The Great British Detective

by Ron Goulart (Editor)

Paperback

Genres: Mystery, Anthologies

369 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 3, 1982

About the author

Pseudonyms: Howard Lee; Frank S Shawn; Kenneth Robeson; Con Steffanson; Josephine Kains; Joseph Silva; William Shatner.
Ron Goulart is a cultural historian and novelist. Besides writing extensively about pulp fiction—including the seminal Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of Pulp Magazines (1972)—Goulart has written for the pulps since 1952, when the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction published his first story, a sci-fi parody of letters to the editor. Since then he has written dozens of novels and countless short stories, spanning genres and using a variety of pennames, including Kenneth Robeson, Joseph Silva, and Con Steffanson. In the 1990s, he became the ghostwriter for William Shatner’s popular TekWar novels. Goulart’s After Things Fell Apart (1970) is the only science-fiction novel to ever win an Edgar Award.

In the 1970s Goulart wrote novels starring series characters like Flash Gordon and the Phantom, and in 1980 he published Hail Hibbler, a comic sci-fi novel that began the Odd Jobs, Inc. series. Goulart has also written several comic mystery series, including six books starring Groucho Marx. Having written for comic books, Goulart produced several histories of the art form, including the Comic Book Encyclopedia (2004).

Reviews

[Norm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Goulart is a fine writer of both fiction and non-fiction and an excellent editor/anthologist, this volume being an example of the latter. His introductions, though brief, are incisive and informative and the selection of detectives and their stories shows his knowledge of the field and skill in selecting good material. Even the bibliography makes interesting reading! I only wish there were other volumes, featuring more great British detectives.

[K.B. Hallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been savoring this anthology for months. Visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. Truly a wonderful selection of short stories.

[Constantine]

2 copies

[Joy Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good mystery, and this was whole collection of good mysteries! I don't usually have high hopes for collections of short stories, but there were several authors that I like in this one, so I thought I would give it a try. I am so glad I did. Each story was introduced by the editor, with a brief biographical sketch and an explanation of why he chose to include that particular story. At the end of the book is a list of suggested titles for further reading. Several of these authors were unknown to me, but I plan on tracking down more of their books and stories!