James Ellroy, described by the Los Angeles Times: Developing into one of the great American writers. Ellroy's L.A. Quartet vels - The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential, White Jazz - an epic pop history of a toxic metropolis. Hollywood Nocturnes: An alternative Ellroy universe, etched less in blood and more in elegiac neon. Dick Conti: Accordion virtuoso, lounge lizard, Red Scare scapegoat. On a greased slide in '58 L.A.: A show biz fatality begging to happen. Dick Conti's Blues: Half cturne, half torch song. A blast back to tailfins, disease-free promiscuity, sex killers, Commie-bashing, publicity kidnaps, and B-movie redemption - an ode to a time when love came cheap. Nocturnes: Noir set to music. James Ellroy: America's great ir writer. Dick Conti: America's kingpin accordion player, then and w. The accordion and ir? . . . Suspend your disbelief. Hollywood Nocturnes: The vella Dick Conti's Blues, Ellroy's entire short-story oeuvre, and a few surprises. Dig it, kats and kittens, chix and charlies: This is prime-time Ellroy.