Review: "INHUMAN CONDITION: Tales of Mystery and Suspense" by Kate Thornton

Sometimes the blurb on the book encapsulates the book in an excellent way. From the back cover of the recently released collection, INHUMAN CONDITION written by Kate Thornton, comes this explanation:

“Human beings tend to fear the things they don’t know, and that is often sensible, given the lurking dangers that confronted our distant ancestors. But sometimes we need to examine carefully the things we think we know: the pet shop owner in town, the teenage girl who lives next door, or the nice man who walks his dog each evening in our neighborhood. The stories in this collection will drive that point home, and perhaps give you reason to re-define the word “'inhuman.'”

As well as define “human.” With a subtitle of Tales of Mystery and Imagination these twenty-one tales set on earth and in space, frequently push at boundaries defining what it means to be human. Frequently the tales are a bit disturbing, not in terms of graphic depictions, but in the meaning of what has happened or will happen thanks to the final twist at the end illuminating the dark working of a character's twisted mind. In nature, the concept of “camouflage” keeps both the hunted and hunter alive in the constant struggle to eat or not to be eaten. That same concept, passed down in the hardwired code of humanity from our distant ancestors is alive and well in these times. Make no mistake—this book is about the hunters hiding in plain sight among us and the prey they seek for a variety of purposes.

The anchor story in the collection is the very good tale, “Nightwatch: Cardenio” (pages 83-154). Using characters and other story elements originally created by Jeff Williams and with his permission as noted, the tale takes the Nightwatch team deep into the Amazon. A research site does not just vanish off the face of the earth in Brazil. But, it has happened and the research site is gone without a trace. It is now to the team to figure out what happened and why in this adventure tale.

Author Kate Thornton creates a sort of whiplash effect for the reader several times in this collection and this is a case in point. After the above noted adventure tale deep in the Amazonian jungle, she follows it with “Cell Phone Call” starting on page 155. In five short pages, the author makes parental nightmares all too real and leaves readers, at least those of us with kids, thinking twice about using our cell phones in public.

That story is followed by “Vinnie's Cargo” and readers are back to adventure and suspense. In this one, there are shuttle runs between the Moon and Mars in the unspecified future. Despite the rules and regulations, where there are humans involved there will always be some who attempt to move contraband and make some ill-gotten gains. Usually, nothing good can come of some attempts and that may, or may not, be the case here.

And so it goes through the entire book that contains both previously published and credited work and new. Author Kate Thornton consistently delivers through the entire book as each and every single story is a good one. That rarely happens.  Whether it is late in the collection with the very disturbing mystery “The Eyes Never Change” or the strangely amusing science fiction tale “One of the Family” or any other, the read is constantly good and full of rich details in settings, characters, and storyline.

Not only is Kate Thornton to be congratulated, so too is the publisher. Denouement Press is an imprint of Wolfmont LLC owned and operated by Tony Burton. Known as a publisher of anthologies and cozy style mysteries, this is a new venture for the publisher and reflects the kind of book that might not have been published by Wolfmont before. 

One hopes this is not the last collection released by Kate Thornton. Simply put, INHUMAN CONDITION: Tales of Mystery and Imagination available in print and e-book editions, is a very good book and one well worth your time and money.

INHUMAN CONDITION: Tales of Mystery and Suspense

Kate Thornton

http://www.katethornton.net

Denouement Press (Wolfmont LLC)

http://www.wolfmont.com/

2010

ISBN# 978-1-60364-033-6

Paperback(also available in e-book)

310 Pages

$14.00

Paperback copy provided by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2011

Because of You

Because of you, I should have my insurance reinstated for January in a couple of days. The out of state company that is managing the COBRA deal got the check last Thursday. So, by this Thursday I should be able to refill my pills and not a moment too soon as I am out at this point. Hopefully, they will do things a little quicker this go around.

Because of you, there is a little extra so we paid our very past due utilities which means things will stay on. 

All I can say is--thank you!

I have only been talking about the tip of the iceberg here and the iceberg is huge. "Thank you" does not begin to communicate how appreciative I and my family are for your support. It means so much in so many ways. You just don't know.

Thank you.

And then there is this----

I don't as well normally post twice but I am a huge fan of Hard Case Crime (Tyrus Books as well and a couple of others and now somebody is going to be mad they were not mentioned and rain curses down on me) and just saw this and had to share.


Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Hard Case Crime Update from Charles Ardai: "Friends, Bit by bit, we're getting closer to the re-launch of Hard Case Crime with our new publisher, Titan Books. Our backlist titles ar..."

Bill Crider's Contest

Pretty cool so check it out......

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: A Contest: "I'm participating in a promotion for Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer. I can give away five copies of the poster for the movie version ..."

Friday's Forgotten Books: "Hose Monkey" by Tony Spinosa

It is Friday once again and I happily return to what we primarily do here---review books. This week’s post is on a very good book you may never have heard of. Without further ado, I give you my review of Hose Monkey written by Tony Spinosa (Reed Farrel Coleman).




Mid February 2004 finds Long Island, New York cold and dreary. So too is the life of former NYPD Detective Joe Serpe. His life is a wreckage of shattered dreams and hopes. His fifteen year marriage has collapsed with no hope of reconciliation. His former partner committed suicide during a police corruption investigation that took both of their jobs and ended any chance of having a career in law enforcement. Then, there is his brother, Vinny, a firefighter who died running for his life as Tower One fell. Vinny had been the only one to stand by him while his life crumbled and it was Vinny who took him into his home where he had no other place to go but the streets. Vinny’s home became Joe Serpe’s with Vinny’s death and his voice still plays daily on the outgoing message on the phone answering machine. Joe Serpe’s existence has shrunk down to living as a ghost of his former self while he delivers home heating oil by day and drinks Vodka heavily each night.

Also dealing with loss is Bob Healy who lost his wife Mary to pancreatic cancer. His period of loss has been shorter, only six months, but it is just as painfully deep. He’s trying to adjust, not only to her loss, but to doing all the things she used to routinely take care of which includes getting the heating oil delivered. He also was the lead Internal Affairs Detective on Serpe’s case.

By coincidence or stroke of luck, Joe Serpe ends up making a delivery to Healy’s home. That visit rekindles bitterness between the two men as well as long unfinished business. At almost the same time a mentally handicapped coworker of Joe’s is killed. The local police figure it to be the work of gangs. Joe disagrees and before long Joe Serpe and Bob Healy are in contact and soon grudgingly working together to find justice for the dead while trying to bury their burdens from the past.

