In response to my question about why Doom Fox came out so
long after Iceberg Slim's other works, Kerry thought:
"No. I speculate that it has to do with Slim being lumped in
with the black-spoiltation movement, and that his
marketability, marginal to begin with, disappeared as its
popularity declined."
I doubt this, as Holloway House has kept all of his other
books, and those of Donald Goines, in continuous print. By
the way, their books are readily available on their website,
www.hollowayhousebooks.com, with cheap shipping and
occasional sales (though not on their cash cows, Slim and
Goines).
So I'm more willing to buy one of the two theories in the
lawsuit Jordan brought up (thanks), either there was a
falling out with Holloway House or it's an imitation (or
pastiche).
Kerry also asked:
"A question for you: can you recommend any others like
Slim?"
Well, I know there are others on the list that are far more
familiar than I with black crime writers (Well, George?), but
I'll start. Actually, I'll follow up on the authors Jordan
mentions: Slim, Goines and Chester Himes. Those are the big
names, although I must admit I have not yet read Goines (have
a few, but haven't gotten to them). Jordan also brought up
Old School (there's a fair amount of discussion of their
authors, especially Clarence Cooper, Jr, in the archives) and
Payback Press, along with the aforementioned Holloway House.
I haven't read many of these, but those I have read have been
top notch. Melvin Van Peebles wrote the introductions to
Payback's three volumes of The Harlem Cycle by Chester Himes,
so why can't they (or someone else) reprint his novel I Was a
Bear for the FBI?
Way Past Cool by Jess Mowry is highly recommended, a great
story about a small gang of young black friends growing up on
the mean streets of Oakland.
Mark
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