Thirty Corpses Every Thursday

Fredric Brown in the Detective Pulps #6

by Fredric Brown

Book by Brown, Fredric

Genres: Short Stories

193 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Fredric Brown was an American science fiction and mystery writer. He was one of the boldest early writers in genre fiction in his use of narrative experimentation. While never in the front rank of popularity in his lifetime, Brown has developed a considerable cult following in the almost half century since he last wrote. His works have been periodically reprinted and he has a worldwide fan base, most notably in the U.S. and Europe, and especially in France, where there have been several recent movie adaptations of his work. He also remains popular in Japan.

Never financially secure, Brown - like many other pulp writers - often wrote at a furious pace in order to pay bills. This accounts, at least in part, for the uneven quality of his work. A newspaperman by profession, Brown was only able to devote 14 years of his life as a full-time fiction writer. Brown was also a heavy drinker, and this at times doubtless affected his productivity. A cultured man and omnivorous reader whose interests ranged far beyond those of most pulp writers, Brown had a lifelong interest in the flute, chess, poker, and the works of Lewis Carroll. Brown married twice and was the father of two sons.

Reviews

[Two Envelopes And A Phone · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s just SO GOOD at what he does. I have to bump this one up a star, after the re-read. These tales are 5-star pure gold, not 4 stars, gold-plated.

All manner of twists, and frame-ups to be squeezed out of, and greedy scams bleeding death addendums. Rough and tumble tough-guys who prefer their pain-inducing fists over a quick gun…but they do shoot fast, so every one of Brown’s too-curious, dangerously brave average-joe underdogs better beware and check the corners. A handful of creative killers, blackmailers putting the bite on those who’d love to chew them up, big scores hidden away that suddenly no one wants to share. Dark nights, destiny-deciding back alleys, outnumbered and outgunned snoops at their best when things get personal, inheritances to be circuitously manipulated…I’ll stop because I don’t want to spoiler the spoils. Don’t miss this bus; don’t ride the bus featured in the story ‘Thirty Corpses Every Thursday’ (maybe the best and scariest tale in the bin, though my re-read muddies things on this front) - but don’t miss this bus, if it ever comes your way.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty Corpses Every Thursday: Fredric Brown in the Detective Pulps Vol. 6

This is copy 356 of 375 copies signed and numbered by William Campbell Gault.

Contents

5- Introduction - William Campbell Gault
9 - "Murder Draws A Crowd" (Detective Fiction Weekly July 27, 1940)
29 - "I'll See You At Midnight" {Clues magazine November 1942)
59 - "Death's Dark Angel" (Thrilling Detective May 1943)
81 - "Thirty Corpses Every Thursday" (DeTcetive Tales December 1942)
103 - "A Matter Of Death" (Thrilling Detective November 1944)
157 - "Satan's Search Warrant" (10 Story Detective September 1942)
179 - "Death Insurance Payment" (10 Detective Aces October 1943)

[Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a series of Brown reprints done by Dennis McMillan in the 1980's. Good luck finding these. Sort of for completists but worth the time. Like John D. MacDonald, he's one of those writers who always brings something, even to these lesser efforts.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

As others have said, this is part of a series of collections of stories by Fredric Brown. They were published in the 1980's by Dennis MacMillan Publications. They originally cost $5.95 each, which was a good deal even back then; now these same books go for very high prices.

The main problem with this series is that each volume varies considerably in quality from story to story. Brown was always a clever writer and very few of his stories that I have read are really bad, but some are definitely poor. His plots are often quite complex, even in his shorter stories.

My choice for the best story here would be the title one, "Thirty Corpses Every Thursday." (By the way, I have not seen this mentioned, although others very likely knew it; the title is a twist on "Thirty Dollars Every Thursday," a populist initiative in California that became nationally known.) The poorest story is "Death Insurance Payment," the solution of which is, shall I say, unlikely. All of these stories were originally published between 1940 and 1943.

[Gregg Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read short fiction in between novels...so the anthologies and short-story collections take longer to finish.

Fredric Brown is legendary in SF and his crime fiction from his days in the pulps is also brilliant...this is an excellent addition to the noir-mystery bookshelf.