Category: Authors

THE HUNTER SAGA: HUNTER / HUNTER’S MOON / THE LAST HUNT by James Byron Huggins

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THE HUNTER SAGA by James Byron Huggins

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

First sentence…

‘That boy dies in four hours.”

In HUNTER, Nathaniel Hunter, one of the world’s best trackers, leads a US Military squad into the wilds of Alaska.  A creature that wiped out a scientific installation is on the loose.  The beast, the result of experiments using prehistoric RNA, is unlike anything ever seen by modern man.  The monster is the ultimate killing machine, an apex predator without hesitation or mercy.

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First sentence…

It consumed Angus Staford as it had consumed dead men since the beginning of time, effortlessly crushing bone without removing its scarlet stare from the surrounding night.

In HUNTER’S MOON, Nathaniel Hunter travels to the moors of England.  An army scientist, using protocols that fabricated the prehistoric creature in HUNTER, has infected himself creating a superior beast. This leviathan kills then returns to the savage wilderness of the English moors.  Local police and military units that faced the creature were wiped out.  Hunter barely survived against the original monster.  This new creature is more powerful and resourceful.

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First sentence…

‘We’re going to kill Hunter.”

In THE LAST HUNT, Nathaniel Hunter is living a peaceful life in his Montana mountainside cabin unaware that he’s been marked for death. Scipio Dante, the genius sociopathic billionaire scientist behind the prehistoric RNA experiments that created modern day monsters, wants Hunter dead.

Dante has perfected the serum that creates the nearly unkillable beasts.  Now those infected become monsters that retain human consciousness.  Dante along with two others will take the serum. As insurance, Dante has hired a team of mercenaries led by Roska.  Roska is a tracker with skills that match Hunter’s.

Nathaniel Hunter has no idea of the storm that is coming to his doorstep.  Three unkillable prehistoric apex predators with human consciousness, and a mercenary squad led by his equal are en route.

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Nathaniel Hunter was created with Sylvester Stallone in mind.  As you read the series, it’s easy to imagine a younger Sly as Hunter.  Sly Stallone optioned the rights to adapt Hunter as a film or television series.  Although one has been rumored for years, it has yet to happen.  Fans would love to see it.

The Hunter Trilogy gets my highest recommendation.  They are fast paced.  Well written and fun rides.  Byron Huggins knows his stuff and it shows.

HUNTER rates 5 of 5 stars.

HUNTER’S MOON rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE LAST HUNT rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

FIGHTS WORTH FIGHTING: FINDING STRENGTH IN STRUGGLE by Dolph Lundgren!

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Dolph Lundgren has a new book, FIGHTS WORTH FIGHTING: FINDING STRENGTH IN STRUGGLE coming out on September 22nd.  Here’s the scoop…

FIGHTS WORTH FIGHTING by Dolph Lundgren is a powerful and unflinchingly honest memoir from one of the most enduring icons of action cinema.

Best known for his role as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, Lundgren skyrocketed to fame in the 1980s and has since built a remarkable career spanning over a hundred films — including producing, writing, and directing multiple projects. But beyond the on-screen battles lies a far more compelling story: the real-life fights Lundgren has faced behind the scenes.

In this deeply personal account, Lundgren opens up about his upbringing in Sweden, his rise from a chemical engineering student to a martial arts champion, and his eventual transformation into an international movie star. He explores the pressures of fame, the emotional and physical toll of life in a cutthroat industry, and his private struggles. Now, as he faces his most difficult challenge yet — a fight against cancer — Lundgren reflects on the cost of survival and what it truly means to keep going.

More than just a Hollywood memoir, FIGHTS WORTH FIGHTING is a guide to resilience. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s BE USEFUL, it blends life lessons with personal storytelling, offering practical insights on discipline, reinvention, and the importance of mental and emotional strength.

Lundgren’s story arrives at a time when audiences crave authenticity. This isn’t just the tale of a movie star — it’s a call to arms for anyone struggling with their own battles. Candid, inspiring, and unexpectedly vulnerable, FIGHTS WORTH FIGHTING shows us that real strength isn’t just about winning—it’s about continuing the fight when no one’s watching.

THE BULLET GARDEN: AN EARL SWAGGER NOVEL by Stephen Hunter / Z-View

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THE BULLET GARDEN: AN EARL SWAGGER NOVEL by Stephen Hunter

First sentences…

“No, no,” said Basil St. Florian.  “Bren guns.  We need the Bren guns.  It is simply not feasible without Bren guns.  Surely you understand?”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

July 1944.  D-Day was a month ago and a success.  Since then Nazis snipers have killed hundreds of Allied soldiers daily.  The snipers strike with no warning and then fade away before a counter-attack can take shape.  Somehow these Nazi sharpshooters know where the American GIs are going to be and the safest locations to kill as many as possible.

