Bookshelf News

(image from robertbparker.net)

In Memory of Robert B. Parker

We are sad to say that the beloved author of dectective mysteries, Robert B. Parker, passed away this past Monday, January 18, at the age of 77. While at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Parker suffered a fatal heart attack. He will be dearly missed in the world of mystery novelists, but with over 60 books to his name, we will always be able to salvage a small part of him.

Poe's Mysterious Birthday
Every year on the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth on January 19th, a mysterious visitor cloaked all in black has left roses and a half-empty bottle of top-notch cognac on his grave in Baltimore, Maryland. This year, for the first time in six decades, the nightly visitor failed to show. His identity unknown for years, his strange absence this year has even furthered the intrigue. The annual tribute reportedly began in 1949 - and in 1993 he began leaving notes, starting with one that stated: "The torch will be passed." Another note in 1998 indicated the the orginator of the tradition had passed on, and that his sons were to take over. Have the sons disregarded their father's wishes, or did something ghastly happen to the nightly wanderer? For the full story, head over to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100119/ap_en_ot/us_poe_mystery_visitor. (image from http://www.sanctaflor.files.wordpress.com)

Twilight turns graphic!

On March 16, 2010, Twilight fans will have a brand new feast of Edward and Bella to drool over. The teen sensation series by Stephanie Meyer has been converted into graphic novel form. Hachette Book Group's graphic novel imprint, Yen Press will be producing "selected text" from Meyer's book, with a retial price of $19.99. Young Kim, a Korean artist, has illustrated the new version in black and white, with a few color panels interspersed throughout. Due to Twilight's overwhelming length, the graphic novel version has had to be split into two volumes (the second volume's release date is unknown at this time). Yen Press also wanted to assure fans that Mrs. Meyers had input on every single panel. (image from amazon.com)