Lesley Manville plays book editor Susan Ryeland who gets drawn into a web of intrigue and murder when she receives Alan Conway’s unfinished manuscript of an Atticus Pünd mystery. Based on an Anthony Horowitz mystery novel of the same name, Magpie Murders is a PBS series that follows the death of best selling Alan Conway and the repercussions on Susan Ryeland and her publishing company. Horowitz wrote the scripts to the six episodes.

Ryeland’s publishing company is about to be acquired, but the deal hinges on Alan Conway’s last mystery novel, Magpie Murders, projected to be a best seller like his previous mysteries. Ryeland discovers her manuscript is lacking the final chapter. That could ruin her chances of being CEO of the publishing company and threaten her career as an editor. So Ryeland starts investigating Alan Conway’s death and decides it’s not a suicide as the police think it is. Ryeland thinks Conway–an arrogant, narcissistic prig–was murdered by one of the many people who hated him. And the missing final chapter may reveal who murdered Alan Conway.

Like the novel, Magpie Murders runs on two tracks: Susan Ryeland investigating Alan Conway’s death, and Conway’s fictional detective, Atticus Pund, investigating the beheading of Sir Pye. The story within a story format might annoy some viewers especially when Ryeland speaks to the fictional Pund. I’ve watched three of the six episodes and I’m enjoying what I’m seeing. Are you a fan of Anthony Horowitz and his mysteries? GRADE: B (so far)

It’s hard to believe the 5-1 Buffalo Bills are 10 1/2 point favorites over the 3-4 Green Bay Packers. The Packers have lost three games in a row and look dispirited and inept. Aaron Rodgers has never been a double digit underdog since he arrived in the NFL. But, he is tonight. How will your favorite NFL team perform today?

Richard Laymon’s wild Halloween novel, Once Upon a Halloween (2000), mixes the malevolence of a death cult with the trick-or-treat fun of families and little kids. The action starts at the old–some say haunted–Witherspoon house at the end of a dead-end street.

Laura and Shannon moved into the old Witherspoon house three years ago. They plan to dress up and celebrate Halloween with friends after giving out candy to the costumed kids who ring their doorbell.

A desperate young man named Hunter rushes into Laura and Shannon’s house and claims he’s being chased by robed cultists who intend to sacrifice him, and others, at midnight in the nearby graveyard.

As you can imagine, Laura and Shannon deal with Hunter’s story with vast skepticism…until the robed cultists–armed with swords, knives, and hatchets–show up.

If you’re in the mood for a wacky Halloween rampage, give Once Upon a Halloween at try!!! GRADE: B

Edward L. Ferman changed the format of The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction with the 22nd volume. All the previous volumes consisted of short stories and novelettes. But in The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction, 22nd Series Ferman includes other material that could be found in a typical issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Ferman includes a brilliant Algis Budrys book review/essay on the history of Science Fiction. Ferman also includes “Competition” samples from the many readers who participated (I could do without them). He includes Baird Searles’s movie review column and an essay, “Thinking About Thinking” by Isaac Asimov who wrote dozens of science essays for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction during those years.

My favorite story in this volume is John Varley’s “In the Bowl” where a wayward geologist encounters a brilliant young girl on Venus and the pair embark on a search for valuable blast jewels. I also enjoyed Robert Bloch’s comic “A Case of the Stubborns” where Grandpa refuses to believe he’s dead. Richard Cowper’s “The Hertford Manuscript,” a time-travel tale to the Plague Years proves harrowing.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• 1 • Introduction (The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction 22nd Series) • (1977) • essay by Edward L. Ferman
• 3 • The Hertford Manuscript • [H. G. Wells’ Time Machine Universe] • (1976) • novelette by Richard Cowper
• 53 • From Competition 2: Blurbs in Excess • (1972) • essay by Ralph C. Glisson
• 55 • A Case of the Stubborns • (1976) • short story by Robert Bloch
• 80 • Where We Are and Where We Came From • (1976) • essay by Algis Budrys
• 97 • From Competition 4: Story Leads from the Year’s Worst Fantasy and SF • (1973) • essay by James Sutherland [as by James E. Sutherland]
• 97 • From Competition 4: Story Leads from the Year’s Worst Fantasy and SF • (1973) • essay by Bob Leman
• 99 • My Boat • [Cthulhu Mythos] • (1976) • short story by Joanna Russ
• 125 • In the Bowl • [Eight Worlds] • (1975) • novelette by John Varley
• 173 • From Competition 6: Bawdy SF Limericks • (1973) • essay by Margaret O. Ablitt
• 173 • From Competition 6: Bawdy SF Limericks • (1973) • essay by Janice Leffingwell
• 175 • This Offer Expires • (1976) • short story by Liz Hufford
• 187 • The Fantastic Ten • (1977) • essay by Baird Searles
• 195 • The Women Men Don’t See • (1973) • novelette by James Tiptree, Jr.
• 237 • The Ghastly Priest Doth Reign • [Southern Appalachia] • (1975) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman
• 252 • Dress Rehearsal • (1974) • short story by Harvey Jacobs
• 252 • From Competition 7: A Lexicon from an Alien Language • (1974) • essay by Bob Leman
• 252 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by Reid Powell
• 252 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by Terry Naylor
• 252 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by R. Tyler Sperry, II
• 252 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by Mark R. Kelly [as by Mark Robert Kelly]
• 252 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by Joe Haldeman
• 252 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by F. M. Busby
• 261 • San Diego Lightfoot Sue • (1975) • novelette by Tom Reamy
• 327 • Out of Dickinson by Poe, or The Only Begotten Son of Emily and Edgar • (1976) • poem by Ray Bradbury
• 329 • Sanity Clause • (1975) • short story by Edward Wellen
• 337 • Thinking About Thinking • [Asimov’s Essays: F&SF] • (1975) • essay by Isaac Asimov
• 353 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by Ken Scott (I)
• 353 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by Carolyn Appleman
• 353 • From Competition 8: Near-Miss SF Titles • (1974) • essay by David A. Wilson
• 355 • Mute Inglorious Tam • (1974) • short story by C. M. Kornbluth and Frederik Pohl
• 370 • Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All • (1973) • novelette by Reginald Bretnor

TRACK LIST:

Bach, J S: Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565 Work length 9:19

• Philadelphia Orchestra
• Eugene Ormandy

Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre, Op. 40 Work length 7:31

• Philadelphia Orchestra
• Eugene Ormandy

Gounod: Funeral March of a Marionette Work length 4:06

• Boston Pops Orchestra
• Arthur Fiedler

Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain Work length 11:59

• Philadelphia Orchestra
• Eugene Ormandy

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 – Marche au supplice Work length 4:43

• Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Georges Prêtre

Grieg: Peer Gynt: In the Hall of the Mountain King Work length 2:48

• Philadelphia Orchestra
• Eugene Ormandy

Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1 Work length 11:19

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Fritz Reiner

Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Work length 10:24

• Philadelphia Orchestra
• Eugene Ormandy

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: Songe d’un nuit de sabbat Work length 9:32

• Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Georges Prêtre

“When I was a boy, Ray Bradbury picked stories from his books of short stories he thought younger readers might like, and he published them as R Is for Rocket and S Is for Space. Now I was doing the same sort of thing, and I asked Ray if he’d mind if I called this book M Is for Magic. (He didn’t.)” (p. xii)

I’m a big fan of Neil Gaiman’s work and for anyone who is looking for a place to sample Gaiman’s work, M Is for Magic (2007) would be a great place to start. The 11 stories in this collection range from science fiction to fantasy to suspense. I love “The Witch’s Headstone, ” a cunning story with a great ending. I’m also fond of “How to Sell the Ponti Bridge” where a group of con artists listen to a stunning variation on the old selling the Brooklyn Bridge scam. The Ponti Bridge is located on another planet and it consists of gems and diamonds and other precious stones held together by Magic.

M Is for Magic showcases stories with humor, wit, and occasional darkness. And, a great book to read around Halloween! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Introduction — ix
• The case of the four and twenty blackbirds — 3
• Troll bridge — 24
• Don’t ask Jack — 44
• How to sell the Ponti Bridge — 49
• October in the chair — 75
• Chivalry — 100
• The price — 125
• How to talk to girls at parties — 138
• Sunbird — 164
• The witch’s headstone — 205
• Instructions — 256

Kyle Smith of the Wall Street Journal concludes his review of Tar with these words: ““Tár” is like listening to a slow, ominous roll on the timpani for two and a half hours.” Cate Blanchett brilliantly portrays a world class celebrity, named Lydia Tar, who currently is the Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. Her frenetic life bounces her from continent to continent, from major city to major city. She has a book coming out titled Tar On Tar, projected to be a Best Seller.

Todd Field wrote, produced, and directed Tar. Yes, he captures the sense of the classical music world with its politics and ambitions. Field suggests various complications to Tar’s life: maybe an illicit affair with a student. Maybe an insulting “lesson” with a Juilliard student that goes viral on YouTube (although heavily edited). Various legal entanglements. Various personal entanglements with Tar’s wife, child, and staff.

Tar baths in darkness from the music, the nightscapes in various cities, to Tar’s machinations with various characters. Field only lightens the mood in the final scene that had the sold-out audience at Coolidge Corners Theater in Boston laughing out loud.

For me, Tar gave me a sense of deja vu as Cate Blanchett spirals downward just as she did in Blue Jasmine, a film she made 10 years ago. Blanchett played a woman who had everything, and then lost it all. But that movie, although it covers the same ground as Fields’s film, was funny despite the tragic circumstances. GRADE: C

I’ve read David Lagercrantz’s “sequels” to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. You can read my reviews of The Girl in the Spider Web here, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye here, and The Girl Who Lived Twice here. Although Lagercrantz is no Steig Larsson, I found his thrillers entertaining enough to keep reading them.

Dark Music is the first in a new series featuring a genius Professor Hans Rekke (aka, updated Sherlock Holmes) who uses incredible logic and dazzling observation like you-know-who to solve crimes. Rekke has a smarter, politically connected brother named Magnus. Instead of Watson, we get Micaela Vargas, a Chilean political refugee, who has become a streetwise cop in Stockholm. You get the idea.

The Stockholm police invite Rekke to assist them in solving the murder of an asylum seeker from Afghanistan murdered after a soccer match. But Rekke’s investigation leads to some CIA Black Sites and potential explosive revelations that put Rekke and Vargas at risk.

While Sherlock Holmes had his “seven percent solution,” Rekke goes way beyond that. Here’s Vargas, early in her relationship with Rekke, quizzing him on the drugs he’s ingested:

“What have you taken?”

“Two or three opiates, benzodiazepines, a dash of antipyschotics, and my pointless antidepressants.” (p. 85)

Rekke’s depression and drug abuse can be a source of annoyance when Lagercrantz overdoes them. But, hopefully, Lagercrantz will tamp down Rekke’s bipolar behaviors in the next book. GRADE: B

The 5-1 Buffalo Bills are enjoying their Bye (and hopefully healing up!). Josh Allen has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Week two straight weeks: first for the 38-3 beatdown of the Steelers and secondly for the 24-20 gem of a game in Arrowhead Stadium where the Chiefs played a close game but came out on the losing side. How will your favorite NFL do today?