When looking at the Fake Fans in the South Korean stadium above, I’m reminded that the United States faces a crisis in the Fall when the NFL plans to play games. Will NFL teams compete in empty stadiums? Will only a portion of the seats be filled with fans who can “prove” they don’t have coronavirus? Or will we resort to the South Korean solution of filling our stadiums with Fake Fans? It’s all a big mystery!

What do you think will happen? What do you think of your favorite NFL team’s schedule?

BUFFALO BILLS 2020 SCHEDULE

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Introduction by Martin H. Greenberg 9
• “Mariana” by Fritz Leiber (FANTASTIC, February 1960) 15
• “The Day the Icicle Works Closed” by Frederik Pohl (GALAXY, February 1960) 23
• “The Fellow Who Married the Maxill Girl” by Ward Moore (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, February 1960) 70
• “Mine Own Ways” by Richard M. McKenna (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, February 1960) 108
• “Make Mine Homogenized” by Rick Raphael (ASTOUNDING, April 1960) 132
• “The Lady Who Sailed the Soul” by Cordwainer Smith (GALAXY, April 1960) 196
• “I Remember Babylon” by Arthur C. Clarke (PLAYBOY, May 1960) 231
• “Chief” by Henry Slesar (PLAYBOY, June 1960) 247
• “Mind Partner” by Christopher Anvil (GALAXY, August 1960) 250
• “The Handler” by Damon Knight (ROGUE, August 1960) 297
• “The Voices of Time” by J. G. Ballard (NEW WORLDS, October 1960) 304

The most recognizable stories from The Great SF Stories #22 (1960) would be “The Lady Who Sailed the Soul” by Cordwainer Smith followed by J. G. Ballard’s “The Voices of Time.” I liked Richard M. McKenna’s “Mine Own Ways” a lot. Henry Slesar’s “Chief” provides one of his patented clever short-short stories.

What was the beginning of a growing trend, SF stories printed in “men’s magazines” like Playboy and Rogue started to show up in YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION anthologies. In this case, Damon Knight’s “The Handler” and Arthur C. Clarke’s “I Remember Babylon” are represented.

I’d also forgotten how good prolific SF writers like “Christopher Anvil (aka, Christopher Crosby) could be. “Mind Partner” is first-rate. I’ve only a few more volumes in this series to reread and review. I’m feeling sad about this 25-month project nearing its end. GRADE: A-

I’ve been listening to a lot of music during this Stay-at-Home lifestyle. Just by accident, I found some Women & Music CDs and I’m both in the process of listening to them and buying the CDs in the series that I lack (only two more to go!).

I thought I’d start with a 2-CD set, Women & Music: Beginnings. One of the usual aspects of this set is that singers from different musical eras rub shoulders with one another. I remember the first time I heard Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” (featuring Mick Jagger) in 1972 and immediately headed to the local record store to buy No Secrets with the daring (for that time) braless photo album cover. On Disc 1, it follows Mary Wells’s “My Guy” which expresses a completely different attitude toward guys.

Marie Muldaur is represented by “Midnight at the Oasis” and Melissa Manchester’s “Midnight Blue” sounds great. I’m a big fan of Doris Troy’s “Just One Look” and Nicolette Larson’s “Lotta Love” which sounds like a faux-Fleetwood Mac song to me.

How many of these songs do you remember? Any favorites here? GRADE: B+

TRACK LIST:

Disc 1

1. God Bless the Child [4:00]
   • (performed by Billie Holiday)
2. What a Diff’rence a Day Made [2:31]
   • (performed by Dinah Washington)
3. Fever [3:22]
   • (performed by Peggy Lee)
4. Son of a Preacher Man [2:27]
   • (performed by Dusty Springfield)
5. Respect [2:26]
   • (performed by Aretha Franklin)
6. Downtown [3:11]
   • (performed by Petula Clark)
7. Walkin’ After Midnight [2:01]
   • (performed by Patsy Cline)
8. Ode to Billie Joe [4:16]
   • (performed by Bobbie Gentry)
9. Put a Little Love in Your Heart [2:35]
   • (performed by Jackie DeShannon)
10. Midnight Train to Georgia [4:40]
    • (performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips)
11. Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off [4:30]
    • (performed by Ella Fitzgerald)
12. My Guy [2:53]
    • (performed by Mary Wells)
13. You’re So Vain [4:20]
    • (performed by Carly Simon)
14. The Rose [3:33]
    • (performed by Bette Midler)
15. Me and Bobby McGee [4:30]
    • (performed by Janis Joplin)

Disc 2

1. I Feel the Earth Move [3:00]
   • (performed by Carole King)
2. Lotta Love [3:09]
   • (performed by Nicolette Larson)
3. At Last [3:02]
   • (performed by Etta James)
4. Chuck E’s in Love [3:31]
   • (performed by Rickie Lee Jones)
5. Just One Look [2:32]
   • (performed by Doris Troy)
6. So Long [2:39]
   • (performed by Ruth Brown)
7. Baby I’m Yours [2:32]
   • (performed by Barbara Lewis)
8. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again [3:03]
   • (performed by Dionne Warwick)
9. Midnight at the Oasis [3:47]
   • (performed by Maria Muldaur)
10. Reflections [2:53]
    • (performed by The Supremes)
11. Misty [3:02]
    • (performed by Sarah Vaughan)
12. Midnight Blue [3:55]
    • (performed by Melissa Manchester)
13. Blue Bayou [3:55]
    • (performed by Linda Ronstadt)
14. Both Sides Now [3:16]
    • (performed by Judy Collins)
15. I Will Always Love You [3:07]
    • (performed by Dolly Parton)
16. Over the Rainbow [3:30]
    • (performed by Judy Garland)

Diane and I saw Jerry Seinfeld at a local venue, Melody Fair (which has since been leveled and turned into a Super War-Mart) back in 1990. Seinfeld was clever and funny and not a four-letter word passed his lips (which is rare for stand-up comedians). The sell-out crowd left the performance delighted.

Now in the Age of Coronavirus, we need to watch our stand-up comedians on a streaming service like Netflix. In an interview with NPR, Seinfeld admitted that he needs to do stand-up occasionally. We’re looking forward to this Netflix performance today. If you have Netflix, you’ll probably enjoy it, too. Were you a fan of Seinfeld? Do you have a favorite episode?

Bone Silence concludes the trilogy about the Ness sisters who ran away from home and became space pirates…and a lot more. I’m a fan of Alastair Reynolds’s space operas, but this Young Adult trilogy fell flat with me. I thought the first book, Revenger (you can read my review here), was the strongest book of the three. It introduced the reader to the feisty Ness sisters, Arafura and Adrana, and their AI, Paladin. The second novel, Shadow Captain, ratcheted up the violence with some bloody battles in space (you can read my review here). This third volume, at 603 pages, pretty much ties up all the loose ends of a story that encompasses millions of years.

A number of mysteries, disappearances, reappearances, and skullduggery swirl around the plot of Bone Silence. There are a couple of deus ex machina moments that might annoy some readers. But the scope of the 20,000 worlds of the Congregation lends itself to grand moments. If you’re looking for a diverting and mildly entertaining YA space opera trilogy, Alastair Reynolds provides one with these books. Just make sure you don’t set the bar too high. GRADE: B

World War II was never this soapy. World on Fire captures the essence of WWII in seven episodes with characters scattered in five countries as the Nazis begin their relentless movement to conquer Poland. Helen Hunt plays an American war correspondent who witnesses the German invasion of Warsaw and reports it in her radio commentary in Berlin. Sean Bean plays a pacifist in London whose daughter and son get involved in the War.

