I’m always curious about how movies, TV shows, plays, and songs are made. Disney+ now offers a look into the MARVEL Universe with three documentaries (so far):

The Making of WandaVision

The Making of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

The Making of Loki 

My favorite of these three documentaries is The Making of Loki. I’m a big fan of Tom Hiddleston and his 10-year history playing Loki provides fascinating insights into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what’s coming next.

If you want to see what happens behind the scenes, Marvel Studios: Assembled shows you the nuts and bolts of producing these series. Rumors abound that the next documentary will be The Making of Black Widow. GRADE: B+

I know the Pandemic isn’t over and the Delta Variant is running wild (mostly in the South), but I decided to take a walk down Memory Lane with Lawrence Wright and revisit the horrors of 2020.

CHAPTER ONE, “It’s Going to Be Just Fine,” brings back the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in China, Europe, and America. Our politicians assured us it was No Big Deal. Lawrence Wright identifies the three opportunities we had to stop the Pandemic. We failed all three times. Three strikes and…600,000+ deaths in the U.S. And growing.

Wright also documents the tragic politicalization of the Pandemic: the fight over masking, social distancing, and following the science. We’re seeing that today as the Delta Variant spreads and people resist vaccination.

If you want a canny history of the Plague Year, Lawrence Wright provides a detailed, well-written guide to a hellish year. I’m so happy we all survived! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Prologue 3

1 “Its Going to Be Just Fine” 17

2 The Trickster 30

3 Spike 39

4 “An Evolving Situation” 59

5 “Flatten the Curve” 78

6 “It’s Coming to You” 92

7 “Nothing Can Stop What’s Coming” 119

8 The Doom Loop 137

9 “Let It Be March” 154

10 “Its Like a Wind” 165

11 Bellevue 174

12 The No Plan Plan 188

13 Little Africa 212

14 The Mission of Wall Street 222

15 The Man Without a Mask 239

16 Waves 262

17 I Can’t Breathe 270

18 Tulsa 289

19 Thelma and Louise 297

20 The Hedgehog and the Fox 307

21 Dark Shadows 324

22 The Rose Garden Cluster 338

23 The Search for Patient Zero 349

24 Survivors 368

25 Surrender 387

Epilogue 408

Acknowledgments and Notes on Sources 439

Notes 451

Index 511

I’ll watch Kate Beckinsale in anything. In her latest action movie, Jolt, Beckinsale plays Lindy–a woman with extreme impulse control issues. Her weird psychiatrist, Stanley Tucci, designs a bizarre electrical apparatus that Lindy wears under her clothing. When Lindy feels the urge to lash out and punch someone, she presses a button that delivers a jolt of electricity that helps her to regain control.

When Lindy experiences the death of a friend, she goes on a rampage of vengeance. Director Tanya Wexler keeps the acton amped up while mixing in some humor as two cops (Bobby Cannavale and Laverne Cox) try to stop Lindy’s tumultuous spree.

The script by Scott Wascha unleashes a whirlwind of rage with Lindy’s attack on killers of her friend. I’m hoping this is just the first movie in a series. Lindy will stay in your memory for a while thanks to Kate Beckinsale’s brilliant performance! GRADE: B+

James Gunn, the Director of the two Guardians of the Galaxy movies for MARVEL now delivers a very wild DC movie: The Suicide Squad. Viola Davis plays the manipulative Amanda Waller who offers prisoners freedom in exchange for their participation in kamikaze missions. The previous Suicide Squad sucked (you can read my review here), but Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is a completely different kettle of starfish.

Amanda Waller assembles a team whose mission is to destroy a facility in a hostile South American country that houses a space alien: an extraterrestrial giant starfish. Gunn doesn’t hesitate in killing off the members of the team. If fact, you have to wonder while watching The Suicide Squad who is going to survive the mission to the end.

