me know. (I can get them to you as pdfs immediately if you like reading ARCs that way, and Titan has some printed ARCs left as well. And of course we should have finished books from the printer in a month or so.)
Spillane's not around anymore, alas, but the other three authors are (and I am), so if you wanted to interview any of them, I can set that up, too. And I can supply copies of the cover art, or anything else you need.
For a quick peek at the four books (as well as our first 2012 title, a never-before-published novel by Donald E. Westlake!), visit http://www.hardcasecrime.com/books_bios.cgi.
Many thanks,
Charles
---------
Charles Ardai
Editor, Hard Case Crime
Our year's hiatus was due to the exit from the book publishing business of the publisher we'd worked with since launching the line, Dorchester Publishing. We're now working with a new publisher, the terrific UK-based Titan Books, who in turn works with Random House in the States, and it feels like our books couldn't be in better hands.
To kick things off we'll be publishing our first ever hardcover title, a brand new novel by Lawrence Block called GETTING OFF. It's the first original novel Block has ever written for us (all our previous Block titles were reprints of his early work), and honest to god, this thing is going to startle people. For it, Block is resurrecting a female pseudonym he last used almost 40 years ago (we're publishing it as by "Lawrence Block writing as Jill Emerson"), under which he wrote six frankly erotic novels in the 60s and 70s. GETTING OFF is a Jill Emerson book all right, in terms of its rather explicit content -- but it's a Lawrence Block book, too, in terms of its compelling crime story plot and its disturbingly appealing main character, who may have the highest body count on her hands of any woman ever to headline a mystery novel, but whom you find yourself quite liking despite that.
It's hard, these days, to call a book shocking and really mean it, but I would bet money on readers genuinely being shocked by some of this book's content.
In a good way, of course.
Also coming in late September is a new story about Max Allan Collins' popular hit man character, Quarry, in QUARRY'S EX, and then in October we have two titles people have been waiting for for a long time: CHOKE HOLD, Christa Faust's follow-up to her Edgar Award-nominated Hard Case Crime novel MONEY SHOT; and THE CONSUMMATA, a novel Mickey Spillane started writing in the 1960s (and that Signet announced in its catalogue at the time), but that he set aside unfinished until shortly before his death, at which time he asked old friend Max Allan Collins to complete it for him. It's taken 44 years, but THE CONSUMMATA is finally finished and we're very excited to be the ones bringing it to readers at last. Set in Miami's Cuban-American community and starring the main character of Spillane's bestselling THE DELTA FACTOR, it's a great read, Spillane at his irrepressible Spillaniest.
If you'd be interested in writing anything about the relaunch of Hard Case Crime or about any of these four books, please drop me a note. In some cases, I know Titan Books has already shipped advance copies to people on our mailing list, so you might have ARCs already -- but if you don't and would like to read these titles, just let me know. (I can get them to you as pdfs immediately if you like reading ARCs that way, and Titan has some printed ARCs left as well. And of course we should have finished books from the printer in a month or so.)
Spillane's not around anymore, alas, but the other three authors are (and I am), so if you wanted to interview any of them, I can set that up, too. And I can supply copies of the cover art, or anything else you need.
For a quick peek at the four books (as well as our first 2012 title, a never-before-published novel by Donald E. Westlake!), visit http://www.hardcasecrime.com/books_bios.cgi.
Many thanks,
Charles
---------
Charles Ardai
Editor, Hard Case Crime
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Walt Longmire is back in Craig Johnson's Hell is Empty. If you've read the earlier books in the series, that's all you need to know. If you haven't, this is as good a time as any to get started. Smooth first-person narration, quirky characters, great outdoorsy setting (Wyoming), plenty of action. Longmire's fine company, and the mystery's got plenty of twists. I believe these books are being considered as a TV series. I hope they make it. Should be great fun.
Friday, June 03, 2011
First it Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .
Trenton barber is accused of biting customer's ear in half after complaint about slow haircut | NJ.com: "Trenton barber is accused of biting customer's ear in half after complaint about slow haircut"
Will the Persecution Never End?
It’s Official: Nobody Cares About Paris Hilton Anymore -- Vulture: "It’s Official: Nobody Cares About Paris Hilton Anymore"
James Arness, R. I. P.
James Arness: Actor James Arness dies at 88; "Gunsmoke's" Marshal Dillon - latimes.com: "James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the strong and commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV western series 'Gunsmoke,' died Friday. He was 88."
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
10-year-old boy gets ticket for not wearing seat belt properly: "ROUND ROCK — On his way home Tuesday from Jim Plain Elementary School in Leander, fourth-grader Marshall May, sitting in the passenger seat of the family minivan, was ticketed for not wearing his seat belt properly."
Joel Rosenberg, R. I. P.
SF Signal: RIP: Joel Rosenberg: "Author Joel Rosenberg has passed away. Joel was the author of the Guardians of the Flame fantasy series as well as several science fiction books."
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Steve Mertz's Hank & Muddy isn't due from Perfect Crime until August 1, but I couldn't wait to mention it because I'm really glad to see that it's being published. I read a bit of the manuscript a while back, and I thought it was terrific. It's set in 1952, and the idea is that for a few days that year, Hank Williams and Muddy Waters were thrown together for some drinking, whoring, and adventure. They wind up dodging bullets, Klansmen, and mobsters. And there are alligators! You'll want to put this one on your must-read list for August.
American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today -- Jay Warner
This is a reprint and update of The Billboard Book of American Singing Groups, and it's terrific. It's an encyclopedia of just about every American singing group you can think of, and most of the entries include a discography. I love stuff like this, and I've spent hours reading the entries. Do I have any complaints? Sure. It's the "just about" above that's the catch. I mean, why include folk-era groups like Peter, Paul, and Mary and the Highwaymen but not the Kingston Trio? What's up with that? There are also some other groups that are sorely missed, but the hundreds that are included are all wonderful to read about. Doo-wop, rock, and pop are all treated extensively. If you like this sort of thing, you need this book.
The Gutter and the Grave -- Ed McBain
A long time ago I read a book called I'm Cannon -- For Hire. It was a Gold Medal edition by "Curt Cannon," who was also the novel's main character. Cannon, as you probably know, was a pen name used by Evan Hunter.
Now Hard Case Crime has reissued the novel under what I suppose is Hunter's original title, and the main character's name has been changed to Matt Cordell, who (if memory serves, and it rarely does) was the name of the character in a series of short stories that appeared in Manhunt. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I have the facts wrong.) Some of these stories were reprinted in a Gold Medal book called I Like 'em Tough by Curt Cannon, with the main character's name again being Curt Cannon.
At any rate, The Gutter and the Grave is a highly entertaining novel. You have to believe that Lawrence Block must have read it or the short stories because, like Matthew Scudder, Cordell/Cannon is a former p.i. who has no license now nad spends his time drinking. He can, however, be talked into "doing a favor for a friend." The favor sounds simple enough, but it leads to murder in short order, and then it becomes a lot more complicated. Hunter writes a good bit about musicians in the course of the book, and he seems to have particularly enjoyed it. Some of the "hip" talk will seem a little dated to you whippersnappers, but I remember it well. And when it comes to driving a story a long, McBain is hard to beat. He had the narrative gift. Pick this one up and see what you think.
And Keep Off His Lawn!
Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Bellringers locked in church in a ding-dong over the noise: "THE sound of church bells ringing out on a Sunday evening was hardly music to the ears of one furious villager.
Driven mad by the noise, the angry pensioner stormed into the church and climbed up to the belfry, swearing at the team of astonished bellringers and threatening to damage their cars.
Then the unknown man, believed to be in his 70s or 80s, took even more drastic action to stop the racket."
Driven mad by the noise, the angry pensioner stormed into the church and climbed up to the belfry, swearing at the team of astonished bellringers and threatening to damage their cars.
Then the unknown man, believed to be in his 70s or 80s, took even more drastic action to stop the racket."
Forgotten Books: Tales from Deadwood -- Mike Jameson
Let's be clear about one thing from the outset: there's no connection between this book and the TV series Deadwood. And let's be clear about something else: the publishers would love for you to think there's a connection between this book and the TV seriesDeadwood.
Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about the book, which is by that hot new writer Mike Jameson, who looks a lot like that hot, slightly older writer James Reasoner. Even though it's clearly a set-up for more books to follow, it's a dandy historical novel and damned fine entertainment. It mixes the expected historical characters (Wild Bill Hickok, Colorado Charley Utter, Al Swearengen, Calamity Jane, etc.) with some fictional ones (Dan Ryan, Bellamy Bridges), and you can bet their lives with intertwine in the forthcoming books in the series. What I liked best about Tales from Deadwoodwas the surprising ways the characters developed: Dan Ryan's unlikely romance, Bellamy Bridges' changing from an innocent farm boy to something else, Fletch Parkhurst's apparent rejection of a certain way of doing things, and so on. There's plenty of interesting material here for further stories.
One thing I like a lot about the TV series (to which this book is not connected in any way) is the way some of the episodes conclude. The book's epilogue captures a certain mood as well as the pictures on my screen do, and maybe even better. Some top-notch writing here by Mr. Jameson. I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series.
I just have one question for Mr. Jameson. Where the heck did that cover come from? It certainly doesn't depict a scene in the novel, or anything resembling a scene in the novel. That was a shabby trick by the publisher because with a classier cover and better packaging (which it certainly deserves), Tales from Deadwood could have been a best-seller. Maybe it will be, anyway. We can always hope.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
Texas city bans sagging on city buses - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana: "FORT WORTH, TX (KXAS/NBC) - One Texas city is banning saggy pants from public transportation.
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority said drivers will start asking customers to pull up their sagging pants, or they won't be let on the bus."
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority said drivers will start asking customers to pull up their sagging pants, or they won't be let on the bus."
Fayrene 'Faye' Treadwell, R. I. P.
Fayrene 'Faye' Treadwell, Former Drifters Manager, Dead at 84 - Spinner: "Fayrene 'Faye' Treadwell, one of the first female African-American band managers, died May 22 at her Burbank, Calif. home, the Los Angeles Times reports. The 84-year-old former manager of R&B group the Drifters died of complications of breast cancer.
Treadwell began managing the Drifters after the band's manager, her husband George Treadwell, died in 1967. She then took up the reins for the 'This Magic Moment' singers, even winning them a long-running lawsuit that stopped promoters from infringing upon the group's trademark name."
Treadwell began managing the Drifters after the band's manager, her husband George Treadwell, died in 1967. She then took up the reins for the 'This Magic Moment' singers, even winning them a long-running lawsuit that stopped promoters from infringing upon the group's trademark name."
first It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . . .
Xbox Gamer Allegedly Tricks SWAT Team Into Investigating Rival's Home - The Consumerist: "An online gaming disagreement turned into a nightmare for a gamer who refused to do the bidding of a person he spoke to over Xbox Live. The victim alleges a rival somehow discovered his name, address and phone number, then falsely reported a murder-suicide at his home, causing a SWAT team to descend on his home."
Major Opportunity!
If you could ask Paris Hilton any question, what would it be? - EiTB News Life: "This Friday, Paris Hilton will give an exclusive interview to EITB during her visit to Bilbao. Eitb.com is offering you the opportunity to put your questions to the famous heiress, as easy as leaving a comment at the bottom of this page."
Well, not this page, but at the link. What are you waiting for?
Mental Illness in Fiction
Mental Illness in Fiction on AbeBooks: "Few conditions are as often stigmatized, misdiagnosed and misunderstood as mental illnesses. Whether schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, or any other maladies of the mind, you can be sure there has been controversial debate about it. At times it seems as though early treatments were little more than trial and error or process of elimination."
Gator Update (Concrete Edition)
Independence Police Shoot At Concrete Alligator - WDAF: "INDEPENDENCE, Mo.— An alligator caused a lot of commotion for one Independence man Sunday when three Independence police officers shot at his concrete lawn ornament.
Rick Sheridan was working in his garage when he heard gunshots. He went around the back of his house to a pond, where he saw three police officers.� The three officers had spotted the gator and were lined up on the bank, shooting at the large reptile.� �"
Rick Sheridan was working in his garage when he heard gunshots. He went around the back of his house to a pond, where he saw three police officers.� The three officers had spotted the gator and were lined up on the bank, shooting at the large reptile.� �"
Here's the Plot for Your Next SF Thriller
Worms from hell identified far below the Earth's surface: "Worms from hell identified far below the Earth's surface"
If -- Worlds of Science Fiction January 1954
I won this issue of If on eBay the other day. If was probably never thought of as one of the major SF magazines of the '50s, but it was a favorite of mine. After reading this issue, I can't see why it wasn't more highly regarded. The lead "short novel" is "Malice in Wonderland" by Evan Hunter, and it's a dilly. It's almost as if Hunter had been been reading Alfred Bester. The ending is weak, but maybe Hunter fixed that when he expanded the story into a novel called Tomorrow and Tomorrow, published under the Hunt Collins name. I have two or three copies of the novel, but I've never read it. The narrator of the story is a literary agent, which made it interesting right off the bat. His society is divided between the Vikes and the Rees, and the Vikes are required to shoot up with dope on a regular schedule, wear as little clothing as possible, and avoid marriage and having children. The Rees are opposed to the Vike way of life. It's a fast-moving, interesting story, and I guess I'll have to read the novel.
The issue also contains Damon Knight's "Anachron," which has become something of a classic time-travel story. I'd almost be willing to bet that no SF magazine that appeared in January 1954 had two stories of equal quality.
Admittedly, however, the Mack Reynolds story, "Off Course," is minor. Very minor. It's one of those stories that you read and say, "I could write a better story than that." Maybe you couldn't, but you'd like to think you could. It's supposed to be humorous, but it's only trite.
James E. Gunn's "A Word for Freedom" is a little preachy, and it has a basic idea very similar to "Malice in Wonderland." It suffers a little by comparison, but it's still not bad.
Harry Harrison contributed a very short story called "Navy Day," which is not much more than a shaggy dog story. The best thing about it is that it's funnier and better written that the one by Reynolds.
Richard Wilson's "Double Take" is another story that reminded me a little of "Malice in Wonderland." Maybe it's just me. It also reminded me of a far superior story, "Spectator Sport," by John D. MacDonald. It has a twist ending that you might not see coming if you've never read an SF story before.
Alan E. Nourse has the third-best story, "Letter of the Law," which reads like a story written for, and rejected by, John W. Campbell. It's about a trader on an alien world where all the natives are accomplished liars. The trader has violated their laws and is on trial for his life. He can survive only by astounding them with a bigger lie than they've ever heard before. He does, of course, but there are consequences.
The cover is by Ken Fagg (I'm not making that up).
All in all, this issue of If was a lot of fun to read. I miss the days when I could go to the Corner Bookstore in Mexia, Texas, and find a new batch of SF digests every month. Those were the days.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
The 100 best movie threats of all time - Viral Video - Salon.com
The 100 best movie threats of all time - Viral Video - Salon.com: "The 100 best movie threats of all time"
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
DALLAS, TX – Two superbly documented fragments of the original Star Spangled Banner, which inspired America’s national anthem in 1814 as it flew in defiance of the British over Ft. McHenry in Baltimore, MD, and were later in the collection of a Philadelphia museum, are expected to bring $60,000+ when they come up for bid as part of Heritage Auctions’ June 21 Arms & Militaria auction.
It is the first time in modern auction history, to the knowledge of Heritage specialists, that any fragments of the flag have appeared in a public auction.
Best Use of 3-D
thestar.com: "It’s a big universe out there.
Now astronomers are getting a better idea of just how big, thanks to a new 3-D map of the local universe, the most complete ever created."
Now astronomers are getting a better idea of just how big, thanks to a new 3-D map of the local universe, the most complete ever created."
Update
By the time you read this, I'll be ready to head off on a little vacation. The cat-sitter says she'll clean the litter box, but she won't blog. Not to worry! Thanks to blogger's scheduling function, all the regular features that you know and love should appear as usual, not to mention all kinds of exciting new stuff. Maybe I'll even work in some reports from the trip. At any rate, keep on visiting and commenting. I won't be able to reply to comments or to do much e-mailing, but I'll check in now and then to be sure all is going well.
