Even though this is the fifteenth book in the Kirk McGarvey series, you can safely jump in for a thrill ride. Nobel Prize winner Eve Larsen believes she has the solution to the world’s energy problems and a remedy for climate change. But interests who have bet billions on a continuing oil-based economy seek to stop her. Kirk McGarvey–James Bond without the glitz–sees the implications of Eve Larsen’s solution and tries to protect her from the assassin that stalks her. There’s an attempt to cause a Florida nuclear power planet to melt down, an invasion of an oil platform in the Gulf, and plenty of violence in-between. If you’re looking for a non-stop thriller, David Hagberg’s Abyss will keep the pages turning. GRADE: B

Joyce Yang delivered a hair-raising recital playing with incredible energy and passion. We’ve been to dozens of piano recitals, but Joyce Yang’s was different. She burst out on the stage and launched into Beethoven like her hair was on fire. Unlike some performers, Joyce Yang connected with the audience immediately. Her comments before she played a piece were insightful and pithy. If you have the chance to listen to Joyce Yang perform, don’t miss the opportunity to see one of the great young pianists. Her new CD will be coming out soon.
PROGRAM
Beethoven: Sonata No. 18 in E-flat, Op. 31, No. 3
Debussy: Estampes
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat Major
Chopin & Liszt: My Joys
Schumann: Carnival, Op. 9

I’ve finally watched all six hour episodes of The Hour, the BBC mini-series about an hour news program in 1956. Think Mad Men only set in the early days of BBC television. Obsessive/compulsive reporter Freddie Lyon (played brilliantly by Ben Whishaw) stumbles upon a government conspiracy. His producer, Bel Rowley (played by the fetching Romola Garai), allows Freddie to pursue his seemingly paranoid quest to expose a vast government plot. The series sags about two-thirds of the way because of Bel’s affair with her married news narrator, Hector Madden (Dominic West). Very soapy. But The Hour springs some surprises in the last episode making the viewing experience well worthwhile. I have no idea if there will be an sequel to The Hour, but if there is one, I’ll watch it. GRADE: B+

Your local PBS station is broadcasting this 3-part series about one of the dumbest social experiments in history. Part One was broadcast last night, but I’m sure you can find it on the PBS rebroadcast schedule. Part One dealt with the run-up to Prohibition. Partly social movement, partly religious imperative, and mostly political chicanery Prohibition had a 14 year run in the U.S. warping values and turning most people into law-breakers. I’m looking forward to Part Two (tonight) and Part Three (Tuesday night). Check your local listings for broadcast times in your area. I’ve enjoyed all of Ken Burns’ documentaries. Prohibition continues his streak of producing compelling historical films. GRADE: A

Will The Curse of the Sports Illustrated cover doom the Bills today when the face the Cincinnati Bengals? We’ll see. This issue of Sports Illustrated also includes a nice interview with Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Much is made of his Harvard University connection. To be perfectly honest, most Bills fans are still in shock with the team’s 3-0 start. No one predicted this. Most fans thought the Bills would be lucky to win five games this season. Back in 2008, the Bills had a 5-0 start. Then they played the Arizona Cardinals and Bills QB Trent Edwards got drilled into the carpet. After that concussion, Trent was never the same player. Anything can happen in the NFL so we’ll see if the Bills’ good fortune continues.

I’ve really enjoyed this season of Doctor Who featuring Matt Smith as The Doctor and Karen Gillian as Amy Pond (the hot redhead companion). Tonight’s episode should resolve the issue of The Doctor’s death, the conspiracy of The Silence, and the resolution of several subplots. I’m looking forward to the Finale even though I know they’ll throw in some cliff-hangers. For those of you who haven’t watched Doctor Who BBC America is featuring a marathon of Doctor Who episodes all day long. The perfect way to get caught up! The Finale is scheduled to start at 7:05 P.M. EST.

Ghost Guns is the first W. C. Tuttle screwball western I’ve ever read, but it won’t be my last. Henry Harrison Conroy, former vaudevillian, is Sheriff of Tonto City, Arizona. Although Henry takes a comic view of the world, he’s smart. And he needs all of his intelligence to solve a series of murders that involve a blonde angel who packs a rifle, a gambler’s ghost, a stage-coach robbery, a sale of a gold mine, and some wild gunplay. If you’re looking for a completely different kind of Western, Ghost Guns delivers. I want to thank James Reasoner for touting W. C. Tuttle on his blog. James’ remarks lead me to seek out and read this fine book.

Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, still sounds great after all of these years. I owned all of Donna Summer’s albums. Now, you can buy Bad Girls, her best album, on CD for a mere $8.48 on AMAZON. Giorgio Moroder knew how to infuse songs with infectious hooks. You’ll remember plenty of these songs like “Hot Stuff” and “All Through the Night.” Of course, “Bad Girls” led to a TV special. Nowadays, few people listen to Donna Summer songs anymore. But, maybe they should.
TRACK LIST:
1. Hot Stuff 5:15
2. Bad Girls 4:55
3. Love Will Always Find You 3:59
4. Walk Away 4:29
6. Journey To The Center Of Your Heart 4:36
7. One Night In A Lifetime 4:12
8. Can’t Get To Sleep At Night 4:41
9. On My Honor 3:33
10. There Will Always Be A You 5:02
11. All Through The Night 5:58
12. My Baby Understands 3:58
13. Our Love 4:53
14. Lucky 4:37
15. Sunset People

This was our third k.d. lang concert. As usual, k.d. entertained the crowd with her humor and good nature between songs. She sang two of her biggest hits, “Hallelujah” (the Leonard Cohen classic) and “Constant Craving.” The crowd called out for “Crying,” but k.d. didn’t sing it this time. She did sing several songs from her 2011 CD, Sing It Loud. Grumpy Brit, Teddy Thompson, was the solo warm-up act. All in all, a satisfying evening of wonderful music.

Colm Toibin’s latest collection of short stories is a mixed bag. My favorite story is “Silence.” A woman marries an older, richer man. While on trip to Egypt, she has an affair with a poet. Later, back in London, the woman is seated next to Henry James (Toibin adores James) and she tells him a variation of her affair with the old “a friend of mine…” preface. Henry James writes down the details. I also liked “The Pearl Fishers” which is a complicated menage a trois involving the sex lives of students. Some of the stories in The Empty Family explore gay relationships and feature some graphic sex. Toibin is a crafty writer and capable of surprising the reader. Unfortunately, he didn’t do it enough in The Empty Family. GRADE: C+