I'd like to toss in my personal Fredric Brown mystery top 10
(in no particular order). I don't thing you can go wrong with
any of these:
Fabulous Clipjoint Dead Ringer Screaming Mimi Compliments of
a Fiend Night of the Jabberwock The Far Cry The Deep End
Madball His Name Was Death The Wench is Dead
It's too bad Brown has been so poorly served by the
reprinters. Several of these have been out of print for 40
years. Personally, I think reprinting the Ed & Am Hunter
books in toto is a mistake. After the first couple, the
series became very much a hit or miss affair. Brown was
plainly not enthused about writing a series, and it shows.
Although mediocre Brown still makes for good reading, I think
Brown's reputation would be much better served by a reprint
of The Wench is Dead than Death Has Many Doors or Mrs.
Murphy's Underpants.
I would also append a caution to all readers of the McMillan
"Detective Pulps" series. This is a great project, I love it,
I have all of them, but readers should be advised that these
books have it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly of Brown's
short mystery fiction. Like most pulp writers, Brown produced
no shortage of mediocre and forgettable stories as he learned
his craft. There are many gems, but no shortage of dross. I
can't blame a Brown neophyte being distinctly unimpressed
after reading one of these.
--Scott
I'd also like to qualify
Some will say, "Who cares?" or "Why bother?" I pity such
lifeless souls. In an absurd universe, enthusiasm for
meaningless tasks keeps you young at heart.
--Ed McNamara
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