#ron fortier

[cryptocollectibles]

Green Hornet #1 (April 1990) by NOW Comics

Written by Ron Fortier, drawn by Jeff Butler and David Mowry.

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'Captain Future In Love' Book Review By Ron Fortier

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/captain-future-in-love-book-review-by-ron-fortier/

'Captain Future In Love' Book Review By Ron Fortier

CAPTAIN FUTURE IN LOVE (The Return of Ul Quorn, Book 1) By Allen Steele Amazing Stories 108 pgs

Once again we find ourselves playing catch up with a new pulp series. Last year we found “Captain Future – The Guns of Pluto.” Seeing that it was a new adventure based on Edmond Hamilton’s classic pulp hero, we eagerly snatched up a copy and loved it. At which point we learned it was the third entry in the series by veteran writer Allen Steele. The first chapter had been released by another publisher with the title “Avengers of the Moon.” We found it, read and give it major thumbs up.

Sadly things went awry and that publisher chose not to continue the series. Steele then partnered with the good folks at Amazing Stories and wrote two more action packed entries. In “Captain Future in Love,” he picks up the story of orphaned Curt Newton who was raised by an android, cyborg and robot in a hidden cave on the moon. Newton’s obsession is to find the corrupt millionaire politician who murdered his parents.  

But first Captain Future must deal with possible terrorists  on attack Venus installations. This triggers flashback memories wherein we learn of his first visit to that planet as a teenager and his encounter with a lovely young thief who steals his heart. It’s a fun tale and told with the proper emotional sensitivity. As with his other Captain Future stories, Steele combines elements of both hard science fiction with the more romantic elements of pulp space operas. What are two radically different styles merge seamlessly in his storytelling. Having read both the first and third, we’re delighted to have filled in the missing chapter of this truly enjoyable saga. Ed Hamilton would have loved these.

[dangerthrillryanson]

[dirtyriver]

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Coming soon : a new collection of short stories written by Gary Phillips, Tommy Hancock, Joe Gentile, Ron Fortier, Eric Fein, Bobby Nash, Josh Reynolds, & Barry Reese.

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'Tarzan and The Valley of Gold' Book Review By Ron Fortier

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/tarzan-and-the-valley-of-gold-book-review-by-ron-fortier/

'Tarzan and The Valley of Gold' Book Review By Ron Fortier

TARZAN AND THE VALLEY OF GOLD By Fritz Leiber From a Screenplay by Clair Huffaker ERB, Inc. 320 pages

Clair Huffaker was one of the finest American writers to ever work in Hollywood. In 1965 he was hired by producer Sy Weintraub to write a new Tarzan film which would feature a modern sophisticated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s classic hero. It would be the first of three to star former football pro Mick Henry as the new, suave and debonair Ape Man. “Tarzan and the Valley of Gold” was released in the summer of 1966.

The plot has Tarzan flying to Mexico in answer to a summons from an old friend who works for the government. A treacherous villain, whose hobby is blowing people up, has located the whereabouts of a lost civilization and is going there at the head of his own private mercenary army. Tarzan’s job is to stop him and save the lost city of gold. Eschewing the previous Tarzan movies, Weintraub and Huffaker purposely ignored any references to Jane, Boy or any other trappings that had been added over the years. Trappings that had turned Burroughs savage champion into a middle-aged, family man as exciting as a bowl of porridge.

Henry not only looked the part as envisioned by readers, but this Tarzan was also intelligent, multi-lingual and resourceful. The movie moves at a fast clip and the action never stops. It remains one of our favorites. It wasn’t till years later that we discovered sci-fi writer Fritz Leiber had written a paperback novelization of the screenplay. It was the first authorized Tarzan novel by an author other Burroughs and was officially listed as the 25th book in the series. With only one printing, the book soon disappeared and became a unique literary treasure sought by many fans over the years. Now ERB, Inc. has produced a beautiful hardcover edition which features a gorgeous cover by Richard Hescox and three black and white interior illustrations by Douglas Klauba.

Known for his creation of the sword and sorcery characters Fathrd and Gray Mouser, Leiber took Huffaker’s lean tale and turned it into a full blown, detailed novel that in the end had very little resemblance to the actual movie. In the book most of the story takes place in the jungle of Brazil and is purposely adjusted to the Tarzan canon as written by Burroughs. Thus there are footnotes galore referring to past Burroughs books and the missus is mentioned, though never by name. Leiber even alludes to his hero’s supposed longevity as having to do with the supernatural.

Where Leiber’s story shines is his complete characterizations of all the principles from Tarzan to the villain Vinaro. No longer cookie-cutter Bond-like figures, each of them is fully realized adding great depth to the adventure. We’re even given Tarzan’s personal self-refection as he continually struggles with his duel natures; one civilized and the other a primitive beast. All in all, the book is truly something unique and a wonderful read. Thank you ERB, Inc. for rescuing it from the obscurity and giving all us Tarzan fans this beautiful edition.

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'The Shadowed Circle #3' Book Review By Ron Fortier

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'The Shadowed Circle #3' Book Review By Ron Fortier

THE SHADOWED CIRCLE # 3 Editor/Publisher Steve Donoso A Renaissance Arts Press Publication 66 pages

Once again, Editor Steve Donoso and his crew of enthusiastic Shadow devotees have put together another stellar issue cram-packed with informative and fun articles. All behind a terrific cover by Steve Rude.

Albert J. Emery’s query as to could the Shadow have ended World War II by taking out Hitler is thought-provoking. Todd Severin and Keith Holt’s second part of the character’s history was professionally put forth. Will Murray always entertains, whether when writing his own exciting pulp tales or in this case, recounting his personal experiences covering the 1994 Shadow movie starring Alec Baldwin. His peek behind the glamour and glitter is fascinating.

Our favorite article was easily the story behind “The Shadow’s Guy in the Chair.” As writer Tim King points out, in most series where the hero leads a team, there is always someone at the center of the web cleverly doing the boss’ bidding. With the Shadow, it was the loyal and mysterious Burbank. A fun piece exploring the possible origins of the character as created by Walter Gibson.

Part one of the Michael Uslan interview, “The Boy Who Loved The Shadow” by Darby Kern was enjoyable and we’re eager for the second half coming next issue. Likewise, Steve Novak’s piece on the Shadow’s New York was a nice follow-up from the period photo essay on display in Issue # 2. 

Finally, “The Puzzling Adventures of The Shadow Magazine in Canada was really strange to say the least. Kudos to Tim Hewitt for his research and exploration of a little facet of publishing history before and during the years of World War II. Very little is ever written about Canadian pulps and this feature was most welcome.

Once again, “The Shadowed Circle” offers up a truly complete package with entertaining articles all beautifully laid out with clever compositions throughout. No Shadow fan should be without this wonderful mag.

[esonetwork]

'To Live and Spy In Berlin' Book Review By Ron Fortier

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'To Live and Spy In Berlin' Book Review By Ron Fortier

TO LIVE AND SPY IN BERLIN By Max Allan Collins with Matthew V. Clemens Wolfpack Publishing 221 pgs

With this third installment of the John Sand series, Collins and Clemens put forth a proposition many past mystery writers have tackled; can marriage still be romantic and sexy? Following the events that were detailed in “Come Spy With Me” and “Live Fast, Spy Hard,” former British Agent John Sand and his Texas Oil Heiress wife, Stacey, have together joined the new international spy organization called GUILE created by U.S. President John Kennedy and run by former British Spy Chief Sir Lord Malcolm Marbury; known affectionately as Double M.

As we rejoin the Sands, the major issue between them is whether or not Stacey becoming an operative was a good idea or not. A series of lethal encounters with a team of professional assassins have John rethinking his decision. At the same time, certain intelligence comes to the surface that former Nazis who escaped capture at the end of World War II may be active in Berlin, after having disappeared for several decades in certain South American countries. Bomb-making uranium has been stolen and the likelihood of these renegade Nazis creating their own atomic bomb is a threat that cannot be ignored.

As in the first two entries, Collins and Clemens cleverly work in actual historical settings throughout the thriller, weaving their fiction skillfully around real people and the volatile political atmosphere of the early 1960s. Yet despite this outer layer of narrative, it is the relationship between John and Stacey that is truly captivating. It was impossible not to recall other literary and cinematic spouses from the past. From Nick and Nora Charles to televisions Hart to Hart and McMillan & Wife, married duos sharing outlandish adventures worked remarkably well in the past and they are very much the pedigree of this thrill-a-minute new series.

As always, Collins and Clemens offer up a whole lot more than any back cover blurb can properly define. This series is brilliant in all its many aspects. If you’re a spy junkie like us, it’s time you met the Sands.

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'The Bloody Spur' Book Review By Ron Fortier

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'The Bloody Spur' Book Review By Ron Fortier

THE BLOODY SPUR A Caleb York Western By Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins Pinnacle Books 270 pgs

This is the third of Max Collins’ five Caleb York adventures. York was a western character created by the late Mickey Spillane in a movie script possibly intended for his pal John Wayne. Collins adapted that script into “The Legend of Caleb York” and had it published. Happily, the editors were taken with the book’s reception and asked him to do more featuring this new cowboy hero. Collins obliged by writing another four books. Obviously, we’d have preferred to read them in the order in which they appeared but that not being possible, we were still determined to obtain all five books; read and review them.

Having settled comfortably in Trinidad, New Mexico, Sheriff Caleb York senses trouble brewing when an odd series of events transpire within days of each other. The first was the arrival into the town of Alver Hollis, a notorious gunfighter named the Preacherman and his two saddle pals. Familiar with the man’s deadly history, York believes him to be a paid assassin who disguises his killings under the label of “self-defense.” The question plaguing York is exactly who is the Preacherman’s target in Trinidad. The second affair is the public hue and cry in regards to the Sante Fe Railroad proposing to build a spur line from Los Vegas to Trinidad. Whereas most of the town’s leading merchants see the spur as an economic boon to the community, blind rancher George Cullen disagrees. This poses a serious hindrance as Cullen’s spread is the largest in the territory on which the railroad needs to cross to build their new spur. Naturally, Cullen makes it known he is not about to grant them that right-of-way. It also doesn’t help that the stubborn old man is the father of Willa Cullen, the young woman York is smitten with.

Things begin to heat up and before Willa can convince her father to change his mind, the old man is found dead with evidence indicating he was murdered. What we truly loved about this particular entry in the series is how Collins skillfully shaped it into a western detective story and York proves to be as capable an investigator as he is a peacekeeper. The clues are there, as Collins always plays fair, and we happily admit by the book’s finale, he’d smoothly misdirected us. That doesn’t happen often. Thus “The Bloody Spur” is another winner in this series. So, what do you say, Max Collins, got a sixth brewing in that wonderful imagination of yours? We really hope so.