Only Murders in the Building might be showing some plot fatigue in Season 5. The format of investigating a cosy whodunnit with some social media satire might be wearing thin. Steve Martin and Martin Short still deliver their zippy one-liners with sight gags and physical comedy but the effects are lame. And then there’s the “cameos” of other actors who pop into the plots.

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian wrote: “Now, with season five, the centre is failing to hold. We ended the previous season in the traditional manner, with our heroes finding another murder in the building (or at least its grounds): this time of Lester the doorman (Teddy Coluca). Then we have another. Then the clues (including a missing finger, a mafia connection and an elevator crank) and suspects (including Téa Leoni as an Italian widow and potential love interest for Charles, who is taking testosterone supplements for his health; three billionaires; and Lester’s wife, Lorraine – Dianne Wiest, her brilliance eternal) begin to arrive. But they feel randomly scattered rather than meaningfully laid. The podcast element falls by the wayside, the proportion of red herrings to genuine progress is off, the action is too often located outside the Arconia, and the core team are too often split up – not least by the return of Streep as Oliver’s now-wife, Loretta. I know that I am probably in a minority in feeling that: a) a little of Streep goes a long way; and b) she should, wherever possible, be kept away from comedy.”

After one episode, I have to agree with Mangan. GRADE: Incomplete, but trending towards a C.

Secret Agent of Terra (1962) by  John Brunner. It is the first book of the Zarathustra Refugee Planets series. The other books are Castaways’ World (1963) and The Repairmen of Cyclops (1965). Brunner explores aspects of survival, societal structure, and the human conflicts likely to occur when facing harsh conditions after a planet’s star goes nova.  GRADE: B

A. Bertram Chandler created a series involving The Rim of Space (1958) where the unusual occurs. The crew of the starship Lorn Lady meet intelligent alien lifeforms and experience strange space anomalies in this novella.

Only one man ever survived contact with the Outsiders (aka, aliens) and Commander William Maudsley has always refused to speak of the horrors that destroyed his starship, killed his crew, and left him broken and confused.

Derek Calver intends to succeed where Maudsley failed. Despite the fears of his crew and vague rumors of terrible alien life form beyond the rim, Calver crosses the final frontier to enter the warped, unknown infinity of the “Outside” with all its dangers. This is #2 in the Commander Grimes series. GRADE: B

Are you a fan of ACE Doubles?

Once upon a time in the 1990s, retailers used compilation CDs as marketing tools. Some, like Starbucks, charged for the CDs–mostly the going rate of regular music CDs. Other retailers offered the compilation CDs for free with a purchase. Other retailers discounted the CDs to move them.

BOKS ROCK (1993) from Reebok had a more eclectic variety of songs. George Thorogood rubs shoulders with Slowdive. Beyond the Blues (1996) from Lane Bryant offers Name artists–like Patti LaBelle, Taylor Dayne, Etta James, Oleta Adams, Rod Stewart, Peter Frampton, Rita Coolidge, and Gloria Gaynor. And a couple Well Known groups: Gladys Knight and the Pips and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

The fact that no corporation I know is offering music as part of the buying experience today–not even streaming–shows that this marketing tactic is now obsolete. But, back in the day, this was a fairly common practice.

Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B (for both)

TRACK LIST:

1	Patti LaBelle–	New Attitude
2	Gladys Knight And The Pips–	I Heard It Through The Grapevine
3	Taylor Dayne–	I’ll Be Your Shelter
4	Etta James–	How Strong Is A Woman
5	Atlanta Rhythm Section–	So In To You
6	Oleta Adams–	Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
7	Bachman-Turner Overdrive–	You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
8	Rod Stewart–	You Wear It Well
9	Tears For Fears–	Everybody Wants To Rule The World
10	Peter Frampton–	Baby, I Love Your Way
11	Rita Coolidge–	Fever
12	Gloria Gaynor–	I Will Survive

TRACK LIST:

1	Duran Duran–	Come Undone
2	Radiohead–	Creep
3	The Devlins–	I Know That
4	Portrait–	Day By Day
5	The College Boyz*–	Victim Of The Ghetto
6	Adorable–	Glorious
7	George Thorogood–	Gone Dean Train
8	Slowdive–	Allison
9	Michael McDermott	Just West Of Eden
10	Ryuichi Sakamoto–	Heartbeat

Tor Doubles are a series of science fiction books published by Tor Books between 1988 and 1991, mostly in tête-bêche format. The series was inspired by the Ace Doubles, published between 1952 and 1973.

