Booktube: A PT Boat Book series

 

Cover Cavalcade

  DECEMBER IS WALTER BAUMHOFER MONTH!

A 1936 cover picturing another average day in the life of Doc Savage.

Friday's Favorite OTR

 Jeff Regan, Investigator: "The Man with the Key" 10/2/48

Regan is hired to hold on to a safe deposit box key for seven hours. It sounds like an easy job. But it isn't.

Click HERE to listen or download. 

Booktube: Library Log-Jam

 

Christmas/New Year Break

 

art by Thomas Nast

I'm afraid that family obligations and the usual reduction in views over the holidays have combined to convince me to take a holiday break from Wednesday and Thursday posts. Monday's Cover Cavalcade and Friday's Favorite OTR will continue without interruption. Wednesday & Thursday posts will resume in two weeks. 

Cover Cavalcade

  DECEMBER IS WALTER BAUMHOFER MONTH!

A 1938 cover.

Booktube: Reading Report

 

Friday's Favorite OTR

 Have Gun Will Travel: "Monster of Moon Ridge" 3/8/59

Is there some sort of creature prowling about Moon Ridge? It's up to Paladin to find out.

Click HERE to listen or download. 

Article in The Shadowed Circle

 I'm sorry--but I'm going to use a Thursday post for some shameless self-promotion.

The current issue of The Shadowed Circle includes an article by me. You can buy copies at: https://theshadowedcircle.com/

Santa Needs Rescuing!

 

cover art by Morris Gollub

"Santa's Sea Trip," with art by Arthur Jameson, appeared in Dell's Four Color #205 (December 1948) and proves that it's always a good idea to give Santa a hand when he needs it. The writer, by the way, is unknown.

The Navy ship "Gull" is on its way home to Boston, but bad weather means they probably won't be home in time for the crew to spend the holiday with their families. That's too bad, but what can be done about it?

A cabin boy mentions Santa Clause, earning a gentle teasing from one of the older crewmen. But Santa happens to be flying by and hears his name being spoken. He flies down for a look, but the storm buffets him. He and his toys tumble out of his sleigh.

Santa is rescued from the ocean and the ship's captain reacts with considerable aplomb when he sees who their visitor is. The crew then gathers up the toys from about the ship and put them under a tarp to protect them from the elements.

They do all this just because they want to help, but Santa will not let them go unrewarded. He promises them a gift. And that gift is quick in coming as the weather clears and suddenly getting home for Christmas is certain.

And, well, that's it. It's a very simple, straightforward 8-pager. But it's a fun 8-pager. Jameson's art gives it just the right look and sometimes a simple fable about assisting others and showing generosity can be more effective that an 800-page book.

Read it yourself online HERE.