Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 103
May 26, 2019
Mission of Gravity
Just finished reading "Mission of Gravity" by Hal Clement, published by Del Rey Books back in January 1978.
For those who came in late - a reference fans of Lee Falk's "The Phantom" will catch on to, about two years ago I decided to launch what I call my "Great Re-Reading of Books I Enjoyed When I was Young" project and since then I have been faithfully re-reading the books I enjoyed reading in the 1970s and 1980s.
And as faithful readers of the re-read reviews will know, I bought my original copy of "Mission of Gravity" by Hal Clement from Michele's Bookstore that was located in the Bryn Mar Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina in 1978 - and I know this will shock some readers, but in this time, the now long defunct Waldenbooks - where I worked for about a year before and after moving to Florida was the only national bookstore chain that you could go to, and when it finally opened in the Jacksonville Mall back in 1980, I, Mom, Dad, and Selma had an additional choice to buy books at. Remember, the Internet was still years away from being what it is today. But for the most part, we were faithful and bought most of our books at Michelle's.
I mention this because I'm a firm believer that books hold memories, and we always had fond memories of Michelle's Bookstore.
Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, Florida is my favorite bookstore and I obtained my reading copy of "Mission of Gravity" from there.
What originally caught my interest about "Mission of Gravity" was that it was a story of high adventure set on the oceans of the bizarre massive disk shaped planet of Mesklin - where humans worked side-by-side, via radio and limited contact in protective suits, with Barlennan and his crew on a mission of exploration and recovery of a unmanned probe that would yield vital information about this high gravity world where life and intelligence arose. Barlennan is perhaps one of the most unique intelligent aliens in science fiction because he resembles a fifteen inch long caterpillar with claws.
"Mission of Gravity" originally appeared as a four-part serial in Astounding Magazine. Also of note, Hal Clement was the pen name of Harry Clement Stubbs, who had to take a pen name because the school he taught at frowned upon him writing science-fiction and would have fired him if they suspected he was a popular science fiction author.
The popularity of "Mission of Gravity" led Hal Clement a.k.a. Harry Clement Stubs, to write a sequel titled "Starlight." which I'm now reading and which I also got at Chamblin's Bookmine.
[I do all my reviews for fun, not financial rewards. The books, movies, and music that I review are those that I've purchased. While I do receive review copies from time-to-time, I do make mention of that in the review and I am brutally honest in all my reviews.]
Hal Clement was a great science fiction writer and "Mission Of Gravity," is perhaps one of his best and most beloved masterpieces.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Gravit...
For those who came in late - a reference fans of Lee Falk's "The Phantom" will catch on to, about two years ago I decided to launch what I call my "Great Re-Reading of Books I Enjoyed When I was Young" project and since then I have been faithfully re-reading the books I enjoyed reading in the 1970s and 1980s.
And as faithful readers of the re-read reviews will know, I bought my original copy of "Mission of Gravity" by Hal Clement from Michele's Bookstore that was located in the Bryn Mar Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina in 1978 - and I know this will shock some readers, but in this time, the now long defunct Waldenbooks - where I worked for about a year before and after moving to Florida was the only national bookstore chain that you could go to, and when it finally opened in the Jacksonville Mall back in 1980, I, Mom, Dad, and Selma had an additional choice to buy books at. Remember, the Internet was still years away from being what it is today. But for the most part, we were faithful and bought most of our books at Michelle's.
I mention this because I'm a firm believer that books hold memories, and we always had fond memories of Michelle's Bookstore.
Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, Florida is my favorite bookstore and I obtained my reading copy of "Mission of Gravity" from there.
What originally caught my interest about "Mission of Gravity" was that it was a story of high adventure set on the oceans of the bizarre massive disk shaped planet of Mesklin - where humans worked side-by-side, via radio and limited contact in protective suits, with Barlennan and his crew on a mission of exploration and recovery of a unmanned probe that would yield vital information about this high gravity world where life and intelligence arose. Barlennan is perhaps one of the most unique intelligent aliens in science fiction because he resembles a fifteen inch long caterpillar with claws.
