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This second volume of Opening Shots is a collection of twenty-three first stories published by prominent mystery and crime writers. Some of these offerings are remarkably mature, professional work. Others are more obviously early works, before the writers' skills reached full maturity. But every one of them is a pleasure to read, and in each can be seen the seed of the writer's craft.
"Each writer has included an introduction worth the price of admission all by themselves," observes Block. "Writers, it seems to me, are never more eloquent or more interesting that when they reminisce about their early days, and recalling one's first success seems a spur of anecdotage for most of us."
Following on the heels of the successful first volume of this series, the stories in this stellar field include:
"Final Rites" by Doug Allyn ¿ "Don't Kill a Karate Fighter" by William Chambers ¿ "Entrapped" by Harlan Coben ¿ "Yellow Gal" by Michael Collins ¿ "Together" by Jeffrey Deaver ¿ "The Rough Boys" by Harlan Ellison ¿ "Tole My Cap'n" by Joe Gores ¿ "Layover" by Ed Gorman ¿ "A Bunch of Mumbo-Jumbo" by Jan Grape ¿ "The Cure" by David Handler ¿ "Till Tuesday" by Jeremiah Healy ¿ "Village of the Dead" by Edward D. Hoch ¿ "Chalk" by Evan Hunter ¿ "It's a Wise Child Who Knows" by Stuart Kaminsky ¿ "Who Killed Cock Robin?" by H. R. F. Keating ¿ "Medford & Son" by Dick Lochte ¿ "Thieves' Honor" by John Lutz ¿ "Not All Brides Are Beautiful" by Sharyn McCrumb ¿ "Manslaughter" by Joyce Carol Oates ¿ "You Don't Know What It's Like" by Bill Pronzini ¿ "The Disappearance of Penny" by Robert J. Randisi ¿ "A Victim Must Be Found" by Henry Slesar ¿ "Blue Rose" by Peter Straub ¿ "A Bad Night For Burglars" by Lawrence Block
About the author
LAWRENCE BLOCK has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published more than 100 books, and no end of short stories. LB is best known for his series characters, including Matthew Scudder, Bernie Rhodenbarr, Evan Tanner, and Keller. LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke. His monthly instructional column ran in WRITER'S DIGEST for 14 years and led to a series of books for writers. He has also written television and film screenplays. Several of LB's books have been filmed, including A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES. LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards, Japanese Maltese Falcon award, Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association, been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has been awarded the Société 813 trophy.
Summary
This second volume of Opening Shots is a collection of twenty-three first stories published by prominent mystery and crime writers. Some of these offerings are remarkably mature, professional work. Others are more obviously early works, before the writers' skills reached full maturity. But every one of them is a pleasure to read, and in each can be seen the seed of the writer's craft.
"Each writer has included an introduction worth the price of admission all by themselves," observes Block. "Writers, it seems to me, are never more eloquent or more interesting that when they reminisce about their early days, and recalling one's first success seems a spur of anecdotage for most of us."Following on the heels of the successful first volume of this series, the stories in this stellar field include:"Final Rites" by Doug Allyn • "Don't Kill a Karate Fighter" by William Chambers • "Entrapped" by Harlan Coben • "Yellow Gal" by Michael Collins • "Together" by Jeffrey Deaver • "The Rough Boys" by Harlan Ellison • "Tole My Cap'n" by Joe Gores • "Layover" by Ed Gorman • "A Bunch of Mumbo-Jumbo" by Jan Grape • "The Cure" by David Handler • "Till Tuesday" by Jeremiah Healy • "Village of the Dead" by Edward D. Hoch • "Chalk" by Evan Hunter • "It's a Wise Child Who Knows" by Stuart Kaminsky • "Who Killed Cock Robin?" by H. R. F. Keating • "Medford & Son" by Dick Lochte • "Thieves' Honor" by John Lutz • "Not All Brides Are Beautiful" by Sharyn McCrumb • "Manslaughter" by Joyce Carol Oates • "You Don't Know What It's Like" by Bill Pronzini • "The Disappearance of Penny" by Robert J. Randisi • "A Victim Must Be Found" by Henry Slesar • "Blue Rose" by Peter Straub • "A Bad Night For Burglars" by Lawrence Block
