Bill Pronzini
Encyclopedia
Bill Pronzini is an American
writer
of detective fiction
. He is also an active anthologist
, having compiled more than 100 collections, most of which focus on mystery
, western
, and science fiction
short stories
.
He published his first novel, The Stalker, in 1971. However, his best known works are the Nameless Detective
series, which he began in 1971.
As of April, 2009, there are more than 35 books in the series, as well as a number of short stories. Over the life of the series, Nameless has gracefully grown and matured as an “everyman” character, aging along with his creator and audience. While the stories involve the usual range of crimes typical to mysteries
, they depict relatively little violence. Pronzini’s style is more character driven than plot driven, giving his stories insights, depth, and durability atypical for the mystery field. Because Nameless develops over the run of the series, it's most effective to read them in sequence.
His books have been translated into nearly twenty languages, and have been published in more than thirty countries.
, California
. He has been married three times. The first marriage was to Laura Patricia Adolphson (1965, divorced 1967); the second was to Brunhilde Schier (July 28, 1972, separated December 1985, divorced a couple of years later). He married mystery writer Marcia Muller
in 1992. They have collaborated on three novels: Beyond the Grave (1986), The Lighthouse, (1987), and Double (1984), a Nameless Detective novel, as well as on numerous anthologies.
In 1987 he won The Eye, the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by The Private Eye Writers of America. It is a more exclusive version of their Shamus Award
. He has been nominated three times by the Mystery Writers of America for an Edgar Award
and received their Grand Master designation in May 2008.
and Argosy
magazines, generally considered the first American pulp magazines. Pronzini's work also appeared in Charlie Chan
Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
, Man from U.N.C.L.E. Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, and Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology
. The 1890s Western detective short story Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services (1998) centers on Sabina Carpenter, a Pinkerton detective widow working in her fallen husband's profession.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
. He is also an active anthologist
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
, having compiled more than 100 collections, most of which focus on mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
, western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
, and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
.
He published his first novel, The Stalker, in 1971. However, his best known works are the Nameless Detective
Nameless Detective
Nameless Detective is the protagonist in a long-running mystery series by Bill Pronzini set in the San Francisco area. The first novel, The Snatch, was published in 1971...
series, which he began in 1971.
As of April, 2009, there are more than 35 books in the series, as well as a number of short stories. Over the life of the series, Nameless has gracefully grown and matured as an “everyman” character, aging along with his creator and audience. While the stories involve the usual range of crimes typical to mysteries
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
, they depict relatively little violence. Pronzini’s style is more character driven than plot driven, giving his stories insights, depth, and durability atypical for the mystery field. Because Nameless develops over the run of the series, it's most effective to read them in sequence.
His books have been translated into nearly twenty languages, and have been published in more than thirty countries.
Biography
William John Pronzini was born in PetalumaPetaluma, California
Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He has been married three times. The first marriage was to Laura Patricia Adolphson (1965, divorced 1967); the second was to Brunhilde Schier (July 28, 1972, separated December 1985, divorced a couple of years later). He married mystery writer Marcia Muller
Marcia Muller
Marcia Muller is an American author of fictional mystery and thriller novels.Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point, won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel...
in 1992. They have collaborated on three novels: Beyond the Grave (1986), The Lighthouse, (1987), and Double (1984), a Nameless Detective novel, as well as on numerous anthologies.
In 1987 he won The Eye, the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by The Private Eye Writers of America. It is a more exclusive version of their Shamus Award
Shamus Award
The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America for the best detective fiction genre novels and short stories of the year....
. He has been nominated three times by the Mystery Writers of America for an Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
and received their Grand Master designation in May 2008.
Selected bibliography
Bill Pronzini has written so many novels, and compiled so many anthologies, that a complete listing is difficult to achieve. The following is a list of his best-known fiction.Other Novels
Games, Snowbound, Undercurrent, Panic!, The Stalker and A Wasteland of StrangersPseudonymous works
- William Hart Davis (joint work with collaborator Jeffrey Wallmann) (one novel, Charlie Chan in The Pawns of Death)
- Jack Foxx (four novels, Dead Run, Freebooty, The Jade Figurine, Wildfire)
- William Jeffrey (joint works with collaborator Jeffrey Wallmann) (three novels, Border Fever, Day of the Moon, Duel at Gold Buttes)
- Alex Saxon (one novel, A Run in Diamonds)
Anthologies
- Twenty-three collections, mainly mystery.
- with Barry N. MalzbergBarry N. MalzbergBarry Nathaniel Malzberg is an American writer and editor, most often of science fiction and fantasy.-Overview:Initially in his post-graduate work Malzberg sought to establish himself as a playwright as well as a prose-fiction writer. His first two published novels were issed by Olympia Press...
: four science fiction collections. - with Martin H. GreenbergMartin H. GreenbergMartin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida...
: fifty-six collections, mainly mystery and western. - with Marcia Muller: twenty collections, mainly mystery, suspense, and western.
Short stories
Pronzini has written more than three hundred short stories appearing in publications, including the some of the last issues of both AdventureAdventure (magazine)
Adventure magazine was first published in November 1910 as a monthly pulp magazine. Adventure went on become one of the most profitable and critically acclaimed of all the American pulp magazines...
and Argosy
Argosy (magazine)
Argosy was an American pulp magazine, published by Frank Munsey. It is generally considered to be the first American pulp magazine. The magazine began as a general information periodical entitled The Golden Argosy, targeted at the boys adventure market.-Launch of Argosy:In late September 1882,...
magazines, generally considered the first American pulp magazines. Pronzini's work also appeared in Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine is an American monthly digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime fiction, particularly detective fiction...
, Man from U.N.C.L.E. Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, and Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology
Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology
Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology was a seasonally printed collection of suspenseful and thrilling short stories from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Starting in 1976 and going as far as 1989, the anthology contains stories from authors such as: Patricia Highsmith, Robert Bloch, Bill Pronzini,...
. The 1890s Western detective short story Carpenter and Quincannon, Professional Detective Services (1998) centers on Sabina Carpenter, a Pinkerton detective widow working in her fallen husband's profession.