Otto Penzler’s BIG Books

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  • Опубліковано 21 сер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 94

  • @PaperbackJourneys
    @PaperbackJourneys Рік тому +20

    The bloke has style, panache, and great taste in books. These colonials might yet stand a chance. Great video mate.

  • @michaelblessing5852
    @michaelblessing5852 Рік тому +8

    I look forward to Thanksgiving every year which is the start of my season for reading Christmas mysteries. I like the type of story where the whole dysfunctional family is gathered at the patriarch's manor house, they get snowed in, and then someone is murdered (perhaps in a locked room).

  • @art.and.lit.matters
    @art.and.lit.matters Рік тому +5

    Beautifully done Michael.
    Penzler sometimes feels like he is whole consortium of literary scholars, popular culture historians, book dealers, editors and promoters of mystery writers but its just warm-hearted and brilliant Otto.
    When Heritage Auction house sold Penzler's collection of mystery firsts it broke dozens of records.
    You are right to single out the Black Mask volume as being of special importance. It is impossible to overestimate the influence of "Black Mask" on twentieth century mystery writers. But it's a case where influence spills well beyond genre lines.
    Hammett's first Black Mask story appeared in 1922 which is Modernisms watershed year of "The Wasteland" and "Ulysses." But it was Hammett's clipped and minimal prose that managed still to reveal whole worlds human drama and struggle at those shadowy entanglements of desire and crime that might just have been the most influential literary event of the year carving out an aesthetic novelists like Hemingway would quickly move into.
    The facsimile "time capsule" effect of the Black Mask volume is breathtaking. I'm so glad the illustrations are there. It's easy to tumble back into the1920s and imagine the raw beauty and urgency of those amazing stories that gave voice to a darker layer of psyche and soul.
    Great Job with the big books, with Penzler and with Black Mask. You just got yourself a fan and sub.

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +4

      Yes, that Black Mask volume is an incredible book.

    • @art.and.lit.matters
      @art.and.lit.matters Рік тому +3

      @@michaelk.vaughan8617 You inspired me to make and post and video about "Black Mast. I would Love to know what you think. Thomas

  • @skooter6235
    @skooter6235 17 днів тому

    I have most of them, they are an incredible value. I will buy almost anything with Black Lizard on it. The Sherlock Holmes one sits on my nightstand

  • @disshelvedwithadamwhite8731
    @disshelvedwithadamwhite8731 Рік тому +3

    I am envious of your Big Book collection. It is awesome. And that you have the room for it. Man I’ve got to stop getting so many physical books…

    • @carenome1
      @carenome1 Рік тому

      No. Just build an addition!

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +1

      Space is an issue! I’m going to have to excavate another vault.

  • @saintdonoghue
    @saintdonoghue Рік тому +2

    It's only when I see them all together like this that I realize just how many of these volumes I have - and how many of them I've gone back to over and over again -

  • @GaryMartinDobbs
    @GaryMartinDobbs 19 днів тому

    I've got the Big book of the Pulps, as well as villians and the crinefighters. Got to find the others. great video

  • @nedmerrill5705
    @nedmerrill5705 Рік тому +2

    I got the _Big Book of Pulps._ Got it for my birthday years ago. Great fun! Learned a lot about the old crime fiction writers. I didn't know there were SO MANY BIG BOOKS!! Otto Penzler has indeed done a great service.

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому

      He really has. And he just keeps on coming with these books.

    • @dionisisparginos3808
      @dionisisparginos3808 5 місяців тому

      @@michaelk.vaughan8617 they can help write a story for my grafic novel also could you do a video about these books please : The Long Moonlight, Death Mask by razorfist, L. Ron Hubbard , The Western Pulp Hero: An Investigation into the Psyche of an American Legend, The Adventure MEGAPACK, Pulp Fiction: The Crimefighters , Pulp Fiction: The Villains: An Omnibus , Ultra Wild West: The Art of Italian "Spaghetti Western" Film Posters, Doc Savage: The Ice Genius, Rick Lai's Major Sabbath, The Pulp Western Anthology by J. Walker Blue, but i really need your opinion on these two books please, Pulp on Pulp: Tips and Tricks for Writing Pulp Fiction by Kit Sun Cheah and last but nor least How to Write Pulp Fiction by James Scott Bell i hope i video the last two books if you are intersted if not keep doing good videos like this one

  • @daniellethebluegrassreader1194

    Penzler's anthologies are wonderful!!! They are great to dip in and out of. I can definitely recommend the Christmas one.🎄📚😊

  • @vilstef6988
    @vilstef6988 Рік тому

    My favorite Holmes pastiche is a short story by Gene Wolfe called Slaves of Silver.