Army intelligence has come up short in a solution.  General Eisenhower decides that perhaps the Army’s best marksman might have insight.  So Gunnery Sergeant Earl Swagger, a decorated war hero and our military’s best shot is brought in.  Swagger is given carte blanche to figure out a response to the Nazi snipers.

Swagger realizes that part of the problem is the military intelligence operatives working on a solution are doing it from a safe location far from the front.  They’re eating well, sleeping well and going to parties and social events.  Swagger knows as dangerous as it will be, he will need to work on a solution from the front.

Swagger is given an aide, a former Harvard student who is the son of a wealthy American.  Swagger doubts the kid will be much help until the kid tells him:  “I’ve been here long enough to know the politics of this place. I know who wants you to succeed and those who’d like to see you fail. They don’t like the idea of a NCO figuring out what they couldn’t… and I can get you anything you want or need.”

Someone is tipping off the Nazis to American troop movements.  This gives the enemy snipers the ultimate advantage.  Swagger’s a great shot and an unsurpassed hunter but he will find himself up against a squad of snipers led by Nazi with skills equal to his.

Stephen Hunter has written another winner.

Rating:

MONSTER ISLAND by David Wellington / Z-View

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MONSTER ISLAND by David Wellington

First sentences…

Osman leaned over the rail and spat into the gray sea before turning again to shout orders at his first mate Ysuf.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The zombie apocalypse came.  It was as bad as anyone could imagine.  In no time at all the zombies outnumber the living.  The humans who survive huddle in small groups in whatever safe haven they can find.  But without adequate food, water, electricity, lights, air conditioning or heat, survival is barely a step above existing.

The cities are the worst.  The bigger the city, the worse the situation.  In New York City most of the millions of people who used to live and work there are now members of the walking dead.  You’d have to be crazy or have a daughter who will die if you don’t.

Dekalb isn’t crazy.  But he’s been separated from his daughter.  Dekalb was captured by a squad of warrior women.  Their leader will die without the right medicine.  Dekalb knows where a supply can be found.  The meds are at the U.N. Building in midtown Manhattan.  Dekalb offers to retrieve the medicine if he can be reunited with his daughter.  Although a small squad of the warriors will travel with Dekalb, they’ll be outnumbered millions to one.  The only saving grace is Dekalb can think.  Zombies are just mindless eating machines.

All of them… except one.

A medical student named Gary had a plan to survive the zombie apocalypse.  And he did.

Sort of.

Now Gary is one of the walking dead, but he still has the ability to think.  Sure, like all of the other walkers, Gary has a never-ending hunger for human flesh.  But in addition to his ability to think, Gary can mentally control the other zombies.  Gary’s developed a plan that will make him king of the world.  Humans will be contained, corralled and allowed to live…  as a food source for Gary and his walking dead army.

Dekalb and Gary are on a collision course.

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MONSTER ISLAND is the first in Wellington’s MONSTER trilogy (MONSTER ISLAND, MONSTER NATION and MONSTER PLANET).

Wellington first published MONSTER ISLAND in installments available for free on the internet.

David Wellington takes the traditional zombie troupes and puts a spin on them.  I enjoyed the ride and look forward to the others in the trilogy.

Rating:

UNFINISHED TALES by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips!

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Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ new graphic novel, UNFINISHED TALES, drops December 8, 2026.  Here’s the lowdown…

“Brubaker and Phillips don’t hit a wrong note.” — Shane Black

A shocking new original graphic novel from the legendary team of Brubaker and Phillips!

Finnegan Blake is one of the most successful authors in the world, but he can’t enjoy all the fame and fortune anymore. Because Finn is ten years past his deadline on the final book in his epic fantasy series, and has no hope of ever finishing it. Until an old friend shows up with the perfect solution to his writers block. But their pact soon turns dark, as egos clash and old secrets emerge, leading Finn to wonder exactly what kind of deal he’s made, and how far he’s willing to go to get this final book onto the bestseller list. Most writers would kill for Finn’s life… will he?

The Lord of the Rings meets The Talented Mr Ripley in this paranoid thriller by the grand masters of comics noir. UNFINISHED TALES is the must-have graphic novel for the Christmas season, from the red hot creators of RECKLESS, THE FADE OUT, KILL OR BE KILLED and CRIMINAL (coming in 2026 to Prime Video).

