Synopsis/blurb ...
Two legends!
Today, Bill Pronzini is famed for his private-eye stories about the Nameless Detective and for his Shamus-award winning short stories, and Barry N. Malzberg is one of America's premier science fiction writers, but back in their salad days they collaborated on a number of stories, which have now become legendary.
Many fans have heard of them, but very few have had the privilege of listening to them - until now.
Problems Solved collects all their crime and mystery collaborations, mostly written during the 1970's and early 1980's, and a few recent collaborations (including two new stories written especially for this volume).
The stories range from suspense ("Night Rider") to irony ("What Kind of Person Are You?") to twists-in-the-tale ("Problems Solved") to science-fictional detection, including three stories about an unnamed Luna Immigration Inspector. Others emphasize sports ("What's a Chicago Cub?" asks an entrepreneur of the future), and one, "Another Burnt-Out Case," is, in Bill Pronzini's words, "a weird comic Hitchcockian crime fantasy with a carnival setting, whose last two lines elicit gleeful chortles from both of us to this day."
The cover design, illustrating both "Another Burnt-Out Case" and "Night Rider," is by Juha Lindroos, a Finnish artist working in the United States.
A collection of short stories that I listened to at the start of the month and despite enjoying them, three weeks on I can remember Jack-shi* about them. Well I think I enjoyed them. I don't recall wanting to pour bleach in my ears at least, so we'll go with enjoyed.
The collection comprises.....
Preface: Long Time Passing
I Ought to Kill You
A Matter of Life and Death
Multiples
A Matter of Survival
Problems Solved
What Kind of Person are You?
Night Rider
The Last Plagiarism
On Account of Darkenss
Birds of a Feather
 |
| Bill Pronzini |
Rebound
Clocks
Million-to-One Shot
Final Exam
The Lyran Case
Whither Thou, Ghost
Vanishing Point
Demolition Inc.
The Man Who Loved Mystery Stories
Me and Mitch
Afterthought
Afterword: Crossing the Border
 |
| Barry N. Malzberg |
And, and .... that's about it for the old memory banks. Insofar as I started blogging to serve as an aide memoire for me when I wanted to look back and remember my reading and what I enjoyed or disliked about certain books, I think I've failed this time around.
One thing I do know is that I prefer Pronzini's longer Nameless books to his short stories.
3 from 5 for the story collection. 1 from 5 and pelters for the review.
Read - (listened to) June, 2021
Published - 2003
Page count - 166 (4 hrs 30 mins)
Source - Audible purchase
Format - Audible
I really like Pronzini's writing, Col. But, like you, I prefer his novels to the short stories. Still, this sounds like a solid collection, even of not much of it has stayed with you.
ReplyDeleteMargot, I probably enjoyed them a bit more than I remembered, but the problem is I should maybe make notes as I go, but never can be bothered to. Oh well, next ....
DeleteThis sounds like a fun collection, Col. I did not know about them collaborating on so many stories. And here I was just saying "no more short stories books!".
ReplyDeleteTracy, I think you would enjoy it. I wish I had taken notes as I went through them.
Delete