MI6 Confidential
55 minutes ago
Monday, February 7, 2011
URBAN FANTASY CORNER: MIDNIGHT RIOT!
BEN ARRONOVICH
THERE IS A LOT OF URBAN FANTASY ON THE BOOK MARKET AT THE MOMENT AND MOST OF IT IS RECYCLED CRAP WITHOUT ANY REAL IMAGINATION INVOLVED.
HOWEVER, MIDNIGHT RIOT (AKS: THE RIVERS OF LONDON), DESPITE ITS DERIVATIVE PHOTOSHOPPED COVER, IS ACTUALLY QUITE AMUSING AND ENGAGING . . . ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS SO FAR THIS YEAR . . .
Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost.
Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.
Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.
THE SEQUEL IS DUE IN MAY 2011
BODY AND SOUL
The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body—a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.
Body and soul—they’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace—one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant—otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.
LOUNGE CENTRAL: MATT DUSK LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS!
ATTENTION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FANS!
MATT’S NEW TELEVISION SPECIAL, MATT DUSK LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, WILL BE AIRING ON KOCE-OC (PBS) THIS WEEK:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 – 8 PM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 – 10:30 AM AND 5:30 PM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 – 10:30 AM AND 5:30 PM
FANTASY CORNER: DARK JENNY
ALEX BLEDSOE
Freelance Sword Jockey Eddie LaCrosse is in the wrong place at the wrong time while conducting a undercover investigation on the island kingdom of Grand Bruan. When a poisoned apple kills a member of the Queens personal guard, Eddie becomes the prime suspect in the murder.
He must do do some fast talking to keep his head attached to his shoulders. Trying to clear his name and find the real killer, Eddie becomes embroiled in a nasty political scandal. Someone is trying to ruin Queen Jennifer, and they don’t care who they kill on the way.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
PULP NOW: GEORGE GROSS!
JOE ACKERMAN'S TWO-FISTED TALES OF TRUE-LIFE WIERD ROMANCE HAS A GREAT GALLERY OF PULP AND PAPERBACK ART BY ILLUSTRATOR/ARTIST GEORGE GROSS . . .
TO CHECK IT OUT CLICK HERE
Saturday, February 5, 2011
PULP NOW: DODGE DALTON AT THE OUTPOST OF FATE
SEAN ELLIS
COMING IN JUNE!
Join Dodge and the rest of his team as they battle a whole new villain whose intent is the destruction of the entire world!
ALSO FROM SEAN ELLIS:
COMING IN MAY!
An exciting new anthology featuring some of the best thriller writers on the market today including Sean Ellis, David Wood, Harry Shannon, William Meikle, David Sakmystery, Steven Savile, Rick Chesler, R.P. Steeves, Alan Baxter, Nicholas Boving, and Kent Holloway.
THE GAME features eleven short stories inspired by the classic RIchard Connell tale "The Most Dangerous Game."
Edited by Sean Ellis
SEVEN REALMS PUBLISHING
PULP NOW: STEVE HARRISON'S CASEBOOK!
ROBERT E. HOWARD FOUNDATION
There are still a couple of copies of Steve Harrison’s Casebook available. A second printing is in the works.
STEVE HARRISON'S CASEBOOK collects all of the known stories and fragments starring Howard’s hard-boiled hero. A never-before published draft of “Graveyard Rats” is also included. This volume is 296 pages, plus introductory material.
Hardback with dust jacket, in a limited quantity of 150 copies, individually numbered. Cover designs and paintings by Jim & Ruth Keegan; introductions by Don Herron; and edited by Rob Roehm.
FOR MORE CLICK HERE
PULP NOW: BOBBY BENSON!
PETER DIXON
MPR PUBLISHING - NEW PULP & WESTERN PUBLISHER!
BOBBY BENSON IN THE TUNNEL OF GOLD OR THE SECRET OF NUGGET CREEK:
The cattle herd destroyed by a storm, all that could save their livelihood was the lost gold of the Ancients.
