Police: Man points gun at another man “for staring at him”
Hat tip to John Duke.
Friday, February 01, 2013
Ed Koch, R. I. P.
The Daily Beast: It was the title of his best-selling memoir, followed by a sequel, “Politics,” and even an off-Broadway tribute to Hizzonor. With typical talent for good timing, Koch departed this world at age 88, just days after the debut of a new documentary on his three terms at City Hall. The news was announced by his longtime spokesman, George Arzt.
Forgotten Books: The Only Girl in the Game -- John D. MacDonald
What I did remember was that the setting was Las Vegas. Hugh Darren is the manager of the Cameroon Hotel, and he's playing it straight. He has no involvement with the casino. He's a hotel guy, and that's it. He's also having an affair with one of the lounge singers, the only girl in the game. She's 27, so feel free to object to the use of girl. This book was published in 1960. Nobody in the target audience would've objected then.
This isn't a mystery or even a crime novel, really. It's just a novel, and it's one of those typical JDM books that makes you wonder if the author knew everything there was to know about everything. His descriptions of the way the hotel is run, of the people who work there, of the Las Vegas setting and atmosphere are all detailed and complete. MacDonald could do that book after book about seemingly anything he chose to write about, and even though the book was written more than 50 years ago, most of it still rings true. Sure, there are a lot of '50s attitudes, but that's not what I'm talking about. You'd have to read it to get the idea.
You won't know where the story's going. I can promise you that. There are a couple of things that I think will come as complete surprises. The writing is, as always with MacDonald, top of the line. He was writing before the law about "show, don't tell" was written, and he doesn't mind telling you things for page after page. He'll even stop the main story to throw in 15 pages of backstory on a character. And it doesn't matter. You'll keep right on reading, or at least I did, because it's all so well done.
Throughout the '60s and '70s I read every book MacDonald wrote as soon as I could get my hands on it. I remain a fan.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Excellent Article on the Author of the Malko Series
G�rard de Villiers, the Spy Novelist Who Knows Too Much - NYTimes.com: Last June, a pulp-fiction thriller was published in Paris under the title “Le Chemin de Damas.” Its lurid green-and-black cover featured a busty woman clutching a pistol, and its plot included the requisite car chases, explosions and sexual conquests. Unlike most paperbacks, though, this one attracted the attention of intelligence officers and diplomats on three continents.
Hat tip to Fred Blosser.
Hat tip to Fred Blosser.
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
Are You Listening? (The Fathomless Abyss): J.M. McDermott: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Are You Listening? Is a new short story by J.M. McDermott, author of the Dogsland Trilogy, set in the evolving shared world of the Fathomless Abyss. The Abyss has a top but no bottom. When you fall in, you fall forever. When the Crown closes, you make a new home for yourself among the captive population from a million worlds and a million epochs…or you die trying.
For a sentient plant, the Abyss brings only pain and slavery, until it learns to speak.
Are You Listening? is an introduction to an impossible new fantasy world from the creative minds of Philip Athans, Jay Lake, Mike Resnick & Brad R. Torgersen, Cat Rambo, and J.M. McDermott.
Fall in with them, and find your place in the Fathomless Abyss.
Did He or Didn't He?
For sale, baby shoes, never worn: Did Hemingway Really Write His Famous Six-Word Story?
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
. . . and keep off her lawn!
Report: Woman accused of kicking people's genitals, punching deputy
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Report: Woman accused of kicking people's genitals, punching deputy
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
. . . and now it's the avocado assault!
Shopper throws a dip fit and sends grocer to hospital after avocado assault
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Shopper throws a dip fit and sends grocer to hospital after avocado assault
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
A Brit fighting for Russia in a stolen Hurricane? Johnny Red was the star of a comic book series that began in the '70s, and if you like war comics, this is definitely a book to look at. It's volume 3 in Titan's reprints. Check 'em out.
Amazon.com: Johnny Red - Angels Over Stalingrad: Volume 3 (Johnny Red: Stalingrad) (9781848564381): Tom Tully, Joe Colquhoun, Garth Ennis: Books: After Johnny Redburn is discharged from the RAF for killing an officer, he takes to the skies in a stolen Hurricane. Soon, he meets the Falcon Squadron of the 5th Soviet Air Brigade, and begins his fight against Germany from the other side of the Iron Curtain! Includes a feature on Stalingrad by comics legend Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher, War Stories).
