Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 55
August 21, 2023
Wolfsong
Just finished reading "Wolfsong - A Green Creek Novel" by T.J. Klune, published by TOR Books.
I'm going to get in trouble for this comparison, but think of "Wolfsong" as the Twilight novel for werewolves minus the sparkles.
"Wolfsong" is a paranormal romance based on wolf shapeshifters. It starts with 12 year old Ox, whose dad leaves and essentially tells him he’s going to have a rough life. Ox quickly becomes a man to help provide and take care of his mother and himself by working under the table at Gordo's garage. When Ox is 16, he meets his new neighbors who moved into the abandoned house down the road, The Bennett’s, more specifically, he meets 10 year old, Joe. A little blonde tornado who rocks Ox’s world, and will never let him go, setting about a chain of consequences that will change the course of Ox's life as he learns the secrets of all around him.
I'm not going to recommend "Wolfsong" for teenage readers because it is too adult, and not Joe and Ox don't do the deed until they both are of legal age.
"Wolfsong" is a great read for adults, but not for children and teenagers.
Highly Recommended!
Ten Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Wolfsong-Green...
I'm going to get in trouble for this comparison, but think of "Wolfsong" as the Twilight novel for werewolves minus the sparkles.
"Wolfsong" is a paranormal romance based on wolf shapeshifters. It starts with 12 year old Ox, whose dad leaves and essentially tells him he’s going to have a rough life. Ox quickly becomes a man to help provide and take care of his mother and himself by working under the table at Gordo's garage. When Ox is 16, he meets his new neighbors who moved into the abandoned house down the road, The Bennett’s, more specifically, he meets 10 year old, Joe. A little blonde tornado who rocks Ox’s world, and will never let him go, setting about a chain of consequences that will change the course of Ox's life as he learns the secrets of all around him.
I'm not going to recommend "Wolfsong" for teenage readers because it is too adult, and not Joe and Ox don't do the deed until they both are of legal age.
"Wolfsong" is a great read for adults, but not for children and teenagers.
Highly Recommended!
Ten Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Wolfsong-Green...
"Lawrence And Aaronsohn - T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict"
Just finished reading "Lawrence And Aaronsohn - T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict" by Ronald Florence, published by Viking back in 2007.
Yes, "Lawrence And Aaronsohn - T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict" is part of my antilibrary, my tsundoku, of unread, but yet to be read library of nearly a thousand or more books patiently waiting for me in my lovely sister's bedroom and in my library - which was my old bedroom
The separate and combined stories and actions of T.E. Lawrence and Aaron Aaronsohn that ultimately led to the creation of the State of Israel and the still-going-on-to-this day Arab-Israeli conflict.
"Lawrence And Aaronsohn" is an interesting study in failed British Colonialism and how two separate individuals; Lawrence and Aaronsohn, worked for British Intelligence, but worked hard to advance their own visions of the future state of Israel. Both Lawrence and Aaronsohn were the Oliver North of their time, and both met each other a few times and couldn't stand each other due to their conflicting personalities, upbringings, and personal agendas.
Florence also curiously waffles on whether or not Lawrence, best known as Lawrence of Arabia, was raped by his Arab captors, or was a machosit who paid people to beat him for his own gratification.
Now when I attended Sunday school at the Beth El Temple at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, my text book mentioned how the Arab farmers distrusted the support and help of Jewish farmers who wanted to work with them to improve production. Now because Dad was offered the role of a military ambassador exchange program to Israel, I decided to sabotage Mom's and Dad's consideration about going to Israel by showing them the passage Kibbutzs in Israel and how children do not live with their parents - Mom had just given birth to Selma Franz a few months ago. When Mom and Dad read the passage in my textbook, they decided not to participate in the military ambassador exchange program - which fell apart when other Jewish American U.S. Marine Corps families at Camp Lejeune discovered children in Kibbutzs do not live with their parents.
Reading "Lawrence And Aaronsohn - T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict" reminded me of my old textbook, which is tucked away in my chest of drawers.
A rather comprehensive biographical novel of two men who tried to shape the destiny of the Middle East.
Strongly Recommended!
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Lawrence-Aaron...
