We’ve all been waiting for The Art of Robert E. McGinnis since the book was announced. When I was a teenager, I was drawn to paperbacks that featured stylish, sophisticated women. I finally figured out the cover artist was Robert McGinnis. And, yes, I started buying some paperbacks simply to have the gorgeous McGinnis covers (the Carter Brown series is one example).

Of course, unknown to me, there was someone who was even a bigger McGinnis fan than I was: Art Scott. Today, Art has a complete collection of McGinnis paperbacks (and some movie posters). No one was more qualified to write the 10,000 word introduction to The Art of Robert E. McGinnis than Art Scott (who has some glorious McGinnis originals hanging on his walls!).

If you’re a fan of Robert McGinnis artwork, this new collection is a must-buy. There are rumors that another collection may be in the works (if published, I’ll buy it!). McGinnis is one of the great paperback artists. This book belongs in every serious collector’s library. Magnificent! GRADE: A+

I’ve read all the SF nvoels in Jack McDevitt’s Alex Benedict series. Benedict is a hunter of antiques and collectibles 9000 years in the future. He has a smart pilot, Chase Kolpath, and a relentless curiosity about the Past. In Benedict’s latest adventure, Coming Home, clues to the whereabouts of artifacts from the U.S. Space Museum lead Kolpath and Benedict to Ancient Earth were they are attacked and almost become shark-bait. If you enjoy science fiction with a hint of mystery, I recommend Jack McDevitt’s Alex Benedict series. And I really like the John Harris cover! GRADE: B

The 5-3 Kansas City Chiefs take on the 5-3 Buffalo Bills in a “make-or-break” game. A loss will damage either team’s Playoff chances. The Bills have injuries to two key offensive players. Running back Fred Jackson and rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins may not play today because of pulled “groins.” Ouch! How will your favorite NFL team do today?

Matt Smith is a tough act to follow. I think Peter Capaldi did as well as he could in the shadow of two of the most popular Doctor Whos–David Tennant and Matt Smith. But I wasn’t energized by Season Eight. Too many of the episodes were ho-hum. Jenna Coleman, an excellent Companion, was wasted and will leave the series. I was hoping Helen Mirren would become Doctor Who (and I’m still hoping). The Doctor Who Christmas Special should be entertaining.

Defender of the Innocent: The Casebook of Martin Ehrengraf is another great book just published by Subterranean Press. It collects all of Lawrence Block’s noirish, amoral Martin Ehrengraf stories. The Ehrengraf stories are very wicked. Ehrengraf works on a contingency basis: if he does not free his clients charged with murder, he doesn’t collect his huge fees. Yet in puzzling, almost inexplicable ways, Ehrengraf’s clients find themselves freed. I found a number of these stories clever and tricky. If you’re looking for something different, dark, and devious you’ll find it here in these Ehrengraf stories.
Table of Contents:
◦ The Ehrengraf Defense
◦ The Ehrengraf Presumption
◦ The Ehrengraf Experience
◦ The Ehrengraf Appointment
◦ The Ehrengraf Riposte
◦ The Ehrengraf Obligation
◦ The Ehrengraf Alternative
◦ The Ehrengraf Nostrum
◦ The Ehrengraf Affirmation
◦ The Ehrengraf Reverse
◦ The Ehrengraf Settlement
◦ The Ehrengraf Fandango
◦ Afterword-Edward D. Hoch/Lawrence Bloch

The Library of America has done it again! First they issued the quirky novels of Philip K. Dick (big sellers!) and then the LOA issued collections of noir novels, SF novels, and a popular H. P. Lovecraft book. The Library of America, best known for issuing volumes of Henry James and Herman Melville, obviously found that dabbling in Popular Culture pays Big Time.

Now, the LOA launches a series of Elmore Leonard novels. This collection includes Fifty-Two Pickup, Swag, Unknown Man No. 89, and The Switch. Of course, I have the original editions, but I can’t resist these Library of America volumes. And I really like the cover that reprints the original paperback artwork (LOA started this with the Philip K. Dick books). If you’re looking for a gift for that Elmore Leonard fan on your gift list, Elmore Leonard: Four Novels of the 1970s is perfect!

I’m a big fan of Bette Midler and Sixties Girl Group music so factor that in while you read this review. As Bette Midler sings these classic songs from my teenage years memories came flooding back. I remember singing “Be My Baby” when it came on my new transistor radio. Two of my favorite Gerry Goffin and Carole King songs are on this CD: “”One Fine Day” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” Do you remember these great songs? GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
1. Be My Baby
2. One Fine Day
3. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
4. Baby It’s You
5. Tell Him
6. He’s Sure the Boy I Love
7. Mr. Sandman
8. Come and Get These Memories
9. Too Many Fish in the Sea
10. Teach Me Tonight
11. Waterfalls
12. You Can’t Hurry Love
13. Give Him a Great Big Kiss
14. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
15. It’s the Girl

This Is Where I Leave You is based on Jonathan Tropper’s novel of the same name. It’s a “dysfunctional family” comedy. If you like poop-jokes, you’ll like this movie (I’m not a fan). If you like boob-jokes you’ll like this movie. The talented cast members–Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Connie Britton–are mostly wasted. Everything is predictable. Jason Bateman comes home early and finds…yes, his wife in bed with his boss. Bateman returns to his old home town and sees his high school girl friend and… You can guess what happens. I found This Is Where I Leave You tedious. It should have been a much better movie. GRADE: C-

Just in time for Christmas, Norton has published The New Annotated H. P. Lovecraft. In addition to the great collection of Lovecraft stories, there are over 900 notes and hundreds of photographs, drawings, maps, and illustrations. It’s almost 380,000 words! If you’re a fan of H. P. Lovecraft this is a must-buy! If you’re a casual fan, this thick tome is a great value for $25 on AMAZON. For a more detailed review of The New Annotated H. P. Lovecraft click here. GRADE: A
Table of Contents:
Introduction by Alan Moore
Foreword
Editor’s Note

Selected Fiction
Dagon
The Statement of Randolph Carter
Beyond the Wall of Sleep
Nyarlathotep
The Picture in the House
Herbert West: Reanimator
The Nameless City
The Hound
The Festival
The Unnamable
The Call of Cthulhu
The Silver Key
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
The Colour Out of Space
The Dunwich Horror
The Whisperer in Darkness
At the Mountains of Madness
The Shadow over Innsmouth
The Dreams in the Witch House
The Thing on the Doorstep
The Shadow Out of Time
The Haunter of the Dark

Additional Material
Appendix 1: Chronological Table
Appendix 2: Faculty of Miskatonic University
Appendix 3: History of the Necronomicon
Appendix 4: Genealogy of the Elder Races
Appendix 5: The Fiction of H. P. Lovecraft (a table)
Appendix 6: The “Revisions” of H. P. Lovecraft (a table)
Appendix 7: H. P. Lovecraft in Popular Culture
Bibliography (selected)