change of pace post - Music 2021

I have a Spotify account and I know Spotify doesn't pay much to artists. If I find something I like, I eventually buy it outright. That also allows me to play tunes in the car without roaming digital data.

 

Music I Bought in 2021:

 

The Living Daylights (soundtrack)

The Bottle Rockets - 24 Hours A Day

The Bottle Rockets - Brand New Year

Los Lobos - Native Sons

The Steepwater Band - Turn of the Wheel

The Steepwater Band - Shake Your Faith

Gilby Clarke - The Gospel Truth

The Warner E. Hodges Band - Just Feels Right

Warner E. Hodges - Right Back Where I Started

AC/DC - Live at the Paradise Theater, Boston 1978

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Dan Baird & Homemade Sin

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Get Loud

Have a happy new year! See you in 2022!

Blood on the Blade, anthology coming in November!

Via Flinch Books' Facebook page;

This November, Flinch Books unleashes an all new pulp fiction anthology on an unsuspecting world, their first fantastic foray into the realm of Sword & Sorcery!

BLOOD ON THE BLADE boasts of ten tales of slashing swords and sinister sorcery brought to you by master pulp scribes Cliff Biggers, Adrian Cole, Anne Marie Lutz, Paul R. McNamee, James A. Moore, Dave Ritzlin, Charles R Rutledge, Frank Schildiner, Steven L. Shrewsbury, and James Ray Tuck Jr. It’s a feast of fantasy you won’t soon forget!

Conceived and edited by Jim Beard and John Bruening. Cover by Mark Wheatley.

My tale features my stalwart heroes of spear and spirit, Lono & Makani, once again riding the ocean waves of adventure.

new short story in AN UNHOLY THIRST

Pavane Press (Cliff Biggers & Charles R. Rutledge) have released their latest anthology, AN UNHOLY THIRST. As you might infer from the title, the theme is vampires.

My story "The Wreck of the Black Swan" features my occult hero Doran Coyle, last seen in WEIRDBOOK #40.

Created in Hero Forge®

 The cover art by Lynne Hansen knocks it right out of the park!

recent reads; The haunts of Christopher Golden

 It's autumn. It's October. The time for spooky reads has arrived.

I thought I might again try for 31 short stories read in the month. The issue (not really an issue but, you know, *raises hand* reader-type here) with that is that I hop around various collections & anthologies and while I reach my month goal, my goodreads reading challenge invariably slips because it tallies complete books.

So, this year I decided to read short stories but stick with the book(s), as well. Pick one and read it through. Repeat.

Christopher Golden has a new collection out, THE GHOSTS OF WHO YOU WERE. Before getting to that book, I decided to dig into my TBR piles and pull out two older collections; TELL MY SORROW TO THE STONES and DON'T GO ALONE. The latter features co-writes.

Both collections were fun reads. Chris's short story telling has only gotten better over the years. The man can write a ghost story, among all the other weird and haunting tales.

 One tale was a co-write with Thomas Sniegoski, and was set in their The Menagerie series. It was a good calling card. I decided to take a detour and read the first novel, THE NIMBLE MAN. If you want wall-to-wall monster killing and fast-paced urban/dark fantasy action, you should give it a read. I'll be getting back to the series soon.

Great stuff for October!

recent read; THE CHAINS OF ARES by Frank Schildiner

Frank Schildiner has created a unique character with Marcus Fabius Maximus and his occult adventures in ancient Rome. The historical setting is full of touches that elicit veracity. The club & sword slinging Germanic gladiatrix Kara adds an element of sword-&-sorcery as the duo take on mythic monsters and navigate the turbulent waters of Roman politics.

So, are these stories historical dark fantasy? Occult detective? Sword-&-sorcery?

YES!

Highly recommended! (and looking forward to more of these and other tales from the Schildiner's Worlds!)

Interviews & chats with me

Just wanted to note that over on the left side (if you're viewing via a web browser, not a 'mobile' reduced page,) above my Current Reading List, there is now a list of links to interviews I've done.

ways to purchase HOUR OF THE ROBOT

 HOUR OF THE ROBOT

From their nerve center penthouse lair, the Robot supports the extraterrestrial superhero of the shining city of Pallas, the Alien. When a train disaster reveals an arms-smuggling operation, the Alien decides it is time for the Robot to join him in the field.

