FORGOTTEN BOOKS #253: KARMESIN By Gerald Kersh

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Fans of Ed Hoch’s thief, Nick Velvet, will enjoy Gerald Kersh’s tales of Karmesin, who is either the world’s greatest criminal–or most outrageous liar. All of these 17 short stories in Karmesin have been published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine but it took Crippin & Landru to collect them in one nice volume. Karmesin claims he’s a genius and after reading these crime stories I’m willing to believe it. Blackmail, art fraud, impossible thefts, and trickery feature prominently in these stories. I’m a big fan of Gerald Kersh’s work. If you’re in the mood for some clever storytelling, pick up a copy of Karmesin. You’ll have a couple hours of great entertainment!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction By Paul Duncan
Karmesin
Karmesin and the Meter
Karmesin and Human Vanity
Karmesin and the Tailor’s Dummy
Karmesin and the Big Flea
Karmesin and the Raving Lunatic
Karmesin and the Unbeliever
Inscrutable Providence
Karmesin and the Invisible Millionaire
Karmesin and the Gorgeous Robes
Chickenfeed for Karmesin
The Thief Who Played Dead
The Conscience of Karmesin
Karmesin and the Royalties
Skate’s Eyeball
Oalamaoa
The Karmesin Affair
Bibliography

10 thoughts on “FORGOTTEN BOOKS #253: KARMESIN By Gerald Kersh

  1. Dan

    Kersh had a way about him, no argument there. Yet another writer who deserves to be better known, and it’s good to see he’s not forgotten.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Dan, I thought Gerald Kersh might have found a bigger audience when Harlan Ellison was promoting his work years ago…but it didn’t happen.

      Reply
  2. Jeff Meyerson

    Great choice! I’ve read most of the Crippen & Landru books and this was right up there with the most entertaining of them.

    Reply
  3. George Kelley

    Prashant, Gerald Kersh published hundreds of short stories. I prefer his more bizarre efforts (you can find them in NIGHTSHADE & DAMNATIONS edited by Harlan Ellison. Well worth reading!

    Reply

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