Ed Gorman's Blog, page 237

WITH FOLDED HANDS..and SEARCHING MIND

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ED HERE: For science fiction fans this volume is a particular treat. A fair number of solid sf names disappeared after the war because they couldn't write for the audience just then emerging. J ack Williamson not only appealed to that audience he became one of its favorites. I've read just about half the stories in this book and each one highlights Williamson's virtues as a writer--a tight, dramatic style that satisfies those looking for both action and the kind of interior life common to all...

J.A. Konrath's original Kindle novel

Three of the writer's blogs I check out every day are filled with comments about J.A. Konrath's decision to publish his next novel first on Kindle. This is an interesting story with important implications for the future of publishing. Novelist Jason Pinter wrote a piece for Huffington Post that looks at many of those implications.

Jason Pinter:

Jason PinterBestselling Thriller Writer
Posted: May 18, 2010 11:34 AM

The Konrath Effect: Will New Technology Ruin Talented Authors?

A long time ago, I r...

Forgotten Books: A Case of Need by Michael Crichton

Forgotten Books: A Case of Need by Michael Crichton


A Case of Need was published under the name Jeffery Hudson and won the Edgar in its year, 1968. My assumption, and I may well be wrong here, is that Crichton wanted to use a new pen-name. His previous ones had appeared on adventure paperback originals and men's adventure magazines. Need was certainly a more complex and ambitious book.

The first thing to remember here is that Crichton was a doctor. While this whodunit revolves around the appare...

Alabama Bully Boy

One of the most obnoxious and silly ass political commercials of all time showed up last week when a loud mouth bully boy from Alabama running for ag secretary there came on the air with a spot that everybody is lampooning. Here's the best one I've seen so far. The site offers both the spoof and the original. If you haven't seen the real thing watch it first--though it comes of like a parody itself--then watch the spoof which is slotted first.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05......

Three fine novels from Richard Matheson & Forge

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It appears that Forge is reissuing many Richard Matheson books in attractive trade editions that only enhance the quality and superiority of the books themselves.

Hunted Past Reason is a remarkable suspense novel because it shows what a master can do with a relatively simple story. Screenwriter Bob Hansen asks his friend Doug Crowley if he can accompany him on a three-day camping trip for research. Doug's an accomplished outdoorsman. The reward for Bob is that his wife Marian will meet them at...

Plots are for pussies part deux

Ed here: Years ago the Farrelly brothers (mediocore but occasionally funny film makers) remarked that "plots are for pussies." If you want a more refined take on that sentiment here's a man named David Shields saying much the same thing. I will say that from time to time I do prefer non-fiction. There are small periods of time when all fiction, from great literature to detective fiction, does seem predictable and unrewarding. But that passes and I'm back to two or three novels and half a doz...

Lena Horne; TMI; California

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The Daily Beast published this except from James Gavin's biography of Lena Horne:

Leno Horne's Horne's Stormy Past
by James Gavin


The legendary singer, who died Sunday, was no wallflower when it came to defending herself against racial slurs. In an exclusive excerpt from Stormy Weather, James Gavin tells the story of when she attacked a racist man at a Beverly Hills restaurant.

Monday, February 15, 1960, was Lena Horne's day off in a two-week engagement at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles. Ar...

Update: Leonardo DiCaprio not Matt Damon

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Six of one half dozen of the other...After I posted this I started thinking maybe I got confused...the people talking about making McGee are (are you ready?) Leonardo DiCaprio and Oliver Stone--worse than I thought.

(previously and incorrectly--not Damon, DiCaprio but same problem)

Matt Damon's a good actor and can be a funny guy in interviews. So nothing against him but I can't see him as Travis McGee, as the trades are saying he will be.

I'm probably speaking for those of us who started readi...

Travis McGee-Matt Damon

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Matt Damon's a good actor and can be a funny guy in interviews. So nothing against him but I can't see him as Travis McGee, as the trades are saying he will be.

I'm probably speaking for those of us who started reading the John D. MacDonald McGees as they began appearing in the early Sixties. I can remember how the first three popped up without warning except in the Fawcett-owned Cavalier magazine (when it was a real magazine and not just another t & a outlet).

Now admittedly McGee wasn't my ...

Kate Stine: News From Mystery Scene

From Kate Stine:

Hi,

We're spreading the word about recent developments at Mystery Scene.

The new MS website has just launched. It's pretty gorgeous! The site is updated daily and offers original content as well as selected material from print.

The website joins the MS Blog, Facebook Fan Page (950+ fans), monthly e-newsletter (5K subscribers), and MS Twitter feed.

Reaction from our readers has been very positive. It's a brave new world!

Hope all is well with you.

Best wishes,
Kate

Kate Stine, Publi...