Collectibles

by Lawrence Block

From Publishers “Standouts include Dennis Lehane’s gilt-edged chiller, ‘A Bostonian (in Cambridge),’ in which a wealthy collector of letters of abandonment falls prey to wily blackmailers, and Joe R. Lansdale’s ‘The Skull Collector,’ a gangster yarn featuring gun-toting female grave robbers. Overshadowing everything, though, is Lee Goldberg’s ‘Lost Shows,’ a delightful shocker about a fanatical collector of short-lived and unaired TV shows who has turned his Hollywood home into a mausoleum of lost dreams.” A COLLECTION… OF COLLECTIONS What leads one person to collect stamps and another coins, one fine art and another butterflies? Who can say? But one thing is those who've got the collecting bug care passionately—sometimes violently—about the objects of their obsession. No one covets like a collector; and as you will find in the pages of this brand new anthology from MWA Grand Master Lawrence Block, a truly dedicated collector will ignore the other nine commandments, too, in his quest for his personal Holy Grail. From Joyce Carol Oates' tale of the ultimate Marilyn Monroe collectible to Dennis Lehane's bookseller with a penchant for other people's tragic correspondence, from Lee Goldberg's Hollywood hustler with a collection of unaired TV shows to Joe R. Lansdale's stylish foray into noir, culminating in Lawrence Block's own classic story of a killer with a unique approach to choosing his victims, Collectibles illustrates the range of the collecting impulse and the lengths people will go to in their hunger to possess the perfect piece.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Anthologies, Crime

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2021

About the author

Lawrence 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.

Reviews

[karen]

NOTE TO SELF: you want this because there's an s.a. cosby story in here, but maybe you can track it down elsewhere?

[Kevidently · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I have difficulties finishing books of short stories, especially if those short stories are from a bunch of separate authors. I make it a point to buy these Lawrence Block anthologies because Block is one of my favorite writers (#3 after Stephen King and John Irving, right before Ann Patchett and and John Steinbeck), and I like to support my favorite writers. Unfortunately, what often happens when I pick up an anthology like this, I read one and a half stories and then put the book down and I'm like, do I really want to stop and start like this all the way through? It's weird. I'm weird.

And as it turned out, I'm also wrong. I DID want to stop and start all the way through. This collection (ha!) is so strong, story in and story out, that it eventually stopped feeling like a collection of stories and started to feel like one piece. A BOOK rather than A JUMBLE OF TALES. The deeper I got into Collectibles, the more the volume took on the resonance and excitement of a novel.

Will there be ghosts? Maybe (Junior Burke's "The Evan Price Signature Model"), but not necessarily terrifying ghosts. How about crimes and double-crosses? Yes, to great effect in Joe Lansdale's "The Skull Collector" and "Devil Sent the Rain Blues (Pm 13040)," by David Rachels. Dark hearts abound in Dennis Lehane's masterful "A Bostonian (In Cambridge)" and Block's own "Collecting Ackermans," but there are plenty of good souls, too - look no further than S.J. Rozan's "Chin Yong-Yun Meets a Mongol," or "Bar Wall Panda," by Rob Hart. This collection is bursting with stuff I didn't know I needed. Gay mafiosos (thank you, Thomas Pluck), comic book nerds who have to decide whether or not to be villains (Alex Segura), and a wacked-out Marilyn Monroe robot from the future, thanks to Joyce Carol Oates and her "Miss Golden Dreams 1949."

I at least liked every single story in this collection, but loved most of them. There were so many endings I didn't expect, so many twists I didn't see coming. I especially liked the excerpts from Otto Penzler's Mysterious Obsession, a memoir of rare books he's collected over the years. I am a sucker for stories about books, especially the ones people cherish and fall in love with.

And this right here is a book I fell in love with and am going to cherish. Plus, it introduced me to a bunch of writers I didn't know before that I now need to read more from. Maybe that's the best thing about an anthology like this - it's great on its own, but it's also a map to other greatness far afield. I'm so happy I read this book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read through the anthology, I rated all of the stories and then the book as a whole. I gave the majority of the stories a 5/5 star rating. Although most of them are mystery or thrillers, a few lean towards horror or science fiction, and a couple towards general fiction.

There’s always one or more that don’t sit as well with you as others. For me there was really only one that I didn’t care for as much as the others, “Miss Golden Dreams 1949” by Joyce Carol Oates. It was the one in the collection that leans towards science fiction. I just didn’t really enjoy the story or its tone. Still I can totally see its value to the collection.

You would think it would be easier to talk about favorites, but it’s a little harder because I enjoyed so many of them. I liked the twist in Lee Goldberg’s “Lost Shows.” I also liked the twists in “A Bostonian (in Cambridge)” by Dennis Lehane and “Collecting Ackermans” by Lawrence Block. I thought it was interesting that the two stories about musical instruments have elements of the paranormal in them.

The order of the stories is well done. The collection starts and ends strong and has a good rhythm to it. Interspersed with the stories are excerpts from Otto Penzler’s Mysterious Obsession about collecting mystery books and his efforts in obtaining certain titles. I found the excerpts to be complimentary to the stories.

Overall, I gave the collection 5/5 stars. Lawrence Block did an excellent job as editor. I would recommend this book to you if you enjoy anthologies or maybe even collecting something.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again legendary author Lawrence Block has put out the call to a number of first-rate authors to submit their work for an anthology of stories that are loosely connected by a guiding theme. It's something LB has done several times in recent years to great effect and this collection is no exception.

It's generally a given that any anthology, by the very nature of the project, will be somewhat hit and miss; even with the talent involved here (a significant amount of talent!), this anthology is a bit uneven at times but overall a great read. Most but not all of the tales fall within the greater genre of crime fiction or mystery with a couple having a touch of the supernatural as well. The term "collectible" is pretty broadly defined from one story to the next. They're not all great but none could be considered truly bad.

I would recommend this as a book to read a little bit at a time, not all in one sitting. It would give more impact to those stories that are outstanding, exceptional, or deeply thought provoking. There are several.

***I received a free digital copy of this title from NetGalley

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

Collectibles edited by Lawrence Block is a short story collection dealing with collectors, sometimes strange, sometimes run of the mill. Mr. Block is a published writer of many books.

I’m not a fan of short stories, but at least I have been a collector for most of my life, so Collectibles edited by Lawrence Block called my name. Additionally, I totally missed the part where this is a collection of short stories, and not a novel.

I don’t collect any of the items featured in the book, generally though, the collector’s mentality is the same. Sometimes we’ll go to great lengths to acquire an item which we perceive as valuable (despite that we are the only ones with that perception). Similarly we’ll bend over backwards, physically, mentally, or financially, to acquire a “must have” item to make the collection complete.
Nevertheless to realize that it was the chase that made it exciting.

Undeniably, the stories have the common theme of a collector’s passion. Some of the stories are a bit disturbing, but of course there is only so much one can read about the way to organize a stamp collection. I enjoyed two stories especially Devil Sent the Rain Blues by David Rachel and The Skull Collector by Joe R. Lansdale. In Devil Sent the Rain Blues a collector attempts to acquire a rare 78 rpm record. The Skull Collector is a noir yarn featuring a gang of armed female grave robbers. Between the fiction there are entries from Otto Penzler‘s memoir to give real-life perspective on the passion of collecting.

The book runs the gamut, from a collector of old Hollywood TV shows, to a Marilyn Monroe artificial intelligence doll/replica for the “real” fans. Much like other anthologies I read, some are fascinating, some less so. However, this is a solid collection featuring talented authors. As expected, many of the stories focus on what makes a collector tick, not necessarily their weird and unusual collections.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lifelong fan of Lawrence Block, I pretty much grab anything with his name on it. When this collection of short mysteries came along with the Block Seal of Approval, I grabbed it and was not disappointed. I’d wager there is something here for everyone with plenty of twists and turns. Lee Goldberg’s Lost Shows, in particular, grabbed me by the throat and flung me around for a while. Of course, I had to skip to the Joyce Carol Oates story. Like Block, she is native to my area, Western New York/Buffalo. She never disappoints (unless you’re looking for a book that will cheer you up on a bad day), and Miss Golden Dreams 1949 was no different. Dark and delightful. The collection closes with Lawrence Block’s solid Collecting Ackermans. Block did an exceptional job of pulling together short pieces run through with a common thread, yet not monolithic. It’s a great volume to keep on hand when seeking diversion that will not tax your attention span.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Collectibles from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anthologies. They offer short stories from authors I might not know and often the stories are designed to flex the author's skills. Being short, not only can you read them quickly, you see the story spin to life and reap results, leaving any unnecessary baggage along the way. Most anthologies have a theme, this one is collections. Collections can be interesting in and of themselves, add a little mystery/thrill to the mix and you're sure to find a few stories that will leave you asking your friends......did you read this? I know I always end up sharing my anthologies with friends, family and most of all, the reading freaks I call my circle. They are most definitely going to love this one.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories are a fun introduction to new authors, and a welcome chance to read more stories by familiar authors. In Collectibles, there is a wide selection of very different types of stories, from the unsettling story of the ultimate Marilyn Monroe, to the enchanting story of Chin Yong-Yun Meets a Mongol, to the magic of the blues guitarist reunited with his guitar. As well as the disturbing story about collecting Ackermans.

Thanks to Subterranean Press and Net Galley for providing me with a preview copy in return for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the S.A. Cosby story, Blue Book Value. It's very short but I was instantly transported into the plot. I really liked the way it played with your empathy. Minus a star for the weirdly abrupt ending though.

Spoilers :

The way you're reading from Trey's POV at the beginning makes you really feel bad for his plight, he was the victim of an abusive father, he lost his job, he's hunting for meat, and there isn't a discernible reason why Helen shouldn't let him take her junker car. It's only like 4 paragraphs from the end that you find out he's also abusive... And Helen is a murderer.

[Garrett Nicolai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read anthologies with an expectation that about half the stories will be appealing. It's not exactly a measure of the quality of the stories, just that I know that some will be more in-line with my tastes than others.

This was a fantastic anthology. Roughly 80% of the stories hit, and the ones that didn't still worked. I've discovered a handful of new authors, and another handful have climbed up my TBR. For such an eclectic bunch of stories, they work really well.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection. There is a nice variety of stories, characters, and settings here. Lawrence Block is of course a very talented author, so he should know how to selected good stories. I think he succeeded. I won't review the individual stories, but recommend this to literary short story readers.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

[Joe Gaspard · Rating 5 out of 5]

a germ of an idea

I forget how Block put it in his introduction, but for anthologies he likes to give the prospective authors a topic that will spark their creativity. It has certainly worked with this collection — there is depth, breadth, and great variety in how the various writers chose to include “collecting” in their stories. Fun stuff.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guitar store. Banjo bang. Runners' medals and war medals. Fiction and fact. A very varied collection of stories about collections. Collect this!

[Sercalunna Pautasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories by authors I loved or new to me. I enjoyed this book and found the stories intriguing.
I received this arc from the publisher via Netgalley

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of very different collection stories for all tastes. For me it was good here and not so good
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read at least four of the stories before, but it wasn't bad