Synopsis/blurb…
“A Bad Night for Burglars” was written sometime
in the fall of 1975, probably not much more than six months before I began work
on Bernie Rhodenbarr’s debut in Burglars Can’t Be Choosers. I didn’t have the
short story consciously in mind when I wrote the book, which seemed to grow
directly out of a fantasy of mine in which I took up burglary as as alternative
to writing only to break into an apartment where a murder had recently taken
place.
It wasn’t until years later that I saw “A Bad Night for Burglars” as a precursor to the book and thus to the whole Bernie Rhodenbarr series. It seems obvious now, but I never really looked at the story once I’d finished it and sent it off to my agent. (He sent it to Fred Dannay, who took it as my first sale to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Fred specialized in changing titles, rarely for the better; he changed this one to “Gentlemen’s Agreement,” which wouldn’t have been an improvement under any circumstances, but which was especially unfortunate given that Laura Z. Hobson’s bestselling novel, about genteel covert antisemitism, bore that title and was still very much alive in national memory. Ah well. I was able to restore the original title when I included the story in Enough Rope.
The titular burglar who’s having a distinctly bad night doesn’t have a name, nor does he own a secondhand bookstore and hang out with a poodle-grooming lesbian. But it’s not hard to see the shadow of Bernie here. On the other hand, were Mrs. Rhodenbarr’s son Bernard to find himself in this particular mess, I’m sure he’d find a better way to Work Things Out…
It wasn’t until years later that I saw “A Bad Night for Burglars” as a precursor to the book and thus to the whole Bernie Rhodenbarr series. It seems obvious now, but I never really looked at the story once I’d finished it and sent it off to my agent. (He sent it to Fred Dannay, who took it as my first sale to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Fred specialized in changing titles, rarely for the better; he changed this one to “Gentlemen’s Agreement,” which wouldn’t have been an improvement under any circumstances, but which was especially unfortunate given that Laura Z. Hobson’s bestselling novel, about genteel covert antisemitism, bore that title and was still very much alive in national memory. Ah well. I was able to restore the original title when I included the story in Enough Rope.
The titular burglar who’s having a distinctly bad night doesn’t have a name, nor does he own a secondhand bookstore and hang out with a poodle-grooming lesbian. But it’s not hard to see the shadow of Bernie here. On the other hand, were Mrs. Rhodenbarr’s son Bernard to find himself in this particular mess, I’m sure he’d find a better way to Work Things Out…
Another FREEBIE from Block,
this one a lot more enjoyable than the Chip Harrison effort read on the same
day.
Man burglarises apartment,
meets homeowner, chats and they play chess together, the man’s wife comes home
– BOOM!
“If fate sent you a lemon,
you made lemonade.”
Fantastic kick at the end –
did I see it coming? No, neither would I have cared if I had.
Tremendous story-telling.
4 from 5
Amazon download.
How interesting that this was sort of the precursor to the Bernie the Burglar stories, Col! And you really can't go wrong with Block. May have to get my hands on this one, myself. Thanks :-)
ReplyDeleteI entertained almost as much by the story behind the story, as I am by the actual story - I'm hoping that makes sense!
DeleteHe can entertain across a wide spectrum within the genre.
I will definitely have to read this some time.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't take too long - 12 pages I think!
DeleteA Lawrence Block short story? I think I'd like that.
ReplyDeletePrashant, his short stories are very good.
DeleteInteresting. But Block has written so much that I will never catch up.
ReplyDeleteI kind of feel that way too, but I'll give it my best shot!
Delete