THE GIFT OF THE ZOMBI!

THE GIFT OF THE ZOMBI!

NEW FROM 19 NOCTURNE BOULEVARD!

Ben and Mia, young zombies in love, search for the perfect Xmas present in a world of the walking dead.

What kind of a place is it? Why it's a spiffy apartment on the reanimate side of town, can't you tell?

Written by Julie Hoverson with a little loose inspiration from O. Henry.

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS !

. . . IS AN ARCH ENEMY . . . ACTUALLY, I NEED ALL THE FRIENDS I CAN GET, BUT I THOUGHT THIS T-SHIRT WAS COOL!

TO FIND IT AT NEATORAMA CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW!

HAWAII PARKOUR MASCOT - UNLEASHED APRIL 2009!

INSPIRED BICYCLES - DANNY MACASKILL APRIL 2009!

DAMIEN WALTERS SHOWREEL 2009!

FREE CRIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

FREE CRIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

HERES A TIMELY CHRISTMAS TIP FROM PETER ROZOVSKY DETECTIVES BEYOND BORDERS BLOG . . .

If you're wracked by the recession or strapped by Christmas giving, here are four links that could keep you reading for a while and all for the right price: FREE!

They are Project Gutenberg's Crime Fiction, Mystery Fiction, Detective Fiction and Crime Nonfiction Bookshelves, and they offer free versions of classics to read or download by people like E.W. Hornung, creator of Raffles; Maurice Leblanc (Arsene Lupin), Poe, Dickens, John Buchan, E.C. Bentley, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary Roberts Rinehart, G.K. Chesterton, Baroness Orczy (The Old Man In the Corner, The Scarlet Pimpernel), Joseph Conrad, Wilkie Collins, and many more, including some guy named Dostoyesvsky.

Season's greetings to all, and thanks to the good people at Project Gutenberg.

TO CHECK OUT AVAILABLE STORIES CLICK HERE

ROBIN HOOD ~ KING OF SHERWOOD FOREST!

ROBIN HOOD ~ KING OF SHERWOOD FOREST!

MORE COOL PULP NEWS FROM AIRSHIP 27's RON FORTIER . . .

And if bringing back a classic British based hero brought us success once (Sherlock Holmes - consulting Detective), imagine what bringing back a second would do? Or so we thought when British writer Ian Watson offered us a brand new Robin Hood novel entitled The King of Sherwood Forest.

We are currently editing this book and are extremely excited to have it on our roster, as it is a brilliant retelling of this classic adventure hero. Ian has not only written a swashbuckling tale of action, but he's grounded it against an historically accurate time which makes it that much more entertaining.

This will be our second book of 2010 and be out in Feb. A good couple of months before Universal releases their new blockbuster Robin Hood movie starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, with Kate Blanchette as Maid Marion. From what we've heard, this is going to be another rousing good movie. Clearly lots of great reading and cinema ahead for all our Loyal Airmen.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM AIRSHIP 27!

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM AIRSHIP 27!

Greeting Loyal Airmen. The above card is our official holiday greeting wish to all of you and your loved ones for this wonderful time of the year. Just as the Air Chief was wracking his brain with what kind of image to use, along comes our buddy, artist Rob Davis, who makes this terrific holiday image using the great detective, Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend, Dr.Watson. It couldn't be more appropriate, as our book SHERLOCK HOLMES - CONSULTING DETECTIVE, released this past summer, has gone on to become the most successful Airship 27 Productions title we have a ever done. To this day it remains a best seller on Amazon and Barnes & Noble on-line.

The Baker Street detective is poised to make a huge comeback when the new movie SHERLOCK HOLMES debuts on Christmas Day, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson. The Air Chief is really anxious to see this film, as the trailers look like wall to wall fun and adventure.

And trust me, we at Airship 27 Productions know when our readers want more of a good thing. Because of the overwhelming success of our Sherlock Holmes book, we immediately set about putting together a Volume Two which will be released in Jan.2010, thus becoming the first Airship 27 title of the new year.

FOR ALL YOUR PULP ADVENTURE CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND STOCKING STUFFERS CHECK OUT AIRSHIPS 27's FABULOUS PULP LINEUP.

TO CHECK IT OUT CLICK HERE

COCKTAIL NATION #104 ~ KOOPER GOES ON A TRIP WITH A CARELESS NAVIGATOR!

COCKTAIL NATION #104 ~ KOOPER GOES ON A TRIP WITH A CARELESS NAVIGATOR!

It's the Cocktail Nation with Koop Kooper, sponsored by Tiki Shark.

As Koop cranks the AC in Sydney – on what he tells us will be one of the hottest summers ever – Koop brings in an expert on social dynamics to teach you how to be the very best of you at your next party, how to be the life of the party, and most importantly how to wind friends and influence people.

Koop also has an incredible CD to giveaway this week called the Greatest American Italian Singers of all time. He will also tackle the social issues of the day with his regular segment Ask Koop, and of course, there's the weekly look at the world of swank.

PLAYLIST:

Martini Kings ~ Rumble
Don Tiki ~ Tinjoil Huts
Frank Sinatra ~ The Good Life
Jimmy Vargas ~ Torchin The EL Rocco
Jackie Gleason ~ A Man And A Woman
Janet Seidel ~ Cry Me A River
Si Zenter ~ I've found a new baby
Waitiki 7 ~ Mood Indigo
Hugo Montenegro ~ Lover
Martini Heaven ~ Breakfast At Tiffany's
SSS Unlimited ~ The Whistler Returns
Al Caiola ~ I Got it Bad
Jack Jones ~ This Could Be The Start Of Something
Pink Martini ~ Sunday Table
Ray Anthony ~ September Song

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

RWANDAN GRAND PRIX!

NO REASON TO LET A LITTLE THING LIKE LACK OF A CAR KEEP YOU FROM RACING!

THANKS TO MISS CELLANIA FOR THE CHUCKLE

THE BATCHELOR PAD!

BACHELOR PAD!

2009 CHRISTMAS SHOW #3

PLAYLIST:

Esquivel—Mini Skirt (Theme Music)
Perry Como—Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Frank Sinatra—Love To Keep Me Warm
Elvis Presley—I'll Be Home For Christmas
McGuire Sisters—Christmas Alphabet
Gene Autry—Up on the Housetop
Louis Armstrong—'Zat You, Santa Claus?
Bobby Helms—Jingle Bell Rock
Eddie Fisher—Christmas Eve
Ray Anthony—A Marshmallow World
Arthur Lyman—Mele Kalikemaka
Yule A Go-Go—We Three Kings
Wayne Newton—Let It Snow!
Esquivel—White Christmas
Lena Horne—Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Bing Crosby—Looks Like A Cold, Cold Winter
Connie Russell—Snow Dreams
Judy Garland—A Merry Little Christmas
Dean Martin—Winter Wonderland
Four Freshmen—Love Turns Winter To Spring
Blue Hawaiians—Christmas On Big Island
Ricky Vera—How Can Santa Come To Puerto Rico?
The Chipmunks—Christmas Don’t Be Late
Lenny Dee—Christmas Time is Here
Les Paul—Jingle Bells
Louis Prima—Shake Hands With Santa Claus
Percy Faith—We Need A Little Christmas
Bob Francis—That Swingin' Manger
Les Brown—Love To Keep Me Warm
Starlighters—Jing-A-Ling
Ralph Marterie—Dig That Crazy Santa Claus
Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes—Yulesville
Burl Ives—Holly Jolly Christmas
Martini Kings—Silver Bells
Mambo Zombies—Coming To Town
Kay Starr—The Man With The Bag
Lionel Hampton—Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
Billy May—Rudolf
Al Hirt—Baby, It's Cold Outside
Tony Bennett—White Christmas

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

AN EVENING AT THE BUDDIES LOUNGE #81!

AN EVENING AT THE BUDDIES LOUNGE #81!

HOLIDAY JUBILEE 2009 #3!

Join the BIG W this evening as he explores, with eggnog in hand, the Space-Age Pop Holiday Hi-Fi musical sounds of the 1950’s and the 1960’s in LIVING STEREO!

PLAYLIST:

• We Wish You The Merriest - Sinatra & Crosby
• Sun Valley Ski Run - Esquivel
• Rudolph - Ray Conniff Singers
• Sleigh Ride - Andre Kostelanetz
• Baby It's Cold Outside - Lawrence & Gorme
• Holiday On Skis - Al Caiola
• Frosty The Snowman - Ella Fitzgerald
• Ding Dong Dandy Christmas - The Three Suns
• Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) - Elvis Presley
• We Wanna See Santa Do The Mambo - Bill Darnell
• Santa Cause is Coming To Town - Eddie Cole
• We Need a Little Christmas - New Christy Minstrels
• My Love To Keep Me Warm - Rosemary Clooney
• Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Les Brown
• Christmas Time All Over - Sammy Davis Jr.
• Christmas Holiday - Andy Williams
• Joy - The Glad Singers
• Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin
• Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong
• Here Comes Santa In A Red Canoe - Surfers
• Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole
• Little Saint Nick - The Hollyridge Strings
• Home for the Holidays - Perry Como

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

A DOC SAVAGE CHRISTMAS!

A DOC SAVAGE CHRISTMAS!

THANKS TO WORDSMITH EXTRODINAIRE JAMES REASONER AND HIS ROUGH EDGES BLOG FOR HELPING GET US IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WITH THIS SPECIAL PULP IMAGE (CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE AND READ BACK COVER).

FOR MORE NON-EXISTANT PULP IMAGES CLICK HERE

THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE & DELUX COLLECTIONS!

THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE & DELUX COLLECTIONS!

Arriving in comic shops December 16th!

The Complete Rocketeer saga is collected into one handsome hardcover volume for the very first time, combining The Rocketeer and The Rocketeer: Cliff’s New York Adventure into great book. Dave Stevens’ classic adventure strip is set in the 1930s and is an homage to the classic pulp novels of the time. Cliff Secord is a stunt pilot who happens upon a top-secret experimental Jet pack and meets adventure head on!

Long considered a classic, the Rocketeer has been out of print for years. Now, with the blessing and full cooperation of the Dave Stevens estate, the Rocketeer will be collected as one book and with ALL-NEW COLORING by Laura Martin (who was Dave Stevens choice to recolor the series)

Hardcover - 7x10 - 144 pages - Full Color
$29.99
THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE DELUXE EDITION

The Deluxe Edition will feature everything in the regular hardcover edition but will be printed in a larger format (8 x 12 inches) and will contain more than 100 additional pages of sketches, preliminaries, layouts, and much, much more. A cornucopia of Dave Stevens art, many of these treasures have never been published before and will be printed here from the original art to ensure the highest quality reproduction possible.

Hardcover - 8x12 - 248 pages - Full Color
$75.00

TALES OF THE RED PANDA ~ THE MIND MASTER

TALES OF THE RED PANDA ~ THE MIND MASTER

HERE’S THE LATEST NEWS FROM DECODER RING THEATRE’S GREGG TAYLOR ABOUT HIS LATEST RED PANDA NOVEL . . .

Sinister forces are at work, striking within the very heart of the city's elite with powers that seem otherwordly. are the attacks radom? Simply for profit? Or is an unknown predator hunting our masked heroes themselves? if the mysterious Ajay Shah really does have powers that rival the Red Panda, will even the Terrific Twosome of Toronto be able to resist the might of... The Mind Master?

If a whole week without a Red Panda audio tale has you pining for some two-fisted pulp justice, never fear... the second installment of the Tales of the Red Panda pulp novel series is available at Amazon.com - RIGHT HERE in fact!

So if you long for another good old-fashioned "Yes Boss" adventure, get on board! And once you have, don't forget to post your review and help spread the word!

MORE COVERS FROM JOHN STEEL’S CASE BOOKS!

MORE COVERS FROM JOHN STEEL’S CASE BOOKS!

STEVE HOLLAND IS AT IT AGAIN WITH ANOTHER COVER CAVACADE OF THRILLING PICTURE LIBRARY’S JOHN STEEL ADVENTURES.

TO VIEW THE FULL CAVALCADE CLICK HERE

ICEBOX RADIO THEATER: CALLS TO SANTA SPECIAL!

ICEBOX RADIO THEATER: CALLS TO SANTA SPECIAL!

Harley and Jeff are on tap to give you a great preview into Calls to Santa, the Icebox Radio Theater's annual holiday event that's coming up Dec 14th thru 18th. Hear actual calls, a clip from the IBRT's 'A Christmas Carol', and chapter one of 'A Christmas Room'. All the contact numbers for Calls to Santa are at http://www.iceboxradio.org. Write to Santa with your holiday wish today!

TO LISTEN CLICK HERE

BOTTLED BOND!

BOTTLED BOND!

PER CINEMA RETRO:

Sean Connery generally stayed away from making product endorsements, at least in the American and British markets. He has, over the years, participated in commercials for various products in non-English speaking countries. Here's a rare 1967 exception to the rule, when Connery endorsed Jim Beam, with a brief notation in the ad that he was appearing in You Only Live Twice.

AN ANNE PERRY CHRISTMAS!

AN ANNE PERRY CHRISTMAS!

I’ve kind-of-sort-of recently discovered Anne Perry’s Victorian detective novels. I say kind-of-sort-of because I’ve been aware of her mysteries for a long time, but for some reason have never picked one up. This is strange, as I have thoroughly enjoyed her two, little known, fantasy novels, Tathea and Come Armageddon, and I find her monthly column in a magazine for which we both write to be uplifting, thoughtful, and incisive in its knowledge of human nature.

Still, her mysteries remained a mystery to me.

However, every year at this time, I enjoy reading novels with a Christmas background in order to help drag me into being filled with the spirit of the season. This year, I decided to listen to the audio version of one of Anne Perry’s Christmas novellas, A Christmas Guest. I should not have been surprised by how much I enjoyed it, but I was. I quickly picked up and read A Christmas Beginning and A Christmas Grace, and listened to A Christmas Journey and A Christmas Secret. Each of these novellas is delightful in its own special way, with Perry weaving themes of clear importance to her through each story with a gentle hand.

Clearly, I am going to work my way through her remaining Christmas novellas, A Christmas Visitor and the recently published A Christmas Promise, in the next week. And consequently, I am now hooked on Perry’s William Monk novels. The Face Of A Stranger was a brilliant examination of the meaning of memory in our lives, and I’m now halfway through A Dangerous Mourning, the second novel in Perry’s Monk series.

While I’ve known of Perry for years, and have a familiarity with her work in other fields, I’m counting her as one of the best ‘new’ mystery authors I ‘discovered’ in 2009, and I’m delighted to have 40+ of her Victorian mysteries to wallow in.

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ KIDS EDITION: X MARKS THE SPY BY JACK LANCER!

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ KIDS EDITION: X MARKS THE SPY BY JACK LANCER!

X Marks The Spy is the first book in the Christopher Cool/TEEN Agent series produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate between 1967-1969. In a 1989 interview published in Comics Interview #69, Jim Lawrence disclosed he was the ghostwriter behind the Jack Lancer pseudonym used on the books. Lawrence then went on to write the long running newspaper strip adventures of James Bond.

The series, of course, was created to capitalize on the marketing potential of the spy genre of the era. It wasn’t overly successful with only six series entries.

Chris Cool is an agent of TEEN, Top-secret Educational Espionage Network, an undercover arm of the American CIA whose members are students.

The Top-secret Educational Espionage Network, or TEEN, is a hush-hush corps of bright young students specially developed by Intelligence on the theory that its members would be less open to suspicion than older agents (much the same premis as Robert Muchamore’scurrent ad way more successful CHERUB series).

As an undercover arm of the American CIA, TEEN has access to the same networks and also often cooperates with other intelligence services of the free world. The headquarters is located in New York City on Broadway near 56th Street, using the import sports car showroom of Luxury Motors as a front. A secret training center is operated out of the Howell mansion nestled on a vast walled estate on Long Island Sound.

TOAD is the most feared and fiendish secret organization in the world (except for perhaps SPECTRE or THRUSH). As a criminal setup aimed at eventual world domination it outmuscles all known gangs. Its intelligence network rivals the Russian KGB or American CIA. A live toad is often sent to TOAD's intended victims, and the outline of a toad is stamped into their foreheads once the death sentence is fulfilled.

Other members of TEEN include Geronimo Johnson, an Apache Indian and Christopher's partner; Spice Carter, a student at Vassar University; Yummi Toyama, a Japanese-American student at Berkley College, and Beauregard Tatum, an African-American student at Harvard.

The novels have the TEEN agents go to various foreign countries, and typical of the spy genre of the time, outfitted with many spy gadgets.

X MARKS THE SPY

In the thrilling city of Paris, TEEN's crack espionage agent Chris Cool undertakes a baffling and dangerous mission: to ferret out a revolutionary new secret weapon which could change the balance of power in the cold war. His contact is an unknown spy identified only by a cunningly concealed X mark. When three men turn up with X marks, Chris is faced with the grim challenge of correctly identifying the right contact. Chris and his Apache fellow agent, Geronimo Johnson, follow a clue that leads to the Riviera resort town of St. Tropez and discover that they themselves have become the quarry in a blood-chilling game of hide-and-seek with the deadly agents of TOAD. For all mystery-spy fans, here is a suspense thriller packed with pulse-pounding excitement that never lets up till the final paragraph.

While the writing doesn’t lift these novels to anywhere near that of current teen agents such as Young Bond, Alex Rider, of the aforementioned CHERUB agents, I have a special affection for the books from when I read them as a young teen.

THE CHRISTOPHER COOL TEEN AGENT SERIES:

X Marks the Spy (1967)
Mission: Moonfire (1967)
Department of Danger (1967)
Ace of Shadows (1967)
Heads You Lose (1968)
Trial By Fury (1969)

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX BY DOROTHY GILLMAN!

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX BY DOROTHY GILLMAN!

Earlier this week, the Mystery Writers of America announced Dorothy Gilman, the 86-year-old American author of the long-running Mrs. Pollifax spy novel series, would be their 2010 Grand Master. As a result, I thought it appropriate to feature her first Mrs. Pollifax novel from 1966.

THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX

Mrs. Pollifax is an elderly widow who has come to find life dull and is almost ready to end it all out of sheer boredom. Inspired by a newspaper profile of an actress who began her career in later life, she decides to fulfill a childhood ambition and apply for a job as a spy at the CIA. Meanwhile, Carstairs at the CIA is looking for an agent who can pass as a tourist in order to pick up some important microfilms in Mexico City.

Due to a slight confusion, he thinks Mrs. Pollifax is one of the candidates and decides she is ideal; Carstairs decided this assignment carries so little danger even one who is relatively untrained may be sent.

So with minimum explanation, Pollifax is ushered off to Mexico City to meet a bookstore owner/secret agent, exchange code phrases, and leave with a book containing the microfilm.

Of course, the courier mission does not go as planned, and Mrs. Pollifax finds herself in a prison in iron curtain-era Albania, facing harsh questioning and possible torture. But she proves to be unusually resourceful, and with her companion's assistance, manages to outwit the enemy and save the day.

I remember my surprise, when reading The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax for the first time, to find the novel fairly realistic. Wheile comic relief was employed from time to time, it was more in the way of a dry or droll sence of humor as oppossed to slapstick silliness or one-liners. The humor seasoned the suspense rather than detracting from it.

A consistent theme throughout the series is Mrs. Pollifax' tendency to take an interest in people who seem disconnected with her mission, but who either become part of the investigation and/or who prove to be of invaluable assistance to resolving the case. Recurring characters include Bishop, Carstairs' assistant; John Sebastian Farrell, an agent turned art dealer; and in later books, Cyrus Reed, a man with whom Mrs. Pollifax finds romance late in life.

As a side note Rosalind Russell took the role of Mrs. Pollifx in the film version in 1971 (Mrs. Polifax – Spy) while Angela Lansbury took over as Mrs. Polifax for a CBS television movie in 1999.

ALEX RIDER WEEK AT THE DOUBLE O SECTION!

ALEX RIDER WEEK AT THE DOUBLE O SECTION!

C.O.B.R.A.S. AGENT TANNER IS DIGGING DEEP INTO THE ALEX RIDER TEEN SPY SERIES THIS WEEK. I’VE JUST FINISHED READING THE LATEST ALEX RIDER NOVEL CROCODILE TEARS AND FOUND IT TOP NOTCH. I HAVE NO DOUBT TANNER’S IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE SERIES WILL BE WORTH FOLLOWING . . .

HERE'S THE START OF TANNER'S COMMUNIQUÉ:

I've talked about Anthony Horowitz and his creation, teen spy Alex Rider, frequently on the Double O Section. As far back as my very first week of posting, in fact, when Horowitz and Young Bond author Charlie Higson were featured on my list of relevant people in spy media. Check out that post for a good primer on Alex Rider. I've followed up on that initial list twice, checking in on what was going on the world of Alex Rider on my first blogiversary and, recently, on my third. I've covered Alex Rider in books, film and comics. But I've never reviewed any of the Horowitz's novels here. And there's certainly a lot more to say about a character who's such a phenomenon in publishing right now. Horowitz created one of the great TV detectives in Christopher Foyle, hero of his brilliant series Foyle's War, and, unsurprisingly, his Young Adult books stand out in a market revitalized in the last decade by J.K. Rowling and flush with Harry Potter imitators ever since. It was a brilliantly simply formula he came up with:

Harry Potter + James Bond = Alex Rider

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

JAZZ BAKERY NEWS!

CLICK TO ENLARGE

BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY SHOW IN L.A., 45% OFF!

BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY SHOW IN L.A., 45% OFF!

7TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS ROCKS! EXTRAVAGANZA
GIBSON AMPHITHEATRE, UNIVERSAL CITY, CA
DEC. 18-19

Here's a swinging deal on two weekend performances by the Brian Setzer Orchestra celebrating the holidays that can save over 40% off ticket prices at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City.

Known for their unique take on swing, jump and blues music, the Brian Setzer Orchestra truly knows how to make an audience "Jump Jive an' Wail." For the 7th Annual Christmas Rocks! Extrazaganza on Friday, Dec. 18 and Saturday, Dec. 19, Mezzanine Seats to see the Brian Setzer Orchestra are just $20 (reg. $35.25). Book by Dec. 17.

FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE

GENE BARRY ~ R.I.P.

GENE BARRY ~ R.I.P.

LOS ANGELES — Gene Barry, who played the well-dressed man of action in the television series "Bat Masterson," "Burke's Law" and "The Name of the Game," has died at age 90 of unknown causes, his son said Thursday.

Fredric James Barry said the actor died Wednesday at a rest home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Woodland Hills.

Gene Barry essentially played the same character in all three series, which spanned the 1950s to the 1970s. Always fashionably dressed, the tall, handsome actor with the commanding voice dominated his scenes as he bested the bad guys in each show.

FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE

SIX: THE REAL JAMES BONDS!

SIX: THE REAL JAMES BONDS!

SUBTITILED, THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, SIX: THE REAL JAMES BONDS, WRITTEN BY FORMER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER AND JOURNALIST MICHAEL SMITH, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE UK IN SPRING 2010.

PER THE PUBLISHER:

From the Kaiser to the Taliban Britain s real spooks are revealed in this intriguing biography of the country s most secretive of secret services. Six is the full story of 100 years of espionage by MI6, the organisation still seen as the model for the world s spies. This book tells the truth about the men and women who inspired fictional characters such as James Bond and George Smiley. It begins with the creation of the British Secret Service in 1909 as the First World War loomed, and comes right up to date, detailing the work of MI6 officers in Afghanistan. Six focuses on the human factor, recounting hitherto untold tales of derring-do and exposing villainous traitors whose identities have until now been closely guarded secrets. Using hundreds of previously unreleased files and interviews with key players, it exposes the truth behind the failures and successes, including the real story of the Iraq scandal, naming the heroes and villains alike.

ISTANBUL: HARD KILL IN LIMBO!

ISTANBUL: HARD KILL IN LIMBO!

AS A CHRISTMAS TREAT, OUR C.O.B.R.A.S. AGENT OVER AT THE PERMISSION TO KILL BLOG HAS CREATED A DOWNLOADABLE FICTITIOUS SOUNDTRACK TO A FICTITIOUS EUROSPY FILM, AMUSINGLY TITLED, ISTANBUL: HARD KILL IN LIMBO – COMPLETE WITH APPROPRIATE ARTWORK . . .

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

FOURTH JOHN STEEL COVER CAVALCADE!

FOURTH JOHN STEEL COVER CAVALCADE!

STEVE HOLLAND KEEPS POSTING COOL COVER CAVALCADES AT HIS WONDERFUL BEAR ALLEY BLOG. I WISH I COULD GET MY HANDS ON SOME OF THESE . . .

TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST COVER CAVALCADE CLICK HERE

A VERY DECODER RING CHRISTMAS!

A VERY DECODER RING CHRISTMAS!

NEWS FROM DECODER RING THEATRE:

Well, we've not only moved back into the Hard-Boiled world of Jack and Trixie for a spell, we've also released this year's Christmas episode, Requiem for an Elf. So it seems like an awful good time to remind you to revisit our other holiday specials this season!

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD LAST YEAR'S A VERY DECODER RING CHRISTMAS CLICK HERE

And don't forget to fight a little crime this year with the Red Panda and the Flying Squirrel in Tis the Season....

TO GET IT CLICK HERE

And God Bless Us, Every One!

ANOTHER JOHN STEEL COVER CAVALCADE!

ANOTHER JOHN STEEL COVER CAVALCADE!

STEVE HOLLAND HAS POSTED ANOTHER COOL COVER CAVALCADE OF JOHN STEEL NOVELS ON HIS BEAR ALLEY BLOG . . . I'M REALLY ENJOYING THESE, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR COOL JAZZ HIGHLIGHTS . . .

TO CHECK 'EM OUT CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ TRIPLE PLAY!

MORE THRILLING PICTURE LIBRARY COVERS!

MORE THRILLING PICTURE LIBRARY COVERS!

STEVE HOLLAND OVER AT BEAR ALLEY CONTINUES HIS COVER COVERAGE OF BRITAIN'S THRILLING PICTURE LIBRARY.

TO CHECK OUT THE MOST RECENT CAVALCADE CLICK HERE

SPY GIRLS ~ BARBIE BOND!

SPY GIRLS ~ BARBIE BOND!

JAMES BOND GIRLS BARBIE DOLL ASSORTMENT CASE!
THE BEAUTIFUL - AND IN SOME CASES, LETHAL - WOMEN OF THE JAMES BOND FILM SERIES!

BARBIE GOES BOND!

THE LEGENDARY LOVES OF AGENT 007!

Barbie can do just about anything - and now she's got her sights set on the world's top secret agent: Bond. James Bond! What better way to celebrate the long-running film franchise than with this series of dolls depicting the legendary "Bond Girls"! This set of 3 individually packaged dolls includes (subject to change):

Honor Blackman in Goldfinger

Halle Berry in Die Another Day

Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder from Dr. No

This daring and captivating assortment includes three Bond girl favorites! The very first Bond girl, Honey Ryder, was cool, confident and completely unforgettable. This Dr. No Barbie Doll pays tribute to a memorable scene from the film dressed in a white belted swimsuit with shell diver knife and sheath. The Goldfinger Barbie Doll features pilot Pussy Galore all geared up and ready to help 007 thwart Goldfinger's evil plan wearing a fitted black suit with golden vest. Brave, bold and beautiful, Jinx was pure luck for James Bond. The Die Another Day Barbie Doll wears an orange bikini inspired by the one Bond first spies her in as she exits the ocean. Collect them all!

ALL YOURS FOR $124.00 CLICK HERE

MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS!

MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS!

SUBTITLED THE HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP, PAUL HOWLEY, OWNER OF THE EISNER AWARD WINNING POP CULTURE COLLECTOR’S STORE KNOWN AS “ THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT ” IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, IS RUNNING AN ENTERTAINING SERIES OF BLOGS DEALING WITH HIS OBSSESSION WITH COMICS AND HIS ADVENTURES IN SELLING AND PUBLISHING . . .

My store has been around for over twenty years and it’s been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought my store to its current place. I am not a talented writer, so please try to overlook my lack of writing ability. It is not my intent to boast or brag about my store or my life…I just want to tell you my story.

TO CATCH UP WITH THIS SLICE OF COMIC HISTORY CLICK HERE

MCLEAVY!

MCLEAVY!

THESE TOP NOTCH AUDIO DRAMAS FROM BBC 4 SURROUNDING INSPECTOR MCLEAVY, A TACITURN, VICTORIAN, EDINBURGH SLEUTH, HIS GIRLFRIEND BROTHEL OWNER JEAN BRASH, AND HIS SIDEKICK CONSTABLE MULHOLLAND, ARE A JOY. ORIGINALLY BRAODCAST FROM 1999 TO 2006, GOOD WRITING, GOOD CASTING, AND GOOD DIRECTION MAKE THIS FORTY-FIVE MINUTE SHOW A MUST FOR YOUR BBC DOWNLOADER . . .

These stories are based on a real historical character. James McLevy was an Irishman who moved to Edinburgh, Scotland where he worked as a builder's labourer and then became a policeman in 1830. In 1833 he became a detective, rising to the rank of Police Detective Inspector in the Parish of Leith, Edinburgh. This real life policeman handled over 2200 cases during his 30 year career and it was said that he always secured a conviction.

In retirement during the 1860s he wrote his memoirs about criminals and the underclasses of Scotland's capital city. These case notes were then called Curiosities of Crime in Edinburgh, The Sliding Scale of Life and The Disclosures of a Detective. They are now published in the books McLevy: The Edinburgh Detective and McLevy Returns: Further Disclosures of the Edinburgh Detective.

They feature tales called The Blood-Stained Moleskin, The Ingenuity of Thieves and The Conjurer and his account of how he captured the Edinburgh body snatchers, Burke and Hare.

The books were very popular in Victorian times and are thought to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write the Sherlock Holmes stories years later. A connection between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and James McLevy is that McLevy sought forensic advice from members of the medical faculty at Edinburgh University, where Conan Doyle later studied.

FOR INFO ON BUYING CDs CLICK HERE

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS!

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS!

NOT EXACTLY A TRAILER, BUT A QUICK LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES UNTIL THE OFFICIAL TRAILER COMES ALONG . . .

SFF AUDIO PODCAST #44!

SFF AUDIO PODCAST #44!

TIME TO GET IT ON WITH ONE OF THE BEST PODCASTS ON THE NET FROM SFF AUDIO . . .

The SFFaudio Podcast #044 – Jesse and Scott are joined by Professor Eric S. Rabkin of the University Of Michigan to discuss fairy tales, fantastic literature and Science Fiction.

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

BEAT TO A PULP #53!

BEAT TO A PULP #53!

CHARLIE AND STEVIE DO A REPO BY KIERAN SHEA

EDITOR DAVID CRANMER COMMENTS:

Kieran Shea returns to BTAP with another Charlie Byrne story. If you’re not familiar with Shea’s south Jersey shore P.I., well, what the hell are you waiting for?

He’s free to read right now, but I have no doubt that will change very soon. So click over to BEAT to a PULP for Charlie and Stevie Do a Repo and drop one of the finest amongst us a comment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

At Bouchercon this year, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Editor, Janet Hutchings, was delighted to share with Kieran that his story "The Lifeguard Method" featuring Jersey Shore P.I. Charlie Byrne prompted the angriest letter she'd received in over twenty years of editing the magazine. Kieran's stories have appeared here at BTAP before as well as at places like Plots With Guns, Pulp Pusher, and elsewhere. Visit Kieran at:

http://kieranjamesshea.blogspot.com/

TO READ THIS WEEK’S STORY CLICK HERE

NEXT WEEK:

Heck, I’m not gonna tell ya who’s up next week. I’ll leave it as a surprise. Because a big occasion like wrapping up a very successful first year at BTAP needs a big finale. And we’ve got a BIG writer lined up. Hate to leave you hanging like this, but I know Kieran’s story will more than make up for it.

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

THRILLER PICTURE LIBRARY!

THRILLER PICTURE LIBRARY!

STEVE HOLLAND OVER AT BEAR ALLEY HAS AGAIN PRODUCED SOME GREAT COVERS. THIS TIME FROM THE THRILLER PICTURE LIBRARY'S JOHN STEEL STORIES.

TO SEE ALL THE COVER CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ HAPPY CATMAS!

TWILIGHT MOMS ~ IT HAD TO BE SAID!

TIGER Wii!

TIGER Wii!

LOOK WHAT THE HOT NEW GAME IS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!
“While running from an angry golf club wielding wife you must navigate and avoid obstacles like fire hydrants, trees and evil career killing paparazzi. Fist pump for extra power and seek the counsel of agents and press managers to keep your image meter high. Fun for all ages!”

WITH A CHUCKLE TO THE GLAMOROUS LIFE ASSOCIATION

SCRUFFY THE ELF!

U.N.C.L.E. THEMES!

U.N.C.L.E. THEMES!

I JUST RAN ACROSS THIS LINK ON THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. YAHOO GROUPS DIGEST. ONE OF THE AGENTS HAS POSTED ON HIS PERSONAL BLOG A COMPILATION CD OF COLLECTED MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. THEMES - LOTS OF VARIATIONS - PLUS ARTWORK. VERY COOL!

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE