I know most Christmas presents are supposed to be surprises, but I’ve dropped enough hints to insure that one of the gifts under our tree will be The Album Collection: Vol. 1 1973-1984. This is a completely remastered set of Bruce Springsteen’s first eight albums. I love these early Springsteen albums and they contain his best songs. Check out what’s on these CDs:
TRACK LIST:
Disc 1
1 Blinded by the Light (5:04)
2 Growin’ Up (3:04)
3 Mary Queen of Arkansas (5:21)
4 Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street? (2:04)
5 Lost in the Flood (5:17)
6 The Angel (3:24)
7 For You (4:39)
8 Spirit in the Night (5:00)
9 It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City (3:16)

Disc 2
1 The E Street Shuffle (4:29)
2 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) (5:36)
3 Kitty’s Back (7:08)
4 Wild Billy’s Circus Story (4:47)
5 Incident on 57th Street (7:44)
6 Rosalita (Come out Tonight) (7:03)
7 New York City Serenade (9:58)

Disc 3
1 Thunder Road (4:50)
2 Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (3:11)
3 Night (3:01)
4 Backstreets (6:31)
5 Born to Run (4:29)
6 She’s the One (4:30)
7 Meeting Across the River (3:18)
8 Jungleland (9:35)

Disc 4
1 Badlands (4:04)
2 Adam Raised a Cain (4:34)
3 Something in the Night (5:13)
4 Candy’s Room (2:48)
5 Racing in the Street (6:56)
6 The Promised Land (4:29)
7 Factory (2:19)
8 Streets of Fire (4:04)
9 Prove It All Night (4:00)
10 Darkness on the Edge of Town (4:32)

Disc 5
1 The Ties That Bind (3:34)
2 Sherry Darling (4:03)
3 Jackson Cage (3:03)
4 Two Hearts (2:46)
5 Independence Day (4:50)
6 Hungry Heart (3:19)
7 Out in the Street (4:17)
8 Crush on You (3:11)
9 You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch) (2:37)
10 I Wanna Marry You (3:30)
11 The River (5:01)

Disc 6
1 Point Blank (6:06)
2 Cadillac Ranch (3:03)
3 I’m a Rocker (3:37)
4 Fade Away (4:46)
5 Stolen Car (3:54)
6 Ramrod (4:05)
7 The Price You Pay (5:29)
8 Drive All Night (8:33)
9 Wreck on the Highway (3:54)

Disc 7
1 Nebraska (4:32)
2 Atlantic City (4:00)
3 Mansion on the Hill (4:09)
4 Johnny 99 (3:42)
5 Highway Patrolman (5:40)
6 State Trooper (3:17)
7 Used Cars (3:10)
8 Open All Night (2:58)
9 My Father’s House (5:07)
10 Reason to Believe (4:10)

Disc 8
1 Born in the U.S.A. (4:40)
2 Cover Me (3:28)
3 Darlington County (4:50)
4 Working on the Highway (3:15)
5 Downbound Train (3:37)
6 I’m on Fire (2:39)
7 No Surrender (4:02)
8 Bobby Jean (3:48)
9 I’m Goin’ Down (3:31)
10 Glory Days (4:18)
11 Dancing in the Dark (4:05)
12 My Hometown (4:39)

Alan Turing is acknowledged as one of the key figures in the development of computers. The story of his work during World War II was suppressed until decades later. Turing was part of a secret group of scientists who cracked the Nazi’s “Enigma” code. How Turing and his colleagues pulled off a feat many thought was impossible makes for a great story. But, there’s more to the story. Turing was a homosexual and after WWII was arrested for his sexual activities. The story of his “treatment” and suicide is tragic. Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant as Turing. The Imitation Game should do well at Oscar time. Highly recommended! GRADE: A

Brandon Sanderson is best known for massive, 1000-page fantasy volumes. But in Steelheart Sanderson launches a Young Adult series about a post-holocaust society. In this case, it’s not a nuclear war or biological catastrophe that collapses civilization, it’s evil people with super-powers. Something called the Calamity causes normal people to acquire super-powers. However, each of these people (called Epics) tends to use their new powers for evil. Civilization soon collapses as people with super-strength or the power to teleport or to control water use their powers to crush all opposition.

