FORGOTTEN BOOKS #401: SHANGHAI FLAME/COUNTERSPY EXPRESS By A. S. Fleischman

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Shanghai Flame first appeared as a Gold Medal paperback in 1951. It’s a twisty story of China with plenty of suspense as the Communists close in. Counterspy Express was half of an ACE Double (D-57) with Treachery in Trieste by Charles L. Leonard (a pseudonym of M. V. Heberden) published in 1954. Counterspy Express takes the reader on a thrill-ride across Europe. A movie based on Counterspy Express, Spy in the Sky!, showed up in theaters in 1958,

I’ve been a fan of A. S. Fleishman’s work for decades. After writing a series of suspense novels in the 1950s, Fleishman switched to writing children’s literature. In 1987, Sid Fleischman won the Newberry Medal for The Whipping Boy. Over the years, I read plenty of Fleishman’s books to my kids.

This wonderful STARK HOUSE omnibus includes an introduction, “The Magic of A. S. Fleischman,” by some guy named George Kelley.

OTHER STARK HOUSE A. S. FLEISCHMAN OMNIBUSES:
Look Behind You Lady/The Venetian Blonde
Danger in Paradise/Malay Woman
The Sun Worshippers/Yellowleg

21 thoughts on “FORGOTTEN BOOKS #401: SHANGHAI FLAME/COUNTERSPY EXPRESS By A. S. Fleischman

    1. george Post author

      Sergio, I’ve always been a fan of Sid Fleischman’s work. It shows in the INTRODUCTION I wrote. I’ve very grateful Greg asked me to do it!

      Reply
  1. Jerry House

    Two great books! And an introduction by a guy who is rumored to be an international man of danger! What’s not to like?

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jerry, SHANGHAI FLAME is a quintessential Gold Medal book. And COUNTERSPY EXPRESS is a fun thrill-ride. I enjoyed writing the INTRODUCTION about a writer I’ve admired for decades.

      Reply
  2. mary mason

    I don’t recall hearing about the author, and probably wouldn’t read them, but liked seeing their choice of intro writer.

    Reply
  3. Jeff Meyerson

    Ah, what does this Kelley guy know?

    I don’t think I’ve ever read Fleischman but the Stark House edition looks very tempting. I’ve read several “spies on a train across Europe” books but somehow missed this one. Will have to check it out, not least for the G. Kelley introduction.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, one thing that Kelley guy knows is those A. S. Fleischman books! I read them back in the Sixties and loved them. Being able to write about them in a STARK HOUSE volume was a thrill!

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      Bill, glad you enjoyed the INTRODUCTION! One of the astonishing feats of Sid Fleischman’s career was to go from a Gold Medal writer to a children’s book writer. And win a NEWBERY AWARD!

      Reply
  4. Rick Ollerman

    Love Fleischman–great adventure/thriller tales told in exotic places. Should be better known than he is, without a doubt, but when he made the move to YA books that probably took away from that Gold Medal edge. Can’t wait to read your intro….

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Rick, I’m a big fan of STARK HOUSE books. It’s great that they brought Sid Fleischman’s suspense novels back in such wonderful omnibus volumes!

      Reply
  5. Art Scott

    Rats! Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature isn’t enabled for this book, so I’ll have to buy it to read your introduction. Well done, George! Sid Fleischman must have been at either a Bouchercon or the LA Paperback show years ago, because he signed my copy of The Venetian Blonde. That book, and Look Behind You Lady, sport two of my all-time favorite covers, by Bob McGinnis & Saul Levine.

    Reply
    1. David Laurence Wilson

      Art — Sid occasionally made an appearance at the Paperback Convention. He would meet with Bob Wade, an acquaintance from San Diego and have a lunch at the event. He was just one of those who was surprised and gratified by how much interest there was in his early work.

      David Wilson

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      Rick, you would enjoy SHANGHAI FLAME/COUNTERSPY EXPRESS. Plenty of adventure and action. Greg invited me to write the INTRODUCTION and I was delighted to be part of a STARK HOUSE omnibus!

      Reply
  6. David Laurence Wilson

    Congratulations, George. Welcome to the club! Stark House has really served two great writers in particular, Peter Rabe and Sid Fleischmann. I was just thinking today of what a great, supportive guy Sid truly was. A couple days ago I received one of Eric von Schmidt’s original illustrations for The Great Horn Spoon and full size, in color, it blows me away. They made a great team in the children’s books. I’m looking forward to reading your essay!

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      David, wow! THE GREAT HORN SPOON is one of my favorite Fleischman works! You’re right about Eric von Schmidt’s illustrations: they fit with Sid Fleischman’s style perfectly.

      Reply

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