Smatterings

If you’re in Philadelphia tonight, do not miss the Great Poe Debate at the Philly Free Library. The Inquirer previews the fun and games of the Poe Wars.

Michael Carlson talks Scandinavian crime fiction on BBC’s Open Book (at roughtly the 20 minute mark) and raves about the “classic” novel THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE.

Terry Teachout celebrates 40 years as a devoted Nero Wolfe reader.

Charlie Huston’s fab THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH has been collecting quite the number of raves. There was Maslin, then Patrick Anderson, and now Richard Rayner at the LAT.

Josh Bazell is also mining the blackly humorous crime novel beat for his debut thriller BEAT THE REAPER, and while it’s cool he was on the Today Show this morning, my own feelings about the book jibe with the SF Chronicle’s review the other day. But if Bazell & Huston’s success and attention (and Lisa Lutz’s, too) means there’s a renewed market for comic and satirical crime fiction, I am all for it.

Chuck Leddy at the Boston Globe reviews NEVER TELL A LIE, the new novel from Globe crime fiction columnist Hallie Ephron.

Art Taylor talks with Lewis Shiner about his excellent and underrated novel BLACK AND WHITE.

Charles Ardai and Hard Case Crime gets written up in New York magazine and Ardai is interviewed at length by Scott Parker, who attended the Murder by the Book event last week. 

There’s a new crime fiction convention on the circuit: Murder 203.

Haven’t had your fill of best-of crime fiction lists? In Reference to Murder collects a great many of them.

As already widely reported, a new NEA report indicates fiction reading is “on the rise” over the last few years, but since they hem and haw about the impact of reading online and put more emphasis on The Big Read than is likely necessary, enthusiasm should perhaps be more bridled. Also little mention of comics and graphic novels, which sold rather well in 2008.

Meet your 2009 Tournament of Books contenders.

I remain puzzled over the concept of The Printed Blog. Mostly because it wants advertising but won’t pay bloggers. Um, no. Matt Haber at the NYO provides additional context.

And finally, a publishing story from typewriter to bookstore.