Charlie Martz and Other Stories - by Elmore Leonard (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A collection of fifteen stories, eleven of which have never been previously published, from the early career of bestselling American master Elmore Leonard.

Over his long and illustrious career, Elmore Leonard was recognized as one of the greatest crime writers of all time, the author of dozens of bestselling books--many adapted for the big screen--as well as a master of short fiction. A superb stylist whose crisp, tight prose crackled with trademark wit and sharp dialogue, Leonard remains the standard for crime fiction and a literary model for writers of every genre.

Marked by his unmistakable grit and humor, the stories in Charlie Martz and Other Stories--produced early in his career, when he was making his name particularly with westerns--reveal a writer in transition, exploring new voices and locations, from the bars of small-town New Mexico and Michigan to a film set in Hollywood, a hotel in Southern Spain, even a military base in Kuala Lumpur. They also introduce us to classic Leonard characters, some who recur throughout the collection, such as aging lawman Charlie Martz and weary former matador Eladio Montoya.

Devoted Leonard aficionados and fans new to his fiction will marvel at these early works that reveal an artist on the cusp of greatness.

From the Back Cover

"Elmore Leonard is a classic of one."--Dennis Lehane

Over his long and illustrious career, Elmore Leonard was recognized as one of the greatest crime writers of all time, the author of dozens of bestselling books--many adapted for the big screen--as well as a master of short fiction. Leonard remains the standard for popular fiction and a literary model for writers of every genre.

Marked by his unmistakable humor and grit, the stories in this collection--produced early in his career--reveal a writer in transition. In these tales Leonard explores new voices and locations, and introduces us to classic Leonard characters, such as aging lawman Charlie Martz, who must face an old rival who returns seeking revenge.

Devoted Leonard aficionados and fans new to his fiction will marvel at these early works revealing a developing artist on the cusp of greatness.

"Fascinating and inspiring."--New York Journal of Books

"The collection abounds with signs of the writer to come."--Newsday

Review Quotes

"Why it's hot: The great writer of Westerns and crime novels died in 2013, so this posthumous collection is a bonus." - USA Today
"There's much to welcome in this posthumous assortment by an author Stephen King hailed as, "the great American writer." "Charlie Martz" is a terrific Western number. . . . Leonard at this period in his evolution, had a knack for spinning the Western yarn with effortless charm. . . . A real vibe for old Detroit permeates and delivers the kind of blunt action a Leonard reader craves. . . . This collection certainly serves up another batch of those gravelly, authentic, fringe-dwelling lives. . . . Leonard aficionados by all means should dig straightaway into Charlie Martz and Other Stories and savor what little we have left from this undisputed master." - CriminalElement.com
"There's much to welcome in this posthumous assortment by an author Stephen King hailed as, "the great American writer." . . . This collection certainly serves up another batch of those gravelly, authentic, fringe-dwelling lives." - CriminalElement.com
"Quirky, tough, humorous, and always surprising characters. . . . There's a reason Leonard has been labeled one of the best crime writers in America and why his clipped and witty dialog and economical writing style have found their way to television and film. He's just a great storyteller." - Library Journal (starred review)
"These very early stories of Elmore Leonard exhibit a real understanding of how to create interesting characters, structure settings that are believable, and tell stories that are compelling and realistic." - San Francisco Book Review
"The book gives us an extended glimpse of a singular style still under construction. . . . In demonstrating Leonard's ease, efficiency and range, "Charlie Martz" is a companionable volume. Reading the sharply etched, masculine stories, we're aware of his debt to Hemingway. But O. Henry also comes to mind via the sly suggestiveness of his narratives and the way in which they carry us to particular desired effects. . . . His novels are far more than simple enactments of his "10 Rules of Writing." Even his breeziest efforts have a way of nailing our conflicted culture in all its stubborn glory and misfit dreams. "Charlie Martz and Other Stories" clues us into the dreams he was having when life in America was, at least on the surface, less turbulent." - Chicago Tribune
"Even [Leonard's] breeziest efforts have a way of nailing our conflicted culture in all its stubborn glory and misfit dreams. "Charlie Martz and Other Stories" clues us into the dreams he was having when life in America was, at least on the surface, less turbulent." - Chicago Tribune
"Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty) writes characters like no one else. Their reasoning is sometimes opaque, they often act in contradictory ways and they always make a lasting impression. . . . "Evenings Away from Home" could be a movie, it's so sharply drawn, so impeccably moody. . . . Even before he mastered the dialogue and gritty style he's most known for, he was able to evoke subtle tones and achingly beautiful moods like none other. These are exceptional stories written by an artist at work and at play, learning his craft with each entry." - Shelf Awareness for Readers
"[Leonard] writes characters like no one else. . . . Even before he mastered the [] gritty style he's most known for, he was able to evoke subtle tones and achingly beautiful moods. . . . These are exceptional stories written by an artist at work and at play." - Shelf Awareness for Readers
"Here we see a master craftsman in his apprenticeship. . . . Already Leonard's imagination is pulled between present and past, between Midwest, West, and abroad, interests that would define his career. . . . Die-hard fans will find this one difficult to resist." - Keir Graff, Booklist
"Gunslingers and suits dreamed up well before Get Shorty and Out of Sight are sketches of the heroes and villains for whom Leonard would become known." - O, the Oprah Magazine
"This book is honest and it's raw, and we can picture Leonard so vividly working diligently away on tale after tale. . . . A meaningful insight into the mind of a burgeoning writer who would one day become an international bestseller. . . . It's fascinating and inspiring to be invited to have a peek." - New York Journal of Books
"This book is honest and it's raw, and we can picture Leonard so vividly working. . . . A meaningful insight into the mind of a burgeoning writer who would one day become an international bestseller. . . . It's fascinating and inspiring to be invited to have a peek." - New York Journal of Books
"The collection abounds with signs of the writer to come." - Newsday
"The quirky, tough, humorous, and always surprising characters his many fans have come to expect... There's a reason Leonard has been labeled one of the best crime writers in America and why his clipped and witty dialog and economical writing style have found their way to television and film. He's just a great storyteller. Leonard devotees will love this book, and new readers will want to check out his novels after reading this." - Library Journal (starred review)
"Like Hemingway, Leonard excels in dramatizing the point at which apparently friendly mano a mano joshing threatens to erupt in violence. . . . Interesting [] for the signs and promises of the author's future laconic command of dialogue and action and his knowing, lazy, wryly amused trademark voice." - Kirkus Reviews