Search donherron.com
About DonHerron.com
In 1977 Don Herron began leading The Dashiell Hammett Tour, now the longest-running literary tour in the nation. On this site you’ll find information on current walks — dates, where to meet, arranging tours by appointment — plus a hard-boiled blog with news, reviews of books and film, and a dash of noir.
The latest and greatest edition to self-guide you up and down the mean streets.
Willeford: The Book
Includes the first “Mr. Hunt” story, “Knives in the Dark.”
Monthly Archives: July 2021
Mort: William F. Nolan
A few days after the fact, word drifted in that William F. Nolan died, age 93, on July 15. I scanned some of the obits, all rightly selecting the science fiction novel Logan’s Run as the book of all his … Continue reading
Two-Gun Bob: The Best and the Worst
The discussion of pastiche writing the other day — and how even the original authors didn’t always excel with their classic characters — spurred the noted book and pulp collector Kevin Cook to send in additional thoughts: Well, if we’re … Continue reading
Posted in Lit, REH
Tagged Arthur F. Hillman, August Derleth, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Fantasy Review, Kevin Cook, Sherlock Holmes
Frisco Beat: Kent Harrington in Person in Green Apple
Quick. Before they concoct an excuse to shut everything down again. Get over to Green Apple on Ninth Avenue tomorrow night to see Kent Harrington interviewed by Kevin Hunsanger about his new San Francisco crime novel Last Seen. I’ve already … Continue reading
Posted in DMac, Frisco, Lit, News
Tagged Book Collecting, Green Apple Books, Kent Harrington, Kevin Hunsanger, San Francisco Mysteries
Tour: By Appointment with Drake
The walk I did years ago for science fiction and fantasy writer David Drake, in town to do a signing in Borderlands Books, came up the other day in a blog from Deuce Richardson. Deuce liked the anecdote Drake told … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Splat Like a Cat on the Wall, a Review by Brian Leno
The Shadow. Gangdom’s toughest foe. Wearing a black slouch hat, and a cloak with upturned collar, he carries twin automatics and depopulates the world of criminals faster than a poor relation diving for a seat at your dining table. … Continue reading
Posted in Lit
Tagged Brian Leno, Brian Sitts, Dennis Lynds, James Patterson, Tex Albritton, The Shadow
Rediscovered: Purist Outrage!
The idea that Brian Leno and Tom Krabacher and I cast wary eyes toward the new James Patterson “Shadow” novel recently drove the noted book and pulp collector Kevin Cook into a berserker frenzy. “Why the [sulphurous blasphemy] do you … Continue reading
Rediscovered: First, Classic Shadow
Before he makes an attempt at reading the new “Shadow” novel by James Patterson, Brian Leno selected one of the original pulp era sagas to compare it against. “Pretty close to being done with Gray Fist, one of the earlier … Continue reading
Hammett: vs. Burdine’s
And it sounds like Hammett won, if you don’t factor getting arrested into your win/lose calculations. Brian Wallace pops another Hammett item my way from his constant scouring of the web, but he is provoked to mention, “This really sounds … Continue reading
Rediscovered: More Cap Shaw
A few days ago Brian Leno sent in scans of a book he has that comes from the library of famed Black Mask editor Joseph T. “Cap” Shaw — nothing less than the Hammett-edited Creeps by Night. Today he sends … Continue reading
Posted in Lit
Tagged Autographs, Black Mask, Book Collecting, Brian Leno, Cap Shaw, Simon and Schuster, The Hard-Boiled Omnibus
Rediscovered: A Shadow Puzzle
Brian Leno greets me this morning with a puzzler. “A little quiz for the Mean Streets, Don: Which of these three does not belong?” The reboot or reimagining or defunding of The Shadow by James Patterson came out the other … Continue reading
Posted in Lit, News
Tagged Brian Leno, Doctor Sax, Jack Kerouac, James Patterson, The Shadow, Tom Krabacher, William S. Burroughs