Johnny L. Wilson ( of High Score)

Johnny rated a book really liked it The Pot of Gold and Other Plays by Plautus	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Penguin Classics Edition of Plautus’ The Pot of Gold and Other Plays is a free and creative translation of the 2nd century BCE playwrights comedies. The penultimate inspiration for such famous plays as Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors,” Moliere’s ...more
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Johnny rated a book liked it The Bible and Recent Archaeology by Kathleen M. Kenyon	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Although the title is The Bible and Recent Archaeology, Dame Kathleen M. Kenyon’s coffee table book on largely Palestinian archaeology and its relationship to the Bible is largely outdated. That doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. It’s maps, site diagrams, ...more
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Johnny rated a book liked it Appointment at Bloodstar (Family d'Alembert, #5) by E.E. "Doc" Smith	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Although I’ve read novels in the Lensmen universe and Skylark series by E. E. “Doc” Smith, I hadn’t been aware of The Family D’alembert Series until I saw Appointment at Bloodstar in a used bookstore. I nabbed it without realizing that this was going ...more
Oct 13, 2025 07:26AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Appointment at Bloodstar by E.E. "Doc" Smith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Appointment at Bloodstar by E.E. "Doc" Smith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Johnny rated a book really liked it Love and Mr. Lewisham by H.G. Wells	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Page numbers are from the Oxford University Press edition of 1983. Finding an H. G. Wells novel which doesn’t seem readily available is always special. So, I was thrilled to find an Oxford paperback edition of Love and Mr. Lewisham in a Canadian used ...more
Oct 06, 2025 03:36PM · like · see review
Johnny rated a book really liked it Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) by Terry Pratchett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
As the name implies, this fourth installment in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels has to do with “Death,” Death personified and death as closure and signifier of meaning. Mort is the name of the gangly fellow who is given an opportunity to become De ...more
Oct 05, 2025 09:33PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mort by Terry Pratchett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mort by Terry Pratchett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Johnny rated a book liked it Firefight (The Reckoners, #2) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The second volume in The Reckoners series is both similar and different to the first. The first, Steelheart, is essentially a tale of humans heroically fighting against supervillains. It is full of homage-like references to the world of comics and fu ...more
Oct 05, 2025 09:25PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Firefight by Brandon Sanderson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Firefight by Brandon Sanderson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Johnny rated a book really liked it The Gate Keeper (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #20) by Charles Todd (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Gate Keeper is a typical Ian Rutledge mystery. He ends up investigating a murder (or more) in a remote village. He faces some resentment from some of the local constabulary and limited cooperation (and some overt hostility) from those he needs to ...more
Oct 05, 2025 09:20PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Gate Keeper by Charles Todd. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Gate Keeper by Charles Todd <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Johnny rated a book really liked it And Be a Villain (Nero Wolfe, #13) by Rex Stout	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
And Be A Villain is a fascinating mystery where even the great Nero Wolfel has tremendous difficulty finding a handle. Rather than facing a clever murderer by himself/herself, he faces a conspiracy. The story begins when a tout who publishes an expen ...more
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Johnny rated a book really liked it The Hope of Glory: A Theology of Redemption by Ian A. McFarland	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Hope of Glory: A Theology of Redemption feels like a very different theological approach to eschatology, the consideration of last things. Ian A. McFarland previously wrote the most insightful book on the Incarnation that I’ve read in years, The ...more
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Johnny rated a book liked it Too Many Women (Nero Wolfe, #12) by Rex Stout	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I am still reading my way through the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books in order. I can find most in my local library, but I had to purchase this one in a Kindle edition to keep reading in order. Too Many Women is as sexist as the title sounds to modern ear ...more
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The Pot of Gold and Other Plays
by Plautus