I’ve bought Tor Doubles when I came across them. I’m less enthusiastic about the Tor Doubles than the ACE Doubles. Many of the Tor Doubles feature stories that have been reprinted many times…like Fritz Leiber’s classic, “Ill Met in Lankhmar.” ll Met in Lankhmar was originally published in F&SF  in April, 1970. It won the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award.  But on the plus side, they also include more obscure stories like Charles de Lint’s “The Fair in Main Macha” (1990).

Obviously, “Ill Met in Lakhmar” is a classic sword & sorcery story. It recounts the meeting and teaming-up of Leiber’s adventurous duo, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser make the mistake of messing with the Thieves’ Guild which results in disastrous consequences. GRADE: A

The Fair in Emain Macha was originally published in Space and Time #68 in December, 1985. It was nominated for the Aurora Award. The Fair in Emain Macha de Lint’s fourth story about the life of Colum mac Donal, an outlawed man from Aerin serving King Artor of the Grey Isles.

I prefer de Lint’s Urban Fantasies to this mundane tale of swords and magic. The Fair in Emain Macha is an early de Lint story. His story-telling improved over the years. GRADE: C+

“Everyone is out to escape something in Task, though it will be holding viewers happily hostage: Perhaps the best crime thriller of the year, it’s also a validation of the seven-, eight-, or nine-part TV series.” That’s what Wall Street Journal TV reviewer John Anderson wrote about this new HBO MAX series.

Task is a seven-episode television miniseries created and written by Brad Ingelsby for HBO. It stars Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Raúl Castillo, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Fabien Frankel, and Amanda Mahlaba.

FBI Special Agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) is lured out of a semi-retirement to head aI FBI Task Force to deal with a string of violent robberies in the working class suburbs of Philadelphia. Brandis is “saddled with a motley crew from local law enforcement, including shaky state trooper Lizzie (Alison Oliver), domestic violence survivor Aleah (Thuso Mbedu) and pretty boy detective Anthony (Fabien Frankel, free from the chainmail of his “House of the Dragon” role).”

If you’re in the mood for a gritty crime series, Task delivers. New Episodes drop each Sunday on HBO MAX. GRADE: Incomplete but trending towards a B+

“The greatest wealth is health.” Virgil wrote that centuries ago but it’s still true. Nick Maggiulli’s The Wealth Ladder addresses the necessary strategies needed to successfully manage each phase of your Life.

Obviously, I focused on what Maggiulli has to say about the Retirement Years and End of Life Decisions. Diane and I anticipated Maggiulli’s advice to transfer our assets to our children. Katie is now owner of the house we live in (Patrick opted out). Patrick and Katie will split our wealth 50-50 when the time comes. Also Diane and I have made plans to deal with catastrophic health problems should they strike us. I have donated my body to the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Medical School. So far, so good.

The early chapters of The Wealth Ladder counsels reducing Debt (we have none–the house is paid off, so are the vehicles, and we pay off our credit cards completely each month). Diane likes to buy clothes, I like to buy books, CDs, and Blu-rays, but neither one of us is extravagant. We don’t smoke, we have a glass of wine regularly, and we don’t gamble (other than the occasion Powerball ticket when the amount goes over a billionaire dollars).

Diane and I have two great kids, a loving family, great friends..and each other. We climbed the Wealth Ladder successfully and now we just have to deal with the Future. How about you? How was your climb on the Wealth Ladder? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Introduction — ix
2. Part I: Understanding the Wealth Ladder
3. Chapter 1: Spending up the Wealth Ladder — 3
4. Chapter 2: Earning up the Wealth Ladder — 17
5. Chapter 3: Investing up the Wealth Ladder — 41
6. Part II: Making the Climb
7. Chapter 4: Level 1 (<$10k) — 59
8. Chapter 5: Level 2 ($10k–$100k) — 71
9. Chapter 6: Level 3 ($100k–$1M) — 85
10. Chapter 7: Level 4 ($1M–$10M) — 99
11. Chapter 8: Level 5 ($10M–$100M) — 111
12. Chapter 9: Level 6 ($100M+) — 133
13. Chapter 10: How Long Does It Take to Climb the Wealth Ladder? — 145
14. Part III: Finding Your Summit
15. Chapter 11: Does Money Buy Happiness? — 165
16. Chapter 12: The Great Enhancer — 175
17. Chapter 13: My Journey up the Wealth Ladder — 193
18. Epilogue: Finding Simplicity in Complexity — 209
19. Acknowledgments — 215
20. Notes — 217

The National Football League schedule makers decided to open the 2025 season with a blast: Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills. The Ravens are 1 1/2 point favorites according to Vegas. Back in January, the Bills beat the Ravens in a Playoff game, 27-25. I’m guessing the Ravens are motivated to avenge that game tonight.

I watched FIRST TAKE on Friday morning and all three commentators–Stephen A. Smith, Dan Orlovsky, and Ryan Clark–all proclaimed that the Baltimore Ravens were the best team in the NFL and will win the Super Bowl this year. We’ll find out just how close to Reality these predictions are. How will your favorite NFL perform today?

I binged the final four episodes Netflix released this week to conclude Wednesday, Season 2. Not only is Jenna Ortega brilliant as Wednesday Addams, I really like Emma Meyers as werewolf Enid Sinclair, Wednesday roommate at Nevermore Academy. And Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams (née Frump) claims she could play Morticia for the rest of her career.

Wednesday tries to save Enid from her premonition of Death, but the plot becomes more complicated as monster Hydes and a zombie join forces to destroy Nevermore and the Addams family.

Wednesday, Season 2 is plenty of fun. Season 3 is already being filmed in Ireland. GRADE: A

I’ve read a number of Hank Davis anthologies over the years–you can check out the list below with links to the reviews. Hank always assembles sets of stories that provide great entertainment and a nice mix of Name writers with some New Writers.

I read L. Sprague de Camp’s classic Lest Darkness Fall in the mid-1960s. The story of a 20th Century man who time travels back to the Roman Empire and tries to prevent The Dark Ages thrilled me. Some of the stories in All Roads Lead to Rome refer to de Camp’s story that was first published in Unknown in 1939…and a hardcover edition by Holt in 1941. I read the Lancer paperback edition.

Hank includes Randall Garrett’s “L. Sprague de Camp’s Lest Darkness Fall: A Review in Verse” for a quick summary for readers not familiar with the famous novel.

I enjoyed Robert Silverberg’s “Via Roma” and David Brin’s “71” and especially Eric Flint’s “Islands.”

