Greetings loyal airmen.   I've been fighting a bad cold the last couple of days but happy to report am on the mend.When I'm sick, I find it hard to write, so I fall back on my second literary passion, reading and thought you might be interested to learn what's been coming off the Hangar 27 Library shelves.              

Lance Howard is the pseudonym of Howard Hopkins, a good friend from Old Orchard, Me.   Howard has never been west of the Mississippi, has never been on a horse in his life, and writes cowboy novels for a British paperback company!  I kid you not.  One of his latest was THE PHANTOM MARSHAL, which I just finished a few days ago reviewed properly at my PULP FICTION site, click on Banner above to read it.  It's a great, old fashion shoot'em up by a really gifted writer.

Hard Case Crime publisher/editor, Charles Ardai was very kind to put me on their list of reviewers when the company started up over a year ago.  Since that time I've received every one of their terrific, pulp noir thrillers and have been singing their praises loudly.   HCC publishes both reprints of by-gone classics like the above, THE LAST MATCH and then newer works by today's master's of the action and suspense.   I'm half-way through this one and loving it.

Finally what I consider to be the finest magazine published today, National Geographic.   Some twenty-years ago, when the game Trivial Pursuit was the rage in this country, my wife and I would host Trivial Pursuit parties.  One of the things I learned early on was how badly I would do with questions relating to geography.  Then a trip to the dentist office during the period brought me in contact with this magazine.  At this time it could only be purchased by subscription and wasn't available on newstands.  Still, it seemed everybody and his uncle knew what the National Geographic was, its reputation being truly unique in American publishing.   That day I ripped  out the subscription card from that office copy, brought it home and sent away for a subscription.  All because I wanted to bone up on geography.  It ended up being one of the smartest things I have ever done.

For the past twenty years, I have read every single issue cover to cover.  Each month's issue is a wealth of amazing facts and stories about the miraculous world we live, and beyond.  From history, science, medicine, sociology, wildlife, world politics and the state of the environment, there is no subject relating to life on the planet  Earth, NG will not cover…and cover brilliantly.  Has it made me a smarter person, I can't say for sure.  Ha. But it certainly has made me a wiser one.

Whatever it is you like to read, the important thing is to read.  The benefits of an active mind are immeasurable to a long and vibrant life.

Take care, Ron, over and out.