With Apple TV broadcasting their version of Isaac Asimov’s classic Foundation, I thought I would read the first anthology in the Isaac Asimov’s Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction: INTERGALACTIC EMPIRES. Ironically, my favorite story in this anthology is from 1951: an early Dominic Flandry story, “Honorable Enemies.” The Galactic Empire is slowly collapsing, but agents like Flandry attempt to prop up the civilization despite the efforts of alien enemies to hasten its fall.

I enjoyed Eric Frank Russell’s cunning and humorous SF story, “Diabologic” where a human causes confusion and chaos among aliens. Perhaps the most famous story in this anthology is Cordwainer Smith’s classic, “A Planet Named Shoyol” where justice is applied with infinite harshness by the Instrumentality. If you’re looking for an anthology of stories about Galactic Empires in various states of decline, I recommend Isaac Asimov’s Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction: INTERGALACTIC EMPIRES. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• “Introduction: Empires” (Isaac Asimov) — 7
• “Cycles”
  • “Chalice of Death” (Robert Silverberg) — 13
  • “Orphan of the Void” (Lloyd Biggle, Jr.) — 47
  • “Down to the Worlds of Men” (Alexei Panshin) — 92
• “Governance”
  • “Ministry of Disturbance” (H. Beam Piper) –122
  • “Blind Alley” (Isaac Asimov) — 163
  • “A Planet Named Shayol” (Cordwainer Smith) — 186
• “Concerns”
  • “Diabologic” (Eric Frank Russell) — 224
  • “Fighting Philosopher” (E. B. Cole) — 245
  • “Honorable Enemies” (Poul Anderson) — 281

Isaac Asimov’s Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction is a series of ten themed paperback science fiction anthologies edited by  Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh, a companion set to the twelve volume Isaac Asimov’s Magical Worlds of Fantasy, produced by the same editors. It was published by Signet/New American Library from 1983 to 1990.^[1]

Each volume in the series featured stories devoted to a different science fictional theme, as indicated in the individual volume titles. Most volumes also included an introduction by Asimov.

The series:

1. Intergalactic Empires (1983)
2. The Science Fictional Olympics (1984)
3. Supermen (1984)
4. Comets (1986)
5. Tin Stars (1986)
6. Neanderthals (1987)
7. Space Shuttles (1987)
8. Monsters (1988)
9. Robots (1989)
10. Invasions (1990)

Those of you who have read Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy will wonder how far the Apple TV 10-episode version that just started last week with the release of the first two episodes (new episodes will appear every Friday until November 19) will vary from Asimov’s original concept. In Asimov’s novel, mathematician Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) develops a predictive model called “psychohistory.” Seldon runs into trouble with the Galactic rulers who fear the conclusions of Seldon’s model: that the Empire will collapse within 500 years followed by 30,000 years of Dark Ages.

Episode One opens with Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick, Hari’s protégé, a self-taught young woman from a planet where the pursuit of knowledge is considered heresy, brought to the Empire’s capitol, Trantor, to disprove Seldon’s theories. Dornick’s life is threatened if she finds Seldon’s predictions valid.

Isaac Asimov based his Foundation series on the fall of the Roman Empire with the twist that technology and psychohistory could limit some of the damage of a collapsing Galactic Empire. After watching two episodes, I confess that this TV series is visually appealing. I like the cast. I’m in for the duration. GRADE: INCOMPLETE

Woodward and Costa’s Peril opens with General Milley calling his counterpart, General Li of China, to reassure Li that the U.S. is NOT about to launch an attack. Intelligence services in China, Russia, and Iran were alarmed at the prospect that Trump would attack them in an attempt to stay in power.

Peril is one of those books that you have to occasionally put aside for a few minutes because of the horrors revealed on seemingly every page. There’s the scenes of Trump watching the January 6, 2021 Insurrection while his phone is blowing up with calls from the Capitol begging for assistance. Very disturbing.

And then there’s the strategy of convincing Mike Pence to refuse to certify the results of the Election and throw the contest into the House of Representatives where the Republicans would make Trump the President…again.

