In Richard Prather's world, all men are eggs and all women are tomatoes. And Shell Scott, a private eye with a distinctive Race Bannon countenance, waIn Richard Prather's world, all men are eggs and all women are tomatoes. And Shell Scott, a private eye with a distinctive Race Bannon countenance, was the most hardboiled egg of them all. ...more
I totally agree with the back cover blurb by Mark Millar. "I love WATCHMEN," he writes, "I love DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and I worship Will Eisner, Stan LeI totally agree with the back cover blurb by Mark Millar. "I love WATCHMEN," he writes, "I love DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and I worship Will Eisner, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But MARSHAL LAW is my favourite comic book of all time." I must say, however, that the comic is better than this novel. But, never mind. I'll take what I can get.
And if you're a Marshal Law nut like me, you also know that the action takes place in San Futuro, which is what San Francisco becomes after The Big One hits. "That sink of moral pollution, the home of vice and harbour of destruction, where rages one wild sirocco of sin. Licentious, debauchery, pollution, loathsome disease, insanity, misery, poverty, wealth, profanity, blasphemy and death are here. And Hell, yawning to receive the putrid mass, is here also." Yup, that's my city. It's good to know that nothing ever changes around here.
Everybody knows I love reading novels set in San Francisco. And this is a good one. Actually, it's mostly about Colma (thus the title), but a lot of tEverybody knows I love reading novels set in San Francisco. And this is a good one. Actually, it's mostly about Colma (thus the title), but a lot of the action takes place in The City. Like the Cookie Monster says, "That's good enough for me!"...more
Was Andy Taylor the wildest of the Duran Duran wild boys? After reading this autobiography, I'd say that title actually belongs to pretty boy John TayWas Andy Taylor the wildest of the Duran Duran wild boys? After reading this autobiography, I'd say that title actually belongs to pretty boy John Taylor. The lanky bass player was promoted aggressively as a teen idol, but he was a marvelously fucked up drug addict for nearly twenty years.
For his part, Andy was a serious boozer and cokehead during the band's glory years. He writes: "On one embarrassing occasion someone found me staggering about next to a Coca-Cola machine. I was so wired that I actually thought I could get a line of coke from a vending machine."
I always dismissed Duran Duran as a David Bowie/Roxy Music rip-off. But Andy says it's not true. "We were an unstoppable hybrid between the Sex Pistols and Chic: guitar music with a disco beat." There's some truth to what he says. But whatever. This is his autobiography and he can rewrite history anyway he wants.
I'm a big proponent of group experience. I want to know what all the other monkeys in the cage are doing. Unfortunately I am not a thirteen-year-old gI'm a big proponent of group experience. I want to know what all the other monkeys in the cage are doing. Unfortunately I am not a thirteen-year-old girl (despite what my wife may think). And I am definitely not the target audience for this vampire shojo novel. As a result I will not be reading any more books by Stephenie Meyer.
There's a lot of sermonizing in this book. I love Wonder Woman (really I do), but her endless speeches about peace and love can kill a narrative dead.There's a lot of sermonizing in this book. I love Wonder Woman (really I do), but her endless speeches about peace and love can kill a narrative dead. It's no surprise that my favorite story is about the embattled editorial staff at Wonder Woman magazine. Diana doesn't even pop up in the damn thing. The author (Joey Cavalieri, who is a friend and acquaintance to many of my friends and acquaintances), explores what it means to be a woman in a man's world. Good for him for giving us a view of Wonder Woman beyond the read, white, and blue.
Here's how one of the book's authors describes our hero. I think it's very nice: "Wonder Woman was all the lovely women in Rome and in Paris and in the movies he had seen and the novels he had read, who belonged to a world in which women acted in a way he could not quite understand."
Mack Megaton is an automated citizen built for world domination. He's able to punch through concrete and bend steel but he's unable to tie a bow tie. Mack Megaton is an automated citizen built for world domination. He's able to punch through concrete and bend steel but he's unable to tie a bow tie. His girlfriend is the princess of Empire City, a blonde biological who's got a thing for iron men. I've got a thing for robots too. I also like talking apes, toxic blobs, flying cars, and Glen Orbik paintings. The future's gonna be so cool. ...more
Alison Gaylin's last novel (TRASHED) was like a cross between Nancy Drew and the E! Channel. In other words, I liked it very much. Her newest book is Alison Gaylin's last novel (TRASHED) was like a cross between Nancy Drew and the E! Channel. In other words, I liked it very much. Her newest book is good too. The subtitle of this one should read: Nancy Drew Goes to Mexico and Tangles with an Aztec Cult.
A little bit of advice for any of my friends who are thinking about taking a vacation south of the border: Don't sign up with a tour group calling itself Sangre Para La Vida. You may not get back alive.
I've been reading a lot of tough guy novels lately. I'm not sure why. I'm not exactly the toughest guy on the block. Most of these books feature a lonI've been reading a lot of tough guy novels lately. I'm not sure why. I'm not exactly the toughest guy on the block. Most of these books feature a lone wolf, a big gun, and a hot car. They rarely include any funny business.
THE BIG O, thank goodness, adds a big dose of humor to the template. But be forewarned, the humor here is specific to its intended crime-reading audence. For example: "Frank was startled to realize he'd been daydreaming about Margaret. Seeing her gagged, cuffed and blindfolded. And not in a sexy way." That's the kind of jokes you'll get here.
But don't prejudge this book as being strictly for guys. The men in this crime caper are all morons with Morrissey quiffs. The women are a hundred times more interesting. And they say funny things too. Like this: "Fuck your A-bombs, there's nothing as dangerous as a bored woman," And: "You wouldn't know this, Ray. But when a girl's out with a guy? Mostly she needs to make her own fun." The women get all the good zingers.
And finally: While reading, I couldn't figure out why this book was called THE BIG O. Finally on page 277 (of 280!), Burke spelled it out for me. "Karen had never looked into a gun barrel before, never seen that big black O stare her straight in the face." I guess I should have just paid more attention to the jacket photo. ...more
There's a lot of talking in this book. A lot. In fact, the entire thing is one endless conversation. Wolfe is a good writer so most of it is pretty clThere's a lot of talking in this book. A lot. In fact, the entire thing is one endless conversation. Wolfe is a good writer so most of it is pretty clever. But some of it isn't. For example, here's a sample aphorism from one of the main characters: "Add nothing to God and you get good." Even with a laugh track, that nugget is a groaner.
I tell you, the whole thing just wore me out. At some point I lost patience with it. To paraphrase Elvis: "I need a little less conversation and little more action." The Lovecraftian horror kept things punchy, but I fear it showed up too late.
All mystery novels have a hook, don't they? Cowboy detectives, skateboarding detectives, replicate detectives... there has to be a (hot) gimmick involAll mystery novels have a hook, don't they? Cowboy detectives, skateboarding detectives, replicate detectives... there has to be a (hot) gimmick involved somehow. In this case we have a mystery novelist who works the nightshift as a burglar. And, of course, there happens to be a messy murder to solve too. The writing here is pretty good. There's some nice Amsterdam moments and a couple of funny bits. Overall it's a perfectly serviceable mystery with an amiable cast of characters.
One complaint, however. Charlie Howard may be a master thief (diamonds, of course), but he's not such a clever author. Throughout this adventure he's stuck on a plot point in his unfinished novel. Ultimately he abandons the book and moves to Paris. What the heck?? I'm deducting one star rating for that unsatisfying denouement. ...more
Loading...
