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Some Days You Get the Bear: Psychological Terror and Dangerous Guises—Beware the Haunting Beast
The bear is on the prowl in many different guises. He may be the master thief stealing into Graceland, an intense young passenger experimenting in terror, or a psychiatrist haunted by his patient's nightmare. Or maybe he's beautiful, lethal woman in a blood-red scarf. So beware of the this huge, dangerous beast. Because first he will enthrall you.. and then he will strike.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1993
26 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
761 books2,996 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 25, 2019
A big problem with reading older collections is that it's hard to tell if an idea was original or not when first written - a few of the stories have familiar hooks or plots, but to much research would be required to see if they've just been aped or if they are in turn derivative themselves.
June 4, 2019
Lawrence Block is certainly one of the best living writers of crime fiction. His sleight of hand is so pristine that it leaves you mesmerized. Some of the stories in this collection are really good and entertaining. Among such are "Cleveland in my dreams" and "The Burglar who dropped in on Elvis" is particularly worth mentioning.
In crime fiction, the genre of short stories has a spat of prolific writer and without any exaggeration, Lawrence Block stands tall in there with tons of short stories on his credit.
In crime fiction, the genre of short stories has a spat of prolific writer and without any exaggeration, Lawrence Block stands tall in there with tons of short stories on his credit.
June 6, 2025
Maybe 3.5? Of the 21 stories in this collection (I skipped 6), there are really two that are truly outstanding and worth seeking out, while there are another three worth reading if you have the book at hand. At his best, Block is outstanding. Another really fine story, which is not in this collection unfortunately, is “Hot Eyes, Cold Eyes” (1978).
But Block is not always at his best. So one has to sift for the good stuff.
“By the Dawn’s Early Light” [6-]
“The Merciful Angel of Death” [5.5]
“Some Things a Man Must Do” [4.5]
“Answers to Soldier” [From Hitman] [4.5]
“Good for the Soul” [4.5]
But Block is not always at his best. So one has to sift for the good stuff.
“By the Dawn’s Early Light” [6-]
“The Merciful Angel of Death” [5.5]
“Some Things a Man Must Do” [4.5]
“Answers to Soldier” [From Hitman] [4.5]
“Good for the Soul” [4.5]
September 2, 2010
I am a big fan of some of Lawrence Block's work, and not such a big fan of his other stuff. Since this book is a collection of short stories, I had a mixed response to it.
If you are into crime fiction, it is a quick read with a bunch of different stories in it, and I would recommend it. Otherwise, you probably wouldn't be too enthused by what Block has to offer.
If you are into crime fiction, it is a quick read with a bunch of different stories in it, and I would recommend it. Otherwise, you probably wouldn't be too enthused by what Block has to offer.
February 15, 2025
A book of dark short stories, mostly involving murder or some sort of crime. The quality varies, but when Block is on, he is nearly pitch-perfect. I prefer short stories in this genre than literary stories which often, to me, seem to be unfinished scenes from novels. There are three good to great Scudder stories that I already read in The Night And the Music.
The stories:
"By the Dawn's Early Light." Scudder helps exonerate a man accused of killing his wife.
"Cleveland in My Dreams." The rare story with a lighter touch; a man is given advice on dealing with a troublesome dream, but the advice backfires when he passes it on.
"Some Things a Man Must Do." A crime wave hitting the city's notorious gangsters has the police stumped, until an reedy looking little man comes to their attention.
"Answers to Soldier." An early Keller story. Maybe he'll just forget the job and stay in the peaceful little town. Or maybe not.
"Good For the Soul." A man has terrifying, absolutely clear memories of murdering women. The police assure him they're just dreams and the real murderers have been caught.
"The Ehrengraf Alternative." The character of Martin Ehrengraf, the little amoral lawyer, whose clients are, of course, utterly innocent when they have one hundred thousand dollars, belongs up there with Keller and Scudder. This story is subtle, witty, and has twists. I'd read a book or two in this vein.
"Someday I'll Plant More Walnut Trees." A woman stays with an abusive husband, and insists he wants to change for the sake of their daughter. Her mother knows something has to give.
"The Burglar Who Dropped in On Elvis." Debonair burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr is hired by a reporter to break into Elvis' bedroom at Graceland. He has a foolproof plan to do it. Or does he?
"As Good As a Rest." A nice couple goes on vacation and meet another nice couple. There's a spark of attraction. And an abrupt twist at the end.
"Death Wish." A man is stopped from jumping off a bridge by a cop, and later goes to the hospital having swallowed a bottle of pills. Why does he want to kill himself, or does he want to be stopped? I enjoyed this one's twist.
"The Merciful Angel of Death." An AIDS-era Scudder story that's touching, but not really Scudder's style in my opinion.
"The Tulsa Experience." One of the creepier stories, in which a mild-mannered office drone goes on vacation with his brother. Nothing fancy, but he and his brother indulge in some rather outré passions.
"Some Days You Get the Bear." One of the weirder stories. A grown man can't sleep without his stuffed teddy bear, which puts a crimp in his love life until he meets the perfect woman for him.
"Passport In Order." A short slice of noir, in which someone gets double-crossed.
"Something To Remember You By." The creepiest story, in which a female college student gets a ride across country with a young man, a stranger, who gradually starts demonstrating that he may not be a student, she really doesn't know anything about him, and no one knows where they are.
"Hilliard's Ceremony." A couple of Americans in Togo visit a shaman who performs ceremonies that can cure diseases or just improve lives. Straightforward, with maybe a touch of the supernatural.
"The Ehrengraf Nostrum." The lengths that the little lawyer goes to in order to exonerate a man accused of poisoning his wife are hilariously extreme. And then what he'll do for the second man eventually fingered for the crime is the icing on the cake.
"Like a Bug On a Windshield." A trucker gets angry enough to kill the bad drivers all around him and vents to the other truckers. Then he starts noticing the accidents.
"A Blow For Freedom." A man buys a gun and it changes the way he thinks. Played very straight, exactly what it says it is.
"How Would You Like It?" A man is angered by the cruelty to animals he sees around him and decides to give the perpetrators a taste of their own medicine.
"Batman's Helpers." Scudder accompanies some other cops and ex-cops on a mission to confiscate immigrant street sellers' shirts that infringe the copyright of DC Comics, and starts to question the ethics of it.
The stories:
"By the Dawn's Early Light." Scudder helps exonerate a man accused of killing his wife.
"Cleveland in My Dreams." The rare story with a lighter touch; a man is given advice on dealing with a troublesome dream, but the advice backfires when he passes it on.
"Some Things a Man Must Do." A crime wave hitting the city's notorious gangsters has the police stumped, until an reedy looking little man comes to their attention.
"Answers to Soldier." An early Keller story. Maybe he'll just forget the job and stay in the peaceful little town. Or maybe not.
"Good For the Soul." A man has terrifying, absolutely clear memories of murdering women. The police assure him they're just dreams and the real murderers have been caught.
"The Ehrengraf Alternative." The character of Martin Ehrengraf, the little amoral lawyer, whose clients are, of course, utterly innocent when they have one hundred thousand dollars, belongs up there with Keller and Scudder. This story is subtle, witty, and has twists. I'd read a book or two in this vein.
"Someday I'll Plant More Walnut Trees." A woman stays with an abusive husband, and insists he wants to change for the sake of their daughter. Her mother knows something has to give.
"The Burglar Who Dropped in On Elvis." Debonair burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr is hired by a reporter to break into Elvis' bedroom at Graceland. He has a foolproof plan to do it. Or does he?
"As Good As a Rest." A nice couple goes on vacation and meet another nice couple. There's a spark of attraction. And an abrupt twist at the end.
"Death Wish." A man is stopped from jumping off a bridge by a cop, and later goes to the hospital having swallowed a bottle of pills. Why does he want to kill himself, or does he want to be stopped? I enjoyed this one's twist.
"The Merciful Angel of Death." An AIDS-era Scudder story that's touching, but not really Scudder's style in my opinion.
"The Tulsa Experience." One of the creepier stories, in which a mild-mannered office drone goes on vacation with his brother. Nothing fancy, but he and his brother indulge in some rather outré passions.
"Some Days You Get the Bear." One of the weirder stories. A grown man can't sleep without his stuffed teddy bear, which puts a crimp in his love life until he meets the perfect woman for him.
"Passport In Order." A short slice of noir, in which someone gets double-crossed.
"Something To Remember You By." The creepiest story, in which a female college student gets a ride across country with a young man, a stranger, who gradually starts demonstrating that he may not be a student, she really doesn't know anything about him, and no one knows where they are.
"Hilliard's Ceremony." A couple of Americans in Togo visit a shaman who performs ceremonies that can cure diseases or just improve lives. Straightforward, with maybe a touch of the supernatural.
"The Ehrengraf Nostrum." The lengths that the little lawyer goes to in order to exonerate a man accused of poisoning his wife are hilariously extreme. And then what he'll do for the second man eventually fingered for the crime is the icing on the cake.
"Like a Bug On a Windshield." A trucker gets angry enough to kill the bad drivers all around him and vents to the other truckers. Then he starts noticing the accidents.
"A Blow For Freedom." A man buys a gun and it changes the way he thinks. Played very straight, exactly what it says it is.
"How Would You Like It?" A man is angered by the cruelty to animals he sees around him and decides to give the perpetrators a taste of their own medicine.
"Batman's Helpers." Scudder accompanies some other cops and ex-cops on a mission to confiscate immigrant street sellers' shirts that infringe the copyright of DC Comics, and starts to question the ethics of it.
December 21, 2023
Another well written and enjoyable read by the Master Mystery writer Lawrence Block. This Novel although written in 1993, was just recently acquired as I am always on the lookout for one of his books. This Novel contains 21 very interesting Mystery stories which are certain to please the avid reader. Like some people have said, "if you haven't read him (Lawrence Block) before, you've wasted a lot of time. Begin now."
November 22, 2021
A collection of amusing stories from the potboiler king, Lawrence Block. Matt Scudder, Bernie Rhodenbarr, and Keller all make appearances, along with a variety of one-off characters (or, I suppose, people from other Lawrence Block stories I've not yet encountered). Some of the tales are funny, some are dark, most are pleasant.
March 22, 2017
This is Lawrence Block’s 3rd short story collection, published in 1994, an extremely diverse collection that shows the range of Block’s talent and the boundaries of the crime and mystery genres. I downloaded the Kindle edition, even though I know all the stories are also included in Enough Rope (2001), which I also own. I cannot say why I did this, except it seems less daunting to begin a book of 21 stories, some of which I’d read before, rather than one with 84 stories.
I almost gave it a full 5 stars on the merits of a handful of truly excellent stories, except that 8 of them had twist endings, and after a while that pattern became just repetitive enough to deduct a half-star.
Here are my individual story reviews:
By the Dawn's Early Light -- Won both the Edgar and Shamus awards. Later expanded into the 6th Matthew Scudder novel, When the Sacred Ginmill Closes. The story is good in its own right, but the novel is a classic of American crime fiction that belongs on the shelf right next to Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon.
Cleveland in My Dreams – The rare non-crime short story from Block. A humorous tale about two men who have the same recurring dreams night after night.
Some Things a Man Must Do – An older story from the mid-1960’s about a mob war instigated by a single murder. Less polished than the other stories in this collection, but still enjoyable. Feels like Block was trying to channel his inner Donald Westlake with this comic caper.
Answers to Soldier – Nominated for an Edgar award. Gun-for-hire Keller is sent across country to perform a job, but he wonders if he should abandon his chosen line of work and settle down in Roseburg, Oregon instead. This was the first of many black comedy short stories featuring this character; it was later incorporated into the novel Hit Man.
Good for the Soul – A nice twist on a real-life theme: the guy who habitually confesses to crimes he did not commit.
The Ehrengraf Alternative – The diminutive attorney Martin Ehrengraf has never represented a guilty client. They always turn out to be innocent. When one exonerated client does not have the means to pay her legal fees, well… Martin must find an alternative, mustn’t he?
Someday I'll Plant More Walnut Trees—A rich, nuanced tale about different types of domestic abuse. The ending was rather obviously telegraphed, but it is to the author’s credit he can twist events to lure the reader to root for the abuser rather than the abused.
The Burglar Who Dropped in on Elvis—One of my favorite stories in this collection, if only because I used to live in Memphis, and the author captures the spirit of the Graceland experience.
As Good as a Rest—Two couples decide to engage in wife-swapping while on vacation. The crime aspect of the story is not immediately apparent, but when it comes into focus, it changes the reader’s perceptions completely.
Death Wish—Three people try to assist a depressed and suicidal man, but perhaps this is all a prelude to a murder?
The Merciful Angel of Death – Won a Shamus award. A bleak look at New York’s response to the AIDS crisis and an exploration of the murky ethics of assisted suicide. Fits into the Matt Scudder series around the same time as the events in the 11th novel, The Devil Knows You’re Dead.
The Tulsa Experience—One of my least favorite twist-ending stories. The twist was obvious from the beginning.
Some Days You Get the Bear—An excellent tale of a man with a bedtime eccentricity, and of how he found his unlikely soulmate. One of 3 non-crime stories.
Passport in Order—Another by-the-numbers murder tale with an obvious twist ending.
Something to Remember You By—A menacing man gives a ride to a young coed college student. This story is exactly what you expect… until it isn’t. Memorable and well-written.
Hilliard's Ceremony—A cultural diplomat goes to an African witch doctor because he feels he has created no lasting mark on the world. An interesting tale of faith and healing. The third and final non-crime story. It felt incomplete to me—the diplomat seemed to become more attractive to women because of his experience, but I did not connect the dots to see how or whether this solved his existential crisis.
The Ehrengraf Nostrum -- The best of the 12 tales about Martin Ehrengraf. The dapper lawyer frames someone for a crime to get his client off, only to later have to exonerate him.
Like a Bug on a Windshield—A long-haul truck driver fears he may have given a serial killer the idea to initiate a murder spree. This story features a fun, authentic narrative voice, and the resolution is genuinely creepy.
A Blow for Freedom – Nominated for an Edgar award. A New Yorker buys a gun, and it changes him subtly. This is a quiet story with little in the way of pyrotechnics, but the author manages to ably and simply explore all the dynamics of the 2nd amendment debate in the US.
How Would You Like It?—A dark and comedic story of a man who takes animal rights to the extreme.
Batman's Helper -- Explores the murky ethics of copyright trademark enforcement. Lacks punch, but very interesting and informative. Fits into the Matt Scudder series after the 7th novel, Out on the Cutting Edge.
I almost gave it a full 5 stars on the merits of a handful of truly excellent stories, except that 8 of them had twist endings, and after a while that pattern became just repetitive enough to deduct a half-star.
Here are my individual story reviews:
By the Dawn's Early Light -- Won both the Edgar and Shamus awards. Later expanded into the 6th Matthew Scudder novel, When the Sacred Ginmill Closes. The story is good in its own right, but the novel is a classic of American crime fiction that belongs on the shelf right next to Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon.
Cleveland in My Dreams – The rare non-crime short story from Block. A humorous tale about two men who have the same recurring dreams night after night.
Some Things a Man Must Do – An older story from the mid-1960’s about a mob war instigated by a single murder. Less polished than the other stories in this collection, but still enjoyable. Feels like Block was trying to channel his inner Donald Westlake with this comic caper.
Answers to Soldier – Nominated for an Edgar award. Gun-for-hire Keller is sent across country to perform a job, but he wonders if he should abandon his chosen line of work and settle down in Roseburg, Oregon instead. This was the first of many black comedy short stories featuring this character; it was later incorporated into the novel Hit Man.
Good for the Soul – A nice twist on a real-life theme: the guy who habitually confesses to crimes he did not commit.
The Ehrengraf Alternative – The diminutive attorney Martin Ehrengraf has never represented a guilty client. They always turn out to be innocent. When one exonerated client does not have the means to pay her legal fees, well… Martin must find an alternative, mustn’t he?
Someday I'll Plant More Walnut Trees—A rich, nuanced tale about different types of domestic abuse. The ending was rather obviously telegraphed, but it is to the author’s credit he can twist events to lure the reader to root for the abuser rather than the abused.
The Burglar Who Dropped in on Elvis—One of my favorite stories in this collection, if only because I used to live in Memphis, and the author captures the spirit of the Graceland experience.
As Good as a Rest—Two couples decide to engage in wife-swapping while on vacation. The crime aspect of the story is not immediately apparent, but when it comes into focus, it changes the reader’s perceptions completely.
Death Wish—Three people try to assist a depressed and suicidal man, but perhaps this is all a prelude to a murder?
The Merciful Angel of Death – Won a Shamus award. A bleak look at New York’s response to the AIDS crisis and an exploration of the murky ethics of assisted suicide. Fits into the Matt Scudder series around the same time as the events in the 11th novel, The Devil Knows You’re Dead.
The Tulsa Experience—One of my least favorite twist-ending stories. The twist was obvious from the beginning.
Some Days You Get the Bear—An excellent tale of a man with a bedtime eccentricity, and of how he found his unlikely soulmate. One of 3 non-crime stories.
