tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-368993422024-03-19T01:48:43.139-07:00Pulp Fiction ReviewsReviewing modern and classic pulp novels and anthologies. Hard copies only, we do not review digital books or files.Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.comBlogger790125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-64922243780928045912024-03-06T15:11:00.000-08:002024-03-06T15:11:43.197-08:00THROUGH THE WILD GATE<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhXnPsK_hWEOqY2J_lyhcongj1oFtMhAEieVHwem2fqiYg6MIXUDZSu-OJDgMVPAFMSqb4IkEW32J1YnAjz4BoKEk0WP0a4p9mq3pA3dzdN6NTKa3AQntSGqnh40KUvhDFy4hv18PsojADc875LFlGR1tcdJ8kEjkuuRP0modyEN2NN7zOg/s2646/COZORT(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2646" data-original-width="1792" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhXnPsK_hWEOqY2J_lyhcongj1oFtMhAEieVHwem2fqiYg6MIXUDZSu-OJDgMVPAFMSqb4IkEW32J1YnAjz4BoKEk0WP0a4p9mq3pA3dzdN6NTKa3AQntSGqnh40KUvhDFy4hv18PsojADc875LFlGR1tcdJ8kEjkuuRP0modyEN2NN7zOg/s320/COZORT(1).JPG" width="217" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">THROUGH THE WILD GATE</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Dale Cozort</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chisel & Stone Publishing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">198 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Science fiction writer Dale Cozort has a flair for writing
alternate time-line adventures and cross-dimensional platforms. In this novel,
he offers up a world where very rich men discovered strange gates that lead to
an alternate Earth still existing in prehistoric times. They call it the Wild
and it is populated by sabertooth tigers, giant bears, things called dire
wolves and of course massive furry mastodons. Oh, and early humans barely above
ape evolution called Magi inhabit this savage world. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now armed with both the knowledge and whereabouts of these
“gates” these wealthy men form a Council of the richest families. Each family
lays claim to a gate and proceeds to establish a compound on the other world in
the Wild. Among these families is the Thornburgs led by patriarch Robert
Thornburg who, in a reckless moment of fancy, fathers a daughter with a Magi
servant girl. The resulting half-breed child is a girl he names Robinette.
Then, despite the hue and cry of other members of the Council and his own
children, twins Tom and Leah, Thornburg decided to keep Robinette and raise her
here in our world. He soon learns she is not only massively strong, she also possesses
a geniur I.Q. and quickly earns a college degree in physics. All the while Tom
and Leah <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would love nothing better than
to have her disappear. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ultimately Robinette is drugged, kidnapped and dropped tied
and bound in the Wild where she is expected to die. She does not. Rather she
manages to survive and sneak back into our world via a gate and is discovered
by former Private Investigator, Eric Carter, now employed by father in a
security role. Carter has affections for Robinette and upon learning of what
happened to her, puts his neck on the line by hiding her from the Council, and
her own family. Their job, to solve the mystery of who is trying to sabotage
the Thornburgs and steal their power position. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cozort’s book is a fun read with lots of fascinating
characters. None more so than Robinette and the world of the Gates. What lies
through them is something to ponder. He almost makes it look attractive. If you
like way-out sci-fi, look no further than “Through The Wild Gate.” It’s a hell
of a ride.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-71258709686276601092024-02-26T08:26:00.000-08:002024-02-26T08:26:58.001-08:00LEVON'S TIME<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj95VQA70UtyDI-CrPJFv6VA8l9nu0SboUPmg-2HRgTy3Cr6r-OhqKdQQbhsq6Dcpcg8OXJ16WVputyMma0vTcqhkMlTJ-Zdfp3YdKfTrArO8C1W-bzY7LfQRtXCrbLZFTLupLh3DLwk1rwKRjyzhwH4yDHDL3IH505vyLnqCr082CKss9iw/s2359/TIME.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="1477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj95VQA70UtyDI-CrPJFv6VA8l9nu0SboUPmg-2HRgTy3Cr6r-OhqKdQQbhsq6Dcpcg8OXJ16WVputyMma0vTcqhkMlTJ-Zdfp3YdKfTrArO8C1W-bzY7LfQRtXCrbLZFTLupLh3DLwk1rwKRjyzhwH4yDHDL3IH505vyLnqCr082CKss9iw/s320/TIME.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">LEVON’S TIME</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Levon Cade Book Seven)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Chuck Dixon</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rough Edge Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">227 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happily, this reviewer, with this book, has filled in the
gaps and will now be able to catch up with the series as they move forward.
With “Levon’s Time,” we pick up Cade after his rescue mission back in Iraq
and finds him slowly attempting to slip out of the region among refugees and
get back to the states. Unfortunately his noble intervention in saving a young
teenage girl from being raped by a Turkish government agent lands him in a
hellish Turkish prison. Posing as a Canadian national, Cade does his best to
stay alive while methodically assessing his next move to escape. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile back in Alabama, his daughter Merry has run into
her own threatening situation when she, and a friend, rescue a young Colombian
girl being held prisoner by thugs belong to a Mexican drug cartel. Dixon’s ploy in weaving us
back and forth between Cade’s violent struggles and his daughter’s cunning
confrontation with sex traffickers is masterful in keeping the suspense and
pacing of the book at high speed. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We absolutely love this series and recommend it highly. In a
world too often dark and depressing, where good is bad and vice versa, having
heroes like Cades is medicine for the soul.</p>
<p><br /> </p>Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-619006506387460142024-02-20T14:52:00.000-08:002024-02-21T14:21:59.688-08:00NOBODY'S ANGEL<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2wO42yjmGNNGym2IDSf14yTASF45_MEYvzYJWCzubqrbhc1MPfLDEDfmt7_68-38yM7AhAxz-cW4zV4boDm7lrZxk1WWVPfXtASc1xMFmpcC1IoRp9zee_ENZaIkMDKUVY3Syqd2DMoLJW7jsvdyCsAScp31wCTLETDgEUF13L86TdZxkA/s2387/ANGEL.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="1498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2wO42yjmGNNGym2IDSf14yTASF45_MEYvzYJWCzubqrbhc1MPfLDEDfmt7_68-38yM7AhAxz-cW4zV4boDm7lrZxk1WWVPfXtASc1xMFmpcC1IoRp9zee_ENZaIkMDKUVY3Syqd2DMoLJW7jsvdyCsAScp31wCTLETDgEUF13L86TdZxkA/s320/ANGEL.JPG" width="201" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">NOBODY’S ANGEL</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Jack Clark</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hard Case Crime</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">218 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eddie Miles is a world weary Chicago taxi-cab driver. He’s divorced; his
ex-wife packed her bag and moved away taking his daughter with her. He has no
clue where she went. Whatever dreams Eddie had have long ago evaporated and his
life is driving through the great Windy
City in an endless circle
all night long ferrying other lost souls.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When one of Eddie’s oldest friends, a veteran cabbie, is
shot and killed, he can’t help but take it personally. Though unaware of his
own lack of police skills, Eddie starts becoming super attuned to not only his
passengers, but the would-be fares throughout the next few nights. All the
while wondering if one of them could be the killer. Because of this heighten
awareness, he ends up saving the life a badly cut up teenage prostitute who
then calls him her angel. <br /></p>
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today is one of stark, merciless brutality and the world Eddie and his fellow
hacks inhabit is reminiscent on Milton’s nine levels hell. This is a non-forgiving book about people who have given up
struggling to hold on what little humanity is left to them. A remarkable
achievement in noir fiction.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-48532491895212770652024-02-17T07:59:00.000-08:002024-02-17T07:59:31.093-08:00SHERLOCK HOLMES - THE VANISHING MAN<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRUzM5Itnj2p778NO5f4pUhC2_4jmcqc1L9IFbXHBAk0lRfzFK_QK38oSS81vH-_DkHBz92MZ0jEsJLKnjzHiKI50thl66ttD-izYYOaLgmJbPz4AaDetcz8hzndJWTP1df0S7Qoco2HJtLMwKeXB9Shny9NLbtMqyzF29VIHxWg3jZHkHg/s2380/VANISHING.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2380" data-original-width="1540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRUzM5Itnj2p778NO5f4pUhC2_4jmcqc1L9IFbXHBAk0lRfzFK_QK38oSS81vH-_DkHBz92MZ0jEsJLKnjzHiKI50thl66ttD-izYYOaLgmJbPz4AaDetcz8hzndJWTP1df0S7Qoco2HJtLMwKeXB9Shny9NLbtMqyzF29VIHxWg3jZHkHg/s320/VANISHING.JPG" width="207" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">SHERLOCK HOLMES</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Vanishing Man</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Philip Purser-Hallard</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Titan Books</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">279 pg</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We love Sherlock Holmes mysteries and were recently made
aware that Titan Books has been publishing a new series of Holmes novels by
various authors. If all of them are anywhere as good as “The Vanishing Man” by
Philip Purser-Hallard, then Holmes fans should be delighted, as the set up is
traditional Doyle all the way. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Holmes is approached by a group of noted Londoners who have
formed a scientific society to explore the possibilities of actual psychic
phenomenon ala telekinesis and telepathy. In the course of one of their experiments, a fellow claiming to have been raised on the planet Venus,
disappears while locked in a room with only one door and one window. At the
time of his disappearance, he was being observed by two men of the society
around the clock. And still he vanished before their eyes. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Never once believing the incident is anything but a clever
hoax, Holmes is still intrigued enough to pursue the matter. Within a few days
of his investigations one of the members of the group, an artist, is brutally
murdered and his studio trashed. Thus what began as a curious exercise to the
Great Detective takes on a more gruesome note. Now solving the initial puzzle
may also reveal a cold blooded murderer. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The Vanishing Man” is wonderfully written and we especially
loved a small exchange between Holmes and Watson towards the conclusion wherein
Watson actually corrects Holmes on hurried deduction. It is priceless. If you
are a bonafide Holmes addict, you might want to check this one out.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-2692705212989780552024-02-09T13:01:00.000-08:002024-02-09T13:01:12.449-08:00THE HINDENBURG MURDERS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLth3CV_0hJPcMVmIsmyGiKNgmAcYRyggnsyDY8xgcWCoQbFxSfyUrKpyNJdN1QbgdMqqDE62WL8SeQOpeYTVrMAMNHmkBiJQ32S6q4sm1EWq6mkbBw4VEqZWKPh0VmoDRBRJtqnsL55L_UWnWmIKlrYkffBbcpgy1zJKGnUrJu29mXZNVfw/s2436/HIDDENBERG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="1673" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLth3CV_0hJPcMVmIsmyGiKNgmAcYRyggnsyDY8xgcWCoQbFxSfyUrKpyNJdN1QbgdMqqDE62WL8SeQOpeYTVrMAMNHmkBiJQ32S6q4sm1EWq6mkbBw4VEqZWKPh0VmoDRBRJtqnsL55L_UWnWmIKlrYkffBbcpgy1zJKGnUrJu29mXZNVfw/s320/HIDDENBERG.JPG" width="220" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">THE HINDENBURG MURDERS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Max Allan Collins</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thomas & Mercer</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">245 pgs</p>
<p>This is one of writer Max Collins’ murder mysteries centered on outstanding
historical events. Other books in the series involved the sinking of the
Titanic and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
In this tale, he sets his sights on the dramatic end of the magnificent German
airship Hindenburg. </p>
<p>The Hindenburg Disaster, as it became known, occurred on May 6, 1937.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The LZ 129 Hindenburg was a German commercial
passenger-carrying rigid airship. The largest such flying machine designed and
built by the Zeppelin Company. Filled with hydrogen, it caught fire and was
destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at the Naval Air
Station in Lakehurst New Jersey. Of the 97
people on board, 35 died along with a one ground fatality. The disaster was
captured on newsreels and radio eyewitness reports. </p>
<p>In plotting his tale of murder and sabotage, Collins’ muse was aided by the
fact that sailing on the airship’s last trip was none other than the popular
mystery writer and creator of the Saint, Leslie Charteris. The debonair
Charteris is on his way back to America
to finalize his divorce from his second wife. Upon getting settled into the
spacious, beautifully furnished interior, he soon is made aware that the
turbulent politics of the time have also come aboard. Hitler and his Nazi party
are changing the climate of the country and not all Germans are thrilled with
the fervor of this new nationalism. Attacks on Jewish citizens are rampant and
an underground resistance movement fueled by communist agitators is rumored to
be active.</p>
<p>Although neutral in his own opinions, the writer soon suspects that the
fellow sharing his cabin is an agent of the secret police. When the man
disappears soon after the ship’s departure, the only logical explanation points
to murder. Someone, fearing exposure by the agent, managed to throw him
overboard during the night. The veteran captain of the Hindenburg, being one of
Charteris’ old acquaintances, seeks his aid in ferreting out the killer before
the mighty airship reaches its final destination. Added to this challenge is
the possibility that the killer is also a saboteur and may have planted a bomb
somewhere on the giant craft.</p>
<p>As always, Collins research is meticulous and within the first few pages, we
readers are taken on a detailed tour of the Hindenburg’s wonders from its
stately dining rooms to its four gondolas containing its powerful Daimler
engines. As the journey progresses, Charteris does his best to surreptitiously
interview the most likely suspects, from a slapstick vaudeville entertaining to
even a young member of the ship’s crew. As the hours tick away, the ship moves
closer and closer to its destiny. <br /></p>
<p>The final chapters detailing the horrendous explosion and burning of the
Hindenburg are gut wrenching. Charteris was one of the survivors and in the
end, he walks away with what his believes to be the actual cause of the
tragedy. Over the years, a variety of theories have been put forth for both the
cause of ignition and the initial fuel for the ensuing fire. The publicity
shattered public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship and
sounded the death knell of the airship era. For many aviation buffs, this
reviewer included, it remains an everlasting loss.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-37298480373342244812024-01-20T11:27:00.000-08:002024-01-20T11:27:51.724-08:00THE COMPLETE I.V. FROST<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zQwPuOr_C66pnem2kwswYZlQkdzP0K1PliyFTGqtcfb05vNvO8jrm-RE-9u0Eh2dgSgTw3traMouD6vhjbwFNdrvlARM2SF9oAsjrlkZotIOfDFtVwmXW0791KvCsNEHzZTjat1FYGvHHnCBPlvHsXiqsGc7jLosTxzmBBs_clyd_LtNmw/s2765/FROST.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="1904" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zQwPuOr_C66pnem2kwswYZlQkdzP0K1PliyFTGqtcfb05vNvO8jrm-RE-9u0Eh2dgSgTw3traMouD6vhjbwFNdrvlARM2SF9oAsjrlkZotIOfDFtVwmXW0791KvCsNEHzZTjat1FYGvHHnCBPlvHsXiqsGc7jLosTxzmBBs_clyd_LtNmw/s320/FROST.JPG" width="220" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">THE COMPLETE IVY FROST</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Donald Wandrei</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Edited by Stephen Haffner</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Haffner Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">698 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We always attempt to make our reviews personal and not
cookie-cutter dissertations that simply say yea or nea. That has never been
more vital than with this review of a really unique pulp character which we not
only love but have actually written. So let’s start by getting the cold facts
out of the way. Donald A. Wandrei (20 April 1908 to 15 Oct 1987) was a writer
of science fiction, fantasy and and weird fiction. He was also an editor and
co-founder, with fellow writer August Derleth, of the popular publishing firm,
Arkham House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask most pulp fans and
this is the data they will recall. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Whereas only a select few know that Wandrei also wrote
mysteries and ultimately created one of the most colorful detectives ever to
grace the pages of Clues magazine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Professor I.V. Frost was Wandrei’s take on Sherlock Holmes.
He was an eccentric genius who gave up teaching because it bored him and turned
to solving bizarre, intricate mysteries that baffled the police. In his first
published tale, he hired a beautiful blonde named Jean Moray to be his
assistant, ala a girl-Friday. Try imagining Basil Rathbone (Wandrei envisioned
Frost as tall, skinny, gaunt fellow ala a living scarecrow) having as as his
partner the sexy blond-bombshell, Jean Harlow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s Frost and Moray. Though Jean is more than cupid lips, gray-green
eyes and an hour glass figure; she’s also a graduate of Berkeley with a Masters Degree in Physics.
And those are the qualifictions that land her job; not her looks. Though in his
own clever way, Frost often takes advantage of them when distracting others who
are attempting to stymie his investigations. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wandrei wrote a total of eighteen I.V. Frost mysteries for
Clues. In 2000, D.H. Olson, who penned the excellent introduction here, edited
a volume published by Fedogan and Bremer collecting the first eight of Frost's
adventures. Which is where we were first introduced to these characters. A
second volume of the remaining ten tales was promised but much to our dismay never
materialized. Now, thanks to Haffner Press that has been corrected with this
truly wonderful, complete collection which arrived in 2020. For the past four
years it has sat on our bookshelf. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During the intervening years, we were approached by
Moonstone Books publisher and managing editor, Joe Gentile, asking if would be
like to write new I.V. Frost adventures. We were thrilled at the prospect and
quickly wrote not only a new prose tale, but three short comic strips. Redbud
Studio published two of those strips in the first ever I.V. Frost comic book,
while Moonstone eventually published the third as a bonus feature in a Black
Bat special. Then three years ago Joe called again wanting another prose yarn
and we happily obliged him. It appeared in a book series called Double-Shot.
When Joe reached out again to us last year, we not only agreed to once again
join Frost and Ms. Moray on a case, but realized it was high time we sat down
and read through the entire Haffner edition, finally familiarizing ourselves
with the entire cannon. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is truly a remarkable series and Wandrei was a deft
writer comfortable with both frivolous banter ala the sexual tension between
Frost and Jean, and inventing some of the most bizarre, truly grotesque
scenarios into which to set them. Together the brainy professor and his cocky,
reckless protégé tackled twisted, complex crimes and battled the most ruthless
villains ever to appear in print. Happily, the volume is still available from
Haffner and if you are a true fan of the pulps, you need to have this book in
your library. Meanwhile, keep an out for “Recipe For Murder,” by this reviewer,
coming soon from Moonstone Books in another volume of Double-Shot. Somehow we
have a feeling; we aren’t done with Frost and Ms. Moray just yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /> </p>Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-24857092571704985602024-01-15T08:14:00.000-08:002024-01-15T08:14:35.983-08:00LEVON'S WAR<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NM3NFuXQnPcJDiHX_ztmwYoQYllX8fNtGkZRKEMRYHe1ZAQ4rNuuzx5DNC1911fdhJbgxXBOwjHJPNVHKXZ80PAhX40HW1Typ-n3-bMaltWixa06s-k7udGRnlPPyh6UnpLfCNJwZuRFesqzrKxq7gSd_hYVL30N-BtiSgCisKVee448TA/s2359/L-WAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="1491" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NM3NFuXQnPcJDiHX_ztmwYoQYllX8fNtGkZRKEMRYHe1ZAQ4rNuuzx5DNC1911fdhJbgxXBOwjHJPNVHKXZ80PAhX40HW1Typ-n3-bMaltWixa06s-k7udGRnlPPyh6UnpLfCNJwZuRFesqzrKxq7gSd_hYVL30N-BtiSgCisKVee448TA/s320/L-WAR.JPG" width="202" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">LEVON’S WAR</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Levon Cade # 6)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Chuck Dixon</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rough Edges Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">267 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we continue to fill in the holes in our Levon Cade
collection, we come to volume six which is by far one of the most dramatic,
action packed installments. Cade returns to Iraq to honor a promise his made to
a Kurdish soldier while stationed there. At the same, Federal Agent Nancy
Valdez finds his Uncle Fern and takes charge of his daughter, Merry, putting
her in an uncaring Foster Care system in hopes of scaring her into betraying
her father. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dixon skillfully weaves
history between the horror of war, which remains part of the lives of all
people in the Middle East, to the cruel
underbelly of our own child protective services and Merry’s ordeal. Note, she
proves to be as tough and resilient as her father. “Levon’s War” is brutal and
savage. Not for the faint of heart. You’ve been warned. And now on to # 7.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-21032285384980064502024-01-04T09:19:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:19:27.926-08:00THE TERRORS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudCcJLYuka7eTGeF7LDxovqjTunoUUungXDKUsc8bfpIudGlm1bs8T8TK37_r8OEi_mt17CsLp45Gw1TvbJuJwIRyXqa29Kp4KhhbYlX1fj_QzaQopglVxbE6vAKELOywrpsBR5MHZdd0QyKRTTQZjDTWFMHIOGcMDmpp9IQw7OGZfzhRNA/s2639/TERRORS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2639" data-original-width="1806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudCcJLYuka7eTGeF7LDxovqjTunoUUungXDKUsc8bfpIudGlm1bs8T8TK37_r8OEi_mt17CsLp45Gw1TvbJuJwIRyXqa29Kp4KhhbYlX1fj_QzaQopglVxbE6vAKELOywrpsBR5MHZdd0QyKRTTQZjDTWFMHIOGcMDmpp9IQw7OGZfzhRNA/s320/TERRORS.JPG" width="219" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE TERRORS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Brian K. Morris</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rising Tide Pub.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">245 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any comic fan upon seeing the gorgeous Jeffrey Hayes cover
to this book would have done a double-take. Here is a black man wearing the all
too familiar costume of The Black Terror. The Black Terror appeared in Exciting
Comics # 9. He was pharmacist Bob Benton, who had formulated a chemical he
called formic ethers, which gave him superpowers. He used these to fight crime
with his sidekick, a young Tim Rowland, and together they were known as the
“Terror Twins.” Many of those early stories were penned by Patricia Highsmith
before she became a bestselling crime novelist. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But here’s the rub. Neither Bob or Tim was black. This race
switch becomes the lynch pin of writer Brian K. Morris’ unique reinterpretation
of these heroes. Keeping the original World War II setting, he’s able to
incorporate a social underpinning to his drama while at the same time tipping
his cap to those golden age characters. And it works without ever becoming
preachy. He deftly defines his cast, the racism of the times and the drama all
of them are caught up in, both personally and publicly. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As if that wasn’t enough to sink your teeth into, he then
has the guts to bring as yet another old timer into the fray. Any true comic
fan, upon being introduced to the Cobalt Scarab, a redheaded mystery man who
Benson encounters, will immediately recognize the long-lived hero with the BB
initials. His name and origin here also connect with the original. Of course,
Morris also throws in some new and nasty villains ala the beautiful Sylvia
Devereux. One of the most cold-hearted women this side of Delilah. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The Terror” is a clever, thrill ride with an honest
appreciation of what was good and bad about the past. Here’s hoping there’s a
sequel in the works.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-88419288733527661282023-12-27T11:04:00.000-08:002023-12-27T11:04:19.306-08:00BORN TO HANG<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UpApmUzcz2D_9W7_WK3hV52r-mxqUj4c_MNp3MHDiGghCTN-OOeiqtar1soKg9hCQtT13GYJbUD5cuJ1ei_Z3928SjcWKsSqqfMCZ-gpOnB6srC-EX63zL04MHIpno4TOn1g-jNeXQT_bRR8CADGvEYcs07b8ykITs-mT8tj1rwL4MsqjA/s1988/HANG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="1274" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UpApmUzcz2D_9W7_WK3hV52r-mxqUj4c_MNp3MHDiGghCTN-OOeiqtar1soKg9hCQtT13GYJbUD5cuJ1ei_Z3928SjcWKsSqqfMCZ-gpOnB6srC-EX63zL04MHIpno4TOn1g-jNeXQT_bRR8CADGvEYcs07b8ykITs-mT8tj1rwL4MsqjA/s320/HANG.JPG" width="205" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BORN TO HANG</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A Jeremiah Halstead Western</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Terrance McCauley</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pinnacle Books</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">316 Pgs. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the fourth entry in the Jeremiah Halstead series and
like the previous books, a slam-bang action packed western ride. At the end of
the last installment, Halstead, the protégé of Montana Marshal Aaron Mackey,
had been falsely charged with the murder of to sheriff’s deputies and a warrant
issued for his arrest. Knowing fully well his Deputy Marshal had been targeted
by a corrupt federal judge, Mackey allowed Halstead time to escape the city and
disappear into the western mountain ranges known as the Flatheads.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As “Born To Hang” opens, Mackey, fearing numerous bounty
hunters are now on Halstead’s trail, dispatches another of his men, Jason
Sanborne, to find the fugitive and bring him back to Helena before he’s gunned down. Mackey is
right to be worried, as Halstead is indeed set upon by mountain trappers eager
to claim the five thousand dollar reward on his head. After surviving two such
ambushes and leaving five men dead, Halstead comes down out of the mountains to
a small village known as Barren Pines. Here he hopes to resupply his provisions
and wait out a harsh winter storm. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Instead what he finds is a conniving dance hall queen known
as the Glamorous Glenda who is working with the town lawman, to trap Halstead
and bring him back to Missoula
for the reward. At the same, Halstead’s nemesis, the one-armed Emil Riker, is
on his way there along with a group of gunmen to mete out his own blood
vengeance on the man who killed his brother and took shot off his arm. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Between killers and surprise allies, Barren Pines soon
becomes the nexus of survival for the weary Halstead. Will his uncanny luck
finally expire? Once again, Terrance McCauley spins a truly terrific story with
memorable characters and tons of gun-blazing action. “Born To Hang” is another of
his bonafide western winners. </p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-86821210485403473592023-12-21T14:59:00.000-08:002023-12-21T14:59:18.431-08:00INCOGNITO<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv49ufLQN05gBK_ufxJuKIVfxaEbwRNBSUBQ55ed3RuMlLYSFKBmb5a26vTrlxGcAdpHVM5DKufVDLKUx26LTpRCsd-4GsIdpu3vzN6x9EJdXpCpZmn6oeqheK359Zo6pVwAo9NgWP-f2-iJuc56NoOaahWOKHaozKdxZpC8r0Ow8pnqlOQ/s2653/INGONITO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2653" data-original-width="1813" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv49ufLQN05gBK_ufxJuKIVfxaEbwRNBSUBQ55ed3RuMlLYSFKBmb5a26vTrlxGcAdpHVM5DKufVDLKUx26LTpRCsd-4GsIdpu3vzN6x9EJdXpCpZmn6oeqheK359Zo6pVwAo9NgWP-f2-iJuc56NoOaahWOKHaozKdxZpC8r0Ow8pnqlOQ/s320/INGONITO.JPG" width="219" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">INCOGNITO</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An Aarastad Story</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Micah Swanson Harris</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Minor Profit Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">104 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Incognito” is the fourth book in Micah Swanson Harris’
exciting fantasy swashbuckling series. It’s fantasy in that the stories take
place on an alternate world, in particular a Scandinavian country called
Aarastad which shares its history not only with the northern climes, but Russia
as well. Most of the principalities border a gigantic glacier and the accepted mode
of transportation is via massive skating ships. As if that wasn’t enough, the
glacier itself acts as a portal between other dimensions in time and space. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Which is where this adventure begins. Captain Bulan and his
crew, aboard a giant steam-powered ice-ship are returning to their home. What
they don’t realize is that they have been manipulated of a powerful necromancer
and are sent to the wrong Aarastad. Bulan believes Queen Freya to be his lover
and when she loudly denies even knowing him in front of the entire royal court;
