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Sergeants Sueño and Bascom
Nightmare Range: The Collected Sueno and Bascom Short Stories
Twenty years ago, Martin Limón published his first mystery story featuring Sergeant George Sueño, a young Mexican American army detective stationed on the US 8th Army base in South Korea in the early 1970s, the heart of the Cold War. George and his investigating partner, the rowdy and short-fused Sergeant Ernie Bascom, are assigned cases in which the 8th Army has come into conflict with local Korean law enforcement--often incidents in which American soldiers, who are not known for being on their best behavior in their Asian host country, have committed a crime. George Sueño's job is partially to solve crimes, but mostly to cover top brass's backside and make sure the US Army doesn't look bad. Thoughtful, observant George, who is conversant in Korean, constantly faces difficult choices about whether to follow his orders or his conscience.Nine critically acclaimed novels later, Soho Crime is releasing a collection of Martin Limón's award-winning short stories featuring Sergeants Sueño and Bascom. The stories within have been published over the last twenty years in a variety of magazines, mostly in Alfred Hitchcock, but have never before been available in book form. This beautifully produced limited-edition hardcover volume is sure to attract both critical attention and to appeal to collectors. A must-have for literary mystery readers.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
17 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Martin Limón
46 books96 followersMartin Limon retired from U.S. military service after 20 years in the Army, including a total of ten years in Korea. He and his wife live in Seattle. He is the author of Jade Lady Burning, which was a New York Times Notable Book, Slicky Boys and Buddha's Money.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 5, 2016
I've long been a fan of Martin Limon's series featuring Sergeants George Sueno and Ernie Bascom. The two are U.S. Army detectives, stationed in the South Korea of the 1970s. They are assigned to investigate crimes involving U.S. military personnel, which often places them at odds with the Korean National Police and with their own bosses.
The U.S. Army and the North Koreans are principally concerned with maintaining good relations between our two countries, even if this occasionally means sweeping some unpleasantness, like the occasional odd murder, under the rug. However, Sueno, who is the brains of the pair, and Bascom who provides the muscle, are concerned first and foremost with securing whatever justice can be wrung out of a situation. And if somebody's toes get stepped on in the process, that's just too damn bad. This means that they often wind up pursuing an investigation to its logical conclusion over the objections of both the KNP and the Army brass. It also means that they are often in hot water with both.
Through the years, Limon has published a number of short stories featuring the pair, and this book brings them all together. There are seventeen stories in the collection and, like the novels, these stories provide a rich insight into the society and culture of both South Korea and the U.S. Army of the period. Limon spent twenty years in the Army, including ten in South Korea, and so he knows the country and the people well, not to mention the Army itself. These stories will appeal principally to people who enjoy the novels, but if you're a fan of crime fiction and haven't met Sergeants Sueno and Bascom yet, you should probably do yourself a favor and seek them out.
The U.S. Army and the North Koreans are principally concerned with maintaining good relations between our two countries, even if this occasionally means sweeping some unpleasantness, like the occasional odd murder, under the rug. However, Sueno, who is the brains of the pair, and Bascom who provides the muscle, are concerned first and foremost with securing whatever justice can be wrung out of a situation. And if somebody's toes get stepped on in the process, that's just too damn bad. This means that they often wind up pursuing an investigation to its logical conclusion over the objections of both the KNP and the Army brass. It also means that they are often in hot water with both.
Through the years, Limon has published a number of short stories featuring the pair, and this book brings them all together. There are seventeen stories in the collection and, like the novels, these stories provide a rich insight into the society and culture of both South Korea and the U.S. Army of the period. Limon spent twenty years in the Army, including ten in South Korea, and so he knows the country and the people well, not to mention the Army itself. These stories will appeal principally to people who enjoy the novels, but if you're a fan of crime fiction and haven't met Sergeants Sueno and Bascom yet, you should probably do yourself a favor and seek them out.
February 9, 2018
I won a copy on Goodreads Firstreads.
This would be a 3.5 star review. Nightmare Range is the collected short stories of George Sueno and Ernie Bascom by Martin Limon. George and Ernie are 2 CID (criminal investigation division) soldiers in Korea during the 1970's. It has been about 20 years since the Korean War but South Korea is still slowly recovering and still needs support from America's armed forces. The only problem is that when you mix soldiers into a country with a lot of temptation, there will be crime. That is where George and Ernie step into the picture. Their only problem is that they always see a crime to the end even if it means ruffling the feathers of their commanding officers. So they often get stuck with the worst cases. George and Ernie are experts in "running the ville". The ville is the area near the base that soldiers go to for entertainment (lots of bars and brothels) with the black market thrown into the mix.