Yes, "Lawrence And Aaronsohn - T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict" is part of my antilibrary, my tsundoku, of unread, but yet to be read library of nearly a thousand or more books patiently waiting for me in my lovely sister's bedroom and in my library - which was my old bedroom
The separate and combined stories and actions of T.E. Lawrence and Aaron Aaronsohn that ultimately led to the creation of the State of Israel and the still-going-on-to-this day Arab-Israeli conflict.
"Lawrence And Aaronsohn" is an interesting study in failed British Colonialism and how two separate individuals; Lawrence and Aaronsohn, worked for British Intelligence, but worked hard to advance their own visions of the future state of Israel. Both Lawrence and Aaronsohn were the Oliver North of their time, and both met each other a few times and couldn't stand each other due to their conflicting personalities, upbringings, and personal agendas.
Florence also curiously waffles on whether or not Lawrence, best known as Lawrence of Arabia, was raped by his Arab captors, or was a machosit who paid people to beat him for his own gratification.
Now when I attended Sunday school at the Beth El Temple at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, my text book mentioned how the Arab farmers distrusted the support and help of Jewish farmers who wanted to work with them to improve production. Now because Dad was offered the role of a military ambassador exchange program to Israel, I decided to sabotage Mom's and Dad's consideration about going to Israel by showing them the passage Kibbutzs in Israel and how children do not live with their parents - Mom had just given birth to Selma Franz a few months ago. When Mom and Dad read the passage in my textbook, they decided not to participate in the military ambassador exchange program - which fell apart when other Jewish American U.S. Marine Corps families at Camp Lejeune discovered children in Kibbutzs do not live with their parents.
Reading "Lawrence And Aaronsohn - T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict" reminded me of my old textbook, which is tucked away in my chest of drawers.
A rather comprehensive biographical novel of two men who tried to shape the destiny of the Middle East.
Strongly Recommended!
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Lawrence-Aaron...
Rouge Angel - Secret of the Monkey King
Just finished listening to "Rogue Angel #61 - Secret of the Monkey King," released by Graphic Audio.
When Harlequin Books stopped publishing it's highly popular Rogue Angel series which chronicled the adventures of archaeologist and television personality Annja Creed who bears the mystic sword of Joan of Arc, Graphic Audio, who licensed the series for full cast audio productions, began producing new Rouge Angel adventures.
"Secret of the Monkey King" is the fifth original production of the Rouge Angel series since Harlequin Books stopped publishing the original series - which were written by a series of authors over the years under the pen-name of Alex Archer, which was in the tradition from the Golden Age of Pulp when writers wrote under a corporate pen name.
Mom, Dad, and I always enjoyed listening to the Rouge Angel series, and I was glad, and still am, that Graphic Audio is continuing Annja's adventures in new original audio dramas. Though Graphic Audio did something different this time around - "Secret of the Monkey King" is actually a two-part adventure, and while that is great, it would have been nice if the Powers-That-Be at Graphic Audio had placed a "Part One" somewhere on the cover and/or a "To Be Continued" clip at the end of this production. I only found out that this is part one by the abrupt conclusion and checking on Graphic Audio's Upcoming Releases page for what I think is the conclusion "Treasure of the Monkey King" - assuming of course there's not a part three.
Anyways, Annja is on an artifact rescue mission to save relics from the Taliban in Hindu Kush, when she is betrayed by her sole team member. Protected from a cave-in by Joan of Arc's sword, Annja experiences a dream vision of the Monkey King, who charges her to protect a Chinese Classics scholar who is about to embark on a personal quest to recover his staff - which has the power to rule over men's minds and hearts. Threatened and challenged at every turn, Annja must not only protect her new friend and charge, but she must also uncover clues to a missing journal from the ancient Dunhaung Library, while sussing out the motives of the billionaire who is backing them on this quest.
Another Great Rouge Angel adventure - but Graphic Audio should be honest and play fair. Knowing that this was a two - or possibly more - part adventure wouldn't have put me off from buying this when it was first released.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.graphicaudio.net/rogue-an...
When Harlequin Books stopped publishing it's highly popular Rogue Angel series which chronicled the adventures of archaeologist and television personality Annja Creed who bears the mystic sword of Joan of Arc, Graphic Audio, who licensed the series for full cast audio productions, began producing new Rouge Angel adventures.
