Director Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE covers about a third of Frank Herbert’s classic Science Fiction novel. DUNE was scheduled to be released about this time last year, but the Pandemic postponed the date until now. DUNE is available in IMAX format, regular 2-D at your local movie theater, and on HBO Max.

Villeneuve, who directed two other SF movies–Arrival and Blade Runner 2049–spent $165 million on this sprawling tale of a desert planet which is the only source of spice. Spice becomes the most valuable commodity in the Galaxy because it allows interstellar travel.

My favorite character in this movie is Lady Jessica, played by Rebecca Ferguson, who is a powerful member of the Bene Gesseritt sisterhood. Much of DUNE–both the novel and the movie–concerns politics on a galactic scale. The Bene Gesseritt, who operate behind the scene of Power, play the Long Game for control. Their designs extend for centuries.

The cast features Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

When I saw DUNE at my local AMC Theater, the showing I attended was sold out. I, and a dozen other viewers, wore masks. When the movie ended, there were a lot of groans as the realization that the bulk of the story of Frank Herbert’s DUNE is yet to be told…and only if this movie makes a lot of money. Are you a fan of DUNE? GRADE: Incomplete

Men’s Action Series used to be a huge publishing category. The Executioner, the Death Merchant, the Destroyer, and many other series sold millions of copies. One of the best selling series was the Mack Bolan series (aka, The Executioner) published initially by Pinnacle Books and later by Gold Eagle Books. Gold Eagle hired the talented paperback artist, Gil Cohen, to provide the eye-catching covers on their profitable line of Men’s Action novels. Check out some samples below. If you’re a fan of paperback cover artwork, One Man Army: The Action Paperback Art of Gil Cohen is a must-buy! GRADE: A

One of the more unusual acquisitions here lately is this Pioneer CD 6 Pack that was issued in 1992 as a promotion. Apparently, if you bought a Pioneer CD player, the retailer gave you this FREE 6 CD set:

Volume 1: Rock Classics

Volume 2: Pop Greats

Volume 3: Rhythm & Blues

Volume 4: Country Gold

Volume 5: Jazz Tracks

Volume 6: Classical Notes

Right on the cover of this set–in BIG LETTERS–is the notification: COMPILED FROM THE CHARTS OF BILLBOARD MAGAZINE. There’s a lot here. Obviously, the people at Pioneer were trying to appeal to every musical taste with this set. What do you think? Do you see anything you’d listen to? GRADE: B+

TRACK LIST:

Rick Robinson brought Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds to my attention (you can read Rick’s blog post here). Somehow, Multiverse slipped past my radar. I quickly ordered a copy and when it arrived, I read Multiverse in one day.

Tribute anthologies vary in quality. Multiverse is one of the best. I was a big Poul Anderson fan while growing up. The first Poul Anderson SF novel I read was Vault of the Ages, a volume in the classic Winston Science Fiction series aimed at Young Adults. Then, I discovered Poul Anderson was being published in ACE Doubles format. Later, I read many of Anderson’s works in SF magazines.

The best parts of Multiverse are the reminiscences of Poul Anderson’s family and friends. They all loved Anderson and write about the influence he had on their lives, personally and professionally. It’s rare when one person can touch so many lives so positively. Anderson helped rookie writers get started and pros perfect their craft. Anderson was natural story-teller.

My favorite story in Multiverse is David Brin’s “Latecomers,” a tale with a very Poul Anderson flavor. The characters find themselves under attack by a combat robot (think Berserker!). Their battle for survival, and the other secrets the characters find on an ancient asteroid, capture the essence of Poul Anderson’s style of story. Marvelous!

The stories, commentaries, and remembrances make Multiverse a superior tribute anthology. If you’re a Poul Anderson fan, Multiverse is a must-read! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• “Introduction: My Friend Poul” by Greg Bear — 1
• “Outmoded Things” (the planet Roland, from “The Queen of Air and Darkness“) by Nancy Kress — 7
• “The Man Who Came Late” (the alternate Earth of Three Hearts and Three Lions) by Harry Turtledove — 27
• “A Slip in Time” (the alternate timelines of the Time Patrol) by S. M. Stirling — 55
• “Living and Working with Poul Anderson” by Karen Anderson — 85
• “Dancing on the Edge of the Dark” (the Terran Empire of Dominic Flandry) by C. J. Cherryh — 99
• “The Lingering Joy” (a sequel to “The Long Remembering”) by Stephen Baxter — 123
• “Operation Xibalba” (the alternate Earth of Operation Chaos)) by Eric Flint –143
• “Tales Told” by Astrid Anderson Bear — 177
• “The Fey of Cloudmoor” (the planet Roland, from “The Queen of Air and Darkness“) by Terry Brooks — 181
• “Christmas in Gondwanaland” (the alternate timelines of the Time Patrol) by Robert Silverberg — 207
• “Latecomers” (a story in Brin’s own “Existence” series) by David Brin — 243
• “An Appreciation of Poul Anderson” by Jerry Pournelle — 273
• “A Candle” (the Terran Empire of Dominic Flandry) by Raymond E. Feist — 281
• “The Far End” (the alternate timelines of the Time Patrol) by Larry Niven — 303
• “Bloodpride” (the alien Ythri culture from the Polesotechnic League of Nicholas van Rijn) by Gregory Benford — 315
• “Three Lilies and Three Leopards (And a Participation Ribbon in Science)” (the alternate Earth of Three Hearts and Three Lions) by Tad Williams — 339

I saw Etta James perform live in a small nightclub in Madison, Wisconsin in 1976. She was fabulous!

Etta James and The Roots Band Burnin’ Down the House is a 2001 performance. Etta James was near the end of her career.

In front of an enthusiastic audience, Etta James sings 15 songs in her trade-mark style. Check out the Track List and note that the songs in Etta James’ set covers blues, soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, funk, and even some rock & roll. Etta James is seated throughout the concert. When I saw Dionne Warwick in concert a decade ago, she sat during her concert, too.

Etta James is backed by The Roots Band, a group of talented musicians that includes two of Etta’s sons. The sound on this DVD rocks my speakers!

If you’re looking for an enjoyable concert DVD, I recommend Etta James and The Roots Band Burnin’ Down the House. GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

The Buffalo Bills (4-1) travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans (3-2) in a rematch of 2020’s infamous Covid-19 game. The Bills are 5 1/2 point favorites.

Last year, the Titans had plenty of infected players and coaches. The Bills v. Titans game was postponed and finally scheduled for a rare Tuesday afternoon time slot. The Titans beat the Bills 42-16 in a game with Covid-19 infections playing a key role in player psychology. This year, with the recent outbreak with the Arizona Cardinals, Covid-19 threatens to affect teams every week. Is your favorite NFL team fully vaccinated?

The Buffalo Bills play the Tennessee Titans tomorrow on Monday Night Football. How will your favorite NFL team do today?

Jeff Meyerson mentioned that Stephen Sondheim evaluated other Broadway composers in Finishing the Hat so I checked it out. Sondheim respected Cole Porter, but noted that Porter was a “list-maker” and cited several song lyrics to prove his point.

That led me to Alec Wilder’s American Popular Song: The Great Innovators 1900-1950 (1972). I’m a fan of Wilder’s songs, especially “I’ll Be Around.” Alec Wilder isn’t afraid of making song judgments. Just check out this critique of a Richard Rodgers classic:

“No, I don’t like Some Enchanted Evening. I find it pale and pompous and bland. Where, oh where, are all those lovely surprises, those leaps in the dark, those chances? I’m in church and it’s the wrong hymnal!” (p. 221)

Stephen Sondheim ranked Cole Porter at the top of his list of great Broadway composers. Alec Wilder has a different opinion:

“There is considerable irony in the fact that, though Cole Porter was the most thoroughly trained musician of all the writers discussed in this book, he is better known and more highly considered for his lyrics than his music. And there is no question but that his lyrics were high fashion, witty to a markedly sophisticated degree, turned out, often-times it seemed, for the special amusement of his social set. Yet they seldom risked or indulged in tenderness or vulnerability.” (p. 223)

Although you might think Wilder was being too critical of Porter, he does provide an insightful assessment: “For many years Porter had been suffering great pain from a shattered leg. It had been operated on countless times. His surgeon once told me that Porter’s pain must have been so excruciating as to cause virtual sleeplessness for years. Yet this anguished man managed not only to write good songs and witty lyrics, but, in 1948, to create possibly his most successful score, Kiss Me, Kate.” (p. 249)

Of all the song writers and composers in AMERICAN POPULAR SONG: THE GREAT INNOVATORS 1900-1950, Alec Wilder’s favorite is Harold Arlen. Wilder knew Arlen and spoke with him about their craft:

“Interestingly, when I discussed song writing with him, Arlen never spoke of hits, he talked only of good songs. My feeling was that he simply didn’t equate quality with sales.” (p. 254)

After reading Wilder’s chapter on Harold Arlen, I wanted to drop everything and listen to Arlen’s music!

Wilder sums up his survey of a half century of popular songs with these conclusions: “Overall, I find Rodgers warmer, Arlen more hip, Gershwin more direct, Vernon Durk more touchable, Berlin more practical. But no one can deny that Porter added a certain theatrical elegance, as well as interest and sophistication, wit, and musical complexity to the popular song form. And for this we are deeply indebted.” (p. 252)

If you’re interested in American popular songs from the first half of the Twentieth Century, Alec Wilder has a lot to say. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Author’s Note — xxi

Acknowledgements
Introduction by James T. Maher — xxiii
1. The Transition Era: 1885 to World War I — 3
2. Jerome Kern (1885-1945) — 29
3. Irving Berlin (1888-1989) — 91
4. George Gershwin (1898-1937) — 121
5. Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) — 163
6. Cole Porter (1891-1964) — 223
7. Harold Arlen (1905-1986) — 243
8. Vincent Youmans (1898-1946) and Arthur Schwartz (1900-1984) — 292
9. Burton Lane (1912- 1997), Hugh Martin (1914-2011), and Vernon Duke (1903-1969) — 331
10. The Great Craftsmen –370
Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981)
Walter Donaldson (1893-1947)
Harry Warren (1893-1981)
Isham Jones (1894-1956)
Jimmy McHugh (1894-1969)
Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
Fred Ahlert (1892-1953)
Richard Whiting (1891-1938)
Ray Noble (1907-1978)
John Green (1908-1989)
Rube Bloom (1902-1976)
Jimmy Van Heusen (1913-1990)
11. Outstanding Individual Songs: 1920 to 1950 — 452
12. Additional Songs and Composers — 521
Index –525

Jerry House mentioned recently that he had been reading some John Creasey novels. I’ve read John Creasey novels over the years and still have about 100 Creasey novels waiting to be read. Inspired by Jerry, I read The Baron Goes Fast (1953). The Baron is ex-jewel thief and antiques dealer, John Mannering.  The Baron is often compared to Simon Templar because he involves himself in other people’s problems like a latter day Robin Hood.  THE BARON, a 1960s TV series starring Steve Forrest as The Baron, captured the vibe of the Creasey’s book series.

The Wannamaker Diamond Heist triggers a battle for the fortune in diamonds. The Baron sold the original Wannamaker diamonds so he decides to get involved in who stole the fabulous diamonds.

Mannering finds the thugs who pulled off the heist have more evil intentions. And he intends to stop them.

Like most of the John Creasey novels I’ve read, The Baron Goes Fast speeds right along at breakneck speed. If you’re looking for an entertaining, exciting novel just fasten your seat belt and start flipping the pages! Are you a John Creasey fan? GRADE: B

The Baron series was written under the pseudonym Anthony Morton between 1937–1979.

• Meet the Baron (1937) (U.S. title The Man in the Blue Mask)
• The Baron Returns (1937) (U.S. title The Return of Blue Mask)
• The Baron Again (1938) (U.S. title Salute Blue Mask)
• The Baron at Bay (1938) (U.S. title Blue Mask at Bay)
• Alias the Baron (1939) (U.S. title Alias Blue Mask)
• The Baron at Large (1939) (U.S. title Challenge Blue Mask)
• Versus the Baron (1940) (U.S. title Blue Mask Strikes Again)
• Call for the Baron (1940) (U.S. title Blue Mask Victorious)
• The Baron Comes Back (1943)
• A Case for the Baron (1945)
• Reward for the Baron (1945)
• Career for the Baron (1946)
• The Baron and the Beggar (1947)
• Blame the Baron (1948)
• A Rope for the Baron (1949)
• Books for the Baron (1949)
• Cry for the Baron (1950)
• Trap the Baron (1950)
• Attack the Baron (1951)
• Shadow the Baron (1951)
• Warn the Baron (1952)
• The Baron Goes East (1953)
• The Baron in France (1953)
• Danger for the Baron (1953)
• The Baron Goes Fast (1954)
• Nest-Egg for the Baron (1954) (U.S. title Deaf, Dumb and Blonde)
• Help from the Baron (1955)
• Hide the Baron (1956)
• Frame the Baron (1957) (U.S. title The Double Frame)
• Red Eye for the Baron (1958) (U.S. title Blood Red)
• Black for the Baron (1959) (U.S. title If Anything Happens to Hester)
• Salute for the Baron (1960)
• A Branch for the Baron (1961) (U.S. title The Baron Branches Out)
• Bad for the Baron (1962) (U.S. title The Baron and the Stolen Legacy)
• A Sword for the Baron (1963) (U.S. title The Baron and the Mogul Swords)
• The Baron on Board (1964)
• The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle (1965)
• Sport for the Baron (1966)
• Affair for the Baron (1967)
• The Baron and the Missing Old Masters (1968)
• The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait (1969)
• Last Laugh for the Baron (1970)
• The Baron Goes A-Buying (1971)
• The Baron and the Arrogant Artist (1972)
• Burgle the Baron (1973)
• The Baron, King-Maker (1975)
• Love for the Baron(1979)