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BOOKS

• The History of the Mystery...Buy this book
  by Max Allan Collins
  Collectors Press, 2001
  $45.00
  A highly personal, lavishly illustrated (with tons of scans from Max's own collection) investigation of the entire mystery genre, "Collins' magnifying glass focuses on every aspect of the ouevre and gives us what is arguably the most delightfully comprehensive survey ever published." The author also personally promised me loads "girls-and-gats paperback covers," and he sure as hell dcelivered. This is the sort of coffee table books that's worth taking up drinking coffee for. Collins is, of course, the creator of P.I.s Ms. Tree, Nate Heller et al.
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• Mystery Street...Buy this book
  Edited by Robert J. Randisi
  Signet, 2001
  $6.50
  It doesn't get much better than this, for fans of the shamus game. Think of it as a sampler pack of some of the best in contemporary private detective fiction. PWA founder Randisi ups the ante with yet another rock-solid PWA anthology of 14 more original stories, including contributions by Max Allan Collins (him again!), Loren D. Estleman, Jeremiah Healy, Bill Pronzini, John Lutz, S.J. Rozan, Tom Sweeney, Jerry Kennealy and all the usual suspects. Excellent, as always, and recommended.
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• Fedora: Private Eyes and Tough Guys....Buy this book
  Edited by Michael Bracken
  2001, Wildside Press
  $37.95
  New anthology series makes its debut with this impressive collection of P.I. stories with contributions from Nick Andreychuk, Michael Bracken, Michael Collins, Ruthe Furie, Shelley Singer, Percy Spurlark Parker, Dan A. Sproul, Tom Sweeney, Mark Troy, Tim Wohlforth and others. Like the blub goes, "Fourteen hardboiled tales guaranteed to blow your hat off! "
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• The 2002 Deadly Directory ...Buy this book
  by Kate Derie, editor
  Deadly Serious Press, 2000
  $28.49
  Invaluable for any true fan of mysteries. Extensive listings of mystery bookstores, organizations, publications, events, archives, small presses, reviewers, entertainment, gifts, and online sites. Names, addresses, phone/fax, email, and websites. It bills itself as "Your complete guide to the international mystery, crime, and detective fiction community," and this ain't no foolin' around! Derie is also the creator of the essential ClueLass web site..
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• Great American Paperback: An Illustrated Tribute to Legends of the Book...Buy this book
  by Richard A.,Lupoff
  Collector's Press, 2001.
  $60.00 
  Subtitled "An Illustrated Tribute to Legends of the Book," this is an affectionate, colourful tribute to the art of paperbacks, with over 600 covers, each of them "a miniature gem, evocative of the fashions and attitudes of its era." As well, there's plenty of intriguing comments by the author, Richard A. Lupoff, historian, writer (he writes the Hobart Lindsey P.I. series) and collector, who drew many of these books from his own collection. Like the publisher's blurb says, "This book is destined to become a classic among librarians and graphic designers alike." Hell, there's even a collectors' guide included.
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  And if your eyes aren't yet stuffed to the gills (can I mix a metaphor or what?) from Richard and Max's books, I heartily recommend:
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• The Paperback Covers of Robert McGinnis...Buy this book
  by Robert McGinniss
  Pond Press, 2001
  $29.95
  Compiled by long-time fans Art Scott, and Dr. Wallace Maynard, and featuring a foreward by Richard S. Prather, this book offers a wide range of covers by one of the truly great paperback illustrators of all time. With close to 300 colour reproductions, if someone you love loves old paperback covers, this is the one for him or her.McGinnis has painted well over 1,500 paperback covers since the1950s, and is best known for his crime and mystery covers (he did tons of covers for Prather's Shell Scott, Brett Halliday's Mike Shayne and Carter Brown) and his unsurpassed depictions of glamourous, elegant women (no disrespect here, or anything, but some of these women were just drop-dead gorgeous--you could eat some of these covers with a spoon). "Provocative, seductive, elegant women" is how McGinnis himself describes his favorite subject. Long-legged beauties are the focal point, and often almost the only element on the cover. And check out some of those expressions on some of those women. It's enough to make a old man itch and a young man faint..
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And here's two incredibly self-serving suggestions... (sorry).