“We’re No Angels” (1955) directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov / Z-View

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We’re No Angels (1955)

Director:  Michael Curtiz

Screenplay: Ranald MacDougall; based on La Cuisine Des Anges by Albert Husson

Stars:  Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, Peter Ustinov, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, Gloria Talbott and Leo G. Carroll.

Tagline:  A strangler… A swindler… A safecracker… Yet you’ll love them!

The Plot…

Joseph, a thief, along with Albert and Jules who are murderers escape from the Devil’s Island French Prison.  They make it to a small town where they plan to steal enough funds to make it aboard a ship for their final escape.

The convicts decide to go into a store, steal clothes and money and make their getaway.  Once in the store they discover that the store is failing.  The nice family running the store is on the verge of losing everything.  Against their better judgment the three convicts decide to stay at the store until nightfall.  While there the boys decide to fix the leaking roof… help with sales… cook the family a nice dinner and more.

The longer Joseph, Albert and Jules stay the less likely they are to getaway.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

We’re No Angels is based on the French play La cuisine des anges (The Angels’ Kitchen) by Albert Husson.  Interestingly enough, there was a Broadway play, My Three Angels by Sam and Bella Spewack which was was also based on the French play.  The Spewacks sued Paramount because parts of their play were incorporated into the movie without proper permission or payment.

We’re No Angels (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars

TRUTH TO POWER: A LUKE CAGE MARVEL CRIME NOVEL by S.A. Cosby!

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One of my favorite authors is S.A. Cosby.  I highly recommend everything he’s written.  Anyway, I was doing a search to see if Cosby’s next book had been announced.  It has.  I was surprised to find out it’s the third book in the Marvel Crime novel series.  I wasn’t even aware that there was a Marvel Crime novel series. 

Ah, but there is.

Here’s the lowdown on S.A. Cosby’s TRUTH TO POWER: A LUKE CAGE MARVEL CRIME NOVEL…

Luke Cage plays detective and super hero when he uncovers a conspiracy turning vulnerable Americans into unwitting pawns of a madman.

New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby (KING OF ASHES) writes an original crime novel starring Harlem’s unbreakable hero for the Marvel Crime thriller series for adult readers.

With advanced cybernetics showing up in the possession of low-level criminals, Luke Cage is hired to investigate a factory manufacturing medical devices in rural Virginia. Leaving Jessica Jones during a delicate moment in their relationship, he makes plans to travel south but is devastated to learn that a cousin who scoped out the plant for him has been found dead. The police report states it was an accident. But Luke has long known that official words are just that: words.

Fueled by guilt and vengeance, Luke arrives in Virginia and promises his aunt he’ll get to the bottom of things. But danger lurks in every living room, barroom, and country road of Majestic, and the local sheriff’s barely concealed prejudices are ready to boil to the surface. Even ordinary people seem to have no qualms about testing their might against the hero from New York City.

As Luke uncovers a conspiracy reaching to the county line and beyond, an persistent evil begins to take hold of the town, leaving Luke to hope that his unbreakable skin will protect him long enough to protect others and bring an end to the hate threatening to engulf the nation.

TRUTH TO POWER continues the Marvel Crime series that began with Lisa Jewell’s BREAKING THE DARK and Alex Segura’s ENEMY OF MY ENEMY. Bringing fans into a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, Marvel Crime novels build on one another but can be enjoyed as stand-alone reads and will thrill even those new to the Marvel Universe.

TRUTH TO POWER: A LUKE CAGE MARVEL CRIME NOVEL  Hardcover

TRUTH TO POWER: A LUKE CAGE MARVEL CRIME NOVEL  Kindle

TRUTH TO POWER drops on September 22, 2026.

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER: PERSPECTIVES ON YOUR FIRST ALIEN ENCOUNTER by Neil deGrasse Tyson!

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Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER: PERSPECTIVES ON YOUR FIRST ALIEN ENCOUNTER sounds like a fun read.  Here’s the lowdown…

America’s favorite astrophysicist has written the most entertaining and universally appealing book of his stellar career: a practical guide for dealing with Alien visitors, an exploration of how it might happen, and a cultural history of our fascination with extraterrestrials.

“Ever since childhood,” writes Neil deGrasse Tyson, “I’ve wanted to be abducted by Aliens.”

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER is the culmination of a lifetime of fascination, speculation, and the amassing of scientific data about the possibility of Aliens visiting Earth. Drawing on a wealth of depictions from history, literature, pop culture, and film, Tyson applies the universal laws of physics to make the case for what Aliens might look like, act like, how they might travel through the universe to reach us, and what they might think of us upon arrival. Should such an event occur, Tyson further offers useful etiquette tips for your first close encounter.

If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many UFO sightings, or whether Aliens might already be among us, Tyson offers an informed perspective that is both factual and fun. TTAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER is a tantalizing exploration of what would be the most mind-blowing experience of your life—the book for anyone who has ever wondered: Are we alone?

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER drops on May 12, 2026.

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER hardback

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER Kindle

“Hondo”(1953) starring John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate and James Arness / Z-View

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Hondo (1953)

Director: John Farrow, John Ford (uncredited, final scenes only)

Screenplay: James Edward Grant; based on The Gift of Cochise by Louis L’Amour

Stars: John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate, Leo Gordon, Tom Irish, Lee Aaker, Paul Fix, Rayford Barnes,Frank McGrath, Chuck Roberson and James Arness.

Tagline: First she was afraid he’d stay—then she was afraid he wouldn’t.

The Plot…

Hondo Lane, a US Calvary dispatch rider, discovers a woman named Angie and her young son living alone on the frontier at the edge of Indian territory.  The woman says her husband is due back any day.  The truth is her husband has been gone for far too long.  He may be dead or perhaps he just took off.

Because the Apache Vittorio is threatening war, Hondo offers to take Angie and her son to the nearest Calvary fort.  Angie refuses.  She doesn’t believe the Apache will go to war.

She is wrong.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hondo was nominated for two 1954 Academy Awards.

  • Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Geraldine Page
  • Nominee Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Louis L’Amour

Louis L’Amour won a nomination for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.  Both L’Amour and the producer of Hondo questioned the honor.  They pointed out that the Hondo screenplay was based on L’Amour’s short story.  Therefore the nomination was withdrawn and only four films were list in this category on the final Oscar voting ballot.

Pal, the dog that played Sam, was the original screen Lassie.

John Wayne produced Hondo.  Wayne wanted Glenn Ford to star.  Ford didn’t care for director, John Farrow and turned down the opportunity.  So Wayne decided to take on the role.

John Ford directed the battle scenes at the end of the movie. John Farrow had to leave due to another film commitment. Ford, uncredited, took over as a favor to John Wayne.

Hondo was originally released in 3D.

Hondo gets better with every viewing.

Hondo (1953) rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE UNDERTAKER VOLUME 1: THE GOLD EATER & DANCE OF THE VULTURES by Ralph Meyer, Caroline Delabie and Xavier Dorison

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THE UNDERTAKER VOLUME 1: THE GOLD EATER & DANCE OF THE VULTURES by Ralph Meyer, Caroline Delabie and Xavier Dorison is coming. Here’s the scoop…

A gold-toothed corpse, a town hungry for vengeance, and a hearse full of secrets ― a gripping opening to a groundbreaking graphic novel series by expert duo Xavier Dorison and Ralph Meyer.

Jonas Crow is not your average mortician. Tall, lean, and accompanied by a carrion-eating vulture, he travels the Old West in a black hearse, providing final rites for those who can afford them. But Jonas is a man with a past as dark as the clothes he wears―and his newest client is about to make life very difficult for the living.

When the wealthy and hated mining tycoon Joe Cusco summons Crow, it’s for a peculiar request: Cusco knows he’s dying, and he plans to take his vast fortune with him. By swallowing his hoard of gold nuggets before drawing his last breath, he turns his own body into a literal treasure chest.

Now Jonas Crow must transport the gold-filled corpse across a desert crawling with outlaws, desperate miners, and Cusco’s own vengeful former employees. With a straight-laced English governess and a mysterious woman named Rose by his side, Crow must navigate a trail of greed where the line between the “good guys” and the vultures is razor-thin.

Why You’ll Love The Undertaker:

A Masterclass in Visual Storytelling: Winner of multiple European comic awards, featuring the gritty, high-contrast art of Ralph Meyer.
The Modern Western: Perfect for fans of True Grit, The Sisters Brothers, or Django Unchained.
Darkly Humorous & Action-Packed: A blend of cynical wit, high-stakes shootouts, and a deep, unfolding mystery regarding Jonas Crow’s true identity.

Click on preview pages below to get a biggie-sized look!

THE UNDERTAKER VOLUME 1 Hardcover

THE UNDERTAKER VOLUME 1 Kindle

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper!

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Jordan Harper’s A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE sounds like it’s going to be a banger…

This epic crime novel tells a story of Los Angeles power brokers and those at the edge — and a single shattering incident that threatens to bring it all crashing down.

Los Angeles, right now. America with its back up against the wall. This Frankenstein’s monster of crimes and lurid dreams sewn together into something like a city.

A city ready to explode: A Hollywood pedophile is arrested, and is ready to tear down the city to get his freedom. A young woman goes missing — and men in black rubber gloves who look like cops clean out her apartment in the middle of the night. And the serial killer known as the LA Ripper is on the loose, leaving tragic/graphic/brutal crime scenes in his wake. Three people trying to keep their heads above the dirty water will find themselves coming together to unite these strands into one enormous, unspeakable crime …

Jake Deal is a gonzo live-streaming nightcrawler, beaming the city’s chaos straight to his audience of blood-hungry subscribers, giving them the view from the top of the mushroom cloud — until a job he can’t refuse drags him back into his old life of Hollywood glamour, drugs, sex and sleaze. Armed with cameras and hidden mics, he’ll infiltrate private clubs, gather high-class dirt — and stumble onto a conspiracy woven into the center of LA’s most powerful men, who call themselves “The Kids in the Candy Store.”

Doug Gibson is a street lawyer, who fights for his clients against the army of cops, prosecutors and judges—he is the knife they bring to the gunfight. But when he’s hired by a Hollywood pedophile ready to sell out his friends for a chance for freedom, he’ll take on a fight bigger than he could have imagined. And when his client “commits suicide” in prison, Gibson will have to stop being a weapon — and become a warrior.

Kara Delgado works for an underground private concierge company—a make-a-wish foundation for the terminally rich. She scores drugs, makes connections, and plans multi-million dollar sex parties.She has learned the secret truth of this world: there are no rules, only prices. Her best friend Phoebe has gone missing, and Kara’s the only person who knows that Phoebe’s place was wiped clean of evidence by men in black rubber gloves. But when she begins to unravel the mystery of what happened to Phoebe, and its connection to the killer known as the LA Ripper, it will drag her into the dark heart of the city.

As Jake, Doug and Kara all investigate these crimes, they’ll encounter ketamine-addled sitcom stars, bloody riots, homeless gangsters, a killer cop on death row, secret vaults in Beverly Hills, tech-bro orgies, medical cannibals, true crime junkies, private security wet-work teams, reality shows, street takeovers, car chases, coyotes, a sadistic Tarzan, and a three day, fifty million dollar wedding, before everything is revealed and they must each make their choice about how to fight back in this violent world before the bloody, blazing conclusion.

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE HARDCOVER

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE PAPERBACK

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE KINDLE

James Byron Huggins’ THE LAST HUNT is a HIT and the Sly Stallone Connection!

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James Byron Huggins’ THE LAST HUNT (the third in the Hunter trilogy) is a hit!  It currently has a 4.5 / 5 star rating at Amazon.  Its Goodreads rating is even better – 4.65 / 5 stars.

Perhaps even more impressive is that THE LAST HUNT sits in Goodreads’ Listopia #1 spot on the list of Best Action & Thrillers Ever.  Huggins is in the company of legends (Child, Clancey, Lundlum and Evanovich) and leads the pack! (See chart below.)

Long time readers of this site know that James Byron Huggins wrote HUNTER with Sylvester Stallone in mind as the lead character.  In fact Sly discussed ideas with Byron prior to the novel being written and the second edition is dedicated to Sylvester Stallone.

Sly Stallone has held the movie rights to HUNTER since the start.  A couple of times it appeared that the movie adaptation of Hunter would be soon on Sly’s agenda.  But the movie business proceeds in mysterious ways, and HUNTER has yet to reach the production stage.  Sly’s Balboa Productions still has the rights and hopefully fans will get to HUNTER as a feature film or television series.

Every book in the HUNTER trilogy gets my highest recommendation.

 

RIP: Dan Simmons

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It was announced yesterday that Daniel Simmons died on February 21st from complications of a stroke.  Mr. Simmons was 77.

Dan Simmons began his career in education. Mr. Simmons received a B.A. in English from Wabash College and a Masters Degree in Education from Washington University in St. Louis.  While teaching, Dan Simmons began submitting short stories.

His first published story, “The River Styx Runs Upstream,” won the Rod Serling Memorial Award.  This got Dan Simmons an agent.  His first novel, SONG OF KALI followed.  It won the World Fantasy Award. His first horror novel, CARRION COMFORT, won the Bram Stoker Award. His first science fiction novel, HYPERION, won the Hugo Award.

Someone who writes in a lot of different genres, could be the sign of an artist looking for his voice. In Mr. Simmons’ case, it was a talent who refused to be constrained.

Even with all the awards Dan Simmons won, I was only vaguely familiar with his work. I don’t read fantasy, and very little science fiction or horror. But I do love a hardboiled thriller! You know, the kind written by Andrew Vachss, or Eugene Izzi, Stephen Hunter, or Richard Stark.  And that is how I came to love Dan Simmons’ writing.

Mr. Simmons wrote three novels about Joe Kurtz –

Joe Kurtz was a PI… before he was an ex-con. See he killed a man, a couple of men actually. They’d murdered his girl and unborn child. While it’s pretty reasonable to me that he threw one of ’em off a six story building, the jury didn’t see it that way.

Now, out of prison after eleven-and-a-half years…

…you’d think things would be looking up for Kurtz. You’d be wrong. Too many people want him dead…

I loved the Kurtz novels and they led me to others written by Mr. Simmons.  I enjoyed every one of them.  Even in the genres I generally avoided.  In fact, I still have a few Dan Simmons novels on my “to be read” shelf.  I’m going to have to move them up on the list. Dan Simmons was a master storyteller.  He was able to write compelling tales in every genre he attempted.  How many writers can say that?

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Daniel Simmon’s family, friends and fans.

HOW NOT TO DIE IN PRISON: A SURVIVAL GUIDE by Taylor Sheridan and Tom Nelson!

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HOW NOT TO DIE IN PRISON: A SURVIVAL GUIDE by Taylor Sheridan and Tom Nelson is coming!  Here’s the lowdown…

The debut book from Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Taylor Sheridan, creator of Landman and cocreator of Yellowstone — a no-bullsh*t, darkly funny survival guide to life inside a maximum-security prison, cowritten with prison-hardened ex-con Tom Nelson.

So, you f*cked up. Can’t talk your way out of it, buy your way out of it, or beg your way out of it.

You are going to prison. You will be living under a set of rules made up by men who have demonstrated to society that they need a big ol’ time out. There is no book of these rules. Nobody will tell them to you. But when you break one—boy, will you know it. For the newbie, the fish, the fresh meat—this book is your survival guide. How to mind your business without becoming a target. When to walk away. When to stand your ground.

This is how you don’t die. Follow the advice in this book, and you just might make it out alive.

Pre-orders are available now.

“Death by Lightning” (2025) written by Mike Makowski, directed by Matt Ross, starring Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin / Z-View

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Death by Lightning (2025)

Created by: Mike Makowsky; based on DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC: A TALE OF MADNESS, MEDICINE AND THE MURDER OF A PRESIDENT by Candice Millard

Director:

  • Matt Ross (Eps. 1-4)

Teleplay:

  • Mike Makowsky (Eps. 1-4)

Stars: Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford, Nick Offerman, Laura Marcus, David Nykl, Alfie Tempest, Paula Malcomson, Barry Shabaka Henley and Vondie Curtis-Hall.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Congressman James Garfield went to the 1880 Republican National Convention to give a nomination speech.  Garfield’s oratory was so powerful that through an unlikely series of events he became the party’s nominee.  Although an underdog, Garfield won the election and became the 20th President of the United States.

Charles Guiteau, an ex-con, chronic liar and thief has dreams of glory and fame.  Guiteau admires Garfield and feels their destiny’s are intwined.  But they are not.

So Guiteau decides to kill the man he admires.  Guiteau shoots Garfield in the back.  Garfield is bedridden and in pain for months.  Eighty days after being shot he dies.  James Garfield was President just 200 days.  But his Presidency had a positive impact to this day that few realize.

Charles Guiteau dreamed of fame.  He was executed for his crime and is largely forgotten except to historians.

This is their story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Death by Lightning is an amazing, but true story.  Although a dramatization, it sticks very close to the actual events.  Kudos to Mike Makowsky, who wrote the teleplay for all four episodes, and to Candice Millard who wrote the book which inspired the project.

The cast is amazing.  Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford and Nick Offerman give performances that deserve awards.  They are amazing.  It was also nice to see Barry Shabaka Henley and Vondie Curtis-Hall appear.

Death by Lightning gets my highest recommendation.

Death by Lightning (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.