Quarry

Created by Max Allan Collins (1948--)

The first series to be based on the exploits of a hired killer, predating both Loren Estleman's Peter Macklin and Lawrence Block's Keller, was the QUARRY series penned by baby boomer renaissance man Max Allan Collins, creator of Nate Heller, Ms. Tree, Mallory, Nolan, et al.

Quarry is a Vietnam vet who evidently learned his lessons all too well during his time overseas.

Now he's home, earning a living as a cold, remorseless hitman, taking orders from a man called simply The Broker, coincidentally the name of the first book in this long-going and apparently indestructible series.

In fact, several years after the last novel in the series was supposedly published, Collins admitted that "I get as much mail on this character as Heller; truly a cult fave."

In fact, after close to twenty year's absence, Collins brought Quarry back in 2006 with the publication of The Last Quarry -- which in fact signalled the rebirth of the character. Since then there have been several more books in the series and a couple of films.

NOVELS

The Broker (1976; AKA "Quarry") . Buy this book. Kindle it!
The Broker's Wife (1976) ; aka "Quarry's List") . Buy this book. Kindle it!
The Dealer (1976; aka "Quarry's Deal") . Buy this book. Kindle it!
The Slasher (1977; aka "Quarry's Cut") . Buy this book. Kindle it!
Primary Target (1987; aka "Quarry's Vote").. Buy this book. Kindle it!
The Last Quarry (2006). Buy this book. Kindle it!
The First Quarry (2008). ..Buy this book. Kindle it!
Quarry in the Middle (2009).. .Buy this book.. Kindle it!
Quarry's Ex (2011) ..Buy this book.. Kindle it!
The Wrong Quarry (2013). Buy this book. Kindle it!
Quarry's Choice (2015)...Buy this book. Kindle it!

SHORT STORIES

"A Matter of Principal" (1989, Stalkers)
"Quarry's Luck" (1994, Blue Motel; also 2005, Greatest Hits)
"Guest Services" (1994, Murder Is My Business)

COLLECTIONS

Quarry's Greatest Hits (2003; all the stories, plus "Primary Target"). Buy this book

FILMS

A MATTER OF PRINCIPAL
(2003, Another Level Inc.)
17 minutes
Based on the short story by Max Allan Collins
Screenplay by Max Allan Collins
Directed by Jeffrey Goodman
Produced by John Buckley Gordon
Starring William Makozak as QUARRY
Also starring Randall Bosley, Jenna Bari, Nathan Osgood, Amanda Rogers

A short but very effective film based on a short story that has incredible legs -- it's not only inspired this film, but a longer, feature length film and a novel.

THE LAST LULLABY
aka "The Last Quarry"
(2009, Chaillot Films/Timbergrove Entertainment)
Screenplay by Peter Biegen and Max Allan Collins
Based on the 1989 short story "A Matter of Principal" and the short film of the same name.
Directed by Jeffrey Goodman
Produced by David Koplan
Associate Producer: Josh Beane, Rick Simpson
Starring Tom Sizemore as PRICE (Quarry in the novels)
Also starring Sasha Alexander, Bill Smitrovich, Sprague Grayden, Ray McKinnon, Omid Abtahi, Randall Batinkoff, Jerry Hardin

Good stuff. There's a real earthy, unsettlingly, almost dangerously quiet vibe to it. but the lack of big fuss dramatics actually makes this seem even harder and tougher. I miss the internal wise-ass voice of Collins' Quarry, but Sizemore brings an Arctic-cold ruthless pragmatism to the role, showing that Mickey Rourke's might not be the only trainwreck of a career about to make a U-turn. A classic B-film, in all the best damn good senses of the phrase.

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