Celtic Thunder, like Celtic Woman, is a group put together to market pop music with an Irish flavor. Celtic Thunder’s new CD, Take Me Home is a mixed bag. The Irish songs like “The Homes of Donegal” and “Midnight Well” are entertaining. But “Wichita Lineman”? Or “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” and “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”? Since when is Paul Anka Irish? Then there are the overdone songs, “Every Breath You Take” and “You Raise Me Up.” Sting and Josh Groban did them better. Celtic Thunder fans will buy this CD no matter what I say. But, for the rest of you, be warned. GRADE: C
TAKE ME HOME By Celtic Thunder
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Michael Moore’s latest documentary with the ironic title is sure to cause plenty of viewers to panic. Moore’s critique of our economic system’s flaws together with his scathing indictment of our politicians should be a warning that more Bad Things are going to happen on top of all the Bad Things that have happened because NOTHING GOT FIXED! Throwing $700 billion to the banks ranks right up there with Nero burning Rome to the ground according to Moore. I found much of Moore’s presentation powerful and truthful. My only complaint is that Moore’s movie goes on a bit too long. Ten minutes less would have made CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY a better film. But, by all means see it. GRADE: B+ 
One of the highlights of the Indianapolis BOUCHERCON was the panel on Edgar Allan Poe. Mike Connelly, Sue Grafton, Peter Lovesey, John Lutz, and Sara Paretsky delighted the SRO audience with their insights on Poe. And, immediately after hearing their incisive commentary, I wanted to reread some Poe. I think it was Sara Paretsky who mentioned the special aspects of Poe’s only novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. I reread it and rediscovered the haunting story that influenced H. P. Lovecraft’s “Call of Cthulhu.” If you haven’t read The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket be prepared to be creeped out. Poe throws in horror, madness, and high adventure to create his own special blend of weird fiction. What better way is there to celebrate Poe’s 200th Birthday than to read one of his forgotten works.
Patti Abbott recommended THE NOIR THRILLER and she’s right: it’s a terrific book. It’s basically a study of hundreds of 20th Century thrillers, both books and movies. The chapters are topical. “Hard-Boiled Investigators,” “Big Shot Gangsters and Small-Time Crooks,” “Strangers and Outcasts,” “Fatal Men,” and “Fatal Women” give you a glimpse of the way Horsley organizes her material. And I really love the cover photo of Rita Hayworth. It really sets the tone for this insightful book. Horsley’s book should be the Official Book of upcoming NoirCon. GRADE: A
This documentary of two California independent bookstores, Cody’s and Kepler’s, is a moving but ultimately saddening experience. Both bookstores find themselves struggling to survive in an era of big box stores and Internet booksellers like AMAZON and B&N. This film shows how Cody’s tries an expansion strategy that backfires. Kepler’s actually closed its doors causing the community to find the resources to keep the bookstore open. Anyone who loves bookstores will find this documentary absorbing–and disturbing. There’s plenty to think about when this film rolls its credits. PAPERBACK DREAMS was shown at BOUCHERCON and several PBS stations are currently airing it. The DVD will be available in December. Don’t miss it.
Once again, Daedalus has some irresistible DVDs for sale. MOTOWN: THE EARLY YEARS features Martha Reeves, The Temptations, and the Four Tops performing their hits. You can order this gem for $6.98. Then there’s MOVIE SONGS LIVE with Frankie Valli, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, Yvonne Elliman, B.J. Thomas, the Trammps, the Cowsills, the Fifth Dimension, Irene Cara, and Lulu. This DVD is a mere $5.98. Hours of great music for a pittance! Don’t miss out! Go to 
The Indy BOUCHERCON is in the books, but I’ll treasure some of the memories forever. The bestowing of the Don Sandstrom Award on the much deserving Art Scott was the highlight of the convention for me. Bill and Judy Crider, Jeff and Jackie Meyerson, Patti and Phil Abbott, Jeff and Ann Smith, Lynn Kaczmarek, Steve Stilwell, Tina Karelson, Beth Fedyn and Joe Vigna, Ted Hertel, Ted Fitzgerald, Maggie Mason, and dozens of other friends generated so much humor, levity, and merriment that the entire weekend seemed to have a laugh-track. Great friends, great food, and great conversation. Life doesn’t get much better than this!
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: