Otto Penzler’s BIG Books

[@PaperbackJourneys]

The bloke has style, panache, and great taste in books. These colonials might yet stand a chance. Great video mate.

[@michaelblessing5852]

I look forward to Thanksgiving every year which is the start of my season for reading Christmas mysteries. I like the type of story where the whole dysfunctional family is gathered at the patriarch's manor house, they get snowed in, and then someone is murdered (perhaps in a locked room).

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That sounds like my in-laws.

[@saintdonoghue]

It's only when I see them all together like this that I realize just how many of these volumes I have - and how many of them I've gone back to over and over again -

[@art.and.lit.matters]

Beautifully done Michael. Penzler sometimes feels like he is whole consortium of literary scholars, popular culture historians, book dealers, editors and promoters of mystery writers but its just warm-hearted and brilliant Otto. When Heritage Auction house sold Penzler's collection of mystery firsts it broke dozens of records. You are right to single out the Black Mask volume as being of special importance. It is impossible to overestimate the influence of "Black Mask" on twentieth century mystery writers. But it's a case where influence spills well beyond genre lines. Hammett's first Black Mask story appeared in 1922 which is Modernisms watershed year of "The Wasteland" and "Ulysses." But it was Hammett's clipped and minimal prose that managed still to reveal whole worlds human drama and struggle at those shadowy entanglements of desire and crime that might just have been the most influential literary event of the year carving out an aesthetic novelists like Hemingway would quickly move into. The facsimile "time capsule" effect of the Black Mask volume is breathtaking. I'm so glad the illustrations are there. It's easy to tumble back into the1920s and imagine the raw beauty and urgency of those amazing stories that gave voice to a darker layer of psyche and soul. Great Job with the big books, with Penzler and with Black Mask. You just got yourself a fan and sub.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yes, that Black Mask volume is an incredible book.

[@art.and.lit.matters]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 You inspired me to make and post and video about "Black Mast. I would Love to know what you think. Thomas

[@disshelvedwithadamwhite8731]

I am envious of your Big Book collection. It is awesome. And that you have the room for it. Man I’ve got to stop getting so many physical books…

[@carenome1]

No. Just build an addition!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Space is an issue! I’m going to have to excavate another vault.

[@nedmerrill5705]

I got the _Big Book of Pulps._ Got it for my birthday years ago. Great fun! Learned a lot about the old crime fiction writers. I didn't know there were SO MANY BIG BOOKS!! Otto Penzler has indeed done a great service.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

He really has. And he just keeps on coming with these books.

[@dionisisparginos3808]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 they can help write a story for my grafic novel also could you do a video about these books please : The Long Moonlight, Death Mask by razorfist, L. Ron Hubbard , The Western Pulp Hero: An Investigation into the Psyche of an American Legend, The Adventure MEGAPACK, Pulp Fiction: The Crimefighters , Pulp Fiction: The Villains: An Omnibus , Ultra Wild West: The Art of Italian "Spaghetti Western" Film Posters, Doc Savage: The Ice Genius, Rick Lai's Major Sabbath, The Pulp Western Anthology by J. Walker Blue, but i really need your opinion on these two books please, Pulp on Pulp: Tips and Tricks for Writing Pulp Fiction by Kit Sun Cheah and last but nor least How to Write Pulp Fiction by James Scott Bell i hope i video the last two books if you are intersted if not keep doing good videos like this one

[@daniellethebluegrassreader1194]

Penzler's anthologies are wonderful!!! They are great to dip in and out of. I can definitely recommend the Christmas one.🎄📚😊

[@vickiragland8066]

Thanks for posting this today. I needed to listen to an intelligent reader today.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I hope you found one!

[@vickiragland8066]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 , your humility and modesty are not lost on me.

[@troytradup]

Oh, very cool to see most of those are available as ebooks! I have no more physical space.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Well, these do take up a LOT of space!

[@FrankGrauJr]

These kinds of videos make me want to spend more money on books... as if I don’t have more than I’ll ever be able to read. Great video! ... Question: How much overlap in content will prevent you from purchasing a new book? Or do you continue buying different editions of the same stories regardless of whether you already own it? (Not counting Dracula or Conan, of which I see you have various editions). I’m only asking because shelf space is finite, and if I had to start storing books out of sight in boxes or the garage, it wouldn’t be worth owning. Part of my enjoyment of books is surrounding myself with them in my studio and displaying those with nice designs, so storing them away would be like not having them at all. At that point, I would rather trim the fat and sell stuff that least interests or inspires me. It’s the old “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without”.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

There is that issue when it comes to anthologies. Of course, I don’t mind storing my books the way I do because they are very accessible. Well, mostly 🙄.

[@theemptyatom]

With so many big books, there needs to be the Big Book of Big Books.

[@vilstef6988]

My favorite Holmes pastiche is a short story by Gene Wolfe called Slaves of Silver.

[@drewanderson6039]

Oh look, one of Michael’s videos costing me money. Again. ;) I *think* the following lists encompass all of the Big Books, but anyone, feel free let me know if I missed any! Penzler-Edited: The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps (2007) The Vampire Archives (2009) The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories (2010) The Big Book of Adventure Stories (2011) Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! (2011) The Big Book of Ghost Stories (2012) The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries (2013) The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries (2014) The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories (2015) The Big Book of Jack the Ripper (2016) The Big Book of Rogues and Villains (2017) The Big Book of Female Detectives (2018) The Big Book of Reel Murders (2019) The Big Book of Espionage (2020) The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries (2021) Non-Penzler: The Weird (Jeff & Ann VanderMeer, 2012) [Not *technically* a “Big Book” in either name or publisher, but similarly sized, and the editors would go on to do three Big Books.] The Big Book of Science Fiction (VanderMeers, 2016) The Big Book of the Continental Op (Richard Layman & Julie Rivett, 2017) The Big Book of Classic Fantasy (VanderMeers, 2019) The Big Book of Modern Fantasy (VanderMeers, 2020)

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yeah, I’m pretty sure you got them all. Sorry to cost you money 💰!

[@supernova1969]

Thank you again for this very interesting video. I am really indebted to your enormous end extensive knowledge.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thank you!

[@danielmarlett1421]

These look Amazing. Ordered the pulp one and will probably get the series. Thanks for bringing this to my attention

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Glad to. I hope you will enjoy it. It certainly is hours of entertainment!

[@2024FingersCrossed]

I love his books!

[@dqan7372]

Fun collections. Think I have two. Would get the whole bunch if I had the room.

[@NP-Hunt]

I literally want the complete collection of Otto Penzler anthologies. Between the recommendations from Steve, and now this video, I'm just like 'take my money!'

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Money well spent!

[@MagusMarquillin]

Even if you don't read em, your funding archival of essential art history!

[@Michael_R1957]

Great video. Michael, you are correct, the Big Book of Black Mask Stories is indeed the ONLY place where you can get the serialized (magazine) version of “ The Maltese Falcon “.

[@art.and.lit.matters]

High Michael R. I've loved "Black Mask" for decades and Hammett in Black Mask is endlessly fascinating. I was inspired by this video to make my own video on "Black Mask." You might enjoy it.

[@mikebrough3434]

I've had the Christmas Mysteries volume for a few years now and I've read two or three new stories in the run-up to each Christmas since. A great collection of stories but not one to read in one fell swoop!

[@briteskin]

I'd been seeing pulp collections here and there in the Diamond Comics Previews and decided to take a chance and preordered one that should be here with my comics this week. To bad I didn't see this before I made that order so could have not taken the shot in the dark. Though still excited to check out the book I ordered. It will be taking a back seat to Stephen King 'Fairy Tale' though that I am getting this week too.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That’s a pretty amazing collection, I have Locked Room and Pulps but I definitely need to pick up some of the others.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

You do! This is your kind of stuff.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 it really is! Plus Penzler was pals with McBain I believe

[@sandyokey7728]

I have the Christmas book but I really want the Vampire Archives next! And Ghost Stories! I don’t know if I knew this and forgot it, but I didn’t realize he was the founder of the mysterious press. I knew about the bookstore and a visit there is definitely on my bucket list. You have such a great collection❤️

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks Sandy! I would love to visit his bookstore one day.

