Todd Mason enticed me to buy Benchmarks: Galaxy Bookshelf (1985) and Benchmarks Continued: F&SF “Books” Columns 1975-1982 (2013). I read these science fiction book review columns when they were originally published. Algis Budrys’ reviews always inform and entertain. Rereading Budrys’ reaction to Harlan Ellison’s Dangerous Visions (1968) or Poul Anderson’s Flannery of Terra (1966) reveal canny assessments. The new edition of Budrys’ F&SF reviews continues to explore the key SF novels of those years. Hopefully, more volumes of Budrys’ reviews will be published (two more volumes are planned). I consider John Clute to be the best SF critic followed closely by Barry N. Malzberg. But Algis Budrys’ reviews deserve to be read by those who care about science fiction.

Daniel Dennett’s Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking grew out of a course Dennett taught at Tufts University. The tools for thinking Dennett describes help people solve problems and avoid making logical mistakes. Dennett builds on findings in neuroscience, linguistics, computer programming, psychology, and artificial intelligence. If you’re looking for a book that helps you think better, check out Intuition Pumps. And I think Daniel Dennett looks a lot like Rick Robinson.

Glenn Frankel’s brilliant book on the making of John Ford’s iconic film, The Searchers, reveals plenty about Ford and the cultural aspects of the Fifties. The Searchers tells the story of a 5-year search for a girl that had been kidnapped by the Comanches. Alan LeMay’s book,The Searchers, based on the true story of Cynthia Ann Parker’s captivity with the Comanches which began in 1836, became one of the best Westerns of the 1950s. LeMay sold the movie rights under the condition he wouldn’t have to write the screenplay for the notoriously difficult John Ford. Frankel’s book tells the story of Cynthia Ann Parker’s 24-year captivity, then how Alan LeMay came to write his book based on Parker’s story, and finishes with a detailed story of how The Searchers was made. Incredibly, The Searchers received NO Oscars in 1956! Anyone who’s interested in classic Westerns and movies should read this book. GRADE: A

Before Midnight is the third movie following the relationship of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy). The first two movies, Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004), featured director Richard Linklater’s patented shooting style with long, uninterrupted scenes full of dialogue. In fact, if you’re not ready for movies where most of the film (about 90%) is dialogue, it comes as a shock. Whether you’re going to enjoy these movies depends a lot on whether you like the characters. Jesse is a writer with some narcissistic tendencies. Celine is a beautiful but moody French woman. As you might suspect, Jesse and Celine’s relationship has plenty of ups and downs. Spacing these movies about seven years apart allows for the audience to see the arc of the characters’ relationships. I found watching the latest installment, Before Midnight, like getting together with some old friends. However, [SPOILER ALERT!] if I were in bed with a half-naked woman (like Ethan Hawke is) I would NEVER start an argument and piss her off! [END OF SPOILER ALERT]. GRADE: B+

If you’re in the mood for a farcical cop movie, The Heat will make you laugh. Sandra Bullock plays a prim and proper FBI agent. Melissa McCarthy plays a scruffy, street-smart Boston cop. Together they seek to bring down a mysterious drug lord. But, of course, their partnership is fraught with problems. Both women are dealing with personal problems. The clash of personalities is amusing. But the on-screen chemistry works. This is silly summer fun! A sequel is already in production. GRADE: B

Giant robots battle giant alien monsters…what’s not to like! A great Summer Blockbuster! Buy some popcorn and enjoy! GRADE: B+

During the 1960s, I considered Keith Laumer my favorite science fiction writer. My first contact with Laumer’s work was a serial in AMAZING in 1962, A Trace of Memory. It was an adventure that any teenager would love full of action, danger, and suspense. I loved Laumer’s Retief series. Not only did the Retief stories, full of galactic diplomatic skullduggery, specialize in cleverness they also were full of humor. Keith Laumer wrote several stories and SF novels that blended action and adventure and wit. Eric Flint collected the best of Laumer’s humorous work in Keith Laumer: the Lighter Side. This 500 page volume is a bargain and delivers plenty of laughs. In addition to some very funny stories, this collection includes two complete Laumer novels: Time Trap and The Great Time Machine Hoax. If you’re in the mood for some light, comedic science fiction, you’ll find it in Keith Laumer: The Lighter Side.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
In the Queue
The Planet Wreckers
The Body Builders
Time Trap
The Devil You Don’t
The Exterminator
The Big Show
Goobereality
Phototaph
The Great Time Machine Hoax
Afterward

Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton present a breezy (and short!) introduction to the science of happiness. Examining all the current research on the link between money and happiness, they come up with five principles that can increase satisfactions:
1. Buy Experiences
2. Make It a Treat
3. Buy Time
4. Pay Now, Consume Later
5. Invest in Others
Most people have increased happiness when they take a trip or go on vacation. Experiences tend to increase satisfaction. Boredom is the enemy of happiness. Treat yourself to something out of the ordinary and chances are you’ll feel better. Most people are time-deprived: we are constantly stressed by having too much to do. By giving ourselves more time–taking a day off, only checking email twice a day, etc.–happiness goes up. Anticipation increases happiness. Delaying consumption actually makes us happier than immediate consumption. Finally, investing in others–in a word, charity–makes us feel happier. Follow these principles and your happiness will go up! Check out Elizabeth Dunn below. GRADE: B+

I’ve seen the trailers for The Bridge for the past few months. Now, our local Buffalo News TV critic weighed in with a rave review. I’m sure there will be others. Like The Killing, The Bridge is a dark drama involving a murder. The bridge referred to in the title is the Bridge of the Americas that serves as a border crossing between El Paso and Juárez, Mexico. A corpse shows up in the exact middle of of the bridge making the case both American and Mexican. Like The Killing with obsessive Detective Sarah Linden, The Bridge features Diane Kruger as Detective Sonya Cross, a member of the El Paso police department who suffers from Asperger Syndrome. I’m looking forward to this new series which begins tonight on FX at 10 P.M. EDT. Check for the time in your area.