"Secret of the Monkey King" is the fifth original production of the Rouge Angel series since Harlequin Books stopped publishing the original series - which were written by a series of authors over the years under the pen-name of Alex Archer, which was in the tradition from the Golden Age of Pulp when writers wrote under a corporate pen name.
Mom, Dad, and I always enjoyed listening to the Rouge Angel series, and I was glad, and still am, that Graphic Audio is continuing Annja's adventures in new original audio dramas. Though Graphic Audio did something different this time around - "Secret of the Monkey King" is actually a two-part adventure, and while that is great, it would have been nice if the Powers-That-Be at Graphic Audio had placed a "Part One" somewhere on the cover and/or a "To Be Continued" clip at the end of this production. I only found out that this is part one by the abrupt conclusion and checking on Graphic Audio's Upcoming Releases page for what I think is the conclusion "Treasure of the Monkey King" - assuming of course there's not a part three.
Anyways, Annja is on an artifact rescue mission to save relics from the Taliban in Hindu Kush, when she is betrayed by her sole team member. Protected from a cave-in by Joan of Arc's sword, Annja experiences a dream vision of the Monkey King, who charges her to protect a Chinese Classics scholar who is about to embark on a personal quest to recover his staff - which has the power to rule over men's minds and hearts. Threatened and challenged at every turn, Annja must not only protect her new friend and charge, but she must also uncover clues to a missing journal from the ancient Dunhaung Library, while sussing out the motives of the billionaire who is backing them on this quest.
Another Great Rouge Angel adventure - but Graphic Audio should be honest and play fair. Knowing that this was a two - or possibly more - part adventure wouldn't have put me off from buying this when it was first released.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.graphicaudio.net/rogue-an...
August 19, 2023
Empire's Horizon
Just finished reading "Empire's Horizon" by John Brizzolara, published by DAW Books back in 1989.
Now I do remember seeing "Empire's Horizon" when it was first released on the shelves of the new arrivals section of the Science Fiction books at Michele's Bookstore in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center back in 1989 and it interested me, but at the time, I didn't buy it. I'm not exactly sure why I didn't buy it back then. Now, I had just returned back home at Dad's request because Mom was experiencing some physical health difficulties and he was concerned about her being alone when he went on his regular tours of duty - the timing was perfect because I had just left my staff position as the City Reporter for the Sunday & Evening Telegram at Rocky Mount, North Carolina because my fellow journalists and my editors didn't like the fact that I was writing for regional and national magazines during my off time from the paper - they had found out because Tony Reichhardt, then the editor of the now long defunct "Final Frontier" magazine, called me at the office once to assign me a story and the managing editor - Kathy, who was known as "the dragon lady" - had taken the call.
I had resigned from the paper when Kathy was going around calling Tony and a few other editors I wrote for at the time and basically bad mouthing me - I didn't loose any assignments and curiously got even more, so thank you Katy - and NO, I don't think she will ever be reading this. I doubt she even remembers me.
But books and memory of life events do intermingle.
Now a bit about John Brizzolara. At age 29, he sold his first two short stories to Weird Tales. His writing appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Amazing Stories, Whispers, Weirdbook, and Twilight Zone Magazine. His short fiction has been translated to German, Russian, and Japanese.
In 1987 he published his first novel, Wirecutter, followed by the science-fiction novel Empire's Horizon in 1989. Thunder Moon, a sequel to Wirecutter, soon followed. In 1997 he won the National Conference Media Award for Journalism for a San Diego Magazine story on hate crimes. He reviewed numerous books for the Union-Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. He also wrote for the Chicago Reader, Pages, and San Diego Home Garden & Lifestyle. Brizzolara wrote for the Reader from 1989 to 2013, including a weekly column, TGIF.
He died in his sleep at Father Joe’s Villages on October 11, 2016. He was 65. Brizzolara wrote about his struggles with alcoholism and other ailments to which he succumbed.
"Empire's Horzon" juggles a multitudes of issues and would probably be triggering for some to read because it deals with colonialism.
Earth rules a sprawling mass of worlds, many with species that are or are nearly human. On a distant harsh arid world, a poorly run garrison deals with a population split between two warring groups that are in ways both primitive and sophisticated. There are hints as to their long-ago human ancestry. The human administrators of the far flung Portuguese Earth/Interstellar Empire have their own agendas and mysterious ships from an unknown race are nearby. An ex-soldier turned journalist, archaeologist/priest, a producer of sappy romance dramas and a teen seeking the soldier father who abandoned him are all in the mix. The long simmering tensions burst into a bloody full rebellion and alliances are made and changed. Issues with colonialism and assumptions about race permeate which is going to be "triggering."
