The Ricochet Reviewer: Books, Movies, and Comics

by James Ellroy In the final novel of James Ellroy's LA quartet, corruption has become ubiquitous on the LA police force, which becomes the battleground for two powerful men who both want to become DA as a stepping stone to greater things.  James Ellroy Dave Klein, a detective who has risen through the ranks by following orders no matter how distasteful, finds himself in the middle of a complex situation involving a federal corruption probe, a family of informers, Howard Hughes, and a low budget horror movie shooting in Griffith Park.  Hard-as-nails Klein becomes increasingly friendless except for a beautiful starlet who may prove to be his downfall.  This is a fierce, inventive novel with a powerfully unique syntax that is a bit challenging at first, but give it a chance and you'll get used to it.  It's an effective stylistic choice that gives the narrative a frenzied, chaotic energy. "White Fever" (Polish) "White Jazz" (Hungarian) "White Jazz...

by Robert Jordan Pursued by monsters, a band of villagers are escorted from their idyllic hamlet by a wise woman on the suspicion that one of them is the Dragon Reborn, a man who is able to wield magic powerful enough to destroy the world.  In this world, the control of magic is monopolized by the Aes Sedai, a matriarchal organization of women who are orchestrating events worldwide in preparation for the Last Battle, a prophesied apocalyptic confrontation between good and evil.   So, two parts Lord of the Rings and one part Dune.  However, Robert Jordan’s richly detailed world is so impressive that it deserves to stand next to (or maybe slightly below) the world-building in those classic works.  Robert Jordan Jordan is pretty self-indulgent at times as he lingers over details of his setting, slowing the action with extraneous detail to an extent that sometimes tried my patience.  The story, however, is pretty damn good and will definitely have me coming back for...

  by James Ellroy In early 1950s Los Angeles, the police are scarcely less corrupt than the criminal underworld.  The death of mobster Mickey Cohen is closely followed by a massacre at a diner, the aftermath of which forces three officers to confront the hypocrisy, corruption, and compromise that have infected their lives.  Ed Exley is a by-the-book opportunist who is reviled by his fellow officers for placing ambition above camaraderie.  Bud White is a brutal enforcer in blue whose rage has made him a tool of his corrupt superiors.  Jack Vincennes has been seduced by Hollywood glitz, serving as an advisor for a popular cop show and a stringer for the gossip rag Hush Hush, which he tips off about busts in exchange for publicity.  These three men struggle to claw back their self-respect and a measure of moral integrity as they separately investigate what happened the night of the killings at the Nite Owl Coffee Shop.  As they get closer to the truth, th...