• Down These Wicked Streets....Buy this book
  Edited by D.L. Browne and Kevin Burton Smith
  Wicked Company, 2001
  $15.00
  The first-ever publication from the Wicked Company imprint (and the on-line writer's group) boasts seven private eye stories that impressively run the gamut from bleak, hard-boiled noir to engaging screwball comedy. Includes stories by Tribe, Katie de Koster, Chris McKenzie, Barry Evetts, Miles Archer, Sharon Potthoff and D.L. Browne, who co-edited the book with the Thrilling Detective Web Site's Kevin Burton Smith. In fact, both Tribe's black-hearted "Secret Smile" and co-editor Browne's "Just One of Those Things" have appeared on this site. So if you like this site...
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• Iced...Buy this book
  Edited by Peter Sellers and Kerry J. Schooley
  Insomniac Press, 2001
  $15.95
  Only in Canada, you say? Pity.
  The notion of Canadians as polite, gentle people is finally taken for a ride, and left shot and bleeding in the ditch, as editors Sellers and Schooley unleash Iced, the first all-Canadian noir collection. This one's truly dear to my heart, because it features my first ever published fiction, "Two Fingers," which asks the burning question, "Just how far can you trust a man who puts fruit in his beer?" But don't let that scare you away. There are also kick-ass stories from some truly awesome talents, real writers like Brad Smith, Peter Sellers himself, John Swan (who has hada story published on this site), Eric Wright, Matthew Firth, Vern Smith, Mary Jane Maffini, William Bankier, Mike Bames, Barbara Fradkin, Matt Hughes, Crad Kilodney, Eliza Moorhouse, James Powell and Stan Rogal. You'll have to order this from the publisher, Insomniac Press, or maybe Chapters/Indigo, because the American edition won't be unleashed until the Spring.

COMIC BOOKS
Slim pickings, indeed. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.....

• 100 Bullets
  The DC/Vertigo hardboiled crime/conspiracy wetdream begins a six-part series, "The Counterfifth Detective," spotlighting Milo Garrett, a low-life L.A. private eye without a face. Agent Graves gives Milo an unregistered gun and a 100 bullets, and points him in the direction of those responsible for the "accident" that left his head a mass of bandages. The fun will no doubt ensue... the first issue of this arc is on sale NOW!

RADIO/AUDIO DRAMA

• On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio ...Buy this book
  by John Dunning
  Oxford University Press, 1997
  $55.00 (but you can find this book on-line for much less than the list price.)
  Want to brighten any old-time radio fan's Christmas, give them this book Here are some 1,500 radio series presented in alphabetical order. The great programs of the '30s, '40s, and '50s are all here -- including the many great detective shows. For each series, Dunning provides a complete broadcast history, with the times slot, the network, and the name of the show's advertisers. He also lists major cast members, announcers, producers, directors, writers, and sound effects people--even the show's theme song. Equally important, Dunning provides a fascinating account of each program, taking us behind the scenes to capture the feel of the performance and providing engrossing biographies of the main people involved in the show. This is the best written of all the old-time radio reference books. After all, John Dunning is also a best-selling writer of detective novels.
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• Radio Drama A Comprehensive Chronicle of American Network Programs, 1932–1962 ...Buy this book
  by Martin Grams
  McFarland, 2000
  $75.00
  This book includes more than 300 program logs (many appearing in print for the first time) drawn from newspapers, script files in broadcast museums, records from NBC, ABC and CBS, and the personal records of series directors. Each entry contains a short broadcast history that includes directors, writers, and actors, and the broadcast dates and air times. Some series logs include cast lists for each episode. A comprehensive index rounds out the work. Included are logs for favorite radio detective series such as: Casey - Crime Photographer (Flashgun Casey, Crime Photographer), The Adventures of Frank Race, The Adventures of Nero Wolfe, The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, The Adventures of Sam Spade, Paladin, I Love a Mystery, I Love Adventure, Nick Carter and others.
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• Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960...Buy this book
  by Luther F. Sies
  McFarland, 2000
  $135.00
  Got a big Christmas budget and serious old-time radio collector on your list? Get them an OTR Encyclopedia! Comprising nearly 29,000 entries, this massive volume comprehensively covers the performers and programming on American radio from its inception to its golden age. The OTR hobbyist will find lots of information about favorite detective series and actors. The encyclopedia includes entries for programs, announcers, orchestras, musicians, vocalists, comedians, vocal groups, readers, whistlers, musical saw soloists, ministers, sports commentators, reviewers (of books, plays and movies), celebrities, and other personnel broadcasting over American radio from the 1920s to the 1960s. Additional entries cover commercial radio, educational broadcasting, firsts in radio history, opera on radio, religious broadcasting, sports broadcasting, women in radio, border radio, children's programs, comedy on radio, crime shows and mysteries, daytime dramatic serials, and disk jockeys, among other topics.
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• On-Line Old Time Radio Program Logs
  by Frank Passage and others
  FREE!!!
  Short on cash? What could be better than FREE? Lou Genco's Original Old-Time Radio Web Site has over 100 logs of Old-Time (and a few new-time) radio series, including many favorite detective series. Each of these ASCII text files contains a short introduction to the subject program, as well as a listing of episode titles and broadcast dates. Frank Passage does an outstanding job of searching through several document sources and resolving potential conflicts in information, when he compiles his logs. There are also several well-done logs by other contributors, who cared enough to help in the organization of OTR show collections.
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• OTR Detective Tapes
  Various prices
  Looking for special gifts for the old-time radio hobbyist on your list? Get them some tapes on old-time radioo detective series. Lou Genco's Original Old-Time Radio Web Site has a great listing of Commercial Tape and CD radio show dealers. Our radio writer, Stewart Wright, has had satisfactory service from Radio Memories, McCoy's Recordings, and Radio Spirits. In addition to single tapes and CDs', many dealers offer multi-tape boxed (book shelf) sets at economical prices. Don't forget to ask about special sales.
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• Crosley Radio Reproductions
  $80.00 to $400.00
  There is nothing better than listening to Old-Time Radio on a radio from the past. Crosley Radio offers a wide range of reproductions of radios from the 1930's, 40's and 50's with both table and console models. On the outside they look like classic radios from the past; most even have illuminated dials. On the inside they use present day radio technology. Most models have a cassette player. They range in price from about $80.00 to $400.00. For more information, check out their web site.

FILM/TELEVISION

• Memento...Buy this DVD...Buy this video
  Based on the short story "Memento Mori" by Jonathan Nolan
  Screenplay by Christopher Nolan 
  Directed by Christopher Nolan 
  Starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano,
  DVD-$24.95., VHS-$14.95
  This sly, innovative noir about a insurance investigator (L.A. Confidential's Guy Pearce) trying to track down his wife's killer is a nightmare you won't soon forget. And possibly the best P.I. film released in years.
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• Blood Simple...Buy this DVD ..Buy this video
  Screenplay by Ethan Coen
  Directed by Joel Coen
  Starring John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh
  DVD-$24.95, VHS-$19.95
  Long-awaited DVD release, coupled with a new, remastered video version, of the Coen Brothers' masterful debut. A over-the-top, pulpy homage to film noir, starring Dan Hedaya, Frances McDormand in her first film appearance, John Getz and M. Emmett Walsh as the delightfully slimy bottom-feeding private eye who makes it all possible. On sale September 18.
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• Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir...Buy this book
  by Eddie Muller
  Eddie,Regan Books/Harper Collins, 2001
  $29.95
  His last book was the amazing Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir (1998). This time Eddie pays tribute to Marie Windsor, Audrey Totter, Jane Greer, Ann Savage, Evelyn Keyes and Coleen Gray, six Queens of the B's who, in the words of Playboy, "helped pave film noir's shadowy streets." Although he also manages to dig up plenty of dirt, this is ultimately a sympathetic and fascinating ode to the genre, and the women who helped define it.

ETC.