It's not a bad novel, and it does have a 1960ish-1970ish New Wave science fiction vibe where sex was more widely introduced in the genre. Yet, I suspect what makes this novel memorable is the knockout cover art by Michael Whelan. There was a hint of a potential setup for a sequel, but I suspect a combination of sales and Brizzolara's personal demons never saw a sequel to print. But then DAW published several "first" novels during this time frame that hinted at sprawling epic sequels to come, but they never did reach the publication stage after the release of the first book.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Empires-Horizo...
Now I do remember seeing "Empire's Horizon" when it was first released on the shelves of the new arrivals section of the Science Fiction books at Michele's Bookstore in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center back in 1989 and it interested me, but at the time, I didn't buy it. I'm not exactly sure why I didn't buy it back then. Now, I had just returned back home at Dad's request because Mom was experiencing some physical health difficulties and he was concerned about her being alone when he went on his regular tours of duty - the timing was perfect because I had just left my staff position as the City Reporter for the Sunday & Evening Telegram at Rocky Mount, North Carolina because my fellow journalists and my editors didn't like the fact that I was writing for regional and national magazines during my off time from the paper - they had found out because Tony Reichhardt, then the editor of the now long defunct "Final Frontier" magazine, called me at the office once to assign me a story and the managing editor - Kathy, who was known as "the dragon lady" - had taken the call.
I had resigned from the paper when Kathy was going around calling Tony and a few other editors I wrote for at the time and basically bad mouthing me - I didn't loose any assignments and curiously got even more, so thank you Katy - and NO, I don't think she will ever be reading this. I doubt she even remembers me.
But books and memory of life events do intermingle.
Now a bit about John Brizzolara. At age 29, he sold his first two short stories to Weird Tales. His writing appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Amazing Stories, Whispers, Weirdbook, and Twilight Zone Magazine. His short fiction has been translated to German, Russian, and Japanese.
In 1987 he published his first novel, Wirecutter, followed by the science-fiction novel Empire's Horizon in 1989. Thunder Moon, a sequel to Wirecutter, soon followed. In 1997 he won the National Conference Media Award for Journalism for a San Diego Magazine story on hate crimes. He reviewed numerous books for the Union-Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. He also wrote for the Chicago Reader, Pages, and San Diego Home Garden & Lifestyle. Brizzolara wrote for the Reader from 1989 to 2013, including a weekly column, TGIF.
He died in his sleep at Father Joe’s Villages on October 11, 2016. He was 65. Brizzolara wrote about his struggles with alcoholism and other ailments to which he succumbed.
"Empire's Horzon" juggles a multitudes of issues and would probably be triggering for some to read because it deals with colonialism.
Earth rules a sprawling mass of worlds, many with species that are or are nearly human. On a distant harsh arid world, a poorly run garrison deals with a population split between two warring groups that are in ways both primitive and sophisticated. There are hints as to their long-ago human ancestry. The human administrators of the far flung Portuguese Earth/Interstellar Empire have their own agendas and mysterious ships from an unknown race are nearby. An ex-soldier turned journalist, archaeologist/priest, a producer of sappy romance dramas and a teen seeking the soldier father who abandoned him are all in the mix. The long simmering tensions burst into a bloody full rebellion and alliances are made and changed. Issues with colonialism and assumptions about race permeate which is going to be "triggering."
It's not a bad novel, and it does have a 1960ish-1970ish New Wave science fiction vibe where sex was more widely introduced in the genre. Yet, I suspect what makes this novel memorable is the knockout cover art by Michael Whelan. There was a hint of a potential setup for a sequel, but I suspect a combination of sales and Brizzolara's personal demons never saw a sequel to print. But then DAW published several "first" novels during this time frame that hinted at sprawling epic sequels to come, but they never did reach the publication stage after the release of the first book.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Empires-Horizo...
Southwest Solitude
Just finished listening to "Southwest Solitude" by Tim Clark, released by Agave Records.
Tim Clark is probably best known for his space-themed New Age Music and scoring the audio dramas of ZBS Productions, of which I have, So while doing a search on eBay, I did come across "Southwest Solitude" for under $5 with free shipping which was attributed to him. I believe Agave Records went out of business around 2011 - their web domain is for sale - only around $2,400.00 and the last post on their page here on Facebook was made in 2011
What makes "Southwest Solitude" interesting is that it is a departure from the space-themed music he is known for and Clark wrote pleasant, but not exactly memorable piano pieces.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Canyon of Dreams," "Ancient Walls," and "Distant Sky."
As Zack and Jeff H., my number one and two minions will say - and probably Selma Franz, my baby sister too - I am a "completest" who tries to get a complete collection of a writer's and/or musician's, so I guess "mission accomplished?"
Pleasant, but not a got to have for Tim Clark fans.
Sort of Recommended.
Two-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Southwest-Soli...
Tim Clark is probably best known for his space-themed New Age Music and scoring the audio dramas of ZBS Productions, of which I have, So while doing a search on eBay, I did come across "Southwest Solitude" for under $5 with free shipping which was attributed to him. I believe Agave Records went out of business around 2011 - their web domain is for sale - only around $2,400.00 and the last post on their page here on Facebook was made in 2011
What makes "Southwest Solitude" interesting is that it is a departure from the space-themed music he is known for and Clark wrote pleasant, but not exactly memorable piano pieces.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Canyon of Dreams," "Ancient Walls," and "Distant Sky."
As Zack and Jeff H., my number one and two minions will say - and probably Selma Franz, my baby sister too - I am a "completest" who tries to get a complete collection of a writer's and/or musician's, so I guess "mission accomplished?"
Pleasant, but not a got to have for Tim Clark fans.
Sort of Recommended.
Two-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Southwest-Soli...
August 10, 2023
"Space: 1999 - Dragon's Domain"
Just finished listening to "Space: 1999 - Dragon's Domain," released by Big Finish Productions.
When Big Finish Productions first announced that they were going to launch "Space: 1999" as a new, original series of ongoing audio adventures based on the original television series, they also announced that their version of "Space: 1999" would be set in a different universe - such as the fact that Watergate never happened and President Richard Nixon authorized the construction of Moonbase Alpha - than the original series and there would be some character and canonical changes as well - such as keeping Space Commissioner Simmons as a dramatic foil to Commander John Koenig and the re-imagining of the Series/Season One Episode saw the departure of Paul Marrow instead of Simmons.
Big Finish Productions also stated that they would be re-imaging classic episodes of the televised series for the new audio series.
And one of the more intriguing episodes of Space: 1999 first season/series does show an alternative version of how the Alphans survived the departure of the Moon from Earth's orbit, while another episode from that first series/season shows aliens providing the moon with a sustainable atmosphere to prevent the crew of Moonbase Alpha from making landfall on their world.
The first episode in the "Dragon's Domain" audio sequence is an odd combination of those two first series/season episodes from the original television series.
In "Skull In The Sky" a weird rift in the local space/time seems to be causing a thunderstorm in space and provides the moon with an breathable atmosphere, generating plant growth - but causes the loss of Eagle pilot Alan Carter - who after six years, suddenly returns to now "Planet Alpha" along with the deluge/thunderstorm hot on his heels. Only "Planet Alpha" is not the only Moon in the sky and only one Moonbase Alpha may survive in this breech of the Multiverse.
In "The Godhead Interrogative," Kano, who has been gender swapped from the original television series, is trying to decipher the language/code on an alien artifact that was left behind on Moonbase Alpha when a derelict spacecraft with a dead crew has been discovered after 100 missiles/spacecraft engines embed themselves in the Moon and speed it to a dead world broadcasting a message capable of killing everyone on Alpha.
"Dragon's Domain" is a complete reworking of the haunting and classic horror/ghost story episode of the televised Season/Series One episode. Alan Carter is now the pilot of the ill-fated Ultra mission which is now an attempt to return the crew of Alpha back to Earth. Originally, Carter was supposed to be the pilot of the Ultra show in the television episode, but actor Martin Landau, who played Commander John Koenig in the television series supposedly voiced objections because he was jealous of actor Nick Tate, who played Eagle Pilot Alan Carter. So the original script was allegedly rewritten to accommodate Landau's ego. What make's this re-working interesting is that it takes place over a four-year period, so time in this series progresses.
I suspect that this audio adaptation by Big Finish Productions has equally divided the fans of the original television series of Space: 1999 who love the first season of the show, but hate the second season, and vice-versa. And I fall into the camp that any Space: 1999 is better than no Space: 1999 and Season/Series Two had it's moments and all fans of the show did like the introduction of Maya.
Currently, Big Finish Productions is focused on the first televised season of Space: 1999 in it's re-imagining of the series. I am curious as to how they are going to introduce Maya into the series. Despite him nearly destroying Moonbase Alpha, Commander Koenig did make an honest attempt to save Mentor - Maya's father - and Big Finish does like changing up Space: 1999. Though Big Finish Productions could take a different route and ignore Season/Series Two of Space: 1999 - after all, they have already established that this version of Space: 1999 is set in a different universe from the original series.
Yet, if they take that route, Space: 1999 might go the route of their versions of "The Tomorrow People" and "Sapphire & Steel" - long running but eventually ended before any resolution.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.doctorwhostore.com/space-...
When Big Finish Productions first announced that they were going to launch "Space: 1999" as a new, original series of ongoing audio adventures based on the original television series, they also announced that their version of "Space: 1999" would be set in a different universe - such as the fact that Watergate never happened and President Richard Nixon authorized the construction of Moonbase Alpha - than the original series and there would be some character and canonical changes as well - such as keeping Space Commissioner Simmons as a dramatic foil to Commander John Koenig and the re-imagining of the Series/Season One Episode saw the departure of Paul Marrow instead of Simmons.
Big Finish Productions also stated that they would be re-imaging classic episodes of the televised series for the new audio series.
And one of the more intriguing episodes of Space: 1999 first season/series does show an alternative version of how the Alphans survived the departure of the Moon from Earth's orbit, while another episode from that first series/season shows aliens providing the moon with a sustainable atmosphere to prevent the crew of Moonbase Alpha from making landfall on their world.
The first episode in the "Dragon's Domain" audio sequence is an odd combination of those two first series/season episodes from the original television series.
In "Skull In The Sky" a weird rift in the local space/time seems to be causing a thunderstorm in space and provides the moon with an breathable atmosphere, generating plant growth - but causes the loss of Eagle pilot Alan Carter - who after six years, suddenly returns to now "Planet Alpha" along with the deluge/thunderstorm hot on his heels. Only "Planet Alpha" is not the only Moon in the sky and only one Moonbase Alpha may survive in this breech of the Multiverse.
In "The Godhead Interrogative," Kano, who has been gender swapped from the original television series, is trying to decipher the language/code on an alien artifact that was left behind on Moonbase Alpha when a derelict spacecraft with a dead crew has been discovered after 100 missiles/spacecraft engines embed themselves in the Moon and speed it to a dead world broadcasting a message capable of killing everyone on Alpha.
"Dragon's Domain" is a complete reworking of the haunting and classic horror/ghost story episode of the televised Season/Series One episode. Alan Carter is now the pilot of the ill-fated Ultra mission which is now an attempt to return the crew of Alpha back to Earth. Originally, Carter was supposed to be the pilot of the Ultra show in the television episode, but actor Martin Landau, who played Commander John Koenig in the television series supposedly voiced objections because he was jealous of actor Nick Tate, who played Eagle Pilot Alan Carter. So the original script was allegedly rewritten to accommodate Landau's ego. What make's this re-working interesting is that it takes place over a four-year period, so time in this series progresses.
I suspect that this audio adaptation by Big Finish Productions has equally divided the fans of the original television series of Space: 1999 who love the first season of the show, but hate the second season, and vice-versa. And I fall into the camp that any Space: 1999 is better than no Space: 1999 and Season/Series Two had it's moments and all fans of the show did like the introduction of Maya.
Currently, Big Finish Productions is focused on the first televised season of Space: 1999 in it's re-imagining of the series. I am curious as to how they are going to introduce Maya into the series. Despite him nearly destroying Moonbase Alpha, Commander Koenig did make an honest attempt to save Mentor - Maya's father - and Big Finish does like changing up Space: 1999. Though Big Finish Productions could take a different route and ignore Season/Series Two of Space: 1999 - after all, they have already established that this version of Space: 1999 is set in a different universe from the original series.