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The Penguin Classics Edition of Plautus’ The Pot of Gold and Other Plays is a free and creative translation of the 2nd century BCE playwrights comedies. The penultimate inspiration for such famous plays as Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors,” Moliere’s The Penguin Classics Edition of Plautus’ The Pot of Gold and Other Plays is a free and creative translation of the 2nd century BCE playwrights comedies. The penultimate inspiration for such famous plays as Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors,” Moliere’s “L’Avare” [also known as “The Miser”], the Miles Gloriosus stereotype (from which Futurama derived its Zapp Brannigan character), and perhaps, through the plots of “The Swaggering Soldier” and “Pseudolus,” A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I label this as the penultimate inspiration since, ultimately, it is clear that Titus Maccius Plautus lifted many a plot from earlier Greek comedies like Menander’s Epitrepontes (“The Arbitration” or “The Arbitrators”) and the anonymously scribed Alazon (“The Braggart”). So, it is only fair that stereotypes, plot devices, and sections of his comedies be lifted by later playwrights.

The anthology of plays I read was The Pot of Gold and Other Plays.” The common denominator of all of them would be a slave (like the eponymous Pseudolus) who is smarter than his master and a plot based on lust in a male-dominated world. Scratch that, “The Pot of Gold” deals with miserly greed rather than lust. Almost all of them include mistaken identities, though they are usually obfuscated identities as a tool for more intricate ends.

The male-dominated world is most vivid in “The Brothers Menarchmus” when a philanderer’s wife appeals to her father to intervene and his response is that it is her business “to please your husband, not keep spying on everything he does, always wanting to know where he’s going and what he’s up to.” (pp. 131-132) When she protests that he is having an affair with the woman next door, her father responds with no sympathy: “I don’t blame him; and I warrant he’ll go one loving her all the more, the more you keep on at him like this.” (p. 132)

The clever slave stereotype is demonstrated when Palaestrio is plotting the continuation of his scheme in “The Swaggering Soldier” when he says: “A well-laid plan is worse than no plan at all, if the enemy can make use of it. If it’s any use to the enemy, it’s no use to you.” (p. 176) When his “real” master questions the capabilities of a co-conspirator, the elderly gentleman says: “Good God, man! Do you think I’ve got one foot in the grave already? You think I’ve lived long enough, do you, and ought to be in my coffin? I’m only fifty-four, let me tell you; I can see without spectacles, I’m nimble on my pins and I can turn my hand to anything.” (p. 177) The idea of 54 as the age of senescence is anachronistic compared to our era, but it is a sober reminder of the shorter life-span in the Graeco-Roman eras. And when the stereotypical superior slave over-instructs a co-conspirator in “Pseudolus,” said conspirator takes umbrage: “Can’t you stop jawing at me? It makes a chap forget all he remembers, to be constantly reminded not to forget what he knows quite well.” (p. 252) I know the feeling.

Finally, on the serious side. I like that Plautus retained the Greek name “Harpax” for the servant of the Macedonian soldier who was to be victimized. It is similar to a Greek verb for grabbing or hanging onto something, so Plautus makes the most of it. When Pseudolus makes fun of Harpax by saying that they don’t want any of his “harpacity” here, the victim responds: “I’m noted for snatching my victims alive off the field of battle; that’s how I got my name.” (p. 242). Pseudolus accuses him of snatching brass pots instead.

I’m very glad to have found and read this anthology. The translation is vibrant and makes one inspired to chase back some of the original lines in the Latin. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will now look for the other Plautus anthology published by Penguin Classics. ...more

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The Bible and Recent Archaeology
by Kathleen M. Kenyon

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Although the title is The Bible and Recent Archaeology, Dame Kathleen M. Kenyon’s coffee table book on largely Palestinian archaeology and its relationship to the Bible is largely outdated. That doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. It’s maps, site diagrams, Although the title is The Bible and Recent Archaeology, Dame Kathleen M. Kenyon’s coffee table book on largely Palestinian archaeology and its relationship to the Bible is largely outdated. That doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. It’s maps, site diagrams, black and white photographs, and summaries of conclusions through three-fourths of the twentieth century are extremely valuable. It is, of course, most interesting to read the sections on Jericho (where Kenyon directed a major dig and my grad school prof was an assistant director) and Ai (where my prof was director).

I well-remember the day in a seminar when I advocated something of a hybrid between Callaway’s own idea of a small Iron Age village atop the ruins of Ai and Norman Gottwald’s presentation of a combined, rebellion, conquest, settlement scheme. Callaway said that he had tried to convince Kenyon of such a theory (pre-Gottwald, of course) but had been unsuccessful. Well, in this little volume I read: “Professor Callaway has identified a modest Iron Age village, in which two stages can be recognized. He suggested that the first of these was the one on wich the attack in the Book of Joshua is so vividly described. The pottery found does not suggest an early stage in the entry of the Israelites, and the break between the two stages seems very slight.” (p. 40) With regard to the latter, one wonders how significant the break would need to be, and regarding the former, one needs to sift that evidence carefully to make sure it doesn’t reflect contamination from a later settlement.

Still, Kenyon’s generally skeptical view of “conquest” evidence leads one more and more to a conclusion that the “conquest” narrative is a slender portion of what was going on in that era such that it is no wonder that those seeking to undermine the Bible have resorted to assertions that there is “no evidence whatsoever.” What we see in Kenyon is that there is some ambiguous evidence in places that might be possible and that there seem to be multiple incursions going on over a much larger period than the biblical schema covers.

Once the subject turns to the era of the unified and divided monarchies, the evidence is more helpful in illustrating the biblical history. I particularly liked her concise summary of Egyptian/Phoenician/Assyrian influences in construction along with illustration of how the cherubim carving at Nimrud might inform our understanding of the cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant (image on p. 58). But it was really when she began to describe findings in the Northern Kingdom (starting on p. 67) that the most valuable insights for Bible students came into being.
I enjoyed the very brief synopsis of Qumran’s history (discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls—pp. 93-95), though I was somewhat disappointed with the limited description of Masada (pp. 91-92). But, since I have largely focused on archaeology and the Hebrew Bible as opposed to New Testament archaeology, I was startled to realize that Kenyon believes the traditional Church of the Holy Sepulchre site for the crucifixion and burial may be the authentic one due to later recognition of a north wall (in agreement with Josephus’ description) where those sites would both have been outside the wall (pp. 97-99).

It just goes to show that no matter how much one has studied a subject, it is always useful to review one’s knowledge from the overview provided by an expert. The Bible and Recent Archaeology is a most useful overview, even though I have sources which are much more recent. ...more

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Appointment at Bloodstar by E.E. "Doc" Smith

Appointment at Bloodstar (Family d'Alembert, #5)
by E.E. "Doc" Smith

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Although I’ve read novels in the Lensmen universe and Skylark series by E. E. “Doc” Smith, I hadn’t been aware of The Family D’alembert Series until I saw Appointment at Bloodstar in a used bookstore. I nabbed it without realizing that this was going Although I’ve read novels in the Lensmen universe and Skylark series by E. E. “Doc” Smith, I hadn’t been aware of The Family D’alembert Series until I saw Appointment at Bloodstar in a used bookstore. I nabbed it without realizing that this was going to be space opera in a tremendous pulp adventure tradition. It has super secret interstellar agencies and super secret enemy conspiracies. It has interstellar spies and galactic pirates. It has secret bases and spies who operate out of an insterstellar circus. Can there be anything more “pulp adventure” than this? Doc Savage and The Avenger can eat their hearts out (chuckle).

In Appointment at Bloodstar, as I assume in the rest of the series, the Empire serves as the “good guys” as opposed to other space operas where the imperial forces and authorities stand as tackling dummies for the evils of imperialism. Since we know very little as of yet about the sinister villainess, Lady A, and her associates, they may be metaphorical punching bags for evils of capitalism. We don’t know, but they seem to have unlimited funding and an inexplicable access to advanced technology. I doubt this is a full-blown criticism of capitalism because that doesn’t seem to fit what I’ve read in other “Doc” Smith novels, but from this book alone it isn’t clear what the motivation is for the disloyal opposition.

