Can We Get Some Cake with That?

This is certainly an occasion for celebrations. First up, we must pay tribute to California novelist Bill Pronzini, who turns 70 years old today. Pronzini is, of course, the Grand Master Award-winning creator of the long-running “Nameless Detective” series, the most recent installments of which were all released in 2012: Hellbox, Femme, and Kinsmen. Since I’ve written before on this page about Pronzini’s literary virtues, let me point you to two blog posts elsewhere that acknowledge the start of this author’s seventh decade, one by TomCat in Beneath the Stains of Time, the other by Patrick Ohl, sharing his respect for Pronzini’s knowledge of this genre.

Today would also have been the 90th birthday of Don Adams, the actor who starred with Barbara Feldon in the 1965-1970 TV spy spoof Get Smart. Unfortunately, Adams died in 2005 from a lung infection.

And let’s not forget that it was 60 years ago today--April 13, 1953--that UK publisher Jonathan Cape released Ian Fleming’s first novel, Casino Royale. That book introduced the world to a certain British super-spy, James Bond (aka Agent 007), who would become famous not only through Fleming’s novels and short stories, but as a consequence of his appearances on television and in a series of films. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say that this is Bond’s 60th birthday, and that he’s holding up well for his age. Very well, indeed.

Pronzini Has a Lock on Hoch

Kevin R. Tipple brings us the news that 69-year-old California novelist Bill Pronzini--creator of the long-running Nameless Detective series--is this year’s recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award, given out by the Short Mystery Fiction Society. This commendation is of course named after prolific short-story writer Hoch, who died back in 2008.

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In addition, Lee Lofland’s blog, The Graveyard Shift, has just announced that Ann Kellett is the winner of the 2012 Golden Donut Short Story Contest for “Closure.” You can read that 2oo-word tale, along with the runners-up in this year’s competition, here.

Napoleon, Illya ... and Bill

Bill Pronzini wrote a Man from U.N.C.L.E. tale? Who knew?

Is It Cake Time Yet?

Today is the 65th birthday of prolific crime novelist Bill Pronzini, author of the long-running “Nameless Detective” series and recent winner of the Grand Master Award, given out annually by the Mystery Writers of America (MWA). Pronzini’s second book (after a standalone called The Stalker, 1971) and first Nameless novel, The Snatch, was published in 1971. In May of this year, the 32nd installment of that notable series, Fever, is due out in bookstores.

By way of celebration, the short-story review blog Nasty. Brutish. Short. considers one of Pronzini’s Nameless tales, “Souls Burning.” It’s only the third of Pronzini’s abbreviated yarns to be featured in NBS. (The previous two are here and here.)

To find a pretty thorough (if perhaps not exhaustive) rundown of Pronzini’s amazing output over the decades, visit The Thrilling Detective Web Site.

Happy birthday, Bill!

Ain’t It Grand

Sixty-four-year-old Bill Pronzini, author of the long-lasting “Nameless Detective” series, has been chosen by the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) to receive its 2008 Grand Master Award. He most closely follows Stephen King, last year’s Grand Master, and Stuart M. Kaminsky, who was so honored in 2006.

Pronzini, a Northern California resident, will be given his commendation during the 62nd annual Edgar Allan Poe Awards banquet, to be held on May 1, 2008, in New York City.

Word of this honor came in a news release from the MWA:

“Bill Pronzini is not only a passionate author and reader of crime fiction--he is also one of the most ardent proponents of the genre,” said Daniel J. Hale, Executive Vice President of Mystery Writers of America. “For forty years he has distinguished himself with consistently high-quality writing and editing in all areas of the field, including creating one of the longest lasting detective series ever.”

Bill Pronzini started down his path toward the Grand Master in 1969, when he embarked upon his professional writing career. Since then, Pronzini has experienced a prolific career, penning more than 70 novels and non-fiction books, including 32 novels in his popular “Nameless Detective” series and three novels written in collaboration with his wife Marcia Muller (MWA’s 2005 Grand Master).

Pronzini is no stranger to critical acclaim for his achievements. He is a six-time Edgar nominee, including a nomination in 1987 with his wife Marcia Muller for Best Critical Biographical Work, “1001 Midnights: The Aficionado’s Guide to Mystery Fiction.” He is also a recipient of three Shamus awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America. Pronzini’s suspense novel, Snowbound, was the recipient of the Grand Prix de la Litterature Policière as the best crime novel published in France in 1988.

What some might consider ironic about all of this praise, is that while the MWA applauds Pronzini’s longevity and prolificness, it must also live with the rather uncomfortable fact that he has been nominated for the Edgar Award six times, but has yet to actually win that coveted prize. However, Pronzini has walked away with a trio of Shamus Awards, as well as the Private Eye Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award (“The Eye”) back in 1987.

Pronzini’s latest book, which (unless my math is completely off) is the 31st novel-length entry in his Nameless series, is Savages. It was released earlier this year by Forge Books.

A full list of MWA Grand Masters can be found here.