Friday, June 24, 2011

Forgotten Story: "A Man Couldn't Breathe" by David Goodis (writing as David Crewe)

While looking at Carroll John Daly pulps on Abe last week, I happened to see the issue at right (which I own) offered by a dealer for $750. What the hell??  I've seen some overpriced Daly items, but never one that far out of line. But reading on, I discovered Daly wasn't the reason for the outrageous price tag. According to the dealer, this issue sports the third crime story ever published by David Goodis (the first, according to that same dealer - also under the David Crewe pseudonym - was "The Shape of Murder," in the October 13, 1934 issue of the same magazine, which he will kindly sell you for the low, low price of $1,850).

Now, I'm no Goodis expert, and have no reason to doubt that those are his first and third crime stories. I am, though, a longtime book and pulp collector, and consider those prices absolutely ridiculous. So it gives me great pleasure to present to you, free of charge, that third story, "A Man Couldn't Breathe," from the April 6, 1935 issue of Detective Fiction Weekly. My only regret is that I don't have "The Shape of Murder" to share with you too.

NOTE: Goodis supposedly wrote about 400 pulp stories under various names. If anyone has a list, I'd sure like to see it. Chances are I have others I don't know about, and would be happy to post them here.

ANOTHER NOTE: This issue of DFW introduced Mr. Strang, my 3rd favorite Carroll John Daly character, and the hero of two novels. See my review of Mr. Strang HERE.







Check out this week's amazing Forgotten Books at pattinase.
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12 comments:

  1. Deka BlackJune 24, 2011 at 1:40 AM

    From what you say, i ask myself who must be the pulp writer who used most pennames in his career.

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  2. louisboxerJune 24, 2011 at 5:02 AM

    David Goodis remains one of the great enigmas of american literature. No what name he used, he was a master of the pulp.

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  3. AnonymousJune 24, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Great stuff, thanks for posting it. I enjoyed it a lot.

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  4. Charles GramlichJune 24, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Thanks, for this. I'll bookmark for later.

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  5. pattinase (abbott)June 24, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    This is tremendous fun.

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  6. RittsterJune 24, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. RittsterJune 24, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    There's an extensive bibliography in the 2006 Goodis collection: BLACK FRIDAY & SELECTED STORIES. Find it on Amazon and click the "Look Inside" option, then scroll down to page 426; you'll get the entire list. The list includes stories published as by David Goodis, Logan (C.) Claybourne, Davie Crewe, Lance Kermit, Ray P. Shotwell (pun intended?)

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  8. Evan LewisJune 25, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    Thanks, R!

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  9. Richard ProschJune 25, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Cool story. I do think the guy on the cover is out of place though. Isn't that Romulan Sub-Commander T'al from STAR TREK?

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  10. Evan LewisJune 25, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    Mr Strang does look have a Romulan/Vulcan look. One of these I'll expound upon my theory that Gene Roddenberry was a Carroll John Daly fan.

    By the way, thanks to Mr. Rittster, I've discovered I have one more forgotten Goodis story, in a 1945 issue of New Detective. That's coming soon.

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  11. David CranmerJune 26, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    What a fantastic read that was. Thanks, Evan.

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  12. Evan LewisJune 26, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    Pretty dang good for a 17 or 18 year-old kid.

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