In short, the borderline between "genre" and "mainstream" seems to be blurred not only by the big companies' politics but also by the fact that it looks as if authors and their representatives are submitting to this trend. That
could
be a positive signal— but I doubt that optimism makes sense here. German mainstream literature— i.e., "high" literature— is famous (and notorious) for its general refusal to narrate reality. But that's exactly crime fiction's finest tradition— and Germany's reality offers material galore for writers to return to the pure, raw storytelling of the genre. Some of them have never lost that strain and likewise never renounced literary quality. Pieke Biermann, for instance, who brought acknowledgment of crime fiction to the literary pages with her series of novels about a Berlin homicide squad, is now working on a street-cop novel. For, in the slightly modified words of the wonderful Bob Truluck, "All in all, street level is where crime fiction belongs."
The 2000 Short Story Edgar Awards
Camille Minichino
Chair, Edgar Short Story Committee, 2000
Here's an image I can't shake: a nervous ex-con thrusts a five-inch blade into the pulsating throat of a cow, slitting it from ear to ear, and retches as blood pours out like shiny red glass, the stench of manure in the background. Clark Howard's "The Killing Floor" puts you in a slaughterhouse and keeps you there long after you've finished the story. A standout in a year of more than 500 short stories.
At first my new assignment was exciting— day after day, padded envelopes from UPS, priority U.S. mail cartons, chunky FedEx packages, all filled with FREE books and magazines, delivered to my door!
The Edgar Short Story submissions.
Then I realized I had to read them all— every issue of
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Futures, Blue Murder,
and assorted e-zines. Anthologies like
Deadly Dozen, Crime Through Time III, Malice Domestic, Unholy Orders
. Not only that, I had to
handle
them. Create a database, log in authors, from Abbott, Jeff in
Magnolias and Mayhem
, to Zackel, Frederick in
Carvezine.
Some people think there are already enough Edgars; that the Awards Banquet goes on far too long. Not me. In fact, since not every story has everything the reader is looking for, I'd add a few categories. Best Female Character, for one. For this I'd pick the overweight Patricia— sweating and straining against the pedals of a stationary bike, planning revenge on her condescending aerobics instructor ("Spinning," by Kristine Kathryn Rusch,
EQMM
, July).
Why not a Best Title Award— maybe "Taking Out Mr. Garbage" (Judith Kelman,
Murder Among Friends
) or "Jesus Kicks Some" (Bruce F. Murphy,
Blue Murder Magazine
, October/November). For Best Weapon, I'd choose the leg of lamb ("Copycat," Joan Myers,
Deadly Dozen
). And I'd love to create a Best Pet-Free Story Award (the excellence of "Twelve of the Little Buggers" by Mat Coward in
EQMM
, for January notwithstanding). I'd give the Far Out Award to the ingenious story featuring quantum teleportation (it's not just for photons anymore) from Michael Burstein ("The Quantum Teleporter,"
Analog
magazine, February), or to the talking doll in "Chatty Patty" (Taylor McCafferty,
Magnolias and Mayhem
). A Cliché Award might balance all the positives— this year:
like a deer in the headlights
(you know who you are).
In the complaint department: too many stories fell short of true mystery, better labeled "best-kept secret stories." A sample of unsatisfying denouements: the bride was really not his grandchild; third-party confessions such as I-saw-your-mother-murder-your-father (or vice versa); and one story where I, the cop, killed my partner's daughter— all delivered in a
telling
fashion. And, of course, there were the too-cute endings, like "he" was really the dog (or cat), not the husband.
For me, "Missing in Action" (Peter Robinson,
EQMM
, November) had it all. Imagine weaving a story about a missing child around his mother's speech impediment.
The whole truth: it's awesome to have almost the entire body of short stories of the year 2000 in front of me, in an overflowing maroon crate.
To all of you who wrote these stories, thanks. Really. Be sure we were honored to consider your work and to give every submission careful attention.