If you’re in the mood for a Summer Popcorn Action movie, The Suicide Squad delivers plenty of mayhem and chaos! GRADE: B+

CAST:

• Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn:
  A crazed criminal and former psychiatrist.^[5] Robbie said the film would show a new side of the character compared to her previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU) appearances due to her being in a new place and surrounded by new characters.^[6] Director James Gunn likened Harley’s relationship with Bloodsport to the comedy duo Abbott and Costello, with Harley being Costello.^[7] Robbie wears a new costume that features Harley’s traditional red and black color palette, with Gunn taking inspiration from the character’s costume in the video game Batman: Arkham City (2011). He wanted her jacket to have “motorcycle gang style”-writing on the back, and chose “Live fast, die clown” over other potential options “Clown AF” and “World’s Best Grandpa”.^[8] Gunn also removed Harley’s “Rotten” facial tattoo from previous DCEU films because both he and Robbie disliked it.^[9]
• Idris Elba as Robert DuBois / Bloodsport:
  A mercenary with a technologically-advanced suit and weapons that only he can use. After being convicted of shooting Superman with a Kryptonite bullet, he shortens his prison sentence by joining Task Force X so he can reunite with his daughter Tyla.^[10] Gunn said each member of the Suicide Squad in the film was inspired by a different film genre,^[10] and described Bloodsport as an unsentimental portrayal of a 1960s action hero like Steve McQueen, without the “moral repercussions” of those characters.^[7] Elba was reportedly originally cast to replace Will Smith as Deadshot, but the character was changed to Bloodsport to allow Smith to reprise his role in the future;^[11][12] Gunn did not change the story that he had written for Elba, and just chose Bloodsport because he liked the character in the comics. The character’s comic book ability to manifest weapons is adapted in the film as different gadgets and transforming weaponry that come from his costume.^[8]
• John Cena as Christopher Smith / Peacemaker:
  A ruthless, jingoistic killer who believes in achieving peace at any cost.^[5][7][13] Gunn told Cena not to read any Peacemaker comics before filming, and Cena originally approached the role with an “angular, drill sergeant, Full Metal Jacket-esque personality” before Gunn told him to act like a “douchey, bro-y Captain America“.^[14] Gunn added that the character was straight out of a 1970s television series like Wonder Woman.^[10]
• Joel Kinnaman as Col. Rick Flag:
  The field leader of the Suicide Squad.^[5] Kinnaman said the film was an opportunity to give the character a blank slate, and said Flag was sillier, less jaded, more naive, and funnier compared to his portrayal in the first Suicide Squad (2016).^[15]
• Sylvester Stallone as the voice of Nanaue / King Shark:
  A man-eating fish-human hybrid.^[16][17][18] Steve Agee developed King Shark’s portrayal as a stand-in on set,^[19][20] with the character then created with visual effects.^[21] Gunn initially used a hammerhead shark design from the comics, but found it awkward to film the character with other actors due to his eyes being on the sides of his head.^[22] Gunn settled on a great white shark design similar to the one seen in the Harley Quinn (2019–present) animated series, though this was a coincidence as that series was released after filming for The Suicide Squad began.^[20] Gunn gave King Shark a dad bod to make him look less like a mammal,^[23] as well as small eyes, a big mouth, and a small head to avoid the “cute anthropomorphic beast” design seen in popular characters like Baby Groot from his Guardians of the Galaxy films and The Mandalorian‘s Baby Yoda.^[24]
• Viola Davis as Amanda Waller: The director of A.R.G.U.S. who runs the Task Force X program.^[25]
• Jai Courtney as George “Digger” Harkness / Captain Boomerang:
  An unhinged Australian thief who wields boomerangs.^[26] Courtney stated that unlike Rick Flag, Captain Boomerang has not changed since the events of Suicide Squad, being “the same shitbag liability we came to learn about in the first one. He’s out there causing trouble as you would expect.”^[27]
• Peter Capaldi as Dr. Gaius Grieves / The Thinker: A highly-intelligent supervillain who works with the Corto Maltese government on Project Starfish.

I rarely re-read books (too many new ones arrive here every day!) but I was in the mood for a Jack Vance “Fantastic Adventure in the Far Future” so I chose Maske: Thaery from 1976. Vance was at the height of his writing powers in the mid-1970s so this novel of conspiracy and treachery kept the pages turning.

Jubal Droad, from the Droad caste on the planet Maske, has a chance encounter with an arrogant nobleman, Ramus Ymph. Jubal’s confrontation with Ramus Ymph leaves him badly injured. After he recovers, Jubal seeks a position from the powerful noble Nai the Hever. Nai the Hever, intrigued by Jubal’s information about Ramus Ymph, hires Jubal to be a member of Thaery’s secret intelligence agency, unit D3. Jubal’s lust for revenge overlaps with the intelligence agency’s interest in Ramus Ymph, leading Jubal on a planet-hopping adventure to track down his nemesis and discover his schemes.

After a couple of near-death experiences, Jubal manages to follow Ramus to a strange land where Ramus negotiates with the tree-worshipping Waels for the use of their land in exchange for much-needed food and other resources. The conclusion of Maske: Thaery blends Vance’s sinister sense of Justice with the possibility of more adventures on Maske. Sadly, this remains a stand-alone SF novel, but a very good one. GRADE: B+

Based on the MTV LIVE series, VH-1 Storytellers (2000) reveals how songs got written, recorded, and performed. If you’re curious about how these songs and artists came together, this CD supplies some of the answers. There’s also a VH-1 DVD series featuring these artists. Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

1	David Bowie–	China Girl	4:41
2	Stevie Nicks–	Edge Of Seventeen	6:54
3	The Pretenders–	Back On The Chain Gang	4:06
4	Counting Crows–	Rain King	5:53
5	Dave Matthews Band–	CrashGuitar – Tim ReynoldsGuitar – Tim Reynolds	5:05
6	Jewel–	Who Will Save Your Soul	7:06
7	Lisa Loeb–	Stay	3:08
8	John Popper–	Regarding Steven	5:05
9	James Taylor (2)–	Mexico	3:05
10	Sheryl Crow–	Strong EnoughVocals – Stevie NicksVocals – Stevie Nicks	3:21
11	Eurythmics–	Here Comes The Rain Again	3:55
12	Natalie Merchant–	Carnival	5:31
13	John Mellencamp*–	Jack & Diane	5:56
14	Elvis Costello–	Just A Memory	3:57
15	Bee Gees–	How Deep Is Your Love	2:26

A couple weeks ago I reviewed Ed Hoch’s A Funeral in the Fog (you can read my review here). A Funeral in the Fog featured stories about Hoch’s investigator of supernatural mysteries, Simon Ark. Ark might be 2000 years old.

In a comment on A Funeral in the Fog, Art Scott mentioned he had some input into the plotting of another Simon Ark story, “The Witch of Park Avenue.” I had read “The Witch of Park Avenue” years ago so I decided to reread the story. And, of course, once I started read Ed Hoch’s The Quests of Simon Ark (1984) I couldn’t stop.

Once again, Simon Ark explores weird happenings and solves mind-bending mysteries. With each story, my admiration of Ed Hoch’s creativity and talent increased! Highly recommended! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction — ix

Village of the Dead — 1

The Man from Nowhere — 24

The Vicar of Hell — 45

The Judges of Hades — 78

Sword For a Sinner — 121

The Treasure of Jack the Ripper — 162

The Mummy from the Sea — 188

The Unicorn’s Daughter — 213

The Witch of Park Avenue — 238

Simon Ark Checklist –267

If you’re a fan of musicals, you’ll love Lorne Michaels’ Schmigadoon! A couple–Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong–stumble into a fairyland where the inhabitants constantly break into song. And yes, plenty of dancing, too! Schmigadoon! is a parody of musicals from the 1940s and 1950s.

When they try to leave Schmigadoon! the couple is told by a leprechaun (Martin Short) that they can’t go back to the Real World until they find their True Love. That requirement causes plenty of plot twists.

The excellent cast includes:

• Dove Cameron as Betsy McDonough, one of Farmer McDonough’s seven daughters, inspired by Ado Annie from Oklahoma!
• Jaime Camil as Doc Jorge Lopez
• Kristin Chenoweth as Margaret/Mildred Layton, the preacher’s wife, based mainly on Mrs. Shinn from The Music Man.
• Alan Cumming as Mayor Aloysius Menlove, the closeted mayor of Schmigadoon.
• Ariana DeBose as Emma Tate, Schmigadoon’s schoolmarm, based on Marian Paroo from The Music Man.
• Ann Harada as Florence Menlove, the mayor’s loyal but frustrated wife.^[8]
• Jane Krakowski as Countess Gabriele Von Blerkom, a rich debutante based on the Baroness from The Sound of Music.
• Martin Short,^[9] as Leprechaun a magical imp based on Og from Finian’s Rainbow.^[8]
• Aaron Tveit as Danny Bailey, the town’s rapscallion, a carnival barker based on Billy Bigelow from Carousel.

Diane and I have watched four episodes of Schmigadoon! and can’t wait to watch the rest! Are you a fan of musicals? GRADE: A

Jacqueline Rose documents the violence in our world, especially towards women. She points out that despite the rape charges against Trump–and the sexual transgressions he committed and bragged about–women still voted for him. “…In the words of a Souther Baptist woman, asked on BCC television how she could vote for Trump given his moral failings, [she answered] “We are all sinners.” (p.17)

Rose provides harrowing statistics about how many women are killed each hour and how many rapes occur each minute. Even worse are the vicious attacks of transgender people and Asians. The sad fact is that violence is rising all over the United States. Not a day goes by in Western NY when a shooting isn’t reported on local TV and in the newspaper. Right now there have been 39 homicides in Buffalo and 122 people shot and wounded.

I’m convinced the problem is too many guns in the hands of unstable people. And, of course, the drug gangs have the best weapons.

How is the violence in your neighborhood? How are you dealing with the rise in violence? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction: On Violence and On Violence Against Women 1

1 I Am a Knife – Sexual Harassment in Close-up 35

2 Trans Voices – Who Do You Think You Are? 81

3 Trans and Sexual Harassment – The Back-story 137

4 Feminism and the Abomination of Violence 169

5 Writing Violence-From Modernism to Eimear McBride 199

6 The Killing of Reeva Steenkamp, the Trial of Oscar Pistorius – Sex and Race in the Courtroom 229

7 Political Protest and the Denial of History – South Africa and the Legacy of the Future 265

8 One Long Scream – Trauma and Justice in South Africa 293

9 At the Border 325

Afterword 359

Acknowledgements 369

Notes 373

Index 411

I read Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland when it was published in 1990 and when I finished it, I thought, “It took Pynchon 17 years to produce this disappointing work.”

In 1973, Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow generated a lot of controversy. The Pulitzer Advisory Board was offended by Gravity’s Rainbow’s content, some of which was described as “‘unreadable, turgid, overwritten, and in parts obscene.” No Pulitzer Prize for Literature was awarded that year. Then, in 1990, Vineland was published to very mixed reviews. I thought it sucked.

Peter Coviello loves Vineland and managed to talk Columbia University Press into paying him to write a defense of Thomas Pynchon’s novel. The Pandemic has lured me into a lot of crazy stuff–reading Charles Stross’s 1800 page novel, reading books that have been on my shelves for decades, etc.–so rereading Vineland after 30 years somehow seemed like a Good Idea. It wasn’t.

The same silliness I encountered the first time I read Vineland didn’t go away. “The Vibrating Palm”–an exotic ninja move that causes its victim to drop dead a year after its application–is just one of the nutty parts of this story. Evil Brock Vond and his DEA stooges engage in mysterious conspiracies. Young Prairie yearns to meet her mother, Vond’s lover and an informant.

I slogged through Vineland for a second time, not liking it despite all of Peter Coviello’s enthusiasm. He found the novel funny, I did not. Are you a Thomas Pynchon fan? How often do you reread books? GRADE: C (for both books)

Table of Contents

Prologue: Whatever’s Fair — 1
Part I
1. The Great Southcoast Plaza Eyeshadow Raid (’94) — 15
2. They Woke, the Thanatoids Awoke (’02) — 38
Part II
3. Scabland Garrison State (’08) –69
4. Secret Retributions (’19– …) — 104
Acknowledgments — 125
Notes — 127
Index — 139