he opts to take matters in his own hands by kidnapping her. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What Bulan doesn’t know is this Freya’s fiancée, Count
Ambrose, is in actually the masked outlaw swordsman known as the Wurger
Medicant. Think Zorro only with an ominous metal mask that hides his entire
face. Naturally he sets off, with the Queen’s double, Ingrid, and a young man
name Hans Brinker, to rescue his beloved. By the time he and his allies reach Bulan’s
shipt, the story’s pacing is full into hyperdrive. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Harris’ imagination is deliriously over-the-top. There are
plenty of great, fun, romantic characters and he’s not afraid to inject solid
doses of slap-stick humor to lighten various scenes. In all, “Incognito” is a
terrific adventure that will surely tempt you to hunt up the previous three volumes
in his Aarastad tales. That would be a smart move on your part.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-66807768442681264512023-12-04T10:45:00.000-08:002023-12-04T10:45:25.296-08:00FOOL'S GOLD<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG1KnZbodkObq6PqR_4GmOqng9yrNdslVEKXcZRhlSutMxjmCm_wYKcl30KF3OXgTzZdgehrRGmi5-rc6z2acg0bSiB-Z-jKOB9QZaGLet8dTQ4vtm_2EYuu5AylyEgJfvO2aOuavOEvhXu4WqE_jaShnWB-eK6A5a5yC0Exqa2SnWL0S6g/s1739/FOOL'SGOLD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1739" data-original-width="1160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG1KnZbodkObq6PqR_4GmOqng9yrNdslVEKXcZRhlSutMxjmCm_wYKcl30KF3OXgTzZdgehrRGmi5-rc6z2acg0bSiB-Z-jKOB9QZaGLet8dTQ4vtm_2EYuu5AylyEgJfvO2aOuavOEvhXu4WqE_jaShnWB-eK6A5a5yC0Exqa2SnWL0S6g/s320/FOOL'SGOLD.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">FOOL’S GOLD</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By J.P. Linde</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">El Dorado
Publishing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">212 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve always had a fondest for stories that bring together
historical figures, who in reality never met. Such is the case in this new
adventure by J.P. Linde. H has American writer Jack London venturing into the
rugged mountains of Alaska
after encountering none other that former western lawman, Wyatt Earp. Thay
premise alone was enough to wet our appetite.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An old gold prospector named Chilkoot Charlie has discovered
a fantastic gold mine. Unfortunately for him, the news of his claim is
discovered by an unscrupulous dentist named Lee. Lee immediately sets about
hiring thugs to capture the old man and learn the location of his mine. Before
they can do so, Charlie draws a map and mails it his friend Jack London in San
Franciso. Upon receipt of the map, London books
package on a steamer bound for Juneau.
Only a few days earlier he had met a young black boy named Tomas and the boy’s
dog Terry. The boy’s father was missing and Tomas was desperate to find him. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dentist Lee learns of the map sent to London and wires ex-lawman Wyatt Earp to
retrieve it using any means necessary. Tomas, aware the mercenary gunfighter is
also traveling on the steamer, stows away on the ship and warns London. And thus begins
the chase with Earp, and a few of Lee’s thugs, after the famed novelist and
orphan lad and his dog. What intrigued us was Linde’s using Earp as a villain. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He paints Earp as a cold-blooded killer whose only interest
is money. Now that’s a very huge leap from the Hollywood
hero most of us have grown up with. Still, history is a fickle animal and her
accounts are often suspect to various interpretations. There were in fact lots
of folks who consider Earp, and his brothers, just another rough-house gang no
better than the other outlaws of the era. One has to wonder if the truth lies
somewhere between the two disparities. In the end, Linde’s approach is a
novelty. The writer even throws in a beautiful green-eyed brunette femme-fatale
named Nicole who mesmerizes both the writer and the lawdog throughout. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the book’s climax, we were soundly entertained and
applaud what is an old fashion, rousing outdoor adventure much like Jack London
would have penned himself. “Fool’s Gold” is a fun new look back when men and
women accepted the challenge of the wilderness with gusto and a bit of foolish
bravado, ala the book’s title. We think you’ll enjoy it.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-71157739511213363082023-11-25T10:37:00.000-08:002023-11-25T10:37:09.802-08:00MINDBEAST<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQeZRqNxHQmoFnFGtDlLT0k_zguXtVR_lUSiEY8GDEogF4kmRd9_txU-3NO-mrusBvJ6TNBGk4ZkVBB1skxuOipiBwuh_vyltVLgaL3PjBh1x-TH5NX9o8QnhyphenhyphenJ61l8hVEDTl_ZdiA-5nJ52JhSul1EBw3LCeVzxsdBxvWLibQm_bZb7-HA/s2667/MIND-BEAST.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="1820" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQeZRqNxHQmoFnFGtDlLT0k_zguXtVR_lUSiEY8GDEogF4kmRd9_txU-3NO-mrusBvJ6TNBGk4ZkVBB1skxuOipiBwuh_vyltVLgaL3PjBh1x-TH5NX9o8QnhyphenhyphenJ61l8hVEDTl_ZdiA-5nJ52JhSul1EBw3LCeVzxsdBxvWLibQm_bZb7-HA/s320/MIND-BEAST.JPG" width="218" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">MINDBEAST</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A Vermin Adventure</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Darryle Purcell</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Offbeat Publishing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">180 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Mindbeast” is the second in the new Vermin series by
veteran pulpster, Darryle Purcell. The Vermin, dreaded foe of villainy, is in
reality gifted cartoonist Vernon Jiles who has the ability to create life-like
illusions and twist people’s perception of reality. He also brings to life the
animal heroes and villains of his comic books. In this second adventure, which
takes places a little over year since the first, Vernon has married Tenacity, his inking
assistant and they have a baby boy named Vincent. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the tale opens, several giant monsters appear in various
locals around their home; one on an old western movie lot and the other down
the street from their studios. Vernon
quickly deduces the monsters are mere illusions much like those he weaves as
the Vermin. The logical, and frightening, conclusion is there exist someone
else with his abilities. Only this other illusionist is possessed with the obsession
to amass power and wealth regardless of who he has to destroy to obtain it. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then when this twisted soul joins forces with one of the
Vermin’s old red terrorist foes, the action amps up fast. Once again, Purcell’s
exuberant imagination is on full display and he spins a fast pace adventure
filled with tons of action, awesome and fun heroes and truly merciless,
black-hearted baddies. This is old fashioned, fun pulp at its finest. </p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-46945870645666144702023-11-18T11:56:00.000-08:002023-11-18T11:56:05.686-08:00LEVON'S KIN<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxaiHU3IdvQWAy_1dTTrsTmpgh_IqDsW6bqVLF2hWTQotqdRWdMyp4wXE5JbCYkhuzLPI4-7knnBwVUlpsdLnKY2XUt2doJcP3UOGdQcKWy7rU6W8AiDcFLTmHi_VFPipPwsqc_whrZ38aJQr6VAaUdLbAi64C1U6rOP8JXYgpAc2RYdfIA/s2345/2LEV-KIN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxaiHU3IdvQWAy_1dTTrsTmpgh_IqDsW6bqVLF2hWTQotqdRWdMyp4wXE5JbCYkhuzLPI4-7knnBwVUlpsdLnKY2XUt2doJcP3UOGdQcKWy7rU6W8AiDcFLTmHi_VFPipPwsqc_whrZ38aJQr6VAaUdLbAi64C1U6rOP8JXYgpAc2RYdfIA/s320/2LEV-KIN.JPG" width="206" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">LEVON’S KIN</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Chuck Dixon</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rough Edges Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">241 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even since discovering this series a year ago, with book
seven, “Levon’s Home,” we’ve been playing catch up. Both going back to the
first “Levon’s Trade” and jumping ahead to the newer titles. We are also well
aware that there is a proposed film in the works. It will be based on a film
script by Sylvester Stallone and star Jason Statham. That we are excited by
that prospect is an understatement.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Okay, so on to “Levon’s Kin,” i.e. volume five. After the
events in the cold wilds of Maine, Cade and
his daughter, Merry, return to his home in Alabama to find rest and peace with his
Uncle Fern; a rough old codger living in the backwoods with his three dogs. No
sooner are they settled in when Cade’s half-brother, Dale, suggest they go
hunting together after wild boars. Cade agrees but soon discovers he’s been duped
in helping Dale destroy a hidden meth-lab operated by Mexican illegal’s;
members of a dangerous cartel. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Within days of that event, other Hispanics arrive and
brutalize their counter-parts, a redneck outlaw family also in the meth
business believing them to be guilty of the attack on their base. And just like
that a blood war is ranging in the hills and bodies from both camps are piling
up. When Cade realizes his loved ones are vulnerable and will eventually become
collateral damage, he goes on the offensive. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dixon
crams more action in a single Levon Cade thriller than most writers do in a
half dozen books. Many times, while devouring this chapter, we found ourselves
recalling those days, after coming home from Vietnam, when we discovered Don
Pendleton’s Executioner tales. Honestly, Levon Cade is the rightful heir to
Mack Bolan. Oh, yeah.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-48905454418968556562023-10-23T10:31:00.005-07:002023-10-23T10:31:23.471-07:00ATOMIC WEREWOLVES AND MAN-EATING PLANTS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0mOjjMajHhyphenhyphen4RTOw0EsbT1gHfzaI1jBb4Ak8TjF5qzIRnuRAEUkLVMdvZIqL7Ks6hGwYE5dRhGStxNF-cOnkHYd40O9p3Q3meh_-p_2lHjQU9G6W1Zb6-3Qe7x0DKOcDUbdhsK9_4QjjuUnM0N4hm9mC3Z7bBV_fdD849ut2NiHJqUEeTA/s2660/ATOMIC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2660" data-original-width="1806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0mOjjMajHhyphenhyphen4RTOw0EsbT1gHfzaI1jBb4Ak8TjF5qzIRnuRAEUkLVMdvZIqL7Ks6hGwYE5dRhGStxNF-cOnkHYd40O9p3Q3meh_-p_2lHjQU9G6W1Zb6-3Qe7x0DKOcDUbdhsK9_4QjjuUnM0N4hm9mC3Z7bBV_fdD849ut2NiHJqUEeTA/s320/ATOMIC.JPG" width="217" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ATOMIC WEREWOLVES AND MAN-EATING PLANTS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Edited by Robert Deis & Wyatt Doyle</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"># new texture</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">295 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the many reasons we’ve always loved the pulps was
their outrageous mixing of fiction genres. Via their hundreds of monthly titles
one might find one devoted to cowboy romances or another to vampire pirates.
