An angry and mercilessly suspenseful novel about an ex-con's attempt to negotiate the "straight world" and his swan dive back into the paradoxical security of crime. It is airtight in its construction, almost photorealistic in its portrayal of L. A. lowlife and utterly knowledgeable about the terrors of liberty, the high of the quick score and the rage that makes the finger tighten on the trigger of the gun.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Integrity, craftsmanship and moral passion...an artist with a unique and compelling voice" - William Styron "The best first person crime novel I have ever read" - Quentin Tarantino "Quite simply, one of the great crime novels of the past 30 years" - James Ellroy "A classic" - Time Out "A gripping and harrowing read" - Daily Mail "This summer's smartest reissue" - The Face "Crime reissue of the year" - i.d. "The most compelling quality of No Beast So Fierce is that, solidly rooted in his own experiences, it explores the nature of the criminal mind with almost blinding authenticity. Bunker is obviously a man of unusual gifts honed under circumstances that would destroy most men." - Los Angeles Times
About the Author
Edward Bunker's life is beyond the imaginings of most fiction writers. He was born in Hollywood, California, the son of a stagehand and Busby Berkeley chorus girl, whose early divorce propelled him into a series of boarding homes and military schools. From the age of five he repeatedly ran away, roaming the city streets at night. A proud character, combined with an IQ of 152, resulted in a series of altercations with the authorities. He became the youngest ever inmate of San Quentin at the age of seventeen, and there he learned survival skills and faced down the toughest prisoners in the system. He was befriended by Mrs Louise Wallis, a former star of the silent screen and wife of movie mogul, Hal Wallis, who produced films starring Bogart, Cagney, Edward G. Robinson and George Raft. She introduced Bunker to her circle of friends, including Jack Dempsey, Tennessee Williams, Aldous Huxley and William Randolph Hearst, whose guest he was at San Simeon. A parole violation resulted in a spell crossing America as a fugitive on the FBI's most wanted list. His eventual capture led to Folsom prison. Encouraged by the example of Dostoevsky, Cervantes and Caryl Chessman, and by the kindness of Mrs Wallis, he determined to write his way out of prison.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Return to Print a Masterpiece of Crime,
By brian johnson (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
This review is from: No Beast So Fierce (Paperback)
I first read this book in 1976 and stole it from the prison library when I was released. Someone along the line in turn borrowed it from me. I've been searching libraries and book stores for a copy ever since. I've read and re-read all of Bunker's other fiction. This is his best, in my opinion. If you've only seen the movie, "Straight Time", you have no sense of the grit and immediacy of the book. Nothing's for show and you're under the surface scum of the streets of L.A.. I titled this a masterpiece of crime, but like any true masterpiece it transcends the genre is simply,a masterpiece.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FANTASTIC,
This review is from: No Beast So Fierce (Paperback)
This is an incredible book about criminals and their twisted philosophies. Bunker writes with brutal honesty. I found better psychological insights in these pages than a handful of sociologists could blabber out of their book training. This book came from the REAL DEAL! It doesn't glamorize anything-it just is what it is. Not to filibuster here, but with the ongoing debates about capital punishment and crime in general, this book should berequired reading for anyso-called "experts" on the subject. Bunker's words make a lot of sense and help you to understand a criminal's mind a little better.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shocking,
By Christian Jorgensen (Denmark) - See all my reviews
This review is from: No Beast So Fierce (Paperback)
A crime-novel from a man who knows the inside of the criminal mind. This book is interesting both as a social study and as a suspense novel. Bunker does not keep his punches, and he writes with brutal honesty. The story of Max Dembo(the main character), is both exiting and sad, as Max tries to become a straight citizen, but soon realize that he is "born to loose". A great book, no matter how you look at it. This should be something they make the kids read in highschools.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
