I’m a big fan of Joe R. Lansdale’s work and you will be too if you read Thing Get Ugly: The Best Crime Stories of Joe R. Lansdale just published by Tachyon Press. The first line in “The Steel Valentine” is: “Even before Moseley told him, Dennis knew things were about to get ugly.” So that’s where the title of this excellent collection comes from. My favorite story is “Driving to Geronimo’s Grave” where two young people are sent to retrieve the corpse of their uncle during the Depression. Lansdale gets the setting right and has the knack (that few writers do) of creating child characters that sound like real child characters.
Joe R. Lansdale has written hundreds of short stories but these are the cream of the crop! Highly recommended! Are you a Joe R. Lansdale fan? GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Foreword by S. A. Cosby –7
Introduction by Joe R. Lansdale — 9
“The Steel Valentine” — 13
“Driving to Geronimo’s Grave” — 31
“Mr. Bear” — 59
“The Job” — 79
“Six Finger Jack” — 85
“The Shadows, Kith and Kin” — 107
“The Ears” — 125
“Santa at the Café” — 129
“I Tell You It’s Love” — 139
“Dead Sister” — 145
“Booty and the Beast” — 169
“Boys Will Be Boys” — 187
“Billie Sue” — 207
“The Phone Woman” — 215
“Dirt Devils” — 231
“Drive in Date” — 249
“Rainy Weather” — 263
“Incident On and Off a Mountain Road” — 277
“The Projectionist” — 299
For me, Lansdale’s short stories follow an old and honored tradition — a tale told on the front porch, and nobody does it better than Lansdale.
I’ve previously read most of the stories in this book and each is uniquely superb. The one tale that appears to be missing is “Night They Missed the Horror Show,” which is hands-down one of the greatest short stories anywhere, anytime.
Jerry, you’re way ahead of me on reading Lansdale short stories. I’ll track down a copy of “Night They Missed the Horror Show” but I think I read it in another anthology years ago. I’ll check it out.
I suspect that Lansdale didn’t want to repeat any stories from his previous best-of collection…not the best idea…”Night…Horror Show” defines Things get Ugly…and then Uglier.
Todd, I have a number of Lansdale books waiting to be read. I suspect you’re right about the leaving out an iconic story. Not the best idea, indeed.
One of the greats without doubt.
Patti, Lansdale writes that he prefers to write short stories.
Absolutely, I had a good friend who corresponded with Lansdale when he was just starting out and he had some great stories Joe told him. I met him through Bill Crider – who else? – at an early Bouchercon, and I can still remember sitting in a DAPA-EM room party discussing horror movies with two mavens, in particular HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP.
I recently read a less inclusive Lansdale collection, with the memorable “Driving to Geronimo’s Grave” the title story. I love the little sister in this one.
Jeff, I love that character of the little sister, Terri! Lansdale is a born storyteller! When I went to the World Fantasy Convention in San Antonio in 2017, I took Bill Crider, Joe R. Lansdale, and a few others out to dinner. Lots of laughter!
I’ve read a few of his works and liked them but his private life bothers me! I don’t read him anymore!
Bob, fair enough.
That has me wondering.