HULU and Starz brought out this 2015 horror/comedy series, Ash vs. Evil Dead, just in time for the Halloween season.

The series is set approximately 30 years after the first three Evil Dead films, and serves as a sequel to that trilogy. Ash Williams  (Bruce Campbell) works at the “Value Stop” as a stock boy. Also working at the store is his friend Pablo (Ray Santiago) and the object of Pablo’s affections, Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo).

Ash has done very little with his life since returning from 1300 AD at the end of Army of Darkness except hiding out. At the beginning of this series Ash is living in a trailer and drinking alone in bars. However, Ash has to renounce his routine existence and become a hero once more by taking up arms and facing the titular Evil Dead as they attack him. Pablo and Kelly decide to join him on his quest to save humanity.

I’m a sucker for any series that features The Necronomicon. This 10 episode series is silly, occasionally funny, and gory. Lots of fake blood! A second season of Ash vs. Evil Dead showed up in 2016 and a third season arrived in 2018. One season was enough for me. GRADE: B-

Friend of this blog, Jeffrey D. Smith, with the help of Karen Joy Fowler and Subterranean Press, edited this wonderful collection! I’ve included the Subterranean Press description of The Voice That Murmurs in the Darkness to show how this volume certainly ranks at the top of the James Tiptree, Jr. collections.

If you’re a James Tiptree, Jr. fan, don’t miss this marvelous book! GRADE: A

“Introduction by Karen Joy Fowler.

Pioneering science fiction writer Alice Sheldon, who found fame using the pseudonym James Tiptree, Jr., among others, left behind a remarkable body of short fiction, much of it uncollected or out of print. Now The Voice That Murmurs in the Darkness, co-edited by Jeffrey D. Smith and two-time Booker Prize nominee Karen Joy Fowler, brings new light to some of Tiptree’s best and overlooked stories.

The stories represented span Tiptree’s career, and were primarily selected from a list made by Sheldon which she called “the cream of Tiptree,” none of which were included in Her Smoke Rose Up Forever. With a title drawn from Sheldon’s description of Tiptree as “the voice that murmurs in the darkness,” among the wonders featured here are…

In “Excursion Fare,” Dag and Philippa are about to be lost at sea in the wreckage of their balloon Sky-Walker, their grand adventure a failure, when a hospice ship called Charon rescues them, and they find themselves on a cruise exclusively for the dying—which may be carrying far stranger passengers.

A surreal evening ensues in “The Man Doors Said Hello To,” when a tall man enters a bar,  carrying miniature girls as tenants in his pockets, and takes the narrator with him on a strange rescue mission through secrets hiding in the corners and ledges of the city.

At nineteen, Jolyone Schram cries out in “Time-Sharing Angel,” despairing when she glimpses a vision of overpopulation and resulting planetary devastation, only to be heard by an interstellar angel who produces a shocking, simple fix that affects children across Earth and changes the future.

And, in “Yanqui Doodle,” a soldier undergoes a harrowing detox treatment from specialized drugs given to soothe the conscience during combat—a process that might itself be as painful as the memories of atrocities committed under their influence—and grows ever more unstable.

The Voice That Murmurs in the Darkness encompasses thirteen exceptional stories and one essay (“How to Have an Absolutely Hilarious Heart Attack”), covering the years 1968 to 1987, and includes an exclusive introduction from Karen Joy Fowler. Throughout this landmark new collection is Tiptree’s remarkable prose, shot through with invention and big ideas, exploring classic themes of identity, politics, what it is to be human, and the miraculous oddity of life—from what lies inside us out to the very edges of the universe.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction by Karen Joy Fowler. — 7

Excursion Fare — 11

The Snows Are Melted, the Snows Are Gone — 59

The Psychologist Who Wouldn’t Awful Things to Rats — 73

Fault — 101

All the Kinds of Yes — 109

The Man Doors Said Hello To — 131

Beam Us Home — 139

The Only Neat Thing to Do — 155

Time-Sharing Angel — 215

How to Have an Absolutely Hilarious Heart Attack — 229

What Came Ashore at Lirios — 239

Yanqui Doodle — 269

Out of the Everywhere — 309

In Midst of Life — 351

I spent last week listening to a dozen Greatest Hits CDs. Strange Brew: The Very Best of Cream (1983) and The Essential Paul Simon (2007) stood out among the various discs. I actually saw Cream live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at a bar called The Scene on May 03, 1968. The venue was jammed with fans. I really didn’t know all that much about Cream, but the performance was electric! I don’t remember the entire Set List, but I do remember Cream playing:

1. “Sunshine of Your Love”
2. “Spoonful”
3. “Toad”
4. “I Feel Free”

Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker delivered a blistering performance that energized the crowd. I still marvel at Ginger Baker’s searing drum solo! GRADE: A

I’ve never seen Paul Simon live, but I have seen plenty of concert videos and TV performances. The Essential Paul Simon includes two CDs of Simon’s music, and a DVD with Saturday Night Live performances, other TV appearances, and some MTV music videos. I enjoy the songs from Paul Simon’s early career, especially the songs with Art Garfunkel. But, the pair broke up and Simon and Garfunkel went solo.

