The Ricochet Reviewer: Books, Movies, and Comics

by James Blish The second adaptation of Star Trek original series episodes.   The syndicated Star Trek was omnipresent throughout my childhood, as it was for many of my generation.  Huddled in front of the TV at 6:00 on a weekday evening, my friends and I would compete to identify an episode by title as fast as possible.  A musical cue and the particular coloring of the planet that the Enterprise was orbiting was often enough to provide the answer.  "Enterprise 2" (German) Being so familiar with the texture of the show, it is difficult to evaluate these books purely as literary exercises.  "The Duel" (French) James Blish had a significant challenge.  James Blish He was writing from the scripts and had not, I believe, even seen the show at this point.  He was also tasked with adapting eight episodes into a slim volume. This required him to cut to the conflict and use a lot of exposition. The result is not quite satisfying as a book and definitely not sa...

Author: Gerry Conway Artist: Ross Andru  Embellishers: F. Giacoia & D. Hunt Spider-Man is trying to understand why he drove his Spider-Mobile off the end of a pier.  I was surprised to see that this was apparently only his second encounter with Mysterio, the previous one coming all the way back in #24 (April 1965). The mind games resume. Question: Is punching a brick wall really so much harder on the hands than punching a supervillain? Peter’s making himself at home in his new apartment; at least he has a telephone now. And the mind games continue. And at last we find out who is behind them. Peter and Mary Jane have learned that Betty and Ned are planning to wed, but as Pete reminisces about his first love, he gets another disturbing glimpse of someone who looks suspiciously like his deepest love. Fired up with anger, Spidey uses a tracking device to follow transmissions to the image inducer that Mysterio managed to plant on him. After that, the fight is over pretty quickl...

Director: Alexander Payne Writers: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings Stars: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster, Patricia Hastie Matt King (George Clooney) reconnects with his daughters (Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller) as he tries to process a shocking revelation about his dying wife (Patricia Hastie).  This quiet film is beautifully acted, effectively portraying the confusion that can result from conflicting emotions.  At a time when he needs peace and support to help him prepare for the death of his wife, Matt is also exposed to betrayal and the stress of an impending land deal that places the hopes and aspirations of his entire extended family on his shoulders.  Clooney shows us a man who is stunned, angry, and guilty as he tries to readjust to his new reality.  The film is full of specific details that make us feel that w...

by Richard Avery (AKA Edmund Cooper) A team of disgraced misfits are recruited as interstellar explorers to determine the suitability of alien worlds as homes for human colonists.  Of these seven flawed geniuses, only three are given much development and seem likely to be the focus of this four-book series.   This novel is at its best early on when it is a story of exploration, peril, and mystery.   The biology and habits of the deathworms are interesting and well thought out.  "Kratos' Giant Creatures--Conrad's Exhausted Force" (Japanese) However, there is no Prime Directive here; once they get the upper hand, The Expendables have no qualms about devastating an alien ecosystem in the name of the human race.  "Kratos--Planet of Horrors" (Swedish) That cringey 70s swinger philosophy that postulated a progressive future free of sexual hang-ups yet now seems so hopelessly dated and sexist is on full display here.   "Test Planet Kratos" (German) It’s a...

by Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp Conan, now a pirate in his 30s, becomes embroiled in politics and treasure hunts as sorcerers and swashbucklers contend for gold, a magic crown, and the hand of a princess.  This novel-length Conan adventure was conceived and written entirely by posthumous collaborators Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp.   Lin Carter These two gentlemen deserve praise for helping to reintroduce Conan to modern audiences with the Lancer series of the 60s and 70s.  L. Sprague de Camp However, as much as they may have appreciated the character and world that Robert E. Howard created, they didn’t seem to understand that their own modest literary talents were really not in his league.  "Conan the Buccaneer" (French) Even worse, I have read reports that they edited some of the original stories for the Lancer editions.   "Conan the Buccaneer" (German) These are the books I grew up with and, along with the Marvel Comics series, formed my conception o...