The 11 greatest, craziest sci-fi crossovers in television history
Hat tip to Toby O'Brien.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
I read the original hardback edition of this one years ago, and I'm happy to recommend this new eBook edition. Good stuff!
Blood Red Sun: Stephen Mertz: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Japan is at the brink of surrender. It is the eve of the Emperor's announcement of his country's acceptance of the Allied terms of surrender. But a core of fanatical extremists in the Emperor's military, descended from the legendary Samurai warriors of feudal Japan—and other, more shadowy factions of power shrouded in the mysteries of this ancient society—vow never to surrender. The overthrow of the Emperor is only the first step in their insane scheme.
Sergeant John Ballard is a battle-hardened commando. The best the army's got when it comes to fighting dirty. Years of surviving on the edge are starting to eat away at him but Ballard can't stop now. General Douglas MacArthur himself has just handed Ballard what may be the most impossible mission of the war.
Keiko Tamura is a young Japanese woman, gutsy, independent; the blood of the Samurai flows in her veins. Educated in America before the war, she is willing to risk her life to end the military madness that has brought her country to ruin.
Unlikely allies thrown together, these two alone stand in the way of one final, sinister, far-reaching plot with millions of American and Japanese lives at stake.
Boxer 'Macho' Camacho, R. I. P.
SFGate: Former championship boxer Hector "Macho" Camacho died Saturday at the hospital in Puerto Rico where he has been unconscious since he was shot in the face in an attack in his hometown.
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Once Again Texas Leads the Way
Houston - News: A Katy father and his adult son and daughter have all been charged with bank robbery, and police believe that the family team might have knocked over as many as six other banks in Oregon and Texas.
Larry Hagman, R. I. P.
Larry Hagman dead: J.R. Ewing was a business cheat, faithless husband and bottomless well of corruption. Yet with his sparkling grin, Larry Hagman masterfully created the charmingly loathsome oil baron — and coaxed forth a Texas-size gusher of ratings — on television's long-running and hugely successful nighttime soap, "Dallas."
Although he first gained fame as nice guy Capt. Tony Nelson on the fluffy 1965-70 NBC comedy "I Dream of Jeannie," Hagman earned his greatest stardom with J.R. The CBS serial drama about the Ewing family and those in their orbit aired from April 1978 to May 1991, and broke viewing records with its "Who shot J.R.?" 1980 cliffhanger that left unclear if Hagman's character was dead.
Although he first gained fame as nice guy Capt. Tony Nelson on the fluffy 1965-70 NBC comedy "I Dream of Jeannie," Hagman earned his greatest stardom with J.R. The CBS serial drama about the Ewing family and those in their orbit aired from April 1978 to May 1991, and broke viewing records with its "Who shot J.R.?" 1980 cliffhanger that left unclear if Hagman's character was dead.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Frank Sinatra in a Blender -- Matthew McBride
When you're looking for something that's out of the mainstream, a little bit bizarre, grisly, violent, shocking, and sometimes even funny, you can count on New Pulp Press. Matthew McBride's Frank Sinatra in a Blender delivers on all counts.Nick Valentine is a private-eye who consumes enough alcohol and Oxycontin to kill just about anybody, and that's just by page 10. He's helping the cops on a suspicious suicide case that turns out to be tied to a savings-and-loan robbery. The robbery results in the mcguffin, a bag full of cash. Valentine is also working with Amish Ron on a related case. Gotta love the names. There's also Johnny No Nuts.
There's some detecting going on, but there's also torture, dismemberment, and, yes, Frank Sinatra in a blender. Plus shotguns and chainsaws. If you think Mickey Spillane's work is too brutal, if you prefer those nice little murders where no one gets hurt, this is not the book for you. If you're wondering what's out there on the cutting edge and aren't easily offended, then give it a try. You won't be disappointed.