"Mission of Gravity" originally appeared as a four-part serial in Astounding Magazine. Also of note, Hal Clement was the pen name of Harry Clement Stubbs, who had to take a pen name because the school he taught at frowned upon him writing science-fiction and would have fired him if they suspected he was a popular science fiction author.
The popularity of "Mission of Gravity" led Hal Clement a.k.a. Harry Clement Stubs, to write a sequel titled "Starlight." which I'm now reading and which I also got at Chamblin's Bookmine.
[I do all my reviews for fun, not financial rewards. The books, movies, and music that I review are those that I've purchased. While I do receive review copies from time-to-time, I do make mention of that in the review and I am brutally honest in all my reviews.]
Hal Clement was a great science fiction writer and "Mission Of Gravity," is perhaps one of his best and most beloved masterpieces.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Gravit...
Masks of Nyarlathotep"
Just finished listening to "Masks of Nyarlathotep" released by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society's Dark Adventure Radio Theatre.
Confession time - and I know that this will absolutely shock Zack Newsome and Barry Baron Samedi Adaska - I have never been into role playing games and dressing up for cosplay. So while I was always aware of role playing game company Chaosium and their celebrated role playing game Call of Cthulhu®., I've just never played any role playing game unless you count Cowboys and Indians when I was a young boy.
So when HPLHS announced that it was doing a six-hour audio adaptation of Chaosium's widely popular role playing game "Masks of Nyralathotep" - based on the Fifth Edition of the game - I was highly intrigued and immediately pre-ordered it like I do with all of HPLHS' Dark Adventure Radio Theatre's productions.
"Masks of Nyralathotep" is a brilliantly tense race against time against the Elder God Nyralathotep who plans opening the gate that will allow his human minions to bring him to Earth so that he can conquer humanity and bring it to a new dark age.
"Masks of Nyralathotep" begins during a fashionable High Society engagement party where the happiness of the newly engaged couple is interrupted by a desperate phone call that soon leads to two murders and clues that lead to a terrifying global conspiracy that will seal the doom of mankind unless an unlikely band of adventurers can unite to solve the riddle posed by the existence of a deadly cult that will stop at nothing to open the dimensional that will allow it's god to walk the Earth once more.
HPLHS has done a masterful job once again in adapting this Lovecraftian adventure to a traditional 1930s style radio format and all the actors - who just happen to be professional voice actors - are spot on in their performances. "Masks of Nyarlathotep" also has the feel of a 1930s movie serial.
HPLHS took a risk with this audio adaptation and that boldness certainly has paid off.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.hplhs.org/collections/d...
Confession time - and I know that this will absolutely shock Zack Newsome and Barry Baron Samedi Adaska - I have never been into role playing games and dressing up for cosplay. So while I was always aware of role playing game company Chaosium and their celebrated role playing game Call of Cthulhu®., I've just never played any role playing game unless you count Cowboys and Indians when I was a young boy.
So when HPLHS announced that it was doing a six-hour audio adaptation of Chaosium's widely popular role playing game "Masks of Nyralathotep" - based on the Fifth Edition of the game - I was highly intrigued and immediately pre-ordered it like I do with all of HPLHS' Dark Adventure Radio Theatre's productions.
"Masks of Nyralathotep" is a brilliantly tense race against time against the Elder God Nyralathotep who plans opening the gate that will allow his human minions to bring him to Earth so that he can conquer humanity and bring it to a new dark age.
"Masks of Nyralathotep" begins during a fashionable High Society engagement party where the happiness of the newly engaged couple is interrupted by a desperate phone call that soon leads to two murders and clues that lead to a terrifying global conspiracy that will seal the doom of mankind unless an unlikely band of adventurers can unite to solve the riddle posed by the existence of a deadly cult that will stop at nothing to open the dimensional that will allow it's god to walk the Earth once more.
HPLHS has done a masterful job once again in adapting this Lovecraftian adventure to a traditional 1930s style radio format and all the actors - who just happen to be professional voice actors - are spot on in their performances. "Masks of Nyarlathotep" also has the feel of a 1930s movie serial.
