Editorial Content for Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Mickey Spillane is the most popular and influential pulp writer of all time. His first novel, I, THE JURY, and six subsequent titles were read by enough people to make him the best-selling novelist in the history of American publishing. Critics hated his books probably because they were uncomfortable with his depiction of sex and violence. But his tough-guy style of writing, epitomized by private detective Mike Hammer, resulted in book sales surpassing 200 million.
"There is so much here to sink your teeth into and enjoy. Great biographies must capture the individual portrayed --- his spirit, his accomplishments, and the times in which he lived and worked. SPILLANE does all of this so expertly that it reads almost as well as a Spillane novel."
Spillane’s success sometimes led to feuds. He and Ernest Hemingway were two of America’s top writers post-World War II. But they did not get along. A Florida Keys restaurant that Hemingway frequented proudly displayed his picture. Spillane went into the establishment one evening, and a picture was requested, taken and placed on the wall. On his next visit, an angry Hemingway told the owner, “Take him down or take me down!” Hemingway’s photo was soon gone.
After Spillane’s death, Max Allan Collins continued the Mike Hammer series. He also teamed up with James L. Traylor to pen MICKEY SPILLANE ON SCREEN. Their knowledge and respect for their subject are clearly displayed in SPILLANE: King of Pulp Fiction, a superbly written and exhaustive portrayal of the life of a writer who changed the mystery genre in the last half of the 20th century.
One of the more interesting details of Spillane’s career surrounds the publishing history of I, THE JURY. Spillane wanted it released immediately as a paperback. During WWII, books were provided to the military in this format. Obviously, they were smaller and lighter than hardcovers and could be transported more easily. I, THE JURY initially came out with a small hardback printing of 5,000, but it was the paperback version that experienced exploding sales. Spillane correctly predicted and shaped what eventually would be a new market for American publishers and readers. Until the advent of e-books, paperbacks fueled the publishing industry.
There is so much here to sink your teeth into and enjoy. Great biographies must capture the individual portrayed --- his spirit, his accomplishments, and the times in which he lived and worked. SPILLANE does all of this so expertly that it reads almost as well as a Spillane novel. While it’s still very early in the year, this massive achievement is a leading candidate for inclusion on my list of best biographies of 2023.
Teaser
Beginning in 1947 with I, THE JURY and continuing with his next six novels, Mickey Spillane quickly amassed a readership in the tens of millions, becoming the bestselling novelist in the history of American publishing. There is, however, more to Spillane’s life than the books. He also starred as Mike Hammer in a movie, was a circus performer, worked with the FBI in capturing a notorious criminal, and starred in Miller Light beer commercials that were so popular they ran for a quarter of a century. Max Allan Collins became Spillane’s friend and collaborator, continuing the Mike Hammer series for years after the author's death. Now, with co-author James Traylor, Collins has produced the first comprehensive and authoritative profile of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.
Promo
Beginning in 1947 with I, THE JURY and continuing with his next six novels, Mickey Spillane quickly amassed a readership in the tens of millions, becoming the bestselling novelist in the history of American publishing. There is, however, more to Spillane’s life than the books. He also starred as Mike Hammer in a movie, was a circus performer, worked with the FBI in capturing a notorious criminal, and starred in Miller Light beer commercials that were so popular they ran for a quarter of a century. Max Allan Collins became Spillane’s friend and collaborator, continuing the Mike Hammer series for years after the author's death. Now, with co-author James Traylor, Collins has produced the first comprehensive and authoritative profile of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.
About the Book
The first-ever biography of the most popular and most influential pulp writer of all time, written by the collaborator who knew him best.
There has never been a full-length biography of Mickey Spillane, the most popular and influential mystery writer of his era --- until now.
Beginning in 1947 with I, THE JURY and continuing with his next six novels, Spillane quickly amassed a readership in the tens of millions, becoming the bestselling novelist in the history of American publishing. Surrounded by controversy for the overt violence and suggestive sexual content of his iconic Mike Hammer private eye novels, Spillane was loathed by critics but beloved by his readers.
There is, however, more to Spillane’s life than the books. He also starred as Hammer in a movie, was a circus performer, worked with the FBI in capturing a notorious criminal, and starred in Miller Light beer commercials that were so popular they ran for a quarter of a century.
Max Allan Collins became Spillane’s friend and collaborator, continuing the Mike Hammer series for years after the author's death, building upon unfinished manuscripts the writer left behind. Now, with co-author James Traylor, Collins has produced the first comprehensive and authoritative profile of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. It is a must-read for any fan of the author --- or of the generations of crime writers that were influenced by his work.