The novel has the typical pulp adventure traps, bad luck, periods of unconsciousness, and forced fumbles along with the daring acrobatics one would associate with circus performer undercover operatives. There is romance, jealousy, and betrayal. The action scenes are right out of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon tradition. I could easily see this as an old-time movie serial (and as in movie serials, some of the action is redundant as though reusing footage), but let me make it clear that I very much enjoy old movie serials.

Unlike the premise of Appointment at Bloodstar with its multiple assassinations of the imperial elite basis, the novel is not earth-shaking science-fiction or space opera. However, it is the kind of book that keeps you reading. If one is the kind of reader that can suspend disbelief and just go with the flow, Appointment at Bloodstar is an enjoyable experience. If one is looking for something deeper, nothing to see here. ...more

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Love and Mr. Lewisham
by H.G. Wells

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Page numbers are from the Oxford University Press edition of 1983.

Finding an H. G. Wells novel which doesn’t seem readily available is always special. So, I was thrilled to find an Oxford paperback edition of Love and Mr. Lewisham in a Canadian used Page numbers are from the Oxford University Press edition of 1983.

Finding an H. G. Wells novel which doesn’t seem readily available is always special. So, I was thrilled to find an Oxford paperback edition of Love and Mr. Lewisham in a Canadian used bookstore. I was even more intrigued to read the lively and enlightening introduction by Benny Green, a British cultural critic (jazz, film, literary) and biographer (Fred Astaire, P. G. Wodehouse). Where I had always assumed that this novel was semi-autobiographical, Green’s introduction draws distinctions between this eponymous protagonist and three similar protagonists (Kipps, Polly, and Hoopdriver) which suggest elements of Wells’ early life when he was trying to get out of the drapery trade. What Green’s introduction performs masterfully is a study in contrasts between rationalism and idealism, emotion and discipline, and duty and freedom, among others.
So, as I began reading this story of a driven (perhaps, somewhat pretentious) low-level school tutor, I saw the protagonist’s struggle with new eyes. I watched Lewisham put his desire for an academic career and writing useful social articles on hold for a romantic infatuation, only to put that on hold when the object of affection disappoints him. Then, he goes through similar struggles as his career advances and contracts.
Although my ideals and calling are more religiously orthodox than Wells’ enthusiasm for socialism and social reform (even free love), I still found myself identifying with Lewisham’s ambition when he longed to be the Martin Luther of a socialist reformation and Wells pricked the protagonist’s inflated opinion of himself with: “But eminent reformers have been now for more than seven years going about the walls of the Social Jericho, blowing their own trumpets and shouting—with such small result beyond incidental displays of ill-temper within, that it is hard to recover the fine hopefulness of those departed days.” (p. 66)
Later, I was horrified to see Wells criticizing the English educational system in much the same way as I inveterately complain about how the US educational system has disintegrated since the George W. Bush administration with its demand for teachers to “teach to the test.” My complaint is that it doesn’t encourage students to “think.” Rather, they simply regurgitate. It hadn’t registered to me that there was the same tendency in the English system: “No type of English student quite realizes the noble ideal of plain living and high thinking nowadays. Our admirable examination system admits of extremely little thinking at any level, high or low.” (p. 117)
There is a fascinating debate between Mr. Lewisham and a scoundrel of a spiritualist in which the spiritualist argues that society is dependent upon fraud and lies. It rather reminds me of that unethical “ethical” argument from the villain Zorg in The 5th Element film. Here’s the H. G. Wells take: “Honesty is essentially an anarchistic and disintegrating force in society, that communities are held together and the progress of civilization made possible only by vigorous and sometimes even violent Lying; that the Social Contract is nothing more or less than a vast conspiracy of human beings to lie to and humbug themselves and one another for the general Good.” (p. 161) When Lewisham protests that there is an absolute Right or Wrong that humans should know, the professional deceiver responds: “You know Right from Wrong! My boy, so did Adam and Eve…so soon as they’d had dealings with the father of lies!” (p. 168) Though the whole debate is rather specious, it does point out some of the philosophical currents of the era in which the book takes place. And it isn’t that far from some of the forms of Relativism which are popular today. It becomes very ironic when Lewisham is forced to fabricate portions of his resume after taking such a binary approach against the scoundrel.
Love and Mr. Lewisham deals with the stoking and the diminution of passion, the suspicion and resentment that can be harbored when the relationship is not rekindled. There are betrayals, but not necessarily the ones the reader is expecting. Yet, as life is complicated and not what one would normally expect. Toward the end of the novel, there is a delightful double-cross that is quite the demonstration of poetic justice, but I won’t spoil it. I also loved Lewisham’s secular epiphany, “I shall do nothing unless I simplify my life. Only people who are well-off can be—complex.” (p. 246) Indeed, the ending is bittersweet, but has marvelous verisimilitude—enough that I could identify with aspects of Lewisham’s experience and smile with contentment. ...more

