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Pop. 1280 Paperback – August 5, 2014

by
Jim Thompson (Author)
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Jim Thompson (Author), Daniel Woodrell (Foreword)
4.2 out of 5 stars 98 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Mulholland Books; Reissue edition (August 5, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0316403784
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316403788
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThis One Creeps Up On You
By Untouchable on September 8, 2002
Format: Paperback
It would appear at the start of this book that Nick Corey, the sheriff of the town of Pottsville, is to be the hero of the story. He seems like a gentle, somewhat simple man who believes that inaction is always the most prudent course of action. He feels it "just wouldn't seem right" to have to arrest people, so generally, he doesn't. But slowly it began to dawn on me that this is a Jim Thompson book and there simply aren't heroes in his books.
It turns out that Nick Corey is quite similar to another Jim Thompson character, Lou Ford from The Killer Inside Me. In fact, it's worthwhile reading both books to compare these two characters. They are so different, yet incredibly similar.
The chilling thing about this book lies in how deeply convinced everyone is that Nick is a simpleton who is a harmless, lazy man. But the truth is apparent to the reader how rat-cunning he actually is. The desire to be re-elected to his post as sheriff drives his day-to-day activity and everyone underestimates just how far he'll go to ensure his re-election, myself included.
Apart from the sinister actions of Nick Corey, the story is actually quite amusing, told in the first person in a light and witty tone of voice. Nick manages to put an amusing spin on all aspects of his day-to-day life, most especially the parts in which he's doing absolutely nothing at all.
This is a typical Jim Thompson story. There are no heroes, as a matter of fact; there are few, if any, likable characters in the book. The main character narrates in a style that feels as though he's saying: here are the facts, make of them what you will. It's a chiller rather than a mystery and events took me by surprise more than once.
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4.0 out of 5 starsOne of Thompson's Best
By Westley VINE VOICE on October 6, 2002
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
POP. 1280 is in the tradition of other great Thompson books, such as THE KILLER INSIDE ME. The protagonist is a seemingly respectable, law-abiding citizen -- small-town Southern sheriff, Nick Corey. He's been pushed around by his wife, brother-in-law, and most other town folks. In the beginning it's clear that Corey has been a very passive sheriff, and his anger at being considered weak is building. The book chronicles how he slowly and dramatically strikes back. Corey's much smarter than most of the town thinks, but he's also probably delusional, which is what ultimately makes this book such a black comic gem. There are more laugh-out loud moments in this book than in most Thompson books. The plot depends on a number of coincidences and stretches of logic, but it's great fun and there are some truly great surprises along the way. Overall, I think it's one of Thompson's most enjoyable and funny books, with some memorable moments and characters.
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5.0 out of 5 starsSo much more than just a crime novel
By High Duke on August 22, 2004
Format: Paperback
I wonder if Jim Thompson has ever been declared the master of crime novel fiction? If he hasn't, then he certainly gets my vote! No one writes tales that are more cynical, more twisted or more accurate in their perceptions of human depravity. You can have Chandler, Cain, Ellroy, Hammett and all the rest. Thompson tops them all. The most unique thing about Thompson's novels is that he really has no moral center in any of them. In fact, in this book, he even puts you in the shoes of the despicable main character. The novel concerns a bumbling sheriff in a small Southern town, who seems to be a spineless coward and a lazy lay-about. All is not as it seems however, as the sheriff proves to be much more intelligent than anyone would dream of giving him credit for. Thompson mined similar terrain in his book 'The Killer inside Me', but this novel actually tops that one in terms of nastiness and its vitriolic view of human nature. There are a few elements in Thompson's book that strike me as unique. One is his pessimistic misanthropy which takes things a step further from the previous generations of crime novelists. There are no private investigators with a heart of gold here. Another is his dismantling of the idea of America's heartland as being this place of good souls and kind neighbourliness. Thompson was from Oklahoma and, as he knows the surrounding areas intimately, his novels seem to take place in the American South and Southwest. He exposes it as a place that's even MORE corrupt than in the big cities. Chandler, Cain and a lot of other writers usually focused on places like New York and L.A. as the pillars of American decadence. Thompson points out that the WHOLE of America is a swirling cesspool of self-interested swindlers and the only thing that varies is scale.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsSo good I'm going to sound like a cheesebag in this review.
By A Customer on September 10, 2001
Format: Paperback
I've read a lot of Thompson, and he really does have quite a few good ones under his belt, but this is far and away the crown jewel. It's The Killer Inside Me elevated to an entirely different level. Thompson tried his hand at crime fiction, depression-era social commentary, comedy and a host of other genres, and he seems to have combined everything he ever learned as a writer into the incredibly well-written, funny, shocking, economical Pop. 1280. Allright, it's a frickin masterpiece. It tempts one to use phrases like "one of the great achievements of 20th centurey American literature." It will, of course, never be regarded as such due to the modest circumstances under which Thompson wrote and was published, and the book itself is quite modest. Like it's main character and narrator, it presents itself as affable, charming but goofy, of no great consequence, lulls you, and then wallops you with the fact of how remarkable it is. Nonetheless, I honestly think this should be up there with Faulkner, et. al. when academics make their lists of the high points of American Modernism (or whatever).
Plotting isn't usually Thompson's strong suit, but Pop. 1280 is incredibly polished. Revelations that come later in the book are shocking, but on subsequent readings (which are well-deserved) it's obvious that they were being given away from the beginning. It's always quite an achievement when a writer manages this, and it's done perfectly here, and using a first-person narration.
Nick Corey is one of the most distinctive narrative voices I've ever read, and few writers have created a character more likeable, funny or disturbing.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsThis classic will twist you plumb out of your mind

I never should have picked this book up. I was sitting pretty, living in my safe little reading bubble. I guess you could say that as far as I was concerned, I had it made. Read more

Published 1 month ago by VampireCowboy
5.0 out of 5 starsImagine Barney Fife: Psychopath - That's Pop. 1280

So, imagine if you will, that Barney Fife is actually a psychopath. That's Pop. 1280 for you in a nutshell with Sheriff Nick Corey serving in a Fife-esque role as the top law man... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Bobby Lux
4.0 out of 5 starsJim Thompson, a gosh-danged writer!!

Pop. 1280 is a great fun novel. Quick, just about 200 pages long, it's a good quick fix of crime, sex, profanity and wild west. Nick Corey is a fine SOB!! Read more

Published 7 months ago by J Marcel B de Souza
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

One of the best crime novelists.

Published 8 months ago by majikman
5.0 out of 5 starsCorrupt Sheriff In A Small Town

The writing is in the voice of a simple, mostly uneducated man. But what the main character lacks in book-learning he gains from experience and a complete lack of morality. Read more

Published 9 months ago by James A. Collard
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Fantastic book. Thompson's gift for internal monologue makes this one a winner.

Published 9 months ago by Jon Kinzler
5.0 out of 5 starsAn A++ Jim Thompson Yarn Worthy Of Being Made Into A Great Texas "Film...

Such an intriguing story that it made me start researching any filming of this book & learned there's a couple tries... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Kandy Langford
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Interesting easy read......did not particularly like ending.

Published 11 months ago by diverse reader
4.0 out of 5 starsLots of twists and turns

I read a lot of books and I can safely say that the protagonist is a hard guy to pin down. Just when you think you have him figured out, he veers away from the straight line. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFunniest Thompson book ever

This thing is a joy to read. The sinister dread comes on slow and layers on thick in this masterpiece.

Published 12 months ago by Josh Graves

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