Friday 11 September 2015

Lucky at Cards by Lawrence Block
Lucky at Cards
by Lawrence Block
Crime novels are still a staple of many readers’ libraries to this day, but they really saw their heyday in the 1940s, 50s and 60s when the paperback pulp took off with names like Mickey SpillaneJim ThompsonErle Stanley Gardner (creator of Perry Mason) andRoss MacDonald, to name a few. The language was different than previous spy or detective novels – it was grittier, hardboiled and raw, full of dames and guns, and heavy with metaphor around every dark corner.

Crime fiction is still a very popular genre, but updates to society and technology have resulted in a more sterile, technical approach to the crime. Characters often spend more time in the forensics lab or at a computer than behind a dilapidated desk sucking down a whiskey. While it can be argued that contemporary crime writers such as Jo NesboFred Vargas and Stieg Larsson write more elaborate, precise and thoroughly-researched pieces than those crime icons of the mid-20th century, there was a lament among many fans of that particular style that some of the fun had been lost, and a woeful refrain of “They just don’t write ‘em like they used to.”

Authors Charles Ardai and Max Phillips agreed, and decided a publisher could do something about it. And so in 2004, along came the Hard Case Crime imprint, co-founded by Ardai and Phillips. So was born a collection of novels composed of not only reprints of some of the classic crime pulp, but also new books dedicated to the old styles of the genre.   As of June 2013 there have been 112 titles published in the series, the latest of which is Stephen King’s Joyland. And King isn’t the only big name on the list – the imprint has put out titles (whether new, reprints, or both) from Lawrence BlockJames M. CainDonald E. Westlake and Cornell Woolrich, to name a few.

There’s plenty of room in the Hard Case Crime family for newcomers or lesser-knowns, as well, and different books in the series have earned different accolades. Two of the titles (Fade to Blonde by Max Phillips and Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas [pen name of Charles Ardai]) have won the 2005 Shamus Award. Five titles have been nominated for the Edgar Award. And The Confession by Domenic Stansberry won the award for best paperback original. Many books in the series, whether the complete and unabridged reprints or the fresh, first publications have gone on to become collectible, though they are still a very affordable choice overall.

Whether revisiting a legendary story of yesterday or giving an audience to new talent, Hard Case Crime is doing a fantastic job bringing the people the pulp they want, and readers are eating it up. And the cover artists are to be given credit, as well - one doesn’t have to crack a spine to know this is the authentic stuff, either – look at the fantastic covers, true to the original style and content from the 40s, 50s and 60s, and you’ll know they’ve got it right.

A Selection from Hard Case Crime

Money Shot by Christa Faust
Money Shot
by Christa Faust
Deadly Beloved by Max Allan Collins
Deadly Beloved 
by Max Allan Collins
Fright by Cornell Woolrich
Fright 
by Cornell Woolrich
Fade to Blonde by Max Phillips
Fade to Blonde 
by Max Phillips
Nobody’s Angel by Jack Clark
Nobody’s Angel 
by Jack Clark
Baby Moll by John Farris, Steve Brackeen
Baby Moll
by John Farris, Steve Brackeen
Honey in His Mouth by Lester Dent
Honey in His Mouth 
by Lester Dent
The Murderer Vine by Shepard Rifkin
The Murderer Vine 
by Shepard Rifkin
Casino Moon by Peter Blauner
Casino Moon 
by Peter Blauner
Branded Woman by Wade Miller
Branded Woman 
by Wade Miller
The Last Quarry by Max Allan Collins
The Last Quarry 
by Max Allan Collins
The Corpse Wore Pasties by Jonny Porkpie
The Corpse Wore Pasties 
by Jonny Porkpie
Say it with Bullets by Richard Powell
Say it with Bullets 
by Richard Powell
Killing Castro by Lawrence Block
Killing Castro 
by Lawrence Block
Night Walker by Donald Hamilton
Night Walker 
by Donald Hamilton
Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas
Little Girl Lost 
by Richard Aleas
House Dick by E. Howard Hunt
House Dick
by E. Howard Hunt
The Dead Man’s Brother by Roger Zelazny
The Dead Man’s Brother
by Roger Zelazny
Dead Street by Mickey Spillane
Dead Street 
by Mickey Spillane
A Touch of Death by Charles Williams
A Touch of Death
by Charles Williams
Top of the Heap by Erle Stanley Gardner
Top of the Heap 
by Erle Stanley Gardner
Two for the Money by Max Allan Collins
Two for the Money 
by Max Allan Collins
The Vengeful Virgin by Gil Brewer
The Vengeful Virgin 
by Gil Brewer
Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald E. Westlake
Somebody Owes Me Money 
by Donald E. Westlake

No comments:

Post a Comment