[@masonbricke4568]

We don't confer knighthood in this country, but if we did, I would suggest Mr. Penzler for that honor. His big books will not only be enjoyed by readers of this decade, but for many years to come. I imagine he has rescued many obscure titles from eventual oblivion with these collections.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I will refer to him as Sir Penzler from now on.

[@TheMmfam]

Christmas Mysteries are a thing indeed. You should add it to your library. It's a good read. Like all of the Otto anthologies!

[@AndrewBuckleBookReviews]

Got a few of them, also just ordered the Christmas one (as well Adventure one) - great video as ever - I love a book on Christmas mysteries (especially to read at Christmas in 111 or so days) ! The British Library has bought out a few as well

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I ended up ordering the Christmas one.

[@AndrewBuckleBookReviews]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Certain is very good, looking forward to getting my copy. Got the Adventure one on as a bid, that looks great as well

[@thirdspacemaker9141]

Oh, you shouldn’t sleep on Christmas mysteries! They’re often great. I used to buy Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine every month. I still remember the look my boss gave me one year (probably 2008 or 2009) when I was reading at lunch and the cover story was “Chainsaw Nativity.” 😂 My local library currently has 5 from this list and 21 catalog hits for Otto Penzler. I know they have had more in the past (like the Black Mask one), but I imagine paperbacks of that size do not handle frequent loaning out very well. I’ve never read an entire anthology, but what I read of the female detective book was very good.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I have read The Big Book of Pulps in paperback and audiobook. It took about a year to finish piecemeal. I’m on the look out for another. Maybe the Ghosts.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Ghosts is a great volume.

[@thekeywitness]

I have the Pulps, Black Mask and Adventure volumes. They’re very cool. I had no idea there so many others. I’d love to have them all but I’m concerned that I’d not read enough of them to justify the shelf space.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

They do take up some space, that’s for sure.

[@Toracube]

I have nearly all of them. Thought the same about the Xmas one lol. Just got penzlers smaller greatest Russian stories of crime and suspense which I’m enjoying a lot.

[@anthonystark8802]

Does each and every book have illustrations in them?

[@daviddandrea6491]

Love these too. Ever consider looking at Mike Asley anthologies? Many were Mammoth Books.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I need to get some of those.

[@fatherscottalbergate]

Great video but I must tell you: The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries is terrific.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yeah, everyone has said so! I really should have picked that up.

[@denisadellinger4543]

Holy moly, Grandpa! Thems are some awful big books! I'd probably like to read that Women's detective anthology and the Victorian book. I just love how the publishers got so excited about Zombies that they had to name it three times. Just to make sure that the zombies would get us. We can't resist Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yeah, that title is kind of hilarious. A fantastic book though!

[@FrankGrauJr]

Seems to me like double-columned pages fit less text because there’s wasted space in the gap between columns where text could have occupied had the text filled the page. I suspect the double columns is to replicate the original pulps (or perhaps the books were printed using original stats).

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Actually, you do get more text on the page with double columns. That’s why the pulps used them. That’s also why a lot of old Bibles used them, to cut down the page count. Whenever you see them in a book, that’s why.

[@snowysnowyriver]

The problem is this.....after every visit to Stately Vaughan Manor I end up drooling over the books I haven't got and now desperately want. I've ordered the Christmas Big Book in Otto's list of publications. Something to read before bedtime in December. No twee tales in his collection though! Christmas seen from a more "hard boiled" viewpoint!

[@art.and.lit.matters]

“Drooling over” is right. Those Penzler big books kind of redefine “yummy.” You spoke of loving “Brideshead Revisited” in an earlier post. I plunge into the transporting magic of that world at least once a year and have for decades.

[@snowysnowyriver]

@@art.and.lit.matters That is a beautiful book. It works in so many ways with some very deep themes woven into what sometimes seem deceptively simple chapters. Have you read the Sword of Honour trilogy? If you love Brideshead, you will love Sword of Honour! Guy Crouchback is one of my top ten favourite characters. Waugh's writing is sublime.

[@art.and.lit.matters]

@@snowysnowyriver I'm grateful for your note since I read "Men at Arms" perhaps forty years ago and loved it but did not realize it was the first book in a trilogy. Waugh would love your use of the word "sublime" to describe his work. I like authors who long after reading their work you can close your eyes and enter their fictional universe and it feels vivid, transporting and so very real. Waugh often creates that transporting magic. I'm sort of stuck on Black Mask authors this week revisiting early Hammett. I'm also working on a video on Dorothy Hughes. I will pick up the "Sword of Honor" trilogy. Thank you again for the suggestion. Best Wishes, Thomas

[@snowysnowyriver]

@@art.and.lit.matters I don't know how you feel about screen adaptations, but a nice miniseries was made of Sword of Honour with Daniel Craig as Guy Crouchback. I approached it with caution because sometimes it feels like a betrayal to watch something on screen that was so wonderful in print. But, give Craig and the team their due, it's a good production. One thing I did like was they managed to get that sense of almost surreal humour into it without jarring one out of the story. They managed to hit the right note in the same way that the TV series of Brideshead did. Nothing will ever surpass the books, but both were a lot of fun to watch.

[@art.and.lit.matters]

@@snowysnowyriver I love books so much but I'm absolutely fine with screen adaptions and film versions. In fact the 1981 version of Brideshead is high on my list of best films (or series) of all time. I will definitely check it out Sword of Honor. Daniel Craig is one of my son's favorite actors so maybe I'll watch it with him next time he visits. This is great. Usually I'm the one making recommendations. You've just put both books and films on my to read and to watch list. Do you ever read mysteries? I recently had so much fun rereading all of Ross Macdonald. Before that I was on a Nicholas Blake binge which is extra fun for me since I grew up liking the poetry of C. Day Lewis and didn't figure out the connection till I was thirty.

[@bigphilly7345]

I own all the Big Books. They’re an awesome idea but I find the big, bulky phone book format difficult to read.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’ve heard that from a few people. For some reason I don’t have a problem with them.

[@bigphilly7345]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Don’t get me wrong, it’s worth the effort thanks to the content. These books aren’t suited for horizontal reading on couch (my favorite) but would work well flat on desk or table.

[@DDB168]

I wish he had a big book of War stories. I might try the locked room mysteries.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yes! A Big Book of War Stories would be great.

[@sgriffin9960]

I have The Big Book of Espionage on my TBR list. I do like me some spy stories! 🕵️‍♀️ Penzler’s shop, has a newsletter you can subscribe to and I’m always finding cool stuff in there!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I didn’t know that. Thanks!

[@knapalo]

I wonder how these are on a Kindle? Are they loaded with artwork?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I actually don’t have any kindle copies of these, so I’m not sure how well they are formatted or how they handle the illustrations.

[@anthonystark8802]

Does all of these books have illustrations?

[@glockensig]

Did he ever come out with The Big Book of Michael Vaughan duplicate stories?

[@txmatt2112]

I have obtained three of his books for free and will be pulling them down shortly.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Excellent!

[@MagusMarquillin]

O.O have you read them all?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Not yet! I’m working on it.

[@rickcroucher]

I have them all on my shelf. The Christmas mysteries bug book was well worth the reading. You should try it. I'm happy to have them in front of me now. I am also happy that you have brought them onto your channel so that others can go find them. Thanks.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I ordered the Christmas book.

[@kuba70834]

If i buy Big Book Of Pulps, and The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories i wonder if some stories will be repeated? Or it's two different volumes?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

No, I can’t remember any repeats in those two volumes.

[@ricke.2205]

I'm surprised they haven't yet done "Science Fiction" or "Steampunk." And, is it me or, has steampunk kind of fallen by the wayside?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

There is a Big Book of science fiction but it was edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer.