Edward D. Hoch wrote hundreds of short stories. I’ve always harbored a fondness for Hoch’s “Nick Velvet” adventures. Nick Velvet is a master thief. But he’s a thief with a strange quirk: he only steals items that have no value. In The Velvet Touch Nick Velvet steals a bald man’s comb, an overdue library book, a menu, and several other seemingly valueless objects. These clever stories entertain and delight. Crippen & Landru should be praised for keeping these wonderful adventures in print. Don’t miss them.
I think I like Nick Velvet best of all Hoch’s characters.
The Nick Velvet stories certainly showcase Hoch’s originality and cleverness, Bill.
I can’t believe it. My entire comment got wiped out!
Anyway, all the Hoch collections from Crippen & Landru – indeed, all the Crippen & Landru collections – are worth getting. If you subscribe you get 20% off each book.
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My favorite Hochs are the Dr. Sam Hawthorne impossible crime/historical ones, though I like the Velvets too. They’ve also published Ben Snow, Jeffery Rand and Michael Vlado collections by Hoch.
I’m hoping to buy all the Crippen & Landru collections, Jeff.
You and me too. Nick Velvet was tops followed closely by Simon Ark.
I’m going to have to dig out the Simon Ark collections, David, for a future FORGOTTEN BOOKS review.
Don’t know how I’ve lived this long without hearing of Nick Velvet, but that has now been remedied. I’ll be checking him out.
You have many hours of great reading ahead of you, Evan. The Nick Velvet stories are a delight.
Good pick, George, the Velvet stories are terrific. I have read many of them and have this collection in the TBR. At least I think I do, I don’t see it right this minute.
My quibble is this: it’s not really a Forgotten Book, it’s pretty new. It may indeed be an unknown book, but it doesn’t meet the older book criteria. Still, Patti probably won’t object so why should I?
Evan’s comment is a great rejoinder to your quibble about FORGOTTEN BOOKS, Rick. I don’t really look at the publication date of the volume, I focus more on when the original material was published. It’s sad to consider there won’t be any more Nick Velvet stories.
Ah, THERE it is. I knew it was here somewhere. Right next to MORE IMPOSSIBLE CRIMES.
What’s weird about the Simon Ark books was that there were two collections published by Leisure Books in 1971 – THE JUDGES OF HADES and CITY OF BRASS. Even though you rarely saw them here, for years I found them in bookstores all over England! I didn’t keep mine but I have read them.
Can’t believe I forgot Ark, but then Hoch had so many characters it was easy to miss one.
The distribution of those Simon Ark books was spotty around here, Jeff. I found my volumes in Wisconsin.
Well, Simon Ark was mostly published early in Hoch’s career, and aside from “The Oblong Room” I don’t think most of the stories have been widely reprinted…it so happens that my entry today deals with the MAGAZINE OF HORROR, where Hoch published at least one Ark story, iirc…Hoch’s “discoverer,” Robert Lowndes, being the editor of MOH.
You’re right about the Simon Ark stories not being widely reprinted, Todd. I suspect that’s what makes those Simon Ark collections so pricey.
Evan–you needed more EQMM (or perhaps EQ ANTHOLOGY, another subject for my FFB today) in you life back when…
Velvet, Snow, and Hawthorne tie for first in my appreciation of Ed Hoch’s stories.
You have impeccable taste, Bob. I’m a fan of all three, too!
I’ve read many of his stories in EQMM, didn’t even know he had this collection.
There are still a few Hoch collections in print, Patti. Buy them before they disappear!
Hoch really was a master of the short story and the Velvet stories are among his best.
You’re right, Martin. Hoch wrote some dazzling stories. Bill Crider and I consider Nick Velvet his best character.
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