Wambaugh returns, Hef orgasms

Did you miss us last week? Probably not, because we're betting you were just like us: still in a post-turkey coma. But somehow, but Monday morning, we had managed to crawl off the sofa and return to another full week of book reviewing at BOOKGASM. Among the highlights (click the titles for the unedited goodness):

• HOLLYWOOD STATION by Joseph Wambaugh – "Reading Joseph Wambaugh's HOLLYWOOD STATION is like listening to a cop share a bunch of his war stories: You get a lot of lingo, sometimes too much detail, but also an abundance of craziness and "holy shit" moments that make your day job all the more miserable by comparison. ... This is not a novel about police officers trying to solve a crime (although they do); rather, it's a novel about police officers themselves – colorful, flawed, human – in realistic situations, both painful and peculiar, sometimes not ending the way you'd want them."

• DRAGONFRIGATE WIZARD HALCYON BLITHE by James M. Ward – "Rousing. You don’t see that word much any more, but it’s the perfect descriptor for James M. Ward’s fantasy series. ... This is a rousing adventure of naval battles, dragons, magic, dwarves, evil demons and a budding relationship ... a rousing tale of derring-do and highly recommended for those who like their work infused with sea salt, dragon lore, magic and fine, upstanding characters."

• BUNNY TALES: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT THE PLAYBOY MANSION by Izabella St. James – "And then there's the sex. You read a book like BUNNY TALES simply wanting to get the goods on whether Hef nails all those women at the same time. St. James doesn't disappoint, giving you an entire chapter devoted to those nights in the bedroom – a blow-by-blow (pun marginally intended), 10-page account that'll reshape your entire perception of Hef. As much I'm trying to forget, the images just keep flooding back to me. Baby oil. 69. 'God damn it ... wow.' Make it stop! ... The book reads almost like someone stuck a tape recorder in front of her and transcribed the result. In other words, it's entertaining, but empty, and I get the sense that we learned a little more from it than St. James did."

And for the rest of the week at BOOKGASM, there was a new SWAMP THING collection, a BEOWULF sequel anthology, Sheldon Rusch's FOR EDGAR, Eric Shapiro's DAYS OF ALLISON, Sean Doolittle's THE CLEANUP, Chris Blaine's DROWNED NIGHT, David Carradine's KILL BILL DIARY and a few others also worth clicking over to peruse. And if you didn't visit us earlier in the week, shame, because you totally missed your chance to win a signed copy of Paul Malmont's killer THE CHINATOWN DEATH CLOUD PERIL. Hey, membership has its privileges.