© by Gerald So | 2:30 PM
Fellow Bond fans, debate me in the comments.
25. Die Another Day
24. A View to a Kill
23. The Man with the Golden Gun
22. Moonraker
21. You Only Live Twice
20. Diamonds are Forever
19. The World is Not Enough
18. Octopussy
17. The Living Daylights
16. Spectre
15. Quantum of Solace
14. Licence to Kill
13. Live and Let Die
12. Tomorrow Never Dies
11. Thunderball
10. GoldenEye
9. No Time to Die
8. For Your Eyes Only
7. Doctor No
6. The Spy Who Loved Me
5. Skyfall
4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3. From Russia with Love
2. Casino Royale
1. Goldfinger
Showing posts with label Best Of. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Of. Show all posts
Sunday, December 26, 2021
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Tweeting the 2020 Derringer Finalists
© by Gerald So | 10:00 AM
The finalists for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2020 Derringer Awards have been announced and group voting is underway.
The official announcement posted to the SMFS Blog didn't include the dates or publications where the stories originally appeared, but member Rob Lopresti tracked down some. I looked up the rest and made a thread on Twitter, including any links to online stories, authors', magazines', and publishers' Twitter handles I could find.
Voting ends April 29, and winners will be announced in May. Congratulations and good luck to all:
The finalists for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2020 Derringer Awards have been announced and group voting is underway.
The official announcement posted to the SMFS Blog didn't include the dates or publications where the stories originally appeared, but member Rob Lopresti tracked down some. I looked up the rest and made a thread on Twitter, including any links to online stories, authors', magazines', and publishers' Twitter handles I could find.
Voting ends April 29, and winners will be announced in May. Congratulations and good luck to all:
Rob Lopresti found the publication info for the 2020 Derringer finalist stories. I'll tweet here to promote the stories, authors, and publications. Member voting ends Apr. 29. Winners TBA in May.
— Gerald So (@g_so) April 11, 2020
#2020DerringerFinalists
Sunday, January 05, 2020
For Your Agatha Consideration
© by Gerald So | 4:00 AM
My short story "Fred" (published on the Mystery Tribune website and apps December 16, 2019) features no explicit sex, gore, or violence. I made these choices organically while writing, coincidentally meeting Malice Domestic's Agatha Award eligibility requirements.
If you'd like to nominate "Fred" for the 2019 Best Short Story Agatha, I thank you.
My short story "Fred" (published on the Mystery Tribune website and apps December 16, 2019) features no explicit sex, gore, or violence. I made these choices organically while writing, coincidentally meeting Malice Domestic's Agatha Award eligibility requirements.
If you'd like to nominate "Fred" for the 2019 Best Short Story Agatha, I thank you.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
The Five-Two and Best of the Net 2015
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 7:00 A.M.
This July, I'm submitting six Five-Two poems for Sundress Publications' 2015 Best of the Net anthology consideration. Of course, I'm biased. I think all Five-Two poems are the best. That's why I publish them after all. So I'm giving Five-Two visitors a vote.
July 1–7, 2015, the Five-Two Twitter account @PoemsOnCrime will tweet links to all fifty-two eligible poems (published July 1, 2014–June 30, 2015) with "2015 Best of the Net" noted. Favorite the tweets to vote for the poems. On July 8, I will submit the three most-Favorited poems along with three of my choice.
If you follow @PoemsOnCrime, you're more likely to see the Best of the Net tweets when they appear, but you don't have to be a Follower to vote.
Thank you for participating. Good luck to all.
This July, I'm submitting six Five-Two poems for Sundress Publications' 2015 Best of the Net anthology consideration. Of course, I'm biased. I think all Five-Two poems are the best. That's why I publish them after all. So I'm giving Five-Two visitors a vote.
July 1–7, 2015, the Five-Two Twitter account @PoemsOnCrime will tweet links to all fifty-two eligible poems (published July 1, 2014–June 30, 2015) with "2015 Best of the Net" noted. Favorite the tweets to vote for the poems. On July 8, I will submit the three most-Favorited poems along with three of my choice.
If you follow @PoemsOnCrime, you're more likely to see the Best of the Net tweets when they appear, but you don't have to be a Follower to vote.
Thank you for participating. Good luck to all.
Saturday, January 03, 2015
2015 Derringer Submissions Underway
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 1:23 P.M.
Submissions for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Awards opened January 1 and will close on the 31st. All SMFS members who joined by December 31 may submit.
I've submitted my Pulp Modern #7 story, "King of the Sea".
Submissions for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Awards opened January 1 and will close on the 31st. All SMFS members who joined by December 31 may submit.
I've submitted my Pulp Modern #7 story, "King of the Sea".
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Looking Back and Forward
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 2:15 A.M.
With age, I find I look back less often. Hence this reflection post just as one year is ending and another is about to begin:
Novel I Most Enjoyed Reading: Willful Child by Steven Erikson
Short Story I Most Enjoyed Reading: "Class Reunion" by Robb White
Short Story I Most Enjoyed Writing: "King of the Sea", published in Pulp Modern #7
Poem I Most Enjoyed Writing: "A Definition of Noir", published in Noir Riot: Volume 1
TV Series I Most Enjoyed Watching: Doctor Who: Series 8, NCIS: New Orleans, Bones: Season 10
Film I Most Enjoyed Watching: Guardians of the Galaxy
In 2015, I'm looking forward to Syfy's The Expanse, based on the books of James S.A. Corey, Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix, and the Peanuts movie.
With age, I find I look back less often. Hence this reflection post just as one year is ending and another is about to begin:
Novel I Most Enjoyed Reading: Willful Child by Steven Erikson
Short Story I Most Enjoyed Reading: "Class Reunion" by Robb White
Short Story I Most Enjoyed Writing: "King of the Sea", published in Pulp Modern #7
Poem I Most Enjoyed Writing: "A Definition of Noir", published in Noir Riot: Volume 1
TV Series I Most Enjoyed Watching: Doctor Who: Series 8, NCIS: New Orleans, Bones: Season 10
Film I Most Enjoyed Watching: Guardians of the Galaxy
In 2015, I'm looking forward to Syfy's The Expanse, based on the books of James S.A. Corey, Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix, and the Peanuts movie.
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Submit for the 2014 Derringer Awards
The Short Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Awards annually recognize excellence in the genre. SMFS members and editor/publishers of short mystery fiction may submit stories first published in 2013 for consideration for this year's awards. The submission deadline is 11:59 P.M. on Friday, January 31.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
2013 MWA Edgar Nominees
I'm happy to see several books and TV episodes I enjoyed among the nominees.
THE LOST ONES by Ace Atkins, second in his Quinn Colson series, is up for Best Novel.
IN PURSUIT OF SPENSER ed. Otto Penzler, the Robert B. Parker tribute collection of essays, is up for Best Critical/Biographical.
And the pilot episode of A&E's LONGMIRE is up against the ELEMENTARY episode "Child Predator" in the Television category.
Congratulations and good luck to all.
THE LOST ONES by Ace Atkins, second in his Quinn Colson series, is up for Best Novel.
IN PURSUIT OF SPENSER ed. Otto Penzler, the Robert B. Parker tribute collection of essays, is up for Best Critical/Biographical.
And the pilot episode of A&E's LONGMIRE is up against the ELEMENTARY episode "Child Predator" in the Television category.
Congratulations and good luck to all.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Best of 2012 - Movies
I don't get to watch many movies in theaters, and you'll notice a theme in much of what I did watch, but here goes:
SKYFALL is at the top of my list for what it does to revitalize the Bond franchise after 2008's mediocre Quantum of Solace. Skyfall both explores new territory and calls back some classic themes and characters.
WRECK-IT RALPH didn't especially appeal to me in previews, but grew on me as it went on. Halfway through, I was completely invested in characters whose actions and outcomes weren't predetermined.
MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS lived up to years of hype, but watching it on video, its structure is more obvious, a set of action sequences devised to showcase each hero. I'm not sure the sequences are tied together that well. Still a fun ride.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES was better than The Dark Knight, which I'm sure is enough of a controversial opinion. I liked that it gave Bruce Wayne an ending, a way out of being the Batman. I liked Anne Hathaway as Selena Kyle. The rest of the movie felt heavy, but it may boil down to the fact I'm not the biggest Batman fan.
SKYFALL is at the top of my list for what it does to revitalize the Bond franchise after 2008's mediocre Quantum of Solace. Skyfall both explores new territory and calls back some classic themes and characters.
WRECK-IT RALPH didn't especially appeal to me in previews, but grew on me as it went on. Halfway through, I was completely invested in characters whose actions and outcomes weren't predetermined.
MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS lived up to years of hype, but watching it on video, its structure is more obvious, a set of action sequences devised to showcase each hero. I'm not sure the sequences are tied together that well. Still a fun ride.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES was better than The Dark Knight, which I'm sure is enough of a controversial opinion. I liked that it gave Bruce Wayne an ending, a way out of being the Batman. I liked Anne Hathaway as Selena Kyle. The rest of the movie felt heavy, but it may boil down to the fact I'm not the biggest Batman fan.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Following the 2012 MWA Edgar® Awards
I had the chance to read one of the finalist books, thanks to Ace Atkins, so I was rooting for THE RANGER for Best Novel as I followed the tweets of literary agent Stacia Decker. The book didn't win, but that reminded me of what an honor it must be to be nominated from the hundreds if not thousands of books submitted.
I was also glad to see a Raven Award go to M is for Mystery in San Mateo, one of the shops that carried The Lineup #4, and, sadly, closed in January 2012.
Here's a roundup of the awards from Mystery Scene Magazine's blog.
Congratulations to the winners and again to the nominees.
I was also glad to see a Raven Award go to M is for Mystery in San Mateo, one of the shops that carried The Lineup #4, and, sadly, closed in January 2012.
Here's a roundup of the awards from Mystery Scene Magazine's blog.
Congratulations to the winners and again to the nominees.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
My Best Reads of 2011
Traditionally I'm not up on the newest books so I give you my favorite books I've read each year, regardless of when they were published. This year, though, my favorites are all from 2011:
COUNTY LINE by Bill Cameron continues his loose series of linked novels (Lost Dog, Chasing Smoke, Day One). I enjoyed the cross-country trip that delved into one of his characters' pasts.
LIQUID SMOKE by Jeff Shelby was the anticipated return of San Diego P.I. Noah Braddock after five years. When last we saw Noah and friends (Wicked Break), they fit snugly in the tradition of Parker and Crais, but in this third novel, Shelby takes his P.I. to a dark place Parker never (and Crais so far hasn't) dared.
LASSITER by Paul Levine was the even more anticipated return of ex-Miami Dolphins linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter after fourteen years. Some months earlier, I read Flesh & Bones, the immediately previous Lassiter novel, and could detect no rust in the new release. It's everything a fan wants in a return.
THE RANGER by Ace Atkins is the start of a new series by the author tapped to take over Robert Parker's Spenser. This novel gave me confidence Atkins could write like Parker, but, as curious as I am about the continuation, I'm more engaged by ex-Army Ranger Quinn Colson and the characters and past to which he comes home.
My favorite short story read this year was "Blind Date" by Scotti Andrews from the ebook anthology West Coast Crime Wave. Andrews expertly built on the premise of mistaken identity to keep me guessing to the end.
COUNTY LINE by Bill Cameron continues his loose series of linked novels (Lost Dog, Chasing Smoke, Day One). I enjoyed the cross-country trip that delved into one of his characters' pasts.
LIQUID SMOKE by Jeff Shelby was the anticipated return of San Diego P.I. Noah Braddock after five years. When last we saw Noah and friends (Wicked Break), they fit snugly in the tradition of Parker and Crais, but in this third novel, Shelby takes his P.I. to a dark place Parker never (and Crais so far hasn't) dared.
LASSITER by Paul Levine was the even more anticipated return of ex-Miami Dolphins linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter after fourteen years. Some months earlier, I read Flesh & Bones, the immediately previous Lassiter novel, and could detect no rust in the new release. It's everything a fan wants in a return.
THE RANGER by Ace Atkins is the start of a new series by the author tapped to take over Robert Parker's Spenser. This novel gave me confidence Atkins could write like Parker, but, as curious as I am about the continuation, I'm more engaged by ex-Army Ranger Quinn Colson and the characters and past to which he comes home.
My favorite short story read this year was "Blind Date" by Scotti Andrews from the ebook anthology West Coast Crime Wave. Andrews expertly built on the premise of mistaken identity to keep me guessing to the end.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
2010 Best of Me Awards
I didn't have much fiction or poetry published online in 2010, but vote for your favorites in the Comments.
Fiction
"H-Bomb" (Late entry in Chad Rohrbacher's Free Gischler Contest)
Rimbaud's Request (Needle's First Flash Fiction Challenge)
All Wrapped Up (Do Some Damage Christmas Noir Flash Challenge)
Poetry
"Best $90 I Ever Spent" (Gutter Eloquence Magazine)
"Coolest Thing about Corey Haim" (Asinine Poetry)
"Dad Killed My Dream" (Asinine Poetry)
"Summer Fling" (Short, Fast and Deadly)
Fiction
"H-Bomb" (Late entry in Chad Rohrbacher's Free Gischler Contest)
Rimbaud's Request (Needle's First Flash Fiction Challenge)
All Wrapped Up (Do Some Damage Christmas Noir Flash Challenge)
Poetry
"Best $90 I Ever Spent" (Gutter Eloquence Magazine)
"Coolest Thing about Corey Haim" (Asinine Poetry)
"Dad Killed My Dream" (Asinine Poetry)
"Summer Fling" (Short, Fast and Deadly)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
2010 Best of Me Video Awards
I'd like to inaugurate the Best of Me Video Awards. Not including dated announcements, here is a blog search of the videos I've made since receiving a Flip camera last Christmas. Tell me which is your favorite in the Comments here or on the original posts.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Shortnin', Shortnin'
If you're a reader, writer, editor, or publisher of short mystery fiction, consider joining The Short Mystery Fiction Society by December 31 to participate in the 2011 Derringer Awards process, recognizing the best short mystery and crime fiction of 2010.
Derringer submissions will be accepted January 1-31, 2011. SMFS member volunteer judges will narrow the submissions to five finalists in each of four length categories (20 altogether) February 1-28, 2011. The twenty finalist stories will be posted to the Derringers Voting Group March 1-30, 2011. Finally, winners will be announced March 31, 2011.
UPDATE: Speaking of short stories, my entry in Do Some Damage's Christmas Noir Flash Challenge went live at 4:00PM Eastern. You can also read it here with author's commentary. Enjoy.
Derringer submissions will be accepted January 1-31, 2011. SMFS member volunteer judges will narrow the submissions to five finalists in each of four length categories (20 altogether) February 1-28, 2011. The twenty finalist stories will be posted to the Derringers Voting Group March 1-30, 2011. Finally, winners will be announced March 31, 2011.
UPDATE: Speaking of short stories, my entry in Do Some Damage's Christmas Noir Flash Challenge went live at 4:00PM Eastern. You can also read it here with author's commentary. Enjoy.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My Best of 2010
Best Read (Novel) of 2010:
Fault Line by Barry Eisler - I was a fan of Eisler's John Rain books but also intrigued by his writing a standalone (now a series). Fault Line struck me as both a high stakes thriller and a very personal story—with the best sex scenes I've read in years.
The Deputy by Victor Gischer
Best Read (Story) of 2010:
"Drive-Thru" by David Dietrich - "Working the midnight-to-six shift alone at the Atlas Burger drive-thru window, the narrator of this story doesn't believe he's being robbed when he hears an unfamiliar man's voice through his piece-of-junk headset. Bored, and perhaps jaded, the narrator engages the would-be robber in conversation."
"The Gun Also Rises" by Jeffrey Cohen
Best Movie Seen in 2010:
The A-Team - The movie evoked the wry, rollicking fun of the series. How often can you say that?
Best DVD Set Purchased in 2010:
Community: The Complete First Season - My favorite show on NBC right now. Not enough for me to flip to NBC from The Big Bang Theory or Bones, but the DVD set—with commentary on every episode, bloopers, and behind-the-scenes stuff—is definitely worth owning.
Best Writing Experience of 2010:
"All Wrapped Up" - I don't want to give away too much about my entry in Do Some Damage's Christmas Noir Flash Challenge, but I hope you can tell how engaging it was to write.
Fault Line by Barry Eisler - I was a fan of Eisler's John Rain books but also intrigued by his writing a standalone (now a series). Fault Line struck me as both a high stakes thriller and a very personal story—with the best sex scenes I've read in years.
The Deputy by Victor Gischer
Best Read (Story) of 2010:
"Drive-Thru" by David Dietrich - "Working the midnight-to-six shift alone at the Atlas Burger drive-thru window, the narrator of this story doesn't believe he's being robbed when he hears an unfamiliar man's voice through his piece-of-junk headset. Bored, and perhaps jaded, the narrator engages the would-be robber in conversation."
"The Gun Also Rises" by Jeffrey Cohen
Best Movie Seen in 2010:
The A-Team - The movie evoked the wry, rollicking fun of the series. How often can you say that?
Best DVD Set Purchased in 2010:
Community: The Complete First Season - My favorite show on NBC right now. Not enough for me to flip to NBC from The Big Bang Theory or Bones, but the DVD set—with commentary on every episode, bloopers, and behind-the-scenes stuff—is definitely worth owning.
Best Writing Experience of 2010:
"All Wrapped Up" - I don't want to give away too much about my entry in Do Some Damage's Christmas Noir Flash Challenge, but I hope you can tell how engaging it was to write.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Fave Four
I've entered The Rap Sheet's Mike Hammer Contest with a list of my four favorite P.I. novels of all time. They are, in alphabetical order:
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy
Promised Land by Robert B. Parker
No Colder Place by S.J. Rozan
Click the link above to find out how to send your entry by midnight Pacific May 21.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy
Promised Land by Robert B. Parker
No Colder Place by S.J. Rozan
Click the link above to find out how to send your entry by midnight Pacific May 21.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Thrilled for Kieran Shea
In late February, I made Thrilling Detective's allotted three nominations to win storySouth's Million Writers Award, honoring the best original online fiction of 2009.
On April 1, Jason Sanford posted the list of 190 notable stories. Among them is Kieran Shea's Thrilling Detective story "Shot Back". The notable stories will be narrowed to ten finalists May 1. The public then gets to vote for the winner.
On April 1, Jason Sanford posted the list of 190 notable stories. Among them is Kieran Shea's Thrilling Detective story "Shot Back". The notable stories will be narrowed to ten finalists May 1. The public then gets to vote for the winner.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Until Feb. 28, storySouth Million Writers Award Nominations
A little late this year, but yesterday I made Thrilling Detective's three allotted nominations for storySouth's Million Writers Award, honoring the best original online fiction of 2009. They are:
"Pandora" by Patrick Shawn Bagley
"Love is for Suckers" by Robert Petyo
"Shot Back" by Kieran Shea
Obviously I like all the stories I choose to edit, so if you liked another 2009 Thrilling story, please nominate it.
Readers/writers can also nominate one story, so I nominated my own "Artifacts" in Beat to a Pulp.
"Pandora" by Patrick Shawn Bagley
"Love is for Suckers" by Robert Petyo
"Shot Back" by Kieran Shea
Obviously I like all the stories I choose to edit, so if you liked another 2009 Thrilling story, please nominate it.
Readers/writers can also nominate one story, so I nominated my own "Artifacts" in Beat to a Pulp.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
My Favorite Novel of 2009
If I made new year's resolutions, one of them would be to read more than I did in 2009. You don't need me to tell you reading keeps the imagination more active than watching TV or movies. I tired of mystery/crime fiction for a time this year, and for that time didn't read much of anything. Checking my blog, though, I did manage to read some of the year's new crime/mystery/thriller (Sorry.) releases.
As I've mentioned, Paul Levine and S.J. Rozan are two of my favorite writers. Paul's fiction took a decidedly dark turn from the Solomon vs. Lord series with Illegal, while S.J. brought back her famous duo of Lydia Chin and Bill Smith after a seven-year hiatus in The Shanghai Moon. I loved both books, but I knew I would, so my favorite novel of 2009, based in part on newness, is Ridley Pearson's Killer Summer. I was most impressed with Pearson's blending of high-stakes thriller pace with small town local color.
As I've mentioned, Paul Levine and S.J. Rozan are two of my favorite writers. Paul's fiction took a decidedly dark turn from the Solomon vs. Lord series with Illegal, while S.J. brought back her famous duo of Lydia Chin and Bill Smith after a seven-year hiatus in The Shanghai Moon. I loved both books, but I knew I would, so my favorite novel of 2009, based in part on newness, is Ridley Pearson's Killer Summer. I was most impressed with Pearson's blending of high-stakes thriller pace with small town local color.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
2009 Best of Me Awards
In the Comments section, tell me which of my online stories and/or poems first published in 2009 was your favorite:
Fiction
"Last Request" (Patti Abbott's February Flash Fiction Challenge)
"Artifacts" (My seventh C.J. Stone story, in BEAT to a PULP)
"Once Upon a Wedding Cake" (Patti Abbott's Flash Fiction Challenge #5)
"What Brought This On?" (Honorable mention in Asinine Poetry's prose contest)
"Need a Hand?" (Patti Abbott's Walmart Flash Fiction Challenge)
"So Long, Stevie" (The Steve Weddle Mem'l Airport Flash Fiction Challenge)
Poetry
"I Ask Ronni to Arm Wrestle" (Asinine Poetry)
"Road Trip" (Yellow Mama #14)
"Paperback Lover" (Yellow Mama #15)
"Summer Snapshot" (The Houston Literary Review)
"Enchanted" (Asinine Poetry)
Fiction
"Last Request" (Patti Abbott's February Flash Fiction Challenge)
"Artifacts" (My seventh C.J. Stone story, in BEAT to a PULP)
"Once Upon a Wedding Cake" (Patti Abbott's Flash Fiction Challenge #5)
"What Brought This On?" (Honorable mention in Asinine Poetry's prose contest)
"Need a Hand?" (Patti Abbott's Walmart Flash Fiction Challenge)
"So Long, Stevie" (The Steve Weddle Mem'l Airport Flash Fiction Challenge)
Poetry
"I Ask Ronni to Arm Wrestle" (Asinine Poetry)
"Road Trip" (Yellow Mama #14)
"Paperback Lover" (Yellow Mama #15)
"Summer Snapshot" (The Houston Literary Review)
"Enchanted" (Asinine Poetry)
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