Last month on the 46th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination (no lie), David Cranmer asked me to introduce the final BEAT to a PULP story of the year...a story by Private Eye Writer's of America co-founder and mystery writer extraordinaire, Robert J. Randisi.
Good God. How far has this little 'zine of David's come? I mean, Bob freakin' Randisi? Now that's cool.I guess David picked me because I had some correspondence with Bob a year or so ago when he offered to critique a story of mine that ended up in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine--one that drew the wrath of one subscriber (so I'm told by the editor) that said subscriber nearly stroked out on her doily-covered sofa. Bob was so helpful and generous with his time. If you ever get a chance to meet him you'll understand why he is adored and loved by so many.
Now then, how does one even fathom introducing a legend like Bob? Hmm. Do you go by the volume of fiction produced? Editorial credits? The genres? The characters? The wit? His amazing singing voice (...who knew? If you were at the Shamus Awards dinner this year, you'd swear Dean Martin had swaggered onto the stage).
The thing is you can't introduce Bob. Hell, at least I can't. But what you can do is read him. Read him, read him, read him and learn how it's done.
The story sports a hard-boiled protagonist mystery fans haven't seen in a while--Nick Delvecchio (No Exit From Brooklyn, The Dead of Brooklyn)--and the story is called SHUT UP AND KILL ME. Read it. And buy Bob's books.
Kieran Shea
14 comments:
Fantastic! What a way to ring in the holidays...
I'm off to check it out
Chris, I'll say. Another cool thing is this is the first Delvecchio story in a decade. And if my math is correct (including novels) only the 9th one. Thrilling Detective has some info here: http://www.thrillingdetective.com/delvecchio.html
Congratulations on your one year completed at Beat To A Pulp and I'm going over to check out Mr. Randisi's story.
Kieran, thanks so much for writing this wonderful intro to Robert's story. I did not know all those facts about his career, and it makes me appreciate him all the more for gifting BTAP with a story.
Another congratulations from me on making Beat To A Pulp such a success.
Diane
RReynolds, Thanks buddy.
Elaine is right that Kieran did a stupendous write up. I hope everyone follows the link over to his Black Irish Blarney blog for more on Mr. Randisi.
Diane, I had plenty of help but gracias.
I'm new here but I've signed on for the long haul. This is a great blog with some fine writers.
Kieran's intro to Bob's story is a masterpiece of salesmanship, and I shall hurry over and read it.
I'm looking forward, as well, to reading Beat to a Pulp (told you I was new).
Congrats, David on your anniversary with the mag! (BTW, what part of Virginia? Me? Gloucester.)
Excellent. You make it sound irresistible.
Clark, you have a year of stories to select from and defintely Mr. Randisi is a great place to start.
My wife and I lived in Purcellville. Right now, I'm traveling for work and am not sure where we will land next.
Dave, Kieran is a terrific writer and gets a nod for the most stories during year one of BTAP.
Has it really been 46 years?? Great post, BTW.
Time is crazy. Heck, I remember when it was a big deal that we were forty years past Pearl Harbor and now it's 68 years! Dios mio!
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