Edgar Awards 2000— Short Story Honorable Mentions:
Doug Allyn, "The Christmas Mitzvah,"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
, December; Denise Barton, "The Ticket,"
Futures
, February–March; Beverly "Booger" Brackett,
Handheld Crime
; Michael Burstein, "The Quantum Teleporter,"
Analog
, September; Hal Charles, "Slave Wall,"
EQMM
, February; Terrence Faherty, "The Third Manny,"
EQMM
, February; John M. Floyd, "Blue Wolf,"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
, February; Ed Gorman, "Anna and the Players,"
EQMM
, November; Tony Hickie, "Decimation,"
AHMM
, March; Edward D. Hoch, "The Fading Woman,"
EQMM
, April; Clark Howard, "The Killing Floor," Crippen & Landru; Rob Kantner, "My Best Fred McMurray,"
AHMM
, October; Rochelle Krich, "Widow's Peak,"
Unholy Orders
; Taylor McCafferty, "Chatty Patty,"
Magnolias and Mayhem
; Sharyn McCrumb, "Lark in the Morning,"
Crime Through Time III
; Joan Myers, "Copycat,"
Deadly Dozen
; Tom Tolnay, "The Stealing Progression,"
EQMM
, August; Alison White, "The Bluebird,"
EQMM
, February; William Sanders, "Smoke,"
Crime Through Time III
; Walter Satterthwaite, "Missolongi,"
AHMM
, October; Lisa Seidman, "Over My Shoulder,"
Deadly Dozen
; Serita Stevens, "The Unborn,"
Nefarious
; Steven Saylor, "The Consul's Wife,"
Crime Through Time III
; Peter Straub, "Porkpie Hat,"
Magic Terror
.
The Year 2000 in Mystery Fandom
George A. Easter
The American public buys and reads millions of mysteries every week. Most lovers of the mystery genre are content simply with the enjoyment of reading good crime novels. But there are several thousand who are so interested in the genre that they require more. These are the mystery fans who make up mystery fandom.
Mystery fans form and attend local mystery reading groups; they collect paperback and/or hardcover first editions; they go online and contribute to such sites as Dorothy L; they haunt their local mystery bookstores and attend author signings; they subscribe to mystery publications; and finally, they attend mystery conventions.
MYSTERY CONVENTIONS 2000
The Big Kahuna of annual mystery conventions is Bouchercon, the international mystery convention named for Anthony Boucher, noted deceased mystery critic, which was held in Denver in September, 2000. (Bouchercon 2001 will be in Washington, D.C. in November, 2001.) The guest of honor was the venerable Elmore Leonard who entertained us with his crusty sense of humor. Also honored was Jane Langton, the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, who mesmerized us with her wit, charm and gentility.
Earlier in the year a wonderful regional convention called Left Coast Crime (situated each year somewhere in the Western United States in February or March) was held in Tucson, Arizona. Sue Grafton was the guest of honor and Harlan Coben acted as toastmaster for the banquet. These smaller regional conventions (500–600 attendees) are more relaxed than a Bouchercon. The authors in attendance are not meeting with their agents, publishers, or publicists and so have more time to chat with the fans. Each convention has a book dealers room with lots and lots of new and used books for sale. If you plan on attending a convention, be prepared to exceed any mental budget you may set for book purchases.
Another very popular mystery convention is Malice Domestic, which is held each year in Arlington, Virginia. The purpose of this convention is to celebrate the "traditional" mystery, sometimes referred to as the "cozy" mystery (containing little or no violence, profanity or sex).
The guest of honor was the highly-entertaining Simon Brett and the toastmaster was Eileen Dryer. The fans who attended the convention voted on the Agatha Awards (see below).
MYSTERY FAN AWARDS 2000
The major fan awards in mystery fiction are the Anthony Awards, the Agatha Awards, the Macavity Awards, and the Barry Awards. Following are the awards that were won in the year 2000, for works published in 1999.
ANTHONY AWARDS 2000
Voted on by attendees of Bouchercon, 2000
Best Novel: Peter Robinson,
In a Dry Season
Best First Novel: Donna Andrews,
Murder With Peacocks
Best Paperback Original: Laura Lippman,
In Big Trouble
Best Short Story: Margaret Chittenden, "Noir Life,"
EQMM 1/99
Best Critical Nonfiction: Willetta Heising,
Detecting Women
, 3rd edition
Best Series of the Century: Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot
Best Writer of the Century: Agatha Christie
Best Novel of the Century: Daphne du Maurier,
Rebecca
AGATHA AWARDS 2000
Voted on by attendees of the Malice Domestic XII Convention
Best Novel: Earlene Fowler,
Mariner's Compass
Best First Novel: Donna Andrews,
Murder with Peacocks
.
Best Nonfiction: Daniel Stashower,
Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle
Best Short Story: Nancy Pickard, "Out of Africa" in
Mom, Apple Pie, and Murder
MACAVITY AWARDS 2000
Voted on by subscribers to
Mystery Readers International Journal
Best Novel: Sujata Massey,
The Flower Master
Best First Novel: Paula L. Woods,
Inner City Blues
Best Nonfiction: Tom Nolan,
Ross Macdonald
Best Short Story: Kate Grilley, "Maubi and the Jumbies" in
Murderous Intent
, Fall 1999
BARRY AWARDS 2000
Voted on by subscribers of
Deadly Pleasures
magazine
Best Novel: Peter Robinson,
In A Dry Season
Best First Novel: Donna Andrews,
Murder With Peacocks
Best British Crime Novel: Val McDermid,
A Place Of Execution
Best Paperback Original: Robin Burcell,
Every Move She Makes
MYSTERY MAGAZINES 2000
One of the most popular ways mystery fans keep up with what is going on in the field is by subscribing to one or more mystery magazines. The most popular of the current fan magazines are:
Drood Review
, published bi-monthly for a yearly cost of $17.00. Articles and reviews in a newsletter format. 484 E. Carmel Dr., #378, Carmel, IN 46032 or order at www.droodreview.com.
Mystery News
, published bi-monthly for a yearly cost of $20.00. Newspaper format includes cover interview, columns, articles, many reviews and a listing of current and upcoming books. Black Raven Press, PMB 152, 262 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 or order at www.blackravenpress.com.
Mystery Readers International Journal
, published quarterly for a yearly cost of $24.00. Each issue treats a mystery theme. Calendar year 2001 will feature New England Mysteries, Partners in Crime, Oxford, and Cambridge. P.O. Box 8116, Berkeley, CA 94707 or order at www.mysteryreaders.org.
Mystery Scene
, published five times a year for a yearly cost of $32.00. Eighty-eight pages of articles and reviews. Heavy emphasis on author contributions. 3601 Skylark Lake SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.
Deadly Pleasures
, published quarterly, for a yearly cost of $14.00. Eighty pages of articles, reviews, news, and regular columns, including the popular Reviewed to Death column. P.O. Box 969, Bountiful, UT 84011 or order at www.deadlypleasures.com.
CHANGING OF THE MYSTERY GUARD 2000
Each year the mystery fiction genre experiences a changing of the guard. Longtime mystery fans mourn the deaths of some of the old guard and celebrate the arrival of some very talented newcomers. The year 2000 saw the passing of Sarah Caudwell, Robert W. Campbell, Duncan Kyle, Lucille Fletcher, Elizabeth Lemarchand, Patricia Moyes, Roger Longrigg (known to most by one of his three pen names, Ivor Drummond, Frank Parrish, or Domini Taylor) and Miles Tripp. And it saw the first novels published by future stars Stephen Horn, Mo Hayter, David Liss, Scott Phillips, Bob Truluck, Sheldon Siegel, Qiu Xiaolong and Glynn Marsh Alam.
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Spinning
KRISTINE KATHRYN RUSCH
has spent most of her professional life working in the fields of science fiction and fantasy. She has also done significant editing in those fields, most notably as the previous editor of
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.