Last year, I enjoyed George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois’ Old Mars. You can find my review here. The concept behind both Old Mars and Old Venus is to present stories based on the pre-1960s visions of these two plants: Mars, a desert and Venus, a swamp. When NASA space vehicles visited Mars and Venus, we found out those assumptions were very wrong. But, no matter. Martin and Dozois recruited an excellent band of SF writers to write about Old Mars and Old Venus in the old-style of pulp writing. My favorite stories were Jon R. Lansdale’s “The Wizard of the Trees” and Mike Resnick’s “The Godstone of Venus.” If you like the sound of that, you’ll enjoy both of these huge anthologies. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION, by Gardner Dozois
FROGHEADS, by Allen M. Steele
THE DROWNED CELESTRIAL, by Lavie Tidhar
PLANET OF FEAR, by Paul McAuley
GREEVES AND THE EVENING STAR, by Matthew Hughes
A PLANET CALLED DESIRE, by Gwyneth Jones
LIVING HELL, by Joe Haldeman
BONES OF AIR, BONES OF STONE, by Stephen Leigh
RUINS, by Eleanor Arnason
THE TUMBLEDOWNS OF CLEOPATRA ABYSEE, by David Brin
BY FROGSLED AND LIZARDBACK TO OUTCAST VENUSIAN LEPERS, by Garth Nix
THE SUNSET OF TIME, by Michael Cassutt
PALE BLUE MEMORIES, by Tobias S. Buckell
THE HEART’S FILTHY LESSON, by Elizabeth Bear
THE WIZARD OF THE TREES, by Joe R. Lansdale
THE GODSTONE OF VENUS, by Mike Resnick
BOTANICA VENERIS: THIRTEEN PAPERCUTS BY IDA COUNTESS RATHANGAN, by Ian McDonald

One of the best TV series ever ends tonight. All the characters seem to be dispersing as their agency has been swallowed up by a much bigger advertising agency. Joan (perhaps my favorite character) has left in disgust with the rampant sexism of the acquiring ad agency. Pete Campbell is taking a better job with Learjet. And Don Draper just walked out of his job to take a baffling road trip. My guess is Don will jump out a window before the end of the program. I’ll miss the quirky stories and characters in Mad Men. And I’ll miss these marvelous actors. This is the end of an era.

I loved the first two Mad Max movies. The third movie, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome was a colossal disappointment. Mad Max: Fury Road harkens back to the early Mad Max movies set in a bleak post-apocalyptic world where life is nasty, brutish, and short. Tom Hardy plays Mad Max and he manages to be both violent and sympathetic. Charlize Theron looks beautiful even with her shaved head. If you’re a fan of this series, you’ll be delighted by Mad Max: Fury Road with it’s unrelenting action and explosions. GRADE: A

Back in 2006, this huge, nearly 1000 page anthology showed up to be the definitive Space Opera anthology of its time. Hartwell and Cramer take the clever approach of presenting older Space Opera stories with new ones. Most of the currently practicing Space Opera writers are represented here along with some classic writers like Hamilton, Williamson, and Brackett. If you’re even vaguely interested in the genre of SF Space Opera, this book is a treasure-trove. If you’re looking for an introductory anthology of Space Opera, this book maps the field very well. Copies are available online at inexpensive prices. Highly recommended!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
* 9 • Introduction: How Shit Became Shinola: Definition and Redefinition of Space Opera • essay by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer
* 21 • The Star Stealers • (1929) • shortfiction by Edmond Hamilton
* 45 • The Prince of Space • (1931) • novella by Jack Williamson
* 92 • Enchantress of Venus • [Eric John Stark] • (1949) • novella by Leigh Brackett
* 134 • The Swordsmen of Varnis • (1950) • shortstory by Clive Jackson (aka The Swordsman of Varnis) [as by Geoffrey Cobbe ]
* 139 • The Game of Rat and Dragon • [The Instrumentality of Mankind] • (1955) • shortstory by Cordwainer Smith
* 151 • Empire Star • (1966) • novel by Samuel R. Delany
* 200 • Zirn Left Unguarded, the Jenghik Palace in Flames, Jon Westerly Dead • (1972) • shortstory by Robert Sheckley
* 207 • Temptation • [The Uplift Series] • (1999) • novella by David Brin
* 243 • Ranks of Bronze • [Ranks of Bronze] • (1975) • shortstory by David Drake
* 251 • Weatherman • [Miles Vorkosigan] • (1990) • novella by Lois McMaster Bujold
* 297 • A Gift from the Culture • [Culture] • (1987) • shortstory by Iain M. Banks
* 311 • Orphans of the Helix • [Hyperion Cantos] • (1999) • novelette by Dan Simmons
* 344 • The Well Wishers • [Plenty / Tabitha Jute] • (1996) • novella by Colin Greenland
* 379 • Escape Route • [Confederation Universe Stories] • (1997) • novella by Peter F. Hamilton
* 415 • Ms. Midshipwoman Harrington • [Honor Harrington Universe] • (2001) • novella by David Weber
* 493 • Aurora in Four Voices • [Skolian Empire] • (1998) • novella by Catherine Asaro
* 524 • Ring Rats • (2002) • novella by R. Garcia y Robertson
* 557 • The Death of Captain Future • [Near Space] • (1995) • novella by Allen Steele
* 589 • A Worm in the Well • (1995) • novelette by Gregory Benford
* 607 • The Survivor • [Man-Kzin Wars] • (1991) • novella by Donald Kingsbury
* 715 • Fool’s Errand • (1993) • shortstory by Sarah Zettel
* 727 • The Shobies’ Story • [Hainish] • (1990) • novelette by Ursula K. Le Guin
* 745 • The Remoras • [Marrow] • (1994) • novelette by Robert Reed
* 768 • Recording Angel • (1995) • novelette by Paul J. McAuley
* 788 • The Great Game • (2003) • shortstory by Stephen Baxter
* 802 • Lost Sorceress of the Silent Citadel • (2002) • novelette by Michael Moorcock
* 823 • Space Opera • (1997) • shortstory by Michael Kandel
* 833 • Grist • (1998) • novella by Tony Daniel
* 873 • The Movements of Her Eyes • (2000) • novelette by Scott Westerfeld
* 892 • Spirey and the Queen • (1996) • shortfiction by Alastair Reynolds
* 914 • Bear Trap • (2000) • novelette by Charles Stross
* 929 • Guest Law • (1997) • novelette by John C. Wright

