BISH'S BEAT: 2010-08-22

Saturday, August 28, 2010

THE DILLINGERS ~ INSTRO MANIA!

THE DILLINGERS ~ INSTRO MANIA!

A VERY COOL DOWNLOAD FROM FAT CITY CIGAR LOUNGE FEATURING A GROUP FROM SOUTHERN FLORIDA . . .

TRACKLIST:

1. Dirtbag
2. Penetration
3. Goldfinger
4. Rumble
5. Mr. Moto/the Munsters Theme
6. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
7. Halem Nocturne
8. Jack The Ripper
9. Astrosurfin Listen!
10. Apache
11. Sleepwalk
12. Theme from "The Magnificent Seven"
13. Rebel Rouser

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

CYMBELINE REVISITED!

CYMBELINE REVISITED!

WRITTEN BY JULIE HOVERSON

NEW FROM 19 NOCTURNE BOULEVARD . . .

Another play? If drama be the food of life, play on, MacDuff!

"What kind of a place is it?

Why it's Julie's brain, can't you tell?"

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

ZOMBIE CENTRAL: NIGHT OF THE LIVING TREKKIES!

ZOMBIE CENTRAL: NIGHT OF THE LIVING TREKKIES!

KEVEIN DAVIN ANDERSON

This sci-fi /zombie/comedy/adventure follows a group of rag-tag Trekkies getting together for the fifth annual FedCon (billed as the "largest Starfleet Convention in the western Gulf Coast region").

Our heroes are dressed in homemade uniforms and armed with prop phasers-but soon find themselves defending their hotel and convention center against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Suddenly, all of their useless knowledge about particle physics and old Star Trek episodes has genuine real-world applications! And while hotel employees and regular civilians are dying left and right, our Trekkies summon strength and courage by emulating their favorite starship-voyaging characters.

Packed with hundreds of gags referencing Star Trek, comic books, and fan conventions, Night of the Living Trekkies reads like the strange lovechild of Galaxy Quest and Dawn of the Dead. Journey to the final frontier of zombie science-fiction mash-ups!

FANTASY CORNER: THE STUFF OF LEGENDS!

FANTASY CORNER: THE STUFF OF LEGENDS!

IAN GIBSON

Do you like good books? Do you like books in which there is ass-kicking, magic, hot elf chicks, evil wizards, bards, pissed-off dragons, and famous warriors? Do you like laughing so hard people give you funny looks on public transportation?

Then you probably ought to go pick up Stuff of Legends by Ian Gibson.

A true legend rescues maidens...pillages temples...and slaughters evil hordes...

But what does he do when all the fun is over?

When an annoyingly eager young man by the name of Eliott, his Elvish guardian, and a bard-for-hire magically drop into the life of former hero Jordan the Red, the aged warrior wants nothing to do with them. He's had enough of battling the world. But Eliott wants an adventure with the legendary, sword-swinging soldier of fortune-and this hero is about to be forced out of retirement.

WINNER TAKE ALL!

CHANDLER ~ QUOTE OF THE DAY!

CHANDLER ~ QUOTE OF THE DAY!

I knew one thing: as soon as anyone said you didn't need a gun, you'd better take one along that worked.

THE AQUA VELVETS!

THE AQUA VELVETS!

MY FAVORITE MODERN SURF BAND BAR NONE . . .

Aqua Velvets have a sound that could be described as original surf instrumental, with spaghetti western, S.F. psychedelic, Middle Eastern, and Italian mambo influence.

TRACKLIST:

1. Bravado
2. Spy In The House Of Love
3. Swampabilly Hop
4. Spanish Blue
5. Blue Rhumba
6. Night In Paamul
7. Gringo
8. Surf Boogie
9. Beauty And The Beach
10. Tango De Milo

TO DOWNLOAD FROM FAT CITY CIGAR LOUNGE CLICK HERE

GUITAR MANIA ~ VOLUME 1!

GUITAR MANIA ~ VOLUME 1!

A LITTLE PIECE OF GUITAR HEAVEN FROM FAT CITY CIGAR LOUNGE . . .

