FFB: Hard-boiled Dames
In 1986, St. Martin's published an anthology edited by Bernard A. Drew with the full title of Hard-Boiled Dames: A Brass-Knuckled Anthology of the Toughest Women From the Classic Pulps. Drew provided the introduction, and Marcia Muller (author of her own tough-broad protagonist, Sharon McCone) added a preface. The 15 stories included were reproduced from the original magazines in double columns on each page, complete with the original campy illustrations and advertisements, as well as biographical notes on the writers.
The offerings include Eugene Thomas's Vivian Legrand in "The Lady From Hell," a woman who works out of Shanghai and pits herself against both the chief of the British Secret Service in the Far East and the underworld leader of Manila; Richard Sale's Dinah Mason in "Double Trouble," featuring the spunky girlfriend of Daffy Dill, "the Whirlwind Reporter for the New York Chronicle"; C.B. Yorke's ruthless Queen Sue Carlton, featured in "Snowbound"; the hard punching Violet McDade, created by Cleve F. Adams; and international adventurer Rosita Storey, from the pen of Hulbert Footner.
The roll call of investigators, crooks, gun molls, and reporters who appeared as ongoing series characters in the classic pulp magazines of the 1930's included in the anthology are below:
Carrie Cashin in "Riddle in Silk" / by Theodore Tinsley
Sarah Watson in "Cash or Credit" / by D.B. McCandless
Trixie Meehan in "The Deadly Orchid" / by T.T. Flynn
Grace Culver in "Hit the Baby" / by Roswell Brown
Violet McDate in "Flowers for Violet" / by Cleve F. Adams
Patricia Seaward in "Murder by Mail" / by Frederick Nebel
The Domino Lady in "The Domino Lady Doubles Back" / by Lars Anderson
Sue McEwen in "Fingers of fear" / by Frederick C. Davis
Katie Blayne in "The Duchess Pulls a Fast One" / by Whitman Chambers
Dinah Mason in "Double Trouble" / by Richard Sale
Ivy Trask in "Death to the Hunter" / by Judson P. Philips
Dizzy Malone in "The Jane from Hell's Kitchen" / by Perry Paul
Queen Sue Carlton in "Snowbound" / by C.B. Yorke
Vivian Legrand in "The Day from Hell : the Episode of the Secret Service Blackmail" / by Eugene Thomas
Rosita Story in"Wolves of Monte Carlo" / by Hulbert Footner