Uh-Oh
DC Universe Reboot Confirmed - Comics News at IGN: "At last, DC Comics has shown their hand after weeks of speculation. The rumors of a massive DC Universe reboot have been confirmed. In September, comic fans will be the recipients of 52 #1 issues as the entire line of DC Universe titles gets a relaunch. Everyone from Superman to Booster Gold will be getting a revamp, which includes redesigns and a 'younger' continuity."
Hat tip to Randy Johnson.
Launching Today!
Amazon.com: The Dead Man: The Dead Woman eBook: Lee Goldberg, William Rabkin, David McAfee: Kindle Store: "BOOK #4 in thrilling DEAD MAN saga, the action/horror series that readers and book critics alike are hailing as 'an epic tale' that compares to the best of Stephen King and Dean Koontz...
Matt Cahill thought he was alone with his torment, that he was the only one who could see the evil in people’s souls as rotting flesh. But in a small town in Tennessee, terrorized by a vicious serial killer, Matt meets a woman who may see what he does…and together they must confront a horrific and immortal terror that thrives on death."
Matt Cahill thought he was alone with his torment, that he was the only one who could see the evil in people’s souls as rotting flesh. But in a small town in Tennessee, terrorized by a vicious serial killer, Matt meets a woman who may see what he does…and together they must confront a horrific and immortal terror that thrives on death."
Stilwell Put the Twin Cities over the Top
The Atlantic: "The fittest metro in America is Minneapolis-St. Paul, according to the annual American Fitness Index™ (AFI), just released by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The Twin Cities finished third last year; this year they pushed perennial winner Washington, DC into second place. Their winning rank reflects the cities' relatively low (and rapidly-diminishing) smoking rate, their above-average percentage of regular exercisers, moderate-to-low rates of obesity, asthma, diabetes, and other chronic concerns, and rising share of farmers' markets (indicative of a trend towards healthier dining). Boston takes the bronze, with Portland, Oregon fourth and Denver in fifth place. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Oklahoma City ranks as America's least fit metro, followed by Louisville, Memphis, Birmingham, and Detroit."
Peacemaker Awards
Western Fictioneers (WF) is pleased to announce the WINNERs for the first annual (2010) Peacemaker Awards.
BEST SHORT STORY
WINNER:
Wayne Dundee, “This Old Star” from the anthology Bad Cop…No Donut (Padwolf Publishing)
FINALISTS:
Carol Crigger, “Left Behind” from the anthology Roundup! Great Stories of the West (La Frontera Publishing
C. Courtney Joyner , “Two-Bit Kill” from the anthology Law of the Gun (Kensington)
Matthew P. Mayo, “Scourge of Spoils” from the anthology Steampunk’d (DAW Books, Inc.)
Pete Peterson, “Catch a Killer by the Toe” published by Untreed Reads
BEST NOVEL:
WINNER:
Lyle Brandt (winner), Manhunt (Berkley)
FINALISTS:
Lyle Brandt, Avenging Angels (Berkley)
D.H. Eraldi, Settler’s Chase (Berkley)
Dusty Richards, Wulf’s Tracks (Berkley)
Kit Prate, Long Ride to Limbo -- Western Trail Blazer
(an imprint of Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery)
S. Craig Zahler, Congregation of Jackals (Dorchester Publishing)
Western Fictioneers (WF) was formed in 2010 by Robert J. Randisi, James Reasoner, Frank Roderus, and other professional Western writers, to preserve, honor, and promote traditional Western writing in the 21st century. Entries were accepted in both print and electronic forms. The Peacemaker Awards will be given out annually. Submissions for the 2011 awards will be open in July, 2011. Submission guidelines will be posted on the WF web site. For more information about Western Fictioneers (WF) please visit:
http://www.westernfictioneers.
Contact: Larry D. Sweazy, WF Awards Chair, larrysweazy@prodigy.net, 317-773-9809
Block/Silverberg Conversation
The evening's conversation is covered here, with lots of other interesting info: eFanzines.com - Earl Kemp: eI56 - e*I* Vol. 10 No. 3
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