If you’re as big a fan of Bernard Cornwell’s wonderful Sharpe series of historical novels, you’ll want to have Mark Adkin’s great companion to the series. You’ll find Adkin devotes a chapter to each of the Sharpe books. There’s a glossary of characters, both real and imagined. Adkin also provides invaluable maps of every battle and skirmish in the Sharpe series. This is a terrific reference book which will enhance your understanding of the historical context of the Sharpe series. GRADE: A

Take a psychopathic killer infected with alien technology and blend in a killer robot with quirky tendencies and you have a wonderful SF confection by one of England’s best space opera writers, Neal Asher. I’ve enjoyed Asher’s previous novels of the Polity–a galactic confederation of human and Artificial Intelligences. In BRASS MAN, the Polity is threatened by a plot to use alien technology to destroy the human/AI civilization. Once again, Ian Cormac, agent of the Polity, needs to thwart interstellar disaster. If you like action and intrigue, you’ll enjoy the fast pace of BRASS MAN. GRADE: B

John Creasey wrote over 600 books under 28 pseudonyms. I’ve read about half of them. Some of Creasey’s best work can be found in his GIDEON series of police procedurals published under the pseudonym of “J. J. Marric.” George Gideon of Scotland Yard finds himself confronted by baffling crimes as well as family problems and bureaucratic politics. Creasey deftly balances the main plot with the various sub-plots to deliver a suspenseful series of novels. If you haven’t read any John Creasey, I recommend you start with this series:
1. Gideon’s Day (1955)
aka Gideon of Scotland Yard
2. Gideon’s Week (1956)
aka Gideon’s Fear
3. Gideon’s Night (1957)
4. Gideon’s Month (1958)
5. Gideon’s Staff (1959)
6. Gideon’s Risk (1960)
7. Gideon’s Fire (1961)
8. Gideon’s March (1962)
9. Gideon’s Ride (1963)
10. Gideon’s Vote (1964)
11. Gideon’s Lot (1965)
12. Gideon’s Badge (1966)
13. Gideon’s Wrath (1967)
14. Gideon’s River (1968)
15. Gideon’s Power (1969)
16. Gideon’s Sport (1970)
17. Gideon’s Art (1971)
18. Gideon’s Men (1972)
19. Gideon’s Press (1973)
20. Gideon’s Fog (1974)
21. Gideon’s Drive (1976)
22. Gideon’s Force (1978)

Diane and I are attending BOUCHERCON in Indianapolis. Art Scott, Bill and Judy Crider, Jeff and Jackie Meyerson, Steve Stilwell, Maggie Mason, and a strong contingent of DAPA-EM members promises to make this convention fun, fun, fun. I’ll also be dining with Patti Abbott and her husband, Phil. There are also plans to attend an Indianapolis Symphony concert. Hope to see you here!

I fully expected to hate Starbucks VIA, after all I hated other instant coffees like SANKA and TASTER’S CHOICE. But as soon as I poured the VIA into a hot cup of water, I saw a difference. SANKA gives you an oil slick reminiscent of the EXXON VALDEZ disaster. TASTER’S CHOICE chunks up in hot water and refuses to dissolve fully. A moment after I poured the VIA in, it actually looked like real coffee. I cautiously tasted the VIA. It tasted like Colombian coffee. I still prefer real coffee, but it a pinch, VIA is an acceptable substitute. GRADE: B

RHINO Records may be my favorite music company. They consistently put out great collections and do it with panache. This boxed set of GENESIS Live recordings is a case in point. Many of these songs have been available in bootleg editions for years. But RHINO remastered the sound so it’s glorious! If you’re a GENESIS fan, you’ll want this pronto. If you’re a casual fan, the price ($103) might seem daunting, but the value of the package is worth it: 8 CDs, 3 DVDs. That’s plenty of value for your hard-earned dollars. I’m not a big fan of live albums, but this is an exceptional experience. Take a listen and judge for yourself. GRADE: A

October 21st is the date projected for the sale of this graphic novel based on E. C. Tubb’s SF novel, WINDS OF GATH. With the news of the Homeworld cancellation of the omnibus reprint editions of the Dumarest series, this graphic novel is the closest thing to a Dumarest revival. E. C. Tubb’s Dumarest series (33 novels so far) follows a quest by Dumarest to find a mystical planet called Earth. Right now, it looks like DUMAREST L’AVENTURIER DES ÉTOILES T01 : LES VENTS DE GATH is only going to be available from AMAZON.CA. I have my copy on order. And I’m brushing up on my French.

Prepare to be blown away when you look at this compendium of the wildest magazines published between 1925 to 1990. I’ve never seen an issue of JAILBIRD, but this collection has a cover reproduction of it. Earl Kemp provides colorful commentary on the publishing of these magazines. This is a must-own item! My copy just arrived and it’s taken over my life. I can’t put it down! GRADE: A

Philip Jose Farmer, prolific science fiction writer, loved Big Ideas. How about the idea of having all of humanity resurrected on a giant planet: Shakespeare meets Hitler, Madonna meets Caligula. That’s the concept for the “Riverworld” novels. Or how about “pocket universes”–the basis of the “World of Tiers” series. Or how about Sherlock Holmes meets Tarzan (Adventure of the Peerless Peer)? I could go on and on. Philip Jose Farmer used a big canvas for his notions. The Other in the Mirror collects three of Farmer’s unique fictions. Fire and the Night is a mainstream novel that deals with racial relationships. Jesus on Mars explores religious themes but in ways you’ve never imagined. Night of Light is a psychedelic SF novel inspired by Jim Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” Trust me: you’ll find these novels unique. Subterranean Press should be commended on returning these wild books back to print.