In my relentless quest to get as many doctor’s appointments and procedures accomplished before everything shuts down again, I scheduled a Covid-19 test. The Covid-19 test was required before I could have my colonoscopy (scheduled for August 25). I chose the Covid-19 testing site at Sister’s Hospital in Buffalo because the tests are processed in the Hospital’s lab. Results are usually available in 24 hours. I expect my results to be negative since I rarely leave my house.

I debated over postponing my colonoscopy until 2021. But, in the end, I decided that since Western NY’s coronavirus rate is less than 1% right now, why delay? So Monday I’ll be drinking my Gatorade and Miralax to purge my digestive tract. Tuesday, I’m the first patient in for my colonoscopy (7 A.M). Then, a day of sleeping off Happy Drugs. How are you dealing with doctors and procedures during this pandemic? Are you going to get a Covid-19 test?

Back in the early 1970s, ACE Books started publishing a series of books called “Science Fiction From the Great Years.” The series comprised 15 titles (see the list below) before the series was terminated. I have many of these books, but my favorites are Frederik Pohl and Carol Pohl’s Science Fiction: The Great Years (1973) both Volume 1 and Volume 2. Today I’m just focused on Volume One. A good chunk of this anthology is “And Then There Were None by Eric Frank Russell. This short novel displays Russell’s dark side in contrast with his humorous SF stories. I enjoyed Frederic Brown’s “Placet is a Crazy Place.”

Perhaps the best known story in this anthology is C. M. Kornbluth’s classic, “The Little Black Bag.” It still chills me after multiple readings. If you’re looking for an excellent SF collection, I highly recommend Science Fiction: The Great Years, Volume 1. I’ll be reviewing Volume 2 soon. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

“Introduction the First — 7

“And Then There Were None — Eric Frank Russell (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1951) 13

“The Liberation of Earth” — William Tenn (FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION, 1953) 102

“Old Faithful” — Raymond Z. Gallun (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1934) 124

“Placet Is a Crazy Place” — Fredric Brown (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1946) 173

“Wings of the Lightning Land” — James MacCreigh (ASTONISHING STORIES, 1941) 193

“The Little Black Bag” — C. M. Kornbluth (ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1950) 235

“A Matter of Form” — H. L. Gold. ( ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, 1938) 271

SCIENCE FICTION FROM THE GREAT YEARS Series:

Armageddon 2419 A.D., Philip Francis Nowlan (1972, 192 pages, $0.75)
The Mightiest Machine, John W. Campbell (1972, 217 pages, $0.95)
The Moon Is Hell, John W. Campbell (1973, 255 pages, $0.75)
Alien Planet, Fletcher Pratt (1973, 189 pages, $0.75)
Science Fiction: The Great Years, Volume I, edited by Frederik Pohl & Carol Pohl (1973, 349 pages, $1.25)
The Brain-Stealers, Murray Leinster (1974, 177 pages, $1.50)
Metropolis, Thea von Harbou (1975, 222 pages, $1.25)
The Galaxy Primes, Edward E. ‘Doc’ Smith (1976, 238 pages, $1.25)
The Radio Planet, Ralph Milne Farley (1976, 297 pages, $1.50)
Science Fiction: The Great Years, Volume II, edited by Frederik Pohl & Carol Pohl (1976, 276 pages, $1.50)
A Brand New World, Ray Cummings (1976, 205 pages, $1.25)
The Ultimate Weapon, John W. Campbell (1976, 123 pages, $1.25)
The Radio Beasts, Ralph Milne Farley (1976, 231 pages, $1.50)
Sentinels from Space, Eric Frank Russell (1976, 244 pages, $1.50)
The Blind Spot, Austin Hall & Homer Eon Flint (1976, 346 pages, $1.75)

Once again I have to question some of these song selections as “Classic Rock.” “American Pie” shows up on yet another compilation. I’m not sure I would consider Pilot’s “Magic” a Classic Rock hit. The same goes for Andy Kim’s “Rock Me Gently.”

Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B

Tracklist 

 

1-1	–The Band	Up On Cripple Creek	4:32
1-2	–Billy Idol	Rebel Yell	4:46
1-3	–Stray Cats	Rock This Town	3:25
1-4	–Linda Ronstadt	When Will I Be Loved	2:06
1-5	–Poison (3)	Nothin’ But A Good Time	3:44
1-6	–Pilot	Magic	3:03
1-7	–Queensrÿche	Silent Lucidity	5:46
1-8	–The J. Geils Band	Love Stinks	3:36
1-9	–Canned Heat	Let’s Work Together	3:13
1-10	–Pat Benatar	You Better Run	3:05
1-11	–Robin Trower	Caledonia	3:40
1-12	–Andy Kim	Rock Me Gently	3:28
1-13	–Slaughter	Up All Night	3:45
1-14	–The Tubes	Talk To Ya Later	3:45
1-15	–Don McLean	American Pie	8:35
2-1	–The Hollies	Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)	3:16
2-2	–Billy Squier	The Stroke	3:38
2-3	–The Babys	Every Time I Think Of You	4:01
2-4	–The Smithereens	A Girl Like You	4:42
2-5	–George Thorogood & The Destroyers	Bad to the Bone	4:55
2-6	–Great White	Once Bitten Twice Shy	5:24
2-7	–Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show	The Cover Of The Rolling Stone [Live]	3:56
2-8	–Little River Band	Night Owls	5:16
2-9	–Raspberries	Go All The Way	3:22
2-10	–Vixen (2)	Edge Of A Broken Heart	4:24
2-11	–The Sweet	Ballroom Blitz	4:01
2-12	–Tracie Spencer	Tender Kisses	5:26
2-13	–April Wine	Just Between You And Me	3:55
2-14	–Blue Swede	Hooked On A Feeling	2:52
2-15	–Sugarloaf	Green-Eyed Lady [Single Version]	3:40

Ghost Story is the 13th book in the Harry Dresden series. This is an odd book because Dresden, a Wizard and Private Investigator, wakes up at the beginning of the book as a ghost who can’t use his magical powers. Dresden nearly gets erased from Existence while he tries to figure out how being a ghost works. And, because of the events that led to Dresden transitioning to a ghostly state, he has to return to Earth to find out how it happened and why. If Dresden fails, three of his friends will be in danger.

At times, Ghost Story presents humorous situations as Dresden tries to communicate with his friends. But things turn serious as Dresden discovers a massive plot by supernatural forces to attack Chicago. And, one of Dresden’s old enemies returns to haunt him!

Clearly Jim Butcher was in the mood for a change-of-pace novel. In addition, Butcher provides more back story of how Harry Dresden became a Wizard which makes for compelling reading. GRADE: B

I read Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country back in 2016 (you can read my review here). While I was reading Lovecraft Country, I thought: “This would make a great TV series.” And, lo and behold, four years later we have the HBO series Lovecraft Country. HBO’s advertising of the program says:  “Atticus Freeman joins up with his friend Letitia and his Uncle George to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father. This begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.”

After only one episode, it’s hard to form a definitive opinion, but Lovecraft Country follows Matt Ruff’s novel fairly closely. The characters face terrible racist attacks and then contend with horrors beyond their imagination. If the next few episodes follow the novel, more Lovecraftian terrors will emerge to threaten Tic, Letitia, and George. And, I’ll be watching. GRADE: A- (provisional grade)

What’s Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want is subtitled “125 Recipes for Real Life.” With the Coronavirus Pandemic, Diane and I have been cooking and baking more than we ever have. This new cookbook features plenty of yummy recipes: “Banana Bread Pancakes,” “Double Chocolate Chip Muffins,” “Heirloom Tomato & Steak Caprese,” “Chipotle Charizo Mac ‘n’ Cheese,” “White Win Chile Flake Pasta,” “Margherita Pizza,” “Bacon Cheddar & Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwich,” and I could go on and on.

My only quibble is the lack of dessert recipes–but we have plenty of those from other cookbooks. Diane and I found the recipes easy to follow–no exotic ingredients. The results of all the recipes we tried turned out delicious! Only a 100 to go! Gaby Dalkin provides NO nutrition information in this book, but maybe she does on her web site. If you’re looking for a cookbook with easy, tasty recipes then I recommend What’s Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want. GRADE: A-

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Chapter 1 The Most Important Meal of the Day 10

Chapter 2 All About That Snack Life 36

Entertaining: Make a Mezze 54

Chapter 3 Eat Your Greens 66

Chapter 4 Soul Mate: Carbs 96

Entertaining: Throw an Outdoor Bash 130

Chapter 5 When in Doubt… Vacation 142

Chapter 6 So Easy Even Thomas Can Do It 170

Chapter 7 Sides: The Best Part of Any Meal 190

Entertaining: Host a Taco Night 212

Chapter 8 If At First You Don’t Succeed, Have Dessert 224

Chapter 9 Sauces Make the Meal 248

Acknowledgments 258

Index 260

After over two years of posting about The Great SF Stories series, I wrap things up today. My thanks to James Wallace Harris who inspired me to attempt this rereading back in 2018 of the 25 volumes by Asimov and Greenberg. So many great stories, so much knowledge shared by Asimov and Greenberg in their introductions to these stories!

I read John Brunner’s “The Totally Rich” back in 1963 and it blew my mind. Even today, with our Economy in shambles, the concept of the Totally Rich still is valid. With his novels, The Jagged Orbit and Stand on Zanzibar Brunner became one of my favorite SF writers. The most famous story in this anthology is Roger Zelazny’s classic “A Rose for Ecclesiastes.” Philip K. Dick’s “If There Were No Benny Cemoli” still bends my mind.

The Great SF Stories series ends on a sad note. Martin H. Greenberg says goodbye to his friend and anthology collaborator, Isaac Asimov, who died in April 1992 just few months before this anthology was published.

You’ll find a list of links to all my reviews of The Great SF Stories series below the Table of Contents. I hope you’ve enjoyed my reviews as much as I enjoyed writing them. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction by Martin H. Greenberg – 9

1. “Fortress Ship” by Fred Saberhagen (WORLDS OF IF, January 1963) – 13
2. “Not in the Literature” by Christopher Anvil (ANALOG, March 1963) – 25
3. “The Totally Rich” by John Brunner (WORLDS OF TOMORROW, June 1963) – 40
4. “No Truce with Kings” by Poul Anderson (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, June 1963) – 68
5. “New Folks’ Home” by Clifford D. Simak (ANALOG, July 1963) – 132
6. “The Faces Outside” by Bruce McAllister (WORLDS OF IF, July 1963) – 160
7. “Hot Planet” by Hal Clement (GALAXY, August 1963) – 170
8. “The Pain Peddlers” by Robert Silverberg (GALAXY, August 1963) – 194
9. “Turn Off the Sky” by Ray Nelson (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, August 1963) – 206
10. “They Don’t Make Life Like They Used To” by Alfred Bester (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, October 1963) – 254
11. “Bernie the Faust” by William Tenn (PLAYBOY, November 1963) – 290
12. “A Rose for Ecclesiastes” by Roger Zelazny (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, November 1963) – 319
13. “If There Were No Benny Cemoli” by Philip K. Dick (GALAXY, December 1963) -358

REMEMBRANCE OF ISAAC ASIMOV – 382

THE GREAT SF STORIES SERIES:

The Great SF Stories #1 (1939) : http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books/

The Great SF Stories #2 (1940): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-499-the-great-sf-stories-2-1940-edited-by-isaac-asimov-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #3 (1941): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-504-the-great-sf-stories-3-1941-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #4 (1942): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-506-the-great-sf-stories-4-1942-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #5 (1943): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-513-the-great-sf-stories-5-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #6 (1944): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-517/

The Great SF Stories #7 (1945): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-520-the-great-sf-stories-7-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #8 (1946): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-513-the-great-science-fiction-series-edited-by-frederik-pohl/

The Great SF Stories #9 (1947): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-529-the-great-sf-stories-9-1948-edited-by-isaac-asimov-and-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #10 (1948): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-535-the-great-sf-stories-10-edited-by-isaac-asimov-and-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #11 (1949): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-538-the-great-sf-stories-11-1949-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #12 (1950): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-542-the-great-sf-stories-12-1950-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #13 (1951): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-546/

The Great SF Stories #14 (1952): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-551-the-great-sf-stories-14-1952-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #15 (1953): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-553/

The Great SF Stories #16 (1954): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-567-the-great-sf-stories-16-1955-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #17 (1955): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-571-the-great-sf-stories-17-1955-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #18 (1956): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-576-the-great-sf-stories-18-1956-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #19 (1957): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-578-the-great-sf-stories-19-1957-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #20 (1958): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-583-the-great-sf-stories-20-1958-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #21 (1959): http://georgekelley.org/forgotten-books-588-the-great-sf-stories-21-1959-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #22 (1960): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-591-the-great-sf-stories-22-1960-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #23 (1961): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-the-great-sf-stories-23-1961-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #24 (1962): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-602-the-great-sf-stories-24-1962-edited-by-isaac-asimov-martin-h-greenberg/

The Great SF Stories #25 (1963): http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-605/

The Great SF Stories #26 (1964): http://georgekelley.org/forgotten-books-rise-of-the-terran-empire-by-poul-anderson/

I can’t think of a trio of songwriters who turned out more hit songs than Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr. Most of their work was done at Motown Records but they branched out later in their careers. Holland/Dozier/Holland wrote great songs for Martha and the Vandellas, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Michael Jackson, and the Jackson 5. This fabulous 3-CD set collects many of the tunes everyone was listening to back in the 1960s and 1970s. How many of these classics do you remember? Do you have a favorite song among all these hits? GRADE: A

TRACKLIST:

