This is an amusing (and, in a way, frightening) collection of Hollywood anecdotes and it's fun for that reason. But it's repetitive in an annoying wayThis is an amusing (and, in a way, frightening) collection of Hollywood anecdotes and it's fun for that reason. But it's repetitive in an annoying way. Also, the screenwriting advice is sparse, though it's refreshing to see the putdowns of screenwriting "gurus" who have few or no movie credits. Bottom line for budding screenwriters--"more writing, less pitching"....more
This is Stross's third novel in the Laundry series, which is a mixture of humor, 1960's-style spycraft, and Lovecraftian horror. Fun stuff, but not upThis is Stross's third novel in the Laundry series, which is a mixture of humor, 1960's-style spycraft, and Lovecraftian horror. Fun stuff, but not up to the standards of the previous stories....more
Hapgood is a late 1980's A tour-de-force. This play looks at the cold war spy game. Stoppard has fun throwing in the particle/wave problem, the KonigsHapgood is a late 1980's A tour-de-force. This play looks at the cold war spy game. Stoppard has fun throwing in the particle/wave problem, the Konigsberg bridge problem, and the use of doppelgangers. Prepare to be confused....more
Jack Ketchum usually writes horror stories, but this novel, like his novel Red, is a thriller. A man goes on a killing spree while holding a couple hoJack Ketchum usually writes horror stories, but this novel, like his novel Red, is a thriller. A man goes on a killing spree while holding a couple hostage. The story is simple and brutally violent. Ketchum has a compelling writing style though....more
Prince of Foxes is an excellent historical novel set it Italy during the time of Cesare Borgia. This is even better than Shellabarger's The Captain ofPrince of Foxes is an excellent historical novel set it Italy during the time of Cesare Borgia. This is even better than Shellabarger's The Captain of Castile, another great novel....more
This is the third in Hamilton's Matt Helm series. The books--the first three, anyway--are nothing like the goofy Dean Martin movies of the 70s. These This is the third in Hamilton's Matt Helm series. The books--the first three, anyway--are nothing like the goofy Dean Martin movies of the 70s. These are hard-boiled spy/crime novels--a mixture of John D. MacDonald and Ian Fleming without the Blofeldian bad guys. The first three books make an effective trilogy as Helm (1) leaves home to reenter the spy game overseas, (2) brings the spy game back home to his wife, and then (3) tries to help her out of a dangerous situation with the mob. (Put them together and they're still fewer pages than most bestselling thrillers today.) I've heard that the later books in the series get too elaborate, but I love the first three books....more
This is the third in Johnson's contemporary mystery series featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire. I really liked the writing and humor of the first two bookThis is the third in Johnson's contemporary mystery series featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire. I really liked the writing and humor of the first two books. In this book Longmire travels from Wyoming to Philadelphia, expecting to enjoy time with his daughter, a lawyer. Instead Longmire investigates a series of violent crimes. This book had too many cliches, coincidences, and action sequences that belonged in a mediocre rogue cop movie. I'm looking forward to Longmire's return to Wyoming....more
This a fun book in which Hartley uses a few criteria to determine artistic geniuses, mostly in the world of music. The criteria: (1) You must have donThis a fun book in which Hartley uses a few criteria to determine artistic geniuses, mostly in the world of music. The criteria: (1) You must have done great work for more than fifteen years. (2) You must have alienated your original fans. (3) You must be completely unironic. (4)You must be unpredictable. (5) You must "lose it". Spectacularly.
Hartley picks out Lou Reed and Bob Dylan as prime examples of advanced geniuses. It's amusing to see what other artists Harley chooses, and how he justifies the picks. I was particularly impressed to see Hartley buck the usual critical trend and explain why Paul McCartney and not John Lennon was "the Most Advanced Beatle", and "while the Rolling Stones are generally credited with being the bad boys of rock 'n' roll and the Beatles are seen as the cute, harmless ones, this is all wrong." ...more
Published in 1970, this novel describes a fictional siege of a Christian castle in Albania by a Muslim army in the 15th century. The story is told mosPublished in 1970, this novel describes a fictional siege of a Christian castle in Albania by a Muslim army in the 15th century. The story is told mostly from the point of view of various members of the Ottoman army, including the Pasha leading the army. The army makes several attempts to occupy the castle and Kadare describes the effects of the seige on the army in excellent prose. It's an amazing novel. Kadare is a prolific Albanian writer who has also lived in France since 1990. He won the first Man Booker International Prize....more
Most of the Ellery Queen mystery novels of the sixties were ghostwritten by other authors. Avram Davidson, better known for his fantasy/sf fiction, wrMost of the Ellery Queen mystery novels of the sixties were ghostwritten by other authors. Avram Davidson, better known for his fantasy/sf fiction, wrote And On the Eighth Day based on an outline by Frederick Dannay, half of the Ellery Queen writing team.
Driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Queen gets lost in the desert and ends up in a valley populated by a Utopian community who have lost touch with the modern world. In this village where a crime hasn't been committed in decades. Of course a man is murdered and Queen must solve the mystery. This is an unusual mystery and Davidson spends much time explaining how this community works. Davidson has an excellent knowledge of history, religion, and literature and it shows in this short novel, which won France's Grand Prix de Litt茅rature Polici猫re (International Prize)....more
Craig Johnson's mystery novels featuring Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire is my favorite new series. Johnson was a police officer and has a good sense ofCraig Johnson's mystery novels featuring Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire is my favorite new series. Johnson was a police officer and has a good sense of humor. He creates sympathetic characters and handles suspense well. Longmire is a likeable character and the supporting cast are a good bunch....more
This book, published in 2000, briefly discusses Penzler's 101 favorite mystery movies of the 20th century. Penzler didn't include foreign language movThis book, published in 2000, briefly discusses Penzler's 101 favorite mystery movies of the 20th century. Penzler didn't include foreign language movies, silent movies, or TV movies. For each movie the book lists cast and crew, a brief plot summary, some interesting notes about the movie, and the "best line" from the movie. It's fun to see how many of these movies you've seen, determine which movies Penzler left off the list, and pick out a few unseen movies to add to your NetFlix list. (The number one movie in the list--Carol Reed's The Third Man.)...more
I've read most of Mieville's other novels and I was really looking forward to this one. For the first 50 or so pages, I was happy. A giant squid is stI've read most of Mieville's other novels and I was really looking forward to this one. For the first 50 or so pages, I was happy. A giant squid is stolen from a museum and the caretaker is swept up into a search that becomes increasingly bizarre. It then because obvious that Mieville was throwing together far too many characters and plot threads in a very loose manner, and in trying to create an epic urban Lovecraftian fantasy he created an unsatisfying mash-up. Kraken has many imaginative characters and situations, but when anything can happen, it seems to matter less what does happen. It particularly annoyed me that the main character, who started out as a common joe, very quickly became an expert in so many occult fields. It's interesting, though, to compare this with Charles Stross' The Jennifer Morgue, Jeffrey Rotter's The Unknown Knowns, Gene Wolfe's The Evil Guest, and other recent Lovecraft-influenced novels....more
This Mexican crime novel was in turns fascinating and frustrating. Solares tells two intertwined stories involving police and criminals today and in tThis Mexican crime novel was in turns fascinating and frustrating. Solares tells two intertwined stories involving police and criminals today and in the 1970s. Many of the same characters are involved, so that you see how the earlier events influenced the later events. Solares starts the novel in the present, then shifts for hundreds of pages into the past, and the shifts back to the present. There is a large cast of characters, and keeping them straight was difficult. By the end of the book I was so distracted by the writing style that I had stopped caring what was happening. But the novel contains some very good scenes and I'm curious to see the next Solares novel that is translated into English....more
The main focus in Satiristas is on stand-up comedians and tv-show writers or hosts, rather than novelists, columnists, cartoonists, or other kinds of The main focus in Satiristas is on stand-up comedians and tv-show writers or hosts, rather than novelists, columnists, cartoonists, or other kinds of writers. There are many fine insights into using comedy to comment on social and political affairs, and what makes comedy work (or not work). It's obvious that most of these folks work hard at trying to poke holes in the establishment.
The consensus seems to be that for the satire to work, you need to make a point, but more importantly you need make it funny. This is something they understand very well at The Onion. Several of the interviewees worked at Air America, which failed partly because they forgot to be funny.
After a while--there are about sixty short interviews here--I got the impression that Provenza has a lot of friends in the comedy business, and he got them together to reminisce about their favorite comedians from the sixties onward and congratulate each other on how smart and funny they are. That makes it a fun historical review, but at times I felt like I was watching an overlong awards show.
It's interesting how frequently the interviewees refer to other stand-up comedians and how infrequently they refer to print satirists. (Mencken or Benchley? Buchwald or Baker? Trudeau or Luckovich?)
Almost all of these comedians come from the Left side of the stage. Provenza throws in P.J. O'Rourke, the token conservative on Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me. When it comes to "preaching to the choir", the Right has talk radio and the Left has comedy clubs.
Provenza ends the book with an excerpt from the last videotaped interview with George Carlin, who was the best. ...more
A progressive Keynes-based primer to economics, the flip side of primers like Thomas Sowell's conservative Hayek-based Basic Economics. If you read onA progressive Keynes-based primer to economics, the flip side of primers like Thomas Sowell's conservative Hayek-based Basic Economics. If you read only one side or the other, you're missing out, because each side uses sources and studies that support only their own views. This is a short book that makes the plea for more redistribution. The New Press should be ashamed that they didn't include an index....more
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