Yet, if they take that route, Space: 1999 might go the route of their versions of "The Tomorrow People" and "Sapphire & Steel" - long running but eventually ended before any resolution.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.doctorwhostore.com/space-...
August 9, 2023
Eight Against Utopia
Just finished reading "Eight Against Utopia" by Douglas R. Mason, published by Paperback Library back in 1967.
The original title of "Eight Against Utopia" is "From Carthage Then I Came."
"Eight Against Utopia" is a classic dystopian novel from the late 1960s and 1970s that has strong parallels to the original "Logan's Run" novel with the domed city of Carthage and it's rigid societal structure, but it was an advancing Ice Age that drove humanity to seek survival in various domed cities across the planet.
Gaul Kalmar, a brilliant engineer, discovers a passage to the roof of Carthage, a massive domed city built 7,000 years before on the ruins of historic Carthage in Tunisia. From the observation deck he discovers that the world is not covered with ice as the rhetoric of the state, ruled by the first President (his brain is connected to the city's mainframe), proclaims. Carthage maintains control over its citizens by monitoring brainwaves. When anyone is emotionally riled up due to seditious thoughts, the police swoop in.
Gaul approaches a few of his friends, including Tania Clermont a state psychiatrist whose treatment rooms are safe proof from the peering brain monitoring waves, and decides they need to escape from the city. The reasons for escape, instead of changing the society which has raised them, are rather nebulous. Yes, the official rhetoric is all lies, yes human individuality is curtailed, but the choice to escape instead of instigating a revolution isn't clear.
Gaul and his fellow escapees discover that they are not the first ones to escape from Carthage over the centuries and that humanity has devolved which might hint at their own future.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Against-...
The original title of "Eight Against Utopia" is "From Carthage Then I Came."
"Eight Against Utopia" is a classic dystopian novel from the late 1960s and 1970s that has strong parallels to the original "Logan's Run" novel with the domed city of Carthage and it's rigid societal structure, but it was an advancing Ice Age that drove humanity to seek survival in various domed cities across the planet.
Gaul Kalmar, a brilliant engineer, discovers a passage to the roof of Carthage, a massive domed city built 7,000 years before on the ruins of historic Carthage in Tunisia. From the observation deck he discovers that the world is not covered with ice as the rhetoric of the state, ruled by the first President (his brain is connected to the city's mainframe), proclaims. Carthage maintains control over its citizens by monitoring brainwaves. When anyone is emotionally riled up due to seditious thoughts, the police swoop in.
Gaul approaches a few of his friends, including Tania Clermont a state psychiatrist whose treatment rooms are safe proof from the peering brain monitoring waves, and decides they need to escape from the city. The reasons for escape, instead of changing the society which has raised them, are rather nebulous. Yes, the official rhetoric is all lies, yes human individuality is curtailed, but the choice to escape instead of instigating a revolution isn't clear.
Gaul and his fellow escapees discover that they are not the first ones to escape from Carthage over the centuries and that humanity has devolved which might hint at their own future.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Against-...
The Wave
Just finished reading "The Wave - In Pursuit Of The Rogues, Freaks, And Giants Of The Ocean" by Susan Casey, published by Doubleday back in 2010.
Casey's "The Wave," is another example from my antilibrary, or my tsundoku if you will - my collection of unread books.
Oceanographers once thought that giant waves - also known as rouge waves - were impossible here on Earth and dismissed reports of them.
Casey deftly intersperses how scientists and dare-devil surfers who seek out to discover how giant rouge waves are formed and how they could be ridden by surfers. Giant rouge waves are also responsible for the disappearance of ships world wide - not aliens or inter-dimensional portals.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Pursuit-R...
Casey's "The Wave," is another example from my antilibrary, or my tsundoku if you will - my collection of unread books.
Oceanographers once thought that giant waves - also known as rouge waves - were impossible here on Earth and dismissed reports of them.
Casey deftly intersperses how scientists and dare-devil surfers who seek out to discover how giant rouge waves are formed and how they could be ridden by surfers. Giant rouge waves are also responsible for the disappearance of ships world wide - not aliens or inter-dimensional portals.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Pursuit-R...
The Murder Wheel
Just finished reading "The Murder Wheel" by Tom Mead, published by The Mysterious Press.
