Col Mystery Stories L.Block(f)-H [Hardcover]

Lawrence Block (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

This omnibus edition contains 58 stories previously uncollected in the UK, plus 12 additional stories. The collection features many of Block's best-loved characters, including Matt Scudder (eight stories), Ehrengraf (nine stories), Chip Harrison (two stories) and Bernie Rhodenbarr (three stories).

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lawrence Block combines three characteristics that rarely show up in the same crime writer: he's versatile, he's prolific, and he's damn good. This massive collection of nearly all Block's short fiction demonstrates all three qualities. Published originally in Great Britain, where no previous collections of his stories had appeared, the volume brings together tales starring all of Block's series heroes; there are three Bernie Rhodenbarr stories, seven Matthew Scudder stories, three Keller stories, nine Martin Ehrengraff stories, and two Chip Harrison stories. (Ehrengraff, the lawyer who rarely visits a courtroom, has thus far only appeared in short stories, all of which are included here.) In addition, the entire contents of Block's three previously published collections of stand-alone stories are also included, as are five new, unpublished stories. In all, this omnibus collection offers an impressive testament to a modern master of crime fiction whose talent shines just as brightly in the short form as it does in the novel. Buy it, even though many of Block's stories will already be on the shelves. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Block grabs you with the first story and never lets go." -- Elmore Leonard --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 754 pages
• Publisher: Orion Books Ltd; Omnibus ed edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752825445
• ISBN-13: 978-0752825441
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,158,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lawrence Block (b. 1938) is the recipient of a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and an internationally renowned bestselling author. His prolific career spans over one hundred books, including four bestselling series as well as dozens of short stories, articles, and books on writing. He has won four Edgar and Shamus Awards, two Falcon Awards from the Maltese Falcon Society of Japan, the Nero and Philip Marlowe Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers Association of the United Kingdom. In France, he has been awarded the title Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice received the Societe 813 trophy.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Block attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Leaving school before graduation, he moved to New York City, a locale that features prominently in most of his works. His earliest published writing appeared in the 1950s, frequently under pseudonyms, and many of these novels are now considered classics of the pulp fiction genre. During his early writing years, Block also worked in the mailroom of a publishing house and reviewed the submission slush pile for a literary agency. He has cited the latter experience as a valuable lesson for a beginning writer.

Block's first short story, "You Can't Lose," was published in 1957 in Manhunt, the first of dozens of short stories and articles that he would publish over the years in publications including American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and the New York Times. His short fiction has been featured and reprinted in over eleven collections including Enough Rope (2002), which is comprised of eighty-four of his short stories.

In 1966, Block introduced the insomniac protagonist Evan Tanner in the novel The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep. Block's diverse heroes also include the urbane and witty bookseller--and thief-on-the-side--Bernie Rhodenbarr; the gritty recovering alcoholic and private investigator Matthew Scudder; and Chip Harrison, the comical assistant to a private investigator with a Nero Wolfe fixation who appears in No Score, Chip Harrison Scores Again, Make Out with Murder, and The Topless Tulip Caper. Block has also written several short stories and novels featuring Keller, a professional hit man. Block's work is praised for his richly imagined and varied characters and frequent use of humor.

A father of three daughters, Block lives in New York City with his second wife, Lynne. When he isn't touring or attending mystery conventions, he and Lynne are frequent travelers, as members of the Travelers' Century Club for nearly a decade now, and have visited about 150 countries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Block is "The Man", February 1, 2002

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Collected Mystery Stories: Non-Stop Suspense from the Grandmaster of Crime (Paperback)

If there is any doubt that Lawrence Block is the most creative mystery writer of his generation, this book dispells it. A comprehensive work that encompasses nearly every published Block short story (over 70 of 'em!) it is a must have for mystery fans. The book includes seven Matthew Scudder stories, nine Martin Ehrengraf stories, three Bernie Rhodenbarr stories and the complete texts of the three previous Block short story volumes. As a bonus, there are five "new" Block stories, never before previously anthologized.

The stories run the gamut from hard-bitten to whodunnits? to even the occasional horror story. Block shows every bit as much mastery with his short works that he does with his novels. The diversity of his subjects and the bredth of his knowledge is simply breathtaking. The book also includes a short prologue by the author, explaining how the book is laid out and giving a little helpful background.

Overall, "The Collected Stories" is a fine tribute to a great writer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Huge collection by a huge talent, December 16, 2004

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Col Mystery Stories L.Block(f)-H (Hardcover)

There's a lot to like here though not all of the stories are terrific. I do like his novels a bit better, especially the Scudder ones, but I wouldn't have "met" Ehrengraf without having read this book--and he's a trip!!! Maybe Block will write an Ehrengraf novel some day. I wish. Most of his novel series' heros are included here: Scudder, Rhodenbarr, Chip Harrison, and even the intriguing Keller. A more recent collection entitled, "Enough Rope" is also available though I believe many of the stories in this book are in that one as well. My favorite quotes from this book are:

"Supposition is blunder's handmaiden" from "The Ehrengraph Riposte," p. 229.

"Youth is one of those things time cures" from "The Night and the Music" p. 742.

"He couldn't say exactly why, but he didn't really feel good about the idea of having a relationship with the sort of woman you couldn't give a bear to" from "Some Days You Get the Bear" p. 535.

I loved the clever Ehrengraph stories and the touching "Some Days You Get the Bear" the most. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Collected Mystery Stories, December 31, 2001

By 

Adrienne Miller (Lake County, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Collected Mystery Stories: Non-Stop Suspense from the Grandmaster of Crime (Paperback)

From his title "The Grandmaster of Crime" as written on the cover, Lawrence Block has compiled a delightful mix of over 70 of his short stories. He's taken shorts from his series characters Bernie Rhodenbarr, Martin Ehrengraf, Keller, Chip Harrison, and the ever-lovable Matthew Scudder. He's also added in a handful of fairly new stories as well as stories that were turned into full-length features like "Sometimes They Bite", "Like A Lamb to Slaughter" and "Some Days You Get The Bear". This is a must have for true Block fans, who will enjoy reading every last story!