These 17 stories were written between 1991 and 2008. Most of the stories appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. One of the really intersting things about this collection is seeing the progression in Martin Limon's writing. The earlier stories are very straightforward and tend to be fairly similar. There are almost no red herrings and the criminals seem to want to be caught. So they all seem to be George and Ernie hear about a case and go arrest the bad guy. But the later stories develop more complexity and seem to stand apart from each other. The stories seem to have their own "voice" while staying true to the series.
The stories are gritty and tend toward the dark. Strangely enough, even though it is gritty and dealing with soldiers, there is not much language that would offend. There isn't a whole lot of character development but these are short stories so I wouldn't expect too much. Even without a lot of character development, I did feel like I got to know George and Ernie fairly well. George and Ernie's main interests are drinking, chasing women and solving crimes no matter the cost.
This would be a 3.5 star review. Nightmare Range is the collected short stories of George Sueno and Ernie Bascom by Martin Limon. George and Ernie are 2 CID (criminal investigation division) soldiers in Korea during the 1970's. It has been about 20 years since the Korean War but South Korea is still slowly recovering and still needs support from America's armed forces. The only problem is that when you mix soldiers into a country with a lot of temptation, there will be crime. That is where George and Ernie step into the picture. Their only problem is that they always see a crime to the end even if it means ruffling the feathers of their commanding officers. So they often get stuck with the worst cases. George and Ernie are experts in "running the ville". The ville is the area near the base that soldiers go to for entertainment (lots of bars and brothels) with the black market thrown into the mix.
These 17 stories were written between 1991 and 2008. Most of the stories appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. One of the really intersting things about this collection is seeing the progression in Martin Limon's writing. The earlier stories are very straightforward and tend to be fairly similar. There are almost no red herrings and the criminals seem to want to be caught. So they all seem to be George and Ernie hear about a case and go arrest the bad guy. But the later stories develop more complexity and seem to stand apart from each other. The stories seem to have their own "voice" while staying true to the series.
The stories are gritty and tend toward the dark. Strangely enough, even though it is gritty and dealing with soldiers, there is not much language that would offend. There isn't a whole lot of character development but these are short stories so I wouldn't expect too much. Even without a lot of character development, I did feel like I got to know George and Ernie fairly well. George and Ernie's main interests are drinking, chasing women and solving crimes no matter the cost.
December 7, 2024
I am not much on short stories written by people who write series that I enjoy. The short stories do not seem to quite cut it. I am happy to say that Nightmare Range far exceeded my expectations. Each of the short stories had a beginning, a middle, and an end that made sense. Nonee of the stories seemed to be written as filler. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone whether they have read the series or not. Five stars all the way.
February 18, 2020
Sueno & Bascom enter the world of short stories. Definitely not as upbeat as the chapter books.
March 15, 2016
This anthology of short stories serves as an ideal introduction to the world of Sueño and Bascome, American army investigators in South Korea during the 1970s. If you enjoy Martin Limón’s full-length novels then these mini-mysteries will be a welcome to return to the sweltering, sex-soaked streets of the Ville, where servicemen spend their R&R hours and their dollars, where black marketeers seek to turn a shilling on every transaction, and where working girls are so very often the victims of indiscriminate violence.
Limón is a gifted writer, capable of dragging the reader into this exotic, intimidating and at time painfully poignant environment with minimal explanation or introduction. Sueño and Bascombe are military policemen, investigating crimes which involve Americans, from black-market sales of goods from the base, to the assault or murder of Korean nationals which may have a US involvement.
While Bascombe stays firmly in the background – acting as muscle when required – we get to know Sueño in some depth, a man motivated by his own morality and a sense of respect for the local population. He’s no saint – and just as likely to spend a wild night in town with the girls as the next serviceman – but each of these stories reveals his sensitivity to the victim’s plight. He’s one of the few who tries to understand the culture and society surrounding him, and through him Limón reveals the substantial impact of the permanent foreign army which keeps the northern enemy at bay.
Some of these tales are challenging or unsettling; others grim but morally satisfying. It’s to Limón’s credit that he achieves in a short story what many authors struggle to accomplish in an entire novel. The military details and the aura of authenticity about the place, period and situation feels entirely credible.
These stories weren’t written for one anthology, however, and were originally published elsewhere. Necessarily then they repeat the background info, and they share a tone and tempo which can become a little over-powering if you read them all at once. Best to read them in between other books, to ensure that each episode retains its full impact.
8/10
There's more about this at
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress...
