WRITING AS LAWRENCE BLOCK
I. 1958-1976: PAPERBACK WRITER
The first time Lawrence Block's name appeared in print was when his first short story, “You Can't Lose”, was published in the February 1958 issue of MANHUNT.
This now scarce magazine has cover art by Michael. |
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“You Can't Lose” and all of Block's other early crime digest and men's mag stories were later collected in the anthology ONE NIGHT STANDS AND LOST WEEKENDS. |
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The first book published under the byline Lawrence Block was MONA, Gold Medal s1085, February 1961. At least nineteen of his pseudonymous books were in print before 1961. MONA was written as an Andrew Shaw thriller and Block's agent felt it was good enough to send to Gold Medal. The cover copy includes the words “sweet slow death” and the back cover begins “Grifter's Game”.
UK PB: Gold Medal (UK) 652 uses same cover. Not shown.
Below: as SWEET SLOW DEATH – Jove 0515086452, 1986.
As GRIFTER'S GAME – Hard Case Crime HCC-001, 2004. Chuck Pyle cover.
In FIVE GREAT NOVELS, Orion (UK) anthology, 2005. (shown below) |
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DEATH PULLS A DOUBLECROSS – Gold Medal s1162, 1961. Photo cover. An Ed London mystery. Good $15. |
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As COWARD'S KISS – Foul Play Press 0-88150-085-2, 1987, not shown
Carroll & Graf 0-7867-0334-2, 1996.
Not shown:
First hardcover edition: Five Star, 1999.
ibooks 0-7434-5899-0, 2003.
In FIVE GREAT NOVELS, Orion (UK) anthology, 2005. |
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MARKHAM: THE CASE OF THE PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS – Belmont 236, 1961. TV tie-in. VG $25.
UK PB: Consul 1382, 1965, not shown. |
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As YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER – Foul Play Press 0-088150-086-0, 1987.
Not shown:
Carroll & Graf 0786703423, 1996.
ibooks 073445155, 2002.
In FIVE GREAT NOVELS, Orion (UK) anthology, 2005. |
THE GIRL WITH THE LONG GREEN HEART – Gold Medal k1555, 1965. Good $15.
First hardcover edition: Robert Hale (UK), 1980. Scarce. (Shown at the beginning of this checklist.)
Not shown:
Foul Play Press 0-88150-042-9, 1985.
Carroll & Graf 0-7867-0106-4, 1994. Good $5.
In FIVE GREAT NOVELS, Orion (UK) anthology, 2005.
Hard Case Crime HCC-014, 2005. Cover by Robert McGinnis. Cover art and an excerpt are included in Hard Case Crime's SNEAK PREVIEW 2005-06. |
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THE THIEF WHO COULDN'T SLEEP –
Gold Medal d1722, 1966. Photo cover. First in the Evan Tanner series. Good $10.
Not shown:
Jove 0-515-07870-0, 1984.
First hardcover edition: Otto Penzler Books, 1994. Armchair Detective Library.
No Exit Press (UK) 1-874061-54-8, 1996.
Signet 0-451-19403-9, 1998.
Harper Collins 0-06-125806-7, 2007. |
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THE CANCELED CZECH – Gold Medal d1747, 1966. Tanner #2. Good $10.
Not shown:
Jove 0-515-07913-8, 1984.
First hardcover edition: Otto Penzler Books, 1994. Armchair Detective Library.
No Exit Press (UK) 1-874061-58-0, 1996.
Signet 0-451-19404-7, 1999.
Harper Collins 0-06-125807-5, 2007. |
DEADLY HONEYMOON – First hardcover edition, Macmillan, 1967. GOOD $25.
Block's first hardcover. (Note: Most hardcover editions are not shown on this paperback checklist.)
1st PB: Dell 1739, 1969.
Below: 2nd PB, Dell 1739, 1973. Movie tie-in with photo cover.
In FIVE GREAT NOVELS, Orion (UK) anthology, 2005. With GRIFTER'S GAME, THE GIRL WITH THE LONG GREEN HEART, COWARD'S KISS and YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER.
Not shown:
Jove 0-515-08651-7, 1986.
Carroll & Graf 0-7867-0226-5, 1995.
ibooks 0-7434-4559-7, 2003. |
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TANNER'S TWELVE SWINGERS – Gold Medal d1869, 1967. Cover by Robert McGinnis. Tanner #3. GOOD $8.
Not shown:
UK PB: Coronet 0340044012, 1968.
Jove 0-515-0816-X, 1985.
No Exit Press (UK) 1-874061-68-8, 1997.
Signet 0-451-19833-6, 1999.
Harper Collins 0-06-125924-1, 2007. |
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TWO FOR TANNER – Gold Medal d1896, 1968. Cover by Robert McGinnis. Tanner #4. GOOD $8.
Not shown:
Jove 0-515-08187-6, 1985.
No Exit Press (UK) 1-874061-79-3, 1997.
As THE SCORELESS THAI – first hardcover edition, Subterranean Press, 2000.
Harper Collins 0-06-125939-X, 2007. |
TANNER'S TIGER – Gold Medal D1940, 1968. Cover by Robert McGinnis. Tanner #5. GOOD $8.
Not shown:
Jove 0-515-08328-3, 1985. GOOD $5.
No Exit Press (UK) 1-874061-86-1, 1997.
First hardcover edition: Subterranean Press, 2001.
Harper Collins 0-06-126236-6, 2007. |
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HERE COMES A HERO – Gold Medal R2008, 1968. Cover by Robert McGinnis. Tanner #6. GOOD $10.
Not shown:
Jove 0-515-08686-X, 1985.
No Exit Press (UK) 1-901982-20-3, 1998.
As TANNER'S VIRGIN: First hardcover edition – Subterranean Press, 2005. (Not seen.)
Harper Collins 0-06-126238-2, 2007. |
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AFTER THE FIRST DEATH – First hardcover edition – Macmillan, 1969. ibooks -VG $15.
1st PB: Foul Play Press 0-88150-020-8, 1984.
Not shown:
Carroll & Graf 0-7867-0167-6, 1994. |
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ibooks 0-7434-4507-4, 2002. |
THE SPECIALISTS – Gold Medal R2067, 1969. Good $10.
Not shown:
Foul Play Press 0-88150-043-7, 1985.
Carroll & Graf 0-7867-0046-7, 1993.
First hardcover edition: James Cahill, 1996. |
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ME TANNER, YOU JANE – First hardcover edition – Macmillan, 1970. Tanner #7. After six paperback originals, the Tanner series made the leap to hardcover firsts with ME TANNER, YOU JANE. The first paperback edition was published 16 years later. VG $20.
1st PB: Jove 0-515-08516-2, 1986.
Not shown:
No Exit Press (UK) 1-901982-21-1, 1998.
Harper Collins 0-06-126297-8, 2007. |
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RONALD RABBIT IS A DIRTY OLD MAN – First hardcover edition, Bernard Geis, 1971.
1st PB: Manor 12241, 1974. Photo cover.
Not shown:
ASAP, 1995 hardcover. The limited edition included a mockup of “Ronald Rabbit's Magazine for Boys & Girls.”
Subterranean Press 1-892284-56-1, 2000. Softcover. |
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THE SINS OF THE FATHERS – Dell 7991, 1976. The first book in the Matthew Scudder series. Good $10.
Not shown:
First hardcover edition: Robert Hale (UK), 1979.
Jove 0-515-06729-6, 1982. Good $5.
Avon 0-380-76363-X, 1991. Multiple printings.
Dark Harvest, first US hardcover, 1992.
Phoenix (UK) 1-85799-413-2, 1997.
In THE MATT SCUDDER MYSTERIES Vol 1 – Orion (UK), 1997.
Orion (UK) 0-7528-3452-5, 2000. |
TIME TO MURDER AND CREATE – Dell 8701, Jan 1977. Scudder #2. VG $20.
Not shown:
First hardcover: Robert Hale (UK), 1979.
Keyhole (UK) 0-263736-81-6, 1981.
Jove 0-515-08159-0, 1984.
Avon 0-380-76365-6, 1991. Good $5.
Dark Harvest, US hardcover, 1993.
Phoenix (UK) 1-85799-414-0, 1997.
In THE MATT SCUDDER MYSTERIES Vol 1 – Orion (UK), 1997.
Orion (UK) 0-7528-2749-9, 1999. |
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IN THE MIDST OF DEATH – Dell 4037, 1976. Scudder #3. VG $20.
Not shown:
First hardcover: Robert Hale (UK), 1979.
Jove 0-515-06731-8, 1982.
Avon 0-380-76362-1, 1992. Good $5.
Phoenix (UK) 1-85799-415-9, 1979.
G&G, 1995 US hardcover.
In THE MATT SCUDDER MYSTERIES Vol 1 – Orion (UK), 1997. Hardcover (0-752804-92-7) and softcover (0-752805-36-8) editions. With SINS OF THE FATHERS and TIME TO MURDER AND CREATE.
Orion (UK) 0-7528-3701-X, 2000. |
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