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Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1)
by Terry Pratchett

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As the name implies, this fourth installment in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels has to do with “Death,” Death personified and death as closure and signifier of meaning. Mort is the name of the gangly fellow who is given an opportunity to become De As the name implies, this fourth installment in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels has to do with “Death,” Death personified and death as closure and signifier of meaning. Mort is the name of the gangly fellow who is given an opportunity to become Death’s apprentice (and potential replacement). Yet, nothing is ever straightforward (would you expect a Discworld to be straightforward?) on Discworld and Mort is no exception. Unsuited for anything, it seems like the simple routine of collecting souls and sending them on would be something even he could handle.

Yet, Mort is both sentimental and has that adolescent hormone thing going on whether he realizes it or not. And, of course, sentimentality and death do not fit well with the inexorable task of ending life.

Typical to fantasy tales, there is a princess. Even more typical, a lot of the problem pivots on the princess. There are surprise “guest appearances” by characters (especially one unexpected one) from the Unseen University. This portion of the plot was as wacky as one would expect from Discworld. I liked it a lot.

In addition to hilarious conversations and misunderstandings, one simply cannot resist the creative insanity of books (biographies) magically etching the contours of each person’s experiences. I especially liked the touch of the scratching of ink on the pages (a fountain pen user myself) creating a tremendous noise in the library and the concept of entities overseeing the grains of sand in each individual person’s hourglass. There is even a scene where hourglasses get broken with “predictable” unpredictable consequences.

Mort has to discover what is “real” about himself and his environs, as well as figure out a way to straighten out the mess he has made of things. If “all’s well that ends well,” Mort ends up well enough as long as one is willing to end things only slightly less up in the air than they began. If one finds paradox, chaos, and word play to be entertaining, Mort (and every other Discworld novel I’ve read) is very entertaining. ...more

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Firefight (The Reckoners, #2)
by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)

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The second volume in The Reckoners series is both similar and different to the first. The first, Steelheart, is essentially a tale of humans heroically fighting against supervillains. It is full of homage-like references to the world of comics and fu The second volume in The Reckoners series is both similar and different to the first. The first, Steelheart, is essentially a tale of humans heroically fighting against supervillains. It is full of homage-like references to the world of comics and functions something like one of the pulp adventures (like The Spider, Doc Savage or The Shadow) which inspired some of the early comic heroes). Firefight, the second volume, is richer in characterization and motivation, but it misses a lot of the comic book fun of the first volume. It’s a worthy and enjoyable novel; it just wasn’t quite as intriguing as the first book. My brother, who gave me the trilogy and “forced” me to try my first Brandon Sanderson book, felt the same way.

However, this volume is well-subtitled. It is, indeed, a book with vengeance seething beneath the external loyalties of many of the characters. One senses that an Epic (one of the “superpowered” antagonists of “The Reckoners”) would have issues, and one already knew that prime protagonist, David “Steelslayer” Charleston, had studied Epics assiduously and fanatically in order to wreak vengeance on the Epic who killed his father. So, there is plenty of room for unguarded conversations about vengeance. The interesting part is that David has a new theory about the Epics and believes that they can be redeemed rather than killed. It is interesting, though, because the other Reckoners (including Prof) feel like David is blinded by his infatuation for Megan, the Epic who had infiltrated the group on behalf of Steelheart and then, seemingly went off and betrayed them. David is sure that there is not only good in her but good in many Epics. In part, it might even be an extension of his dad’s (apparently misguided) faith in good Epics. So, a lot of interest in this book has to do with the origins of Epics. Firefight: Vengeance Burns doesn’t answer all the questions (one wouldn’t expect the second in a series of books to do so), but it certainly creates an interesting foundation for speculation and continuing the quest.

Even though my description of the book has to do with these speculations, one should not lose sight of Sanderson’s expertise in terms of exciting action sequences. David has to learn a new skill with exciting vivid descriptions. Babilar (Babylon Reborn) or the former New York City is full of danger and anomalies. The clock is ticking on an Epic known for causing nuclear, mini-nova destruction of entire cities. The ruling Epic of Babilar, appropriately named “Regalia,” seems to be one or two steps ahead of the Reckoners all the time. It seems like she could snuff them out in a moment and it isn’t entirely clear why she isn’t. Battles, traps that do and don’t work, ambushes, chases, and near-death encounters are part of the mix that keeps on page-turning in this one. There is even one Epic who is totally inexplicable until the big revelation. He is called “Darklight” and proves to be a fascinating character.

The next book in the series is called Calamity. It is somewhat foreshadowed in that David has a significant encounter with the eponymous Epic in this novel. One senses that David will get some answers in the next installment. Intriguing and exciting, though not exactly what I was expecting this time around, Firefight: Vengeance Burns is a fascinating example of world building and character-driven plot-building. ...more

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The Gate Keeper (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #20)
by Charles Todd (Goodreads Author)

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The Gate Keeper is a typical Ian Rutledge mystery. He ends up investigating a murder (or more) in a remote village. He faces some resentment from some of the local constabulary and limited cooperation (and some overt hostility) from those he needs to The Gate Keeper is a typical Ian Rutledge mystery. He ends up investigating a murder (or more) in a remote village. He faces some resentment from some of the local constabulary and limited cooperation (and some overt hostility) from those he needs to investigate. He desires to follow-up certain evidence and ends up being thwarted by a recalcitrant, suspicious, and demanding superior. His psychological “ghost,” Hamish, is present and plays a role, but is not overbearing. It’s a nice touch when Hamish is occasionally helpful and yet, occasionally obstreperous enough to be both interesting and an obstacle to our war-weary protagonist.

The Gate Keeper is interesting because Rutledge is psychologically running away from a personal crisis. Like many, he takes off in his motor car and finds himself far away before he realizes where he is. Indeed, he finds himself pulling up into the aftermath of a quick and brutal murder. He sees the only witness to the murder, and recognizes that she is likely to be the prime suspect in the murder as well. So, he manages, with the help of a few well-placed friends to insinuate himself into the case and become placed in charge of the investigation. At least one more murder is piled onto his purview, but Ian Rutledge senses a coincidence where he doesn’t like coincidences. Unfortunately, his superintendent doesn’t agree.

Rather than a plethora of red herrings, The Gate Keeper is filled with a plethora of secrets, a backlog of potential motives which largely prove to be dead ends. But it is the code to be broken in
The Gate Keeper that unlocks the mystery. And, of course, it never seems that the perpetrator is the one most poetically just to have done it. In this case, however, there is a poetic justice to the unraveling of the mystery. When these stories are at their best, there is usually an interesting psychological component or two that both complicates and explicates the unfolding of the mystery. I like these the best, and The Gate Keeper is one of these. ...more

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And Be a Villain (Nero Wolfe, #13)
by Rex Stout

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And Be A Villain is a fascinating mystery where even the great Nero Wolfel has tremendous difficulty finding a handle. Rather than facing a clever murderer by himself/herself, he faces a conspiracy. The story begins when a tout who publishes an expen And Be A Villain is a fascinating mystery where even the great Nero Wolfel has tremendous difficulty finding a handle. Rather than facing a clever murderer by himself/herself, he faces a conspiracy. The story begins when a tout who publishes an expensive newsletter is killed in the middle of a radio broadcast. The method is not unusual but the circumstances are, especially when everyone circles the wagons to protect the radio star. Normally, Wolfe separates the parties who can serve as witnesses—a detective ploy as old as inter-biblical Daniel and Susannah’s accusers—but this cast and crew (augmented by self-serving advertisers and their agency) refuse to cooperate. As a result, it looks very much like Wolfe will fail in this one.

There is a nasty surprise for at least one advertiser in this story about radio programming. Having dealt with advertisers and agencies in a different era, I could still imagine what the reaction of both agency and sponsor would have been should this nasty surprise have been revealed to the general public. Although the interplay between agency, sponsor, producer, and presenter may or may not be essential to the murder investigation, I rather enjoyed it because it seemed realistic.

Amazingly enough, Inspector Cramer plays an important role in this one. We’re used to Archie adding key ingredients to the case which often act as a catalyst, but we’re not used to Cramer being more helpful than a kinder version of Perry Mason’s Lt. Tragg. So, while my recent experience with Too Many Women may have seemed poorly paced and too predictable for my taste, And Be A Villain is just right. The rationale behind the murders is intriguing and the eventual unveiling is more satisfying than the more famous conspiracy mystery, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. And fortunately, at least for my taste, the reader is more properly prepared for the unveiling in And Be A Villain. This one justifies my resolve to keep reading these novels in order. ...more

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The Hope of Glory: A Theology of Redemption
by Ian A. McFarland

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The Hope of Glory: A Theology of Redemption feels like a very different theological approach to eschatology, the consideration of last things. Ian A. McFarland previously wrote the most insightful book on the Incarnation that I’ve read in years, The The Hope of Glory: A Theology of Redemption feels like a very different theological approach to eschatology, the consideration of last things. Ian A. McFarland previously wrote the most insightful book on the Incarnation that I’ve read in years, The Word Made Flesh: A Theology of the Incarnation. Although the latter relies heavily on early creeds, it still offers intriguing insights for understanding the perichoretic participation of the Trinity. In The Hope of Glory, rather than starting with traditional categories of eschatology, death, and heaven/hell, McFarland builds from what we can know. Indeed, his thesis is that we can only know our hope through our experience of the Risen Christ.

Reasoning that hope which can be calculated is not really hope (p. 19), McFarland yet makes it clear that hope must be consistent with what we experience while not be reduced to our present experience or even completely extrapolated from that experience (p. 14). Hence, while technology or even transhumanism (in a limited sense) may end to temporal quality of life, neither should be perceived as ultimate hope (p. 30). As a result, he argues that hope is, to some extent, eschatologically-motivated action as long as, in turn, it is not reduced to motivation alone (p. 58). The point of our calling to live out our lives in hope is not to extract ourselves from the world (p. 84) but in our interdependence with other humans (pp. 70-71), we are to demonstrate and affirm certainty with hope.

Of course, it is difficult to consider ultimate hope without considering the reality of evil. It seems like a cheap “cop-out” to ignore evil for “pie in the sky by and by,” as well as to shrug one’s shoulders and accept it. One of my favorite concepts was that though the resurrection and ascension of Jesus as the Christ is God’s final word, the existence of evil, corruption, and violence demonstrates that, at least in history, God isn’t finished speaking that final word (p. 115.). I also liked his reworking of Scholasticism’s four (4) last things (death, judgment, heaven, and hell) to advent, judgment, heaven, and hell (p. 116).

I very much agreed with his concept of heaven as a transcendent realm rather than a spatial realm which is literally above (p. 126). While that must be obvious to most believers, there are still far too many who still think in spatial terms. Rather, heaven is the “direction from which God acts, whether analogically ‘from above’ or ‘from ahead.’” (p. 128) I really like that concept of “from ahead.” I also agree with the idea of death as not only the end of our earthly story, but also as a mercy from the pain and confusion of the temporal life which, in turn, opens the possibility for the “new.” (p. 138 with agreement via Barth and Bonhoeffer, n. 8). In McFarland’s eschatology, he observes that Jesus always treated resurrection as future (p. 142) and the individuation of the personality (as hypostasis) or sheer personality being preserved in the mind of God (p. 146). I’m not entirely convinced, but how could one be with something that is still “hidden” from us. McFarland’s point is that we depend upon God since we don’t have the interdependence within a body until we receive the promised resurrection body in 1 Corinthians 15.

McFarland makes a very good point about not reducing the miraculous to the universal (lest it become commonplace and no longer miraculous) (pp. 161-162). He says that miracles are supportive of Christian hope, but they need to be secondary to our faith affirmation and not primary (pp. 162-163). In speaking of the Eucharist, McFarland’s perception seems most helpful: “Christ is present in, with, and under these material elements, such that they are—the body and blood of Christ given and shed for the life of the world—is determined not by what they have been but what they have been called to be: a concrete manifestation of divine presence, and thus a means of grace.” (p. 163)

One statement can express McFarland’s position as expressed in this book: it is a violation of Jesus’ teaching concerning the Kingdom of Heaven at hand to treat this life and its suffering and merely a prelude to the future while, at the same time, it violates Jesus’ teaching of our future vindication to deny the place of suffering (and earthly life) as part of the journey toward the promise of glory (p. 183). I very much appreciate the knife edge upon which McFarland practices theology. I am not 100% convinced by all of his arguments, but I am definitely enlightened by every line of reasoning. ...more

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Too Many Women (Nero Wolfe, #12)
by Rex Stout

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I am still reading my way through the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books in order. I can find most in my local library, but I had to purchase this one in a Kindle edition to keep reading in order. Too Many Women is as sexist as the title sounds to modern ear I am still reading my way through the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books in order. I can find most in my local library, but I had to purchase this one in a Kindle edition to keep reading in order. Too Many Women is as sexist as the title sounds to modern ears. Wolfe is asked by a major corporation to investigate an apparent hit and run death of an employee that an executive insists was murdered. This involves Archie Goodwin insinuating himself into the corporate structure (at least, temporarily) and using the fact that the secretarial pool seems to know more than they think to pad his expense account wining and dining (and dancing with) said witnesses/informants. As one can imagine, Goodwin who is the epitome of the “Sucker for a Pretty Face” trope, is in high clover in this job (except for his protest that he doesn’t like clover at one point in the book).

Predictably, there are many twists and turns in Too Many Women. Several of the women are themselves suspect, and many use charms (or wealth) to try to convince Archie to look in other directions. Even when they seem like obvious “red herrings,” the book benefits from suspecting them, just to be sure. Several of the men have motives. Indeed, given their attitudes of paternalistic protectiveness and chauvinistic jealousy, one would have been happy if any of the male “red herrings” had been guilty. Let’s just say that a couple of these get their just deserts.

As for the mystery itself, I was only pulled from suspecting the eventual suspect for a moment and I was disappointed that it took so long for Wolfe to get a handle on the case. Too much of the unwinding of the plot involved a “Woe is me; I have no clues” lament from both Goodwin and Wolfe. I liked some of the delicate corporate dance involved in Too Many Women, but some of the novel felt like it had been written on a per word basis such as the old pulp fiction magazines.

Yes, I liked Too Many Women. I just didn’t feel like it was one of the better stories. Perhaps, this is why, combined with the paternalistic/sexist attitudes of the era, I felt like the pacing dragged compared to other Wolfe stories. It’s a matter of taste, of course, so I wouldn’t try to discourage anyone from reading it, and I’m still on my quest to read them all in order. ...more

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	High Score by Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 242 ratings — published 2002 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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