I Miss the Old Days
This Is What Hollywood Used To Look Like: Turn-of-the-century Hollywood vs. 2013 Hollywood. Things are just a little different now.
Best of the Year
Reflections: Robert Silverberg talks about "best of the year" collections and then comments on the very first one from 1949. Well worth a look for you SF readers.
Link via SF Signal.
Link via SF Signal.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Patty Andrews, R. I. P.
CNN.com: Patty Andrews, the last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters, died at her Northridge, California, home Wednesday, her publicist Alan Eichler said. She was 94.
Tales of the U'tanse -- Henry Melton
This collection is a generational saga, and it contains stories that I like to think John W. Campbell would have published in Astounding. The humans live in terrible conditions, and in each story they're confronted by numerous problems that they have to solve (human problems and technological problems). Melton has everything worked out in meticulous detail, and it's all believable and suspenseful. Every enjoyable.
All the stories have appeared online for free at Henry's Stories. I'm not much of an online reader, so I was glad to have this collection and be able to read them in an old-fashioned book.
Free Today for Kindle
Redemption (A Noah Milano novelette): Jochem Vandersteen: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: REDEMPTION - a Noah Milano novelette
Twenty years ago he tortured and killed a young boy. Now he is out of prison, ready to find redemption confronting the victim's parents.
He hires Noah Milano, security specialist and son of LA's biggest mobster to protect him.
When the unexpected happens it's up to Noah Milano to do what he thinks is right and make sure justice is done.
Greg Carroll, R. I. P.
Jefferson Post - R B great Greg Carroll dies at 83: R&B legend and pillar of the Ashe community Greg Carroll died Friday of an aneurysm at his Creston home.
He was 83.
Born John Wayne Carroll in 1928, he figured prominently in the early 1950s doo-wop musical style as a founding member of the Baltimore vocal quartet The Four Buddies, whose Savoy Records hit “I Will Wait” reached #3 during its nine-week run on the charts in the spring of 1951.
He was 83.
Born John Wayne Carroll in 1928, he figured prominently in the early 1950s doo-wop musical style as a founding member of the Baltimore vocal quartet The Four Buddies, whose Savoy Records hit “I Will Wait” reached #3 during its nine-week run on the charts in the spring of 1951.
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Tuesday, January 29, 2013
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Colder than Hell (Dead Man #16): Anthony Neil Smith, Lee Goldberg, William Rabkin: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: On the road to Fargo, North Dakota, Matt Cahill is trapped in a hellacious blizzard on a frozen, traffic-choked interstate. He's stalked by an escaped murderer and the guards who were transporting him--all of them seemingly possessed by a mutant virus that spreads quickly among the others trapped in their cars, turning everyone into crazed zombies. Matt struggles with a small band of survivors to find the source of the horrific plague before it claims them all. The odds are against any of them surviving the night....and that includes Mr. Dark.
Overlooked Movies: Annie Get Your Gun
Besides Hutton, there's Technicolor, there's the rest of the great cast, and there are the songs. The ones I really liked were "Anything You Can Do" and "There's No Business Like Show Business," but there are three or four or five others that I liked almost as well. I must have, since I've never forgotten them. Is it unPC in its depiction of Native Americans. Definitely. If that kind of thing bothers you, don't even watch the trailer.
Howard Keel was in several other musicals that impressed me during the '50s: Show Boat, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Kiss Me, Kate. Betty Hutton never did anything again that I much cared for. She was in The Greatest Show on Earth, but that part was nothing like this one. Merman did it on Broadway, and Garland was the first choice for the film, but Hutton owned it.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
Orange UK: A Texan woman has made all eleven Dr Whos - from crotchet.
Let the Popping Begin!
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day: Are you celebrating Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day?
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Leroy 'Sugarfoot' Bonner, R. I. P.
| SPIN | Newswire: Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, frontman and founder of legendary funk group Ohio Players, passed away on Saturday at the age of 69, according to a post on his Facebook page. No other details are available, but an official family announcement says he passed away quietly in his hometown of Trotwood-Dayton, Ohio.
Get 'em All, if You Haven't Already!
Amazon.com: Kindle Daily Deals: Today only, save on the first 13 books in the "Dead Man" series of original short novels that blend horror and classic adventure.
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