Fredric Brown Double Mystery Novel

Prior studies of post-war American Gothic literature (and even American horror films) have primarily interpreted Gothic cultural production of the post-war period through a Cold War lens. Despite legitimate reasons for such an approach, this emphasis has limited inquiries into post-war fiction as well as our understanding of the nation’s complicated identity. While the federal government and its investigative agencies may have been preoccupied with the so-called ‘red menace’ that threatened to spread across the planet, each region of the country already possessed major strains of Gothic fiction that focused on regional anxieties – namely of those connected to women and minorities that threatened the region’s constructed identity and balance of power. The Haunted States of America shifts the focus to these Gothic strains by examining how the anxieties, fears and concerns illustrated in the works of several post-World War II writers can be best understood through regional history and identity.

Brown (1906-1972) was a popular and respected author of more than 20 mysteries and science fiction novels (The Fabulous Clipjoint, won the 1948 Edgar Award for best mystery novel). This study looks closely at his work and chronicles his unusual life. Paper edition (unseen), $16.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

An illustrated version of the classic nonsense poem from "Through the Looking Glass."

The first in a new series of Fredric Brown double-novels, The Far Cry / The Screaming Mimi could very well have been subtitled "The Way of the Knife." And since this is Fredric Brown we're talking about, the razor's edge isn't limited to the blade itself; it is a metaphor for the narrow ledge the characters navigate. Taken together we find Brown at the height of his powers. As with many of Brown's narratives, the main characters are fueled by an alcoholic haze and are never far from their next drink. Although the boozing never becomes the story, it keeps the protagonists constantly teetering on the edge of collapse. The novels are daring for their time, awash in taboo subjects and frank language that would never, ever make it into the mystery films of the same period. It's why people read potboilers in the first place. They wanted the gritty underbelly they couldn't get anywhere else. The Screaming Mimi is an early take on the serial killer sub-genera, written long before it became mystery mainstream. The Far Cry is one of Brown's darkest stories--a serpent's tail that coils tighter and tighter around the narrator as attempts to unravel the knot of a young woman's murder. One novel takes place in an authentically rendered Chicago--nightclubs, press rooms and police precincts; the other casts its drama in the forlorn deserts of New Mexico--a haunting, vast emptiness where ghosts don't have to be seen to be felt.Fredric Brown double-novels are newly edited and presented in a format that gives these works the treatment they deserve. Reading a book is more than just reading a story.The Far Cry / The Screaming Mimi features a new introduction by Sci-Fi great Barry N. Malzberg, whose decades-long appreciation of Fredric Brown makes for a stirring kick-start to the new series.

A collection of columns by world-famous mystery and science fiction author, Fredric Brown, looking at all aspects of proof-reading from obscure rules of grammar and punctuation to tips on the best way to lay out a book. A must for any budding author who wishes to publish their own book and needs some tips on how to avoid the most common mistakes. Also includes several other rare and uncollected items by Fredric Brown including a mystery short story (Fatal Facsimile) that hasn't been reprinted since it was first published 49 years ago; 24 humorous advice columns by the intrepid Colonel Cluck; a selection of Brown's early attempts at poetry; and much, much more