  • @vickiragland8066
    @vickiragland8066 Рік тому +1

    Thanks for posting this today. I needed to listen to an intelligent reader today.

  • @troytradup
    @troytradup Рік тому +1

    Oh, very cool to see most of those are available as ebooks! I have no more physical space.

  • @theemptyatom
    @theemptyatom Рік тому

    With so many big books, there needs to be the Big Book of Big Books.

  • @FrankGrauJr
    @FrankGrauJr Рік тому +6

    These kinds of videos make me want to spend more money on books... as if I don’t have more than I’ll ever be able to read. Great video! ...
    Question: How much overlap in content will prevent you from purchasing a new book? Or do you continue buying different editions of the same stories regardless of whether you already own it? (Not counting Dracula or Conan, of which I see you have various editions). I’m only asking because shelf space is finite, and if I had to start storing books out of sight in boxes or the garage, it wouldn’t be worth owning. Part of my enjoyment of books is surrounding myself with them in my studio and displaying those with nice designs, so storing them away would be like not having them at all. At that point, I would rather trim the fat and sell stuff that least interests or inspires me. It’s the old “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without”.

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +1

      There is that issue when it comes to anthologies. Of course, I don’t mind storing my books the way I do because they are very accessible. Well, mostly 🙄.

  • @dqan7372
    @dqan7372 Рік тому +1

    Fun collections. Think I have two. Would get the whole bunch if I had the room.

  • @supernova1969
    @supernova1969 Рік тому +1

    Thank you again for this very interesting video. I am really indebted to your enormous end extensive knowledge.

  • @Michael_R1957
    @Michael_R1957 Рік тому +1

    Great video. Michael, you are correct, the Big Book of Black Mask Stories is indeed the ONLY place where you can get the serialized (magazine) version of “ The Maltese Falcon “.

    • @art.and.lit.matters
      @art.and.lit.matters Рік тому

      High Michael R. I've loved "Black Mask" for decades and Hammett in Black Mask is endlessly fascinating. I was inspired by this video to make my own video on "Black Mask." You might enjoy it.

  • @danielmarlett1421
    @danielmarlett1421 Рік тому

    These look Amazing. Ordered the pulp one and will probably get the series. Thanks for bringing this to my attention

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +1

      Glad to. I hope you will enjoy it. It certainly is hours of entertainment!

  • @NP-Hunt
    @NP-Hunt Рік тому

    I literally want the complete collection of Otto Penzler anthologies. Between the recommendations from Steve, and now this video, I'm just like 'take my money!'

  • @2024FingersCrossed
    @2024FingersCrossed Рік тому

    I love his books!

  • @TheMmfam
    @TheMmfam Рік тому

    Christmas Mysteries are a thing indeed. You should add it to your library. It's a good read. Like all of the Otto anthologies!

  • @thirdspacemaker9141
    @thirdspacemaker9141 Рік тому

    Oh, you shouldn’t sleep on Christmas mysteries! They’re often great. I used to buy Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine every month. I still remember the look my boss gave me one year (probably 2008 or 2009) when I was reading at lunch and the cover story was “Chainsaw Nativity.” 😂
    My local library currently has 5 from this list and 21 catalog hits for Otto Penzler. I know they have had more in the past (like the Black Mask one), but I imagine paperbacks of that size do not handle frequent loaning out very well. I’ve never read an entire anthology, but what I read of the female detective book was very good.

  • @masonbricke4568
    @masonbricke4568 Рік тому

    We don't confer knighthood in this country, but if we did, I would suggest Mr. Penzler for that honor. His big books will not only be enjoyed by readers of this decade, but for many years to come. I imagine he has rescued many obscure titles from eventual oblivion with these collections.

  • @thekeywitness
    @thekeywitness Рік тому +1

    I have the Pulps, Black Mask and Adventure volumes. They’re very cool. I had no idea there so many others. I’d love to have them all but I’m concerned that I’d not read enough of them to justify the shelf space.

  • @anotherbibliophilereads
    @anotherbibliophilereads Рік тому

    I have read The Big Book of Pulps in paperback and audiobook. It took about a year to finish piecemeal. I’m on the look out for another. Maybe the Ghosts.

  • @drewanderson6039
    @drewanderson6039 Рік тому +1

    Oh look, one of Michael’s videos costing me money. Again. ;)
    I *think* the following lists encompass all of the Big Books, but anyone, feel free let me know if I missed any!
    Penzler-Edited:
    The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps (2007)
    The Vampire Archives (2009)
    The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories (2010)
    The Big Book of Adventure Stories (2011)
    Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! (2011)
    The Big Book of Ghost Stories (2012)
    The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries (2013)
    The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries (2014)
    The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories (2015)
    The Big Book of Jack the Ripper (2016)
    The Big Book of Rogues and Villains (2017)
    The Big Book of Female Detectives (2018)
    The Big Book of Reel Murders (2019)
    The Big Book of Espionage (2020)
    The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries (2021)
    Non-Penzler:
    The Weird (Jeff & Ann VanderMeer, 2012) [Not *technically* a “Big Book” in either name or publisher, but similarly sized, and the editors would go on to do three Big Books.]
    The Big Book of Science Fiction (VanderMeers, 2016)
    The Big Book of the Continental Op (Richard Layman & Julie Rivett, 2017)
    The Big Book of Classic Fantasy (VanderMeers, 2019)
    The Big Book of Modern Fantasy (VanderMeers, 2020)

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому

      Yeah, I’m pretty sure you got them all. Sorry to cost you money 💰!

  • @mikebrough3434
    @mikebrough3434 Рік тому

    I've had the Christmas Mysteries volume for a few years now and I've read two or three new stories in the run-up to each Christmas since. A great collection of stories but not one to read in one fell swoop!

  • @CriminOllyBlog
    @CriminOllyBlog Рік тому

    That’s a pretty amazing collection, I have Locked Room and Pulps but I definitely need to pick up some of the others.

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +1

      You do! This is your kind of stuff.

    • @CriminOllyBlog
      @CriminOllyBlog Рік тому

      @@michaelk.vaughan8617 it really is! Plus Penzler was pals with McBain I believe

  • @sandyokey7728
    @sandyokey7728 Рік тому

    I have the Christmas book but I really want the Vampire Archives next! And Ghost Stories! I don’t know if I knew this and forgot it, but I didn’t realize he was the founder of the mysterious press. I knew about the bookstore and a visit there is definitely on my bucket list. You have such a great collection❤️

  • @fatherscottalbergate
    @fatherscottalbergate Рік тому

    Great video but I must tell you: The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries is terrific.

  • @briteskin
    @briteskin Рік тому

    I'd been seeing pulp collections here and there in the Diamond Comics Previews and decided to take a chance and preordered one that should be here with my comics this week.
    To bad I didn't see this before I made that order so could have not taken the shot in the dark. Though still excited to check out the book I ordered. It will be taking a back seat to Stephen King 'Fairy Tale' though that I am getting this week too.

  • @denisadellinger4543
    @denisadellinger4543 Рік тому

    Holy moly, Grandpa! Thems are some awful big books! I'd probably like to read that Women's detective anthology and the Victorian book. I just love how the publishers got so excited about Zombies that they had to name it three times. Just to make sure that the zombies would get us. We can't resist Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!

  • @daviddandrea6491
    @daviddandrea6491 Рік тому +1

    Love these too. Ever consider looking at Mike Asley anthologies? Many were Mammoth Books.

  • @snowysnowyriver
    @snowysnowyriver Рік тому +1

    The problem is this.....after every visit to Stately Vaughan Manor I end up drooling over the books I haven't got and now desperately want. I've ordered the Christmas Big Book in Otto's list of publications. Something to read before bedtime in December. No twee tales in his collection though! Christmas seen from a more "hard boiled" viewpoint!

    • @art.and.lit.matters
      @art.and.lit.matters Рік тому

      “Drooling over” is right. Those Penzler big books kind of redefine “yummy.” You spoke of loving “Brideshead Revisited” in an earlier post. I plunge into the transporting magic of that world at least once a year and have for decades.

    • @snowysnowyriver
      @snowysnowyriver Рік тому

      @@art.and.lit.matters That is a beautiful book. It works in so many ways with some very deep themes woven into what sometimes seem deceptively simple chapters. Have you read the Sword of Honour trilogy? If you love Brideshead, you will love Sword of Honour! Guy Crouchback is one of my top ten favourite characters. Waugh's writing is sublime.

    • @art.and.lit.matters
      @art.and.lit.matters Рік тому

      @@snowysnowyriver I'm grateful for your note since I read "Men at Arms" perhaps forty years ago and loved it but did not realize it was the first book in a trilogy. Waugh would love your use of the word "sublime" to describe his work. I like authors who long after reading their work you can close your eyes and enter their fictional universe and it feels vivid, transporting and so very real. Waugh often creates that transporting magic. I'm sort of stuck on Black Mask authors this week revisiting early Hammett. I'm also working on a video on Dorothy Hughes. I will pick up the "Sword of Honor" trilogy. Thank you again for the suggestion. Best Wishes, Thomas

    • @snowysnowyriver
      @snowysnowyriver Рік тому

      @@art.and.lit.matters I don't know how you feel about screen adaptations, but a nice miniseries was made of Sword of Honour with Daniel Craig as Guy Crouchback. I approached it with caution because sometimes it feels like a betrayal to watch something on screen that was so wonderful in print. But, give Craig and the team their due, it's a good production. One thing I did like was they managed to get that sense of almost surreal humour into it without jarring one out of the story. They managed to hit the right note in the same way that the TV series of Brideshead did. Nothing will ever surpass the books, but both were a lot of fun to watch.

    • @art.and.lit.matters
      @art.and.lit.matters Рік тому

      @@snowysnowyriver I love books so much but I'm absolutely fine with screen adaptions and film versions. In fact the 1981 version of Brideshead is high on my list of best films (or series) of all time. I will definitely check it out Sword of Honor. Daniel Craig is one of my son's favorite actors so maybe I'll watch it with him next time he visits. This is great. Usually I'm the one making recommendations. You've just put both books and films on my to read and to watch list. Do you ever read mysteries? I recently had so much fun rereading all of Ross Macdonald. Before that I was on a Nicholas Blake binge which is extra fun for me since I grew up liking the poetry of C. Day Lewis and didn't figure out the connection till I was thirty.

  • @AndrewBuckleBookReviews
    @AndrewBuckleBookReviews Рік тому

    Got a few of them, also just ordered the Christmas one (as well Adventure one) - great video as ever - I love a book on Christmas mysteries (especially to read at Christmas in 111 or so days) ! The British Library has bought out a few as well

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +1

      I ended up ordering the Christmas one.

    • @AndrewBuckleBookReviews
      @AndrewBuckleBookReviews Рік тому

      @@michaelk.vaughan8617 Certain is very good, looking forward to getting my copy. Got the Adventure one on as a bid, that looks great as well

  • @Toracube
    @Toracube Рік тому

    I have nearly all of them. Thought the same about the Xmas one lol. Just got penzlers smaller greatest Russian stories of crime and suspense which I’m enjoying a lot.

    • @anthonystark8802
      @anthonystark8802 10 місяців тому

      Does each and every book have illustrations in them?

  • @bigphilly7345
    @bigphilly7345 Рік тому +1

    I own all the Big Books. They’re an awesome idea but I find the big, bulky phone book format difficult to read.

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +1

      I’ve heard that from a few people. For some reason I don’t have a problem with them.

    • @bigphilly7345
      @bigphilly7345 Рік тому

      @@michaelk.vaughan8617 Don’t get me wrong, it’s worth the effort thanks to the content. These books aren’t suited for horizontal reading on couch (my favorite) but would work well flat on desk or table.

  • @DDB168
    @DDB168 Рік тому

    I wish he had a big book of War stories. I might try the locked room mysteries.

  • @txmatt2112
    @txmatt2112 Рік тому

    I have obtained three of his books for free and will be pulling them down shortly.

  • @FrankGrauJr
    @FrankGrauJr Рік тому

    Seems to me like double-columned pages fit less text because there’s wasted space in the gap between columns where text could have occupied had the text filled the page. I suspect the double columns is to replicate the original pulps (or perhaps the books were printed using original stats).

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому

      Actually, you do get more text on the page with double columns. That’s why the pulps used them. That’s also why a lot of old Bibles used them, to cut down the page count. Whenever you see them in a book, that’s why.

  • @rickcroucher
    @rickcroucher Рік тому

    I have them all on my shelf. The Christmas mysteries bug book was well worth the reading. You should try it. I'm happy to have them in front of me now. I am also happy that you have brought them onto your channel so that others can go find them. Thanks.

  • @glockensig
    @glockensig 7 місяців тому

    Did he ever come out with The Big Book of Michael Vaughan duplicate stories?

  • @sgriffin9960
    @sgriffin9960 Рік тому

    I have The Big Book of Espionage on my TBR list. I do like me some spy stories! 🕵️‍♀️ Penzler’s shop, has a newsletter you can subscribe to and I’m always finding cool stuff in there!

  • @knapalo
    @knapalo Рік тому +1

    I wonder how these are on a Kindle? Are they loaded with artwork?

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому

      I actually don’t have any kindle copies of these, so I’m not sure how well they are formatted or how they handle the illustrations.

  • @anthonystark8802
    @anthonystark8802 10 місяців тому

    Does all of these books have illustrations?

  • @ricke.2205
    @ricke.2205 Рік тому

    I'm surprised they haven't yet done "Science Fiction" or "Steampunk."
    And, is it me or, has steampunk kind of fallen by the wayside?

    • @michaelk.vaughan8617
      @michaelk.vaughan8617  Рік тому +1

      There is a Big Book of science fiction but it was edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer.

  • @kuba70834
    @kuba70834 Рік тому

    If i buy Big Book Of Pulps, and The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories i wonder if some stories will be repeated? Or it's two different volumes?

  • @MagusMarquillin
    @MagusMarquillin Рік тому

    O.O have you read them all?