Passport in Order—Another by-the-numbers murder tale with an obvious twist ending.
Something to Remember You By—A menacing man gives a ride to a young coed college student. This story is exactly what you expect… until it isn’t. Memorable and well-written.
Hilliard's Ceremony—A cultural diplomat goes to an African witch doctor because he feels he has created no lasting mark on the world. An interesting tale of faith and healing. The third and final non-crime story. It felt incomplete to me—the diplomat seemed to become more attractive to women because of his experience, but I did not connect the dots to see how or whether this solved his existential crisis.
The Ehrengraf Nostrum -- The best of the 12 tales about Martin Ehrengraf. The dapper lawyer frames someone for a crime to get his client off, only to later have to exonerate him.
Like a Bug on a Windshield—A long-haul truck driver fears he may have given a serial killer the idea to initiate a murder spree. This story features a fun, authentic narrative voice, and the resolution is genuinely creepy.
A Blow for Freedom – Nominated for an Edgar award. A New Yorker buys a gun, and it changes him subtly. This is a quiet story with little in the way of pyrotechnics, but the author manages to ably and simply explore all the dynamics of the 2nd amendment debate in the US.
How Would You Like It?—A dark and comedic story of a man who takes animal rights to the extreme.
Batman's Helper -- Explores the murky ethics of copyright trademark enforcement. Lacks punch, but very interesting and informative. Fits into the Matt Scudder series after the 7th novel, Out on the Cutting Edge.
August 9, 2017
The Third short story collection by Lawrence Block, which once again shows his mastery of the short form. Best Story - "By the Dawn's Early Light". , which became the basis of the best Matt Scudder novel, "When the Sacred Ginmill Closes." It alone is worth the price of the book.
May 28, 2020
Lawrence Block is one of my favorite authors. This book of short stories was filled with great examples of his wry humor, great plotting, wonderful characters (even those who are devious and unlikable).
February 19, 2021
I bought this for the Bernie Rhodenbarr story, "The Burglar Who Dropped in on Elvis". It was cute, but very short.
The other stories were a mixed bag, with more losers than winners. One was so disgusting that I wanted to scrub my memory after reading it. No more of Block's short stories for me.
The other stories were a mixed bag, with more losers than winners. One was so disgusting that I wanted to scrub my memory after reading it. No more of Block's short stories for me.
September 17, 2017
A variety of short stories (mystery, psychological, thriller) by Block including a couple of my favorite characters - Bernie and Keller.
February 11, 2020
Great fast read. Loved it
May 24, 2023
Bernie hooked me on Block but this collection confirmed his great writing across a wealth of fun plots. I particularly liked "How would you like it?" -- clever and straight to the point!
November 22, 2023
Another great collection of Block short stories.
December 15, 2022
8.5/10 - I really like Lawrence Block's short story style. Within a few short pages, he often manages to throw in a curve that I didn't see coming- this even though I know it probably is coming since I 've read 100+ Block shorts over the years. I'd read most of these in previous collections- mainly the huge Enough Rope. But it's been long enough and I've induced enough gaps in my synapses to have forgotten many of the key parts.
My favorites:
By the Dawn's Early Light
Some Things a Man Must Do
Answers to Soldier
The Burglar Who Dropped In on Elvis
In addition to all Block's short stories, I have also read somewhere between 60 and 70 of his novels. I was delighted to learn in a recent LB GR post that there's a new Bernie Rhodenbarr book that came out a few weeks back. And on top of that, there will be another Matthew Scudder novel out in a few months. P.I. Scudder and hitman John Keller are my two favorite Block inventions. So yeah, life is looking up.
My favorites:
By the Dawn's Early Light
Some Things a Man Must Do
Answers to Soldier
The Burglar Who Dropped In on Elvis
In addition to all Block's short stories, I have also read somewhere between 60 and 70 of his novels. I was delighted to learn in a recent LB GR post that there's a new Bernie Rhodenbarr book that came out a few weeks back. And on top of that, there will be another Matthew Scudder novel out in a few months. P.I. Scudder and hitman John Keller are my two favorite Block inventions. So yeah, life is looking up.
January 17, 2026
DNF short stories read one occasionally
July 7, 2013
I'm still unsure what it is about Lawrence Block that keeps me coming back for more. He's created so many iconic character series over the past few decades, yet still remains a great storyteller. I have quite a number of his books, especially the Matt Scudder series.