Somehow the wilder the mix-up, the more fun the stories. Which is why this
latest anthology from Men’s Adventure Magazine historians Robert Deis and Wyatt
Doyle is easily one of their best releases to date. Devoted to preserving the
history of MAMS, they’ve in the past offered dozens of amazing books. All these
showcased the creative writers, artists and editors who took up the mantle of
pulp fiction after World War II and filled American newsstands with some truly entertaining
periodicals. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course most of those MAMS were geared to the returning
vets and their spotlight focused on action-adventure yarns for the most part.
Still, every now and then, an odd duck sort tale would appear that was clearly
something…else? Stories of aliens, bizarre monsters and creatures that echoed
the fantastic yarns of the early pulps, especially the classic Weird Tales.
Thus, it was only inevitable that Deis and Doyle would finally get around to
assembling a collection of these so called “throwbacks.” We happy to say they’ve
so with panache. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eliciting prologues from pulp authority Mike Chomko, and MAM
fan Steven Dziemianowicz, they offer up 19 of the most sensational, out-there
tales ever to assemble between two covers. From vampire hunting, to sex with
gorgeous alien invaders, “Atomic Werewolves and Man-Eating Plants” delivers the
goods with each story somehow even stranger than the one before it. The book is
also gorgeously designed with actual art from the source magazines the stories
were printed it in. All of which results in one of the most delicious reading entrees
ever offered a pulp reader. Thanks gentlemen and please, do give us more.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-20378656629263833522023-10-05T12:28:00.002-07:002023-10-05T14:53:46.133-07:00TOO MANY BULLETS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpNizpiQSFV5_kswcfCcPkRtVZ7uNaAzzW5NIhEiPTZ1qf8S2_dIPWvRmX-13DmfnVzQR0RXJPIPFtgvaMmJgoddz1CagbtCOxPoSC-DpRgQYvGRroepOb4wJEzxz4z5WALE38ZpuAcOHKQ0YD9SUVPeJX5E1qKvJSF7d0A7pg9HQ9vPW1A/s2400/HELLER.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpNizpiQSFV5_kswcfCcPkRtVZ7uNaAzzW5NIhEiPTZ1qf8S2_dIPWvRmX-13DmfnVzQR0RXJPIPFtgvaMmJgoddz1CagbtCOxPoSC-DpRgQYvGRroepOb4wJEzxz4z5WALE38ZpuAcOHKQ0YD9SUVPeJX5E1qKvJSF7d0A7pg9HQ9vPW1A/s320/HELLER.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">TOO MANY BULLETS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Max Allan Collins</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hard Case Crime</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">293 pgs</p>
<p>“On June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was shot by Sirhan Sirhan at the
Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles,
California and pronounced dead
the following day. Kennedy, a United States
senator and candidate in the 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries, won
the California and South Dakota primaries on June 4. He
addressed his campaign supporters in the Ambassador Hotel's Embassy Ballroom.
After leaving the podium, and exiting through a kitchen hallway, he was
mortally wounded by multiple shots fired by Sirhan. Kennedy died at Good
Samaritan Hospital nearly 25 hours later. His body was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Kennedy’s assassination prompted the Secret Service to protect presidential candidates.
In addition, it led to several conspiracy theories. It was the final of four
major assassinations in the United
States that occurred during the 1960s.” </p>
<p>For the record, we crimped the above from a Wikipedia page not wanting to
repeat what most readers already know, or can easily become familiar with via
that site or dozens of history books on Kennedy’s life and his death. What
concerns Collins is the locale and the tightly packed hallway into the kitchen
pantry where the murder took place. Relying on both voluminous research and his
own gifted imagination, he pulls the reader into the midst of that chaos when
bullets were suddenly fired into the crowed eliciting screams and panic. He
sets Nate Heller, an old Kennedy friend, brought in to act as an impromptu
bodyguard for the Senator, down into the middle of it all. Tragically the press
of supporters stymies Heller’s effort to reach Kennedy and save him. </p>
<p>What few people today recall is that several other people were wounded in
the shooting, thankfully none fatal other than Kennedy. They were wounded
because of all the bullets that were fired supposedly by the lone gunman. This
is the contradiction that confronts Heller days later when attempting to recall
the event. He remembers too many bullets. Ultimately he is hired by newspaper
journalist Drew Pearson to personally investigate the shooting and determine
the truth. </p>
<p>Weaving Heller through an historical landscape, Collins offers up a
suspenseful, well laid out narrative that is rife with inconsistencies and
outright falsehoods. Heller knows a cover up when he runs into it head first;
but that’s not enough. He needs to know the who(s) and is ultimately led down a
highway that goes nowhere near the place called Justice. “Too Many Bullets” is
both sad and thought provoking; a testimony to the one inescapable fact, we
live in an imperfect world. So does Nate Heller. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><br /> </p>Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-24504285051885766692023-10-02T07:22:00.000-07:002023-10-02T07:22:35.258-07:00PAYBACK IN DEATH<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FvcmHJmPLJaU-_lefrEAa39yxlwAK_-wFhyphenhyphennKEhyg3ng4sBMYC3uWquKukI0C-W4NO6SCWgee-KWMTaqyr-V5_w4ziNWqpaKf68Sjv6ck3ZAYNQ1r5AicP2ohwKbBCWu_Ms6k1sJIRiQtr7OVZHk1ZGrOO-BLV0g8mXZJG4iW8VLVr4N3w/s2842/PAYBACK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2842" data-original-width="1925" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FvcmHJmPLJaU-_lefrEAa39yxlwAK_-wFhyphenhyphennKEhyg3ng4sBMYC3uWquKukI0C-W4NO6SCWgee-KWMTaqyr-V5_w4ziNWqpaKf68Sjv6ck3ZAYNQ1r5AicP2ohwKbBCWu_Ms6k1sJIRiQtr7OVZHk1ZGrOO-BLV0g8mXZJG4iW8VLVr4N3w/s320/PAYBACK.JPG" width="217" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PAYBACK IN DEATH</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By J.D. Robb</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">St. Martin’s Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">358 pages</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The setting is the future in which mankind has gone out to
the stars and colonized other planets. Meanwhile, back on good old Terra Firma,
crime still exist which is what keeps New York City Homicide Detective Eve
Dallas hopping. In this particular tale, she and her new husband are only just back
from their honeymoon when she is called to investigate the murder of a former
police officer; Captain Martin Greenleaf. Upon arriving at the scene, Eve
discovers the killer, having shot the retired chief, then attempted to make it
appear as if Greenleaf had shot himself. Whereas Eve quickly sees through the
subterfuge clearly recognizing the flimsy scenario for what it is. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But why try to disguise it as a suicide? It also doesn’t
help her case that Greenleaf, while an active cop, was the head of the Internal
Affairs Department and, during his lengthy career, he put away lots of crooked cops.
Thus the list of possible suspects is a long one indeed. Dallas realizes the only way she’ll ever
solve the case is to meticulous go through all of Greenleaf’s past files.
Somewhere in them is the identity of his killer. In other words good old
fashion, tedious, boring, police work. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is our first encounter with J.D. Robb and we found the
first half of “Payback in Death” slow going. Granted the lengthy set-up is
necessary, but at the same time not overly conducive to turning the pages.
Thankfully the story does shift into a faster pace by the second half as Eve
begins to rely more and more on her gut instincts. We should mention this book
is part of a series and loyal readers will most likely appreciate reconnecting
with her eclectic supporting cast. Whereas they were all strangers to this
reviewer and we kept our focus on the mystery. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the end, Robb does balance a stogy police procedural with
a deft look into how effective detectives employ a basic knowledge of both
psychology and criminal law merging the two to conform to the age old truism;
people only kill for one of two reasons, love or money. Now let’s see if you
can figure out which one before Eve Dallas does.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-69961918040828541302023-09-25T08:58:00.005-07:002023-09-25T08:58:40.329-07:00THE CABINET OF DR. LENG<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhbzB_got3BtYwMHxzFoNgA6grJaziyicmtqPLayQ4ugMOOaFAAUdlLXsfVfgXLeg45A6WyLJu25Bh-etZm1RlEoIz2unmnm7IOxI-L31vIxjF9IOb2HpGN2IcP38X5NlvNyDqnRCYjYCipRwQO6G37QgPqftuWXCoMWxHcQm0_vw_7uvFQ/s2737/LENG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2737" data-original-width="1855" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhbzB_got3BtYwMHxzFoNgA6grJaziyicmtqPLayQ4ugMOOaFAAUdlLXsfVfgXLeg45A6WyLJu25Bh-etZm1RlEoIz2unmnm7IOxI-L31vIxjF9IOb2HpGN2IcP38X5NlvNyDqnRCYjYCipRwQO6G37QgPqftuWXCoMWxHcQm0_vw_7uvFQ/s320/LENG.JPG" width="217" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">THE CABINET OF DR. LENG</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A Pendergast Novel</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Preston & Child</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Grand Central Publishing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">400 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve a good friend who every Christmas sends us a book.
Many years ago he sent along “The Cabinet of Curiosities,” a thriller by Preston and Child that introduced us to FBI Special Agent
Pendergast. It was the third in the series featuring this truly remarkable hero
who is easily one of the greatest pulp protagonist ever created. The wealthy
investigator with the peculiar Southern heritage we soon discovered was one
quarter the Shadow, one quarter Sherlock Holmes, and one quarter Chandu the
Magician. We’ll divulge that final quarter in a few minutes. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a dedicated lover of pulp fiction, we were instantly
enamored and soon became a dedicated fan. Although the third in the series,
“Cabinet of Curiosities” was a definitive shift in the saga as it not only
introduced Constance Green, a nearly immortal young lady who would become
Pendergast’s ward, but also the insidious evil scientist Dr. Leng. By that
book’s finale, the series was clearly propelled into the genre of the
fantastic. Now, seventeen books later, Preston
and Child have come full circle and revived that villain in a truly remarkable
tale. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spoiler alert. “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng” is only the first
part of the story and ends with a dire cliffhanger. At the end of the previous
adventure, Constance managed to time-travel
back into the past; her goal to find and kill Dr. Leng. She left Pendergast a
note asking him not to follow her. Naturally, he ignores it and manages to
reconstruct the ruined time machine to go after her. And now, after all these
great stories, we see he is also one quarter Captain Future. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From that first book, the Pendergast series has been our
favorite new pulp series. It is exciting, innovative, fresh; full of wild,
craziness with remarkable, heroic characters and the most black-hearted
monsters and villains. “The Cabinet of Dr. Leng” is unrelenting in its pacing
and we cannot wait for the second half to arrive. Oh, yeah.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-1466558598865650842023-09-13T13:53:00.001-07:002023-09-13T13:53:07.978-07:00SABOTEURS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuIY4VRZtgEaUEdL4oAsnFtGj-VjQ43BTXYHdW5Nuh33Fh4CDyt4_lasM359GVFwujgIoZjN-cCAk2uc5iDneVKQ-quzJDT57B35ztyDn-sOVQ2YDHqdZLHUjrs3FstfuULDbPvIXx9rQsKS1AyeDkAjhK1JrQW5N9hJl50hAdz4IS7hStQ/s2219/SABA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2219" data-original-width="1246" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuIY4VRZtgEaUEdL4oAsnFtGj-VjQ43BTXYHdW5Nuh33Fh4CDyt4_lasM359GVFwujgIoZjN-cCAk2uc5iDneVKQ-quzJDT57B35ztyDn-sOVQ2YDHqdZLHUjrs3FstfuULDbPvIXx9rQsKS1AyeDkAjhK1JrQW5N9hJl50hAdz4IS7hStQ/s320/SABA.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">SABOTEUR</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An Isaac Bell Adventure</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Jack Du Brul</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Putnam </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">462 pgs <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having become so damn popular with his modern pulp thrillers
featuring Dirk Pitt, the late author Clive Cussler went on to create three
other series that would be handed off to other writers but bear his name. These
included Kurt Austin Adventures, the Sam & Remi Fargo Adventures and
finally the Isaac Bell Adventures. Bell,
a turn of the century detective for the Van Dorn Detective Agency first
appeared in Cussler’s novel, “The Chase.” After this auspicious debut, his next
nine books were penned by Justin Scott. All of these were terrific and we
enjoyed them thoroughly. Then most recently, Scott was replaced on book ten by
Jack Du Brul, another veteran scribe of Cussler’s posse. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Saboteur” is the eleventh in the series and Du Brul’s
second. It is a wonderful, beautifully researched gem that has Bell
chasing a secret band of Panamanian revolutionaries set on disrupting the
building of the Panama Canal. Starting with
the attempted assignation of a U.S. Senator in San Diego, the clues indicate the assassins
were part of this South American group known as the Red Vipers. Arriving in Panama, Bell
witnesses a horrific act of terrorism that leads to the death twenty-eight men.
Enraged by the savagery of the attack, Bell
is determined to find the rebels and stop them. Along the way he begins to
suspect the Red Vipers may only be a subterfuge to hide the real villains. He
deduces the may be agents of a foreign power intent on stopping America’s
economic growth and influence on the world’s stage. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As he gets closer to unmasking the spies, Bell soon becomes a target. These fanatics
will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. “Saboteur” is another great entry
into this well received series and Du Brul does Cussler’s legacy proud. Not to
be missed.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-63046278858003592692023-08-31T08:24:00.005-07:002023-08-31T08:32:21.543-07:00HOT PURSUIT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58M5sIC14TWRRMONSk7XiY_GGqJnvtDvdW5MDHNPcpDc4IrlkIMz5RnqCtyfO0z3xm5eYfg6izwzS_8NILCBE_lU8d3oJTSZiFUFiCrlTmGNWkjlbPRYoBT1azfMgmxyIrVXLVL-ZmOqoLzBvysbaWufaMbAjx9XJYC43LJWieXWRdQ2x6w/s2331/PURSUIT.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2331" data-original-width="1519" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58M5sIC14TWRRMONSk7XiY_GGqJnvtDvdW5MDHNPcpDc4IrlkIMz5RnqCtyfO0z3xm5eYfg6izwzS_8NILCBE_lU8d3oJTSZiFUFiCrlTmGNWkjlbPRYoBT1azfMgmxyIrVXLVL-ZmOqoLzBvysbaWufaMbAjx9XJYC43LJWieXWRdQ2x6w/s320/PURSUIT.JPG" width="209" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">HOT PURSUIT</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A Walker/Tamiko L.A.P.D. Novel</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Paul Bishop</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wolfpack Publishing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">313 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even since getting hooked on the late Ed McBain’s
cop/mystery series, the 87<sup>th</sup> Precinct, we’ve enjoyed reading cop
novels. Familiar with the fact that writer Paul Bishop is a veteran, highly
decorated, former L.A. P.D. detective; our expectations for this book were high.
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> The year is 1977 and police officer Calico Jack Walker is
going to retire after thirty years on the force. It is a bitter-sweet time in
Calico’s life as he’s not at all certain his plans to start a boat chartering
business with his son Ren will fill his future with the same thrills and
satisfaction he experienced on the city streets. He’s also become ambivalent of
turning loose his rookie partner, Tina Tamiko, to spread her own wings. Under
his mentorship she’s become a really good cop with all the right skills and
survival instincts. What’s confusing things is they are becoming romantically
involved. Ouch. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As if all this wasn’t enough to occupy Calico’s few
remaining days, he, and Tamiko, are challenged by two fellow officers, Stack
and Thurman, to a race to be run during one single duty shift from Los Angeles to Los Vegas
and back again. It is an old unauthorized escapade most believe a myth and realistically
impossible. Be that as it may, Stack, having been publicly embarrassed by
Tamiko on several occasions, won’t rescind his challenge and the race is on. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, in the state penitentiary, a murderous inmate
puts out a contract on Calico’s life so that he won’t be around to screw up the
killer’s upcoming parole hearing. Then there’s the British gangster planning a
million dollar heist at the very casino that is the race drivers’ destination
and turn around point. “Hot Pursuit” is just that and from page to page, Bishop
keeps the metal to pedal, delivering a high octane, action packed thriller at
the same time introducing us to a fascinating cast of characters you won’t soon
forget. This one’s a winner, friends, all the way to the finish line.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-25348118017344829302023-08-14T09:45:00.007-07:002023-08-14T09:45:43.218-07:00THE MISSING HEIRESS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybqaZf_cBQtnCiakF7prnDQuSDARStK5QqIaM4awsfRCQfrDWhx7pZx79Kb5BvIuLiKHMDp65ke9qvstRCLwPPZFp1rp8XUEvufV6CHQz-1ul78o0EQN1O_HM1uIM3DHDq_Bc7-bK6qngOiE1tmSUzuzNTwEWRhp8Fid0r_e36C27z9bc0Q/s2387/HEIRESS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="1575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybqaZf_cBQtnCiakF7prnDQuSDARStK5QqIaM4awsfRCQfrDWhx7pZx79Kb5BvIuLiKHMDp65ke9qvstRCLwPPZFp1rp8XUEvufV6CHQz-1ul78o0EQN1O_HM1uIM3DHDq_Bc7-bK6qngOiE1tmSUzuzNTwEWRhp8Fid0r_e36C27z9bc0Q/s320/HEIRESS.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">THE MISSING HEIRESS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A Nero Wolfe Mystery</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Robert Goldsborough</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">211 pgs <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We always look forward to new Nero Wolfe mysteries by Robert
Goldsborough and have been ever grateful that he picked up the series after
creator Rex Stout’s death. Goldsborough instinctively realized the charm and
success of the series was always its characters; with the actual cases taking a
back seat; albeit still thoughtful and appreciated. Thus in several of his recent
entries, we’ve seen the spotlight put on supporting characters ala Police
Inspector Kramer and then we had the fun adventure of Archie Goodwin’s trip
home allowing us to meet his mother. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this latest tale, he continues that trend with a
delightful look at Archie’s paramour, the lovely and witty Lily Rowan. The wealthy
socialite, as we’ve come to know her, devotes most of her time, and money, to
charities and other admirable social causes. It is she who gets the case
rolling when she tells Archie that one of her close friends, Maureen Carr, has
mysterious disappeared. The young woman, a wealth heiress, like Lily, spends
much of her time supporting worthy causes. When she goes missing for several
weeks, Lily becomes concerned and Archie agrees to help look into the matter.
Soon their investigation draws Wolfe into the affair and once again our
familiar mystery train is back on well traveled tracks. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The Missing Heiress” is another dandy foray with all the
usual suspects, twists and turns, leading to murder and the always anticipated
house gathering of suspects at its finale. What more can we say? Except to hope
Mr. Goldsborough won’t be long and writing another.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-31774335291951052542023-08-08T15:54:00.005-07:002023-08-08T15:54:42.962-07:00LEVON'S RUN<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhz38WyZOqxlaI2fHFuLdjYwztF68eb_P8I6mC-CPMnt73Qm94fXjwf7ylRrDJPBG61-qj0f8b8kFCgXBvagfmkn2EQO0oPRVxr3NzV5bs8do9fnXZ_PLFuaFHfqFpn5srXynLzeO9ppStiROv444eitnSajGc7iABE5TL5twg_hOrKIXRw/s2338/LEV-RUN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2338" data-original-width="1491" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhz38WyZOqxlaI2fHFuLdjYwztF68eb_P8I6mC-CPMnt73Qm94fXjwf7ylRrDJPBG61-qj0f8b8kFCgXBvagfmkn2EQO0oPRVxr3NzV5bs8do9fnXZ_PLFuaFHfqFpn5srXynLzeO9ppStiROv444eitnSajGc7iABE5TL5twg_hOrKIXRw/s320/LEV-RUN.JPG" width="204" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">LEVON’S RUN</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Levon Cade # 4</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Chuck Dixon</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rough Edges Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">205 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re following this series, and from what we’ve
gathered on-line its overwhelming success proves you are, then you are already
aware Dixon’s
story continues from one book to the next. Thus, having to flee the events that
transpired in the northern winter wilds of Maine, fugitive Levon Cade and his
young daughter, Merry, flee south in hopes of evading their pursuers; agents
from the FBI, Homeland Security and the Treasury. Oh yeah, when this tough
ex-Marine kicks the hornet’s nest, all kinds of chaos erupts. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Cade’s possession are several duffel bags filled with
money, some real, others counterfeit; plus uncut diamonds. All part of a stash
he stumbled upon in the last book. His only goal now is to reach the home of
his former Marine mentor, Gunny Leffertz where he and Merry will find
sanctuary. Cade, having been trained in evasive tactics while in the military
knows all the tricks and manages to stay one step of his hunters.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Kudos to Dixon
for detailing his characters savvy in such a way that seems totally realistic
and it is obvious the writer’s research is spot on. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Still a moment arrives when Cade has to part with Merry for
her own safety by putting her on a train and leading pursuers away from her. It’s
an emotional juncture in the chase and only heightens the suspense already
created. Both Cade and his child will encounter evil forces on their separate
routes to reunion and to call this story a nail-biter is only doing it justice.
The Levon Cade series is one of the finest in action thriller fiction today. If
you’re one of the few not already enjoying the hell out of it, just what are
you waiting for? An invitation? Considered given.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-74849398574626956182023-08-04T10:27:00.005-07:002023-08-04T10:27:16.639-07:00CAPTAIN FUTURE - The Horror At Jupiter<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50IQ3L6Y25mXpTaHKtZxg0dSqGc8b5Kr1LQ2teBLoY1y3l8ySsiLdu0-C37BbkVGTj3kjINMRclNd7_cHpUdsmE8jmsS4p62OiZ4p32bqqU-d1YNoosgo0zQLKd2H-z6qUnfUgWz0TnIwhDc8t_C0gIRnK2HWpqwUM6KcaT91H_iqa1taKg/s2527/FUTURE(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2527" data-original-width="1694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50IQ3L6Y25mXpTaHKtZxg0dSqGc8b5Kr1LQ2teBLoY1y3l8ySsiLdu0-C37BbkVGTj3kjINMRclNd7_cHpUdsmE8jmsS4p62OiZ4p32bqqU-d1YNoosgo0zQLKd2H-z6qUnfUgWz0TnIwhDc8t_C0gIRnK2HWpqwUM6KcaT91H_iqa1taKg/s320/FUTURE(4).JPG" width="215" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">CAPTAIN FUTURE</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Horror at Jupiter</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Allen Steele</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Amazing Selects</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">159 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the publication of this book, writer Allen Steele wraps
up his four volume saga featuring Edmond Hamilton’s pulp hero Captain Future.
With the series, Steele did not change Future and his Futuremen as much as
revamp them for modern readers. To that end he succeeded and each of the books
has been a fun, wild, space adventure that respectfully paid homage to those
classic rough edged magazines of the 30s and 40s. This book, the finale, is no
exception. In fact it is easily the best with a non-stop pacing any pulp writer
would have applauded. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The Horror at Jupiter” picks up where the third entry, “1,500
Light Years from Home” ended. Captain Future, aka Curt Newton, has shot and supposedly
killed the President of the Solar Coalition after having been brainwashed his
arch enemy, the Magician of Mars, Ul Quorn. Without giving away too much, let’s
just say things are not what they seem and President Carthew not only survives
but Curt is freed of his mental imprisonment and once more put in charge of
foiling Ul Quorn’s newest threat to the planet Earth. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On a distant alien world, Ul Quorn has come into possession
of a giant space machine with enough firepower to destroy a planet. Shades of
Star War’s Death Star, Steel’s Vengeance of Kosk may look like a 70s disco
ball, but its threat is no laughing matter. Quorn has it appear out of
hyper-space in orbit around Jupiter, along with his own command ship. He then
immediately notifies the President that unless his demands are met with hour,
he will destroy the Earth. The renegade scientist’s scheme is to achieve
independence for several rebel colonies in the Solar System and ultimately
establish his own empire all under the guise of being a freedom fighter. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the clock clicking away, Captain Future and his team,
Brain, Otho and Grag must devise a plan to foil the madman’s nightmarish threat
and once again save the day. How they do so is what kept this reviewer rapidly
turning pages; unable to put the book down until its climatic and totally satisfying
conclusion. Honestly, that story alone will have you cheering but there’s more.
Yup. Steele then offers up a truly fascinating and equally entertaining essay
on Space Opera. Familiar with perhaps 50% of this stuff, we truly appreciated
his showcasing those tidbids of science-fiction history we were not aware of
it. Thanks so much, Allen Steele and please, give us more Captain Future.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-58803739909758932682023-07-29T10:13:00.005-07:002023-07-29T10:13:34.317-07:00DEATH WAITS IN SHANGHAI<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VXGmmoVErs1LCgbtB15MFbEwDSk7wbOeZRe67E21tOHH60shgD7UNQVI_I7tgykBIUd-J5ucWvVAT-ISccA3NEk1Cy6rD4YYJsyDmhwi78czL62pMpMYBnoIlRX2VPFSG6LUF2cnu9eKP5f1F7mFCnwJY1PePy-pUSJFxKAwvFrRn--8Ig/s2688/SHANGHAI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1834" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VXGmmoVErs1LCgbtB15MFbEwDSk7wbOeZRe67E21tOHH60shgD7UNQVI_I7tgykBIUd-J5ucWvVAT-ISccA3NEk1Cy6rD4YYJsyDmhwi78czL62pMpMYBnoIlRX2VPFSG6LUF2cnu9eKP5f1F7mFCnwJY1PePy-pUSJFxKAwvFrRn--8Ig/s320/SHANGHAI.JPG" width="218" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">DEATH WAITS IN SHANGHAI</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Wayne Carey</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bold Venture Press</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">236 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With “Death Waits in Shanghai,”
New Pulp writer Wayne Carey introduces one of his most intriguing heroes ever,
John Falco. The son of a New York
gangster, Falco abhors his family’s business. He runs away to China where he
is taken into a Shaolin monastery and taught their way of living to include
martial arts. Settling in Hong Kong and soon
befriends both a former Irish revolutionist named Flanagan and a former Zulu
prince, Mzoma. Once their partnership is established, Falco directs their
affairs to helping others in trouble. One can’t help reading this stuff and not
recall previous classic pulp teams ala Doc Savage and his crew. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now all this is backstory. This story begins with the
kidnapping of a young American woman living in San Francisco. Her father being a U.S.
Senator, the local FBI contacts Falco requesting his assistance in finding her.
Her kidnapper proves to be a small time crook named Lee Wong and he is going to
smuggle the girl to China
aboard a luxury liner. Falco and company procure passage and soon all of them are
sailing across the Pacific. During the trip Falco is introduced to Wong’s
sister, Jiao; a beauty who intrigues him. But is she part of her brother’s plot
or an innocent bystander brought along to misdirect pursuers? Falco and his
companions fail to find the missing daughter by the time the boat arrives in Honolulu. He then hopes to
find the girl with the aid of the local police but once again Wong eludes him,
departing the very next morning aboard a Japanese ship bound for Shanghai. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So the chase continues to the Far East with the action moving
from Shanghai, then to Hong Kong and finally
back to Shanghai.
Against this backdrop are the historical machinations ala the Chinese Communist
insurgency to overthrow the government at the same time Japan’s encroaching continues
to grow bolder with the threat of immanent invasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wayne Carey is one of the real bright stars in the New Pulp
fiction today and “Death Waits in Shanghai”
soundly proves that claim. Great characters, exotic locales and non-stop
action. What more could any serious pulp fan want?</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-53740457423730350482023-07-22T09:32:00.000-07:002023-07-22T09:32:01.669-07:00TALES OF TOM MIX - SAVAGE MESA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqvtlfpn_UW2xixzPhRSAd5Wjmie67POKmB18KIf2ouQ0gOV7aHM-ZHoghP0CpkWX1YyTubEE5TISzkPg79M7bHElYqwM6cCFelwYLLWKwz_9anBEJSjw4NwA6T0eEOSK0i-goUtnEeXtQw8HWo-oLq4Jxxk4xPXe5oNloAQ5DyfzLWVmyQ/s2639/MIX(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2639" data-original-width="1820" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqvtlfpn_UW2xixzPhRSAd5Wjmie67POKmB18KIf2ouQ0gOV7aHM-ZHoghP0CpkWX1YyTubEE5TISzkPg79M7bHElYqwM6cCFelwYLLWKwz_9anBEJSjw4NwA6T0eEOSK0i-goUtnEeXtQw8HWo-oLq4Jxxk4xPXe5oNloAQ5DyfzLWVmyQ/s320/MIX(2).JPG" width="221" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">SAVAGE MESA</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tales of Tom Mix</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Scott McCrea</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DS Productions</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">128 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the second in a series starring the late cinema
western star, Tom Mix and it is rip-roaring actioner from the first page to the
left. In this tale, Mix, a semi-retired marshal, has gone back to work for the
Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show. At the same time two different events
are on a collision course which will draw him into one of the most dangerous
situations of his life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three Mexican brothers, the Cabrerras, have learned that he U.S. government is shipping new five dollar bill
plates to Washington.
They plan on stealing those plates and printing their own money. At the same
time, in nearby Oklahoma,
Comanche renegade Red Wolf as assembled a band of fanatical young warriors
whose goal is to create a new Indian rebellion. They are going to destroy as
many white towns and settlements as possible in the hopes of rallying all
tribes to their cause. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These disparate plots come together when the Cabrerras,
fleeing with the stolen plates, commandeer a hot-air balloon from the Wild West
Show to use for their escape from the law. In the process they kidnap an elderly
couple and the show’s top magician, Mr. Mirakle and his daughter Ima.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arriving just as the balloon is lifting off
the ground, Mix manages to grab hold of one of the anchor ropes and is
instantly lifted aloft with the fleeing bandits. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After forty eight hours, the balloon eventually descends on
a rugged plateau in Oklahoma
known as Black Mesa; only a few miles from Red Wolf’s camp. Thus the legendary
Mix finds himself battling on two fronts while at the same time having to
protect the innocent hostages. “Savage Mesa” is a near perfect western,
wonderfully written and filled with memorable characters, both noble and evil.
The pacing is swift so buckle up and hold on tight. This one is terrific.</p>
<p><br /> </p>Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36899342.post-62369632855358826872023-07-21T09:54:00.001-07:002023-07-21T09:54:09.107-07:00MEN'S ADVENTURE QUARTERLY # 8<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoqg3DnLrhg80vz5vj6yX49A8vGtU_16ZT8qwO7TDsHEbdxCG8z6VbkPAU3l2DaIZRmuU_eMSTq2kHlcCCSNrSfG7mxZA3dgfQPDH0ADvjskzFa-QTUCa6KIv2u_X9pgqG_n6ZF5gMl-L4He51vhfGgW49SBUjxjSrR7s3eDVgg1Vk4UCkA/s2996/MAQ(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2996" data-original-width="2429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoqg3DnLrhg80vz5vj6yX49A8vGtU_16ZT8qwO7TDsHEbdxCG8z6VbkPAU3l2DaIZRmuU_eMSTq2kHlcCCSNrSfG7mxZA3dgfQPDH0ADvjskzFa-QTUCa6KIv2u_X9pgqG_n6ZF5gMl-L4He51vhfGgW49SBUjxjSrR7s3eDVgg1Vk4UCkA/s320/MAQ(8).JPG" width="259" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">MEN’S ADVENTURE QUARTERLY</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Issue No 8 : Full Color Edition</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Edited by Robert Deis & Bill Cunningham</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pulp 2.0</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">163 pgs</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every time a new issue of Men’s Adventure Quarterly shows
up, we’re reminded of Christmas morning wondering what’s hidden in those
brightly wrapped boxes under the tree. In this case, the anticipation is what’s
between the beautiful, and skillfully designed covers. To date, we’ve yet to be
disappointed. In fact the actual, articles and fiction only seem to getter
better with each new issue. Number 8 is no exception. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The theme is “hit-men” and Editor Bob Deis digs deep into
his bag of goodies to offer up eight exceptional stories from the various MAMs
of the 50s and 60s. It would be hard to pick a favorite from this all star
collection, but if forced, we’d lean to “The Hit Man Who Turned Out To Be A
Woman.” Deis has an encyclopedic knowledge of hundreds of writers and artists
who worked for those periodicals and his enthusiasm for introducing us to them to
the world is contagious. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for fact articles, Gary Lovisi’s interview with Betty
Brosmer was a really nice bonus. Whereas most readers of this series are all
too familiar with brunette Betty Page, it is nice to see Lovisi shine the
spotlight on the blonde bombshell whose own career was equally stellar. That
she ended that life by marrying bodybuilding promoter and celebrity Joe Weider
was a surprise to this reviewer who fondly recalls those ads in comics when the
skinny kid got sand kicked in his face…before he took Weider’s at home course. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As always all this reading treasure is accentuated with great,
classic artwork from the MAMs deftly layout out by design guru, Editor Bill
Cunningham. In all, a fantastic issue that tips its hat to the bad guys and
those so with panache. Pick up a copy at Amazon. You can thank me later.</p>
Ron Fortierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13309149554499286208noreply@blogger.com0