You may not have heard of Tony Spinosa. If you have heard of Reed Farrel Coleman the author who has a slew of awards for his Moe Prager series (Walking The Perfect Square and others)

then you will be interested in his pseudonym Tony Spinosa. This book is a far different book than the Moe Prager series though familiar themes are again present here.

Grittier in all aspects, this first novel in the Joe Serpe series features tough language, graphic violence and a man at the proverbial end of the line in many ways. Joe is just going through the motions of a bare existence that is empathetically painful for the reader. His depression and anger at the world fueled nightly by Vodka figuratively drips off of the pages in the first half of the book.

Guilt is a powerful motivator and Joe has plenty to feel guilty about. Love is a powerful motivator as well and that works on Joe almost as well as the guilt does. Once Joe begins to come alive as a human being again along with being an investigator, he becomes a threat to others. Readers quickly learn just how good a cop Joe was back in the day.

Written in a third person tough guy style far different than the Moe Prager series, this complex intriguing read blends plenty of mystery, violence, and the beginnings of a romance into a hard hitting story.


Hose Monkey
Tony Spinosa
http://www.tonyspinosa.com/
Bleak House Books (Big Earth Publishing)
http://www.bleakhousebooks.com/
2006
ISBN# 1-932557-18-0
Hardback
292 Pages
$23.95


My sincere thanks to the staff of the Irving Public Library in Irving, Texas who sent a copy of the book to my local library in Plano, Texas. Interlibrary loan is a wonderful thing.


Kevin R. Tipple © 2009, 2011

"Use Your Fire Sword"

I pay some attention to my horoscope though I don't put a lot of stock in it. Regardless of what some guy on the news somewhere has decided I still consider myself a SCORPIO. (I also still consider Pluto a planet no matter how they define planets these days.) So, I chuckled when I read mine today in the local paper. The advice ended with the line "Use Your Fire Sword."

I did.

I also threw at least a dozen document wizards and at least as many fact boulders.

By mail today, I filed my written notice to the court regarding the suit brought by the debt collection agency, ALLEN ADKINS &ASSOCIATES and the gigantic CITIBANK. I mentioned the other day I am quite the pack rat with paperwork and it came in very handy for this suit. As required and directed, my mailed response went to the court and ALL parties at their physical and mailing addresses.  I used their own letters against them to totally refute their written allegations to the court and detailed in great detail the actual facts of the case.

It is going to be interesting to see them explain to the court why they told me in writing one thing and why they told the court a completely different story in writing. The really sad thing about all this was that if CITIBANK had just worked with me as I attempted to work with them and did so in writing no less, all of their malicious and punitive actions including turning the account over to a debt collector d/b/a ALLEN ADKINS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. could have been avoided.

Whether or not the Judge will see the evidence and written documentation I have provided in great detail to the court as I do remains to be seen. Time will tell though I am very hopeful based on the detailed evidence.

I thank the various people who have privately offered advice and various supports. Much, much appreciated.

Getting Served

Got served yesterday on behalf of ALLEN ADKINS & ASSOCIATES representing CITIBANK that they are suing me for $1701.71 plus court costs, etc. Have severe medical issues, lost my job back in October, filed for SS Disability back in November and we filed for food stamps this past week. We simply don't have any money or we would have worked out payment deal with CITIBANK as we tried to do on our own and they refused before turning it over to a collection agency based in Lubbock, d/b/a as ALLEN ADKINS & ASSOCIATES.

Scheduled to appear in Judge W. M "Mike" Yarbrough’s Justice of the Peace Court Precinct 4 located in Frisco, Texas very soon. A bit of a pack rat, I have detailed records regarding all correspondence with all parties to show the court and counsel.

What I need is a local attorney to help navigate the situation. So, if you are a local attorney or you know of one, please contact me at kevinrtipple@verizon.net

Kevin

Friday's Forgotten Books: "Tin Soldiers" by Mark Leonard

Sorry this is coming online late----bad night followed by a worse morning. As always, the complete list is on Patti Abbott's blog. Thank you for reading and thank you Zumya Publications for sending me this book back in the day.




Seventeen year old Captain Richard Arthur attends the Maxwell Military Academy in New York state. Vietnam is percolating right along and those attending the academy know that before too much longer they will be over there. It’s a closed warped world, as any military academy is, and they handle everything internally and remain for all intents and purposes, closed off from the public. Even when a cadet falls to his brutal death from the roof off one of the barracks.


Ted Sheridan took a short and very quick fatal dive off the roof. Before long, the often wittily sarcastic Captain Arthur, known by the obvious nickname of “King” to one and all, is placed in charge of the investigation by the brass. An investigation that is rigged from the start and King is very well aware that, like the last time, he is supposed to arrive at the preconceived conclusion acceptable to those in charge. While he knows what the mission is, he doesn’t agree and besides that he really does have his hands full with some of his fellow students who are cracking under the pressure. And what does Ted’s incredibly hot sister want with him and why does she keep showing up in the strangest of places?


What follows is a very twisted novel, part mystery, part humor and completely engrossing. There are parts that are just laugh out loud funny and are guaranteed to definitely offend some folks as this author has absolutely no concerns about the concept of political correctness. That fact along with his repeated use of obscenities both in dialogue and in narration will surely annoy some readers.


However, if you like your reads a little different than the normal run of the mill and don’t mind embarrassing yourself by laughing out loud in public, then this mystery is sure to work for you. Not only is this book certainly not politically correct, it contains a twisting case that is sure to appeal to anyone interested in crime and solving the case. Arthur may be a foul mouthed Sherlock in a military uniform at times, but it is well worth it to tag along for this very good read.



TIN SOLDIERS

By Mark Leonard

Zumaya Publications

http://www.zumapublications.com

2006

ISBN # 1-55410-268-5

Large Trade Paperback

265 Pages


Kevin R. Tipple © 2006, 2011

Predators & Editors Voting

Predators and Editors Voting is back up I ask for your vote if you are so inclined. Review sites

are at the link below and my deal is currently listed fourth alphabetically:

http://critters.org/predpoll/reviewsite.shtml


Also, while I am interrupting your day by begging, I am raising money to pay for my COBRA insurance via donation buttons on my blog for ChipIn and Paypal direct. Readers of my blog know that I am having serious medical issues that have cost me my job, totally wiped out our family finances, and pretty much rendered me home bound and incapable of walking or sitting much along with pretty well ruining my life. Things are so severe that I have filed for Social Security Disability and food stamps and am awaiting governmental decisions in both cases. I don't ask for help lightly. But, at the urging of several people privately and publicly, I went ahead last week and set up the donation buttons.

So if you can help and want to do so, I thank you very much.

Kevin

Reviewing: "2011 Delmar Nurse’s Drug Handbook: 20th Anniversary Edition"

The 2011 Delmar Nurse's Drug Handbook, as the title implies, primarily intended for nursing students. However, it is an excellent resource for the lay person to consult. Especially at two in the morning when the only other real option is an expensive ER trip.



Chapter One titled “A-Z Listing of Drugs” is the main focus of the book and is over 180 pages in length. As explained in the quick reference section preceding the chapter, each drug is listed by its generic name, phonetic pronunciation, classification, its pregnancy category (risks, etc.), the trade names of the drug, whether or not it is classified as a controlled substance by the FDA, and how it acts on the body. Also covered is important information regarding when the drug is not to be used (something I found out the hard way last winter and spring about a certain anti-cholesterol drug despite my asking lots of questions), drug interactions, side effects, and other helpful information.

“Therapeutic Drug Classification” is the topic of the second chapter that begins on page 1859. Here the drugs are arranged by class such as ACE Inhibitors (pages 1869-1872), estrogen (pages 1963-1968), penicillin (pages 2021 – 2024) and others. This section leads off with a warning, stressed frequently throughout the book, that the information is subject to change and to consult the FDA website for current info. After the chapter ends on page 2063 with a very informative section on vitamins that includes food sources and what the symptoms of various vitamin deficiencies are, the book moves into the appendices.

The appendices are primarily going to be of use to the intended audience of nursing students and nursing professionals as they cover common abbreviations, the issue of medication errors and how important it is to report them (something stunningly obvious to this reader who found it appalling folks had to be told), controlled substance lists for the USA and Canada, how to calculate body mass and body surface, the elements of a prescription label, and other helpful information.

The average reader should also take a look at Appendix Nine titled “Drug/Food Interactions” as it helpfully explains what drugs should be taken on an empty stomach as well as what drugs should be taken with food. It also includes info on what foods to avoid with various drugs. This leads into Appendix Ten covering “Drugs Whose Effects Are Modified by Grapefruit Juice.” The list is quite extensive and covers four pages showing both positive and negative effects.

Several more appendices follow on common Spanish phrases in health care, drugs that should not be crushed, etc., before the 2011 Delmar Nurse’s Handbook concludes with a forty-eight page index. There are also directions for those who purchase the book on how to obtain free additional benefits by logging into the community section of the publisher website. As noted below, this material was obtained through my local library system and therefore, I was unable to explore this possibility. One of the benefits listed is a free iPhone/iPod application which would clearly be very helpful.

At 2190 pages there is a lot of very helpful information contained in the 2011 20th Anniversary Edition. Designed to be a resource guide for nursing students, it is best not to make any decision based solely on the information found here. Be sure to consult medical professionals, as well as the FDA website for current information as stressed throughout the 2011 Delmar Nurse’s Drug Handbook. This excellent resource will allow you to either rest easy knowing it agrees with what you have been told, or help you raise questions and discuss treatment options.


2011 Delmar Nurse’s Drug Handbook: 20th Anniversary Edition
George R. Spratto and Adrienne L. Woods
Delmar Cengage Learning
http://www.cengage.com/delmar
June 2010
ISBN# 978-1-111-131487
2190 Pages
$34.95

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System. Online they can be found at http://www.plano.gov/Departments/Libraries/Pages/default.aspx which features links to information in a wide range of venues for locals and others.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Reviewing: "The New Western Home" by Chase Reynolds Ewald

I originally picked this book up at my local library to review it for a future column in the Senior News newspaper. My monthly column covers books that are either written by Texas authors, set in Texas, or of interest to Texans. Space limitations mean I have four hundred words maximum to cover two books a month.



However, once I got the book home and started reading it, I quickly realized this book didn't really fit the column requirements too well. That was a shame as this is a beautifully photographed book full of design ideas that honor the old classic traditions of the west and meet today's concerns about the environment. This blending of the old and the new results in detailed coverage of fourteen very different homes located across several western states. In each case, there are numerous pictures of the home from outside and inside. A detailed text accompanies the pictures and includes not only information about each house as well as the environment at that location and how the house was constructed to meet environmental goals.

After an extensive introduction by author Chase Reynolds Ewald that explains the purpose of the book while also documenting some of the beauty of Montana and the struggle to save that beauty for future generations, the book opens with a post and beam home in Marin County, California. This is the area of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore among other protected lands. The local area also features numerous ranches devoted to cattle and dairy farms. As such, the depicted classic red wood barn fits right into the landscape. Readers are treated to an explanation and history of the home as well as numerous pictures inside and outside. Simplicity is the key here except for the incredible kitchen photographed by Audrey Hall on page 31.

The photography makes the book and features the wonderful work of photographer Audrey Hall on every page. Those pictures detail history in a modern world where it is the Bar 20 Ranch in Montana, an incredibly spacious and breathtaking fishing cabin on the banks of the Yellowstone River, the new prairie home in Paradise Valley, or many others showcased in this book. While the text can explain over and over again what was done and how it was done, the incredible photographs are what tell the tale in this fantastic book.

This homage to the west, particularly the Wyoming/Montana area, continues for 173 pages before leading into a two page resource list featuring the builders and architects, furniture makers, artists and many others that were involved that created the stunning homes in this book. Unlike many such books that feature sterile homes that no human family could ever live in, these are homes that people do own and live in everyday. These owners are lucky people and so too are readers who get to peer inside for a while.


The New Western Home
Chase Reynolds Ewald
Audrey Hall (Photographer)
http://www.audreyhall.com
Gibbs-Smith
http://www.gibbs-smith.com
2009
ISBN# 978-1-4236-0255-2
Hardback
176 Pages
$30.00


Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System.


Kevin R. Tipple (c) 2010

Friday's Forgotten Books: "A Dream Of Drowned Hollow" by Lee Barwood

Last November I read and reviewed The Caretaker of Lorne Field by Dave Zeltserman. A very good novel that, while billed as a horror novel, did not read that way to me. Instead, I saw the book as a mystery with a horror component. Dave’s book continues to do very well and seems to be one of those books that seem to resonate differently with every reader. That led me to think about what other books seemed to do that same trick for readers.