A band of vigilantes called The Reckoners fights against the Epics. They’ve discovered each Epic has a weakness. And, if the weakness is revealed, The Reckoners can exploit it to kill the Epic. Steelheart sets up this dystopian world. Steelheart is invulnerable to all normal weapons. He rules what used to be Chicago by recruiting lesser Epics to keep the survivors in check. The only way The Reckoners can defeat Steelheart is to discover his secret weakness.

In Firefight The Reckoners travel from Chicago to the ruins of New York City which is ruled by a powerful Epic who controls water. More details of the Calamity are revealed. A third volume in The Reckoner series is scheduled for 2016. I enjoyed both volumes. If you’re looking for some action-paced adventure novels, here they are. GRADE: B (for both)

The Buffalo Bills have a 6.2% chance of making the Playoffs so it’s hard to get up for their game against the Oakland Raiders today. Even if the Bills win, they need a lot of HELP from other teams (i.e., losing). Next week, the Bills face an even more daunting task: winning in Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots. The Bills have never won there. How is your favorite NFL team going to do today? Are they in the Playoff hunt?

Soulless is the first volume of Parasol Protectorate series. In this Steampunkish Victorian novel, Alexia Tarabotti, a soulless spinster, takes on vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. Yes, it’s silly. But, I found Alexia’s adventures fun. There’s a romantic subplot that might appeal to some. If you’re in the mood for a quirky action series, this is it. GRADE: B
THE PARASOL PROTECTORATE SERIES:
Soulless
Changeless
Blameless
Heartless
Timeless

Here’s another holiday collection that I enjoyed when it was published back in 1989. A hardcover edition exists, but I have the paperback only. There’s a nice blend of writers and topics in this book, something for everyone. My favorite stories are Edward D. Hoch’s “The Touch of Kolyada” and Bill Pronzini’s “Here Comes Santa Claus.” If you’re looking for some seasonal mysteries, Mistletoe Mysteries will end your search on a high note.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
“A Cozy for Christmas” by Charlotte MacLeod
“The Haunted Crescent” by Peter Lovesey
“Christopher and Maggie” by Dorothy Salisbury
“Kaput” by Eric Wright
“The Live Tree” by John Lutz
“The Three Wise Guys” by Howard Engel
“That’s the Ticket” by Mary Higgins Clark
“Here Comes Santa Claus” by Bill Pronzini
“A Wee Doch and Doris” by Sharyn McCrumb
“The Man Who Loved Christmas” by Henry Slesar
“The Touch of Kolyada” by Edward D. Hoch
“Dutch Treat” by Aaron Elkins
“Ott on a Limb” by Susan Dunlap
“Hot Hot Hot” by Isaac Asimov
“Silent Night” Marcia Muller

My wonderful sister Eileen in Arizona sent me this early Christmas present (I’ve been REALLY good in 2014!). Eileen gave us a larger R2D2 cookie jar a couple decades ago and it’s been a favorite in our kitchen. This little guy “sings” (actually beeps and boops) the standard Christmas carols. Here’s the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan on your gift list! And, you know you want one, too!

Battle fatigue. That’s what I suffered from after about 90 minutes of elves, dwarves, and humans fighting orcs. Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) uses his magic ring to move the plot along. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) doesn’t have much to do. I’m still enamored with the red-headed elf, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly). Yes, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies is epic, action-packed, and draining. It’s a relief when the movie ends. GRADE: B

I just found out about this quirky series that was shown on the ABC Family cable network. It’s a humorous blend of The X-Files and Dudley Do-Right. The Middle Man was based on the Viper Comics series, The Middleman, created by Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine. The series ran for one season in 2008 but it’s well worth seeking out. Weird things happen and The Middle Man shows up to battle the mystical monster or the deadly galactic alien. Matt Keeslar plays the Middleman by channeling Adam West. I really like his side-kick, Natalie Morales as Wendy Watson (who is full of surprises). If you’re looking for something completely different, I recommend The Middle Man. I may have to track down the Viper Comic editions. GRADE: B+

I’ve been a fan of Jim Burns’ science fiction artwork for years. This new collection of Burns’ artwork is terrific! Burns uses color and clarity in a way that’s special. He excels at creating believable aliens. If you’d like to see what’s in this book, just click below.