Limón is a gifted writer, capable of dragging the reader into this exotic, intimidating and at time painfully poignant environment with minimal explanation or introduction. Sueño and Bascombe are military policemen, investigating crimes which involve Americans, from black-market sales of goods from the base, to the assault or murder of Korean nationals which may have a US involvement.
While Bascombe stays firmly in the background – acting as muscle when required – we get to know Sueño in some depth, a man motivated by his own morality and a sense of respect for the local population. He’s no saint – and just as likely to spend a wild night in town with the girls as the next serviceman – but each of these stories reveals his sensitivity to the victim’s plight. He’s one of the few who tries to understand the culture and society surrounding him, and through him Limón reveals the substantial impact of the permanent foreign army which keeps the northern enemy at bay.
Some of these tales are challenging or unsettling; others grim but morally satisfying. It’s to Limón’s credit that he achieves in a short story what many authors struggle to accomplish in an entire novel. The military details and the aura of authenticity about the place, period and situation feels entirely credible.
These stories weren’t written for one anthology, however, and were originally published elsewhere. Necessarily then they repeat the background info, and they share a tone and tempo which can become a little over-powering if you read them all at once. Best to read them in between other books, to ensure that each episode retains its full impact.
8/10
There's more about this at
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress...
August 10, 2013
I won a copy of Nightmare Range from Goodreads First Reads give away.
I have read several of Martin Limon's full length novels featuring George and Ernie and have enjoyed them all. While these short stories lacked the plot complexities found in the novels, the characters of George and Ernie shine in the short stories. As Army CID investigators stationed in Korea during the 1970s, George and Ernie make an excellant team. While neither of them have much use for "the brass", they are savvy enough to recognize the need to appear to appease "the brass"....which they do while pursuing their own priorities. George is the "thinker" while Ernie is the "doer" most of the time. Both are likeable characters.
There is some redundancy in the broad themes of these stories (investigation of the black market, etc), but I imagine there was a lot more redundancy for those that lived through this,
I have read several of Martin Limon's full length novels featuring George and Ernie and have enjoyed them all. While these short stories lacked the plot complexities found in the novels, the characters of George and Ernie shine in the short stories. As Army CID investigators stationed in Korea during the 1970s, George and Ernie make an excellant team. While neither of them have much use for "the brass", they are savvy enough to recognize the need to appear to appease "the brass"....which they do while pursuing their own priorities. George is the "thinker" while Ernie is the "doer" most of the time. Both are likeable characters.
There is some redundancy in the broad themes of these stories (investigation of the black market, etc), but I imagine there was a lot more redundancy for those that lived through this,
March 15, 2014
Nightmare Range is a hard boiler set in the bases around the Korea country during the Korea war. It is a collected stories about two military police detectives who go around solving various high profiled cases with political and personal impacts on the G.I. and the Korea civilians. Riddled with rituals, shrines, even shaman, and Korea language, where G.I. boys either fall in love with the business suit girls or discard them like dolls, the backdrops to the stories are stirring and realistic.
I really like both characters, couple of mavericks who refuse to cooperate with the brass's goal of keeping it quiet even at the expense of innocents being held for questioning via the Korea police rubber hoses or sucker punches to the stomach. Also walking around with brass knuckles in the pockets of the black jacket with the dragon stitched on the back, jeans and sneakers, and the narrator by his partner's side with a 45 in a shoulder harness is a bad assed way to be on the job.
I really like both characters, couple of mavericks who refuse to cooperate with the brass's goal of keeping it quiet even at the expense of innocents being held for questioning via the Korea police rubber hoses or sucker punches to the stomach. Also walking around with brass knuckles in the pockets of the black jacket with the dragon stitched on the back, jeans and sneakers, and the narrator by his partner's side with a 45 in a shoulder harness is a bad assed way to be on the job.
July 14, 2013
Sergeant George Sueno and his pal Ernie are agents for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division in South Korea somewhere in the 1970's. South Korea is still recuperating from the Korean War and is not yet the rising economic star of the East.
In this collection of short stories our protagonists try to solve all kind of crimes, from minor black market operations by Korean spouses of US military to murder. I was surprised how real it all felt; the author must have written this out of experience. There's a lot of empathy for the Korean People as well for the young GI's who are dropped in a totally unknown but 3000 year old culture.
Great read, great encounter with South Korea and the overseas world of the US military.
In this collection of short stories our protagonists try to solve all kind of crimes, from minor black market operations by Korean spouses of US military to murder. I was surprised how real it all felt; the author must have written this out of experience. There's a lot of empathy for the Korean People as well for the young GI's who are dropped in a totally unknown but 3000 year old culture.
Great read, great encounter with South Korea and the overseas world of the US military.
July 26, 2015
I find the characters and the setting in these stories more interesting than the plots. Occupied Korea during the Vietnam era has its own set of challenges - the combination of vigilance and boredom, the racial and cultural clashes - East vs West, military vs civilian, officers vs grunts,johns vs business girls - it goes on and on.
Sueno and Bascomb are good foils for each other - Sueno more educated and in tune with the Korean culture, Bascomb brash, hot headed and frequently troublesome. The politics and the interactions of the two Arm CID officers with the Korean military police are frequently fraught, occasionally cooperative. The politics on the base - officers' wives vs Korean brides, and much interdepartmental ass covering, rings very true.
Sueno and Bascomb are good foils for each other - Sueno more educated and in tune with the Korean culture, Bascomb brash, hot headed and frequently troublesome. The politics and the interactions of the two Arm CID officers with the Korean military police are frequently fraught, occasionally cooperative. The politics on the base - officers' wives vs Korean brides, and much interdepartmental ass covering, rings very true.
December 18, 2013
I think these short stories are even better than the novels. They do a great job of portraying both Korean and military culture. Death, whether merited or not, is a constant theme of all these stories. There is a tragic, matter of factness about the storytelling. Greed, lust, love, and humor are all here and Sueno and Bascom are unrelenting in attempting to find out the truth, sometimes just to antagonize the brass. I was sad to see the end of these short story adventures. Would love to see some more short stories about them to include Sueno as an old man, retired from the Army telling some vignettes.
May 2, 2014
Excellent short story collection featuring Mexican-American George Sueno and his partner Ernie Bascom, two CID agents stationed in Korea. I love detective stories and lept at the chance to read stories about detectives working somewhere not the UK or America. Sueno is my favorite kind of detective - goodhearted, honest and clever. Also love that this character actually makes an effort to learn the language and the motivations, attitudes, and traditions of the Korean people around him, something his partner doesn't much bother with. Really liked the way the author explained the relationship between the Korean National Police and the US Army. Highly recommended if you love detective stories!
August 2, 2013
I won this on goodreads. It's a collection of very intersting stories based in Korea. I have to say this book was pretty good, (considering how quickly I read it). I have never heard of this author before this book and I have to say, judging from this book, I am probably going to read more books by this author.
April 3, 2015
This a Goodreads giveaway book that I read. I found a colorful group of stories about life as an MP in the Army and ststioned in Korea to be very lively. You got a view of the cultureand how much heart it takes to do the job. The characters were warm and some stories make you cry. I loved this.
July 28, 2014
I'm not a big fan of short stories, but this collection of stories is a "good read". It features our favorite duo, George Sueno and Ernie Bascom (two guys I'd love to hang out with) in many situations involving a land I'd love to visit and colorful characters. Loved it!
March 5, 2014
Martin Limón's short stories are as good as his novels. The best of which is "The Woman from Hamhung". Having lived in Korea for 8 years myself I can tell Mr. Limón has a love of the culture that makes me enjoy his books and stories more.
April 13, 2016
A good collection of stories that are recognizable if you have read his previous books. The stories seems to serve as the basic premise and earlier works that was flushed out to complete his other books. Fun read especially if you have any background in Korea and/or the military.
February 11, 2018
4 stars if I had been reading these as short stories. The setting of the 1970s on and near American army bases sets this collection apart. Probably due to his service in Korean for a decade Martin Limon's stories ring true, including the dark humor and portrayal of the absurd that are often found in books about war. Reading this as a complete collection rather than serialized, Limon's improvement as a writer, and the nuance of the characters was more evident. Although the setting and the human elements were still the stars of the story, the mysteries became a bit more twisty as well. Although there were a few times in which I was irritated at the whole, "Korea is foreign!" type statements, and reminder in just about every story that Sueno and Bascom had to take their shoes off before entering people's homes and that Koreans "love their kimchee," Limon likely wrote it this way because it's realistically how a GI would've thought and/or behaved at the time.
April 26, 2019
Short stories are probably the best format for the Sueno and Bascom series. I love this series because of the character study and the setting. Unfortunately Limon is only average when it comes to writing a good police procedural. But I just love the characters and the 1970's Korean setting so much. If you are a fan of Korea and police procedurals, you must try this series.
There are a lot of short stories in this series. Only a few of them are good as police stories, some of the others don't even have much of a point. And some of them seem to use materials from other of his full length books, recycling names and events but largely different, so they are somewhat confusing.