HPLHS took a risk with this audio adaptation and that boldness certainly has paid off.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.hplhs.org/collections/d...
"Maquia - When The Promised Flower Blooms"
Just finished watching "Maquia - When The Promised Flower Blooms" released by SHOUT! Factory.
A mother's unconditional and unyielding love for her son and the sacrifices she willingly makes for her child is at the heart of this lyrical anime fantasy from writer/director Mari Okada.
Maquia is a Iorph - a race of long-lived weavers who record the patterns of life in their weavings which can embrace whole cathedrals, The peaceful life of the Iorphs in their sanctuary is disrupted when an army from the Kingdom of Mezarte invades, killing and nearly wiping out the Iorphs in order to gain their blood in order to figure out the secret of their long lives in order to pass on that secret to a royal heir.
Maquia escapes, and while fleeing into the forest wilderness, discovers a newly orphaned baby boy, who she rescues and treasures as her own son, who she names Ariel.
To protect and nurture Ariel, she goes out into the world and sets out on a course that will eventually bring her in direct conflict with Ariel as he grows into manhood while she still stays young, but also into conflict with Iorph survivors who are planning a coup against the Kingdom of Mezarte.
"Maquia - When The Promised Flower Blooms" is a timeless masterpiece of family and the ties that bind us throughout life and even eventually death.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Maquia-Promise...
A mother's unconditional and unyielding love for her son and the sacrifices she willingly makes for her child is at the heart of this lyrical anime fantasy from writer/director Mari Okada.
Maquia is a Iorph - a race of long-lived weavers who record the patterns of life in their weavings which can embrace whole cathedrals, The peaceful life of the Iorphs in their sanctuary is disrupted when an army from the Kingdom of Mezarte invades, killing and nearly wiping out the Iorphs in order to gain their blood in order to figure out the secret of their long lives in order to pass on that secret to a royal heir.
Maquia escapes, and while fleeing into the forest wilderness, discovers a newly orphaned baby boy, who she rescues and treasures as her own son, who she names Ariel.
To protect and nurture Ariel, she goes out into the world and sets out on a course that will eventually bring her in direct conflict with Ariel as he grows into manhood while she still stays young, but also into conflict with Iorph survivors who are planning a coup against the Kingdom of Mezarte.
"Maquia - When The Promised Flower Blooms" is a timeless masterpiece of family and the ties that bind us throughout life and even eventually death.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Maquia-Promise...
May 5, 2019
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon - Race Against Time
Just finished listening to "Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon - Rage Against Time" released by Radio Spirits.
When "The Lone Ranger" came to a close, Brace Beemer, who played the role of the masked law man of the early West, took over the role of Canadian Mountie "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" until the series end.
What makes this collection unique, is that it contains the episode "Grubstake" where announcer Fred Foy stepped into the role of Sergeant Preston for Brace Beemer like he did when he stepped into the role of The Lone Ranger. It would have been interesting to see how Fred Foy would have done in both roles if he had had more opportunities to play both roles.
Foy is pretty great as Sergeant Preston.
My favorite episodes in this collection - which I played at the cemetery for Mom and Dad - are "Trail Of The Star," "Hostages," "The Long Trail," "Fire Trap," "Christmas for Sally," and "Grub Stake."
A note about Radio Spirits' collections - sometime the containers are a hit and miss affair. This collection had a good packaging,
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
http://radiospirits.com/detailsv2.asp...
When "The Lone Ranger" came to a close, Brace Beemer, who played the role of the masked law man of the early West, took over the role of Canadian Mountie "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" until the series end.
What makes this collection unique, is that it contains the episode "Grubstake" where announcer Fred Foy stepped into the role of Sergeant Preston for Brace Beemer like he did when he stepped into the role of The Lone Ranger. It would have been interesting to see how Fred Foy would have done in both roles if he had had more opportunities to play both roles.
Foy is pretty great as Sergeant Preston.
My favorite episodes in this collection - which I played at the cemetery for Mom and Dad - are "Trail Of The Star," "Hostages," "The Long Trail," "Fire Trap," "Christmas for Sally," and "Grub Stake."
A note about Radio Spirits' collections - sometime the containers are a hit and miss affair. This collection had a good packaging,
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
http://radiospirits.com/detailsv2.asp...
April 7, 2019
Agatha Raisin - Series One
Just finished watching "Agatha Raisin - Series One" released by Acorn Media.
Marion Chesney, who also writes under the pen name of M.C. Beaton for her delightful Agatha Raisin mystery series, is one of my sister's favorite romance authors - and I do recall that Marion Chesney's "The Traveling Matchmaker" Regency Romance series did have a strong element of mystery that it incorporated throughout the series.
Perhaps most amusing in this collection is the interview with Marion Chesney where she somewhat bemusedly states that while Ashley Jensen is a very talented actress, she portrays an Agatha Raisin different from the one she still writes - and this first season of adaptations is not strongly faithful to the original books. Still, it's a great little cozy of a British mystery show.
To my mind, Penelope Keith, of "To The Manor Born" and "Good Neighbors" played Agatha Raisin to perfection in the BBC Radio Series which adapted the first ten books in the Agatha Raisin series as full cast dramatizations is the best Agatha Raisin - Mom, Dad, and I listened to the complete BBC Audio series.
Penelope Keith will always be Agatha Raisin for me. Ashley Jensin is delightful in the role, but she lacks Keith's panache with the character.
Still, Agatha Raisin - Season One is enjoyable to watch.
Highly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Agatha-Raisin-...
Marion Chesney, who also writes under the pen name of M.C. Beaton for her delightful Agatha Raisin mystery series, is one of my sister's favorite romance authors - and I do recall that Marion Chesney's "The Traveling Matchmaker" Regency Romance series did have a strong element of mystery that it incorporated throughout the series.
Perhaps most amusing in this collection is the interview with Marion Chesney where she somewhat bemusedly states that while Ashley Jensen is a very talented actress, she portrays an Agatha Raisin different from the one she still writes - and this first season of adaptations is not strongly faithful to the original books. Still, it's a great little cozy of a British mystery show.
To my mind, Penelope Keith, of "To The Manor Born" and "Good Neighbors" played Agatha Raisin to perfection in the BBC Radio Series which adapted the first ten books in the Agatha Raisin series as full cast dramatizations is the best Agatha Raisin - Mom, Dad, and I listened to the complete BBC Audio series.
Penelope Keith will always be Agatha Raisin for me. Ashley Jensin is delightful in the role, but she lacks Keith's panache with the character.
Still, Agatha Raisin - Season One is enjoyable to watch.
Highly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Agatha-Raisin-...
Doc Savage - The Ice Genius" written by William Murray, based on a concept by Lester Dent, released by Radio Archives.
Just finished listening to "Doc Savage - The Ice Genius" written by William Murray, based on a concept by Lester Dent, released by Radio Archives.
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the original run of Doc Savage novels written during the Golden Age of Pulp is that Doc Savage and his men, while they interacted with and defeated NAZIs and outwitted the Soviet Union, Doc and his team never really had a proper adventure which they had to deal with the aftermath of Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Prior to that particularly dark day in American History, archaeologist William Harper Littlejohn is on a dig in Mongolia, when after defending his site from a band of marauders, uncovers a tomb that had been hidden away for five hundred years - a tomb of ice - and inscribed on the ice walls of the tomb are the words: "IF I STILL LIVED, MANKIND WOULD TREMBLE!"
History buffs will recall these are the actual words on the tomb of Amir Timur, also known as Tamerlane or Timur the Lame - the founder of the Timurid Empire in Persia and Central Asia. Excited, but running out of ammunition to protect his discovery, Littlejohn sends a desperate message via radio to Doc Savage for help. The mighty Man of Bronze quickly assembles his men in New York City, and they fly out to Mongolia, but not before making a stop to pick up Renny at the Crime College - which proves to have devastating consequences for Dock Savage and his men as they later find out as one of the inmates of the Crime College, someone who has not gone through the program, stowaways on their plane.
Events further spiral out of control when Timur is revived from his ice tomb and begins on a quest to conquer all of China again, and then the rest of the world.
Mild Spoiler Alert - If you're squeamish, there are rather horrific scenes in "The Ice Genius" which remain true to the historical Timur.
Perhaps must intriguing of all is that for the first time, one of Doc Savage's men - in this case Littlejohn - has an intense emotional breakdown over what he had inadvertently unleashed into the world again, and considers retiring and going back to teaching/
Michael McConnohie gives his usual sterling performance and brings Doc Savage, his team, and the story to resounding life.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/Doc_Sav...
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the original run of Doc Savage novels written during the Golden Age of Pulp is that Doc Savage and his men, while they interacted with and defeated NAZIs and outwitted the Soviet Union, Doc and his team never really had a proper adventure which they had to deal with the aftermath of Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Prior to that particularly dark day in American History, archaeologist William Harper Littlejohn is on a dig in Mongolia, when after defending his site from a band of marauders, uncovers a tomb that had been hidden away for five hundred years - a tomb of ice - and inscribed on the ice walls of the tomb are the words: "IF I STILL LIVED, MANKIND WOULD TREMBLE!"
History buffs will recall these are the actual words on the tomb of Amir Timur, also known as Tamerlane or Timur the Lame - the founder of the Timurid Empire in Persia and Central Asia. Excited, but running out of ammunition to protect his discovery, Littlejohn sends a desperate message via radio to Doc Savage for help. The mighty Man of Bronze quickly assembles his men in New York City, and they fly out to Mongolia, but not before making a stop to pick up Renny at the Crime College - which proves to have devastating consequences for Dock Savage and his men as they later find out as one of the inmates of the Crime College, someone who has not gone through the program, stowaways on their plane.
Events further spiral out of control when Timur is revived from his ice tomb and begins on a quest to conquer all of China again, and then the rest of the world.
Mild Spoiler Alert - If you're squeamish, there are rather horrific scenes in "The Ice Genius" which remain true to the historical Timur.
Perhaps must intriguing of all is that for the first time, one of Doc Savage's men - in this case Littlejohn - has an intense emotional breakdown over what he had inadvertently unleashed into the world again, and considers retiring and going back to teaching/
Michael McConnohie gives his usual sterling performance and brings Doc Savage, his team, and the story to resounding life.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/Doc_Sav...
March 31, 2019
Pushback by John E. Stith
Just finished reading "Pushback" by John E Stith published by ReAnimus Press.
Ever since I read his brilliant novel of perhaps the ultimate in alien abductions scenarios "Manhattan Transfer," I have been a steadfast fan of John E Stith. He is one of my favorite writers, and in the interest of full disclosure, although we have never met, or chatted online here on Facebook, we are friends here on Facebook.
So when I learned, much to my delight that a new novel by John E Stith was gong to be released, I immediately pre-ordered it on Amazon - alas, I still can not post reviews on Amazon because I've been banned for stating that a book had an anti-Semitic viewpoint. I'm still fighting that ban - though I may have my reviewing privileges restored in 72 hours, if what I was just told by an Amazon representative is correct.
John E Stith's previous science fiction novels always had elements of intense mystery and suspense that were always brought to satisfying conclusions and in what I believe to be his first full length mystery/suspense/intrigue novel, John E Stith establishes himself as masterful of a crime noir writer as the late great Cornell Woolrich.
"Pushback" opens with Dave Barlow, just an ordinary guy who is dealing with PTSD from the tragic death of his fiance in an automobile accident, who has somewhat recovered and is moving on with his life. With Cathy, the new love of his life, he plans on attending his 10th high school reunion, only to be greeted with the sight of bullet holes in the shape of smiley face on his car door. Then there is the fact that nobody claims to know who he is at the reunion. As Dave's life tumbles into darkness, he soon discovers that someone is trying to kill him and will stop at nothing to see that he joins his late fiance in the grave. But who and why?
"Pushback" is a humdinger of a pulse-pounding thriller, and was well worth the long wait from John E Stith. I hope his next new novel will be out soon. I know I can't wait, and I suspect all of his fans are waiting a bit impatiently for his next novel.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Pushback-John-...
Ever since I read his brilliant novel of perhaps the ultimate in alien abductions scenarios "Manhattan Transfer," I have been a steadfast fan of John E Stith. He is one of my favorite writers, and in the interest of full disclosure, although we have never met, or chatted online here on Facebook, we are friends here on Facebook.
So when I learned, much to my delight that a new novel by John E Stith was gong to be released, I immediately pre-ordered it on Amazon - alas, I still can not post reviews on Amazon because I've been banned for stating that a book had an anti-Semitic viewpoint. I'm still fighting that ban - though I may have my reviewing privileges restored in 72 hours, if what I was just told by an Amazon representative is correct.
John E Stith's previous science fiction novels always had elements of intense mystery and suspense that were always brought to satisfying conclusions and in what I believe to be his first full length mystery/suspense/intrigue novel, John E Stith establishes himself as masterful of a crime noir writer as the late great Cornell Woolrich.
"Pushback" opens with Dave Barlow, just an ordinary guy who is dealing with PTSD from the tragic death of his fiance in an automobile accident, who has somewhat recovered and is moving on with his life. With Cathy, the new love of his life, he plans on attending his 10th high school reunion, only to be greeted with the sight of bullet holes in the shape of smiley face on his car door. Then there is the fact that nobody claims to know who he is at the reunion. As Dave's life tumbles into darkness, he soon discovers that someone is trying to kill him and will stop at nothing to see that he joins his late fiance in the grave. But who and why?
"Pushback" is a humdinger of a pulse-pounding thriller, and was well worth the long wait from John E Stith. I hope his next new novel will be out soon. I know I can't wait, and I suspect all of his fans are waiting a bit impatiently for his next novel.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Pushback-John-...
Through Fiery Trials by David Webber
Just finished reading "Through Fiery Trials" by David Webber, released by TOR Books.
Winning a war for survival is always the simplest part of a very long game. What follows next is that the victors must find a way to survive the intervening "peace" that follows.
As the island empire of Charis begins a new long game on Safehold to technologically uplift humanity from the strict restrictions placed on it by the Church of G_D Awaiting - restrictions that were deliberately put into place by a thousand years ago by an alien apologist who wanted to safeguard humanity from being destroyed by the gbaba - a genocidal alien race that annihilates any civilization that processes advanced technology - Merlin and his allies must struggle against the internal political forces of Charis' neighbors as well as prepare for the forthcoming return of the Archangel which could doom humanity to live in a continued enforced dark age for centuries to come.
Webber advances his Safehold sago, by about 20 years in this novel. I am highly curious and intrigued to see where he takes this series next.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Through-Fiery-...
Winning a war for survival is always the simplest part of a very long game. What follows next is that the victors must find a way to survive the intervening "peace" that follows.
As the island empire of Charis begins a new long game on Safehold to technologically uplift humanity from the strict restrictions placed on it by the Church of G_D Awaiting - restrictions that were deliberately put into place by a thousand years ago by an alien apologist who wanted to safeguard humanity from being destroyed by the gbaba - a genocidal alien race that annihilates any civilization that processes advanced technology - Merlin and his allies must struggle against the internal political forces of Charis' neighbors as well as prepare for the forthcoming return of the Archangel which could doom humanity to live in a continued enforced dark age for centuries to come.
Webber advances his Safehold sago, by about 20 years in this novel. I am highly curious and intrigued to see where he takes this series next.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Through-Fiery-...
The Hot Rock
Just finished watching "The Hot Rock" released by 20th Century Fox.
Based on the novel of the same title by legendary crime fiction writer Donald Westlake, "The Hot Rock" reunites Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid writer William Goldman and star Robert Redford this jaunty, lightly satiric caper comedy from 1972. While Redford is a master thief, he's a master thief who is being released from prison after serving his time from a previous heist that went wrong. Fresh out of prison, he's picked up by his brother-in-law, who recruits him on behalf of a Dr. Amusa - a United Nation's diplomat who want's Redford and a team of burglars to recover a precious diamond that was stolen from his unnamed African country during Colonial Occupation. Simple enough, but Murphy's Law soon takes effect and now the stolen diamond keeps getting misplaced. There are rather odd homoerotic undertones throughout this entire movie.
