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66th out of 290 books
—
113 voters
The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps
by
Otto Penzler (Goodreads Author)
The biggest, the boldest, the most comprehensive collection of Pulp writing ever assembled.
Weighing in at over a thousand pages, containing over forty-seven stories and two novels, this book is big baby, bigger and more powerful than a freight train—a bullet couldn’t pass through it. Here are the best stories and every major writer who ever appeared in celebrated Pulps lik...more
Weighing in at over a thousand pages, containing over forty-seven stories and two novels, this book is big baby, bigger and more powerful than a freight train—a bullet couldn’t pass through it. Here are the best stories and every major writer who ever appeared in celebrated Pulps lik...more
Paperback, 1168 pages
Published
November 6th 2007
by Vintage
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This book offers a broad overview of pulp fiction. Some of the prose is uneven. And some is admittedly substandard. And then there are those stories by Woolrich--dark and moody, and then suddenly frenetic and fast paced. There are stories by masters of the genre: Hammett, Chandler, Cain, Gardner. The great stories sparkly and crackle with tension and suspense.
And the not-so-great stories are forgiveable because the writers were only paid on the average a penny a word. So the idea was to churn s...more
And the not-so-great stories are forgiveable because the writers were only paid on the average a penny a word. So the idea was to churn s...more
awesoem collection of very fast paced and fun Crime and Noir stories (which are all crime based of course.)
this is classic stuff real great when America was the gem of the world.
the Men were straight talkers and no nonsense, and the Dames were all fabulous be them good or bad.
it is a hefty anthology but you breeze through it. and you keep looking for more.
for the "PC" sensitive jerks out there, this is not PC.
when every one was an American in this country, if they had something different it was...more
this is classic stuff real great when America was the gem of the world.
the Men were straight talkers and no nonsense, and the Dames were all fabulous be them good or bad.
it is a hefty anthology but you breeze through it. and you keep looking for more.
for the "PC" sensitive jerks out there, this is not PC.
when every one was an American in this country, if they had something different it was...more
Trying to read this tome straight through is like accepting the personal challenge of an all-you-can-eat buffet. Some of the stories are terrific (Raymond Chandler is one of my favorite authors ever, and Hammet and Woolrich shine as well), some are mediocre and formulaic, and some are lousy and not worth the effort it takes to get to the end of the first page before giving up. Ultimately, though, this is a great overview of what pulp was about, with witty and helpful introductions for each story...more
Few years back I had been introduced to the works of Raymond Chandler through an anthology. Since then, I have tried to read the 'pulp fiction' as much as possible, in every possible place. The last couple of years have seen the emergence of pulp-style fiction (whose characteristics may be broadly summarised as: taut narratives, witty & sharp dialogues/wisecracks, grim but determined attitude among the protagonists, etc.), as well as retro-pulp. This mammoth work, containing many stories rep...more
Sep 11, 2011
Max Magbee
is currently reading it
Wow! Over 1,000 pages of pulp stories about cops, crooks and dames from authors that have come to exemplify the genre - Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Erle Stanley Gardner, Cornell Woolrich, Paul Cain, Norbert Davis and James M. Cain, just to name a mere few.
And even though these types of stories were considered low-class and were frowned-upon by literary snobs, I have learned more about the craft of writing and storytelling from pulp fiction than any of the so-called classics that are taug...more
And even though these types of stories were considered low-class and were frowned-upon by literary snobs, I have learned more about the craft of writing and storytelling from pulp fiction than any of the so-called classics that are taug...more
Jun 26, 2011
Michael
marked it as to-read-on-shelf
PART ONE
THE CRIMEFIGHTERS
Harlan Coben: Introduction
Paul Cain: One, Two, Three
Dashiell Hammett: The Creeping Siamese
Erle Stanley Gardner: Honest Money
Horace McCoy: Frost Rides Alone
Thomas Walsh: Double Check
Charles G. Booth: Stag Party
Leslie T. White: The City of Hell!
Raymond Chandler: Red Wind
Frederick Nebel: Wise Guy
George Harmon Coxe: Murder Picture
Norbert Davis: The Price of a Dime
William Rollins, Jr.: Chicago Confetti
Cornell Woolrich: Two Murders, One Crime
Carroll John Daly: The Third Murder...more
THE CRIMEFIGHTERS
Harlan Coben: Introduction
Paul Cain: One, Two, Three
Dashiell Hammett: The Creeping Siamese
Erle Stanley Gardner: Honest Money
Horace McCoy: Frost Rides Alone
Thomas Walsh: Double Check
Charles G. Booth: Stag Party
Leslie T. White: The City of Hell!
Raymond Chandler: Red Wind
Frederick Nebel: Wise Guy
George Harmon Coxe: Murder Picture
Norbert Davis: The Price of a Dime
William Rollins, Jr.: Chicago Confetti
Cornell Woolrich: Two Murders, One Crime
Carroll John Daly: The Third Murder...more
Getting a limited amount of time to write any story and receiving the rather measily salary of a penny per word don't seem like the perfect writing condictions for any writer who wants to be taken seriously. Still, a great deal of young writers would start off in the pulps during the 1920's through 40's, before becoming bigtime novel published authors. Both critically and publicly highly respected crimewriters like Raymond Chandler, Dashiel Hammett, James M. Cain and Erle Stanley Gardner started...more
Not to be confused with The Black Lizard Big Book of Polyps, this is truly an amazing collection of steel-fisted, hot-lead-slingin' tough-guy goodness. I love the language and snappy patter. The introductory blurbs alone are entertainment: "Queen Sue was the toughest moll that ever pulled a gat this side of Hades" (from "Snowbound" by C.B. York). What would be fighting words today were once simple conversation: in "Chicago Confetti" by William Rollins, Jr., when a hotel employee announces, "You'...more
Sep 04, 2007
Peggy
marked it as to-read
I love pulp fiction. Yeah, that’s right, I said pulp fiction: square-jawed tough guys, devilish dames and trouble with a capital “T”. The only thing I love more than pulp fiction is the lurid art that went along with it. When I saw The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps in the Vintage catalog my eyes lit up like the rep had just shown me the Maltese Falcon.
What we have here is no less than a history of the mystery pulps in the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s, the time of the ascendance of Black Mask and the b...more
What we have here is no less than a history of the mystery pulps in the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s, the time of the ascendance of Black Mask and the b...more
This is a very big book, that represents its genre very well, including all of its cliches, stereotypes and prejudices. Yet, although it is impossible not to notice those shortcomings, anyone with a fondness for Chandler an the rest will find it har to resist the lure of hard-boiled cops and those on the other side of the law. And where else are you going to find works originally pubished in the short-lived "Gun Molls" magazine?
They just don't write like that anymore! Go straight to Raymond Chandler's Red Dust! Greatest opening paragraph - EVER! I won't spoil the fun and I won't ever through out this book. It's like a good dictionary or thesaurus, essential reference material for good writing. Okay so some is a little less but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of literature!
Great book with many great stories. If you have any interest in the hard boiled detective story..here is a collection for you. Collecting a lot of the great pulp writers of the 20's and 30's this collection has something for everyone. If you loved L.A. Confidential you will love the stories in this book
I don't even know what to say, save that this book is essential. "Crimefighters" and "Villains" have been released as separate volumes. If you have them, then this may be unnecessary...but don't count on it.
The stories are grand and varied: from tough-yet-charming yarns of thievery to Cornell Woolrich's paranoid, unflichingly brutal protagonists. The writing is powerful to this day, and often because of its seemingly innocent points: a shady, sinister character about to fall cries "I don't want...more
The stories are grand and varied: from tough-yet-charming yarns of thievery to Cornell Woolrich's paranoid, unflichingly brutal protagonists. The writing is powerful to this day, and often because of its seemingly innocent points: a shady, sinister character about to fall cries "I don't want...more
Perhaps the best and most comprehensive anthology on Pulp Fiction. Generally consistent throughout in quality with several classics included. The period illustrations add to the vintage charm and as someone obsessed with the pre-war era the book conveys the time movingly well.
Oct 16, 2012
Mark
marked it as to-read
It is one of those collections of stories that is well worth reading, the amount of talent collected in this jumbobook is staggering. It will take some time finishing all these stories but the book is not going anywhere.
I like this book a lot so far, it's a great collection of classic pulp fiction stories from some of the best authors of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. I picked it up at Half Price Books for $7, and at 1168 pages you just can't beat that value! The contents are lively and full of action, and it's nearly impossible to put this book down until you have finished the story that you're reading. Some of the language is dated, and there's a bit of racism and sexism, but I suppose that's to be expected from stor...more
I <3 detective novels from the 20s, 30s, and 40s!!!! I have discovered new authors, new stories by old friends, and laughed at some seriously cheesy writing! Totally worth the $25!
P.S. Cornell Woolrich is my hero!
P.S. Cornell Woolrich is my hero!
Wildly inconsistent... the stories range from great to terrible. Some attitudes haven't aged well either, but on the whole, quite enjoyable.
Apr 30, 2009
Ryan Jones
is currently reading it
I got this last year and have been very gradually reading some of the stories. Interesting.
The Big Book is a classic collection of Pulp stories that proves that this was once a nation of readers. The Pulp genre is often over-looked today as and inadequate art form. the truth is that many of these stories out shine and have more merit than half of what gets printed today. As the government tells us that there is less illiteracy today, books like this prove that yesteryear we were smarter readers. This collection has a few Earle Stanley Gardener - creator of Perry Mason and a master of...more
Some real gems in here. A great bunch of stories with the occasional misfire.
Apr 06, 2009
Michael
is currently reading it
I saw this behemoth for $5 and couldn't resist!
only wish there were more pictures .
Excellent anthology
This is a big one! But so far, so good. Tough, hard-boiled, and very, very American. Nothing like a compilation of short stories to keep by your bedside at night. Some of my favorite authors are in here, including Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. The best part is that the pages are printed on pulp-style paper, but the ink doesn't rub off in your hands.
Got this for Hannukkah about three years ago, and since then I haven't had time to read much of it. I don't really read collections like this as single books to be read at once anyway, but I definitely have seen enough to know that it's a beautiful and well-curated volume. In those college years when I didn't have time for it, just seeing it on my shelf, knowing that it was there with such a font of stories so well collected, whenever I was ready for them, made me happy.
Some guys watch a football game or hit the bars whenever they feel the need to get in touch with their manliness. I prefer to immerse myself in the dark corners of urban landscapes with some of the grittiest scumbags and hoodlums you'll ever meet. If you ever wanted to find out about the world of pulp that Tarantino bastardized in his movie, check this book out. Trust me....it's a billion times cooler than Pulp Fiction.
I can't give this a star rating because I'm working my way through it as little tasty treats between other books, but this is definitely a great volume, mostly hits, but some stories that don't quite come up to snuff.
Just to update, when you have a book well over 1000 pages of just straight up hard-hittin crime, you: a.) don't rush it, and b.) essentially never stop reading it since there's just so much good stuff here.
Just to update, when you have a book well over 1000 pages of just straight up hard-hittin crime, you: a.) don't rush it, and b.) essentially never stop reading it since there's just so much good stuff here.
Mar 02, 2008
John
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes pulp fiction or early 20th Century writing.
Recommended to John by:
Washington Post book review
This book is great fun. Some of the stories are excellent and some are really poorly written, but you get a sense of an era of which only ghostly reminders remain. We are as removed from that time as the authors of these stories were from the 1830s-50s. A LOT has changed, yet that time period really comes alive through these stories. Plus the book is big enough to last a while. Highly recommended.
If you love pulp, this is the book for you. I've been reading stories from this collection for about three years. Every time I need a fix of pulp, here's the cure.A lot of the stories are dated, but that is part of the fun. Some stories may offend you, but the editor decided not to mess with the way it was originally published.It's P-U-L-P. It's the real deal. Just sit back and enjoy it.
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Otto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encycl...more
More about Otto Penzler...
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encycl...more
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Jan 27, 2008 01:36pm