
Quarry
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. And if it sounds like seventies era pulp, well, man, that's what it is. Unapologetically so.
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."
So, 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, a couple of films (one directed by Collins himself) and in September 2016, Cinemax launched a TV series.
NOVELS
     
SHORT STORIES
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.
     
TELEVISION
- QUARRY
(2016, Cinemax)
Eight episodes
Based on the character created by Max Allan Collins
Developed for television by Graham Gordy and Michael D. Fuller
Writers: Graham Gordy, Michael D. Fuller, Jennifer Schuur
Director: Greg Yaitanesaka
Starring Logan Marshall-Green as QUARRY
and Peter Mullan as "The Broker"
Also starring Jodi Balfour, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Damon Herriman, Jamie Hecto, Edoardo Ballerini, Skipp Sudduth
- Season One.. Buy on DVD. .Buy on Blu-Ray
- "You Don't Miss Your Water"
- "Figure Four"
- "A Mouthfull of Splinters"
- "Seldom Realized"
- "Horia"
- "His Deeds Were Scattered"
- "Carnival of Souls"
- "Nuoc Cha Da Mon"
COMICS
- Quarry's War
(2018, Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics)
Monthly
Written by Max Allan Collins
Art by Szymon Kudranski, Edu Menna
GRAPHIC NOVELS
- Quarry's War... Buy the book... Kindle it!
(2018, Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics)
Written by Max Allan Collins
Art by Szymon Kudranski, Edu Menna
Collects first story arc.
RELATED LINKS
Max's Official Website! Here you can find information on Max and his latest works, all done up in a most excellent fashion by his son, Nate, who wants to go to college. So, buy his dad's stuff!
Report respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
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