Airtight Willie & Me

by Iceberg Slim

When it comes to 'hos' and the men who run them, when it comes to intriguing and super paced rivalry between ambitious pushers and dealers who sell dreams in a blizzard of white powder, when it comes to knowing the streets, it takes a real player and that player is Robert Beck.
For more than two decades, Beck, writing as Iceberg Slim has fascinated or horrified readers of his books and stories. Beck doesn't create superflies ans superhos; he gives the reader real live people- people with hopes and fears who cough, breath and bleed and who have grabbed the only ticket they can find out of misery but the ticket is often a one way trip into hell and suffering.
This anthology of stories by Beck is a monument to the courage of the people of the streets. Some of them make it; most don't. Laugh along with them; cry when they cry; hurt when life turns against them.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, African American, Urban, Crime, Audiobook

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1981

About the author

Iceberg Slim, also known as Robert Beck, was born as Robert Lee Maupin. Novelist and poet whose most famous novel, Pimp, is semi-autobiographical.

Reviews

[Andy Weston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy Slim’s autobiographical novel Pimp: The Story of My Life, but it did have its moments.

I’ve got to grips with his style of writing now, and though I am not a fan, he does occasionally come up with some really good passages. At its best it approaches the pulp fiction of the 40s and 50s, blurred with the beat generation, but that is too rare. More often, it seems out to shock, with excessive violence and a focus on the seedier side of the sex industry.

This volume is dedicated to time.
It gives us memories, fine wine, and wrinkles.
But the only thing worse than getting old is not getting old.
So here's to time, dear reader, yours and mine.
May you have many more wrinkles, a lot of fine wine,
and memories to last two lifetimes.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

all of the Ice man's book are wonderful.. love his style

[Stephen Conti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy is an insane genius. Ice-cube and Ice-T both chose their name in homage to him. He created(reflected?) the world of the pimp/whore/druggie.... I would love to have spent a night at the bar sitting between Slim and Bukowski....

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this at all. All of the slang had explanations behind them which is nothing less than annoying. The slang is just far too old for me to get into also.
I loved Mama Black Widow but this and Pimp really fell short for me and I'm not going to force myself through half of this like I did with Pimp.

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

And come to think of it Iceberg Slim maybe America's little brother to Jean Genet. Although not gay, he surely knows the underworld of a big city ghetto and all it horror and desires. Also at one time one can only buy these books in Black neighborhoods or at the local big newsstand. Very rarely do you find his work in shopping mall bookstores for some reason. Which makes Iceberg Slim even better than everyone else.

[Ashti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology of stories is a 'Shout Out' to the courage of the people of the streets. Some of them make it & most dont.

[Amyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

iceberg slim is the creator of street fiction. he lived that life and captured it in his work. excellent, magnificent, extraordinary!

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the beginning of this book, although as the book prolonged I found that I grew somewhat tiresome of the content. It made for a very interesting read and I enjoyed a lot of the stories, but I will not be reading another Iceberg Slim book.

Additionally, some of the stories did not have much overlap and it made very confusing as for following the timeline of the book. This would probably be my biggest critique.

[Annette Vecellio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a good book, but is basically 4 short stories. I didn’t know this and kept wondering when they were going to get back to the original story- or tie them together. Later, after I researched a little- I found out it was meant to be 4 short stories. I think if I had known this- I would’ve enjoyed the book more.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did enjoy this book, there were parts that I'd heard before in Iceberg Slim's "Pimp." But I appreciate his ability to take parts of his own life and create a fictional narrative around it. This is only my second urban fiction by him and it's just as gritty and raw as "Mama Black Widow," it wasn't my favorite one.

[B.L. Blankenship · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this three stars as it was kind of middle of the road for me. Prior to this book, I'd just finished Iceberg Slim's "The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim" which was amazing & seemed to mention his book "Pimp" a number of times; making me think I'll give it a try. This is alright though, just not up to the high standards of "The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim."

[Dione Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many stories.. So many tragedies.. Iceberg never disappoints..

[Carrie Campbell-jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising! This book was a bit of different stories. They were ok but the last one surprised me. I enjoyed the book.

[MizZes Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read!

[Darren Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone who liked Edward Bunker's ability to use his years as a criminal to tell gritty stories of bank robbers and heist men, Iceberg Slim was similarly able to find redemption from his years on the streets pimping into a career writing stories from the streets.

These short stories, whilst not being his best work, are mostly entertaining and anyone who loves Tarantino films for their snappy dialogue may enjoy this. Slim's use of street slang is brilliant and is his great strength.

Recommended.

[Darcia Scates · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some may say Iceberg Slim is the creator of urban fiction. I do not agree. This book is not easy to read. The slang is defined in the back of the book, but it doesn't help much. Skip this book, and read Mama Black widow. Donald Goines products are way better. Every author has a bad title, but Iceberg Slim has only one good title, and the rest you need to pass on. This book is so bad I wonder if he had a ghost writer write Mama Black Widow.

[Young H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A insight on the South crooked lettered underworld.. Very good read

[Pinkcotton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not the best!

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping street crime dramas (multiple short stories) that end the way many stories in the inner city end. Don't be looking for happy endings.

[Sam Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far from his best, but at least I now know the correct nomenclature for women's toilets: 'ho crappers.

[Paul Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story telling by the author Iceberg Slim, as all his books I've read are.