1-1	–Eddie Holland*	Jamie	2:25
1-2	–The Marvelettes	Locking Up My Heart	2:26
1-3	–Martha & The Vandellas*	(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave	2:46
1-4	–The Miracles	Mickey’s Monkey	2:46
1-5	–Mary Wells	You Lost The Sweetest Boy	2:33
1-6	–Marvin Gaye	Can I Get A Witness	2:47
1-7	–The Miracles	I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying	2:39
1-8	–Martha & The Vandellas*	Quicksand	2:36
1-9	–Eddie Holland*	Leaving Here	2:30
1-10	–Martha & The Vandellas*	In My Lonely Room	2:30
1-11	–Dusty Springfield	When The Love Light Starts Shining Thru His Eyes	2:56
1-12	–Eddie Holland*	Just Ain’t Enough Love	2:28
1-13	–The Supremes	Where Did Our Love Go	2:34
1-14	–Four Tops	Baby I Need Your Loving	2:44
1-15	–Eddie Holland*	Candy To Me	2:26
1-16	–Marvin Gaye	Baby Don’t You Do It	2:33
1-17	–The Supremes	Baby Love	2:35
1-18	–The Supremes	Come See About Me	2:41
1-19	–Marvin Gaye	How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)	3:00
1-20	–Martha & The Vandellas*	Nowhere To Run	2:52
1-21	–The Supremes	Stop! In The Name Of Love	2:52
1-22	–The Supremes	Back In My Arms Again	2:58
1-23	–Four Tops	I Can’t Help Myself	2:44
1-24	–Four Tops	It’s The Same Old Song	2:44
1-25	–Kim Weston	Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)	2:56
1-26	–The Supremes	I Hear A Symphony	2:41
2-1	–The Supremes	My World Is Empty Without You	2:34
2-2	–The Elgins	Darling Baby	2:36
2-3	–The Isley Brothers	This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)	2:44
2-4	–Kim Weston	Helpless	2:36
2-5	–Jr. Walker & The All Stars*	(I’m A) Road Runner	2:48
2-6	–The Supremes	Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart	2:54
2-7	–Chris Clark (2)	Love’s Gone Bad	2:23
2-8	–The Supremes	You Can’t Hurry Love	2:53
2-9	–Four Tops	Reach Out I’ll Be There	3:00
2-10	–The Elgins	Heaven Must Have Sent You	2:32
2-11	–Martha & The Vandellas*	I’m Ready For Love	2:55
2-12	–The Supremes	You Keep Me Hangin’ On	2:47
2-13	–Smokey Robinson & The Miracles*	(Come ‘Round Here) I’m The One You Need	2:33
2-14	–Four Tops	Standing In The Shadows Of Love	2:37
2-15	–The Supremes	Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone	2:48
2-16	–Martha & The Vandellas*	Jimmy Mack	2:49
2-17	–Four Tops	Bernadette	3:03
2-18	–The Supremes	Reflections	2:51
2-19	–The Chairmen Of The Board*	Give Me Just A Little More Time	2:41
2-20	–Freda Payne	Band Of Gold	2:54
2-21	–Flaming Ember	Westbound #9	3:32
2-22	–The Politicians Featuring McKinley Jackson	Free Your Mind	2:50
2-23	–The Band	Don’t Do It	4:46
3-1	–Holland-Dozier Featuring Brian Holland*	Don’t Leave Me Starvin’ For Your Love	3:23
3-2	–Holland-Dozier Featuring Lamont Dozier*	Why Can’t We Be Lovers	4:04
3-3	–Holland-Dozier Featuring Eddie & Brian Holland*	Where Did We Go Wrong	4:12
3-4	–Lamont Dozier	Out Here On My Own	4:53
3-5	–Lamont Dozier	Trying To Hold On To My Woman	7:27
3-6	–Lamont Dozier	Fish Ain’t Bitin’	4:21
3-7	–Michael Jackson	Just A Little Bit Of You	3:11
3-8	–The Originals	Good Lovin’ Is Just A Dime Away	4:14
3-9	–Jackson 5*	Forever Came Today	6:23
3-10	–Eddie Kendricks	Get The Cream Off The Top	3:09
3-11	–The Supremes	I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking	4:10
3-12	–Lamont Dozier	Going Back To My Roots	9:46
3-13	–Shalamar	Uptown Festival – Part.1 (Going To A Go-Go – I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Uptight (Everyhing’s Allright) – Stop! In The Name Of Love)	3:59
3-14	–The Doobie Brothers	Little Darling (I Need You)	3:26
3-15	–Lamont Dozier	My World Is Empty Without You	4:50
3-16	–Simply Red	You’ve Got It	3:56