Hank Davis delivers another wonderful anthology with an unusual theme. Don’t miss it! GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction: “There’s No Place Like Rome” by Hank Davis is published here for the first time. © 2025 by Hank Davis. Published by permission of the author. — ix
“Ranks of Bronze” by David Drake, originally published in Galaxy magazine, August 1975. © 1975 by David Drake. Reprinted by permission of Joanne Drake. — 1
“L. Sprague de Camp’s Lest Darkness Fall: A Review in Verse” by Randall Garrett, originally published in Science Fiction Stories, September 1956. © 1956 by Randall Garrett. Reprinted by permission of Joshua Bilmes and the JABberwocky Literary Agency for the author’s estate. –11
“Temporal Discontinuity” by David Weber, originally published in Lest Darkness Fall and Timeless Tales Written in Tribute. CAEZIK SF & Fantasy, 2021. © 2021 by David Weber. Reprinted by permission of the author. — 15
“Via Roma” by Robert Silverberg, originally published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, April 1994. © 1994 by Agberg, Ltd. Reprinted by permission of the author. — 35
“71” by David Brin, originally published in The Baen Books Free Stories, May 2016. © 2016 by David Brin. Reprinted by permission of the author. — 91
“Islands” by Eric Flint, originally published in The Warmasters, edited by Bill Fawcett, Baen Books, 2002. © 2002 by Eric Flint. Reprinted by permission of the author’s estate. — 115
“Ave Atque Vale” by Sandra Miesel is published here for the first time. © 2025 by Sandra Miesel. Published by permission of the author. — 175
“A Difficult Undertaking” by Harry Turtledove, originally published in Dragon magazine, September 1986. © 1986 by Harry Turtledove. Reprinted by permission of the author. — 193
“The Wandering Warriors” by Rick Wilber and Alan Smale, originally published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, May 2018. © 2018 by Rick Wilber and Alan Smale. Reprinted by permission of the authors. — 215

Authors’ Biographies — 297

HANK DAVIS ANTHOLOGIES:

TIME TROOPERS

COSMIC CORSAIRS

THE BAEN BIG BOOK OF MONSTERS

THE SPACE PIONEERS

WORST CONTACT

THE BEST OF GORDON R. DICKSON

IF THIS GOES WRONG

FUTURE WARS

OVERRULED

The Pop Memories I have of many of these songs are listen to my mother and father’s favorite Easy Listening radio station, WBEN, back in the early Sixties. My local rock n’ roll radio station, WKBW, played a few of these songs like Ruby and the Romantics’ “Our Day Will Come” and Dusty Springfield’s “Wishin’ and Hoping'”. But Jack Jones, Burl Ives, Patsy Cline, Dinah Washington, Ramsey Lewis Trio, and Engelbert Humperdinck mostly stayed on the Easy Listening station.

Of course, there was some crossover with songs that managed to get played both on our Easy Listing and rock n’ roll radio stations. Connie Francis songs were played on both. Surprisingly, Roger Miller songs played on both stations. The Righteous Brothers songs were popular, too.

Do any of these songs jog your Pop Memories of the 60s? GRADE: B

TRACK LIST:

DISC ONE:

1. “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes) — Dinah Washington
2. “For You” — Rick Nelson
3. “Sweet Dreams (Of You) — Patsy Cline
4. “Funny Way of Laughing” — Burl Ives
5. “Break It to Me Gently” — Brenda Lee
6. “Green, Green Grass of Home” — Tom Jones
7. “Our Day Will Come” — Ruby and the Romantics
8. “At Last” — Etta James
9. “The ‘In’ Crowd” — Ramsey Lewis Trio
10. “Together” –Connie Francis
11. “Still” — Bill Anderson
12. “The Wedding” — Julie Rogers
13. “You Don’t Have to Be a Baby to Cry” — The Caravelles
14. “I’ll Never Smile Again” — The Platters
15. “One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) — Barry Young

DISC TWO:

1. “Engine Engine #9” — Roger Miller
2. “Am I that Easy to Forget” — Engelbert Humperdinck
3. “Kiddio” –Brook Benton
4. “I Want to Be Wanted (Per Tutta La Vita) — Brenda Lee
5. “Ebb Tide” — The Righteous Brothers
6. “Wishin’ and Hopin'” — Dusty Springfield
7. “Come Saturday Morning” — The Sandpipers
8. “Windy” — Wes Montgomery
9. “The Impossible Dream” — Jack Jones
10. “Diane” — The Bachelors
11. “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” — Connie Francis
12. “Theme From Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight) — Richard Chamberlain
13. “Young Lovers” — Paul & Paula
14. “Call Me” — Chris Montez
15. “More Than a Miracle” — Roger William