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Review Date: 6/6/2016
donald wollheim, one of the best editors and anthologists of all time, was a giant in the world of science fiction. he published his "annual world's best" collections for more than 25 years. this was a pretty good one. what could be wrong with stories by roger zelazny, tanith lee, howard waldrop, robert silverberg, damon knight and others?
the pat cadigan story was terrific, and was no doubt strongly affected by her many years of residence in greenwich village, ny, ny.
the doris egan story, "timerider," is one of the best time-travel stories i have ever read. it depicts a future society where teams of timeriders worked together to send their team leaders back in time on so-called time waves to do salvage work. about 10 or 12 years ago, i even tracked her down (she now writes and produces tv shows). after writing that the story had legs and was just as good as when i first read it, i asked if she ever considered doing a follow-up to that story. i even made a few suggestions about possible plot lines. she wrote back (with many thanks and a few laughs), telling me that i wasn't the first to ask, but noting that she had moved on to bigger things.
the pat cadigan story was terrific, and was no doubt strongly affected by her many years of residence in greenwich village, ny, ny.
the doris egan story, "timerider," is one of the best time-travel stories i have ever read. it depicts a future society where teams of timeriders worked together to send their team leaders back in time on so-called time waves to do salvage work. about 10 or 12 years ago, i even tracked her down (she now writes and produces tv shows). after writing that the story had legs and was just as good as when i first read it, i asked if she ever considered doing a follow-up to that story. i even made a few suggestions about possible plot lines. she wrote back (with many thanks and a few laughs), telling me that i wasn't the first to ask, but noting that she had moved on to bigger things.
Review Date: 1/30/2017
one of the first of its kind, and written *before* the cuban missle crisis, this novel is a scary and realistic tale of what happens after a nuclear war. i re-read it every ten years or so, and it remains as real and scary as when i first read it.
the novel was the basis for a 1960 episode of "playhouse 90." i was all of 11 years old at the time, and i still wonder how my parents ever let me stay up late to watch it. the episode even featured a very young burt reynolds.
highly recommended.
the novel was the basis for a 1960 episode of "playhouse 90." i was all of 11 years old at the time, and i still wonder how my parents ever let me stay up late to watch it. the episode even featured a very young burt reynolds.
highly recommended.
Review Date: 8/27/2016
i have not heard this audio cd. but the book is excellent, and warrants a four-star rating.
"alas babylon," written by harry hart frank under the pen name "pat frank," was published in 1959. taking place in a small town in florida, it was one of the first post-nuclear apocalyptic novels, and it remains one of the best.
in 1960, it was made into a superb adaptation for television broadcast on "playhouse 90," starring don murray, rita moreno, and a very young burt reynolds.
"alas babylon," written by harry hart frank under the pen name "pat frank," was published in 1959. taking place in a small town in florida, it was one of the first post-nuclear apocalyptic novels, and it remains one of the best.
in 1960, it was made into a superb adaptation for television broadcast on "playhouse 90," starring don murray, rita moreno, and a very young burt reynolds.
Review Date: 10/21/2012
i spent 35 years as a trial lawyer. i've read novels about murder mysteries; i've seen movies about murder mysteries; i've seen television shows about murder mysteries. i have never read or seen any book, movie or television show about a murder mystery better than vincent bugliosi's real-life story "and the sea will tell."
its the story of two couples who happened to meet on an uninhabited atoll a thousand miles away from *anything*, in the middle of the pacific ocean. one couple was a wealthy duo from san diego, who were on the first leg of an around-the-world voyage on their beautiful, custom-made, well-equipped, well-provisioned, first-class ketch. the other couple was a multi-convicted felon who was fleeing the law with his latest girlfriend, who were piloting a broken-down, leaky sloop, with no equipment, three dogs, and few provisions. a few months after they met on the island, the con and his girlfriend sailed into hawaii with the high-class boat ... which had been repainted and renamed ... and the wealthy couple had disappeared.
the con and the girl were prosecuted and convicted of stealing the boat. but there werent any bodies - or any other evidence - so a murder case just wasnt possible.
six years later, a couple from south africa arrived at the island. as the woman was running along the beach one day, she saw that an old container had washed up along the shore and had broken open. as she got closer, she saw a skull ...