That led me to my selection for today which mark the first Friday’s Forgotten Books selection for the New Year. As always, you can read the complete list as it is compiled at Patti Abbotts wonderful blog found at http://pattinase.blogspot.com/ Without further ado, I give you my review originally written in 2006 for “A Dream Of Drowned Hollow” written by Lee Barwood.




For college student April Rue Stoner, life is becoming increasingly complex and it isn’t just college. Something is happening to her and she doesn’t understand it. She seems to sense and see things in the Ozark countryside in ways that others do not. The trees seem to actually “talk” to her and her abilities don’t stop there. What she sees makes her question her own sanity until she discovers that she can photograph what she alone sees and show others.

By doing so, she can visually prove what she has seen to have happened in the past or what will happen in the future. In this case, her photographs don’t lie and she can use them to show others that she is not mad. While she is able to see her long deceased mother at a nearby pond which brings her tremendous joy there is a flip side to her powers. She can see dark forces at work and she can see a possible nightmarish future where the land is destroyed and friends and family are dead. All done because of a greedy, developer determined to wreak havoc on the environment.

In this 532 page novel which won the “Andre Norton’s Gryphon Award” April Stoner seeks to save the land and all that it contains from a horrible fate. The land and its creatures are magical and so too is the author’s obvious love for the Ozark region. It is rare to read a novel that so powerfully captures the beauty of a region and the need to practice conservation and proper stewardship of the land. In a novel that gradually moves forward as months and years pass, the author weaves a spellbinding tale that entertains while reminding readers that once the magic is gone, it is gone forever. Destruction in the name of progress is never a good thing and sometimes the magic in the land fights back.



A Dream of Drowned Hollow
By Lee Barwood
Double Dragon Publishing
2006
Large Trade Paperback
ISBN #1-55404-320-4

Material supplied by the author at the time in exchange for my objective review.


Kevin R. Tipple © 2006, 2011

2011--Plus Six

Woke up this am in a bit less pain than recent days. Gotta wonder if the warmer weather of the last two days has made any difference?

2011---Plus Five

I want to thank the folks who have given generously the last few days. It means a lot--more than I can really explain.

The last ten days have been the worst I have gone through with whatever is wrong with me. Over nine months, one gets a sense of where the boundaries are on good days (rare though they are) and bad days. The last ten days have been proof that the bad days can be so much worse than I thought they could be.

Over the last nine months I have gradually gotten worse for whatever reason. I am hoping that what has gone on the last ten days is just a temporary setback and not permanent. But, if it is permanent, it does not bode well.

2011

began on a cold note around here. Not just because it was cold outside. The heat broke last night and by this morning, it was down to fifty in the apartment. Maintenance came by in the early afternoon and fixed us as well as several other apartments. One hopes it keeps working.

So, we have a new year. Big damn deal. In past years, the first day of the new year has always marked hope. I always had a feeling things were going to get better for those I love and myself. Not this year.

If I could take 2010 bundle it up, pour gasoline on it, and burn the damn thing out in the parking lot I would. 2010 was a year of pain and stress for me, for my wife and just who had her own major event deal last Spring, as well as about everyone I know. In our case I don't see things turning around.

As of midnight, I don't have insurance because we could not make the January COBRA payment. I have at least two more months to wait to see if I qualify for Social Security Disability. As soon as the rent check clears the bank and takes the last of the money out in a couple of days, we will be filing for foodstamps. Everything is slipping away, piece by piece, and there is not a damn thing I can do about any of it.

And that is a huge chunk of why I am in a foul mood all the time driving the wife and kids nuts. Sheer frustration. Hurting nonstop is part of it. But the fact that I can't do something to change anything or fix anything makes it so much worse. Not only am I gradually getting worse and losing mobility and all that, I can't stop the rolling disaster for the family.

It is a nightmare and I can't wake up.

Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi" by Anna Hrachovec

Since Friday's Forgotten Books is on hiatus for another week, I thought I would end the blog for the year on a light note with something a bit different. For my column in the Senior Newspaper published in Texas, I frequently review cookbooks and craftbooks. So, below is the review for a craft book and the much shorter version will appear next month in Senior News.

If scarves, hats, etc., are now a bit boring, maybe it is time to knit toys as Anna Hrachovec says in her introduction titled “Welcome to Mochimochi Land!” You can knit a blob and add eyes to it to make a small something as she did in the beginning. However, you can quickly go beyond that as she shows you in this book that features 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Aamigurmi.

After a “Let's Get Started” section covering in detail types of yarn, needles, stuffing, and other things you will need as well as a number of pages on basic techniques, the patterns begin on page 44 of Knitting Mochimochi with the section titled “Fierce Creatures.” Plans for a “Confused Moose” (pages 46-48), “Baby Gators” (pages 49-51), and “Bite-Free bed Bugs” (pages 52-55) among others are here. Each item has at least one picture and frequently more, a detailed supplies list, and detailed instructions.

Page 66 begins the “Random Objects” section or as the author puts it, “categorically challenged.” Leading off is the rather neat “Orbiting Oddity” which is patterned off of the classic UFO type deal familiar to everyone. We quickly come back to earth with the “Grouchy Couch” (pages 74-75) and the “Sky Scrapers” (pages 84-87) among others.

“Impractical Wearables” begins on page 88 and leads off with the clever “Pocket Protectors” on pages 90-93. Also especially neat for young girls is the “Neck Nuzzler” on pages 98-101. Starting on page 106, the “Feet Eaters” also look pretty cool and could be tailored to fit the personality of the wearer fairly easily.

With a name like “Nano Kits” one might think of nanotechnology and some sort of science fiction type creature made especially popular in the later seasons of the original Stargate television series. In this case, you would be wrong. Starting on page 113, the patterns depict various things and are designed to create objects to sit on your desk, hang off your ear, etc. You can make “Micro Mountains” as depicted in pages 118-119, or “Plucky Mushrooms” showcased on pages 120-122 or a number of other things. While it is mentioned in the lead in that these can hang off your ears, none of the items specifically mention that in directions nor are they shown in the photographs doing so.

The book concludes with a brief section on trying your hand at design, a little bit about basic and advanced stitches (information that should have been at the front with the rest of the technique info), how to read charts (information that easily should have also been there along with the knitting abbreviation list found here), metric conversion chart and a list of materials and information resources. A one page small index with very small type concludes the 144 page colorful book.

Sold as a paperback measuring 9.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches my library copy snaps and pops ominously when the book is laid flat. It would appear that if the book gets much use at all and is consistently laid flat, fairly soon the binding is going to break. Something that has to be considered if one is going to buy this book for personal use or give to another. That fact, along with the fact that certain information at the back of the book should have been logically placed with other information at the front of the book, lowers the overall quality of Knitting Mochimochi.

While marketed to anyone and pushing the idea these can be made quickly, it is clear that intermediate and advance knitters would be the best recipients of this book. A fact I verified with my wife who has knitted for over twenty years. Since I don't knit, I can't share any additional information on this book we originally picked up for my monthly column in the Senior News newspaper. For the right knitter this book is going to be a real treat.



Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi
Anna Hrachovec
http://www.mochimochiland.com
Watson-Guptill Publications
http://www.watsonguptill.com
2010
ISBN# 978-0-8230-2664-7
Paperback (e-book available)
$19.99

Book supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System. Online they can be found at http://www.plano.gov/Departments/Libraries/Pages/default.aspx which features links to information in a wide range of venues for locals and others.



Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

On The Other Side---Getting Reviewed

I must say I rather like the review below on a book available in print and as an e-book---for obvious reasons.


*******************


Carpathian Shadows, Volume 2
Books for a Buck
Various authors, editor Lea Schizas




First, let me say up front, this bills itself as Volume 2. Having not read Volume 1, I can state with certainty that this book works as a stand alone, in case anyone worries about that.

This is a theme-anthology, horror stories with a bit of a twist. The visitors to the Cornifu Hotel, deep in the Carpathians Mountains of Transylvania, are individually invited for a free one day bus excursion to nearby Erdely Castle, said to be haunted. Each story is about a different group of travelers to visit the castle. And with that setting and that common theme, one can rightly expect vampires and ghosts and werewolves—just about all those things that go bump in the night show up here.

As in any anthology of stories by different writers, the quality of the writing varies—and, of course, readers’ tastes are different, which is to say what one likes, another may not. I did not find any real clunkers here, but I did find some that I preferred over others.

To my tastes, one of the standouts in the book would have to be The Scholar by author Seana Graham. Most of the tales here are focused on the supernatural, as is to be expected, but this is really a well written story of a mismatched marriage and “the other man,” with the scary stuff more of the frosting on the cake. It’s a bit less fanciful than some and not particularly horrific (though not without a creepy moment or two), but it compensates with well sketched characters and believable interactions.

Kristin Johnson’s vampire story, Divine Curse, seemed a bit murky to me, but that in itself is not altogether inappropriate to the genre. A bit of ambiguity can be an asset in spooky fiction. This is, after all, a genre that dispenses with conventional reality. And, this tale stands out for its gay elements, not usually found in horror collections. So, I give it a passing grade, but not without some reservations.

Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil by Donna Amato is likewise ambiguous, particularly in its ending, and the cast of characters occasionally seems to be tripping over one another, but the writer manages to make the implausible reasonably plausible, which is as much as one can fairly ask of horror fiction. Let’s face it, parts of Dean Koontz’s books make no sense at all. The real question is whether the writer can carry the reader along, and Ms. Amato does that admirably.

A Visitor From the Past by Carol A. Cole is somewhat of a time travel, or maybe, more correctly, dimensional-travel. Anna has been short-tempered with her husband, Rob, since returning from a trip to Germany months earlier, and this trip is intended to rekindle their relationship, but the results are not what Rob expected. Many of these stories have downer endings. This one is more bitter sweet. I found that it lingered with me after I had finished reading.

The other standout, for me, is Kevin Tipple’s By the Light of the Moon. While most of the stories in the book follow a quickly familiar plot line—the busload of tourists comes to the castle, a storm strands them there, and mysterious events follow—this one distinguishes itself by going its own way. To be sure, there is the bus, and tourists at the castle and eerie doings, but Tipple sets his story elsewhere and afterward, and we hear about the events at the castle in flashback narratives. It’s a tricky sort of structure but he pulls it off neatly.

In short, this is not great literature—it surely wasn’t intended to be—but if horror is your cup of tea, I can heartily recommend this for a couple of hours of goose-bump reading.

Reviewed by Victor J. Banis
http://www.vjbanis.com

Reviewing: "She Felt No Pain: A Holly Martin Mystery" by Lou Allin

For RCMP Corporal Holly Martin summer on Vancouver Island means an increase in petty crime, lots more tourists and concerns about wildfires thanks to the worsening drought. It also means that still more time has passed since her mom went missing all those years ago, her father while still strong and vital is aging, and she still has many questions about her past and where she goes from here. Those personal issues will again, at least temporarily, have to take a back seat to another death in the area.

A homeless addict has been found deceased in the area woods by a vacationing family. All indications seem to make it a simple case of a heroin overdose. But, it is not and soon Holly more and more questions about what exactly happened. At the same time, the situation regarding her vanished mom demands her attention as well as number of other issues.

Lou Allin takes readers back to Canada's Caribbean in this very enjoyable sequel to And On The Surface Die.


As in the previous novel in the series, the point of view in She Felt No Pain shifts from character to character while detailing the lives of the small police department and the beauty of the land while telling the tale of several good mysteries. Multiple secondary storylines are again at play in a novel featuring characters that feel more and more like good friends readers have known for a long time. The result is another very enjoyable excursion into the world of Holly Martin and one hopes for many more.



She Felt No Pain: A Holly Martin Mystery
Lou Allin
http://www.louallin.com/
RendezVous Crime (Napoleon & Company)
http://www.napoleonandcompany.com
2010
ISBN# 978-1-926607-07-8
Paperback
$19.95
274 Pages


Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.



Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Just Found Out

I won a copy of BEAT TO A PULP, ROUND ONE thanks to entering a contest on Laurie's Wild West blog at http://lauriepowerswildwest.blogspot.com/

I am thrilled!


Big time thank you to Laurie for offering the contest.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to one and all from our family.

Thank you for reading my work here and elsewhere and thank you very much for your support.

Reviewing: "Inside The Broken Heart: Grief Understanding for Widows & Widowers" by Julie Yarbrough

Because it is becoming an increasingly important issue for many of the baby boomer generation, more and more books are coming out on grief and dealing with it. One of the more recent entries in this area is this book written by Dallas resident Julie Yarbrough and published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises.




Dedicated to her husband she lost and in appreciation of her grief support group at Highland Park United Methodist Church, Julie Yarbrough takes readers through the long valley of grief and out the other side. She lost her husband, Dr. Leighton Farrell, Senior Minister of the church, ninety days after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “I was destroyed; my soul shattered into one million small pieces. At fifty-five, I was young and very old. I was alone.” (Introduction, Pages 13-14)

The 217 page book is split into two main parts. “Part 1: Inside the Broken Heart” begins on page 15 with a biblical passage and definition for grief. The author then moves readers through the various stages of grief using a biblical perspective showing readers how their lives will change and how the bible and religious teachings provide strength at this painful time. Grief is a full time occupation and people travel through it at different speeds and often face setbacks before continuing on.

Author Julie Yarbrough explains this and much more including survival strategies designed to help the widow or widower to keep going. This can be especially difficult during the holidays and that issue is covered in this section. At some point for every person, one moves on to a love that celebrates the past union and reaches out to touch others. That is the theme of second section titled “Part 2-Beyond the Broken Heart.” This section revolves around the idea of an enduring love that surrounds the living and the missing partner. There is a reason for what has happened in that “God uses grief to teach us more of his faithfulness and steadfast love.” (Page 149)

Like the first half of the book, this part of the book has stages that revolve around going forward in the aftermath of losing the partner. Moving on in terms of healing, finding hope and happiness, coping with money issues, planning for the future, etc. are all parts of this process.

There is an old and clichéd adage advising writers to write what they know. As a widow and a lay grief facilitator, the author has experienced grief in many ways. She brings that knowledge and a deep religious faith to bear in a book that provides compassion, support and hope in what has to be one of the most painful times in any life. In a time of need, this book can be a powerful aid while also serving at other times as a helpful planning guide to a future we all face.


Inside The Broken Heart: Grief Understanding for Widows & Widowers
Julie Yarbrough
Tate Publishers & Enterprises
http://www.tatepublishing.com
2010
ISBN# 978-1-61663-033-1
Paperback
$14.99
220 Pages (also included is a code to a free audio version)


Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.




Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Resonating With The Reader

"Holly had changed majors after the semester. The natural sciences held little interest for her when real life had interceded. Nor did she ask divine guidance. No fan of conventional religion, she found her cathedrals in the woods."

She Felt No Pain: A Holly Martin Mystery by Lou Allin, Page 129

Nine Months And Counting

and my personal nightmare continues with no signs of abating. Nine months ago today, March 15, 2010 was when my back and leg problem began. Nine months later, after thousands in out of pocket insurance costs, six MRI's, bloodwork, the best efforts of several doctors and therapists, I am no closer to a solution or a better life. If anything, I am worse off now.

I just filled out the paperwork for disability as required by the state of Texas and had it mailed it off to someplace in Illinois for processing. Much of the information was duplication of what I had done online for the federal government. It took four more hours of excruciating pain sitting up while I tried to coherently explain what the living hell of my life has become.

And that is the deal. How does one explain to others what every single minute of every single day is like? One can't. Words don't express it. Simply put, I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

And, yes, I am well aware that there are folks worse off than me and would probably trade anything to be in my shoes as compared to their situations. Logically, I do understand that.

Emotionally, is a far different thing. This evening while I sat and watched the sun set from our apartment porch overlooking the creek amidst all the pots full of dead and dying plants (I never did get one tomato this year), I could not help thinking how much I hate the new me and the new normal.

Reviewing: "A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America’s Favorite Game" by Mark Oristano

Written by Dallas, Texas resident Mark Oristano, A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America’s Favorite Game is designed to be your very basic guide to football. While much of the discussion centers on the pro game, the explanations will also in many places apply to the college game and high school as well. This book is not designed for those who follow the draft religiously, engage in fantasy football, or ever played the game. It is designed for the person sitting next to you who knows nothing about football, only watches the Superbowl, and drives you crazy with questions.

I know. I have one. I do love her but the Superbowl is not the time for her to ask me anything.

After a brief acknowledgment section and an introduction explaining the author's background which will be familiar to fans of the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Oilers, Mark Oristano makes the point that one play can make or break the game. It could be when a wide open Jackie Smith dropped an end zone pass from Roger Staubach in Superbowl XIII. A pass that still haunts legions of Cowboy fans and was the turning point in a game that ultimately the Steelers won. and. It could be a pass that Plaxico Buress caught from Eli Manning of the Giants in Superbowl XLII. How the team gets to that play is determined by what happens on offense, defense, and special teams.

In successive chapters, Mark Oristano breaks down what happens in each group. He starts with the absolute basic information explaining what the initials for a position stand for, how the player or players line up, what each player/position does on the field, what downs are, etc. Along the way, when he is not referring to football as a living chess game, he throws in a lot of humorous anecdotes relating mainly to football that he experienced or knows about because of his thirty years plus as a broadcaster, working in the public relations department of the Cowboys and other jobs.

He also covers information on the refs and how they do their jobs (or not depending on what replay shows) and how not to take the game as life or death. It isn't. It is just a game as the author points out. (Something this fan is working on remembering as I can’t take the stress these days like I could years ago.) This leads into a nine page glossary of terms that closes out the 146 page book.

Aimed at the novices, much of the explanatory game information in A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America’s Favorite Game will bore a true fan. However, the humorous anecdotes and humorous tales will make the book worthy of their interest. Those new to the game will learn a lot about it from his good book released through Synergy Books.




A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America’s Favorite Game

Mark Oristano

http://www.guidetowatchingfootball.com/

Synergy Books

http://www.snergybooks.net

2009

ISBN# 978-0-9821601-1-4

Paperback

146 Pages

$15.95




Material supplied by Scott Lorenz of publicist West Wind Communications in exchange for my objective review.



Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Reviewing: "The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective—The Case of Bigfoot on the Loose" by Douglas Quinn

When I was young years and years ago, I spent quite a lot of time with the Encyclopedia Brown Detective Series. For those not familiar with the concept, it revolved around a young boy who would use his detective kit and other skills to solve cases in his local area. While some swore by the Hardy Boys, I always did prefer Encyclopedia Brown. This series seems reminiscent of those books and is almost as good.

This second in the series find the boy detective, Quinn Higgins traveling to his father's cabin near the Oregon National Forest. During the year Quinn lives with his mom, but during the summer he comes to Oregon. In September he will be going to the fourth grade, but right now as the book opens, he has three weeks with his dad in Oregon.

Quinn can't wait to see his friend Charlotte “Little Dove” Evans whom he has not seen since his last trip. That has to wait while he eats, sleeps, and recovers from the jet along and long drive to get his Dad's cabin.

Quinn likes to read as does his dad and before long Quinn gets very interested in a book about Bigfoot. In between drinking soy milk at meals, camping out with the Little Dove, and doing other things, Quinn and Little Dove investigate the legend and history of Big Foot and how the creature may relate to current events in the surrounding forest.

That investigation leads to two concerns for parents in this otherwise very enjoyable book. Little Dove and Quinn find a stranger living comfortably in a fort (more like a lean-to) that the children made the previous summer. Not only do they pass time in the fort with the stranger, they take food and drink he offers and consume it with no thought at all about strangers and the perils they pose for children. This happens despite the fact that clearly the children should know better. The whole concept of “stranger-danger” is totally ignored throughout this section of the book.

After giving the kids food and drink, the stranger who identifies himself as “White Moon” and is from a different tribe than Little Dove, eventually leads then far deeper into the woods than Quinn's father said they could go in pursuit of Big Foot. Not only do the children, primarily Quinn, rationalize this act of disobedience, they also decide not to tell their parents about the stranger or anything they did. Considering their ages and the risks they took that goes beyond what is noted above and includes a confrontation with a bear, not telling the parents might be best for the characters, but raises huge issues for real life parents. Issues that parents may wish to discuss with their own children if they are to read this book.

Otherwise this self-published book through CreateSpace (part of Amazon) under the “White Heron Press” moniker is a good one. At eighty six pages of actual text (not counting ads for books at the back) it is an enjoyable book featuring a kid fairly confident in his abilities and interested in the real world around him. While parents may have a concern over the lack of stranger danger awareness in the book along with its occasional lecturing tone primarily regarding television and the environment, they will surely appreciate the passion expressed for reading and knowledge. Two things any parent, myself included, would like to instill in his or her children.


The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective—The Case of Bigfoot on the Loose
Douglas Quinn
CreateSpace
https://www.createspace.com/
November 13, 2010
ISBN# 978-1453888049
Paperback
94 Pages
$6.95


Material supplied by publicist Donna Higgins Colson in exchange for my objective review.



Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Friday's Forgotten Books: "Map Of Murder: Original Stories of Mystery and Suspense"

Originally published in early 2007, this anthology show cases murder at various locations across the country. Edited by Susan Budavari and Suzanne Flaig, each story is complex and interesting as the involved authors took the mission concept in different ways. Of course, it really isn’t possible to go into any depth about any of the stories without ruining the story for the reader. Suffice it to say, there isn’t a bad one in the bunch and each weaves its own spell upon the reader. With 20 stories involved, hopefully the ones I have chosen below will reflect accurately the scope and breadth of this engrossing anthology.

In Robert L. Iles’ story “Fast Eddie”, Eddie has a plan. Help the young female traveler store her luggage at the Vegas bus terminal and then lift it from the storage locker later. He’s a small hustler and thief who get far more than he thought when he grabbed the suitcase.

We have all had those days where one bad thing happens after another so has a Vegas show girl named “Stella” in “An Off Day” by S. J. Smith. You will get a kick out of this one.

Frank Zafiro brings the border country near El Paso a live “In the Shadow of El Paso.” A beautiful bartender causes problems and pulls a lawman along a journey of love, hate, desperation and despair. This is a powerful story and one that packs quite a punch.

Another favorite, and not just because it is set on the Texas Gulf Coast, is Carole Kilgore’s “Bunuelos for the Beach.” Pete is dead, Gina is heartbroken at the death of her friend and Detective Cantu is on the case.

Heading east and north and a few stories later, readers find themselves deep in the Smoky Mountains in Deborah J. Ledford’s “Smoky Mountain Inquest”. The middle of the night makes for the best time to detect and it is a salvation for Edgar Marconi working a case in the Swain County Sheriff’s Department substation. Heavily atmospheric with a complex character I would like to see more of, this is an excellent inclusion.

No one really wants to find a body. Especially, early in the morning, which is what happens to Sarah in “Death at the Dumpster” by Suzanne Flaig. Good thing a cop is close to help her as the cop is married to her best friend, Marie. Too bad she quickly becomes a suspect.

Beth Groundwater weaves a twisting tale up into the Colorado Mountains in her tale “The Murder Cache.” When you are a good parent, there isn’t anything you won’t do for your child.

Having read and enjoyed Simon Wood’s work before, I was pleased to note his inclusion in this anthology. His story “Prove It” is well worth it and involves a con having to prove what he did on the outside to stay alive in San Quentin.

This anthology also includes stories by Kris Neri, R. L. Coffield, Alan M. Petrillo, Larry D. Sweazy, Dean Wagner and Debi McKay, Judy Starbuck, Robin Merrill, Susan Budavari, Nancy Nielson Redd, Connie Flynn, Rachelle N. Yeaman and Sybil Yeaman and last but not least John Randall Williams. While each story occurs in a different location, each story features complex characters involved in complex cases that lead the reader through a delightful tale. The result is an excellent criss cross trail across America full of murder, deceit, and betrayal.

Map Of Murder: Original Stories of Mystery and Suspense
Editors: Susan Budavari and Suzanne Flaig
Red Coyote Press
www.redcoyotepress.com
ISBN# 0-9766733-3-9
ARC

Material provided by the publisher in exchange for my objective review.



Kevin R. Tipple © 2007, 2010

You Know

it is going to be a bad/hard day when you wake up in more pain and feeling worse than when you went to bed. The colder weather is really pounding me and the really cold weather has not hit yet.

Reviewing: "Joby, Uninterrupted---Bittersweet Symphonies and Bohemian Rhapsodies" by Joseph Powell

Opening with the poem titled “The Negro Speaks Of Langston Hughes” this 133 page self-published book is the creation of author/poet Joseph Powell. Featured in the National Geographic /PBS documentary titled “Skin” his work speaks of race, poverty, and numerous other issues that are a part of every human being regardless of race, gender, or social standing.

Inspired by James Baldwin and Langston Hughes among others, most of the poetry comes from the perspective of a person who sees himself as separate from others. This is clear early on toward the end of the second featured poem titled “Floating Up A Stream Of Consciousness Without A Paddle.” He writes on page three:

“Shall I opine, about the nature of the human condition;

Editorialize on the state of race relations

In this country – what it means

To be black in white America, to be

A stranger in a strange land, an

Alien on foreign shores, still

Trying to find his place in society, his

Niche in the vast scheme of things?''

Being an outcast is a key part of many of these poems. So too are the ideas of heartbreak in the loss of a child taken far too soon, the loss of brothers and fathers through murder, prison, etc., love in all its many forms, and many other topics. Frequently the pain of creation, especially in terms of poetry and being a poet, comes through many works. How inspiration works regarding the famous both the living and dead is another frequent topic and blends in nicely with the pain of creation.

The blues are a frequent point in this book which is fitting since so much of it revolves around the blues in some form or fashion. This not a book that will give you happy thoughts. But, it is a 133 page book of poetry that may give you both comfort and inspiration when the hours are long and the pain cuts deep.

Joby, Uninterrupted---Bittersweet Symphonies and Bohemian Rhapsodies

Joseph Powell

Lulu

December 2009

ISBN978-0-557-10424-6

Paperback

144 Pages

$16.00

Material supplied directly by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Holiday Goodies

If you are tired of fighting all the brick and mortar store crowds and sick of all the usual internet sales sites, and want to support your fellow writers and their families, I have a couple of links for you.

Barry Ergang just updated his books for sale at http://barryergangbooksforsale.yolasite.com/ He says he just added a bunch of mysteries yesterday so even if you looked before and did not find anything that strikes your fancy, surf over and take a look. By the way, Barry is also now up with some of his older published stuff available on Smashwords. You can search under his name or go directly to his stuff by clicking http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/cassidy20

My wife, Sandi, has been making craft projects for years. What first was done as gifts for family and friends has expanded the last couple of years into a business of sorts. She has started trying to sell some stuff on iOffer. Her store is at http://www.ioffer.com/selling/sanditipple?order=1

Barry’s efforts and my wife’s efforts got my son, Karl, thinking about what he could sell. So, using his online moniker of THUNDERCATSNYY, Karl set up an account over at Amazon to sell stuff and has had some decent success moving electronics, movies, and a couple of other types of items. His store on Amazon is at: www.amazon.com/shops/thundercatsnyy and changes almost daily because he adds things to replace stuff he has sold. He also set up a deal on iOffer to help move some of his Mom’s stuff and other items he can’t sell/list at Amazon via www.thundercatsnyy.ioffer.com

So, there you have it. A shameless plug for folks you know and their families. By all means, I am not saying don’t shop elsewhere or don’t give to your favorite charity. I am saying that if you want to buy from folks that you know and trust, and want to know that your monies definitely helped folks in need that you know, we are here and could use your help and support.

On behalf of Barry and my family, I thank you.

Kevin

Deputy United States Marshall Page Murdock is back in "The Book of Murdock"

Page Murdock is a deputy U.S. marshall in Montana in 1884. He has done a lot of things over the years but not once has he gone undercover as a preacher. That is about to change as Judge Harlan A. Blackthorne wants him to do just that and to do it in Texas Panhandle town of Owen. By going undercover as a man of the cloth it should be easier for Murdock to track down a gang of bandits operating in the Texas panhandle who might eventually make their way Montana if left unchecked. The reason is flimsy at best and Murdock knows there has to be more at stake than just the vague possibility that the bandits might expand their operations all the way up to Montana. Still, one does not say no to Judge Blackthorne.

After a two week crash course in religion, Murdock is sent to Texas as Brother Bernard Sebastian of the Church of Evangelical Truth. A crash course in religion and wearing a clerical collar does not necessarily make him a good fit for an undercover job as a preacher. It does not change his natural inclinations or his responses when confronted. What it does do to Murdock is to make him reconsider the world and his role in it. That may not last too long thanks to be increasingly bold actions of the bandits, a shady woman from his past, and the plain fact that his notoriety that has followed him all the way to Texas. A place and a people he hates on every level.

Murdock is a caustic character and one that frequently makes comments about others in highly entertaining fashion. He does not pull his verbal punches and so readers are frequently entertained with laugh out loud moments as Murdock tells folks in public and in private exactly what he thinks. Not to mention the occasional zings in internal character dialogue. Humor is just as much a part of things here, as is the mystery of the bandits, a failed romance, and the meaning of god and faith, among other story elements. Murdock is just one of many real and interesting characters in this 271 page western novel. The Book of Murdock is a very good read from multi award winning writer Loren P. Estleman.

The Book of Murdock

Loren D. Estleman

http://www.lorenestleman.com

A Tom Doherty Book (Forge)

http://www.tor-forge.com

April 2010

ISBN# 978-0-7653-1600-4

Hardback

271 Pages

$24.99

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Friday Forgotten Books: "Techno-Noir" edited by Eva Batonne and Jeffrey Marks

For this week’s Friday Forgotten Books segment, the below anthology seemed the right choice. With the news yesterday of a bacteria that thrives on arsenic, TSA scanners, and all the rest of it, technology in many forms is driving our lives more and more. Below is my review of the anthology Techno-Noir first written back in 2005.


The dark side of technology is often reported in the day’s news. The modern problem of identify theft was a topic long ago covered in classic science fiction. With such problems and others being daily fodder for the media which seems to be driven by sensationalism these days, it isn’t surprising that authors in other genres are going to explore the positives and the negatives of technology. The mystery field, out of the remaining genres, seems to be not only the most suited to do so, but the genre leading the pack in the form of novels, anthologies, and collections.

Case in point is the recent anthology release Techno-Noir edited by Eva Batonne and Jeffrey Marks. In the book, which contains eighteen stories by as many authors, the roles of technology, morality, deceit and consequences are considered. Some authors and the resulting stories play on the classic stereotypes in the mystery field and twist them while others go in a different direction. A couple of works contain some humor but most of the stories in the anthology are deadly serious as is subject matter. Like all anthologies, it’s hard to go into detail on all the strong stories so just a couple will be covered here.

One that really jumps out is “Suspicion” by Leann Sweeney. Keeping one’s mental health secret is important because even the paranoids do have enemies.

“Cookie Monster” by Tim Wohlforth also stands out for divine retribution on a dishonest computer salesman.

Driven by memories that won’t let go, “All the World is a Stage” by Rick McMahan also works very well and gives the reader a lasting image.

That isn’t to say the other authors, Libby Fischer Hellmann, Nick Andreychuk, Michael Bracken, Earl Staggs, Eva Batonne, Stephen D. Rogers, J. Michael Blue, Flora Davis, Bill Crider, Jeffrey Marks, Arla Gregory, Linda Posey, Kris Neri, H. Robert Perry, and Vera-Jane Goodin didn’t contribute excellent stories. They did. But any reader, or reviewer for that matter, is going to have personal favorites. The above are mine. Your experience will vary.




Techno-Noir
Edited by Eva Batonne and Jeffrey Marks
Zumaya Publications
www.zumayapublications.com
2005
ISBN #1-55410-266-9
Large Trade Paperback
223 Pages

Kevin R. Tipple © 2005, 2010