TRACKLIST:

01. The Mustangs - Leskiaidin Tyttaret
02. The Mustangs - Juoske Sina Humma
03. The Mustangs - What A Splendid Thing
04. The Mustangs - Dark Eyes Beat
05. Bleu Explosion - Teen Scene
06. The Mustangs - Black Swan
07. The Mustangs - Bongo Blues
08. The Mustangs - Forever In Dreams
09. The Meadowhawks - Tropical Rock
10. The Meadowhawks - Classical Surf
11. The Meadowhawks - Marabunta
12. The Meadowhawks - 1000 & 1 Thoughts
13. The Desperates - Desperates Express
14. The Desperates - Little Geisha
15. The Desperates - Moonshot
16. The Desperates - Snoernje Van Bloedrode Kralen
17. The Blue Moon Rockers - Hurricane Rock
18. The Blue Moon Rockers - Loempia
19. The Blue Moon Rockers - Theme From Limelight
20. The Blue Moon Rockers - Running Gypsy
21. Vintage - Bulldog Mix
22. Vintage - Hills
23. Vintage - Cape Blue
24. Vintage - Sweet Little Margie
25. The Arrows - La Comparsa

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

FREE KINDLE e-BOOK ~ BILLY BOYLE: A WORLD WAR II MYSTERY!

FREE KINDLE e-BOOK ~ BILLY BOYLE: A WORLD WAR II MYSTERY!

JAMES R. BENN

THIS IS THE FIRST BILLY BOYLE MYSTERY AND IS PROBABLY BEING MADE AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIA AMAZON IN KINDLE’S e-BOOK FORMAT TO PROMOTE THE FIFTH BOOK IN THE SERIES, RAG AND BONE, WHICH IS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER . . .

What’s a twenty-two-year-old Irish American cop who’s never been out of Massa-chusetts before doing at Beardsley Hall, an English country house, having lunch with King Haakon of Norway? Billy Boyle himself wonders. Back home in Southie, he’d barely made detective when war was declared. Unwilling to fight—and perhaps die—for England, he was relieved when his mother wangled a job for him on the staff of a general married to her distant cousin. But the general turns out to be Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose headquarters are in London, which is undergoing the Blitz. And Uncle Ike wants Billy to be his personal investigator.

Billy is dispatched to the seat of the Norwegian government in exile. Operation Jupiter, the impending invasion of Norway, is being planned, but it is feared that there is a German spy amongst the Norwegians.

Billy doubts his own abilities, with good reason. A theft and two murders test his investigative powers, but Billy proves to be a better detective than he or anyone else expected.

THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS I LOVE ABOUT GETTING FREE BOOKS FOR MY KINDLE. I’VE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS SERIES (LOVE THE COVERS) AND HAVE BEEN WANTING TO TRY IT FOR QUITE A WHILE – NOW I WILL. AND IF I ENJOY IT, I HAVE NO DOUBTS I’LL BUY THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES . . .

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Friday, August 27, 2010

COMICS CORNER: HOWARD CHAYKIN'S BLACK KISS HARDCOVER!

COMICS CORNER: HOWARD CHAYKIN'S BLACK KISS HARDCOVER!

SIGNED AND RE-MARKED BY LIVING LEGEND HOWARD CHAYKING!

PRICE: $69.99

WRITER: HOWARD CHAYKIN
PENCILLER/INKER: HOWARD CHAYKIN

Howard Chaykin's Black Kiss is hardboiled, erotic tour-de-force now available from Dynamite Comics in a remastered hardcover edition!

Originally published in 1988 Black Kiss became one of the most controversial North American comics of the late 1980s, with living legend Howard Chaykin amping up the sex and violence to levels never seen before - and still shocking and titillating today!

Featuring all 12 issues of the series, overseen by Chaykin and remastered for today's discerning comic book consumer!

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

COMICS CORNER: EVA: DAUGHTER OF THE DRAGON

COMICS CORNER: EVA: DAUGHTER OF THE DRAGON

From the pages of Army of Darkness (Ash vs. the Monsters) comes the first one-shot starring Eva, Daughter of Dracula and sworn vampire slayer!
Fresh from her appearance battling her father, Dracula, in the pages of Army of Darkness, Eva's adventures are chronicled by writer Brandon Jerwa and artist Edgar Salazar, all under an incredible painted cover by Jo (Buffy) Chen and TBD!

This story shifts from the past to the present and features not only Eva, but a classic line-up of horrific characters including Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and more!

Eva is Dynamite's next break-out character and set to star with the Darkness in the next Dynamite/Top Cow cross-over - don't miss this pivotal one-shot!

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

COMICS CORNER: ANNE ELIZABETH'S PULSE OF POWER!

COMICS CORNER: ANNE ELIZABETH'S PULSE OF POWER!

WRITER: ANNE ELIZABETH
COVER: BRETT BOOTH

Tia Stanton is not an ordinary woman. Created from a mystical rite, she is birthed into a world where chaos and organization run side by side; where monster and man live in unison but rarely with recognition of each other. Until, the race begins – a fight to gain access to the pool of power lying beneath her hometown of Greenwich, Connecticut.

It coincides with her twenty-fifth birthday and her last chance to accept the full mantel of this supernatural power. Tia is forced to deal with the fact she's different. That she can recycle sin energy and make something good out of it. The world is literally at stake, as is a multitude of other planets which are tied to her own.

Anne Elizabeth's PULSE OF POWER – feel the pulse and prepare to power up! Destiny is always a choice.

"Anne Elizabeth weaves a wonderfully sexy, spellbinding tale of power, money, and magic!" -LA Banks (author of Vampire Huntress)

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

PULP NOW: VAMPIRELLA #1!

PULP NOW: VAMPIRELLA #1!

SHE’S BACK ~ AT LONG LAST!

Dynamite Entertainment is pleased to reintroduce readers to the scourge of the undead: VAMPIRELLA, and she is all that stands between us and the end of the world! Vampi's back and hot on the corpse-strewn trail of her nemesis, Vlad Dracula.
It's a darker world for Vampirella, and something more sinister than vampires lurks in the shadows, something even Dracula himself has cause to fear...

Written by Eric Trautmann (THE SHIELD, ACTION COMICS) and illustrated by Wagner Reis (PROJECT SUPERPOWERS).

AS A BONUS FEATURE - A rare story by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale!

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

PULP NOW: GREEN HORNET!

PULP NOW: GREEN HORNET!

MATT WAGNER COVERS THE GREEN HORNET!

LEGENDARY CREATOR TAKES ON COVER DUTIES STARTING WITH THE GREEN HORNET: YEAR ONE #6!

The Green Hornet: Year One is the acclaimed comic by Eisner Award-winning writer Matt Wagner and artist Aaron Campbell! Industry legend Matt Wagner is now pulling double duty as the comic's writer AND cover artist for the final part of Act 1, and all of Act II of Green Hornet and Kato's first year!

Set in the golden age of comics and history, writer Matt Wagner weaves a tale of action and adventure unlike anything else seen on the comic racks!

Add in the exquisite art of Aaron Campbell, now with covers by Matt Wagner beginning with issue #6, even more comic fans will have a reason to pick up The Green Hornet: Year One!

MCGINNIS ~ NOW, WILL YOU TRY MURDER!

DAMES, DANGER, DEATH!

DAMES, DANGER, DEATH!

SOUNDS LIKE A REGULAR MONDAY AT MY OFFICE . . .

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE!

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE!

AND IF THIS COVER (BY TOM DUNN) IS ANY INDICATION, I CAN SEE WHY . . .

MCGINNIS ~ THE ONLY GIRL IN THE GAME!

MCGINNIS ~ THE ONLY GIRL IN THE GAME!

ONE OF THE FEW TIMES I ALMOST LIKE THE ORIGINAL COVER BETTER THAN MCGINNIS' TAKE . . . ALMOST . . .

RED PANDA ADVENTURES #61!

RED PANDA ADVENTURES #61!

THE NOSE FOR NEWS!

NEW FROM DECODER RING THEATRE . . .

More than a year has passed since the Occult War was lost, and little has gone well for those who stand against the forces of darkness. Many nations are now in Nazi hands, and the shadow of occupation hangs heavily over the remaining free people of Europe. Closer to home, saboteurs and traitors now lurk in the shadows which once sheltered criminal scum, and only one man can stand against them. The Red Panda may have lost much of his army of justice, but he still has an iron will, the strength of ten and most of all... The Nose For News!

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

COCKTAIL NATION #139 ~ MARTINI KINGS VS. SHAG!

COCKTAIL NATION #139 ~ MARTINI KINGS VS. SHAG!

On the show this week, Koop talks with Tony Marscio from the Martini Kings about the stack of recent releases from his crew, which is great music to add to your collecion,. Last friday night, Koop caught up with Shag at the Outre Gallery in Sydney and he’ll play back that chat for us as we check out his inscrutable mystery guide. Regular segments Ask Koop and the Blogosphere are here, plus a look at Tiki Oasis from last week – all on the Cocktail Nation.

PLAYLIST:

Vibes On Velvet ~ Jorges Basement
Cal Tjader ~ The Way You Look Tonight
Martini Kings ~ Lost In Paradise
Julie London ~ The End of a Love Affair
Waitiki7 ~ Ruby
Janet Seidel ~ Straight To Baby
Moe Koffman ~ Swinging Shepard Blues
Acutal Rafiq ~ One way ticket to Thrillville
Frank Sinatra ~ The Best is Yet To Come
Alvino Rey ~ A Swingin Fling
Les Baxter ~ Saturday Night on Saturn
Chet Baker ~ The Touch of Your Lips
Frank Bennett ~ Everything Counts
Tiki Joes Ocean ~ Sand Bar

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

BUDDIES LOUNGE #109!

BUDDIES LOUNGE #109!

Join the BIG W every Friday evening as he continues to explore, with drink in hand, the Space-Age Pop Hi-Fi musical sounds of the 1950’s and the 1960’s. Tonight it’s an evening on MONO sounds on our last show of the season! This in not just flipping the hi-fi to MONO, these are original mixes released in Hi-Fi Mono! Enjoy!

PLAYLIST:

• Ridin’ On The Moon - Lean Horne
• Skokiaan - Al Hirt
• The Late, Late Show - Dakota Staton
• Casino Royal - Herb Alpert & the TJB
• My Blue Heaven - Frank Sinatra
• Mucha Muchacha - Esquivel
• The Bus Stop Song - The Four Lads
• The 3rd Man Theme - Buddy Morrow
• Good Old Summer Time - Four Preps
• I Like Men - Peggy Lee
• M Squad - Stanley Wilson
• Powerhouse - Buddy Colee
• Bossa Nova Baby - Elvis Presley
• Goldfinger - Billy Strange
• It’s Good To Want You Bad - Julie London
• Whistle While You Work - Jack Marshall
• Day Like Today - Sammy Davis, Jr.
• Nina - Les Baxter
• Mr. Lucky Goes Latin - Henry Mancini
• Goodbye Charlie - Bobby Darin
• Buck Dance - Dick Schory
• That’s Amore - Dean Martin
• 77 Sunset Strip Cha Cha - Warren Barker
• Blues In The Night - Alvino Rey
• Guys And Dolls - Billy May
• Take That Away From Me - Della Reese

TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

PULP NOW: BADDEST OF THE BAD!

PULP NOW: BADDEST OF THE BAD!

Is it the ingenious revival of the short story in the 21st century, or just a symptom of a society gone mad? Half punk zine, half National Lampoon Magazine, half Black Mask, and half indescribable insanity, Out of the Gutter has earned a dedicated following despite the fact that its creators don't understand fractions.

Collected here is the most vital, compelling and disturbing material from the first 600-plus pages of uncensored and unrestrained short fiction and nonfiction Out of the Gutter has featured to date, including true prison stories from Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti, a real-life tour of an LA sex club, and a full docket of the fierce stories Out of the Gutter is famous for.

FOR THE BOOKGASM REVIEW CLICK HERE

ESPIONAGE CENTRAL: SIN CITY SPY!

ESPIONAGE CENTRAL: SIN CITY SPY!

THE LATEST WORLD ESPIONAGE BUREAU NOVEL FROM PLUP WRITER BILL RAETZ . . .

SIN CITY SPY AVAILABLE SOON!

FREEZE PISTOL ICE TRAY!

FREEZE PISTOL ICE TRAY!

POP A CAP IN YOUR GLASS . . .

Is your drink packin' heat? Well, cool it down with these pistol-shaped ice. With Freeze! Pistol Ice Tray, you can pop a few rounds of the finely-tooled ice cubes into our beverages. They're just the thing for fully-loaded drinks!

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

HAT TIP TO BILL CRIDER

JOHNNY STACCATO ON DVD!

JOHNNY STACCATO ON DVD!

FINALLY THE PRIVATE EYE WITH THE COOLEST NAME IS THE BUSINESS IS MAKING AN APPEARANCE ON DVD . . .

Johnny Staccato – starring legendary actor, writer and director Johnny Cassavetes – first appeared on TV in 1959, and although it lasted only 27 episodes, the unique mixture of big-city mystery-adventure and jazz left an indelible impression on a generation of TV viewers.

Johnny is an ex-jazz musician/detective who finds himself drawn into cases where his distaste for crime, criminals and injustice is put to test.

Many notable Hollywood guest stars include Michael Landon, Martin Landau, Shirley Knight, famed soundtrack musician John Williams, Dean Stockwell, Elisha Cook, Susan Oliver, Gena Rowlands, Elizabeth Montgomery, Norman Fell, Cloris Leachman, and Mary Tyler Moore!

Timeless Media Group (TMG) is releasing Johnny Staccato on DVD! This 3-disc set with all 27 episodes will be available from October 12th. Cost is $34.98 SRP, and you can pre-order it at a discount from Amazon.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Thursday, August 26, 2010

FORGOTTEN BOOKS: UNDERCOVER RUN!

FORGOTTEN BOOKS: UNDERCOVER RUN!

LEW DYKES

Somewhere in my memory there’s a trace of the fact author Lew Dykes was also a police detective or officer. I have his books on my shelf along with novels by other police writers, so I’m pretty sure I can rely on the fact, however, I can’t remember what department he was with nor can I dig up anything through a cursory Internet search. Since his books are all set in South Carolina, I would assume he is writing from his experiences there, but we all know what happens when you assume . . .

In actuality, it doesn’t matter. In the late ‘80s, Dykes wrote three paperback original, police procedural thrillers of excellent quality – the best of the bunch being the second of the three, Undercover Run.

UNDERCOVER RUN

THE MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINAL OF ALL IS A COP . . . TURNED KILLER

UNDER
Andy Gates is the fall guy in a perfect frame-up. His cheating wife and her scheming lover leave him holding the bag for a $60,000 robbery. When the cell door slams shut, Gates goes over the edge . . .

COVER
But he’s no ordinary prisoner, he’s a former undercover detective – a dead shot who can also kill with his bare hands. His jailbreak leaves two men dead. And Gates is on the loose, a rogue ex-cop on a rampage . . .

RUN
Now, the detectives who were once his friends are hunting him down – even Lieutenant Rix Fort, his former mentor. Once, Lieutenant Ford trained Gates. Now, he must stop him – before he kills again . . . and again . . . and again . . .

Dykes does an outstanding job pulling off this intriguing, almost over the top premise. He accomplishes this by creating real cop characters, who act like normal cops would in abnormal situations – which cops face every day.

I’m sorry, Dykes’ career did extend beyond three titles. I have no doubt he fell victim to the curse of midlist writers everywhere. But, if you are in the mood for some realistic police action, it’s worth making the effort to track down Undercover Run or any of Dykes’ other titles.

NOVELS BY LEW DYKES

SAVANNAH SCORE
UNDERCOVER RUN
CHOKE HOLD

THE HOTSPUR ~ FEBRUARY 9, 1957!

THE HOTSPUR ~ FEBRUARY 9, 1957!

HOW ENGLAND WON THE WAR! UNION JACK JACKSON!

I'VE EXPLAINED BEFORE HOW I GREW UP READING THE BRITHSIH COMIC THE HOTSPUR FROM 1962 UNTIL THE LATE '70S, HOWEVER, THIS STORYLINE WAS WELL BEFORE MY TIME . . .

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE

LOUNGE CENTRAL: SWINGERHEAD!

DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY

DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY!

A pilot episode of Douglas Adams's Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is being made for BBC Four.

FROM THE BBC'S PRESS-RELEASE:

Anti-hero Dirk Gently operates his eponymous detective agency based on the "fundamental interconnectedness of all things." He is lazy, untidy, dismissive, an awful boss and his methods verge on the criminal.

When Dirk sets out to solve an apparently simple and harmless disappearance of a cat from an old lady's house, he unwittingly uncovers a double murder which, in turn, leads to a host of even more extraordinary events.

From the author of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams, this one-off pilot of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is adapted by Bafta-award winning Howard Overman (Misfits). It is the first time this celebrated character has appeared on screen.

HAT TIP TO EURO CRIME

JAMES TORME @ REDWHITE+BLUEZZ JAZZ FEST!

JAMES TORME @ REDWHITE+BLUEZZ JAZZ FEST!

SUNDAY

AUGUST 29TH 1:45PM

REDWHITE+BLUEZZ JAZZ FEST
LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARBORETUM
301 N. BALDWIN
ARCADIA, CA

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

FRANK SINATRA JR. @ CATALINA JAZZ CLUB!

FRANK SINATRA JR. @ CATALINA JAZZ CLUB!

TONIGHT THRU SUNDAY

AUG. 26TH-29TH
8:30PM

CATALINA'S JAZZ CLUB
6725 W SUNSET BLVD
HOLLYWOOD, CA

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

LOUNGE CENTRAL: SINATRA HEADWEAR CATALOG!

LOUNGE CENTRAL: SINATRA HEADWEAR CATALOG!

SINATRA WOOL FELT HATS & STRAW HATS

Sinatra: the artist, the man and the lifestyle.

Frank Sinatra was one of a kind. The Sinatra story, one of popular culture’s most spectacular, is particularly remarkable for two key reasons — its authenticity and its permanence. A genuine American original, and a man of real achievement, real spirit and real style, Frank Sinatra did it all, on his own terms; he truly had the world on a string.

Whether on stage, on-screen, or on the town, he was automatically the center of attention. It was clear Frank’s world was defined by his undeniably authentic and everlasting style — a style that defines a vital segment of American life today.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

THE WALK ~ e-BOOK!

THE WALK ~ e-BOOK!

WRITER FRIEND AND BLOGGER LEE GOLDBERG HAS BEEN MAKING A SPLASH IN THE e-BOOK FIELD WITH MANY OF HIS OUT OF TRADITIONAL PRINT TITLES SELLING BRISKLY.

HE HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT HIS LATEST VENTURE, THE WALK . . .

Back in 2004, I wrote a book called THE WALK, which was released in hardcover by Five Star and quickly slipped into obscurity. But a little over a year ago, I made the book available on the Kindle... and since then, it has sold nearly 9000 copies. Non-Kindle users have repeatedly asked me to release a trade paperback edition. I am pleased to announce that a paperback edition is now available on Amazon and CreateSpace for $11.99.

Here's the story:

It's one minute after the Big One. Marty Slack, a TV network executive, crawls out from under his Mercedes, parked outside what once was a downtown Los Angeles warehouse, the location for a new TV show. Downtown LA is in ruins. The sky is thick with black smoke. His cell phone is dead. The freeways are rubble. The airport is demolished. Buildings lay across streets like fallen trees. It will be days before help can arrive.

Marty has been expecting this day all his life. He's prepared. In his car are a pair of sturdy walking shoes and a backpack of food, water, and supplies. He knows there is only one thing he can do ... that he must do: get home to his wife Beth, go back to their gated community on the far edge of the San Fernando Valley.

All he has to do is walk. But he will quickly learn that it's not that easy. His dangerous, unpredictable journey home will take him through the different worlds of what was once Los Angeles. Wildfires rage out of control. Flood waters burst through collapsed dams. Natural gas explosions consume neighborhoods. Sinkholes swallow entire buildings. After-shocks rip apart the ground. Looters rampage through the streets.

There's no power. No running water. No order.

Marty Slack thinks he's prepared. He's wrong. Nothing can prepare him for this ordeal, a quest for his family and for his soul, a journey that will test the limits of his endurance and his humanity, a trek from the man he was to the man he can be ... if he can survive The Walk.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY ~ SEAN CONNERY!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

DANGER MAN COVER CAVALCADE

DANGER MAN COVER CAVALCADE

STEVE HOLLAND HAS POSTED A COOL COLLECTION OF THE BRITISH TV TIE-IN NOVELS TO THE DANGER MAN / SECRET AGENT SERIES ON HIS BEAR ALLEY BLOG. . .

A fondly remembered spy thriller series, starring Patrick McGoohan as John Drake, a role which shot him to stardom and subsequently allowed him to pick and choose his next project – the baffling The Prisoner series. What differentiated Drake from other espionage agents was a very un-Bond aversion to guns and women; although they were often around in equal numbers, Drake never shot anyone nor openly flirted with his leading ladies. He was dedicated to his work as a troubleshooter for NATO’s secret service department which took him around the globe, first in a 39 episode black & white half-hour series (1960-62), and later in 45 hour-long, colour episodes (1964-66, 1968). In the USA, the series was shown by CBS as Secret Agent.

FOR THE FULL POST AND ALL THE COVERS CLICK HERE

Monday, August 23, 2010

FANTASY CORNER: WULFRIK

FANTASY CORNER: WULFRIK

C. L. WERNER / DECEMBER 2010

I’VE ENJOYED TWO OTHER SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS FROM WERNER, MATHIAS THULMAN, WITCH HUNTER AND BRUNNER THE BOUNTY HUNTER. THIS LATEST OUTING, WULFRIK, IS NOT EXACTLY IN MY SKILL SET, BUT I’M GOING TO BE GIVING IT A TRY BASED ON MY ENJOYMENT OF WERNER’S PRIOR WORKS . . .

Emerging from the mists, Wulfrik the Wanderer brings destruction and death everywhere he treads. Cursed by the Ruinous Powers, the champion must travel across the Old World and seek prizes to appease the forces of Chaos. But now dark forces plot against Wulfrik, and he must discover the enemy within or else his soul will be lost to the Dark Gods forever.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

THE OUTSIDER!

THE OUTSIDER!

ROB KELLY'S ABOVE ILLUSTRATION OF DARREN MCGAVIN IS A COOL TAKE ON MCGAVIN'S ICONIC ROLE IN THE NIGHT STALKER CROSSED WITH HIS ROLE AS THE DAD IN CHRISTMAS STORY.

TO ME, HOWEVER, MCGAVIN WILL ALWAYS BE THE ICONIC PRIVATE EYE DAVID ROSS FROM HIS SHORT LIVED 1967 SERIES, THE OUTSIDER . . .

David Ross was not a stereotypical glamorous private detective. He did not make much money, lived in a run-down Los Angeles apartment building, drove a beat-up 10-year-old car, and often got beat up himself while on cases. Ross was a loner who had never finished high school and had been orphaned as a small child. As an adult, he had served six years in prison on a trumped-up murder charge, before being pardoned. In short, Ross had found the world a very unfriendly place – he was an "outsider." Nevertheless, he turned private eye to tackle other people’s problems, and proved an extremely thorough and productive investigator.

SHATTERED: EVERY CRIME HAS A VICTIM!

SHATTERED: EVERY CRIME HAS A VICTIM!

THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT TAKE ON CRIME FICTION . . .

Almost everyone will be affected by crime at some point in life, either directly as a victim or witness of a crime or indirectly through family, friends or work colleagues. Few events in a person's life are more traumatic and that's why the work of Victim Support Scotland (VSS) is so important.

Since 1985 VSS has helped more than one million people around Scotland and it is recognised throughout Europe as one of the most effective and successful organisations in the field of victim support. Written from the perspective of the victim, this collection of stories by some of Scotland's leading crime writers illustrates the devastating impact of crime on the lives of ordinary people.

The crimes featured range from fraud and house break-in to domestic abuse, rape and murder, and the stories focus on the victims of crime rather than the perpetrators and the investigators - a completely different take on the usual crime book. All the writers have donated their royalties to the charity, Victim Support Scotland. The Stellar line up includes: Lin Anderson, Ray Banks, Christopher Brookmyre, Karen Campbell, Gillian Galbraith, Alex Gray, Allan Guthrie, Stuart MacBride, Denise Mina and Louise Welsh, with an introduction by Ian Rankin.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

CRIME TIME PREVIEW!

CRIME TIME PREVIEW!

J. KINGSTON PIERCE OVER AT THE RAP SHEET HAS TURNED UP A NEW BRITISH TV MYSTERY BLOG, CRIME TIME PREVIEW . . .

PER THE RAP SHEET . . .

[Crime Time Preview] Writer Robin Jarossi, a London-based TV journalist says his new blog will focus “on all crime/thrillers coming onto UK TV – from Marple to Boardwalk Empire.” He concedes, “It’s in its early stages, but with a lot of exciting programming coming in the autumn, I hope it will hit its stride soon. New progs getting a review later this week (when embargoes are lifted) will include U Be Dead and Law & Order: UK, both of which I enjoyed.”

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NOIR NOW: WESTERN-STYLE!

NOIR NOW: WESTERN-STYLE!

COMING SOON!

ON DANGEROUS GROUND: STORIES OF WESTERN NOIR

A NEW ANTHOLOGY EDITED BY DAVE ZELTSERMAN, ED GORMAN AND MARTIN GREENBERG . . .

This is the real deal. Hard, brutal and black-hearted stories taking place in the old west, and as noir as it gets. If you have even the slightest interest in noir you're going to want to read these 404 pages.