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Dark City Lights: New York Short Stories
Famed detective and mystery writer Lawrence Block (A Walk Among the Tombstones, 8 Million Ways to Die) takes the helm as guest editor for DARK CITY LIGHTS, the fourth edition of the Have a NYC series. Twenty-three thrilling, hilarious and poignant short stories—all based in New York City—written by new and acclaimed fiction masters, including Robert Silverberg (Hugo and Nebula Award multiple winner; grand master of SFWA); Ed Park (author, Personal Days; senior editor, Amazon’s literary imprint, Little A); Jim Fusilli (rock and pop music critic, Wall Street Journal; author, Closing Time and A Well-Known Secret); Parnell Hall (author, Last Puzzle & Testament); SJ Rozan (Edgar, Shamus, Anthony, Nero and Macavity award-wining author); Brian Koppelman (co-writer, Ocean’s 13 and Rounders); Elaine Kagan (author, No Good-Byes; actress, GoodFellas), and more. A brilliant book that redefines the New York of today—and tomorrow.
390 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2015
19 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
759 books3,017 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 31, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
Dark City Lights is a book of short stories with NYC as the common theme. Some are from the past as well as one from the future. There are 23 stories contained in the book, the longest at 38 pages, the shortest comes in at 4 pages.
Many of the stories happen to be my first exposures to their author's writing. It was a perfect book to carry around for a few days, casually reading while waiting for appointments, while breaking for lunch a work, as well as a quick read before bed. (It would make for a great bathroom book too,... just saying.)
I did particularly enjoy The Dead Client by Parnell Hall, Jimmy Takes A Trip by Elaine Kagan, The Lady Upstairs by Jill D. Block, Old Hands by Erin Mitchell, and The Tour Guide by Kat Georges.
The standouts for me were Chloe by Jerrold Mundis and Keller The Dogkiller by Lawrence Block. But, come on, Lawrence Block was gonna ace my review anyways.... A Walk Among The Tombstones was an awesome book and I am already a fan!
I would give it 3.5 stars overall, because some of the stories I found just plain strange or just too short to my liking. I would recommend this book for crime story lovers. If you just like light, easy to read essays, this would be a good choice as well.
Happy Reading.
Dark City Lights is a book of short stories with NYC as the common theme. Some are from the past as well as one from the future. There are 23 stories contained in the book, the longest at 38 pages, the shortest comes in at 4 pages.
Many of the stories happen to be my first exposures to their author's writing. It was a perfect book to carry around for a few days, casually reading while waiting for appointments, while breaking for lunch a work, as well as a quick read before bed. (It would make for a great bathroom book too,... just saying.)
I did particularly enjoy The Dead Client by Parnell Hall, Jimmy Takes A Trip by Elaine Kagan, The Lady Upstairs by Jill D. Block, Old Hands by Erin Mitchell, and The Tour Guide by Kat Georges.
The standouts for me were Chloe by Jerrold Mundis and Keller The Dogkiller by Lawrence Block. But, come on, Lawrence Block was gonna ace my review anyways.... A Walk Among The Tombstones was an awesome book and I am already a fan!
I would give it 3.5 stars overall, because some of the stories I found just plain strange or just too short to my liking. I would recommend this book for crime story lovers. If you just like light, easy to read essays, this would be a good choice as well.
Happy Reading.
May 18, 2015
Dark City Lights is a compilation of 23 short stories based on New York City with lots of diversity between the authors. The stories range from every day events that you might find in New York to the strange and bizarre like alien invasions and goddesses. There is a little bit of everything that will appeal to everyone.
I like reading anthologies because you get introduced to many different authors and you get a variety of styles. I also like the short stories to pass time between appointments and errands without the risk of reading until all hours of the night and not accomplishing anything. Some of the stories range from a couple pages to upwards of 20.
I admit that I’m bias and liked Lawrence Block’s story Keller the Dogkiller the best. But I really like Lawrence’s stories and this was just as good. I loved how his assassin gets himself out of a strange situation. Plus Lawrence does a great job selecting all of these stories for this collection.
I admit some of the stories were better than others, but that is what you get with an anthology. The best part is I got to learn of new authors that I’m going to check out more of there work. Over all this is a great compilation. If you like stories based on New York this would be a great book for you.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I like reading anthologies because you get introduced to many different authors and you get a variety of styles. I also like the short stories to pass time between appointments and errands without the risk of reading until all hours of the night and not accomplishing anything. Some of the stories range from a couple pages to upwards of 20.
I admit that I’m bias and liked Lawrence Block’s story Keller the Dogkiller the best. But I really like Lawrence’s stories and this was just as good. I loved how his assassin gets himself out of a strange situation. Plus Lawrence does a great job selecting all of these stories for this collection.
I admit some of the stories were better than others, but that is what you get with an anthology. The best part is I got to learn of new authors that I’m going to check out more of there work. Over all this is a great compilation. If you like stories based on New York this would be a great book for you.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2021
Mr. Block has done it again - collected a bunch of stories that hold one's attention. Further, Ms. McDougal and Mr. Weeden do a wonderful job of bringing the characters in the stories to life. While I was familiar with some of the contributors -- Robert Silverberg, Jill D. Block, Parnell Hall, Annette Meyers, and Lawrence Block himself -- it was a delight to meet others, like Tom Callahan and Eve Kagan. And the Keller story at the end was the usual gem.
If "Noir," or even "Noirish" is your thing, definitely pick this one up, especially in the audiobook version.
If "Noir," or even "Noirish" is your thing, definitely pick this one up, especially in the audiobook version.
March 30, 2015
Come And Spend Some Time in the Dark Underbelly of New York City...
What I like most about this anthology is getting to read the work of 23 writers, the majority of whose work I have never read before, all in one place. In "Dark City Lights" the editor, Lawrence Block, has chosen a wide array of stories and styles with the unifying thread of the location, New York City. But the location in no way limits the scope of these stories. I found them fascinating, scary, thrilling and, with the best of them, they create a complete world in a short number of pages that I was very happy to have visited. While there is clearly something for everyone (well, at least everyone who loves New York City) here, I personally found the the stories by S.J. Rozan, Jim Fusilli, Erin Mitchell, Tom Callaghan as well as the editor himself, Lawrence Block, the most enthralling. I highly recommend "Dark City Lights" for anyone who needs to get their New York City fix. It's a big place with a lot of tales to tell.
What I like most about this anthology is getting to read the work of 23 writers, the majority of whose work I have never read before, all in one place. In "Dark City Lights" the editor, Lawrence Block, has chosen a wide array of stories and styles with the unifying thread of the location, New York City. But the location in no way limits the scope of these stories. I found them fascinating, scary, thrilling and, with the best of them, they create a complete world in a short number of pages that I was very happy to have visited. While there is clearly something for everyone (well, at least everyone who loves New York City) here, I personally found the the stories by S.J. Rozan, Jim Fusilli, Erin Mitchell, Tom Callaghan as well as the editor himself, Lawrence Block, the most enthralling. I highly recommend "Dark City Lights" for anyone who needs to get their New York City fix. It's a big place with a lot of tales to tell.
July 4, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. The book is a compilation of 23 stories all of which take place in New York. All the stories reminded me of the old Twilight Zone program. The stories all had an eerie vibe to them and left you with a "hmmmm" attitude when they were finished. I prefer a book length story but occasionally like and enjoy short stories such as these.I recommend this book if you are in the mood for a group of interesting and somewhat unusual stories by a variety of today's crime/mystery writers.
May 11, 2015
Lawrence Block has brought together quite a collection of short stories in this work. Many of the stories had me wishing the short story had been longer. Block features a variety of styles in the book and there should be something that appeals to practically everyone in the collection. I received this copy through the Goodreads Firstread program and it was good to read and see New York City in many different lights.
November 6, 2015
So yea, I hated some of those stories and loved others. Just a mix of eclectic backgrounds and characters. The shortest story on there by Warren Moore was the one that has still stuck with me. Besides Block's story which is bound to be a good setup Moore's was my favorite. Just a good opening to other authors to check out.
December 26, 2015
A great collection of short stories. Only a few are hard to understand, most are really meaningful and fun to ponder over. I really am glad to have won this book here on Goodreads. Ill be keeping this to read stories again.
January 18, 2024
This anthology is a collection of stories that all happen in New York City. Some are crime stories, some are not but all are excellent. Some of the authors most readers know are Parnell Hall, Jonathan Santlofer, Jane Dentinger, S.J. Rozen and Lawrence Block, who also edited the collection. Other authors who may be less familiar include Ed Park, Thomas Pluck, Warren Moore, Jerrold Mundis, Jim Fusilli, Robert Silverberg, Elaine Kagan, David Levien, Jill D. Block, Erin Mitchell, Peter Carlafter, Tom Callahan, Eve Kagan, Bill Bernico, Kat Georges, Annette Meyers, Brian Koppelman and Peter Hochstein.
Some of the stories resonated with me. Jim Fusilli's The Safest Form Of Conveyence is about being stuck in an elevator and the fear that can bring. Erin Mitchell's Old Hands is about a former nurse who gave up her profession after a huge mistake. But my favorite story was Jonathan Santlofer's The Garmento And The Movie Star which is a lovely story about a teenage boy who meets Marilyn Monroe when she comes to his father's garment factory to be fitted for dresses. It is lovely and nostalgic and very typical New York. This book is recommended to short story fans.
Some of the stories resonated with me. Jim Fusilli's The Safest Form Of Conveyence is about being stuck in an elevator and the fear that can bring. Erin Mitchell's Old Hands is about a former nurse who gave up her profession after a huge mistake. But my favorite story was Jonathan Santlofer's The Garmento And The Movie Star which is a lovely story about a teenage boy who meets Marilyn Monroe when she comes to his father's garment factory to be fitted for dresses. It is lovely and nostalgic and very typical New York. This book is recommended to short story fans.
April 23, 2022
Like a lot of short story collections some of the stories are really good and some are not so good. The one about "Chloe" was so boring and long that I skipped a lot of it. Other than taking place in New York there wasn't much of a theme among these. The Robert Silverberg story was old-school sci-fi, one about a tour guide replaced by an app could have been a Black Mirror episode, the story by Block's daughter could have been a Mitch Albom or Nick Sparks story, and a few were fairly similar to Block's stories. The Keller short story at the end was pretty good, with a pretty high body count for a short story. A lot of the stories are in the 21st Century but others go back to the 50s or 70s or other times.
Anyway, it was OK but not as strong as some other collections Block has edited.
Anyway, it was OK but not as strong as some other collections Block has edited.
August 16, 2023
A bit of a mixed bag. These are not all mystery/crime stories. There's one sci-fi tale with aliens, and one fantasy-type story. They all take place in NY, but that's pretty much the only thing in common.
Be warned, there are two stories with animal harm.
Be warned, there are two stories with animal harm.
August 23, 2017
A good collection of NYC based short stories.
May 17, 2019
Some stories better than others but the majority were mediocre.
March 9, 2023
What I love about short stories are that they are easily digestible. I only have to invest a short period to each tale, not worrying about the next. What I love about these short stories in this book edited by Lawrence Block are that they are set in my hometown, New York City (Brooklyn to be precise). All have a noir undercurrent though not all are crime based, just darkness. There is even one that can be classified as Science Fiction.
Most of the stories are very good, a couple of stinkers, but the best is saved for last, 'Keller the Dog Killler,' written by Block. If you have not read the Hit Man series, this story is a good place to begin.
Most of the stories are very good, a couple of stinkers, but the best is saved for last, 'Keller the Dog Killler,' written by Block. If you have not read the Hit Man series, this story is a good place to begin.
August 19, 2020
I enjoyed reading nearly all the stories in this collection, but a couple really impressed me: “The Garmento and the Movie Star” by Jonathan Santlofer and “Wet Dog on a Rainy Day” by S. J. Rozan. Perhaps this anthology would be more enjoyable to readers more intimately familiar with Manhattan.
In this time of crowd avoidance and social distancing I had been starting to wistfully reminisce about living and working in a city and participating in crowd events – attending sports events and live music performances. This book’s dark nature has cured me of that for the time being. Being retired and living in the country now seems more appealing.
In this time of crowd avoidance and social distancing I had been starting to wistfully reminisce about living and working in a city and participating in crowd events – attending sports events and live music performances. This book’s dark nature has cured me of that for the time being. Being retired and living in the country now seems more appealing.
March 1, 2016
A collection of short stories set in New York city. Of rather uneven quality, some exceptional and some forgettable. The problem is that, as a whole, rather than noir they just seem to be dreary.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews