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Bookscout
For a rare book, a desperate buyer turns to violence.
Six days a week, Joel Beer hunts for books in Denver. He stalks them in bookstores and thrift stores, at yard sales and estate sales, his eyes scanning spines quickly and ruthlessly, searching for the $0.25 gem that he can resell for $250. If he were the only scout in town, he might be able to make a living, but there are close to a dozen full-timers now -- including his archrival, Popeye Lamonica -- and Joel is having trouble paying his rent. Facing eviction, Joel and his partner -- a slow-witted vagrant named Lacy -- go on the hunt. They are about to give up when they find an estate sale offering a $0.50 copy of Walter Behr's Something for Nothing that is worth $500. But Popeye sees it, too. To make this treasure his, Joel will do whatever it takes -- even if it means sacrificing his career.
Six days a week, Joel Beer hunts for books in Denver. He stalks them in bookstores and thrift stores, at yard sales and estate sales, his eyes scanning spines quickly and ruthlessly, searching for the $0.25 gem that he can resell for $250. If he were the only scout in town, he might be able to make a living, but there are close to a dozen full-timers now -- including his archrival, Popeye Lamonica -- and Joel is having trouble paying his rent. Facing eviction, Joel and his partner -- a slow-witted vagrant named Lacy -- go on the hunt. They are about to give up when they find an estate sale offering a $0.50 copy of Walter Behr's Something for Nothing that is worth $500. But Popeye sees it, too. To make this treasure his, Joel will do whatever it takes -- even if it means sacrificing his career.
19 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
John Dunning
67 books319 followersJohn Dunning was an American writer of non-fiction and detective fiction. He was known for his reference books on old-time radio and his series of mysteries featuring Denver bookseller and ex-policeman Cliff Janeway.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 17, 2022
It was nice to find a story by John Dunning that I had not read yet. I was sorry to hear that his health has stopped him from writing. As someone who spent a bit of time as a picker for an antiques dealer he gets the lifestyle.
July 7, 2015
A hard winter
Mr Dunning did it again. A few words and I'm in Denver rummaging through book stores for that right one.
Thanks
Mr Dunning did it again. A few words and I'm in Denver rummaging through book stores for that right one.
Thanks
April 4, 2014
This is a short story. And for being so abrieviated, it was captivating.
May 30, 2021
John Dunning writes of the world of books, specifically, the world of selling and collecting rare and vintage books, a world he knows well. This story is about a day in the life of a Denver bookscout, one who searches out vintage and rare copies of books at yard sales and thrift stores to resell to used and rare book dealers. It's not quite as 'tame' a worklife as you would think.
Dunning, whose mysteries are set in the rare book world, also loves short stories as told from the introduction to this lovely short story he self-published as a chapbook:
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED a good short story. A story offers a concentrated moment of truth that’s difficult to achieve in the sprawling expanse of a novel.
He goes on in this introduction to talk about how short stories help the writer to hone his craft while providing income while working on -- or towards -- a bigger work. Once there were many magazines publishing short stories, where regardless of being Hemingway or Jane Smith yoh found a market for your stories and an audience eager to read them. That world is past, the art of the short story is rarely practiced by writers honing their skills, and even fewer read and enjoy them.
I, like Dunning, enjoy short stories. Often I don't want to read a full novel or a complicated story. I read them like an amuse bouche during a meal -- a way to cleanse and wake up the palate, transition from one book to another, even find new authors to appeal to my tastes without commiting to a long read.
Bookscout was just the amuse bouche I needed while in the middle of reading a very different work of literary fiction.
Dunning, whose mysteries are set in the rare book world, also loves short stories as told from the introduction to this lovely short story he self-published as a chapbook:
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED a good short story. A story offers a concentrated moment of truth that’s difficult to achieve in the sprawling expanse of a novel.
He goes on in this introduction to talk about how short stories help the writer to hone his craft while providing income while working on -- or towards -- a bigger work. Once there were many magazines publishing short stories, where regardless of being Hemingway or Jane Smith yoh found a market for your stories and an audience eager to read them. That world is past, the art of the short story is rarely practiced by writers honing their skills, and even fewer read and enjoy them.
I, like Dunning, enjoy short stories. Often I don't want to read a full novel or a complicated story. I read them like an amuse bouche during a meal -- a way to cleanse and wake up the palate, transition from one book to another, even find new authors to appeal to my tastes without commiting to a long read.
Bookscout was just the amuse bouche I needed while in the middle of reading a very different work of literary fiction.
August 25, 2021
An Early Story by John Dunning
The simple story of a book scout in Denver in the '60's is delivered by. Dunning in a straightforward style. He finds a book that will make.his.current debt.go away. But he hesitates. A rival almost ribs him of his find. It's the kind of story that any one who collects or just loves books responds to.
The simple story of a book scout in Denver in the '60's is delivered by. Dunning in a straightforward style. He finds a book that will make.his.current debt.go away. But he hesitates. A rival almost ribs him of his find. It's the kind of story that any one who collects or just loves books responds to.
