Book Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin On Alice Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, there is a bookstore, Island Books. It isn’t doing so well right now. Owner A.J. Fikry was never the most sociable of people, and he’s gotten downright surly since the death of his wife Nic. Sales… Continue reading Book Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Tag: writers
Manga Review: Bakuman. Volume 11
Manga Review: Bakuman. Volume 11 story by Tsugumi Ohba, art by Takeshi Obata Moritaka Mashiro’s uncle was a one-hit manga creator whose work appeared in Weekly Shounen Jump back in the day. After the end of that series, he worked himself to death trying to come up with a new hit. Warned by this example,… Continue reading Manga Review: Bakuman. Volume 11
Book Review: The Inimitable Jeeves
Book Review: The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse Bertie Wooster may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, as he will sometimes admit. But compared to some of his friends among the idle rich of England, Bertie’s a model of intellect and common sense. For example, Bertie knows that keeping his valet Jeeves in… Continue reading Book Review: The Inimitable Jeeves
Magazine Review: Lapham’s Quarterly: A History of Fake News
Magazine Review: Lapham’s Quarterly: A History of Fake News edited by Lewis H. Lapham This is a “special issue” in addition to the four that this magazine normally puts out in a year. The subject matter is topical as there has been an avalanche of “news” that is in fact not truthful, while certain politicians and… Continue reading Magazine Review: Lapham’s Quarterly: A History of Fake News
Open Thread: Minicon 53
Open Thread: Minicon 53 As noted in my previous con reports, Minicon is a yearly science fiction convention set on Easter weekend. While Minicon 50 was a few years ago, this year is the closest to the Fiftieth Anniversary of the first Minicon, so it had the subtitle of “The Pedantic One.” This year the… Continue reading Open Thread: Minicon 53
Book Review: The Best of Planet Stories #1
Book Review: The Best of Planet Stories #1 edited by Leigh Brackett Planet Stories was a pulp science fiction magazine that ran from 1939-1955. Its specialty was “space opera”, exciting tales of adventure set in the future and on other worlds, full of square-jawed heroes, scantily clad damsels and bug-eyed monsters. Not always the most… Continue reading Book Review: The Best of Planet Stories #1
Book Review: The Spider #08: The Mad Horde
Book Review: The Spider #08: The Mad Horde edited by Rich Harvey Quick recap: The Spider is a violent vigilante who battles master criminals in 1930s America. He is secretly wealthy amateur criminologist Richard Wentworth, who believes there are some criminals the police simply aren’t equipped to deal with. The Spider brands his kills with… Continue reading Book Review: The Spider #08: The Mad Horde
Book Review: How I Resist
Book Review: How I Resist edited by Tim Federle & Maureen Johnson Disclaimer: I received this advance uncorrected proof through a Goodreads giveaway for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was offered or requested. As an uncorrected proof, there will be significant changes between this and the final product. As I write… Continue reading Book Review: How I Resist
Book Review: The World Grabbers
Book Review: The World Grabbers by Paul W. Fairman Dane Morrow feels like a failure. He used to be a bright young man, enthusiastic about becoming a writer, and seeing a lovely young woman. But his stories didn’t sell, and his book vanished into the publisher’s slush pile without trace. Plus, Dane began to feel… Continue reading Book Review: The World Grabbers
Movie Review: The Chinese Cat (1944)
Movie Review: The Chinese Cat (1944) directed by Phil Rosen Six months ago, Thomas P. Manning, businessman and chess expert, was shot to death in his study, the door locked from the inside. The police have been unable to solve the case. Daughter Leah Manning (Joan Woodbury) is dismayed to discover that a new book… Continue reading Movie Review: The Chinese Cat (1944)