Thomas Fleming

Really liked what Richard Sandomir wrote in this piece on Thomas Fleming in yesterday’s edition of the Times. I was lucky to be able to call Tom both mentor and friend. He was one of the good guys. His talent is evident in the dozens of books that he wrote over the years – both works of fiction and non-fiction – often inspired by events in his home state of New Jersey. He was a wonderful raconteur, able to connect with people of all ages, races, and walks of life. He will be missed. The last time we spoke he was working on a play on a chaplain in World War I. His excitement was contagious, as he, in his late eighties, was trying to break into the world of theater…

Memorial Day event at Short Stories Bookshop

I’ll be discussing the first Americans to fight in World War I, and signing copies of my book Rendezvous with Death. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. after the parade. Short Stories Bookshop is located at the corner of Main & Green Village in Madison, New Jersey. Hope you can make it if you’re in the area.

Here is a link about the event on the bookshop’s web site:  http://www.shortstoriesnj.com/events-1/2017/5/29/memorial-day-talk-and-book-signing-with-david-hanna

MAD Talk 1-30-17

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

I watched Jacques Demy’s “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” for the first time the other night. What an original and beautiful film. The colors were so vibrant and the music playful at times, haunting at others, stayed in my mind. The two main characters – Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) and Geneviève (Catherine Deneuve) – I felt were entirely believable as the young lovers at the center of the story. Only the most cynical could resist being infected by their romantic enthusiasm, and ease in each other’s company. I wouldn’t want to give too much away for those who have never seen the film, but suffice to say it’s wonderful. It’s not so much a musical as it is an opera in that all of the dialogue is sung. But it works on screen.

Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Saw the matinee show on Sunday. It’s playing at the Imperial on 45th, between 8th & 9th. A real treat if you’re familiar with Tolstoy’s novel, War & Peace. Josh Groban, in the role of Count Pierre Bezuhkov, brought the house down.

Short Stories Bookshop Madison NJ event

I’ll be discussing, and signing copies, of my book, “Rendezvous with Death”, on Thursday (December 22nd) at Short Stories Bookshop in Madison, NJ. The shop moved across the street into a historic building on the corner of Main & Green Village. The event begins at 7 p.m. Hope you can make it if you’re in the area.

Space, the Final Frontier

Since BBC America aired its 50th Anniversary Star Trek marathon back in August, I’ve been tuning in religiously to its Friday evening broadcasts. MeTV also airs one episode each Saturday evening. One of the things that I’ve found stands out is how far ahead of its time it was regarding issues of racial toleration and cultural understanding. Spock in particular, though he is supposed to be a computer-like Vulcan, displays so much humanity and moral fiber. The interplay between Spock, Kirk, and Dr. McCoy is some of the best acting and writing ever seen on television, in my opinion. Last June, I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at a commencement address given by George Takei, who played Sulu. His experience working on the show and getting to know its creator, Gene Rodenberry, clearly had made a significant impact on his life. He discussed technology and modernity in the address, but his main point of emphasis was on toleration and understanding – the idea that there was room in the galaxy for all of us, regardless of the shape of our eyes, ears, noses or the color of our skin, and so on. For instance, in one episode one of the main characters is blind and another is so revolting in appearance they drive anyone who looks upon them without protective eye gear, mad. Yet without them Spock’s life, and the Enterprise, would be lost.

I think we should all be watching Star Trek these days. It’s science fiction escapism, but it’s also us, as humans, at our best. An example of what we can be.