Davy Crockett's Almanack of Mystery, Adventure and The Wild West

Now that Race Williams has your attention, here are the links to the latest batch of Friday's Forgotten Books. (Patti Abbott is taking a well-deserved week off.)

These posts were up as of 9:30am Pacific Time. I'll be adding to the list throughout the morning. If I've missed you (or screwed yours up), give me a shout! delewis1@hotmail.com

Yvette Banek: Six books by D.E. Stevenson
Joe Barone: The Case of the Baited Hook by Erle Stanley Gardner
Brian Busby: The Gynecologist by Sol Allen
Bill Crider: Men Without Bones by Gerald Kersh
William F. Deeck: Disguise for a Dead Gentleman by Guy Compton
Martin Edwards: Vegetable Duck by John Rhode
Curt Evans: Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth
Rich Horton: The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Jerry House: The Golden Summer by Daniel Nathan
Nick Jones: Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith
George Kelley: Mystery Writers Handbook, Lawrence Treat, ed.
Rob Kitchin: Briarpatch by Ross Thomas
Randy Johnson: Law of the Trigger by Clifton Adams
K.A. Laity: The Crusts on Its Uppers by Derek Raymond
BV Lawson: Home is the Prisoner by Jean Potts
Todd Mason: Death Rattle, RAW and WW3 Illustrated
Nik Morton: Mission by Philip Spires
J.F. Norris: Moon of the Wolf by Leslie Whitten
James Reasoner: The Dark Mirror by Basil Copper
Karyn Reeves: Night's Black Agent by John Bingham
Richard Robinson: More Than Honor by David Weber, David Drake and S.M. Stirling
Dan Stumpf: House of Whacks by Matthew Branton
Kevin Tipple: The Last Call: A Bill Travis Mystery by George Wier
TomCat: An Old Fashioned Mystery by Runa Fairleigh
Zybahn: "Strange Prey" by George C. Chesbro

VICTIM FOR VENGEANCE by Carroll John Daly

This "Complete Novel" (35 pages of text and 3 pages of art) appeared in the September 1940 issue of Street & Smith's CLUES. In the context of Race Williams' career, it's pretty far down the line (his first story appeared in 1923), but chronologically, Race still has a long way to go. His last adventure was published in 1954.

Almanack-wise, this is the twelfth Race Williams story I've scanned and offered to readers via email. The list of Race subscribers now numbers more than a hundred. If you're already on that list, you'll find this complete story in your mailbox soon. If you'd like to join the gang, and receive this adventure and the previous eleven, just shoot me an email at delewis1@hotmail.com.

As "Victim for Vengeance" begins, Race learns that a gunman known as the Admiral, whom he had previously run out of New York, is back in town. Worse, the Admiral is shooting his mouth off, saying Race is too yellow to come and get him. Race promptly disabuses him of that notion:

We'll, he'll certainly try. Race soon finds himself embroiled in a plot involving a Broadway starlet, a kidnapped child, the vengeful Admiral and a bashful gent known only as "John Smith." Can Race shoot himself out of trouble? Read "Victim for Vengeance" and see for yourself.

P.S. You'll also be pleased to learn that Black Dog Books recently published the long-awaited volume Race Williams' Double Date and Other Stories. These tales were selected by longtime Daly collector Stephen Mertz, and includes an illuminating foreward penned by Steve himself. In addition to five Race Williams stories, there's one featuring Daly's number two hero Satan Hall, one starring Doc Fay (the closest Daly came to a Christ figure), two other fine stories, and "The Ambulating Lady," in which Daly discusses the craft of writing. There are even a few words by me.

To order, click right HERE!

Here's the eleventh in our continuing series of unreprinted adventures of Race Williams. (For a look at the earlier stories, click HERE.) Like most of Race's Dime adventures from this period, this one shows evidence of being part of a larger story cycle. Hopefully we'll someday be able to read them all and put them in context. 

"A Corpse in the Hand" opens with an intimate picture of Race's lifestyle:

     I'm not exactly what you'd call a nervous citizen. I sleep quietly and respectably even though I do have two apartments, except when the jack runs out. Then I have to drop the Park Avenue penthouse. The money had run out now, a more or less regular occurrence, and I was parked in my walk-up—third floor of five, with its steel door that could hardly be bashed in without awakening me as well as half the people across the Hudson in Jersey. No "soft as a feather" business would work, either. I'd be onto the sound of that floating feather before it ever crashed to the floor.

    Sure I've got good ears and eyes—and a couple of good hands, too. The right one was caressing the trigger of a forty-four revolver beneath my pillow. My other gun was in its shoulder holster, hung carefully over the chair, all of six inches from the bed. Two good reason why I'm alive—and why some others are dead. 

As usual, I'll be sending scans of this story to you hundred-odd stalwarts who have requested earlier stories. If you're not among them, just drop me a line at delewis1@hotmail.com and I'll shoot you the whole collection.

This one originally appeared in June 1939.

Here's a holiday gift from Davy and me (and Skyler Hobbs, too) - a never-reprinted Race adventure from the July 1938 issue of Dime Detective. This time, Race is working for a group of high-minded citizens called The People Versus Crime. On the other side is a gang of hoods with a sense of humor. They form their own society, called Crime Versus the People, and devise grisly deaths for the good guys, laughing right up to the point where Race makes them eat bullets. All in all, a right jolly tale.

As usual, if you've already joined Race's Fighting Legion, and received the earlier nine stories by email, you'll be getting this one too. If not, shoot me a message at delewis1@hotmail.com and I'll send you the whole shebang.

Nope, this is not exactly a Robert Barnard novel, but you should find some in this week's Forgotten Books round-up at pattinase. 

Here's the NINTH exciting entry in our series of unreprinted Race Williams adventures. This one comes to you direct from the October 1937 issue of Dime Detective. This was a transitional time for Dime. Frederick Nebel's Cardigan had made his last appearance (of 44) in May, leaving Daly as the magazine's undisputed headliner. The next issue, November, marked the first appearance (of seven) by Raymond Chandler. February 1938 saw the debut of the Dime's second busiest character, Mr. Maddox, the creation of the mag's all-time busiest author (80 stories), Black Mask alumnus T.T. Flynn. (For these pertinent factoids I am indebted to the Altus Press book Dime Detective Companion by James L. Traylor. Great job, James.)

If you're one of the growing legion of Daly fans who received scans of the eight earlier stories (HERE) by email, you're on the list, and you'll be getting this one too. If you'd like to join, just write me at delewis1@hotmail.com and I'll shoot you all nine adventures (and more to come). Want a sample? Read on . . .

For more Forgotten Books (mostly the kind are actual books), check in at pattinase.

Davy and I are proud to present the eighth in our series of rare and unreprinted adventures of Race Williams, the Fasted Gun in the East. "Hell with the Lid Lifted," from the March 1939 Dime Detective, begins with Race impersonating a doctor - a doctor who's expected to saw the leg off a healthy young woman. And while he's still reeling from that, he's rushed into a wedding ceremony - with him as the groom.

Thanks to Kim Anderson, who scanned the story for us, this classic tale is now available for delivery direct to your email box. Just shoot me a message at delewis1@hotmail.com, and I'll fire it back to you (along with the earlier stories too). 

If you've received the other seven stories, don't sweat it. You're already on the list, and should find this in your email pronto. If you don't, give me a shout!

For the dope on all our Race adventures click HERE. 

Here's another in our continuing series of never-reprinted adventures of Race Williams, the Grandfather of Hardboiled Dicks. This "novel" (actually a 35-page novelette) is from the February 1937 issue of Dime Detective. Race made the jump to Dime in 1935, after spending the first twelve years of career in Black Mask.

If you've already received scans of our first six Race adventures, you'll find this one in your email box too. If not, and you'd like to read "Monogram in Lead" (and the others, detailed HERE), write me at delewis1@hotmail.com and I'll shoot them back to you. More to come!

And get your weekly dose of Forgotten Books at pattinase!

Here's the sixth in our ongoing series of the Lost Adventures of Race Williams - tales that have never been reprinted, and ain't likely to be anytime soon.

"The Wrong Corpse," from the February 1949 issue of Thrilling Detective, comes to us courtesy of Kim Anderson, who scanned this baby and sent it in. Thanks, Kim. We're all in your debt.

This time Race goes up against a shyster lawyer, a shifty private detective and the cop he loves to hate - Inspector Nelson - in a case involving two dangerous dames. One of those dames is dead, but Race has a heck of a time figuring out which one.

If you're already a member of Race's Fighting Legion, I'll be emailing you scans of this adventure. If not, shoot me an email at delewis1@hotmail.com, and I'll send you this and the previous five stories, detailed HERE.

For those of you not yet acquainted with our man Race, the sample below offers a good introduction to his character.

Forgotten Books is a revered Friday institution engineered by pattinase.

And coming in October, this new collection from Black Dog Books features five more Race Williams adventures, a Satan Hall story, and three other Daly gems . . .

This month's free Race Williams adventure begins on a different note. For most of the story's first scene, we seem to be in the point-of-view of Race's friend (and just maybe the only honest cop in New York) Sergeant  O'Rourke. But we soon come to realize it's Race telling the story - as he heard it from O'Rourke himself.

The good sergeant, you see, gets gunned down by a quick-fingered miscreant called Killer Mertes. And while O'Rourke survives, he's wounded severely enough to keep him out of action for a while. So he asks Race to bring Killer to justice, knowing full well that Race's idea of justice is a bullet smack between the eyes.

"Death for Two" appeared in the Sept. 1931 issue of Black Mask, and has appeared nowhere since. It's the fifth in our continuing series of The Lost Adventures of Race Williams. If you're among the growing legion of fans who requested scans of "Alias Buttercup," "The Super-Devil," "Blind Alleys," or "Murder by Mail" (details HERE), rest easy. "Death for Two" will soon be blasting its way into your email box. If not, write me at delewis1@hotmail.com and I'll shoot this story - along with the others - back to you.