and the sea will tell is the story of the (presumed) events, and how bugliosi took the case of the girl, planned a defense to the charge of murder, and tried the case.
highly recommended!!!
its the story of two couples who happened to meet on an uninhabited atoll a thousand miles away from *anything*, in the middle of the pacific ocean. one couple was a wealthy duo from san diego, who were on the first leg of an around-the-world voyage on their beautiful, custom-made, well-equipped, well-provisioned, first-class ketch. the other couple was a multi-convicted felon who was fleeing the law with his latest girlfriend, who were piloting a broken-down, leaky sloop, with no equipment, three dogs, and few provisions. a few months after they met on the island, the con and his girlfriend sailed into hawaii with the high-class boat ... which had been repainted and renamed ... and the wealthy couple had disappeared.
the con and the girl were prosecuted and convicted of stealing the boat. but there werent any bodies - or any other evidence - so a murder case just wasnt possible.
six years later, a couple from south africa arrived at the island. as the woman was running along the beach one day, she saw that an old container had washed up along the shore and had broken open. as she got closer, she saw a skull ...
and the sea will tell is the story of the (presumed) events, and how bugliosi took the case of the girl, planned a defense to the charge of murder, and tried the case.
highly recommended!!!
Review Date: 9/19/2012
I first read this during my sophomore year in college ('67), and have re-read it every two or three years, having by now committed large portions of the book to my wetware. I've even told the wolf story a few times.
This is a wonderful glimpse of what a fabulous story-teller Richard Farina might have been - he died in a motorcycle accident a few days after the novel was published.
This is a wonderful glimpse of what a fabulous story-teller Richard Farina might have been - he died in a motorcycle accident a few days after the novel was published.
Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J.R.R. Tolkien's the Lord of the Rings
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
45
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
45
Review Date: 10/12/2012
A delightful parody from the Harvard Lampoon! One must be familiar with Tolkien's trilogy to fully appreciate the humor. My rating is one short of perfect due to emphasis on then-current pop culture and consumer products (it's been more than 40 years!).
Review Date: 9/16/2012
Ive been a fan of Anne McCaffrey ever since I read the first few paragraphs of the Hugo-winning short story Dragonflight. Who knew it would generate another dozen or so books?
When I was in 10th grade (1964), I was taught that the purpose of a novel is to portray characters. Ive since learned that telling a good story is just as important. McCaffrey does both, and she does them quite well.
Although Ive read almost all of McCaffreys dragonbooks and many of her short stories, for some reason, Id never read Crystal Singer. Having accumulated a bunch of Paperbackswap credits, I spent one. I only had to read some ten or fifteen pages before I ran back to Paperbackswap to order the other two books in the series, Killashandra and Crystal Line.
Readers of Crystal Singer are quickly absorbed into a world of the future, where those who mine and retrieve crystal from its source planet may become rich and curiously insane. We learn only the basics about finding and collecting crystal, and only a few hints about its many powers. The society which makes up the population of Ballybran, the source planet, is necessarily highly-regulated, from the lowest caterers assistant, to the widely-varied support staff, to the singers themselves, on up to the Guild Master.
One need not be a McCaffrey fan to thoroughly enjoy this book, but if you are one you must not miss it. I cant wait until I receive the other two books in the series. Crystal Singer is a wonderful read and I conclude this review with one typical Ballybran word: Remember!
When I was in 10th grade (1964), I was taught that the purpose of a novel is to portray characters. Ive since learned that telling a good story is just as important. McCaffrey does both, and she does them quite well.
Although Ive read almost all of McCaffreys dragonbooks and many of her short stories, for some reason, Id never read Crystal Singer. Having accumulated a bunch of Paperbackswap credits, I spent one. I only had to read some ten or fifteen pages before I ran back to Paperbackswap to order the other two books in the series, Killashandra and Crystal Line.
Readers of Crystal Singer are quickly absorbed into a world of the future, where those who mine and retrieve crystal from its source planet may become rich and curiously insane. We learn only the basics about finding and collecting crystal, and only a few hints about its many powers. The society which makes up the population of Ballybran, the source planet, is necessarily highly-regulated, from the lowest caterers assistant, to the widely-varied support staff, to the singers themselves, on up to the Guild Master.
One need not be a McCaffrey fan to thoroughly enjoy this book, but if you are one you must not miss it. I cant wait until I receive the other two books in the series. Crystal Singer is a wonderful read and I conclude this review with one typical Ballybran word: Remember!
Review Date: 5/2/2017
i had read many excellent short stories by this author, and was genuinely looking forward to this one, his first novel. the title alone promised grand and sweeping space adventure. but all the action takes place on a single planet which may or may not be a crucial locus of what may or may not be an interstellar conflict.
not much about the underlying plot was ever made clear, and the characters are shallow, at best.
by the time i finally reached the end, i was bored and disappointed.
not much about the underlying plot was ever made clear, and the characters are shallow, at best.
by the time i finally reached the end, i was bored and disappointed.
Review Date: 2/21/2013
Helpful Score: 1
this is a delightful parody of stieg larsson's "the girl with the dragoon tattoo" trilogy. written under a pseudonym by a professor at tufts, the laughs are non-stop.
one must have read at least the first two of larsson's books in order to appreciate just how funny this parody is. the book is all of 200 pages long, and i literally had to stop reading at least 175 times because 1)i was laughing too hard and my stomach hurt, or 2) i was crying so hard from laughing that i couldn't see!
i'll not give away anything about the book except one tiny throwaway line from early in the book; the protagonist "sat in the rectangular 1015-square-foot main reading room." think about it. :)
this is beyond heller's "catch-22." this is beyond national lampoon's "bored of the rings" and "doon." this is the funniest book i've ever read! don't miss it!
one must have read at least the first two of larsson's books in order to appreciate just how funny this parody is. the book is all of 200 pages long, and i literally had to stop reading at least 175 times because 1)i was laughing too hard and my stomach hurt, or 2) i was crying so hard from laughing that i couldn't see!
i'll not give away anything about the book except one tiny throwaway line from early in the book; the protagonist "sat in the rectangular 1015-square-foot main reading room." think about it. :)
this is beyond heller's "catch-22." this is beyond national lampoon's "bored of the rings" and "doon." this is the funniest book i've ever read! don't miss it!
The Gripping Hand (aka The Moat Around Murcheson's Eye) (Moties, Bk 2)
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
85
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
85
Review Date: 12/7/2012
this is a sequel to "the mote in god's eye."
quite frankly, the authors know better and should have left well enough alone.
the original was a delightful ground-breaking adventure about mankind's first contact with aliens. this one was barely interesting.
quite frankly, the authors know better and should have left well enough alone.
the original was a delightful ground-breaking adventure about mankind's first contact with aliens. this one was barely interesting.
Review Date: 11/20/2014
this is an excellent modern uptake on isaac asimov's psychohistory (from his classic "foundation" series). michael flynn has given the concept a new basis, grounded upon genuine history. the novel is about shadowy competing groups in their attempted use of "cliology" to set the course of history. the book also includes an afterword, chock full of supposedly scientific charts, which purport to prove the theory.
the action is nearly non-stop, from coast to coast, along the lines of david brin's "kiln people" and alfred bester's later works. my only complaint is that an awful lot of key characters get killed along the way.
flynn writes well, and this is a good example of his work.
the action is nearly non-stop, from coast to coast, along the lines of david brin's "kiln people" and alfred bester's later works. my only complaint is that an awful lot of key characters get killed along the way.
flynn writes well, and this is a good example of his work.
Review Date: 9/6/2012
Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders" series must surely rate among the best in science fictiondom. "Moreta" is surely the best in the series.
Review Date: 6/2/2013
this book is a collection of three connected short stories about a nameless man who works for one of the world's largest detective agencies. it includes the hugo-winning "home is the hangman."
it's what they call a fix-up, but it's zelazny at his peak, from 1976.
it's what they call a fix-up, but it's zelazny at his peak, from 1976.
Review Date: 9/7/2012
"Nightfall" was a terrific short story, written in 1941 by Isaac Asimov. The action happens during a single evening on a world surrounded by five suns, no part of which was ever in darkness. This novel, written in 1990 by Asimov and Robert Silverberg, is an expansion of the short story.
The first two sections, "Twilight" and "Nightfall," flesh out the short story into several months. The third section, "Daybreak," tells about what happens during the weeks afterwards.
If you are a fan of science fiction, you already know and love the two authors. This is an excellent collaboration!
The first two sections, "Twilight" and "Nightfall," flesh out the short story into several months. The third section, "Daybreak," tells about what happens during the weeks afterwards.
If you are a fan of science fiction, you already know and love the two authors. This is an excellent collaboration!
Review Date: 10/5/2012
Reading this book was a chore. For some reason, the author eschews the use of quotation marks and other common punctuation devices. Attempts to determine which character is speaking, or deciding if the words are spoken or thoughts of one character or another, just take more effort.
I haven't a clue as to why the author is considered a great writer.
However, as the Coen brothers proved, this book contains a terrific story - although it is quite difficult to find! My advice: skip the book; watch the movie.
I haven't a clue as to why the author is considered a great writer.
However, as the Coen brothers proved, this book contains a terrific story - although it is quite difficult to find! My advice: skip the book; watch the movie.
Review Date: 11/13/2012
Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger wrote under the pseudonym "Cordwainer Smith." All of Smith's stories take place over the course of tens of thousands of years in a single future history.
"Norstrilia" takes place towards the latter end of the line, and is generally considered to be Smith's greatest work. The reader quickly learns the essentials (as Smith writes), the story, place and time. It's about Roderick Frederick Ronald Arnold William MacArthur Macban, the 151st. Rod McBan of the planet Old North Australia ("Norstrilia") makes the transition from young man to adult, makes a huge gamble in which he buys the Earth, and gets away alive. As Smith writes in the opening paragraph, "That's the story."
This book had was not available for many years, but was resurrected in the mid-'70s by Smith's widow.
Highly recommended for all fans of the golden age of science fiction. Science fiction writers often acknowledge Smith by making reference, for example, to a "P-MAL computer", or a "Linebarger non-gravitic drive."
"Norstrilia" takes place towards the latter end of the line, and is generally considered to be Smith's greatest work. The reader quickly learns the essentials (as Smith writes), the story, place and time. It's about Roderick Frederick Ronald Arnold William MacArthur Macban, the 151st. Rod McBan of the planet Old North Australia ("Norstrilia") makes the transition from young man to adult, makes a huge gamble in which he buys the Earth, and gets away alive. As Smith writes in the opening paragraph, "That's the story."
This book had was not available for many years, but was resurrected in the mid-'70s by Smith's widow.
Highly recommended for all fans of the golden age of science fiction. Science fiction writers often acknowledge Smith by making reference, for example, to a "P-MAL computer", or a "Linebarger non-gravitic drive."
One of a Kind : The Rise and Fall of Stuey ',The Kid', Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
7
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
7
Review Date: 9/18/2012
Stu Ungar was the world's greatest gin rummy and poker player, but a deeply flawed person. He was so good at gin rummy, that no one would play him, so he turned to poker. Although he made millions of dollars at both games, he died penniless and alone, before he was 50, in a cheap hotel room in Las Vegas.
Nolan Dalla is the world's greatest poker writer, who became quite close to Ungar in the last year of his life.
Dalla pulls no punches; this is an excellent adventure of the roller coaster that was Ungar's life.
Nolan Dalla is the world's greatest poker writer, who became quite close to Ungar in the last year of his life.
Dalla pulls no punches; this is an excellent adventure of the roller coaster that was Ungar's life.
Review Date: 10/21/2012
bugliosi barely keeps his temper in check as he excoriates the prosecution, defense, and even the court in this excellent analysis of everything that went wrong in the trial of o.j. simpson (which is literally just about everything!).
"outrage" is a good companion piece to "helter skelter" - but neither is as good as bugliosi's masterpiece: "and the sea will tell."
"outrage" is a good companion piece to "helter skelter" - but neither is as good as bugliosi's masterpiece: "and the sea will tell."
Positively 4th Street: The Lives and Times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Baez Farina and Richard Farina
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 10/25/2012
a fascinating and detailed look at the baez sisters and their mates as all four youngsters were in the middle of the transition from folk music to rock 'n' roll in the early 1960s. bob dylan does not come out smelling like a rose in this book.
if you were there, or if you can't remember being there, or if you just want to learn about what happened there, this is highly recommended.
if you were there, or if you can't remember being there, or if you just want to learn about what happened there, this is highly recommended.
Review Date: 6/27/2013
when alfred bester died, he left an unfinished manuscript. roger zelazny was invited to finish it. the book contains flashes of brilliance from both men, who were true grand masters of science fiction.
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