Forgotten Books: Tales from Super-Science Fiction -- Edited by Robert Silverberg
Yes, I'm cheating again. This isn't a forgotten book. It's brand new. Almost. But the stories inside are from a nearly forgotten digest of the '50s, and a favorite of mine, not so much for the stories but for the covers by Emsh and Freas. They were wonderful, as the one reproduced on the cover of the book shows you. As a bonus, the covers of all 18 issues of the magazine are included on the front and back endpapers (and a couple on the back cover). The interior illos are included with the stories, too.In his introduction to the volume, Robert Silverberg talks about what fun it was to write for Super-Science Fiction. He must have enjoyed it, since he provide numerous stories for it, sometimes two, three, and four an issue. It was also a financial pleasure, since the pay was two cents a word. In the '50s. People are still writing for that, or less, now.
Super-Science Fiction wasn't the class of the SF field. It published mostly straightforward adventure stories of the kind that a lot of readers now wouldn't consider worthy of notice. Near the end of its run it even started running "Special Monster Issues" that featured, you guessed it, monsters. Every story with its own monster. These stories didn't save the magazine, but they were still fun.
Besides his intro to the collection, Silverberg also has brief intros to each story. You can always learn something from reading Silverberg's intros.
This isn't a book for everyone, but some of you will enjoy it as much as I do. You know who you are. You get the cover reproductions, Silverberg's intros, and the stories themselves, all in one great volume. Highly recommended.
Introduction by Robert Silverberg
"Catch 'Em All Alive" by Robert Silverberg
"Who Am I?" by Henry Slesar
"Every Day is Christmas" by James E. Gunn
"I'll Take Over" by A.Bertram Chandler
"Song of the Axe" by Don Berry
"Broomstick Ride" by Robert Bloch
"Worlds of Origin" by Jack Vance
"The Tool of Creation" by J.F. Bone
"I Want to Go Home" by Robert Moore Williams
"Hostile Life-Form" by Daniel L. Galouye
"The Gift of Numbers" by Alan E. Nourse
"First Man in a Satellite" by Charles W. Runyon
"A Place Beyond the Stars" by Tom Godwin
"The Loathsome Beasts" by Dan Malcolm (aka Silverberg)
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Deborah Raffin, R. I. P.
San Jose Mercury News: Deborah Raffin, an actress who ran a successful audiobook company with the help of her celebrity friends, has died. She was 59.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
PSA
Judy and I will out and about for a few days, and I'll have limited Internet access most of the time. The blog will soldier on with some scheduled posts, and I'll try to drop in from time to time. This year Thanksgiving falls on a momentous date. It's the date of the Kennedy assassination, of course, but it's also the date of my mother's birthday. So I thought it would be nice to post a photo of her by way of remembrance. I sure miss her.
The Next Big Thing
The Next Big Thing is a blog project designed to help writers get the word out about their latest works. I'll be tagging five writers at the end of those Q&A, and they'll be doing their own blogs about their work next week. Check 'em all out.
1. What is the working title of your next book?
It's Compound Murder. It's coming next August from St. Martin's, and I'm pretty sure the title is set.
2. Where did the idea for the book come from?
The book is part of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, and I started thinking that there was probably at least one person in Blacklin County who didn't think much of having the government interfere in his life. So I took off from there. I think I have the idea worked out pretty well, but we'll see.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
Like all the other Sheriff Rhodes books, this one's a crime novel. I don't think it's a cozy, but on the other hand it's not hardboiled either. One of my agents once told me that I'd invented my own genre, the hardboiled cozy. I'll take that.
4. What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie?
For Sheriff Rhodes I'd pick either Tommy Lee Jones or Matthew McConaughey. Either one could do the humor, and neither would have to fake the accent.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Small-town murder is a big-time problem.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This one will be published by St. Martin's as mentioned above. I'm represented by an agent, but I do some self-publishing, too. I'm writing books as Colby Jackson (along with Mel Odom and James Reasoner) for the Rancho Diablo series of eBooks.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I've slowed down a lot these days. I used to work very quickly, but now it takes me several months to get a book done. About four months for Compound Murder.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
What I usually say when people ask me that question is that there are no other books like mine, mainly because I'm a pretty weird guy. So I'll stick with that answer.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I don't usually wait for inspiration. For this book, I had a contract to fulfill. The contract calls for an untitled book in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, so as usual I thought for a few days about what might work, came up with an idea, and started writing. Sometimes things other people say will give me an idea, and I already know what the next book after Compound Murder will be about, thanks to something someone suggested to me, more less in fun. I thought it would be fun, and I'm going to give it a shot.
10. What else about the book might pique a reader's interest?
Sex! Violence! Sudden death!
One week from today, be sure to check out what Kevin Tipple, Mel Odom, Sharon Wildwind, Jochem Vandersteen, and Troy Smith have to say in answer to these questions, too.
1. What is the working title of your next book?
It's Compound Murder. It's coming next August from St. Martin's, and I'm pretty sure the title is set.
2. Where did the idea for the book come from?
The book is part of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, and I started thinking that there was probably at least one person in Blacklin County who didn't think much of having the government interfere in his life. So I took off from there. I think I have the idea worked out pretty well, but we'll see.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
Like all the other Sheriff Rhodes books, this one's a crime novel. I don't think it's a cozy, but on the other hand it's not hardboiled either. One of my agents once told me that I'd invented my own genre, the hardboiled cozy. I'll take that.
4. What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie?
For Sheriff Rhodes I'd pick either Tommy Lee Jones or Matthew McConaughey. Either one could do the humor, and neither would have to fake the accent.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Small-town murder is a big-time problem.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This one will be published by St. Martin's as mentioned above. I'm represented by an agent, but I do some self-publishing, too. I'm writing books as Colby Jackson (along with Mel Odom and James Reasoner) for the Rancho Diablo series of eBooks.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I've slowed down a lot these days. I used to work very quickly, but now it takes me several months to get a book done. About four months for Compound Murder.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
What I usually say when people ask me that question is that there are no other books like mine, mainly because I'm a pretty weird guy. So I'll stick with that answer.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I don't usually wait for inspiration. For this book, I had a contract to fulfill. The contract calls for an untitled book in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, so as usual I thought for a few days about what might work, came up with an idea, and started writing. Sometimes things other people say will give me an idea, and I already know what the next book after Compound Murder will be about, thanks to something someone suggested to me, more less in fun. I thought it would be fun, and I'm going to give it a shot.
10. What else about the book might pique a reader's interest?
Sex! Violence! Sudden death!
One week from today, be sure to check out what Kevin Tipple, Mel Odom, Sharon Wildwind, Jochem Vandersteen, and Troy Smith have to say in answer to these questions, too.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Online Athens: Meredith Grayson Watson, of Hiawassee Avenue, got into an argument with his wife at the Roadhouse on North Lumpkin Street, then went outside and held a Taser as if it were his penis and discharged it at passersby, Athens-Clarke police said.
Signed Books for Christmas?
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Branham's Due (Holt County): Richard Prosch: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Holt County, Nebraska, 1881. Deputy sheriff Whit Branham sets out alone to bring in a scurvy killer, but will surprise alone be an advantage? Armed with his trusty Stevens 10-gauge and some hard won experience, even Branham isn't above giving the devil his due. This 3,000 word short story introduces Branham and is followed by a 2,000 word sneak peek at the deputy’s upcoming adventure, HOLT COUNTY LAW, a brand new novella slated for December.
Gator Update (Fence Climbing Edition)
Determined gator tries to reach the woods by climbing barbed wire fence
Photo at the link.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Photo at the link.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Justin Bieber comment leads to assault: The nephew then became angry, slammed down a plate of chili fries, and told his uncle he would beat him up.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Bonnie Lynn Fields, R. I. P.
latimes.com: Bonnie Lynn Fields, who danced and sang her way into pop-culture posterity as one of Walt Disney's Mouseketeers, died Saturday in Richmond, Ind. She was 68.
Hat tip to Toby O'Brien.
Hat tip to Toby O'Brien.
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
CultureMap Houston: Not since Pee-wee Herman asked to see the basement at the Alamo have workers at the Texas landmark witnessed this much confusion.
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) is investigating a possible theft from an Alamo office, where some believe an original copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence was swapped with a fake. Here's the catch — leaders at the historic site never knew this original copy of the document ever existed.
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) is investigating a possible theft from an Alamo office, where some believe an original copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence was swapped with a fake. Here's the catch — leaders at the historic site never knew this original copy of the document ever existed.
Overlooked Movies: Casino Royale (1967)
You don't hear much about this James Bond movie in all the celebration that's going on because of the 50th anniversary the beginning of the film series. I don't know the whole story behind the film, but apparently the makers of the other movies didn't own the rights to the novel version of Casino Royale. So in 1967 we got the goofiest Bond movie of all time.Many directors and writers, both credited and uncredited, worked on the movie. It's sort of as if they tossed the book into a blender, put the parts together at random, and tried to make a spoof of the other James Bond film. David Niven, as Bond, becomes head of MI6, and to fool SMERSH, he names all the other agents James Bond. See the trailer above for the results. Yes, even Woody Allen and Ursula Andress. To try to describe the plot wouldn't do much good.
The best thing about it might be the theme, maybe my favorite Bond theme of all, even if it's not official. The movie, though, is a mess. It's an entertaining mess at times, but the times are few.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Even apes have 'midlife crises,' study finds
SFGate: "I believe no ape has ever purchased a sports car," said Andrew Oswald, an author of the study. But researchers report that captive chimps and orangutans do show the same low ebb in emotional well-being at midlife that some studies find in people.
Hat tip to Art Scott.
Hat tip to Art Scott.
Boris Strugatsky, R. I. P
Russian sci-fi author Boris Strugatsky dies: Russian writer Boris Strugatsky, famous for co-authoring Soviet-era science-fiction novels critical of the authorities with his late brother Arkady, passed away on Monday at 79, his foundation said.
Link via SF Signal.
Link via SF Signal.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan
There's more. A lot more, including the books that Jannon and his friend Neal loved as a kid, The Dragon-Song Chronicles, which it might not surprise you to discover are more than they seemed.
This novel is sort of a love song to books and technology, and Robin Sloan obviously loves both. Google-haters might as well not even open the book. They'll be gnashing their teeth well before the ending.
I enjoyed Sloan's writing and sense of humor, I liked his nods to Dashiell Hammett and others, I liked what he says about physical books and their pleasures, and I got a kick out of his weird plot. I can see why some might not, but it worked for me. Check it out and see what you think.
Lucille Bliss, R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Lucille Bliss, who provided the cute, husky voice for the title character in the groundbreaking television cartoon series “Crusader Rabbit” in 1949, and later for Smurfette on the 1980s series “The Smurfs,” died on Nov. 8 in Costa Mesa, Calif. She was 96.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Billy Scott, R. I. P.
WBTW: Friends gathered Sunday afternoon at Duck's Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach to honor the late Billy Scott.
The singer, well-known across North and South Carolina for his beach music, lost his battle with cancer on Saturday.
The singer, well-known across North and South Carolina for his beach music, lost his battle with cancer on Saturday.
Criminal Genius of the Day
Bungling Burglar Leaves Car, iPad at Scene: In what Los Angeles police are calling a study in how to get caught, a bungling burglar left footprints, fingerprints, and even photos of himself at an Arleta home.
The Patron Saint of the Internet
Neatorama: Pope John Paul II nominated Saint Isidore of Seville to be the patron saint of the internet, although the Vatican has not officially designated him so …yet. These things take time. Why St. Saint Isidore?
Sunday, November 18, 2012
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