Here is the table of contents for The Apes of Wrath as it will appear in the book.

Foreword by Rupert Wyatt

Editor’s Introduction

“The Ape-Box Affair” by James P. Blaylock

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe

“Evil Robot Monkey” by Mary Robinette Kowal

“Apes in Literature” by Jess Nevins

“Tarzan’s First Love” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

“Rachel in Love” by Pat Murphy

“Dr. Hudson’s Secret Gorilla” by Howard Waldrop

“The Four-Color Ape” by Scott A. Cupp

“Red Shadows” by Robert E. Howard

“The Cult of the White Ape” by Hugh B. Cave

“The Maze of Maâl Dweb” by Clark Ashton Smith

“Quidquid volueris” by Gustave Flaubert

“Gorilla of Your Dreams: A Brief History of Simian Cinema” by Rick Klaw

“After King Kong Fell” by Philip Jose Farmer

“Deviation from a Theme” by Stephen Utley

“Godzilla’s Twelve-Step Program” by Joe R. Lansdale

“The Men in the Monkey Suit” by Mark Finn

“The Apes and the Two Travelers” by Aesop

“Her Furry Face” by Leigh Kennedy

“A Report to an Academy” by Franz Kafka

“Faded Roses” by Karen Joy Fowler

Cover by Alex Solis

The Wyatt foreword and the essays by Nevins, Cupp, and Finn were prepared especially for this book. My essay is a substantially revised and expanded version of the article that originally appeared in Moving Pictures Magazine, December/January 2005/2006.

The Flaubert and Kafka were newly translated by Gio Clairval.

Everything else is a reprint.

Watch for The Apes of Wrath in March 2013 from Tachyon Publications.

The Apes of Wrath Table of Contents was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Here is the table of contents for The Apes of Wrath as it will appear in the book.

Foreword by Rupert Wyatt

Editor’s Introduction

"The Ape-Box Affair" by James P. Blaylock

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe

"Evil Robot Monkey" by Mary Robinette Kowal

"Apes in Literature" by Jess Nevins

"Tarzan’s First Love" by Edgar Rice Burroughs

"Rachel in Love" by Pat Murphy

"Dr. Hudson’s Secret Gorilla" by Howard Waldrop

"The Four-Color Ape" by Scott A. Cupp

"Red Shadows" by Robert E. Howard

"The Cult of the White Ape" by Hugh B. Cave

"The Maze of Maâl Dweb" by Clark Ashton Smith

"Quidquid volueris" by Gustave Flaubert

"Gorilla of Your Dreams: A Brief History of Simian Cinema" by Rick Klaw

"After King Kong Fell" by Philip Jose Farmer

"Deviation from a Theme" by Stephen Utley

"Godzilla’s Twelve-Step Program" by Joe R. Lansdale

"The Men in the Monkey Suit" by Mark Finn

"The Apes and the Two Travelers" by Aesop

"Her Furry Face" by Leigh Kennedy

"A Report to an Academy" by Franz Kafka

"Faded Roses" by Karen Joy Fowler

Cover by Alex Solis

The Wyatt foreword and the essays by Nevins, Cupp, and Finn were prepared especially for this book. My essay is a substantially revised and expanded version of the article that originally appeared in Moving Pictures Magazine, December/January 2005/2006.

The Flaubert and Kafka were newly translated by Gio Clairval.

Everything else is a reprint.

Watch for The Apes of Wrath in March 2013 from Tachyon Publications.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero
by Larry Tyne

Promo copy:

Seventy-five years after he came to life, Superman remains one of America’s most adored and enduring heroes. Now Larry Tye, the prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of Satchel, has written the first full-fledged history not just of the Man of Steel but of the creators, designers, owners, and performers who made him the icon he is today.

Legions of fans from Boston to Buenos Aires can recite the story of the child born Kal-El, scion of the doomed planet Krypton, who was rocketed to Earth as an infant, raised by humble Kansas farmers, and rechristened Clark Kent. Known to law-abiders and evildoers alike as Superman, he was destined to become the invincible champion of all that is good and just—and a star in every medium from comic books and comic strips to radio, TV, and film.

But behind the high-flying legend lies a true-to-life saga every bit as compelling, one that begins not in the far reaches of outer space but in the middle of America’s heartland. During the depths of the Great Depression, Jerry Siegel was a shy, awkward teenager in Cleveland. Raised on adventure tales and robbed of his father at a young age, Jerry dreamed of a hero for a boy and a world that desperately needed one. Together with neighborhood chum and kindred spirit Joe Shuster, young Siegel conjured a human-sized god who was everything his creators yearned to be: handsome, stalwart, and brave, able to protect the innocent, punish the wicked, save the day, and win the girl. It was on Superman’s muscle-bound back that the comic book and the very idea of the superhero took flight.

Tye chronicles the adventures of the men and women who kept Siegel and Shuster’s “Man of Tomorrow” aloft and vitally alive through seven decades and counting. Here are the savvy publishers and visionary writers and artists of comics’ Golden Age who ushered the red-and-blue-clad titan through changing eras and evolving incarnations; and the actors—including George Reeves and Christopher Reeve—who brought the Man of Steel to life on screen, only to succumb themselves to all-too-human tragedy in the mortal world. Here too is the poignant and compelling history of Siegel and Shuster’s lifelong struggle for the recognition and rewards rightly due to the architects of a genuine cultural phenomenon.

From two-fisted crimebuster to über-patriot, social crusader to spiritual savior, Superman—perhaps like no other mythical character before or since—has evolved in a way that offers a Rorschach test of his times and our aspirations. In this deftly realized appreciation, Larry Tye reveals a portrait of America over seventy years through the lens of that otherworldly hero who continues to embody our best selves.

What a great concept. Wish I had thought of it.

Pathfinder Tales: City of the Fallen Sky
by Tim Pratt
Cover by J. P. Targate

Promo copy:

Once an alchemical researcher with the dark scholars of the Technic League, Alaeron fled their arcane order when his conscience got the better of him, taking with him a few strange devices of unknown function. Now in hiding in a distant city, he’s happy to use his skills creating minor potions and wonders—at least until the back-alley rescue of an adventurer named Jaya lands him in trouble with a powerful crime lord. In order to keep their heads, Alaeron and Jaya must travel across wide seas and steaming jungles in search of a wrecked flying city and the magical artifacts that can buy their freedom. Yet the Technic League hasn’t forgotten Alaeron’s betrayal, and an assassin armed with alien weaponry is hot on their trail…

Smithereens
by Steve Aylett

Promo copy:

Steve Aylett has been described as “utterly original” (SFX), “the most original voice in the literary scene” (Michael Moorcock), “an unstoppable master of space and time” (Asimov’s) and “the coolest writer alive today” (Starburst). SMITHEREENS collects 19 stories including ‘The Man Whose Head Expanded’, the prophetic ‘Download Syndrome’, ‘The Burnished Adventures of Injury Mouse’, the full text of ‘Voyage of the Iguana’, the last ever Beerlight story ‘Specter’s Way’, ‘Horoscope’, and the closest thing Aylett has ever written to a traditional SF story, ‘Bossanova’ (featuring a robot and two spaceships!) There are also animal-attack-while-writing reminiscences in ‘Evernemesi’ and top-of-the-line declarative bitterness in ‘On Reading New Books’. Snails, whales and cortical drills. Aylett’s last collection.

“clearly a phenomenal talent.” – Trashotron

“Aylett has made a career out of redefining the boundaries of science fiction – and sanity.” – Barnes & Noble Spotlight Feature

I’ve long been an Aylett fan. I was lucky enough to interview him back 2005.

Part II

Books received 6/10/12 Part I was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero
by Larry Tyne

Promo copy:

Seventy-five years after he came to life, Superman remains one of America’s most adored and enduring heroes. Now Larry Tye, the prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of Satchel, has written the first full-fledged history not just of the Man of Steel but of the creators, designers, owners, and performers who made him the icon he is today.

Legions of fans from Boston to Buenos Aires can recite the story of the child born Kal-El, scion of the doomed planet Krypton, who was rocketed to Earth as an infant, raised by humble Kansas farmers, and rechristened Clark Kent. Known to law-abiders and evildoers alike as Superman, he was destined to become the invincible champion of all that is good and just—and a star in every medium from comic books and comic strips to radio, TV, and film.

But behind the high-flying legend lies a true-to-life saga every bit as compelling, one that begins not in the far reaches of outer space but in the middle of America’s heartland. During the depths of the Great Depression, Jerry Siegel was a shy, awkward teenager in Cleveland. Raised on adventure tales and robbed of his father at a young age, Jerry dreamed of a hero for a boy and a world that desperately needed one. Together with neighborhood chum and kindred spirit Joe Shuster, young Siegel conjured a human-sized god who was everything his creators yearned to be: handsome, stalwart, and brave, able to protect the innocent, punish the wicked, save the day, and win the girl. It was on Superman’s muscle-bound back that the comic book and the very idea of the superhero took flight.

Tye chronicles the adventures of the men and women who kept Siegel and Shuster’s “Man of Tomorrow” aloft and vitally alive through seven decades and counting. Here are the savvy publishers and visionary writers and artists of comics’ Golden Age who ushered the red-and-blue-clad titan through changing eras and evolving incarnations; and the actors—including George Reeves and Christopher Reeve—who brought the Man of Steel to life on screen, only to succumb themselves to all-too-human tragedy in the mortal world. Here too is the poignant and compelling history of Siegel and Shuster’s lifelong struggle for the recognition and rewards rightly due to the architects of a genuine cultural phenomenon.

From two-fisted crimebuster to über-patriot, social crusader to spiritual savior, Superman—perhaps like no other mythical character before or since—has evolved in a way that offers a Rorschach test of his times and our aspirations. In this deftly realized appreciation, Larry Tye reveals a portrait of America over seventy years through the lens of that otherworldly hero who continues to embody our best selves.

What a great concept. Wish I had thought of it.

Pathfinder Tales: City of the Fallen Sky
by Tim Pratt
Cover by J. P. Targate

Promo copy:

Once an alchemical researcher with the dark scholars of the Technic League, Alaeron fled their arcane order when his conscience got the better of him, taking with him a few strange devices of unknown function. Now in hiding in a distant city, he’s happy to use his skills creating minor potions and wonders—at least until the back-alley rescue of an adventurer named Jaya lands him in trouble with a powerful crime lord. In order to keep their heads, Alaeron and Jaya must travel across wide seas and steaming jungles in search of a wrecked flying city and the magical artifacts that can buy their freedom. Yet the Technic League hasn’t forgotten Alaeron’s betrayal, and an assassin armed with alien weaponry is hot on their trail…

Smithereens
by Steve Aylett

Promo copy:

Steve Aylett has been described as "utterly original" (SFX), "the most original voice in the literary scene" (Michael Moorcock), "an unstoppable master of space and time" (Asimov’s) and "the coolest writer alive today" (Starburst). SMITHEREENS collects 19 stories including ‘The Man Whose Head Expanded’, the prophetic ‘Download Syndrome’, ‘The Burnished Adventures of Injury Mouse’, the full text of ‘Voyage of the Iguana’, the last ever Beerlight story ‘Specter’s Way’, ‘Horoscope’, and the closest thing Aylett has ever written to a traditional SF story, ‘Bossanova’ (featuring a robot and two spaceships!) There are also animal-attack-while-writing reminiscences in ‘Evernemesi’ and top-of-the-line declarative bitterness in ‘On Reading New Books’. Snails, whales and cortical drills. Aylett’s last collection.

"clearly a phenomenal talent." – Trashotron

"Aylett has made a career out of redefining the boundaries of science fiction – and sanity." – Barnes & Noble Spotlight Feature

I’ve long been an Aylett fan. I was lucky enough to interview him back 2005.

Part II

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Fain the Sorcerer
by Steve Aylett
Introduction by Alan Moore

Promo copy:

A Cabellian fantasy. After strangling a mime in the King’s court, Fain encounters a crazy old man who offers to grant him three wishes. What will Fain ask for?

Looping through his own past and offending kings and leaders throughout the world, Fain searches for the means to wisely direct his new powers. His quest becomes progressively more vivid as he encounters monsters, mermaids, warlocks and autarchs, gathering richer understanding with each new magic gift.

With an introduction by ALAN MOORE and cover artwork by AYLETT, Fain the Sorcerer is a dense and mischievous work of shamanic satire.

From Moore’s introduction:

Sky Dragons
by Anne & Todd McCaffrey
Cover by Les Edwards

Promo copy:

From the New York Times bestselling mother-and-son team of Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey comes the final installment in the riveting Pern saga that began with Todd’s solo novel, Dragonsblood. Now, with all of Pern imperiled by the aftereffects of a plague that killed scores of dragons and left the planet helpless against the fall of deadly Thread, the only hope for the future lies in the past.

There, on an unexplored island, a group of dragonriders led by Xhinna, a brave young woman who rides the blue dragon Tazith, must battle lethal Merows and voracious tunnel-snakes to build a safe home for themselves and the dragons, whose offspring will one day—if they survive—replenish Pern’s decimated dragon population. But as the first female rider of a blue dragon, and the first female Weyrleader in the history of Pern, Xhinna faces an uphill battle in winning the respect and loyalty of her peers … especially after an unforeseen tragedy leaves the struggling colony reeling from a shattering loss.

Amid the grieving, one girl, Jirana, blessed—or cursed—with the ability to foresee potential futures, will help Xhinna find a way forward. The answer lies in time … or, rather, in timing it: the awesome ability of the dragons to travel through time itself. But that power comes with risks, and by venturing further into the past, Xhinna may be jeopardizing the very future she has sworn to save.

Pathfinder Tales: Nightglass
by Liane Merciel
Cover by Tyler Walpole

Promo copy:

In the grim nation of Nidal, carefully chosen children are trained to practice dark magic, summoning forth creatures of horror and shadow for the greater glory of the Midnight Lord. Isiem is one such student, a promising young shadowcaller whose budding powers are the envy of his peers. Upon coming of age, he’s dispatched on a diplomatic mission to the mountains of Devil’s Perch, where he’s meant to assist the armies of devil-worshiping Cheliax in clearing out a tribe of monstrous winged humanoids. Yet as the body count rises and Isiem comes face to face with the people he’s exterminating, lines begin to blur, and the shadowcaller must ask himself who the real monsters are…

Part I

Books received 6/10/12 Part II was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Fain the Sorcerer
by Steve Aylett
Introduction by Alan Moore

Promo copy:

A Cabellian fantasy. After strangling a mime in the King’s court, Fain encounters a crazy old man who offers to grant him three wishes. What will Fain ask for?

Looping through his own past and offending kings and leaders throughout the world, Fain searches for the means to wisely direct his new powers. His quest becomes progressively more vivid as he encounters monsters, mermaids, warlocks and autarchs, gathering richer understanding with each new magic gift.

With an introduction by ALAN MOORE and cover artwork by AYLETT, Fain the Sorcerer is a dense and mischievous work of shamanic satire.

From Moore’s introduction:

Sky Dragons
by Anne & Todd McCaffrey
Cover by Les Edwards

Promo copy:

From the New York Times bestselling mother-and-son team of Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey comes the final installment in the riveting Pern saga that began with Todd’s solo novel, Dragonsblood. Now, with all of Pern imperiled by the aftereffects of a plague that killed scores of dragons and left the planet helpless against the fall of deadly Thread, the only hope for the future lies in the past.

There, on an unexplored island, a group of dragonriders led by Xhinna, a brave young woman who rides the blue dragon Tazith, must battle lethal Merows and voracious tunnel-snakes to build a safe home for themselves and the dragons, whose offspring will one day—if they survive—replenish Pern’s decimated dragon population. But as the first female rider of a blue dragon, and the first female Weyrleader in the history of Pern, Xhinna faces an uphill battle in winning the respect and loyalty of her peers . . . especially after an unforeseen tragedy leaves the struggling colony reeling from a shattering loss.

Amid the grieving, one girl, Jirana, blessed—or cursed—with the ability to foresee potential futures, will help Xhinna find a way forward. The answer lies in time . . . or, rather, in timing it: the awesome ability of the dragons to travel through time itself. But that power comes with risks, and by venturing further into the past, Xhinna may be jeopardizing the very future she has sworn to save.

Pathfinder Tales: Nightglass
by Liane Merciel
Cover by Tyler Walpole

Promo copy:

In the grim nation of Nidal, carefully chosen children are trained to practice dark magic, summoning forth creatures of horror and shadow for the greater glory of the Midnight Lord. Isiem is one such student, a promising young shadowcaller whose budding powers are the envy of his peers. Upon coming of age, he’s dispatched on a diplomatic mission to the mountains of Devil’s Perch, where he’s meant to assist the armies of devil-worshiping Cheliax in clearing out a tribe of monstrous winged humanoids. Yet as the body count rises and Isiem comes face to face with the people he’s exterminating, lines begin to blur, and the shadowcaller must ask himself who the real monsters are…

Part I

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

John Carter

Promo copy:

Transplanted to Mars, a Civil War vet discovers a lush planet inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a savior.

Special Features
• Blu-ray Feature Film + Bonus
• DVD Feature Film+ Bonus
• Disney Second Screen
• 360 Degrees of John Carter
• Deleted Scene with Option Commentary by Director Andrew Stanton
• Barsoom Bloopers
• 100 Years in the Making
• Audio Commentary with Film Makers

I reviewed John Carter for RevSF, calling it “a lush, yet uneven film.”

Building Stories
by Chris Ware

Promo copy:

After years of sporadic work on other books and projects and following the almost complete loss of his virility, it’s here: a new graphic novel by Chris Ware.

Building Stories imagines the inhabitants of a three-story Chicago apartment building: a 30-something woman who has yet to find someone with whom to spend the rest of her life; a couple, possibly married, who wonder if they can bear each other’s company another minute; and the building’s landlady, an elderly woman who has lived alone for decades. Taking advantage of the absolute latest advances in wood pulp technology, Building Stories is a book with no deliberate beginning nor end, the scope, ambition, artistry and emotional prevarication beyond anything yet seen from this artist or in this medium, probably for good reason.

I received just a teaser, but as expected it’s gorgeous.

The Land Without Stars: Valerian Vol. 3
by J. C. Mézières & P. Christin

Promo copy:

When a rogue planet threatens a new Human colony, Valerian and Laureline are sent to investigate and discover a barren, rocky surface… and a whole world beneath it! The people who live inside Zahir have never seen the stars. Divided along gender lines, torn by a senseless and bloody war, they are unaware that their planet is hurtling towards disaster. To stop it, the two agents of Galaxity will have to infiltrate both sides and force a reconciliation.

The Hive
by Charles Burns

Promo copy:

Much has happened since we last saw Doug, the Tintin-like hero from X’ed Out. Confessing his past to an unidentified woman, Doug struggles to recall the mysterious incident that left his life shattered, an incident that may have involved his disturbed and now-absent girlfriend, Sarah, and her menacing ex-boyfriend.

Doug warily seeks answers in a nightmarish alternate world that is a distorted mirror of our own, where he is a lowly employee that carts supplies around the Hive. The second part of Charles Burns’s riveting trilogy, this graphic narrative will delight and surpass the expectations of his fans.

I named the previous volume X’ed Out as my favorite graphic novel of 2010.

Stuff received 6/10/12 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

John Carter

Promo copy:

Transplanted to Mars, a Civil War vet discovers a lush planet inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a savior.

Special Features
• Blu-ray Feature Film + Bonus
• DVD Feature Film+ Bonus
• Disney Second Screen
• 360 Degrees of John Carter
• Deleted Scene with Option Commentary by Director Andrew Stanton
• Barsoom Bloopers
• 100 Years in the Making
• Audio Commentary with Film Makers

I reviewed John Carter for RevSF, calling it "a lush, yet uneven film."

Building Stories
by Chris Ware

Promo copy:

After years of sporadic work on other books and projects and following the almost complete loss of his virility, it’s here: a new graphic novel by Chris Ware.

Building Stories imagines the inhabitants of a three-story Chicago apartment building: a 30-something woman who has yet to find someone with whom to spend the rest of her life; a couple, possibly married, who wonder if they can bear each other’s company another minute; and the building’s landlady, an elderly woman who has lived alone for decades. Taking advantage of the absolute latest advances in wood pulp technology, Building Stories is a book with no deliberate beginning nor end, the scope, ambition, artistry and emotional prevarication beyond anything yet seen from this artist or in this medium, probably for good reason.

I received just a teaser, but as expected it’s gorgeous.

The Land Without Stars: Valerian Vol. 3
by J. C. Mézières & P. Christin

Promo copy:

When a rogue planet threatens a new Human colony, Valerian and Laureline are sent to investigate and discover a barren, rocky surface… and a whole world beneath it! The people who live inside Zahir have never seen the stars. Divided along gender lines, torn by a senseless and bloody war, they are unaware that their planet is hurtling towards disaster. To stop it, the two agents of Galaxity will have to infiltrate both sides and force a reconciliation.

The Hive
by Charles Burns

Promo copy:

Much has happened since we last saw Doug, the Tintin-like hero from X’ed Out. Confessing his past to an unidentified woman, Doug struggles to recall the mysterious incident that left his life shattered, an incident that may have involved his disturbed and now-absent girlfriend, Sarah, and her menacing ex-boyfriend.

Doug warily seeks answers in a nightmarish alternate world that is a distorted mirror of our own, where he is a lowly employee that carts supplies around the Hive. The second part of Charles Burns’s riveting trilogy, this graphic narrative will delight and surpass the expectations of his fans.

I named the previous volume X’ed Out as my favorite graphic novel of 2010.

Since almost the premiere of the device, the private channel Nowhere TV has been an important host of curated content for Roku users. The app linked to PBS, sports (tons of blogs and ESPN), news (local US plus Al Jazeera English, BBC News, BBC World News), spiritual matters, science/tech, NPR, APR, and tons more.

This week, one of the Holy Grails for American streaming on TV appeared with little or no fanfare on Nowhere TV. Feeds for BBC One, BBC Two, ITV 1, and Dave are all now available, uncut and live through the Roku.

Check out The Nowhereman page for some other great private channels.

BBC live streaming on Roku was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Since almost the premiere of the device, the private channel Nowhere TV has been an important host of curated content for Roku users. The app linked to PBS, sports (tons of blogs and ESPN), news (local US plus Al Jazeera English, BBC News, BBC World News), spiritual matters, science/tech, NPR, APR, and tons more.

This week, one of the Holy Grails for American streaming on TV appeared with little or no fanfare on Nowhere TV. Feeds for BBC One, BBC Two, ITV 1, and Dave are all now available, uncut and live through the Roku.

Check out The Nowhereman page for some other great private channels.