Introduction and collection © 1996, 2014 by Maxim Jakubowski.
THE DIAMOND WAGER by Samuel Dashiell, © 1929 by Samuel Dashiell. First appeared in Detective Fiction Weekly. Copyright not renewed.
FLIGHT TO NOWHERE by Charles Williams, © 1955 by Charles Williams. First appeared in Manhunt. Reproduced by permission of Abner Stein. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
THE TASTING MACHINE by Paul Cain, © 1949 by Peter Ruric. First appeared in Gourmet as by Peter Ruric.
FINDERS KILLERS! by John D. MacDonald, © 1953 by John D. MacDonald. First appeared in Detective Story Magazine. Reproduced by permission of Vanessa Holt Ltd. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
THE MURDERING KIND! by Robert Turner © 1953, Robert Turner. First appeared in Detective Tales.
CIGARETTE GIRL by James M. Cain, © 1952 by Flying Eagle Publications, Inc. First published in Manhunt. Reprinted by permission of Harold Ober Associates. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
THE GETAWAY by Gil Brewer, © 1976 by Gil Brewer. First appeared in Mystery. Reproduced by permission of A. M. Heath & Co. Ltd. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
PREVIEW OF MURDER by Robert Leslie Bellem, © 1949 by Robert Leslie Bellem. First appeared in Thrilling Detective Magazine. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
FOREVER AFTER by Jim Thompson, © 1960 by Jim Thompson. First appeared in Shock. Reproduced by permission of Vanessa Holt Ltd. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
THE BLOODY TIDE by Day Keene, © 1950 by Day Keene. First appeared in Black Mask Magazine. Reproduced by permission of Al James on behalf of the Estate of Day Keene. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
DEATH COMES GIFT-WRAPPED by William P. McGivern, © 1950 by William P. McGivern. First appeared in Black Mask Magazine. Reproduced by permission of Maureen Daly McGivern on behalf of the Estate of William P. McGivern. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
THE GIRL BEHIND THE HEDGE by Mickey Spillane, © 1954 by Mickey Spillane. First appeared in Manhunt. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
ONE ESCORT - MISSING OR DEAD by Roger Torrey, ©1940 by Roger Torrey. First appeared in Detective Aces.
DON’T BURN YOUR CORPSES BEHIND YOU by William Rough, © 1954. First appeared in Detective Story Magazine.
A CANDLE FOR THE BAG LADY by Lawrence Block, © 1968 by Lawrence Block. First appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
BLACK PUDDING by David Goodis, © 1954 by David Goodis. First appeared in Manhunt. Reproduced by permission of A. M. Heath & Co. Ltd. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
A MATTER OF PRINCIPAL by Max Allan Collins, © 1989 by Max Allan Collins. First appeared in Stalkers. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
CITIZEN’S ARREST by Charles Willeford, © 1966 by Charles Willeford. First appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Reproduced by permission of Abner Stein. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
SLEEPING DOG by Ross Macdonald, © 1965 by Ross Macdonald. First appeared in Argosy. Reproduced by permission of David Higham Associates. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
THE WENCH IS DEAD by Fredric Brown, © 1953 by Fredric Brown. First appeared in Manhunt. Reproduced by permission of A. M. Heath & Co. Ltd. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
SO DARK FOR APRIL by Howard Browne, © 1953 by Howard Browne. First appeared in Manhunt. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
WE ARE ALL DEAD by Bruno Fischer, © 1955 by Bruno Fischer. First appeared in Manhunt. Reproduced by permission of Ruth Fischer on behalf of the Estate of Bruno Fischer. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
DEATH IS A VAMPIRE by Robert Bloch, © 1944 by Robert Bloch. First appeared in Thrilling Mystery Magazine. Reproduced by permission of A. M. Heath & Co. Ltd. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
THE BLUE STEEL SQUIRREL by Frank R. Read, © 1946 by Frank R. Read. First appeared in Detective Story Magazine.
A REAL NICE GUY by William F. Nolan, © 1980 by William F. Nolan. First appeared in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
STACKED DECK by Bill Pronzini, © 1987 by Bill Pronzini. First appeared in New Black Mask Magazine. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
SO YOUNG, SO FAIR, SO DEAD by John Lutz, © 1973 by John Lutz. First appeared in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
EFFECTIVE MEDICINE by B. Traven, © 1954 by B. Traven. First appeared in Manhunt. Reproduced by permission of A. M. Heath & Co. Ltd. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
NICELY FRAMED, READY TO HANG! by Dan Gordon, © 1952 by Dan Gordon. First appeared in Detective Tales.
THE SECOND COMING by Joe Gores, © 1966 by Joe Gores. First appeared in Adam’s Best Fiction. Reproduced by permission of the author. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
PALE HANDS I LOATHED by William Campbell Gault, ©1947. First appeared in Detective Story Magazine.
THE DARK GODDESS by Schuyler G. Edsall, © 1955 by Schuyler G. Edsall. First appeared in Mystery Detective.
ORDO by Donald E. Westlake, © 1977 by Donald E. Westlake. First appeared in Enough. Reproduced by permission of James Hale Literary Agency. Appeared in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowksi (Robinson, 1996).
All efforts have been made to contact the respective copyright holders. In some cases, it has not proven possible to ascertain the whereabouts of authors, agents or estates. They are welcome to write to us c/o the book’s publishers.
I owe a particular vote of thanks to various authors and editors who provided invaluable assistance in tracing copyright holders and living relatives, and recommended particular stories. A bow of the fedora, then, to Max Allan Collins, Ed Gorman, Martin H. Greenberg, Gary Lovisi, William F. Nolan and Bill Pronzini.