I’ve always admired Paul Simon’s lyrics: smart and savvy. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” still gets played on Sirius/XM radio. I just heard it again yesterday. Love “Homeward Bound.” Are you a Paul Simon and/or Cream fan? Any favorites? GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

Badge
		Sunshine Of Your Love
		Crossroads
		White Room
		Born Under A Bad Sign
		Swalbr
		Strange Brew
		Anyone For Tennis? (The Savage Seven Theme)
		I Feel Free
		Politician
		Tales Of Brave Ulysees
		Spoonful

TRACK LIST:

1-1	Paul Simon–	Mother And Child Reunion
1-2	Paul Simon–	Loves Me Like A Rock
1-3	Paul Simon–	Me And Julio Down By The School Yard
1-4	Paul Simon–	Duncan
1-5	Paul Simon–	Kodachrome
1-6	Paul Simon–	50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
1-7	Paul Simon–	Slip Slidin’ Away
1-8	Paul Simon With Phoebe Snow & The Jessy Dixon Singers–	Gone At Last
1-9	Paul Simon–	Something So Right
1-10	Paul Simon–	Late In The Evening
1-11	Paul Simon–	Hearts And Bones
1-12	Paul Simon–	Take Me To The Mardi Gras
1-13	Paul Simon–	That Was Your Mother
1-14	Paul Simon–	American Tune
1-15	Paul Simon–	Peace Like A River
1-16	Paul Simon–	Stranded In A Limousine
1-17	Paul Simon–	Train In The Distance
1-18	Paul Simon–	The Late Great Johnny Ace
1-19	Paul Simon–	Still Crazy After All These Years
2-1	Paul Simon–	Graceland
2-2	Paul Simon–	Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
2-3	Paul Simon–	The Boy In The Bubble
2-4	Paul Simon–	You Can Call Me Al
2-5	Paul Simon–	Under African SkiesVocals – Linda RonstadtVocals – Linda Ronstadt
2-6	Paul Simon–	The Obvious Child
2-7	Paul Simon–	Born At The Right Time
2-8	Paul Simon–	The Cool, Cool River
2-9	Paul Simon–	Spirit Voices
2-10	Paul Simon–	Adios HermanosBacking Vocals – Briz, DeWayne Snype, Derrick James, Ed Vasquez, Karen Bernod, Kia Jeffries, Myrna Gomila*, Renee Connell-AdamsBacking Vocals – Briz, DeWayne Snype, Derrick James, Ed Vasquez, Karen Bernod, Kia Jeffries, Myrna Gomila*, Renee Connell-Adams
2-11	Paul Simon–	Born In Puerto RicoBacking Vocals – Nestor Sanchez, Ray De La PazVocals – Danny RiveraBacking Vocals – Nestor Sanchez, Ray De La PazVocals – Danny Rivera
2-12	Paul Simon–	Quality
2-13	Paul Simon–	Darling Lorraine
2-14	Paul Simon–	Hurricane Eye
2-15	Paul Simon–	Father And Daughter
2-16	Paul Simon–	Outrageous
2-17	Paul Simon–	Wartime Prayers
		Bonus DVD (Videos/TV Appearances)
DVD-01	Paul Simon–	Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard (Video)
DVD-02	Paul Simon–	You Can Call Me Al (Video)
DVD-03	Paul Simon–	The Boy In The Bubble (Video)
DVD-04	Paul Simon–	Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (Video)
DVD-05	Paul Simon–	The Obvious Child (Video)
DVD-06	Paul Simon–	Father And Daughter (Video)
DVD-07	Paul Simon–	Mrs. Robinson (Dick Cavett Show)
DVD-08	Paul Simon–	Loves Me Like A Rock (Saturday Night Live)
DVD-09	Paul Simon–	Sweeney Sisters (Saturday Night Live)
DVD-10	Paul Simon With George Harrison–	Homeward Bound (Saturday Night Live)

Jonathan Strahan produced a couple dozen anthologies in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. The Book of Witches fits in with the run-up to Halloween.

