Tue 28 Aug 2012
The surgery of week before last went well, but I had a step backward yesterday. Not a big deal, according to my doctor, but I’ll have to slow down for a few days. I’ve been thinking about this. I’m going to take his advice — that goes without saying — and go a step further and stop posting here until after Labor Day.
I’ve taken an End of Summer break before. It’s always good to take some time off to deal with things that haven’t managed to get done over the summer — nothing too physical this time! — and that’s what I’ll be doing over the next few days.
Best wishes to those of you in the path of Hurricane Isaac. I’ll be watching news reports and thinking about you. Stay safe!
[UPDATE] 08-30-12. Thanks for all the get well notes, especially Randy’s, which gave me a much needed smile yesterday.
I’m on the mend at last, but I still have to take it easy for a few more days.
There is a post on the EQMM site that I’d like to call your attention to, especially if you’re a pulp fan and Black Mask magazine in particular. It’s written by Keith Alan Deutsch and it’s entitled “Black Mask Magazine, Steve Fisher, and The Noir Revolution.†In it he gives a small salute to Fanny Ellsworth, the editor of the magazine who took over from much more well known Joseph Shaw in 1936.
The changes she made to the magazine have never been given much attention before, and the article is well worth your reading:
August 28th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Have a good break and take care of yourself.
August 28th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Take care of yourself; and we’ll look forward to you returning rested and better recovered.
August 28th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Rest well. Heal well.
August 28th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Be all, Steve!
August 28th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Ahem … Be well, Steve!
August 28th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Steve, get plenty of sleep and I’ll try to stay dry in Louisiana.
August 28th, 2012 at 11:36 pm
Keep well, Steve.
August 29th, 2012 at 11:00 am
Looking forward to your safe return.
August 29th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Slacker, get back to WORK!
August 29th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
I expect you to catch up on all your back reading and stop watching so many movies!
August 29th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Get well soon, Steve!
August 29th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
On the other hand, why not buy that megaset of Dark Shadows packed in a coffin shaped box and watch them and report on your findings when you are done. It ought not to take you more than a couple of years! We’ll wait for you.
August 30th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Steve:
My computer crashed about a week or so ago and am in the process of getting back on line.
Thank god that the place I live in has a public computer (slow as molasses, but it works).
Anyhow, was surprised to learn of your recent health problem and do wish you a speedy recovery. Might have some news for you when you’re up to snuff.
Victor Berch
August 30th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I recently emailed Steve to complain about my health problems(only old friends have the chupzah to do things like that) and he mentioned the groundbreaking article about the influence of Fanny Ellsworth and the possible impact on film noir.
I see that Steve mentions the article in his update above. This subject deserves a separate post but Steve is under the weather right now. Maybe later.
However, I do want to say that I agree that Fanny Ellsworth had a bigger impact on BLACK MASK than she is given credit for during her period as editor, 1937-1940. Joe Shaw did not really want to emphasize humor or give space to the more subjective and noirish writings of Cornell Woolrich and Steve Fisher. As soon as Shaw left, Fanny Ellsworth started publishing writers that Shaw had rejected. I’m talking about Cornell Woolrich, Frank Gruber, etc.
The article is a must read and I recommend that all readers of MYSTERY FILE follow the link that Steve has provided above. By the way, Keith Alan Deutsch mentions an article by William Brandon about Joe Shaw in the literary magazine, THE MASSACHUSETTS REVIEW. Since I also collect these magazine I went to my set of the magazine and read the article which appears in the Winter 1987 issue.
It’s titled “Witness: Back in the Old Black Mask”. This is the best piece that I have ever read on Joe Shaw. William Brandon was a BLACK MASK author but at the time of this article he was working on an opera libretto and had published several collections of poems.
August 30th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Steve,
Thanks for the heads up on the Black Mask article. I’d have to agree with everything that was said. Now I’m going to look for that Mass Review article as well. Anyone who goes to the EQMM link above, after reading the B.M. article, look to the right side of the column and click on the Bill Pronzini article about alternative detective fiction. It’s a real hoot! A very short addendum to “Son of Gun In Cheek”.
Steve, I’m sure you’ve read Bill’s first book. Which of those gems did he pen?
August 30th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Seems like I should know, but I don’t.
Here’s the direct link to Bill’s article:
http://somethingisgoingtohappen.net/2012/08/01/dont-tell-me-youve-got-a-heater-in-your-girdle-madam-by-bill-pronzini/
On the other hand, I do know who wrote this one:
“I looked at her breasts outlined against the soft fabric of her dress, nipples like split infinitives.”