Saturday, December 15, 2012
Harlan Ellison Update
Sci-fi legend Harlan Ellison teams up with DC Comics | TG Daily: Now GiantFreakinRobot tells us that Ellison is working with artist Paul Chadwick on a new comic for DC that’s called Harlan Ellison’s 7 Against Chaos. An official description of the comic calls it "singular, powerful and unpredictable," an "extraordinary odyssey of mystery and adventure [that] will take you to the rim of reality and beyond."
Friday, December 14, 2012
Uh-Oh
Modern-day Zorro arrives at USA Network - Variety: Set in modern-day Los Angeles, "Z" will chronicle the rise of Diego Moreno from an orphaned teen and raising his sister with little supervision, to an infamous hero fighting to save the city.
Gator Update (Infiniti QX Edition)
Infiniti QX Wrapped in Alligator Skin: Let us start the story by telling you that even though we wouldn’t want one as a pet, killing alligators for their skin seems a bit cruel. No scaly, slimy, cold blooded animals were killed in the making of this car. It’s all synthetic!
A Couple of Snapshots from 2001
Finding the Books of the Lost Generation
AbeBooks: Finding the Books of the Lost Generation: The Lost Generation was coined by Gertrude Stein to describe the group of expatriate authors and artists living in Paris after Europe had been torn apart by World War I. The story goes that a young Parisian mechanic failed to repair Stein’s car and she voiced her displeasure. The older owner of the garage shouted at the young man "génération perdue,” or lost generation.
Forgotten Books: When the Killing Starts -- Ted Wood
Reid Bennett is the entire police force in tiny Murphy's Harbour, Ontario, Canada. Of course he gets a lot of help from his German Shepherd, Sam. While he's on vacation, he's approached by a woman who asks him to find her son, who's joined an outfit that supposedly trains mercenaries. Bennett is a little reluctant, but he agrees. Before long, he's on a wilderness adventure that involves lots of shooting and a serious wildfire. He recovers the son, but that's just the beginning, as Wood starts springing the plot twists. If you're looking for villainous villains, lots of action, a little sex, and a very cool dog. You've some to the right place. There are a few plot problems, not the least of which is the faithful Indian companion deus ex machina, but Wood's writing is strong and his pacing is exemplary. Bennett is a hero like Jack Reacher, tough, strong, and sure of himself. I'd think Reacher's audience would like him a lot.
Ted Wood is a Canadian author who had a good bit of success in the U.S. with this series. I believe there were ten books in all. He wrote a couple of others as Jack Barnao, and I liked those, too. He might not be completely forgotten, since I believe the books are available for Kindle. Cheap copies of the paperbacks abound, too.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Free Today for Kindle
The Complete Sherlock Holmes: Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Ryan: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: The complete collection of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes tales, both long and short, compiled together for the first time by Simon & Schuster for free! This fantastic collection is accompanied by an exciting new introduction from Robert Ryan, a writer who's own book has been fully endorsed by the Conan Doyle Estate. A big Holmes fan himself, he will undoubtedly provide a fascinating new look at the detective and his bizarre ability to read both people and objects, in order to discover who dunnit.
Leaphorn & Chee Update
Mystery Fanfare: According to the Albuqueque Journal, Anne Hillerman, the daughter of the late Tony Hillerman plans to continue her father's Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series.
Gene Wolfe Named Damon Knight Grand Master Recipient
SF Signal: Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America
2012 Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Awarded to Gene Wolfe
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Nazca Lines
The photo is one I took when we flew over the Nasca lines a few years ago. I'd been curious about them for a long time, and getting to see them was a highlight of our trip to Peru.
Ravi Shankar, R. I. P.
Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar dies: With an instrument perplexing to most Westerners, Ravi Shankar helped connect the world through music. The sitar virtuoso hobnobbed with the Beatles, became a hippie musical icon and spearheaded the first rock benefit concert as he introduced traditional Indian ragas to Western audiences over nearly a century.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Christmas Shopping?
Stark House has what you're looking for: Happy Holidays from Stark House Press!
Earlier in the season we offered our first ever Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale to our newsletter subscribers. In an effort to reach out to all our readers, however, we're now making a similar buy 2 get 1 free sale on all in-stock titles from now until midnight on Christmas Day, 2012. And did we mention the FREE SHIPPING?
Details and a complete book listing are available here. Happy Holidays, everyone!