In Paris, a gay American doctor (Brian Jacob Smith) resists pleas to leave the city as the Germans move in…with dire consequences. Jonah Hauer-King as Harry Chase, creates most of the love interest in this series. Chase starts out as an interpreter for the British Government, but gets involved with a Polish girl named Kasia (played by Zofia Wichłacz). In a soap opera moment, Harry marries Kasia in hopes he can get her out of Poland before the Germans invade. But, of course, Something Else happens.

Harry Chase also has another girl friend, Lois (played by Julia Brown), who is a factory worker by day and a talented night club singer at night. Harry’s two love interests power much of the action in these episodes.

My favorite character is Robina Chase (played by Leslie Manville), Harry’s wealthy and imperious mother. But, World War II forces her to evolve as events upend her world.

Normally, I wouldn’t be watching something like World on Fire but the coronavirus, like WWII, changed everything. This ensemble series is mildly enlightening if you’re not allergic to soap. GRADE: B

Earlier this week, I featured Play It Again, Sam. Some of the commentators brought up Annie Hall so I dug out my copy and watched it for maybe the dozenth time. It’s still funny to me. Woody Allen plays Alvy Singer, a comedian whose approach to dating women is a little off. Alvy’s best friend, Rob (Tony Roberts), introduces Alvy to nightclub singer, Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). Of course, Alvy falls in love with the ditzy Annie in a heartbeat.

True love never runs smooth and soon Alvy’s quirks drive Annie Hall into the arms of Tony Lacy (Paul Simon). It’s the old Boy-Gets-Girl, Boy-Loses-Girl, Boy-Gets-Girl back again formula. But, this formula worked for Annie Hall: it won four Oscars including Best Picture.

Yes, the world of Annie Hall back in 1977 was much different from today. But, think of this movie as comfort food for your mind. GRADE: A

I’ve reviewed a number of Hank Davis anthologies and enjoyed them all. This latest book features Science Fiction stories that have a legal aspect to them. (Of course, my favorite legal SF novel is Pohl & Kornbluth’s Gladator-at-Law). But these short stories present an entertaining way to spend your time during the Stay-At-Home order.

My favorite story in this anthology is Clifford Simak’s “How-2” which is a twist on The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Things get out of hand quickly in this clever tale. “Skulking Permit” is one of my favorite Robert Sheckley comic SF stories. Arthur C. Clarke’s “Moving Spirit” is another comic romp from his Tales from the White Hart. I read Robert Silverberg’s “To See the Invisible Man” decades ago but the impact has stayed with me.

Overruled provides a variety of law stories–some serious, some funny–but you will have to be the judge of that! GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION: COURT IS NOW IN SESSION… ALL OXYGEN-REDUCING BIPEDS PLEASE RISE! by Hank Davis 1
THE SKETCHER by Tom Kidd 5
JERRY WAS A MAN by Robert A. Heinlein 39
PARADOX & GREENBLATT: ATTORNEYS AT LAW by Kevin J. Anderson 65
THE JIGSAW MAN by Larry Niven 81
SKULKING PERMIT by Robert Sheckley 95
CHECKSUM, CHECKMATE by Tony Daniel 123
THE EXECUTIONER by Algis Budrys 149
LICENSE TO LIVE by Sarah A. Hoyt & Laura Montgomery 189
THE RIOT THAT WASN’T IN PORT NEEKS by Susan R. Matthews 205
LAWYER FIGHT by Larry Correia 225
THE PEOPLE V. CRAIG MORRISON by Alex Shvartsman & Alvaro Zinos-Amaro 237
HOW-2 by Clifford D. Simak 255
MOVING SPIRIT by Arthur C. Clarke 293
VICTIM OF CHANGES by Christopher Ruocchio 307
THE CYBER AND JUSTICE HOLMES by Frank Riley 323
TO SEE THE INVISIBLE MAN by Robert Silverberg 339
LICENSE TO STEAL by Louis Newman 353
WITH THE KNIGHT MALE by Charles Sheffield 363