June 5, 2017
Hardly qualifies on my reading challenge (as this is not a "book" but a short story), yet I want to keep track of what I read, so call it a cheat). A fun, if predictable, story and a welcome trip into the world of Dunning's "bookscouting" for a reader who has, alas, read all the novels.
December 14, 2023
It's really a short story, but fun to read another mystery by John Dunning and see the Denver locations included, along with the fight by used booksellers to discover the best book that will make them, maybe not rich but able to live a little longer!
February 2, 2024
What a surprise! The book was 36 pages but it was very good. Just a nice introduction into a book scout's life with a super twist at the end. I recommend.
Also an easy way to get credit for a book while enjoying the read immensely. :)
Also an easy way to get credit for a book while enjoying the read immensely. :)
September 8, 2024
For Lovers of Stories
It's the story that matters, not how long it is or how long it takes to read. And this is a great story. I’ve enjoyed Dunning’s Bookman novels, but I didn’t realize that he was also a master of short stories. I would like to read more of them.
It's the story that matters, not how long it is or how long it takes to read. And this is a great story. I’ve enjoyed Dunning’s Bookman novels, but I didn’t realize that he was also a master of short stories. I would like to read more of them.
August 2, 2026
Unique short story of rare book hunting
Unique, fascinating short story in which author, John Dunning, portrays characters competing for rare books. Interesting topic in the style of 1950s fiction and noir writers.
Unique, fascinating short story in which author, John Dunning, portrays characters competing for rare books. Interesting topic in the style of 1950s fiction and noir writers.
January 31, 2019
Certainly one of the better short stories I have ever read. Quick read and I never saw the ending coming.
November 3, 2019
Interesting
I wish he would write some new novels. I enjoy reading about the book collector world. This will hold me over in the meantime.
I wish he would write some new novels. I enjoy reading about the book collector world. This will hold me over in the meantime.
March 12, 2020
A new John Dunning
I have read all of his books and I especially like the mysteries about books outing in Denver. Great mysteries.
I have read all of his books and I especially like the mysteries about books outing in Denver. Great mysteries.
November 13, 2021
A short story about a bookscout who finds a rare book
July 10, 2022
How the book scout got started.
October 22, 2023
Engaging
This short story about the world of
bookscouts is also part commentary on the modern world of publishing and reading told well
This short story about the world of
bookscouts is also part commentary on the modern world of publishing and reading told well
December 9, 2020
1998 short story.
And set even further back in time. I mean, how long was it when banks still returned your physical canceled checks to you?
Ahh, the glory days of rare and used bookstores on Colfax in Denver.
Still dicey, even today.
The story itself is about 24 pp long - the rest is taken up by his Intro (Dunning misses the days of mags publishing short stories, and keeping writers in a bit of moola - and how under appreciated Irwin Shaw is as a writer) and promo material for the epublisher.
2 = It Was OK
Cranky old man comments abound in the short text.
And set even further back in time. I mean, how long was it when banks still returned your physical canceled checks to you?
Ahh, the glory days of rare and used bookstores on Colfax in Denver.
Still dicey, even today.
The story itself is about 24 pp long - the rest is taken up by his Intro (Dunning misses the days of mags publishing short stories, and keeping writers in a bit of moola - and how under appreciated Irwin Shaw is as a writer) and promo material for the epublisher.
2 = It Was OK
Cranky old man comments abound in the short text.
January 2, 2020
I have to admit that I read this short story about a man who spends six days a week hunting for books in Denver simply because I miss John Dunning's books. A lot of the things I learned about the value of first editions, etc., I learned from reading Dunning's superb Cliff Janeway mysteries, and if you haven't read them, I do hope you'll give them a try. (The first one is Booked to Die.)
Joel Beer could make a good living as a bookscout if he were the only one in Denver, but he's not. He's got stiff competition, especially from Popeye Lamonica. But when Joel and his partner Lacy-- a slow-witted vagrant-- are facing eviction, Joel is determined to find that elusive book that will pay all the bills and set them up.
What happens is all about truth, the human spirit, and the magic of books. As a rule, I am not a re-reader, but I may have to make an exception for John Dunning. The man is Good.
Joel Beer could make a good living as a bookscout if he were the only one in Denver, but he's not. He's got stiff competition, especially from Popeye Lamonica. But when Joel and his partner Lacy-- a slow-witted vagrant-- are facing eviction, Joel is determined to find that elusive book that will pay all the bills and set them up.
What happens is all about truth, the human spirit, and the magic of books. As a rule, I am not a re-reader, but I may have to make an exception for John Dunning. The man is Good.
May 27, 2015
I suppose I'd give this 3.5 stars
October 10, 2016
Miss this author so much
December 29, 2016
Good short story - too short a story loose ends leaves reader wanting a better ending to this very short story ....
March 28, 2016
Short fiction by a great writer of books about books. Okay, not marvelous.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews