Season One of Legend of the Seeker held my interest right down to the Season Finale where the Seeker and the evil Darken Rahl had their ultimate confrontation. This sword-and-sorcery series was loosely based on Terry Goodkind’s THE SWORD OF TRUTH novels. I found most of the episodes satisfying. Some were better than others. “Puppeteer” was my favorite episode. Craig Horner played a reluctant hero, Richard Cypher, accompanied by the beautiful Confessor, Kahlan Amnell, played by the fetching Bridget Regan, and wacky wizard, Zeddicus “Zedd” Zu’l Zorander, played by Bruce Spence. Now, Season Two begins and new threats need to be vanquished. This is not “must-see” TV, but if you’re in the mood for a low-rent adventure program with wit and intelligence, check your local listings for broadcast times. You can watch all of Season One’s episodes at the official Legend of the Seeker web site: http://www.dadt.com/lots/.
LEGEND OF THE SEEKER–SEASON TWO BEGINS
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Curtis Jackson (aka, 50 Cent), one-time street hustler turned rapper and Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, team up in this self-help book. This is mostly Greene’s book. He supplies the historical examples from Napoleon to Barack Obama. Greene supplies the quotes from Machiavelli and von Clausewitz to Malcolm X. Sprinkled into all the stories and quotations is 50 Cent’s take on Life. The 50th Law is “Fear Nothing.” After 50 Cent was shot nine times and survived, he launched his career on the premise of “No Fear.” My problem with this book revolves around the familiarity of the stories Greene tells and the banality of 50 Cent’s philosophy. I found nothing new here. GRADE: C 
With this final episode of Season Three airing tonight on AMC, I have to admit I’m a bit disappointed in this third season of MAD MEN. Don’t get me wrong, I still think this program is the best drama on TV. But the writers or producers or both have made several Bad Decisions. Joan, the smart and sexy redhead, was allowed to leave the advertising agency. Bring her back! The compelling homosexual Art Director was banished from the ad agency. Bring him back, too! Peggy, the talented copywriter, seemed to disappear for episodes only to reappear and enter into a completely WRONG sexual relationship with Duck! PLEASE STOP THIS AT ONCE! And Don Draper and his wife seem to be headed for divorce. Not enough of the storyline involved actual advertising campaigns, which weakens the whole concept of the show. Quibbles aside, I’ll be watching tonight.
A few weeks ago, Rick Robinson recommended, as part of his SATURDAY SOUNDTRACKS feature, The Film Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, VOLUME ONE on his excellent blog, 
Whether it’s the famous “spanking” scene, or Mike Hammer’s virulent anti-Communist diatribes or the muscular prose of this relentless novel, One Lonely Night is a book that doesn’t deserve to be forgotten. Mickey Spillane was once the best selling writer in the United States. Today, a few of my students might remember Spillane from the series of Miller Lite beer commercials he performed in, but none of them would know his writings. From I, the Jury to Tomorrow I Die Spilane’s output was impressive. “I’m the most translated writer in the world, behind Lenin, Tolstoy, Gorki and Jules Verne. And they’re all dead…” Spillane once quipped. Sadly, after his death, Spillane’s work receded into obscurity. But it’s worth seeking out One Lonely Night if you haven’t read it to see why millions once read Mickey Spillane.
This album is Moby’s best since his 1999 hit, Play. You’ve heard Moby’s work as music in commercials by Nokia, Vodafone, and dozens of companies. Wait for Me features atmospheric music with haunting melodies. I know many people who refuse to listen to techno, but Moby’s music eschews the relentless synthesizer rhythms that turn most people off. I found this album refreshing and I think you will, too. GRADE: B+ 
“By the early 1920s, Los Angeles had become a Shangri-la of vice,” writes John Buntin. And in L.A. Noir Buntin explores the corruption and vice that provided Raymond Chandler and a host of crime writers with much of their material. Gangster Mickey Cohen (“I never killed anybody who didn’t deserve it”) becomes the focus of Buntin’s storyline along with Police Chief William Parker. At times, L. A. Noir takes on the aspects of an overstuffed sausage. There’s almost too much story for Buntin to cope with. The gangsters take a backseat to the civil rights struggles of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. This is the closest you’re going to get to a one-volume contemporary history of La La Land. GRADE: B
Last week I reviewed Nick Hornby’s lastest novel, Juliet, Naked. I’m back with Nick Hornby’s latest essay collection, Shakespeare Wrote For Money. This is actually the third collection of Hornby’s essays and book reviews. The first two volumes are The Polysyllabic Spree and Housekeeping vs. the Dirt. Hornby wrote a monthly column for The Believer magazine reviewing books mostly. Each column began with a list of books Hornby bought that month and a list of books Hornby actually read. As you might expect, Hornby is a witty reviewer. The choice of books is clever and astute. And, Hornby is an honest reviewer (a rare breed). One month, his list of Books Read is NONE. Hornby admits to being so addicted to the World Cup he didn’t read any books that month. Hornby also admits to abandoning a book if he finds it dull or insipid. Sarah Vowell’s INTRODUCTION is very amusing. If you’re looking for insightful and funny book reviews, give Shakespeare Wrote for Money a try. GRADE: B+ 
Phil Harbottle was nice enough to send these Birthday greetings for SF writer, E. C. Tubb. Thanks for sharing, Phil!
AMAZON has this 3-CD import set priced at $19.99. What a steal! The first CD contains Perahia playing Bach’s “Piano Concerto BWV 1058,” Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 23,” and Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 4.” The second CD has Perahia playing Mendelssohn’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” and Chopin’s “Concerto No. 1.” The third CD (not my favorite) has Perahia playing piano concertos by Schumann and Grieg. I’ve made no secret of my admiration for Perahia’s performances. He certainly is one of the most versatile pianists in the world. If you haven’t heard Perahia’s playing, this is the perfect place to start. GRADE: A