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| The Caffeinated Book Reviewer's Kimberly hosts a weekly meme called "The Sunday Post"! |
* Weekly Tidbits *
- I'm back after taking a few Sundays off from blogging.
What Am I Currently Reading?
I finally started reading Tom Clancy's Command and Control by Marc Cameron, and I'm on chapter nine. I'm scheduled to review Greatest Hits on March 28th, but I have yet to receive an ARC from the publisher. I did, however, learn that reviewers had been sent copies. An eBook copy is also supposed to be available, but I have yet to receive it. I'm hoping to get either copy by Tuesday. The book is a compilation of short stories written by the late Harlan Ellison (1934–2018). According to Amazon, it's approximately 500 pages long and includes at least two stories that were adapted into Twilight Zone episodes in the 1980s.
Recent Reviews
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| Firewall ★★★✰✰ |
What's New in the Mailbox?
I've been eyeing some older out-of-print Star Trek non-fiction books for a while and finally found them at a decent price on eBay. First up is The Making of the TV Series Star Trek by Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry. The first publication was in September 1968—while the original series was still on the air—and got reprinted several times, with the last being in 1991. The older copies can go for a high asking price on eBay, and many are in bad shape. I chose to get the 1991 Titan Books UK edition; besides the cover being a little worn, the book is in decent shape. And the good news is that I didn't pay much for it—$6.90.
Next is the 1996 hardcover Inside Star Trek: The Real Story by Herbert F. Solow and Robert H. Justman. Solow was the executive producer for the first and second seasons of TOS. Justman was an associate producer during the first two seasons and had a brief stint as co-producer for season three before exiting the series; he also worked on the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the middle of the book is a replica of NBC's Advance Information on 1966–1967 Programming for Star Trek. The oversized pamphlet had to have been before the original series aired. It has Paul Fix as Dr. Pipper—who only appeared in the second pilot, Where No Man Has Gone Before (aired out of order as the third episode)—as part of the cast. He got replaced by DeForest Kelly (Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, whose first episode was The Corbomite Maneuver, which aired out of order as the tenth episode). I'm impressed with the book; it's very detailed and has many B&W photos. I paid only $6.91 for it.
Lastly, Star Trek: Phase II: The Lost Series by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens—published in 1997, it's now out of print. I paid a tad bit more than what I would normally would for a used book—$20.19, which is the cheapest I've ever found. It's the behind-the-scenes story of the almost-aired '70s series Star Trek: Phase II, which would have reunited the original TOS cast, minus Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Scripts were produced, new characters were cast, sets were created, and some test shots were filmed before the series was canceled in favor of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Next is the 1996 hardcover Inside Star Trek: The Real Story by Herbert F. Solow and Robert H. Justman. Solow was the executive producer for the first and second seasons of TOS. Justman was an associate producer during the first two seasons and had a brief stint as co-producer for season three before exiting the series; he also worked on the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the middle of the book is a replica of NBC's Advance Information on 1966–1967 Programming for Star Trek. The oversized pamphlet had to have been before the original series aired. It has Paul Fix as Dr. Pipper—who only appeared in the second pilot, Where No Man Has Gone Before (aired out of order as the third episode)—as part of the cast. He got replaced by DeForest Kelly (Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, whose first episode was The Corbomite Maneuver, which aired out of order as the tenth episode). I'm impressed with the book; it's very detailed and has many B&W photos. I paid only $6.91 for it.
Lastly, Star Trek: Phase II: The Lost Series by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens—published in 1997, it's now out of print. I paid a tad bit more than what I would normally would for a used book—$20.19, which is the cheapest I've ever found. It's the behind-the-scenes story of the almost-aired '70s series Star Trek: Phase II, which would have reunited the original TOS cast, minus Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Scripts were produced, new characters were cast, sets were created, and some test shots were filmed before the series was canceled in favor of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
What's New on the Shelf?
What should have been in "What's in the Mailbox?" is Goosebumps: House of Shivers: Goblin Monday by R.L. Stine, but I had accidentally included it in the photo above, and I'm too lazy (and tired) to take new pictures. It's not an ARC; I ordered it from Amazon.
I found Final Option by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison for ten cents at a thrift store on March 4th. Also, I bought my End of Story by A. J. Finn at a Walmart whenever it came out.
I found Final Option by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison for ten cents at a thrift store on March 4th. Also, I bought my End of Story by A. J. Finn at a Walmart whenever it came out.
I believe I told everyone that I was taking each new James Patterson release, book by book—means if it's not an Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club, or Michael Bennett story, I'll have to look at the book before deciding to purchase it. That said, I bought The #1 Lawyer, co-written with Nancy Allen, which—crossing my fingers—looks like a decent read.
Also, I bought The Inmate by Fredia McFadden.
I returned to the thrift store this past Monday and picked up two hardbacks—Without Remorse by Tom Clancy and The Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum—and seven paperbacks—Two For the Money by Max Allan Collins, Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton, You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson, Wicked Lies by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush, Illicit by Lisa Jackson, The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner, and The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner.
It's my second copy of You Don't Want to Know. This copy is in "like-new" condition with no spine ticks. The other copy will go in my "donation" box, which, once filled, will be donated to the local animal humane thrift store.
Coincidentally, I found three more Lisa Jackson novels—Expecting to Die, Paranoid, and Envious—in the free section at my local library. I also picked up two hardbacks: Look for Me by Lisa Gardner and Masks of the Outcasts by Andre Norton.
New eBooks on my Kindle are A Gideon Crew Collection by Preston & Child, The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #3: The Craving, The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #4: The Ripper, The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #6: The Compelled, The Dark Horse by Craig Johnson, Star Trek: TNG: The Last Stand by Brad Ferguson, Star Trek: TNG: Doomsday World by Carmen Carter, Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, and Robert Greenberger, Star Trek: TNG: Spartacus by T.L. Mansour, Star Trek: Typhon Pact: The Struggle Within by Christopher L. Bennett, Star Trek: TOS: Miasma by Greg Cox, and Star Trek: TOS: Shadow of the Machine by Scott Harrison.
I almost bought End of Story but I am just not sure yet, please let me know how you like it, Billy. My daughter enjoyed The Inmate by Freida, that is her auto purchase author. You have a wonderful list of books here. Happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteSometimes a break is needed from time to time! Especially when a post can be very time consuming!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a haul! Lots of new to me books! It's always fun when you can share a huge haul too! Hope you enjoy all the amazing new reads!
Here's my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Those Star Trek books look interesting. I didn't know they almost did a series in the 70's...
ReplyDeleteThat Andre Norton looks pretty good