Our country, our democracy came very close to disaster in so many ways! Woodward and Costa document the schemes that almost brought our Government down. Scary stuff! GRADE: A

After delivering a 35-0 beat-down to the Miami Dolphins, the Bills face the Washington Football Team in a windy, but sold-out, Highmark Stadium. Many Bills fans were hoping to see the return of former Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, but Fitz has a hip injury so we’ll be seeing backup QB Taylor Heinicke. The Bills are 7-point favorites. How will your favorite NFL team do today?

The Blacktongue Thief (2021) is narrated by a young thief named Kinch Na Shannack. Kinch owes The Takers Guild for training him in his profession. In order to pay his debt, the Guild offers Kinch a mission filled with danger. Kinch agrees and finds himself paired with Galva, a woman skilled in the fighting arts who is on a mission of her own.

Christopher Buehlman doesn’t hesitate to threaten Kinch and Galva with Goblins, giants, assassins, krakens, and magic. This fantasy novel takes the reader on a wild ride with surprises on almost every page. And, of course, Buehlman leaves the door open for a sequel. I’ll read it! GRADE: A-

Back in the 1980s, a small publisher called Black Lizard published noir crime novels, some 90 titles between 1984 and 1990. Founded and edited by writer Barry Gifford in 1984, the focus was on dark crime novels by authors like Charles Willeford, David Goodis, Peter Rabe, Harry Whittington, Dan J. Marlowe, Charles Williams, Jim Thompson, and Lionel White, With pulpish covers drawn by Jim Kirwan, Black Lizard books had appeal to readers who wanted something different.

One of the best Black Lizard titles is Steve Fisher’s I Wake Up Screaming (aka, Hot Spot). Hot Spot was a 1941 noir classic based on the novel of the same name by Steve Fisher, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dwight Taylor. The film stars Betty Grable, Victor Mature and Carole Landis, and features one of Grable’s few dramatic roles.

Set in Hollywood, the novel follows an unlucky sports promoter, Frankie Christopher, who is accused of the murder of a young actress, Vicky Lynn. Christopher is hounded by detective Ed Cornell. Fisher ratchets up the suspense and tension. If you’re looking for a noir fix, I Wake Up Screaming will do the job…and more! GRADE: A

Back in 1983, Elektra/Asylum Records released an album they resisted. Linda Ronstadt wanted to record some classic songs from The American Songbook. Executives at the record company thought an album of traditional standards would be a flop. Even Ronstadt’s producer, Peter Asher, expressed his doubts. But Ronstadt knew what she was doing. She got The Nelson Riddle Orchestra to provide backup music. The album sold three million copies in the U.S. and Global sales surpassed five million copies. Ronstadt won another Grammy for  Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the 1984 Grammy Awards. This is an example of a talented singer performing great music. GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Nettles since her days of singing in the Country Music group, Sugarland. Nettles knows how to belt out a song. With her new album, Always Like New, Nettles tries to emulate Linda Ronstadt’s What’s New right down to the similar album cover design. But Broadway songs might not be Nettles best milieu. Nettles doesn’t sound comfortable with this set of songs, but she tries hard to make them sound energetic. I wasn’t convinced. GRADE: B–

TRACK LIST:

I’ve liked Annie Lennox since I first heard her singing songs with Dave Stewart in the Eurythmics days. I also enjoyed Lennox’s solo albums: Diva and Medusa. When I first saw this copy of Nostalgia (2014) at a Library Book Sale, I passed on it. I had a premonition that Annie Lennox singing traditional songs might not be wonderful. As I took a second turn around the Library Book Sale tables, I broke down and bought Nostalgia. Sadly, my premonition was right. The only song I thought Annie Lennox performed well was “I Put a Spell on You.” That song put a tingly spell on me, but the rest of the songs on this CD left me deflated. GRADE: C  

TRACK LIST:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Stuart Palmer started writing about schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers back in the 1930s. Palmer’s famous character and detective first appeared in The Penguin Pool Murder in 1931. Hildegarde Withers proved to be so popular, a series of movies featuring Withers–played by Edna Nat Oliver–delighted audiences for a decade.

The Hildegarde Withers stories in this volume collects stories from 1933 to 1948. Withers drives Police Inspector Oscar Piper crazy with her “out-of-the-box” analysis of the various murders they encounter. Stuart Palmer tended toward the “screw-ball” comedy aspects of crime as a glance at the titles of these Hildegard Withers stories will show.

My favorite of this bunch is “The Riddle of the Forty Costumes” where Withers solves the crime in a most ingenious fashion. If you’re looking for puzzle stories with a flare, I highly recommend Hildegarde Withers: Uncollected Riddles (2002). This is another wonderful book by Crippen & Landru! GRADE: A

INTRODUCTION: Stuart Palmer, Writer (21 June 1905-4 February 1968) By Jennifer Venola (Mrs. Stuart Palmer) — 7

The riddle of the dangling pearl — 9
The riddle of the flea circus — 25
The riddle of the forty costumes — 42
The riddle of the brass band — 60
The riddle of the blueblood murders — 79
The riddle of the forty naughty girls — 97
The riddle of the hanging men — 113
The riddle of the marble blade — 132
The riddle of the whirling lights — 150
The riddle of the Jack of Diamonds — 168
The riddle of the tired bullet — 181

Hildegarde Withers: Short Stories — 196

Richard Pryor’s career careened with his drug usage. Despite his successes, Pryor continued to make dubious decisions. The PBS documentary Richard Pryor: Icon presents an accurate summary of Pryor’s life. Omit the Logic focuses on Richard Pryor’s development as the most successful comic of his time. Richard Pryor: Live on Sunset Strip–cited by Michael Che of Saturday Night Live as the funniest stand-up performance ever–is both hilarious and tragic. Taped just after Pryor almost lost his life when he set fire to himself during a drug session, Pryor displays both his vulnerability and his classic humor.

I liked Richard Pryor, both on TV and in the movies. But it became clear Pryor was on a trajectory leading to his eventual crashing and burning…literally. Are you a Richard Pryor fan?

Richard Pryor: Live On Sunset Strip GRADE: A

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic GRADE: B

Richard Pryor: Icon GRADE: B+

The Lancet, a premier medical journal, printed a comment by Sir David Spiegelhalter, Winston Professor for the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge about the contention that there is “no safe level of drinking alcohol”: “…There is no ‘safe’ level of driving, but governments do not recommend that people avoid driving. Come to think of it, there is no safe level of living, but nobody would recommend abstention.” (p. 217)

Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization is basically the history of alcoholic beverages. Edward Slingerland points out the pervasiveness of alcohol in most of the world’s civilizations and religious. With a few exceptions, alcohol can be found in most human activities like parties, sports events, and weddings. And Jesus Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine.

Of course, there are down-sides to alcohol. “Alcohol is the only drug, besides pure stimulants like meth, that is known to increase physical aggression and violence. Cannabis, kava, MDMA, and psychedelics all produce either mellow or introverted highs. Alcohol’s stimulated effect, when combined with cognitive myopia and loss of executive function, can induce aggressive or violent behavior, especially in people with already low levels of cognitive control.” (p. 249)

I’m not a big consumer of alcoholic products. About a decade ago, my doctor suggested that I drink one glass of red wine each day to protect my heart. I took his advice and so far so good. I’m not fond of beer. Once in a while I’ll have a mixed drink, usually something with rum in it. Not a fan of gin or vodka. The research continues on the pluses and minuses of alcoholic consumption. But, as Drunk points out, alcoholic consumption is going to continue as long as humans are around. GRADE: A

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

1 Why Do We Get Drunk? 17

Brain Hijack: Porn and Sexually Starved Fruit Flies 23

Evolutionary Hangovers: Drunken Monkeys, Liquid Kimchee, and Dirty Water 27

More Than Twinkles and Porn: Beyond Hangover and Hijack Theories 31

A Genuine Evolutionary Puzzle: An Enemy in the Mouth That Steals Away the Brain 35

A Genetic Mystery: We Are Apes Built to Get High 41

A Cultural Mystery: Prohibition’s Strange Failure to Take Over the World 49

Pickles for the Ancestors? 58

2 Leaving the Door Open for Dionysus 61

The Human Ecological Niche: Creative, Cultural, Communal 65

The Creative Animal 71