Thursday, April 25, 2019

THE MALTESE JORDANS by Seth Harwood

© by Gerald So | 11:00 AM

Seth Harwood, Bostonian, basketballer, Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate, had one of the first crime fiction podcasts, CrimeWAV, through which he introduced series protagonist one-hit wonder action movie star Jack Palms.

Back when I published The Lineup: Poems on Crime chapbook series, I had a hunch Seth would enjoy it and spread the word on CrimeWAV. Not only did he in three episodes, he also posted Amazon reviews of my own poetry and short fiction ebooks. He sent me the ebook of his latest Jack Palms novel in advance of a May 14 signing at New York City's Mysterious Bookshop.

Disclaimer done, I heartily recommend The Maltese Jordans, a contemporary riff on Hammett's classic wild goose chase that sees sneakerhead Jack tracking bail jumper Meyer Mody and a fabled pair of gold sneakers from the Bay Area to Hawaii to New York. Harwood delivers the sensibilities of characters who revere NBA history and love sneakers to the point of staying in a globe-trotting hunt because he shares these sensibilities.

I'm happy to see this book released through Seth's own imprint to be enjoyed by thriller fans, basketball fans, sneakerheads, or all of the above.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. THE FATAL FIVE Animated Movie

© by Gerald So | 2:30 PM

Released on disc April 16, the latest DC animated movie reunites producer-artist Bruce Timm and voice actors Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, and Susan Eisenberg of Cartoon Network's Justice League fame as 31st-century villain team The Fatal Five plots to disrupt its past.

More than delivering nostalgia, by introducing Green Lantern Jessica Cruz (Diane Guerrero) and Star Boy Thomas Kallor (Elyes Gabel), who battle mental illness, the movie clearly speaks to our present. Well done by all involved.

Friday, April 12, 2019

Before I Sleep

© by Gerald So | 5:30 PM

Hi, everyone. It's been more than two months between posts. Not much to report about most of that time. Earlier this week, though, my 21-year-old innerspring mattress became un-sleepable, and for the next three days I researched my next one.

I don't have much room in my room, only enough for a twin, so a bed-in-a-box was appealing: order online, free delivery, I should be able to set it up myself.

Time was I preferred innerspring to foam, but with prices down, I thought I'd give foam a try. I ended up buying a Tuft & Needle. Apparently it doesn't use traditional memory foam, but a custom adaptive foam that's supposed to allow more freedom of movement. We'll see. It'll be here Monday.