Earlier in the season we offered our first ever Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale to our newsletter subscribers. In an effort to reach out to all our readers, however, we're now making a similar buy 2 get 1 free sale on all in-stock titles from now until midnight on Christmas Day, 2012. And did we mention the FREE SHIPPING?
Details and a complete book listing are available here. Happy Holidays, everyone!
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Naples Daily News: During a beachfront wedding on Marco Island, police said a drunken local disrupted a couple’s nuptials by running back and forth behind the altar, shouting obscenities and lobbing unopened beer cans, at one point hitting the best man in the back, police said.
So It's Come to This
How Ernest Hemingway's cats became a federal case: The descendants of Ernest Hemingway's cats – dozens of them – freely roam the writer's former home, now a museum. In a controversial court case, a judge says the felines must be regulated under federal law.
Doc Savage: A Hero from the Golden Age of Pulp
AbeBooks: Doc Savage: A Hero from the Golden Age of Pulp: Heroes don’t come more heroic than Doc Savage. This superhero was so special that he didn’t need any special powers. Created by Lester Dent, who wrote as Kenneth Robeson, in 1933, Doc Savage has entertained several generations of comic and paperback readers with his thrilling battles against evil.
Overlooked Movies: Operation Petticoat
Curtis is a con man, not at all devoted to his military service, but he proves so adept at providing needed supplies and in making money when necessary that Grant's happy to have him around. As the movie goes along, Curtis begins to change his attitude, and the ending of this one is like the ending of Soldier in Rain in that respect.
Since this was made back in the late '50s, you can imagine that there are a lot of sexist jokes that might not play too well these days. They seemed amusing enough at the time, however. I haven't seen this one in years, but I have a feeling it would make me laugh if I saw it again.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Blowback -- Kristine Kathryn Rusch
At the same time, Iniko Zagrando is conducting a dangerous undercover operation for the Earth Alliance. As the investigation progresses, we can see that it has major implications for the one Flint is conducting.
Besides that, there's DeRicci's own investigation, along with that of Jin Rastigan among an alien race, and they too begin to point in the direction that Flint wouldn't have thought possible when it all begain.
There's a lot going on in Blowback, and Rusch makes the details and the characters absolutely convincing. This is fine entertainment if you're a fan of mind-stretching SF. I have to warn you, however, that the ending is just the beginning. There's closure, but at the same time you know there's a lot more to come. Check it out.
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Sir Patrick Moore, R. I. P.
BBC News: British astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore has died, aged 89, his friends and colleagues have said.
He "passed away peacefully at 12:25 this afternoon" at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, they said in a statement.
Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running host of the same television show ever.
Link via Boing Boing.
He "passed away peacefully at 12:25 this afternoon" at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, they said in a statement.
Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running host of the same television show ever.
Link via Boing Boing.
The 10 Best Films You Didn't See In 2012
The 10 Best Films You Didn't See In 2012
I've seen two of them.
It's an annoying slideshow.
Hat tip to Walter Satterthwait.
I've seen two of them.
It's an annoying slideshow.
Hat tip to Walter Satterthwait.
Hey, Y'all
Why Does a Southern Drawl Sound Uneducated to Some?: Stereotypes based on accent are deep rooted and they have profound consequences. Accents influence who we select as friends, who we respect with authority and leadership, where we prefer to live, employment, and to the very real extent our personal aspirations in life as a consequence of self-perception directing ambition in education and other endeavors.
The Heyday of A&C Black
AbeBooks: Wodehouse to Who’s Who: The Heyday of A&C Black: A&C Black, founded in 1807 by Adam and Charles Black, is best known for spotting the talent of P.G. Wodehouse. It published Wodehouse’s first book, The Pothunters in 1902 and continued to publish his work, including notable books like the Psmith series, into the 1950s.
New Story at BEAT to a PULP
BEAT to a PULP :: Pulp of the Week: The True Story of Boy Kaleen
Patti Abbott
Sjalvklart
‘English is a Scandinavian language’: New linguistic research has concluded that residents of the British Isles didn’t just borrow words and expressions from Norwegian and Danish Vikings and their descendants. Rather, claim two professors now working in Oslo, the English language is in fact Scandinavian.
Link via Neatorama.
Link via Neatorama.
Croc Update (Excess Baggage Edition)
ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Passengers on a flight from Darwin to Brisbane today were blissfully unaware they were sharing the aircraft with a monster crocodile.
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