My favorite story in The Book of Witches is Garth Nix’s “The Unexpected Excursion of the Murder Mystery Writing Witches”–Agatha, Dorothy, and Josephine–undertake a dangerous mission to capture a monster that has escaped its confinement.

I also enjoyed Premee Mohamed’s “So Spake the Mirrorwitch” where two witch hunters learn a harsh lesson. And Casandra Khaw’s “Met Swallow” weaves a satisfying spell on the reader.

The variety of stories in this anthology will appeal to just about every reader. If you’re looking for material to read around the Witching Hour, you might consider The Book of Witches. GRADE: B

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS — xv

WHAT IS A WITCH? By Jonathan Strahan — xvii

Seed of power / Linda D. Addison — 1

What I remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata / P. Djèli Clark — 3

Catechism for thise who would find witches / Kathleen Jennings — 29

The luck thief / Tade Thompson — 45

Good spells / Ken Liu — 71

The liar / Darcie Little Badger — 95

Escape artists / Andrea Hairston — 117

The witch is not a monster / Alaya Dawn Johnson — 123

Met swallow / Cassandra Khaw — 149

The nine jars ofNukulu / Tobi Ogundiran — 165

In a cabin, in a wood / Kelly Robson — 181

What dreams may come / C. L. Clark — 203

She who makes the rain / Millie Ho — 223

As wayward sisters, hand in hand / Indrapramit Das — 225

Orphanage of the Last Breath / Saad Z. Hossain — 247

The unexpected excursion of the murder mystery writing witches / Garth Nix — 261

So spake the Mirrorwitch / Premee Mohamed — 281

Just a nudge / Maureen McHugh — 295

Her ravenous waters / Andrea Stewart — 317

Déja Vue / Tochi Onyebuchi — 335

BOTANICA: a song in four movements / Sheree Renée Thomas — 349

Through the woods, due west / Angela Slatter — 357

Nameless here for evermore / Fonda Lee — 373

Mask of the Nautilus / Sheree Renée Thomas — 383

Night riding / Usman T Malik — 391

Witchfires / E. Lily Yu — 409

The Academy of Oracular Magic / Miyuki Jane Pinckard — 423

The cost of doing business / Emily Y. Teng — 435

John Hollowback and the witch / Amal El-Mohtar — 453

About the Authors — 475

About Jonathan Strahan — 485

Michael Wolff, who wrote a biography of Rupert Murdoch, now records the decline and fall of Fox News. Murdoch hired Roger Ailes to design a very different cable news operation and Ailes succeeded. “News is a variety show,” he offered…”It’s sexy girls and outrageous men. …Don’t try to be subtle. This is America.” (p. 71)

Fox News became the highest rated cable TV channel built on conspiracy theories and lies. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Ailes created a toxic work environment. Ailes’s bragged to Wolff the secret of success at Fox New: “To get ahead, you have to give some head.” (p. 71)

It was no secret Rupert Murdoch hated Fox News, Ailes, and all the on-air personalties he hired: Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Kellyanne Conway, Baria Bartiromo, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Ainsley Earhardt. Murdoch loathed Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson even though they earned Murdoch millions.

But Murdoch and Fox News made a Faustian Bargain with Donald Trump. In 2016 Fox News broadcast dozens of Trump speeches giving Trump free advertising and persuading the Fox News audience to join Trump World. When Trump won the 2016 Election, Fox News doubled down on Trump’s agenda and cult of personality. But, when Trump lost in 2020, Fox News committed the Fatal Error of buying into the Big Lie that the Election was stolen. Supporting Trump’s lies about the Dominion election machines while internal documents clearly showed no one at Fox News actually believed the lies they were broadcasting led to the disastrous lawsuit brought by Dominion.

Initially, Murdoch thought the Dominion lawsuit might cost $50 million. Manageable. But as more evidence was revealed: “Every one of the key on-air faces of the network had been exposed in email conversations expressing obvious skepticism about the Trump camp’s claims that Dominion was part of a conspiracy to steal the election… The Trump claims were laughable, the people making them on his behalf demented, everyone understood.” (p. 205) Yeah for weeks, Fox News kept spreading Trump’s lies.

Fox News lost the Dominion law suit and had to pay $785 million dollars. Murdoch dumped Tucker Carlson. Then, Rupert Murdoch, 91 years-old, stepped down and named his son, Lachlan Murdoch, his successor. But it’s not hard to imagine the upcoming fight for control of the Murdoch Family Trust by Murdoch’s children–Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James–when Rupert Murdoch dies. If you’re interested in the dumpster fire that is Fox News, The Fall delivers all the sordidness in graphic detail. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction — xiii

Prologue 1: Keith Rupert Murdoch, 1931-202_ — 1

Prologue 2: Roger Ailes–Summer 2016 — 12

WINTER 2022

1. Rupert: In the Sun — 23
2. Tucker: February 24, 2022 — 31
3. Lachlan: Spearfishing — 42

SPRING

4. Hannity: The Funeral — 55

5. Laura: Ron DeSantis — 68

6. James: A Force for Good — 80

7. Tucker: The WASPS — 89

8. Elisabeth: The Daughter –100

SUMMER

9. Dominion: “Fuck Him”. — 115

10. Hannity: Give Them a Head — 128

11. Tucker: Ur-text — 137

12. Elisbeth: The Third Option — 152

13. Hannity: POTUS — 161

14. Suzanne Scott: The Second Floor — 171

15. Laura: The Brand — 181

AUTUMN

16: Lachlan: In Play — 193

17. Rupert: In Love — 203

18. The One-and-Only Channel: Ben Shapiro’s $110 Million — 211

19. James: The Sisters — 220

WINTER 2023

20. Rupert: Die, Trump, Die — 233

21. Tucker: Might He? Should He? — 242

22. Hannity: Indictment — 252

23. Trial: The Deal — 260

24. Tucker: The Last Supper — 270

25. The Talent: Carlson and Trump — 279

Epilogue: Ruper–Apres Moi — 288

Acknowledgements — 297

The Buffalo Bills flew to London, England to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a morning game. Kickoff is at 9:30 A.M. E.S.T. The Bills are 5 1/2 point favorites. The Jaguars played the Atlanta Falcons in London last week (and won 23-7). So the Jaguars are adapted to the English surroundings and the five-hour difference. The Bills arrived Friday morning and have only had a couple of days to deal with Jet Lag and London’s atmosphere. The playing time temperature will be 71 degrees. Here in Western NY, the temps are in the low 50s. How will your favorite NFL team do today?

Loki, Season 2 (6 episodes) picks up where Loki, Season 1 left off. The Timeline is in crisis and disaster approaches. Loki leaves the shadow of Thor and becomes a “variant” of the Norse trickster god held by the Time Variance Authority, or TVA, who controls Time…at least for now. The first series paired impeccable production design with a simple emotional narrative — especially once our primary Loki (Tom Hiddleston) met his match in his female counterpart Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), a relationship that opened questions of identity, free will and self-determination.

“Loki” Season 2, has seen some changes in personnel behind the scenes. Eric Martin takes over head writing duties from creator Michael Waldron, while sole director Kate Herron has passed the baton to a larger group led by collaborators Justin Benson and Aaron Morehead.  Based on watching Episode 1, this new lineup is inferior to the original group. This season introduces new MacGuffins like the Temporal Loom and characters like Ourobouros (Ke Huy Quan), a kind of cosmic IT guy tasked with keeping TVA equipment in shape.  While there’s a flurry of running around and shouting, the story and the situations seem static. I’ll keep watching (new episodes drop on Thursdays), but so far the uniqueness of the first season is Missing In Action. GRADE: Incomplete (but trending towards a C)

Ed Lacy’s Room to Swing won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1958. Room to Swing made history by featuring the first African-American detective in a mystery in the noir genre.

Ed Lacy created the character of Tousssaint Moore, college educated and a decorated war veteran, who finds his opportunities are limited because of his race. Moore works as a private detective in and around Harlem. When Moore is hired by the producers of a reality television program called You–Detective! his troubles multiply. Moore finds a man murdered and flees New York City when he’s framed for the killing.

Moore drives to a small Ohio town to investigate the murdered man’s past. As you might expect, Moore’s presence in a racist community draws police attention. While Moore uncovers clues, he’s constantly under hostile threat by the residents.

Room to Swing broke new ground in detective fiction in the United States and deserves the Edgar Award and all the accolades that go with it. GRADE: A

I consider the 1970s and 1980s the Golden Age of great TV theme music. The theme song to “Sesame Street” welcomed Patrick and Katie each morning back then. Then there are the iconic themes to “Cheers,” “Taxi,” “Laverne And Shirley,” and “The Jeffersons.”

But it was action TV programs that really connected with me: the themes to “Miami Vice,” Baretta,” “Starsky and Hutch,” and “The A-Team.” That music really got my blood pumping! But my favorites are “Hill Street Blues,” “The Rockford Files,” and “S.W.A.T.” Do you remember these TV theme songs? Which ones are your favorites? GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

Early Morning Cartoons
1	Unknown Artist–	Sesame Street	0:59
2	Unknown Artist–	The Muppet Show	1:11
3	Unknown Artist–	The Alvin Show	1:05
4	Unknown Artist–	Speed Racer	1:11
5	Unknown Artist–	The Famous Adventures Of Mr. Magoo	0:47
6	Unknown Artist–	Inspector Gadget	1:15
7	Unknown Artist–	The Smurfs	1:03
8	Unknown Artist–	Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines	1:15
9	Unknown Artist–	Scooby-Doo	1:02
10	Unknown Artist–	Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids	1:04
11	Unknown Artist–	The Archies (“Everything’s Archie”)	1:01
12	Unknown Artist–	Josie And The Pussycats	1:02
13	Unknown Artist–	Dudley Do-Right	0:23
14	Unknown Artist–	Fractured Fairy Tales	0:24
		Sit-Coms
15	Gary Portnoy–	Cheers (“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”)	1:06
16	Unknown Artist–	The Bob Newhart Show (“Home To Emily”)	1:05
17	Joey Scarbury–	The Greatest American Hero (“Believe It Or Not”)	1:46
18	John Sebastian–	Welcome Back, Kotter (“Welcome Back”)	0:58
19	Unknown Artist–	Room 222	1:30
20	Unknown Artist–	WKRP In Cincinnati	0:44
21	Bob James–	Taxi (“Angela”)	1:05
22	Unknown Artist–	Barney Miller	0:48
23	Unknown Artist–	Three’s Company	1:01
24	Pratt And MacLain*–	Happy Days	1:16
25	Cyndi Grecco–	Laverne And Shirley (“Making Our Dreams Come True”)	1:19
26	Unknown Artist–	The Facts Of Life	0:53
27	Jim Gilstrap & Blinky Williams*–	Good Times	0:49
28	Unknown Artist–	One Day At A Time	0:53
29	Nell Carter–	Gimme A Break	0:54
30	Donny Hathaway–	Maude (“And Then There’s Maude”)	0:49
31	Ja’net DuBois & Oren Waters–	The Jeffersons (“Movin’ On Up”)	1:09
32	Carroll O’Connor & Jean Stapleton–	All In The Family (“Those Were The Days”)	0:46
33	Quincy Jones–	Sanford And Son (“The Streetbeater”)	0:56
		Prime Time Drama
34	Unknown Artist–	Dallas	1:14
35	Unknown Artist–	Dynasty	1:18
36	Unknown Artist–	Knots Landing	1:36
37	Unknown Artist–	L.A. Law	1:36
38	Unknown Artist–	St. Elsewhere	1:28
39	Unknown Artist–	Marcus Welby, M.D.	1:01
40	Unknown Artist–	M*A*S*H (“Suicide Is Painless”)	0:55
41	Unknown Artist–	The Waltons	1:03
42	Unknown Artist–	Little House On The Prarie	0:57
43	Unknown Artist–	Hart To Hart	1:20
44	Unknown Artist–	Charlie’s Angels	1:06
45	Unknown Artist–	Wonder Woman	1:37
46	Jack Jones–	Love Boat	1:37
47	Barry Manilow–	American Bandstand (“Bandstand Boogie”)	1:25
48	Unknown Artist–	Solid Gold	1:24
49	Unknown Artist–	Entertainment Tonight	1:29
		Late Night Action Adventure
50	Jan Hammer–	Miami Vice	1:02
51	Rhythm Heritage–	S.W.A.T.	1:14
52	Sammy Davis, Jr.*–	Baretta (“Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow”)	1:06
53	Unknown Artist–	The Streets Of San Francisco	1:07
54	Unknown Artist–	Barnaby Jones	0:54
55	Unknown Artist–	Starsky And Hutch (“Gotcha”)	1:15
56	Unknown Artist–	Rookies	1:02
57	Unknown Artist–	Kojak	0:51
58	Unknown Artist–	The A-Team	1:40
59	Unknown Artist–	The Name Of The Game	1:13
60	Unknown Artist–	Quincy, M.E.	1:03
61	Unknown Artist–	Hill Street Blues	1:18
62	Unknown Artist–	Simon & Simon	1:05
63	Unknown Artist–	Magnum, P.I.	1:02
64	Unknown Artist–	The Rockford Files	0:56
65	Unknown Artist–	NBC’s Saturday Night Live	1:15