Pulp Fiction discussion

Ive been reading Bill Pronzini's "nameless detective" series in order published and enjoying them. Its about a private detective that actually collects pulp magazines. In the novel Hoodwink he solves a locked room mystery at a pulp convention.

Yeah, it's a great read. Have you tried Quarry? It had a huge impact on me because of the chilling atmosphere of fear he builds. Very powerful and surprised me because of the more conventional mystery writing in previous outings for Nameless.

Not yet Martin. I'm reading them in order of one every month so they won't get stale. I'll hit Quarry in january of 2014. Febuary's read will be Scattershot.

I've read a bit about this series, but never tried it. Would you recommend it, who would you compare it to?

I'm a bit OCD and always feel the need to start at the beginning of a series.... 30-odd books seems a bit daunting though,

I started to read them in the order published and glad I did.I enjoy the way nameless's life unfolds in each book , girlfriends , cancer scare etc. They are all good fast reads in the pulp tradition. Each novel comes in at an average of 200 pages. I would compare it to early Ross MacDonald.

ok, thanks - I'll give him a go, should keep me busy for a few years if I go one a month!

Col wrote: "I've read a bit about this series, but never tried it. Would you recommend it, who would you compare it to?

I'm a bit OCD and always feel the need to start at the beginning of a series.... 30-odd ..."

Col: Just to let you know, you're not by yourself in the OCD department...come to find out there are more of us than I thought. Me being one, too.

Dennis wrote: "I started to read them in the order published and glad I did.I enjoy the way nameless's life unfolds in each book , girlfriends , cancer scare etc. They are all good fast reads in the pulp traditi..."

Dennis - just about to kick things off with The Snatch

The Snatch was the best book I've read this month so far. Roll on April and The Vanished!

I read a bunch of them years ago from the library, since I wasn't finding any in the bookstores. All of them were absorbing private eye novels and really good. I remember one called Demons that was a favorite.

Glad you enjoyed it Col. I finished Scattershot not long ago and it ended with a cliffhanger. Poor Nameless , he has a lot of luck but its all bad! Good pulp fiction but with more sophistication.