This evening I was able to watch three short movies: GI Jane, directed by Ridley Scott (although you'd never know it) starring Demi Moore and with (the reason I rented it) Viggo M. Viggo was very good and Anne Bancroft was also really good as a Texan congresswoman who was head of the armed forces committee (based on Ann Richardson?). By the numbers but about an important subject--letting the first woman trainee into the SEALS program. Interesting what a difference twelve years can make.

Ice Age made me cry. What can I say? I enjoyed it immensely.

But... the real winner tonight was Helvetica the fascinating documentary about the ubiquitous typeface. It's entertaining and informative, with several type designers discussing the font's genesis in 1958, how it seemingly took over the western world, the backlash against it (there were a few designers who seemed almost unhinged in their reactions to it), and the current state of opinion on it. I found the movie riveting.
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I should have posted about this when I first heard, a few days ago but I didn't. I've never been fond of Westlake's novels (the one he wrote about publishing actually offended me, as a young editor) but his Richard Stark novels about the professional criminal Parker just blew me away! Wowza! I only read a handful of the original twenty written between 1962-1974 but my favorites of that bunch were Slayground and Butcher's Moon, the latter, if I remember correctly, a payback related to earlier events in the series and very satisfying.

Westlake left Parker for almost twenty five years but started writing more in the series in 1997, producing almost one a year. If I ever have time, that's the series I want to read completely. That and Ed McBain's (Evan Hunter) 87th Precinct mysteries.

It's been noted that the mystery field lost three prominent writers in 08: James Crumley(another of my favorites), Tony Hillerman, and Donald E. Westlake.
ellen_datlow: (Default)
( Jan. 3rd, 2009 12:02 pm)
Ed is a friend of mine and he needs some help. I've known Ed a very long time and not only is he a fine writer (who isn't writing much fiction these days) but he's a very nice guy. Please read the following:


Edward Bryant is best known as a horror and science fiction writer, with numerous Nebula and Bram Stoker awards for his fiction. He is also known as a reviewer and critic, with his work appearing regularly in Locus Magazine and The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthologies.

Perhaps more important, though, is Ed's reputation as a teacher and mentor. He has been instrumental in the careers of many successful writers and editors, several of whom have gone on to become award winners or bestselling authors in their own right. Because of this and his legendary kindness, Ed is beloved by many people in the United States and abroad, and that is the basis for the creation of this site.

Over the last few years, Ed has fallen on hard times due to financial complications from his heart bypass surgery in 2004, a limited income stream, and predatory actions by individuals who took advantage of Ed's kindness. At one point, Ed (who is also a Type-I diabetic) did not have funds available to purchase insulin and was in danger of foreclosure on his house. Thankfully, friends and caregivers stepped in to handle those troubles, but Ed is still facing a long uphill battle to satisfy his financial and medical responsibilities.

To that end, a third party trust fund has been set up for Ed at the Colorado Fund for People with Disabilities. The PayPal donation button below goes to an account administered by the Colorado Fund. Please consider helping Ed by donating funds to the third party trust using this button. (the button can be found at the bottom of the page Friends of Ed Bryant )
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Inferno and The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy made this top ten list (they count from December to December, I think). Whoopie!
The 2008 Tomb Top Ten
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