• A Stab in the Dark
  (2001, Murder To Go Productions)
  Available directly from the manufacturer, Murder To Go.
  $19.95 plus postage and handling
  Written and directed by David Landau, and produced by Matt Clarke, A Stab in the Dark puts a new spin on the old Clue game with this live-action, interactive DVD. You get to play homicide detective, Lieutenant Chester McFreedy, and actually examine the crime scene, visit the coroner, interrogate the suspects and check out their stories, trying to crack the case of a key witness who's bumped off while in police custody. Comes with suspect lists, maps, background files, and all sorts of cool stuff. Okay, you're not a private eye, but it'll keep you busy until they release Murder at the Café Noir. The producers of this game bill themselves as "the internationally acclaimed originator of the interactive mystery theater show."
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• Dollars N Dibble
  2002
  For ordering info: http://www.adasam.com/
  A controversial new board game from the U.K. If you can imagine Traffic as a board game, you've just about nailed the concept of Dollars N Dibble. Forget Boardwalk and Park Place, and who gets to be the milk bottle. Instead, picture yourself as a would-be drug lord, scrambling to make a name for yourself. Can you dodge the cops, the competition and consumption of too much of your own product, to become DA MAN? Like the blurb says, it's "a world where only one thing is certain, there is nothing fair about this game!" (Suggested by Mark Sullivan)
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• Pimp Hats.com
  Various prices.
  Get your pimp gear here! That's what this site actually invites you to do!!! Tasteful wide-brimmed fedora with or without leopard skin bands for all your haberdashery needs. They also offer costumes, afro wigs, sunglasses, and accessories for "All Your Pimpin' Pleasure." Keep it real. Hos not included. Oh, and just in case you thought there might be some hope for Santa's little helper, Mark Sullivan, who suggested Dollars N Dibble above, we regret to inform you that he also suggested this one. The man is clearly beyond redemption...
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• Simpsons Clue
  2000, USAopoly
  $29.95
  Just in case you thought it was all doom and gloom and drugs and violence and sex, here's something to cleanse, if not your soul, at least your palate. This looks like it'd be a lot of fun. It's the regular game of Clue, but with a Simpson spin on it. So who did kill Mr. Burns? Just picture, if you will for a moment, Homer Simpson, P.I.! (Actually, Homer plays Mr. Green, but you get the gist, right?). Weapons include the dreaded Poisoned Donut, and a Plutonium Rod. As the deceased would say, "Exxxx-cellent..." And if you want to list a place to buy it, try Kumquat.com. (Thanks, Nathalie)
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• Mystery News
  $20 US for 1 year/six issues
  You could certainly do a whole lot worse for the mystery fan on your gift list than to give him or her a subscription to this smart bi-monthly tabloid which focusses on crime fiction. Unlike some mags that tend to be overly fawning, this one gives it to you straight. Contributors include Chris Aldrich, Reed Andrus, Gary Niebuhr, Beth Fedyn, Frank Denton, Marv Lachman, Lynn Kaczmarek and several other shady characters who have been known to have opinions worth hearing. Intelligent book reviews, columns and excellent interviews abound. These people know their stuff.
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And finally, the all-time great gift for any truly serious private eye fan...
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• The Maltese Falcon
  $39.98
  Not the real one, but an incredible facsimile. Now you can have your own Black Bird. A foot high and five and a half pounds. And I'm sure, for a price, you can have it delivered, wrapped in San Francisco newspapers, by a dying sea captain. The stuff that dreams are made of....

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

• Gift Certificates
  Okay, it's not the most thoughtful gift, but at least you won't be buying someone a book they've already read. Most bookstores and online bookstores offer gift certificates, including several that offer rare and collectible books. Check out my list of Booksellers & Dealers.
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• Magazines
  What could be cooler than receiving a gift all year long? There are tons of great mystery magazines and newsletters, featuring a range of fiction and non-fiction, ranging from enthusiastically amateur to slickly professional, for all tastes and budgets. Here are some suggestions.
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• Mystery Parties/Events
  Give your loved one murder this Christmas. What could be more fun? If you have a family or business function, consider throwing a mystery-theme party. Do it yourself, or check out these companies who will do it for you, whether you plan to entertain a few friends, or the entire office.

SUGGESTED SOURCES

The above are just a few suggestions. Try these Suggested Sources for gifts ranging from t-shirts, lawn ornaments, handcuffs, tapes of old radio shows, books, mugs, puzzles, and more, ranging from tacky to tasteful, from marvelous to morbid.

Thanks to Santa's Little Helpers, Stewart Wright, Victoria Shea-Esposito, Mark Sullivan, Chris Mills and Randal Brandt for their much appreciated help with this one.
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