Not a classic crime caper movie, and there are a few funny moments.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Rock-Rober...
Based on the novel of the same title by legendary crime fiction writer Donald Westlake, "The Hot Rock" reunites Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid writer William Goldman and star Robert Redford this jaunty, lightly satiric caper comedy from 1972. While Redford is a master thief, he's a master thief who is being released from prison after serving his time from a previous heist that went wrong. Fresh out of prison, he's picked up by his brother-in-law, who recruits him on behalf of a Dr. Amusa - a United Nation's diplomat who want's Redford and a team of burglars to recover a precious diamond that was stolen from his unnamed African country during Colonial Occupation. Simple enough, but Murphy's Law soon takes effect and now the stolen diamond keeps getting misplaced. There are rather odd homoerotic undertones throughout this entire movie.
Not a classic crime caper movie, and there are a few funny moments.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Rock-Rober...
March 30, 2019
The Spider #82 - Dictator's Death Merchants
Just finished listening to "The Spider #82 - Dictator's Death Merchants" released by Radio Archives.
Now this little bit of personal trivia might interest my good friend Nick Santa Maria - I was listening to "The Spider #82 - Dictator's Death Merchants" the past Saturday evening when I had returned back from my van after getting some Challa bread at Traders Joe's to discover that woman sitting in the driver's seat of my van and searching it for credit cards, money, and other valuables. She's still in jail awaiting her first court appearance. She didn't attempt to steal this audio CD nor any of the other audio CDs I had in my van, which caused my sister to laugh.
Emile C. Tepperman penned this adventure of The Spider, which pits Richard Wentworth with a criminal mastermind from his past - El Crocodilo. Curiously, The Spider only defeated El Crocodilo when their paths crossed nearly 10 years ago. Wentworth didn't, or couldn't kill him at the time because nobody knew who El Crocodilo really was. Now, in his guise as The Spider, Richard Wentworth not only must race to save the life of the one man who can identify El Crocodilo, but he must also prevent the criminal mastermind from taking over the nation's banking system with a flood of realistic counterfeit money that nobody can tell from real money.
What makes this adventure of The Spider perhaps one of the most significant of his outings is that for the first time Richard Wentworth's disguised persona doesn't fool the person he's helping because she is able to see him for who he really is - the dear friend who is trying to rescue her kidnapped daughter.
Once again Nick Santa Maria does a masterful job of bringing this adventure of The Spider to vivid and thrilling life.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Spi...
Now this little bit of personal trivia might interest my good friend Nick Santa Maria - I was listening to "The Spider #82 - Dictator's Death Merchants" the past Saturday evening when I had returned back from my van after getting some Challa bread at Traders Joe's to discover that woman sitting in the driver's seat of my van and searching it for credit cards, money, and other valuables. She's still in jail awaiting her first court appearance. She didn't attempt to steal this audio CD nor any of the other audio CDs I had in my van, which caused my sister to laugh.
Emile C. Tepperman penned this adventure of The Spider, which pits Richard Wentworth with a criminal mastermind from his past - El Crocodilo. Curiously, The Spider only defeated El Crocodilo when their paths crossed nearly 10 years ago. Wentworth didn't, or couldn't kill him at the time because nobody knew who El Crocodilo really was. Now, in his guise as The Spider, Richard Wentworth not only must race to save the life of the one man who can identify El Crocodilo, but he must also prevent the criminal mastermind from taking over the nation's banking system with a flood of realistic counterfeit money that nobody can tell from real money.
What makes this adventure of The Spider perhaps one of the most significant of his outings is that for the first time Richard Wentworth's disguised persona doesn't fool the person he's helping because she is able to see him for who he really is - the dear friend who is trying to rescue her kidnapped daughter.
Once again Nick Santa Maria does a masterful job of bringing this adventure of The Spider to vivid and thrilling life.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Spi...
