Louis Armstrong & Paul Whiteman: Two Kings of Jazz

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Summary: Parallel histories, personal stories
Review: "Louis Armstrong & Paul Whiteman: Two Kings Of Jazz" is a carefully researched and artfully reported description of the lives and careers of two 20th Century music legends whose public stories are well-known. Here, as he presents the parallel histories of Satchmo and Whiteman, Prof. Berrett reports and analyzes some of the less-familiar private incidents and events that color their personal stories. Everything reported here, however juicy and including some less-than-respectable anecdotes, is well-documented and authenticated with comprehensive notes.

Did you know, for example, that Bing Crosby's recording of "Star Dust," widely believed to be backed by the Whiteman Orchestra, was recorded on 19 August 1931 at a point where he was no longer with Whiteman? Crosby had left Whiteman and the orchestra about 16 months earlier following mounting tensions between them. Berrett documents several reasons for the rupture, all of them touching on Crosby's alcoholism. For one thing, it was said that Crosby owed a bootlegger money for a quart of "day-old pop-skull" and Whiteman, having to foot the bill, deducted the amount from Crosby's salary. There were allegations that Whiteman humiliated Crosby in front of the band, accusing Crosby of stealing Whiteman's own liquor. No wonder Crosby quit!

Did you know, for example, that Satchmo recorded "Rockin' Chair" 29 times between 1929 and 1971, most frequently with his . . . "gin-swilling partner in musical crime and favorite male vocal foil. . ." trombonist Jack Teagarden. Teagarden, Berrett reminds us, was a vibrant presence, a ready mix of music and high spirits, who was also significant to the career of Paul Whiteman between 1933 and 1938. And this is the heart of Berrett's report, a steady stream of parallel personalities and events that mirrors and colors the musical history of both Whiteman and Armstrong.

Musicians and historians, not to mention fans of Satchmo and Whiteman, as well as jazz lovers of any ilk, will treasure this volume. I did.

Banjo Bernie



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Summary: The Most Awesome Sci-Fi Story of All Time
Review: Across Realtime is really three books (depending on which edition you get): The Peace War, The Ungoverned (really a short story about how Brierson got framed) and Marooned in Realtime. Some editions don't include 'The Ungoverned'.

'Marooned in Realtime' is by far my favorite Sci-Fi book, as good or better than 'Dune' (my second favorite), and far outshines anything I've read in the last 20 years. It has everything I like in a sci-fi story: time travel, hi-tech and a murder mystery. I don't understand why this is no longer in print or why it was never heavily publicized.

I wish Mr. Vinge would write another installment to this series, perhaps exploring what happens to the people that wanted to stay 'embobbled' till the end of the universe.

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Summary: One of the finest hard science fiction novels ever
Review: I agree with an earlier reviewer in saying I'm surprised this pair of novels isn't more widely read. It has the perfect combination of believable characters and wonderfully creative yet scientifically realistic ideas and settings. The concept of the technological "singularity" is, I believe, an original and perhaps prophetic SF concept. And the governmental systems postulated in the stories actually make one believe there could be societies even freer and fairer than our current representational democracies.

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Summary: Original and entertaining at many levels
Review: This is one of the best science fiction novels I have ever read. It amazes me that most science fiction fans have never even heard of this novel much less read it. Across Realtime deserves to be listed among the greatest science fiction works of all time. Find it and read it, it's brilliant.