I give this book 5 stars because I think the short format works well and each story is fast and ends quickly. Please write more shorts!
There are a lot of short stories in this series. Only a few of them are good as police stories, some of the others don't even have much of a point. And some of them seem to use materials from other of his full length books, recycling names and events but largely different, so they are somewhat confusing.
I give this book 5 stars because I think the short format works well and each story is fast and ends quickly. Please write more shorts!
September 12, 2022
Although I am a huge fan of Martin Limon, I am not a fan of short stories. There a a lot of short adventures in this book. Some lasting 4 pages, some a long as 20. I just felt the length of these stories did not have enough time to get to know characters.
I do love all the previous novels of these 2 characters. This is the 9th book in the series that I have purchased and read. And I will continue with more. The introduction says it best: Hot & Cold. Yes & no. Matter and antimatter. Laurel & Hardy. Martin Limon has created my favorite crime-solving team since Holmes and Watson. He's taken a perfectly balanced union of opposites and put them into a whole landscape of opposites.
I do love all the previous novels of these 2 characters. This is the 9th book in the series that I have purchased and read. And I will continue with more. The introduction says it best: Hot & Cold. Yes & no. Matter and antimatter. Laurel & Hardy. Martin Limon has created my favorite crime-solving team since Holmes and Watson. He's taken a perfectly balanced union of opposites and put them into a whole landscape of opposites.
May 11, 2023
It is hard to believe Martin Limon could be a better short story writer than novelist. But he is. This book was a pleasure. The two main characters, again together plowing their way through the intricacies of Korean culture, politics, and tradition while fending off the US military and all the baggage which comes with it. Well Done.
September 4, 2017
Well, if the full-length novels were not harrowing enough, catching up with Sgts. Sueno & Bascomb in the short story format put it over the edge. One was long enough to be considered a novella, but the others were quick 'n' dirty. Back to the series, already in progress.
May 16, 2021
If I could hitch a ride back in time to 70s South Korea, I’d find George and Ernie and run the Ville. The short stories as as amazing as the novels. Even if you’ve never been to Korea (I have and can’t wait to return) you’ll live this well written tales.
February 15, 2019
These were some of the best short stories I've ever read.
March 12, 2017
Very interesting characters. First time reading this author and although these were short stories definitely wiorth reading more of his.
July 25, 2013
I won this book from Goodreads.
NIGHTMARE RANGE is a book of short stories. The title attracted me.
The 2 main characters are Army detectives in South Korea in the 1970's. Each very short story focuses on a different crime involving servicemen - murder, theft of payroll, blackmarket, etc., and an alarming number of prostitutes.
I did get tired of all the Jeep riding and beer drinking. These stories are not meant to be read all at once or they will become quite tedious and boring.
It IS a "charming" collection of easy-to-read stories, and I did like them. They provided a refreshment while I was involved in a book of a heavier history.
The 1970's setting drew me in...the no-CSI-lab- available approach to their assignments...and it was fun to learn a few Korean words.
NIGHTMARE RANGE is a book of short stories. The title attracted me.
The 2 main characters are Army detectives in South Korea in the 1970's. Each very short story focuses on a different crime involving servicemen - murder, theft of payroll, blackmarket, etc., and an alarming number of prostitutes.
I did get tired of all the Jeep riding and beer drinking. These stories are not meant to be read all at once or they will become quite tedious and boring.
It IS a "charming" collection of easy-to-read stories, and I did like them. They provided a refreshment while I was involved in a book of a heavier history.
The 1970's setting drew me in...the no-CSI-lab- available approach to their assignments...and it was fun to learn a few Korean words.
March 28, 2015
I received this book for free as part of the goodreads first reads giveaway. I enjoyed this collection of short stories. The main characters are smart and entertaining, the action went at a good pace, and the stories were very interesting. I look forward to reading more by this author. I would recommend this book to fans of the author and fans of crime stories.
August 2, 2014
This is a collection of short stories published elsewhere. I enjoyed the stories, they had a strong noir element, but I really perceived the periodical format - they weren't as fleshed out as a full-length novel would be.
I enjoyed the stories enough I am going to check out the novels featuring Sueno and Bascom.
I enjoyed the stories enough I am going to check out the novels featuring Sueno and Bascom.
June 22, 2013
Won this here on goodreads. Interesting short stories about military police during the Korean cold war. Gives one a look at what it was like during that time period. Life in a different culture, what was happening.
October 14, 2015
I have read all the Sueno/Bascom novels and loved them all. I also enjoyed reading this collection of short stories though I prefer the full length books.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews