Drac is back and other news

Good morning bookies! Stand by for news.

*** The great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, Dacre Stoker, and Dracula historian Ian Holt are teaming up to bring the original bloodsucker back from the grave, with Dutton next year publishing Dracula: the Un-Dead. The original Dracula was heavily edited. Using notes and passages left behind by Bram, the two will write this novel and at least two more, following characters and plot lines left behind by the original. And yes, the inevitable movie is already in the works. It is doubtful that Bela Lugosi will play the thirsty count this time around.

*** Dateline, New York. Sony is introducing a new version of its e-reader, the PRS700, aka The Mark of the Beast, priced at $399, no doubt to compete with Amazon's equally pernicious Kindle. There are going to be new search features, a touch screen and some other stuff. Horrible idea. and the books for these monstrous machines are $11.99, with nothing to show for it when you've read the data. Books are my friends, I like having them surround me, but electronic books would probably just cause lots of static electricity and clinging socks and stuff.

*** On October 13th, Hutchison School will host the Perre Magness Lecture Series on Memphis History, at 6:30 PM. Ms. Magness is very well known in the area as the foremost Memphis historian alive, with nine books to her credit. Once upon a time she wrote for the daily newspaper, back when the newspaper was worth reading. Her lecture will be 'What Makes Memphis Memphis?' I've met her several times, she's very engaging and her works are not only informative, they're entertaining as well. For more info you can call Amanda Fisher at Hutchison, (901) 507-2461.

*** Once the website is up and running, reviews such as this will have their own special archive. Until then, however...here's a review for those of you who are World War II buffs, or know someone who is. This appears to be a more or less oral history of the U.S. 99th Division in WWII. foreign units, especially German, have almost all had unit histories written about them, as have a large number of American units. The 99th was one of the divisions in the thick of the bulge fighting and is, therefore, important in the overall context of the war. the reviewer seems to be trying awfully hard to link this unit to today's war, but doesn't quite make it. This isn't the most knowledgeable review in the world, but it gets the message across: http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=861187

Another Wold War II review. Look, I'm a WWII buff, okay? Anyway, the gist of this book appears to be that FDR, Churchill, Alanbrooke and Marshall were egomaniacs and were crucial to winning the war. No. Really? It's probably a fabulous book, but somebody should have dreamed up a better title.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_reviews/article4833789.ece