By a strange coincidence, I read "Death for Two" on the same day I read Frederick Nebel's "Pearls are Tears," which appeared, back-to-back with the Daly story, in the very same issue of Black Mask. Sadly, I don't own that issue, but I read "Pearls are Tears" in the highly recommended new Altus Press collection, Tough as Nails, which collects the complete adventures of Donny Donahue. Nebel, of course, was a far more accomplished writer than Daly, and it shows, but Daly is still a kick to read. I like them both!

And if you've not yet heard the news, Black Dog Books will be releasing a new collection of Daly stories in October. Race Williams' Double Date features four Race stories from the late '40s and early '50s. I think you'll find it interesting to compare them to the early Race adventures I've been featuring here. Race Williams' Double Date will also include tales of two other Daly heroes, Satan Hall (my personal favorite) and Doc Fay, an intro and an article by Steve Mertz, and even a few words from me. Is it October yet? I wish.

Do not fail to beat feet over to pattinase for more Forgotten Books!

Here's the third in our continuing series of forgotten Race Williams stories. Far as I know, it's been out of print since its first appearance in the April 1927 issue of Black Mask. Both of the earlier stories, "Alias Buttercup" and "The Super-Devil," were published while Phil Cody was editor, but this one appeared after Joe "Cap" Shaw took the helm. I was curious to see if Shaw exerted any influence on Daly, so I was paying special attention the prose. But shucks, I didn't notice a dang bit of difference.

This is an unusual case for Race, though. His wannabe client is a guy messing around with another man's wife, and when hubby takes her back by force - from under Race's nose - Race is insulted enough to take cards in the game. With, as usual, deadly consequences.

Carroll John Daly, lest we forget, was the creator of the first hardboiled private eye, and Race Williams, his most famous character, starred in the first hardboiled detective series and the first hardboiled detective novel. His stories can be pretty hokey, I'll admit, but they're always fun, and clearly a product of their era. When you read a Race Williams story, you're experiencing a bit of hardboiled history.

If you requested either of the earlier stories, I'll be sending you this one too. If not, shoot me an email at delewis1@hotmail.com, and I'll be pleased to send scans of all three. And more to come.

More Forgotten Books this week at Sweet Freedom.

Race Williams, as you may know, is a gunslinger in a fedora, and just maybe the most dangerous man in New York. But in "The Super-Devil," a long novelette from the August, 1926 issue of Black Mask, he meets a man who just might be his match. Not only is The Super-Devil fast, accurate and utterly fearless, but he has the advantage of being scruple-free. He'd happily shoot a man - or woman - in the back  and be even happier if his victim happened to be asleep at the time.

Who wins? Well, the fact that Race was still shooting it out with bad guys as late as 1955 may give you a clue. But the fun part is finding out how he wins, and what he has to say along the way.

In this one, Race is forced to break his number one rule - that Race Williams never bluffs. When his gats are taken from him, Race faces down a bloodthirsty gunman with nothing but pointing fingers in his pockets, and scares the guy so bad he crashes through a nightclub window to escape.

If you requested scans of "Alias Buttercup," the Race Williams adventure I featured three weeks ago, I'll be sending you this one too. But for the rest of you folks, if' you'd like to read "The Super-Devil,"  shoot me an email at delewis1@hotmail.com, and I'll fire it back at you.

More Race stories coming soon!

Forgotten Books (and sometimes Stories) are rounded up each week at pattinase.

These days, Race Williams gets grudging acknowledgment as the first hard-boiled private detective to get his own series, but that’s about it. Truth to tell, he’s much more than that. He was also the most popular hard-boiled dick of the 30s, and enjoyed the longest running pulp career of any detective character.

From his debut in June, 1923 to his last bow in May, 1955, Race made more than ninety magazine appearances. A good number of those appearances featured segments of serialized novels later published in hardcover - and those novels are all now available, either in paper reprints or in PDF form (from Vintage Library).

But beyond the novels are at least fifty more stories and novelettes that have never been reprinted. One of those is “Alias Buttercup,” from the October, 1925 issue of Black Mask. This was Race’s tenth adventure, and it’s a far cry from his often-reprinted first appearance, “The Knights of the Open Palm.”

“Knights” was a quickie, and packed with bad grammar. It’s too bad that story is the only encounter most readers have had with Race Williams. “Alias Buttercup” was written two years later, when Daly had a much better grip on the character, and on his grammar. And this one filled 39 pages of Black Mask, making it almost a novella.

At the time, Black Mask still featured Western stories along with the mysteries, and this one veers into Western territory, taking Race to Mexico, where he actually rides a horse. Daly’s version of contemporary Mexico is very much like the Old West, and this was not the first time he’d sent a New York gunman down there to shoot it out with the locals. He did it a year earlier in the serialized version of Two-Gun Gerta, the sort-of Western he co-wrote with C.C. Wadell (reviewed HERE).

Anyway, “Alias Buttercup” is a good example of Race’s early career. It’s breezy, exuberant, and packed with action an sudden death. No, it ain’t great writing, but it’s great fun. I recommend you turn off your inner editor, access your inner fifteen-year-old and check out the first few paragraphs below.

If you’d like a copy of the whole story via email, write me at delewis1@hotmail.com, and I’ll shoot it back to you.