Friday, May 29, 2015

OLD-TIME DETECTION, Spring 2015

(GIVE ME THAT) OLD-TIME DETECTION.
Spring 2015. Issue #38.
Old-Time Detection Special Interest Group of American Mensa, Ltd.
40 pages (including covers). $6.00

Once again Arthur Vidro has produced a publication well worth your time—we're assuming here you're a detective fiction/mystery fan, but even if you aren't you'll still enjoy it. This edition is full of savvy book reviews, information about a film from the roaring '30s, a nicely detailed rundown of a very obscure TV series, and a full short story.

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CONTENTS:

FROM THE EDITOR:
I can't believe seven years have flown by since we lost short-story specialist Ed Hoch.  . . .
DR. SAM HAWTHORNE:
A review by Michael Dirda of Crippen & Landru's latest collection of Ed Hoch's "miracle problems," NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE: FURTHER PROBLEMS OF DR. SAM HAWTHORNE:
. . . Reading Hoch, you need to pay attention to the details, recognizing that every element, even the most trivial—especially the most trivial—is there for a reason: You can shake any of his stories and nothing extraneous will fall out.  
. . . 30-PLUS YEARS AGO:
Reviews by Jon L. Breen of books published from 1980 to 1982.
LOOKING BACKWARD:
Reviews by Charles Shibuk that originally appeared a generation ago.
"LOST" FICTION:
William Brittain's "The Man Who Read G. K. Chesterton" (EQMM, April 1973):
"Oh, don't play the innocent with me. You want to pretend you're that Father Brown chap. The priest who plays detective. Isn't that it?"
AT THE CINEMA:
William Everson tells us about the 1938 flick PERSONS IN HIDING.
MINI-REVIEWS:
. . . Still, after thirty years, the author's imagination, flair, and hard-boiled wisdom make for a fresh, lively, and thrilling reading experience.
CHRISTIE CORNER:
John Curran discusses live theater adaptations of Agatha Christie's plays:
. . . I still see a major distinction between a creator taking liberties with her own work and later "adapters" seeing themselves as more inventive and therefore somehow entitled to change the best plotting of the Queen of Crime.
COLONEL MARCH ON TV:
James E. Keirans does a fine job of researching and synopsizing the 26-episode series from the '50s based on John Dickson Carr's character, only a handful of which were adaptations of original stories:
. . . Neither John Rhode [upon whom Carr based his central character] nor Colonel March in the Carter Dickson short stories ever wore an eye patch. But Boris Karloff's left eye is always covered in one.  . . .
THE PAPERBACK REVOLUTION:
47 years ago, Charles Shibuk took a close look at available paperbacks.
THE READERS WRITE

THIS ISSUE'S PUZZLE

Subscription information:
- Published three times a year: spring, summer, and autumn.
- Sample copy: $6.00 in U.S.; $10.00 anywhere else.
- One-year U.S.: $18.00 ($12.50 for Mensans).
- One-year overseas: $40.00 (or 20 pounds sterling or 25 euros).
- Payment: Checks or cash or U.S. postage stamps.
- Mailing address:
Arthur Vidro, editor
Old-Time Detection
2 Ellery Street
Claremont, New Hampshire 03743
- Web address:
oldtimedetection@netzero.net

Resources:
- See the following for off-site information relating to some of the items covered in this issue:
A brief GAD Wiki listing for Raymond Leslie Goldman is HERE and the same for James Ronald is HERE.
Info about PERSONS IN HIDING is HERE.
Kenneth Millar was better known as Ross Macdonald, as it says HERE.
Alice Tilton also had another name; her book COLD STEAL is reviewed HERE.
A bibliography for John Bude is HERE, while Les Blatt's podcast review of THE CORNISH COAST MURDER is HERE.
Considerably less information about the COLONEL MARCH series than that turned up by James Keirans is HERE.
- ONTOS detailed Issue #37 of OLD-TIME DETECTION HERE.

Category: Detective fiction

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