Harlan Ellison – “one of the great living American short story writers” – has died. Staggeringly prolific he wrote 1700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, comic book scripts and essays, mainly in speculative new fiction, which included science fiction. Notorious as a firebrand, he once described himself as “a yapping dog with mean little … Read more
Renowned chef Joel Robuchon, the outstanding winner in the Michelin stakes with 31 stars to his credit over a long career, has died. His piece de resistance was mashed potatoes, reputedly 50% butter. Although he started life in the upper echelons of French kitchens he got away from the stuffiness of haute cuisine … Read more
Angela Carter, rated in the top ten of British writers in the 20th Century, known for her feminist, magical realism short stories, was lauded in a BBC documentary last night. She gave a macabre Freudian and surrealist twist to fairy-tales, garnering the praise of Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood. And although reckoned a … Read more
Steven Seagal, the actor and martial-arts black belt, has been named by Russia as a “special representative” on US-Russian humanitarian and cultural ties. He is a frequent visitor to Russia, a close friend of Putin whom he described as “a great world leader” and a “brilliant tactician,” has defended him against allegations of … Read more
Geniuses don’t make great human beings. Steve Jobs’ eldest daughter, Lisa Brennan Jobs has written a memoir Small Fry about her troubled relationship with her father. She was the result of an on-off relationship and Jobs publicly denied being her father for two years after her birth, even claiming he was sterile in … Read more
Boris Becker doesn’t have his woes to seek at the moment with a calamitous financial situation, involving ludicrous excuses about non-existent diplomatic immunity as a get-out, as well as an acrimonious and messy public divorce being played out through the tabloids. Born 22 November 1967 8.45 am Leimen, Germany he became the wunderkind … Read more
David Hasselhoff, former Baywatch and Knight Rider star, married his Welsh model girlfriend Hayley Roberts on Tuesday in Italy. They met seven years ago when she asked him for his autograph in Cardiff. They picked a sparky date for the weeding with the Sun opposition Mars square Uranus in place, which will make … Read more
Bob Woodward, reckoned the best investigative reporter in the USA, has his take on the Trump presidency out in September in a book called simply ‘Fear.’ He has written books on three past presidents all with their cooperation which was not forthcoming this time round. But he appears to have persuaded insiders to … Read more
The ever-young Kate Bush is sixty today, a birthday she shares with novelist Emily Bronte (200 years ago) who inspired her first hit ‘Wuthering Heights’ which shot her to prominence as a 19 year old. A singer-songwriter, musician, dancer and record producer her music is eclectic, experimental, idiosyncratic and theatrical. Over the years … Read more
Mike Pence is under the forensic microscope and scalpel in a forthcoming book “The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence” out late August. Having reviewed an early copy the NY Times calls him ‘self-infatuated, a bigot, a liar and cruel.’ Daily Kos adds their take with ‘zealot, dominionist, theocrat – front man … Read more