The second outing of retired stage magician Joseph Spector finds him present when a magic trick goes wrong and a body falls on stage to startled performers and the audience. Present in the audience is Edmund Ibbs, a somewhat newly minted attorney who is trying to figure out a way prove Carla Dean, the client of the firm he is employed at, innocent of killing her husband when they were riding on a Ferris Wheel. Then Ibbs is implicated as the primary suspect in the unexpected murder of Paolini - the magician whose performance was ruined by the arrival of a corpse, and whose tricks were being exposed in a newly published and highly popular book "The Master of Manipulation" that was written by an unknown author who seems to have it out for Paolini.
A Great and Fun "Locked-Room" mystery.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161...
The second outing of retired stage magician Joseph Spector finds him present when a magic trick goes wrong and a body falls on stage to startled performers and the audience. Present in the audience is Edmund Ibbs, a somewhat newly minted attorney who is trying to figure out a way prove Carla Dean, the client of the firm he is employed at, innocent of killing her husband when they were riding on a Ferris Wheel. Then Ibbs is implicated as the primary suspect in the unexpected murder of Paolini - the magician whose performance was ruined by the arrival of a corpse, and whose tricks were being exposed in a newly published and highly popular book "The Master of Manipulation" that was written by an unknown author who seems to have it out for Paolini.
A Great and Fun "Locked-Room" mystery.
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161...
August 5, 2023
The Spider and the Sons of Satan
Just finished listening to "The Spider and the Sons of Satan" by by Norvell W. Page writing as Grant Stockbridge, read by Nick Santa Maria, released by Radio Archives.
Now as readers of my reviews know, I always give a heads up whenever I have a connection with a movie, book, music CD, and or audio drama. While I have never met Nick Santa Maria in person, we are friends here on Facebook, and we have exchanged greetings and messages over the years. I have also written a few end-notes for several old time radio collections for Radio Archives.
Norvell W. Page was the prominent writer of The Spider's adventures - several other writers also penned tales of The Spider. Page, who took over the writing duties on the third issue of The Spider, was responsible for giving millionaire Richard Wentworth, a.k.a. The Spider, his gritty psychotic edge - and make no mistake, though Wentworth fought for justice, he was the original Dexter who killed criminals and marked those he killed in the name of justice with the red seal of The Spider. Wentworth was a serial killer, make no mistake about it and he was the first anti-hero of the Pulp Era.
His fiance Nita van Sloan was also a ruthless killer in her own right and in "The Spider and the Sons of Satan" she dispatches six men who were trying to kill her.
The Spider willingly enters what he knows is a death trap when a young boy advertises for help for his father who is unwittingly killed in the attempt to enlist The Spider's help. A new villain threatens New York City, and all The Spider knows about him is that he hides behind glowing red eyes.
Oh, if you're easily triggered, it's probably best that you don't read and/or listen to any of The Spider's adventures.
Nick Santa Maria gives another resounding and masterful performance as The Master of Men - The Spider.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Spi...
Now as readers of my reviews know, I always give a heads up whenever I have a connection with a movie, book, music CD, and or audio drama. While I have never met Nick Santa Maria in person, we are friends here on Facebook, and we have exchanged greetings and messages over the years. I have also written a few end-notes for several old time radio collections for Radio Archives.
Norvell W. Page was the prominent writer of The Spider's adventures - several other writers also penned tales of The Spider. Page, who took over the writing duties on the third issue of The Spider, was responsible for giving millionaire Richard Wentworth, a.k.a. The Spider, his gritty psychotic edge - and make no mistake, though Wentworth fought for justice, he was the original Dexter who killed criminals and marked those he killed in the name of justice with the red seal of The Spider. Wentworth was a serial killer, make no mistake about it and he was the first anti-hero of the Pulp Era.
His fiance Nita van Sloan was also a ruthless killer in her own right and in "The Spider and the Sons of Satan" she dispatches six men who were trying to kill her.
The Spider willingly enters what he knows is a death trap when a young boy advertises for help for his father who is unwittingly killed in the attempt to enlist The Spider's help. A new villain threatens New York City, and all The Spider knows about him is that he hides behind glowing red eyes.
Oh, if you're easily triggered, it's probably best that you don't read and/or listen to any of The Spider's adventures.
Nick Santa Maria gives another resounding and masterful performance as The Master of Men - The Spider.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Spi...