Okay, I admit it: I bought Tina Connolly’s Serious Wicked because of the dazzling cover by Emma Goulder. Seriously Wicked is a Young Adult novel about teenager named Camellia works around the house taking care of a dragon (stored in the RV garage) and caring for the werewolf. Camelia’s mother–a serious witch–sends Camellia to find ingredients for her magic spells. But when a demon arrives and takes up residence in a boy Camellia has a crush on, it’s game on! Sure, some of the High School scenes are a little trite, but the plot has some clever twists. And, there’s that great cover! GRADE: B

THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS OF THE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT.

Tonight Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will wrap up with a 2-hour season finale that will further complicate the conflict between humans and humans with “powers.” I enjoyed the story arc this season as the implications of Skye’s transformation by the alien artifact impact the S.H.I.E.L.D. team. Plenty of plot twists and unexpected events kept me off-balance (which I relish). Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter have been renewed by ABC for next season. I’m overjoyed!

David Brooks is one of the “smart” conservatives. He writes a column for the New York Times (which disqualifies him from the Right in some circles), he believes in science and climate change, and actually listens to Liberals. I’ve read David Brooks’ other books:
Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There (2000) ISBN 0-684-85377-9
On Paradise Drive: How We Live Now (And Always Have) in the Future Tense (2004) ISBN 0-7432-2738-7
The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement (2011) ISBN 978-1-4000-6760-2
The Road to Character (Random House, 2015) ISBN 978-0-8129-9325-7
David Brooks’ latest book delves into the old-fashioned concept of “character.” Brooks claims that the younger generation craves substantial changes in our materialistic culture so their character can be tested and developed. I found Brooks’ argument intriguing, but my students seem more concerned about getting a Good Job and paying off their student debts. A Road to Character was AMAZON’s top seller a few weeks ago. Obviously, there’s an audience for this kind of thoughtful work. GRADE: A-

Shelby Lynne is most often categorized as a “Country” singer but I dispute that. Her songs on her new CD, I Can’t Imagine, have plenty of folk influences, too. I’ve been a fan of Shelby Lynne since her 1999 album, I Am Shelby Lynne, which won a Grammy. Shelby Lynne’s Dusty Springfield tribute album, Just a Little Lovin’, is underrated. Allison Moorer, one of my favorite singers, is Shelby Lynne’s sister. If you’re looking for some entertaining, mellow music, here it is. Check out “Sold the Devil” below. GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
1 Paper Van Gogh (3:21)
2 Back Door Front Porch (4:31)
3 Sold the Devil (Sunshine) (4:08)
4 Son of a Gun (5:19)
5 Down Here (4:57)
6 Love is Strong (3:44)
7 Better (4:32)
8 Be In the Now (3:28)
9 Following You (3:42)
10 I Can’t Imagine (3:04)