This rare short story collection - the only one of his that i've come across - features tales published in a variety of magazines, collected into a set. Mostly from the late 80's.
All the familiar characters have a returning role - Matt Scudder, "Burglar" Rhodenbarr, and even "Hitman" Keller - and it feels just like re-visiting old friends. In between these, are other stories that are mostly funny and some thought-provoking, but almost all light-hearted.
Compared to the other short story collection that i was reading concurrently with this (i.e Martin Amis), Some Days You Get the Bear proved a hundred times better and a true joy to read!
Block has perfected the art of writing for the everyday man-on-the-street. His characters are just normal folk who get into extraordinary circumstances. They could be any one of us. But the true gem is how Block writes dialogue. It's snappy and witty and just plain brilliant! He doesn't over do it, or gets preachy about his opinions. Even though some of the stories are barely a few pages long, it would still leave a smile of satisfaction on your face for a tale well told.
It's just a pity that i found this in the Bargain Bin. If you're new to Lawrence Block, this would be a good place to start. And i'm pretty sure, after reading this, you'll do what i did - go out and look for more Block books.
~ Shob
This rare short story collection - the only one of his that i've come across - features tales published in a variety of magazines, collected into a set. Mostly from the late 80's.
All the familiar characters have a returning role - Matt Scudder, "Burglar" Rhodenbarr, and even "Hitman" Keller - and it feels just like re-visiting old friends. In between these, are other stories that are mostly funny and some thought-provoking, but almost all light-hearted.
Compared to the other short story collection that i was reading concurrently with this (i.e Martin Amis), Some Days You Get the Bear proved a hundred times better and a true joy to read!
Block has perfected the art of writing for the everyday man-on-the-street. His characters are just normal folk who get into extraordinary circumstances. They could be any one of us. But the true gem is how Block writes dialogue. It's snappy and witty and just plain brilliant! He doesn't over do it, or gets preachy about his opinions. Even though some of the stories are barely a few pages long, it would still leave a smile of satisfaction on your face for a tale well told.
It's just a pity that i found this in the Bargain Bin. If you're new to Lawrence Block, this would be a good place to start. And i'm pretty sure, after reading this, you'll do what i did - go out and look for more Block books.
~ Shob
May 31, 2016
I received this book as a free ebook on the author's Facebook page. It is a book of short stories that are truly enjoyable. Every story has s twist at the end that you wouldn't expect. I always thought a story was headed in one direction and then it took an unexpected turn at the very end. It brings back some of my favorite characters, such as Matt Scudder. It also introduced a new character that I enjoyed, Ehrengraf. My favorite thing about the book is Block's use of language. I always enjoy it when the author makes me break out the dictionary from time to time.
July 9, 2016
Lawrence Block books are always s good read and I stumbled upon this one at a used book sale. It is a departure from the series', a collection of short stories that were from magazine's and such. His writing is down to earth but just when you think the story will end it takes a quick turn. I kept the book by the bed and picked it up now and then, like visiting and old friend, until every page was turned.
August 19, 2013
Of the 21 stories in this collection, 5 met the four-star standard, a dozen rated three stars, and 4 were disappointingly worth only two stars. At its strongest, Block's writing is quirky and unpredictable, but too often it can be so self-consciously amoral that I don't enjoy the reading experience.
May 6, 2012
I( carried the large-print edition of this around with me, delving into it at odd moments in waiting rooms, and discovered it to be perfect for that. There's some fine stories colelcted here, and the title story is not at all what I would have expected.
March 13, 2013
Love Lawrence Block just not a big fan of short stories, but these were interesting and I especially liked the ones that had his characters like Keller, Matt Scudder and Bernie Rodenbarr. Did not get to finish it, but will next time I go to my sons.
February 14, 2015
A collection of short stories from the 80's 90's. Some pretty good, some kinda goofy. Some could have gone on to a resolution. Felt like they just stopped in the middle of a story. Got a few laughs so not all bad.
Want to read
September 28, 2009AKA: Sheldon Lord, Jill Emerson, Paul Kavanaugh, Chip Harrison, Lawrence Block
February 25, 2019
Awesome short story collection
October 19, 2013
I'd read many of the stores elsewhere. YMMV.
Read
April 7, 2014Title says it all!
February 4, 2017
I don't like short stories in general. This however is like the second or third Block short story collection I have read. And it was good.
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