BOBBY BENSON AND THE LOST HERD OR THE MYSTERY OF MAGIC MOUNTAIN:
Cattle were missing. Rustlers were stealing from the H-Bar-O Ranch. But the cattle have disappeared from the earth. Did Magic Mountain hold the answer?
MPR PUBLISHING
PULP NOW: THE ART TREASURE MURDERS!
JOHN L. BENTON
THE FIFTH TITLE IN THE PAPERBACK MYSTERY HOUSE LINE IS NOW AVAILABLE.
MPR PUBLISHING - NEW PULP & MYSTERY PUBLISHER!
STEPHEN DUANE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Some of the greatest of the world's paintings--slit from their frames in the great museums of Europe by the deft hand of the "Surgeon", so-called because the stroke of his knife is as deft and unerring as that of the greatest in the medical world.
Then a wealthy art dealer of Boston is stabbed to death by the single thrust of a needle-pointed knife. A New York portrait painter meets the same dark death. A collector, a gallery clerk, an art salesman. . . Through the American art world strikes the terror of the needle-pointed knife. Is it the knife of the "Surgeon"?
Special Agent Stephen Duane of the F.B.I. stepped into the case when Charles Francis Coleman was found in his car stabbed to death.
Originally published in 1940 by Gateway Books.
MPR PUBLISHING / MYSTERY HOUSE
PULP NOW: NOMAD'S TRAIL!
E. HOFFMANN PRICE
BLACK DOG BOOKS - COMING SOON!
Hit the owlhoot trail as Simon Bolivar Grimes, tassle-headed youth from Georgia, sets off for Crocket County, Texas in search of his Uncle Carter. In Nomad's Trail, Grimes boasts, brawls, rambles and rolls his way from outlaw to hero, learning a little bit about living and loving along the way. With an introduction by Spur Award nominee James Reasoner.
Collected are the first twelve stories of the saga ~
INCLUDING:
Tenderfoot
Treason's Kiss
Grimes, Outlaw
Reward of Valor
Skeleton Creek Feud
Feud's End
Hoodoo Town
Salt Crazy
Too Many Cooks
Grimes Gets Religion
Hungry Valley
Nomad's Trail
TRADE PAPERBACK ~ 168 PAGES ~ $16.95
BLACK DOG BOOKS
PULP NOW: KING CORRIGAN'S TREASURE!
H.D. COUZENS
BLACK DOG BOOKS - COMING SOON!
King Corrigan's Treasure brings to life for the first time in book form the escapades of South Seas adventurer Billy Englehart through such stories "A Salvage Job," "Corks and the Commodore," "Mutiny on the Tonga Belle," and others.
H.D. Couzens spent many years in Hawaii and came to know the South Seas first hand. He found a ready market for fiction in such periodicals as Metropolitan Magazine, Cavalier, Railroad Man's Magazine, Adventure, Blue Book and New Magazine.
Couzens became a reader favorite author for Adventure, before his life was cut short by tuberculosis in 1914. With an introduction by Doug Ellis. Cover art by Modest Stein.
INCLUDED:
Mutiny on the Tonga Belle
Salt of the Sea
A Salvage Job
Just Bait
Corks and the Commodore
The Devil Ship
King Corrigan's Treasure (novel)
Appendix A:
Commodore Weaver
Appendix B:
A Bibliography of the Writings of H. D. Couzens
TRADE PAPERBACK ~ 220 PAGES ~ $22.95
BLACK DOG BOOKS
PULP NOW: SECRET OPERATIVE K-13
JOEL TOWNSLEY ROGERS
NOW AVAILABLE FROM BLACK DOG BOOKS!
In the tradition of Buchan's The Thirty-Nine Steps and other harrowing tales of espionage comes this thrilling novel of a spy working behind enemy lines during the Great War Who is K-13? No one knows. And can he be stopped? Lift off with the dawn patrol and fly the skies over the killing fields of France to find out the exciting answers in Secret Operative K-13!
BLACK DOG BOOKS
PULP NOW: AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS GOES DIGITAL!
Airship 27 Productions has added eight more titles to their list of books available in PDF format.
Gideon Cain - The Demon Hunter
Green Lama Unbound
Black Bat Mystery
Jim Anthony - The Hunters
Robin Hood - King of Sherwood
The masked Rider - Tales of the Wild West
Captain Hazzard - Citadel of Fear
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Volume 2
AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!
AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS - PDF HANGER
PULP NOW: 15TH ANNUAL FANTASTIC PULPS SHOW AND SALE!
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011, 10AM TO 5PM!
CANADA'S PREMIER PULP EVENT!
The show is a small but pulp specific event, with lots of great stuff for the collector and the curious alike.
From 10am to 5pm, located at the Lillian H. Smith branch of the Toronto Public Library, 239 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
For more information, contact us at:
Girasol Collectables Inc.
3501 Glen Erin Drive, Suite 1409
Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 2E9
905.820.7572
info@girasolcollectables.com
There are numerous hotels in the Toronto downtown, in various price ranges, and if you are an autoclub member, pick up one of their tourbooks for Toronto, Ontario, and you will find many additional options and attractions.
FIGHT FILMS: RISEN!
THANKS TO GARY DOBBS AND HIS TAINTED ARCHIVE BLOG FOR THE REVIEW OF THIS BRILLIANT NEW BOXING FILM . . .
The remarkable story of Welsh boxing legend, Howard Winston is served up in this award winning movie from Burn Hand Films. The story follows Howard from the time he lost three fingers in an industrial accident to him being crowned Featherweight champion of the world after beating Mitsunori Seki in the 1968 fight at the Royal Albert Hall. It truly is a life affirming story of grit and determination as the man who couldn't even make a fist with his right hand went onto rule the boxing world.
The part of Howard Winstone is taken by Stuart Brannan who also co-wrote the screenplay with director, Neil Jones and between them they have produced a grim, gritty but ultimately joyous film that fails to fall into the sentimental trap which is always a danger with sporting based movies. The film pulls no punches in telling it as it was and the grim surroundings of 1960's industrial Wales are brought to vivid life. There are some great character sketches and being a Welshman myself and a Valley boy too, it was pleasing to see characters that rang true on the screen. Boyd Clack, as Howard Winstone Snr gave a great turn as a man suffering from black lung disease, the curse of the coal miner, whose only desire is to help his son overcome all odds in his quest for greatness.
"A Valley's boy. The champion of the world. It's tremendous."
Howard Winstone is portrayed honestly, warts and all, and we see that his highly focused determination is both the making of him as well as the ruin of his marriage. Grainne Joughin plays Mrs Winstone and the actress has some powerful material to get her teeth into. She starts out positively joyous, almost girlish but hardens as her marriage becomes a soulless shell.
"What about what I want?", she pleads to her mother-in-law only to receive a stony look and words spat back with venom.
Though the bottom line is that this is a boxing movie and it is in the fight scenes that it will ultimately be judged - Neil Jones obviously recognised the fact and he presents Winstone's various fights in several styles -from painfully slow to blurringly fast. The second fight against Vicente Saldivar is particularly effective - played out in grinding slow motion and set to Moonlight Sonata, it becomes a hypnotic ballet as the camera pulls back time after time to the rhythm of the boxer's feet. This is then contrasted by the third and final fight against the Mexican champion flashing across the screen with the speed of strobe lighting.
More Raging Bull than Rocky Balboa, Risen is a gritty story, the mood often as black as the coal fields but it is also a testament to the determination and sheer guts of one man who rises about adversity and handicap to punch his way to the top.
Following a triumphant journey around the festival circuit, Risen will begin a cinema release this April. It will be available on Region 2 DVD this May with other regions to follow shortly.
Friday, February 4, 2011
AN EVENING AT THE BUDDIES LOUNGE #125!
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 in LIVING STEREO!
PLAYLIST:
• Silver Dollar - Damita Jo
• Carioca - Count Basie
• Avalon - Nat “King” Cole
• Beat Girl - John Barry
• Scene of a Wet Afternoon - John Barry
• Bee’s Knees - John Barry Seven
• Thunderball - Tom Jones
• Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Elliot Fisher
• Goldefinger - Shirley Bassey
• James Bond Theme - John Barry
• I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans - Bobby Darin
• Fools Rush In - Andere Kostelanetz
• As Long As I’m Singing - Wayne Newton
• San Francisco Blues - Peggy Lee
• (I Love You) and Don’t Your Forget It - Quincy Jones
• Love - Buddy Greco
• Pass That Peace Pipe - Sammy Davis, Jr.
• Not Enough Indians - Dean Martin
• Lazy River - Glenn Miller Orchersta
• Holiday For States - Allan Sherman
• Yes Indeed! - Dinah Shore
TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE
VINTAGE COVERS: MIKE DIME NOVELS!
HAT TIP TO TRACK OF THE CAT FOR MORE ON THE MIKE DIME NOVELS CLICK HERE
PULP NOW: WORLD ESPIONAGE BUREAU!
THE PROFESSIONALS ~ CI5: CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE 5!
BOB ROCCA
CI5: Criminal Intelligence 5. A team specially formed by the Home Office to combat an increasing wave of terrorism. Special men - experts from all branches of the army, the SAS, the police. It offers tough, hard men to deal with tough hard situations. Their brief? To keep Britain clean, keep it safe. Protect it from anarchy, from acts of terror, crimes against the public.
Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw are Bodie, ex-paratrooper, ex-mercenary, and Doyle, ex-CID detective, two of the deadliest special agents on the block...deadly spirited, often abrasive but always tempered by mutual respect...and they always get results.
Gordon Jackson portrays George Cowley, the straight-talking chief of CI5 in a series that takes an intriguing look at the loyalties, treacheries, perils and dramas of a government department battling against the real world of espionage, organised crime and terrorism.
• Foreword by series creator Brian Clemens.
• A chronological account of every episode including cast lists and production credits.
• A comprehensive guide to The Professionals merchandised products, from toys to magazines.
• Over 200 back and white photographs, never before published until now.
• Includes extensive interviews with actors, producers, writers, directors and other production team members - many speaking about their work on the series for the first time.
• Everything you ever wanted to know about The Professionals, including shooting/location schedules, cast lists, actor profiles and cut scenes.
ROUTE 66!
THE TELEVISION SERIES 1960-1964
JAMES ROSIN
BEAR MANOR BOOKS
A look back at a unique television series where two young men named Tod Stiles and Buz Murdock travel throughout the country in a Corvette sportscar, encountering a variety of fascinating characters and meaningful experiences. Featuring commentary from the series stars, producers and directors, episode summaries, photographs and biographies.
$19.95
FOR MORE CLICK HERE
COCKTAIL NATION #159 ~ JOHN BARRY!
On the show this week Koop gives us some swank advice on being a mystery man. Koop also has some great gigs to attend across the world, news from tiki oasis and the friars club. There is also sad news on the departure of John Barry, so Koop catches up with a man who knew him well . . . Vic Flick.
PLAYLIST:
Vibes On Velvet ~ Spookmaster
John Barry ~ James Bond Theme
John Barry 7 ~ Look Around
Ricki Derek ~ When The Moon Was Ours
Frank Sinatra ~ Have You Met Miss Jones
George Shearing ~ Easy Living
Mark Copeland ~ At Long Last Love
Don Tiki ~ Odd Man Out
Martini Kings ~ Enchanted Lovers
Jonah Jones ~ Whatever Lola Wants
Mancini ~ A Shot in The Dark
Living Brass ~ That’s Life
Julie London ~ In The Wee Small Hours Of the Morning
Jimmy Vargas ~ The Girl You Left Behind
FOR MORE CLICK HERE
PULP NOW: DIAMONDBACK
IT SEEMED A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME
E-BOOK (SMASHWORDS) ~ $2.99
DERRICK FERGUSON
When a gunman calling himself Diamondback Vogel arrives in Denbrook offering his services to the highest bidder, the crimelords who have a stranglehold on the city have some questions to ask: Is this the same Diamondback who was reputed to have been killed in a bloody Foreman City shootout or is he an imposter, and why does his arrival coincide with an impending shipment of high-tech guns and ammunition that will make one crime boss a very rich man?
FOR MORE CLICK HERE
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