This documentary of two California independent bookstores, Cody’s and Kepler’s, is a moving but ultimately saddening experience. Both bookstores find themselves struggling to survive in an era of big box stores and Internet booksellers like AMAZON and B&N. This film shows how Cody’s tries an expansion strategy that backfires. Kepler’s actually closed its doors causing the community to find the resources to keep the bookstore open. Anyone who loves bookstores will find this documentary absorbing–and disturbing. There’s plenty to think about when this film rolls its credits. PAPERBACK DREAMS was shown at BOUCHERCON and several PBS stations are currently airing it. The DVD will be available in December. Don’t miss it.

Once again, Daedalus has some irresistible DVDs for sale. MOTOWN: THE EARLY YEARS features Martha Reeves, The Temptations, and the Four Tops performing their hits. You can order this gem for $6.98. Then there’s MOVIE SONGS LIVE with Frankie Valli, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, Yvonne Elliman, B.J. Thomas, the Trammps, the Cowsills, the Fifth Dimension, Irene Cara, and Lulu. This DVD is a mere $5.98. Hours of great music for a pittance! Don’t miss out! Go to daedalusbooks.com to save.

The Indy BOUCHERCON is in the books, but I’ll treasure some of the memories forever. The bestowing of the Don Sandstrom Award on the much deserving Art Scott was the highlight of the convention for me. Bill and Judy Crider, Jeff and Jackie Meyerson, Patti and Phil Abbott, Jeff and Ann Smith, Lynn Kaczmarek, Steve Stilwell, Tina Karelson, Beth Fedyn and Joe Vigna, Ted Hertel, Ted Fitzgerald, Maggie Mason, and dozens of other friends generated so much humor, levity, and merriment that the entire weekend seemed to have a laugh-track. Great friends, great food, and great conversation. Life doesn’t get much better than this!

If you’re as big a fan of Bernard Cornwell’s wonderful Sharpe series of historical novels, you’ll want to have Mark Adkin’s great companion to the series. You’ll find Adkin devotes a chapter to each of the Sharpe books. There’s a glossary of characters, both real and imagined. Adkin also provides invaluable maps of every battle and skirmish in the Sharpe series. This is a terrific reference book which will enhance your understanding of the historical context of the Sharpe series. GRADE: A

Take a psychopathic killer infected with alien technology and blend in a killer robot with quirky tendencies and you have a wonderful SF confection by one of England’s best space opera writers, Neal Asher. I’ve enjoyed Asher’s previous novels of the Polity–a galactic confederation of human and Artificial Intelligences. In BRASS MAN, the Polity is threatened by a plot to use alien technology to destroy the human/AI civilization. Once again, Ian Cormac, agent of the Polity, needs to thwart interstellar disaster. If you like action and intrigue, you’ll enjoy the fast pace of BRASS MAN. GRADE: B

John Creasey wrote over 600 books under 28 pseudonyms. I’ve read about half of them. Some of Creasey’s best work can be found in his GIDEON series of police procedurals published under the pseudonym of “J. J. Marric.” George Gideon of Scotland Yard finds himself confronted by baffling crimes as well as family problems and bureaucratic politics. Creasey deftly balances the main plot with the various sub-plots to deliver a suspenseful series of novels. If you haven’t read any John Creasey, I recommend you start with this series:
1. Gideon’s Day (1955)
aka Gideon of Scotland Yard
2. Gideon’s Week (1956)
aka Gideon’s Fear
3. Gideon’s Night (1957)
4. Gideon’s Month (1958)
5. Gideon’s Staff (1959)
6. Gideon’s Risk (1960)
7. Gideon’s Fire (1961)
8. Gideon’s March (1962)
9. Gideon’s Ride (1963)
10. Gideon’s Vote (1964)
11. Gideon’s Lot (1965)
12. Gideon’s Badge (1966)
13. Gideon’s Wrath (1967)
14. Gideon’s River (1968)
15. Gideon’s Power (1969)
16. Gideon’s Sport (1970)
17. Gideon’s Art (1971)
18. Gideon’s Men (1972)
19. Gideon’s Press (1973)
20. Gideon’s Fog (1974)
21. Gideon’s Drive (1976)
22. Gideon’s Force (1978)

Diane and I are attending BOUCHERCON in Indianapolis. Art Scott, Bill and Judy Crider, Jeff and Jackie Meyerson, Steve Stilwell, Maggie Mason, and a strong contingent of DAPA-EM members promises to make this convention fun, fun, fun. I’ll also be dining with Patti Abbott and her husband, Phil. There are also plans to attend an Indianapolis Symphony concert. Hope to see you here!

I fully expected to hate Starbucks VIA, after all I hated other instant coffees like SANKA and TASTER’S CHOICE. But as soon as I poured the VIA into a hot cup of water, I saw a difference. SANKA gives you an oil slick reminiscent of the EXXON VALDEZ disaster. TASTER’S CHOICE chunks up in hot water and refuses to dissolve fully. A moment after I poured the VIA in, it actually looked like real coffee. I cautiously tasted the VIA. It tasted like Colombian coffee. I still prefer real coffee, but it a pinch, VIA is an acceptable substitute. GRADE: B

RHINO Records may be my favorite music company. They consistently put out great collections and do it with panache. This boxed set of GENESIS Live recordings is a case in point. Many of these songs have been available in bootleg editions for years. But RHINO remastered the sound so it’s glorious! If you’re a GENESIS fan, you’ll want this pronto. If you’re a casual fan, the price ($103) might seem daunting, but the value of the package is worth it: 8 CDs, 3 DVDs. That’s plenty of value for your hard-earned dollars. I’m not a big fan of live albums, but this is an exceptional experience. Take a listen and judge for yourself. GRADE: A