On the other end of the pipeline, in the city of Crowsport, resident vigilante crimefighters, the Protector and his sidekick, the Understudy, are closing in on a local gang boss.

Following the leads of their separate investigations, the Alien and the Protector—with the Robot and the Understudy in tow—serendipitously meet. But when their joint operation is broken, the Robot must step out into the world and work with the crimefighters to bring the suspects to justice.

But are there more dangerous forces at work than they realize?

Amazon (US)  Amazon (UK)

Barnes & Noble 

Smashwords 

Kobo 

Google Play

 In addition, I have print copies for sale from me, personally. Glad to sign (simple) or sign custom to a person. I would rather not drop my email here. Please contact me through social media messaging of your choice to arrange payment and shipping.

Twitter @pmcnamee67
Instagram @pmcnamee67
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/paul.mcnamee

(please note my Facebook page is semi-personal but if it is your preferred option, that's fine.)

Thank you!

Free Comic Book Day 2021

I will be at Counterplay Comics, Burlington MA, on Saturday, August 14th for Free Comic Book Day 2021!

 

I will have copies of HOUR OF THE ROBOT for sale & signing.

 

You might see cosplayers and artists, too.

 

Come on over if you're around!

HOUR OF THE ROBOT, reviews, requests, and discussion

 

If you've purchased HOUR OF THE ROBOT, I thank you. If you've read it and left an online review, I also thank you. I know, the 'new' paradigm of reviewing books can be tedious at times. Sometimes it burns me out, too. But, if you've read HOUR OF THE ROBOT and enjoyed it, please consider dropping a quick review on Amazon or goodreads. Just a rating and a few sentences or a paragraph would be great. (I think long reviews on blogs are fine but I don't think they help when combined with other reviews on shopping/rating sites.)

Speaking of reviews, I received a truly wonderful and inspiring review from Ron Fortier, over at Pulp Fiction Reviews. In part;

McNamee clearly spins his tale from the iconic comic book mythos of the twentieth century. ...

“Hour of the Robot” is a terrific first novel and a fun read.  McNamee’s prose is succinct in its brevity detailing the action clearly throughout without wasting so much as a single word. He tells you his story without fancy trappings while at the same time drawing forth really wonderful personalities from his cast of characters. Though based on all too familiar themes, “Hour of the Robot” is really something fresh and exciting and a bravo first novel of a very skillful storyteller.  Honestly, we want more. Lots more.

As part of HOUR OF THE ROBOT promotion, I've been invited by author Dana Cameron to join her and other writers (John Goodrich, Errick Nunnally, and Zin E. Rocklyn) to discuss writing and our recent books. You can view the interview live on Dana's Author Facebook page, Wednesday, July 28th, at 7:30PM EST.

Join us!

If you can't watch live, it will be recorded and posted out to YouTube later.

We happy writing few

This one is for all the writers:

There are times when I walk into Barnes & Noble, and I am equally inspired to write and daunted, as well. It's exciting to think you might one day see your book(s) on that shelf. It's also an overwhelming moment when you think, "How will I ever make a noticeable splash against this tide of books already in the world?"

A friend sent me a kind note regarding the release of HOUR OF THE ROBOT. It served as a good reminder for those moments.

In our writing world, we see it, read it, breathe it. It is not easy to step out and look from a wider perspective. But if you've driven a book to completion, got it out there, put it out there, had people buy it, read it, enjoy it - then remember that you are among a select few. Despite the number of books in the world, if you take a look at the populace of the world, there are few of us who have managed that achievement.

Yes, lots of sales, big sales, tons of favorable reviews would be nice.

But, just start with the kernel of the fact that you've done something many people never will.

Be proud of that for a start.

HOUR OF THE ROBOT release day is here!

The HOUR OF THE ROBOT is upon us! If you already pre-ordered, I thank you!

From their nerve center penthouse lair, the Robot supports the extraterrestrial superhero of the shining city of Pallas, the Alien. When a train disaster reveals an arms-smuggling operation, the Alien decides it is time for the Robot to join him in the field.

On the other end of the pipeline, in the city of Crowsport, resident vigilante crimefighters, the Protector and his sidekick, the Understudy, are closing in on a local gang boss.

Following the leads of their separate investigations, the Alien and the Protector—with the Robot and the Understudy in tow—serendipitously meet. But when their joint operation is broken, the Robot must step out into the world and work with the crimefighters to bring the suspects to justice.

But are there more dangerous forces at work than they realize?

Amazon https://amazon.com/dp/B08ZK6DJYJ 

B&N https://barnesandnoble.com/w/hour-of-the-robot-paul-r-mcnamee/1139078420

Smashwords https://smashwords.com/books/view/1075507

Kobo https://kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hour-of-the-robot

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=p8skEAAAQBAJ

The HOUR OF THE ROBOT is nearly here! (and t.v. interview)

In another week, HOUR OF THE ROBOT will be released! If you've pre-ordered, I thank you. If you're waiting for the official release, that's fine, too!

As a promotional kickoff (beyond social media,) I was interviewed on a local cable access television show. We discuss the book, as well as the writing, editing, and publishing process. (Disclaimer: My wife was my interviewer. It's her local town talk show!) You can watch the episode here:

Thanks for all the support so far! Feel free to share and retweet and email and get the word out. (Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to the same audience, which is great, but selling books means spreading out beyond the usual circles. THANK YOU!)
 

links;

Amazon (US) (Kindle & Print) https://amazon.com/dp/B08ZK6DJYJ 

B&N (Nook & Print) https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hour-of-the-robot-paul-r-mcnamee/1139078420

Smashwords https://smashwords.com/books/view/1075507

Kobo https://kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hour-of-the-robot

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=p8skEAAAQBAJ

Awaiting THE HOUR OF THE ROBOT

The NetGalley window for early review of HOUR OF THE ROBOT has passed. Now we wait until July 6th! Reminder that you can pre-order, and pre-orders help books. The print edition will be available via Amazon, but there are many ebook format options if you prefer them.

Amazon https://amazon.com/dp/B08ZK6DJYJ 

Print: https://www.amazon.com/Hour-Robot-Paul-R-McNamee/dp/1637899750

B&N https://barnesandnoble.com/w/hour-of-the-robot-paul-r-mcnamee/1139078420

Smashwords https://smashwords.com/books/view/1075507

Kobo https://kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hour-of-the-robot

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/de

I did garner one favorable 4 star (out of 5) review. (also cross-posted to goodreads)

"If someone plundered my brain for ideas, randomly lifting a bunch of favorites and then mixed it all together, they might have come up with this book. I mean, you got superheroes, aliens and robots in one city, duking it out. That’s pretty freaking epic. If you don’t think that combination is epic, you probably won’t like this book. Also, what’s the matter with you…seriously?
...
it took me about a chapter to get into, at first the writing came through kind of stilted and mechanical, but then the novel kicked into a higher gear and none of that mattered anymore. In fact, the writing style turned out to be quite suited for a robot story.
...
Overall, pure fun. Lots of fun. Oodles of action, terrific characters. Short dynamic entertaining read.
...
Recommended"

Sound like something you'd like to read? I hope so! #HouroftheRobot

recent read; MARK OF THE WITCHWYRM by Steve Van Samson

MARK OF THE WITCHWYRM by Steven Van Samson 

Rander Belmorn is far from home. He searches tirelessly for the one man who might be able to cure his dying son, but time is running out. The road has led to a frozen waste at the very edge of the world. But what this simple river man never learned on that long, lonely road was the answer to the last question. The only question.

How do you kill a witch?

The cover declares this story to be "a monstrous tale of Axes & Alchemy"--and that is exactly what Samson delivers. Belmorn is a different character than usually thrust into such tales. He's a blackfoot--a fisherman whose occupation involves harpooning giant eels and other beasts from a river so wide, none are sure what exists on the other side. Out in a world that becomes more alien to him the farther he travels, he encounters characters and places that are presented in ever-intriguing layers. A wandering alchemist, a bandit chief, a corrupt city guardsman, and a homeless waif. The "witch" in question is no old hag but a dragon who has laid waste a countryside. The world building is excellent and efficient. The reader is never bogged down by info dumps.

This story has a bit more optimism than I expected. I went in thinking it was 'grimdark'  but I would  declare it to be sword-&-sorcery. Though novel length, it hits all the notes; high personal stakes, and a fairly small cast of characters. Robert E. Howard with a bit more heart than darkness. Highly recommended!

If you feel like digging deeper in your wallet, you can order hardback edition(s) direct from Rough House Publishing.

The passing of a giant. RIP Derrick Ferguson

Derrick Ferguson passed away on April 4th 2021. I cannot claim to be anywhere near as close to him as his many friends and writing collaborators over the years but I felt like I should add to the tributes. And there are many. Just take a look at his Facebook page (unfortunately, many of them are set at 'friend' viewing only but there are still a lot of public posts and links to blog posts.)

I'd only gotten to know Derrick in the past few years. He was a huge mover, motivator, and founder of the New Pulp movement. I read a Dillon short story in BLACK PULP and then read THE VRIL AGENDA and friended him on Facebook. He wasn't just a giant of New Pulp, he was a gregarious giant of a man.

His 100 NEW PULP BOOKS TO GET YOU STARTED is an invaluable resource to help a newbie get their feet wet in the New Pulp movement. When I came in, the list was 50. Then in just the past few years, he bumped it from 50 to 75 to 100, often by going on recommendations from others, not just himself. I was honored he took my suggested additions on faith.

He read a short story of mine in STORYHACK #5 and lauded it. That meant a lot, as I was shifting into New Pulp writing, a new thing for me, having dabbled in some horror and weird up until then.

My favorite, and sadly only, collaboration story; Derrick put out a call for stories for DILLON: THE ODD JOBS 2. The concept being that Derrick would take contributions from other authors to write tales of Dillon or other Dillon-verse characters. I'd missed out on the first ODD JOBS. I wasn't going to let the opportunity pass.

I'd been trying to write a novella featuring my jungle hero, the Puma. I kept getting stuck on plotting. When the ODD JOBS 2 chance came, I asked Derrick if it would be all right if I tried a crossover, using Dillon. I wasn't sure two alpha males in the jungle pulp story would work but I wanted to try. Derrick gave me the go ahead.

I took a little longer than I wanted, but I sent him the novella in January. His first reply to me was that he had more to say, but upfront, he liked it and it reminded him of the Mike Henry Tarzan movies. I replied that was exactly what I'd been aiming for.

Imagine my surprise when next I heard about my story, Derrick was lauding it as a preview on his Facebook Dillon discussion group. Not only that, but he said,

I've just finished reading Paul McNamee's story for DILLON: THE ODD JOBS II and it was even more fun reading it the second time around as the first time I read it I had a feeling about what Paul was doing in this story and was delighted when he confirmed my hunch.
I'm not going to say much more about his story--which not only has the expected non-stop action a Dillon story is expected to have, but [also] some interesting observations about the deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon rain forest--except for this:
If you're as much of a fan of the Mike Henry Tarzan movies as I am (especially "Tarzan and The Valley of Gold") then you're going to totally love Paul's story because that's exactly what he's done: dropped Dillon right into the action-packed middle of a Mike Henry Tarzan movie

Later, I revealed to Derrick an Easter egg joke I'd really wanted to include in the story but never found the right spot. He replied, "LMAO! I would have fallen out of my chair if that had been in there!"

If there's one thing I take away from Derrick's writing presence it is that sense of absolute fun he was having. He reminded us all that you should have as much fun writing it as reading it--at least when it comes to pulp action adventure.

I wish I'd gotten to know him sooner and better. Life is too short. Time passes much too quickly these days.

Grab some of his books, read in his honor. I guarantee you will have fun and you won't be bored.

RIP, you giant of a wonderful human being. You are and will be sorely missed, Derrick Ferguson.

more HOUR OF THE ROBOT news

Yes, I know the book won't be available until July 6th, but ramp up on pre-orders and reviews is supposed to help sales later.

And I'm bound to keep reminding the world between now and then.

For now, though, the latest updates:

The paperback edition is now also available for pre-order at Amazon.

Also, the ebook has gone up for review preview at NetGalley. If anyone out there is part of that program, we can use the review love!  Thanks!

The Lost Empire of Sol available for pre-order

 

Back in 2019, I posted about the THE LOST EMPIRE OF SOL. It's been on pre-order status direct from the publisher since then, but the pandemic messed up the release.

Anyway, it's finally ready for wider release now. You can now pre-order the ebook via Amazon. There is a print edition coming as well.

My story, "A Gate in Darkness", closes out the anthology. It was written quite a while ago. I probably have better writing chops now, but I think it's still a decent sword-&-planet action romp.

recent read; Derrick Ferguson WILL WRITE FOR FOOD

 WILL WRITE FOR FOOD: The Freelance Stories of Derrick Ferguson

Derrick Ferguson has rapidly become one of my favorite writers since I discovered New Pulp and his body of work. He can always spin an unpretentious fun tale that will keep the reader entertained. His Doc Savage/James Bond/international adventurer extraordinaire, Dillon, put him on the map, but rest assured Derrick can write anything that gets thrown at him.

WILL WRITE FOR FOOD is a collection of his non-Dillon work, and for the ebook price of admission, you really shouldn't miss out.

Stories of G-men, 1930s Pacific island adventurers, crime tales, a fantastical voyage of Sinbad the sailor, a superhero throw down, and Old West stories of Bass Reeves.

Put this collection on your list!

HOUR OF THE ROBOT available for pre-order

My new novel--which is also my debut novel-- from Crossroad Press is now available for ebook pre-order. Yes, there will also be a print edition when the book is released.

Click here for the announcement (along with other books coming.)

If you prefer other ebook platforms, here is the list;

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZK6DJYJ

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hour-of-the-robot-paul-r-mcnamee/1139078420

Smashwords (will feed Apple, Overdrive, and some small sites)

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1075507

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=p8skEAAAQBAJ

Should also reach Kobo, if it hasn't already.

The HOUR approaches

 Some upcoming publishing news.

Crossroad Press have picked up my pulp superhero novel, Hour of the Robot. It will be released in July, under their YA imprint, Mystique Press.

 While not the first novel I have written, it is the first novel I haven't trunked and it is, therefore, my debut novel!

recent read; Barry Reese's LAZARUS GRAY

Not so much a review as just to let you know I've started digging into Barry Reese's Lazarus Gray series. I'm enjoying the heck out of it. If you want classic pulp adventure with that New Pulp feel, you need to start on this series.

I've been listening to audiobooks but the first three volumes are also available as a super-inexpensive omnibus ebook. Just $1!

recent reads; two from Airship 27

Bulldog Drummond: Disaster Zones by I.A. Watson

I.A. Watson has done a great job bringing Bulldog Drummond into the 21st century. This time around we get three novellas, where Bulldog battles neo-Nazis, faces off against an African warlord, and fights his way through baddies and a hurricane in the Caribbean. The action never lets up. Pure pulp action! I look forward to more new tales of Bulldog Drummond! 

 

All-American Sports Stories, Volume 2

Derrick Ferguson's "Brooklyn Beatdown" leads off this anthology of three sports novellas.  A story of boxing, and crime. The tale is a perfect mix of bare-knuckle brawling and lively characters.

The second tale is a baseball story. I wasn't very vested in that one, sorry to say. Not because of the baseball subject matter. The story didn't have enough action for me. It felt more like reading a newspaper's season-long-run sports story than a fiction tale.

Ron Fortier closes out the volume with a poignant football tale about a returning disabled Vietnam veteran who must figure out where his life will lead.

"Brooklyn Beatdown" was resurrected from a stand-alone edition (under the FIGHT CARD series) and is worth the price of admission. Highly recommended for that story alone.

Old Doctor Who is New Who, and vice versa

RE: new Dr Who TARGET Books

 

For those who don't know, many of the original Doctor Who stories' tapes were purged by the BBC, resulting in many lost episodes of the Hartnell-Troughton eras (1st & 2nd Doctor - and one episode of the 3rd--but that's another story.)

 

One of my first collector bugs was acquiring all the TARGET novelizations of those adventures. While I was at it--being a Dalek (and Cybermen fan)--I also grabbed all Cybermen and Dalek stories in the TARGET novelizations line, regardless of Doctor incarnation.

 

But a few were never novelized during the original TARGET run. Two came out via Virgin books later: POWER OF THE DALEKS and EVIL OF THE DALEKS.

 

RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS and REVELATION OF THE DALEKS never came out.

But they will this year.

 

I've been waiting a long time to see these come into existence.

Also, they will be putting out some cherry-picked novelizations from the new series, which started in 2005.

 

Between these books, and animated reconstructions of lost episodes, and the audio dramas Big Finish are doing with past Doctors (including, now, Christopher Eccleston signed on as the Ninth) it's still an awesome time to be a Whovian. (even if I'm not happy with the current broadcasting series.)

readin', writin', and reviewin'

2021.

Well, here we are.

I have no specific books listed for my 2021 reading. I do have some general goals of areas I want to cover.

First, I've been scrambling for so long, trying to catch up on things I've missed and new books releasing, that I hardly ever allow myself to re-read books. But that's silly. If a book is a favorite, no reason I shouldn't enjoy it. I've made a short list of favorites to re-read. I think I'll choose the audiobook route for those, just to be different.

I've really come to enjoy New Pulp. In addition to playing catch-up, via Derrick Ferguson's 100 New Pulp Book To Get You Started (no, I don't intend to read all 100 .. but I'd like to read a good sampling of the list,) I'd really like to keep up with New Pulp releases this year, so I can suggest informed nominations for the New Pulp Factory awards at year-end.

Speaking of reading, I have favorite writers who still have many titles I haven't read. First up, Glen Cook. And Fred Saberhagen. And Les Daniels series of vampire novels (there were 5, the first, The Black Castle, was great.)

More Sherlock Holmes, Solar Pons, and Tarzan. Continuing with the originals, of course, but I'm not ruling out pastiches, either. That will include the ERB Universe, too, as it rolls out.

And I want to ramp up on superheroes. I have a huge backlog of graphic novels I picked up on the cheap. And, superhero prose, too. Why? Reasons. Reasons that you will hopefully hear more about this year.

As to reviews; I'm of two minds. Sometimes I'm tired of feeling obligated to review everything. I used to read for the joy of it. I still do. But I never had to concern myself with reviews when I was done.

But, as a writer, I know what reviews mean to authors. So, my balance will be (continue to be) to review stuff I like. I'm not interested in negative reviewing. Secondly, expect short reviews. I don't think long-winded reviews posted to Amazon or goodreads really help. Long reviews should be reserved for blogs and articles. I've been gearing more toward short reviews that I can cut'n'paste and drop into goodreads and Amazon. The blog might have a few more statements around the core review, but don't expect more than that.

Writing. As of now, there are three short stories expected to see light of day this year. (We all know that can change.) I have no other short stories out in the aether right now.

There are a few open calls I am interested in. But, honestly, right now, I don't even have ideas that fit. We'll see if anything happens before the submission windows close. I had a low publishing output last year, so part of me wants to put stories out there. But, my main 2021 writing goal is to write the sequel to the novel I completed last year. If I'm not distracted by open calls and other opportunities that will dilute my focus, I won't mind.

recent read; CYCLOPS ROAD

 

Cyclops Road by Jeff Strand

Evan Portin is at a sad, scary place in his life. While taking a long walk to compose himself and figure out where to go from here, he encounters a young woman being mugged in a park.

When he tries to intervene, he discovers that she doesn't need his help. At all.

Her name is Harriett. She is very, very good at defending herself. Everything she owns is in a large backpack. She's never seen a cell phone. She's never been in a car. She's never really ventured into the outside world.

And she says she's traveling across the country to slay a Cyclops.

She's crazy, right? Evan is not in the habit of hanging out with delusional women he's just met. On the other hand, it can't hurt to offer her a ride out of town. And maybe this insane journey is exactly what he needs...

Strand is known for his horror comedy, and his straight-up horror. This novel is neither of those. It's a modern fantasy tale. It's a road movie in book form, with a cast of zany characters and bizarre situations.

Like the protagonist, Evan Portin, the reader is pulled along. Anticipation of "what could possibly happen next?!" kept me reading. And, of course, like Evan, seeing it through to the end just to know if there really is a cyclops roaming Arizona.

For me, the tale read like an A. Lee Martinez novel, and that is a compliment. It was a fun read I enjoyed immensely.