Field of Thirteen

by Dick Francis

With Field of Thirteen, Dick Francis takes on his biggest challenge yet. In this superbly crafted collection of short stories -- many of them new and never before published -- the settings range from a spring race meeting at Cheltenham, where a middle-aged owner falls hopelessly in love with her jockey, to a running of the Grand National interrupted by a bomb scare, to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, where demon drink and wilting willpower take their toll.

Dick Francis's fans have a wonderful treat in store -- thirteen tightly-knotted plots to marvel at, thirteen sets of classic Francis characters to admire, and thirteen stings of the tail to gasp over. Field of Thirteen proves Dick Francis is as much the master of the short story as he is of the novel.

Notes on the racecard --
Raid at Kingdom Hall --
Dead on red --
Song for Mona --
Bright white star --
collision course --Nightmare --
Carrot for a chestnut --
Gift --
Spring fever --
Blind chance --
Corkscrew --
Day of the losers --
Haig's death

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Crime, Thriller, Horses, Mystery Thriller

287 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Dick Francis was a British jockey and crime novelist whose life and work were closely connected with the world of horse racing. Raised in Berkshire in a family involved with horses, he left school at fifteen with the ambition of becoming a jockey and began training horses as a teenager. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Air Force as a pilot, flying fighters and bombers before returning to racing after the war. He became one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys, winning more than 350 races and becoming champion jockey in the 1953–54 season. From 1953 to 1957, he was jockey to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and his most famous race came in the 1956 Grand National, when her horse Devon Loch fell suddenly while apparently heading toward victory. After retiring from racing following another serious fall, Francis turned to journalism and writing. His autobiography, The Sport of Queens, led to sixteen years as racing correspondent for the Sunday Express, while his first thriller, Dead Cert, established the formula that would make him an international bestseller. He went on to write more than forty novels, most set against the backdrop of British horse racing but featuring protagonists from a wide range of professions. His stories combine detailed knowledge of racing with tightly constructed mysteries, dangerous investigations and protagonists forced to overcome serious physical and personal obstacles. Among his best-known recurring characters is Sid Halley, a former jockey turned private investigator who appears in Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief and Under Orders. Francis's wife, Mary, was an important collaborator throughout his writing career, conducting research, editing manuscripts and contributing to plot and character development. Their son Felix later became his father's collaborator and continued the Francis tradition after his father's death. A three-time winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, Francis also received the Gold Dagger, the Cartier Diamond Dagger and the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award. His novels brought the specialized world of horse racing to an international readership and established him as one of the most influential writers of the racing thriller.

Reviews

[James Thane]

This is a collection of thirteen short stories that were originally published in a diverse number of newspapers and magazines, including Sports Illustrated and The Times of London. Most are set in the UK, but a couple are set here in the U.S. Virtually all of them have a connection of some sort to the world of horse racing.

The stories are very well-crafted and in most cases involve a twist of fate that leaves someone's carefully-laid plans in ruins. They are populated by a lot of grifters and innocent victims, and there's a fair amount of wry humor running through them as well. The stories have held up very well over the years, and this collection should appeal to a lot of readers as well as to fans of Dick Francis, who certainly should not miss this one.

[John]

Thirteen short stories. Francis is a good writer. The compilation of stories were one’s he wrote for magazines and newspapers over the years. Some were amusing others sad. Carrot for a Chestnut was sad in you cannot chose your family. Spring Fever when infatuation leads to bad decision making. I am glad she got her revenge as with Corkscrew. I mean who trusts a lawyer!

Raid at Kingdom Hill is educational in never wear orange socks.

Dead on Red was excellent with an assassin getting his deserved ends and Gypsy Joe escaping death.

Song for Mona was poignant and how you cannot chose your children or your father.

Bright White Star shows what happens when you upset a tramp.

Collision Course a homage to editors and the power of the press.

Nightmare a criminal gets his just desserts.

The Gift shows the danger of drinking.

Blind chance oh to be a finishing line race photographer.

All entertaining stories some better than others.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov]

Short pieces with some relationship to the topic of horse racing. Some are originals, but most were solicited by magazines with a particular word limit. I enjoyed collision course for its melding of food, journalism and “the ephemeral nature of success.”

Uneven in the depth of their stories; some forced irony; still, generally entertaining is the “Francis style.”

Nothing here that matches the best Francis can offer, but there are interesting bits that reflect on “the English” during this period before the 21st century.

2.5

[E.P.]

It's interesting how some authors have an optimum length, like some runners have an optimum distance. Some authors produce lyric poems, some produce epic series, and some produce medium-length standalone novels. Dick Francis belongs to the last class: his best mid-length standalone novels (he never really got into the long-running series the way many mystery authors did) were perfectly paced and plotted.

Given how spare his writing could be, one might expect him to excel at the genre of short story, but reading these stories made me feel that they were a little *too* short, a little *too* spare.

Which is not to say that these stories are bad. They're quite enjoyable, and most authors would claim them with pride. They retain the twists and turns and nasty villains one would expect from a Francis tale. What they're lacking in is details, the kinds of descriptive details that Francis in his best works knew how to drop in at just the right moment. Authors these days are all in a rage to cut as much as they can from their works, and one certainly does need to trim from time to time, but if you cut away too much, you're left with nothing at all. The missing details are what elevate Francis's best books above the run of the mill mystery; aspiring authors would do well to compare these short stories with some of his masterpieces such as Hot Money, Straight, or Longshot, and see if they can find the difference between good stories, competently written, and that special something that makes a book more than just marks on paper.

[Harry]

What is there to say about Dick Francis? As I think about all of his books (yes, this review covers all of his books, and yes I've read them all) I think about a moral ethical hero, steeped in intelligence and goodness embroiled in evil machinations within British horse racing society - either directly or indirectly. The heroes aren't always horse jockies, they can be film producers, or involve heroes engaged in peripheral professions that somehow always touch the horse racing world.

But more than that, Francis's heroes are rational human beings. The choices made are rational choices directed by a firm objective philosophy that belies all of Francis's novels. The dialogue is clear and touched with humor no matter the intensity of evil that the hero faces. The hero's thoughts reveal a vulnerability that is touching, while his actions are always based on doing the right thing to achieve justice.

Causing the reader to deeply care about the characters in a novel is a difficult thing to do. No such worries in a Francis novel. The point of view is first person, you are the main character as you read the story (usually the character of Mr. Douglas). The hero is personable, like able, non-violent but delivering swift justice with his mind rather than through physical means. This is not to say that violence is a stranger to our hero. Some of it staggering and often delivered by what we would think of normal persons living in British society.

You will come to love the world of Steeple Chase racing, you will grow a fondness for horses, stables, trainers and the people who live in that world. You will read the books, devouring one after the other and trust me Dick Francis has a lot of novels (over 40 by my last count).

There are several series woven into the fabric of Francis's work: notably the Sid Halley and Kit Fielding series.

Assessment: Dick Francis is one of my favorite writers. I read his books with a fierce hunger that remains insatiable and I mourn his death.

[Benjamin Thomas]

I'm a pretty big fan of Dick Francis so it pains me to only grant 3 stars to one of his books. Unfortunately, after having read these 13 stories, I have to conclude that he is a much better novelist than a short story writer. While I thoroughly enjoyed three of these stories, the others ranged from "OK" to "hope this is over soon."

[P.S. Winn]

This is a good collection of short stories with a horse racing theme. Thirteen stories with interesting ending to keep readers holding on for the ride.The author has a good writing style and the stories are unique, fun and great to read either one at a time or in one sitting if you want too.
First time I have read a book by this author and I enjoyed it.

[Lata]

13 delightful stories by Dick Francis, all related to horse racing. The audible narration by Tony Britton was excellent

[Tarma]

Dick Francis write superbly. What can I say. This book of great short stories is filled with his trade-mark excellence of writing. Mystery, human stories (I loved Song for Mona), adventure (of a sort), funny little twists and turns of 'what happens'. I didn't foresee any of it, and was delighted with each and every story.

[Kathleen]

Dick Francis brings the British racing world to life in his many mystery stories. This collection is an enjoyable assortment that is perfect for picking up for an hour's read. As with any anthology, some stories are better than others, but any work by Dick Francis is worth reading.

[W]

The only volume of short stories,penned by Duck Francis,late in his career.The ingredients are very familiar,might have enjoyed it more if I hadn't already read so much Francis.

[Sharon]

This is a book of 13 short stories centered around horse racing and the jockeys, trainers,owners and gamblers whose lives depend on the sport. Many of the stories involve cheating of one sort or another. My favorites were the ones where honesty and professionalism are rewarded. These were few in number. Although Dick Francis is widely known as a mystery writer most of these stories are not actually in that genre.

[Fredrick Danysh]

Thirteen short stories about the horse racing sports from the master of the genre. They are easy to read and enjoyable. I especially likes the short notes accompaning each story.

[Linda]

Fun collection of short stories that don’t always stick to the racetrack. Lots of plot reversals and surprises. I’ll always prefer his full length stories however.

[Barb Wisniewski]

Collection of short stories

[Vicki]

My favorite story was "Collision Course," about a smalltown newspaper editor with higher standards than those of the syndicate that purchases the paper and fires him.

[David Highton]

I enjoyed these 13 short stories, very different from the novels which follow a well-worn formula. These short stories often seemed to have a darker side or a more whimsical view.

[Marni]

A delightful group of short stories all related to horse racing of some sort. The author was a retired steeplechase jockey.

[Susan Jones]

Ok if you like these kind of things. Found in these 13 short stories too many names, too much detail on horse riding dumped into the stories, a lot of repetition. Also American way of spelling.

[Judy]

Typical Dick Francis stories with the laid back hero, horses and good writing. I find I like his novels better.

[John]

Imagine an entire issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine written by Dick Francis and you'll have the spirit of this book.

The crimes in a Dick Francis short story are rarely murder. His patch is the pick-pocket, the swindler, the fixer of races, usually (but not always in this collection) in the steeplechase crowd of Merry Olde England. Francis always grants you a bit of insight and often elicits a touch of sympathy, even in the most unpleasant scoundrel on the page. I never pass on a Dick Francis book.

[John Babb]

Dick Francis writes about all things equestrian - 38 books published - almost all linked to horseracing. Since we're in the midst of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont, I decided to read his 13 short stories about horse racing, compiled into his anthology, "Field of Thirteen". The characters are fairly well developed, often reflecting some of the seedier individuals who spend time with the ponies as bettors, fixers, jockeys, trainers, pickpockets, and horse thieves. Each of the stories are well told, with good plots and sometimes surprising endings. I enjoyed it.

[James H. Jaqua]

Hold your breath...

As with any work by Mr. Francis there are horses - usually all running in the same direction. I do not follow horse racing, but I do read Francis books about the sport. They are always interesting, at times exciting, and always a pleasant read. This one, and the added short stories, kept my attention and led to my ignoring the clock. No bother when you are reading the work of a good author.

[Richard Brand]

These are short stories which have all been published in other places. They are, as you would expect, about horse racing and the race track people. They are clever and original. He draws rather stereotypical characters, and he has some nice endings. There is very little blood or violence in these stories. Greed, ego, deceit, bribery, robbery, and other crimes of the mind and what might be called "white collar" crimes. They were easy reads.

[Susan]

This is a book of short stories (mystery stories) by Dick Francis. I loved it. All the stories had some connection to the world of horse racing. What great characters, too. The stories had been created over the span of quite a few years, so that made the collection even more interesting to read. I think that anyone who likes Dick Francis' mystery novels would enjoy this book.

[Kaethe]

3-Apr-99

Not my favorite. Most of these stories were written in the seventies when Francis was going for a more hard-boiled feel with pickpockets and grifters. They're fine stories, just not as good as the later novels.

personal copy

[Mavis Hewitt]

13 short stories, if you like Dick Francis, you'll like these, and even if you don't usually like him, you may well like some of these, there are clever 'collection of circumstances' in some of these.

[CAROLYN]

Wonderful collection of short stories. Real characters with all their human weaknesses. Reminds me of O'Henry's short Stories. Very enjoyable read.

Wonderful collection of short stories. Real characters with all their human weaknesses. Reminds me of the short stories of O'Henry.

[Susan Miller]

Thirteen short stories written by Dick Francis. What's not to like about that! Each story in some way is connected to horses and the world of racing. Each short a great sprint full of detail that keeps your interest to the finish line!

[Robin H Rodriguez]

Francis for the Win!

For fans new and old. Francis brings the horse racing world to life in these short stories. Each tale challenges your view of winning and losing all the way to the finish line.