Once upon a time, the Library of America published canonical writers like Henry James and Edith Wharton. Then, a few years ago, the Library of America decided to venture into genre fiction by publishing H. P. Lovecraft and Philip K. Dick. Boffo sales! We readers of crime novels from the 1940s and 1950s know David Goodis was one of the noirish writers of that era. The Library of America has just published this omnibus edition of five of Goodis’ novels: Dark Passage, Nightfall, Moon in the Gutter, The Burglar, and Street of No Return. I really like the cover on this volume that reprints the original paperback covers. I hope the Library of America keeps this feature on their genre fiction collections. And I hope this is just the first volume of Goodis reprints from the Library of America.
Like you I’m a big fan of the Library of America publications. If I had the money and space I’d collect a lot of them.
I have most of the Library of America, Jeff. Diane thinks I have TOO MANY so I’m trying to cut back. But this Goodis volume was a must-buy.
Now that is interesting. I must admit, for a second I thought this was a fan-made cover, so used am I to seeing the likes of Faulkner and Wharton in its place. Those titles included are probably the best books to start with if you’ve never read Goodis, though they are also probably amongst the easiest to get elsewhere (the movie versions probably have something to do wit it). Who wrote the intro, do you know?
Robert Politio is the editor of the this Goodis volume, Sergio. Politio also edited the Library of America’s CRIME NOVELS published in 1997 which include Goodis’ DOWN THERE.
Odd, but pleasing to see Goodis published by Library Of America. As Sergio pointed out, these titles are somewhat easy to get elsewhere, but still a fine introduction to Goodis. Only one I’m not crazy about is DARK PASSAGE, though I’m not sure what would be a good substitute for it.
It’s nice to have Goodis getting this kind of attention. Bet he never imagined this sort of thing happening.
I was surprised to see Goodis getting the LIBRARY OF AMERICA treatment, Drongo. He was a minor novelist in the Fifties, but noir sells now.
I’ve had my eye on this one for a while now. Maybe it’s time…
You’ll really like this LIBRARY OF AMERICA volume, Randy.
No fiction escapes genre. And all the folks who were waiting for LOA to provide pointers to them now are starting to get them…the newish multi-author sf omnibus is also an interesting and arguable selection, coming out along with the Vonnegut.
As you might suspect, Todd, I have that LIBRARY OF AMERICA 2-volume science fiction collection on order even though I’ve read all those books.
So, George, what do you think of the Stephon Gilmore pick?
Love it, Drongo! How do you like Derek Wolfe and Brock Osweiler?
The Wolfe pick surprised me and a lot of other Bronco fans. Who can say? Osweiler I’ve seen play a fair amount. Not the most polished passer, but having Elway and Manning as mentors will help.
Glad you’re happy with Gilmore!
My copy of this one arrived this week. As you know, I have many LoA books and love them all.
I’m with you, Scott. I love the LIBRARY OF AMERICA volumes. I don’t have the whole series, but I have about 80% of the titles.