Sixteen stories of capital crimes and misdemeanors—the basis for the film directed by George Pelecanos, producer and writer of The Wire.Mystery sensation Pelecanos pens the lead story and edits this groundbreaking collection of stories detailing the seedy underside of the nation's capital. This is not an anthology of ill-conceived and inauthentic political thrillers. Instead, in D.C. Noir, pimps, whores, gangsters, and con-men run rampant in zones...

Walking to Hell: The Story of a Confederate Soldier is a sweeping, emotionally charged novel that blends historical fiction with the intimacy of memoir. Told through the eyes of Ezekial McNair, a centenarian reflecting on his youth as a Confederate soldier, this story spans generations, wars, and the haunting legacy of violence. With vivid detail and raw honesty, McNair recounts the brutality of battle, the bonds of friendship, and the ghosts that never left him.

As far as grim reapers go, Texas is big enough and special enough to need its own particular angel. Enter William Robert Travis, ready to escort Texans to meet their maker in the hereafter. In episode one, Billy Bob has an appointment with one Luke Campbell under a certain live oak tree after a group hunting expedition went a bit...awry.Sit a spell and enjoy this short story from the weirder side of Texas.

Many of O. Henry’s stories describe cultural issues of the day, and many incorporate themes relevant to our modern times. This anthology was specially selected for this purpose. It includes the story performances and introduces the telling of each story by describing its relevance and explaining some of the references that might not be familiar to modern-day audiences.Opening CreditsAnthology Introduction“The Guilty Party” (19:10)—O. Henry’s opinion on violent crimes committed by m...

Roy Glenister and Dextry are gold miners who strike it rich in Nome, Alaska until their claim is “jumped", seemingly by legal means and by powerful politicians, crooked lawyers, and a judge. The political establishment seems too powerful to fight. How can they get their claim (and money) back from a mafia-like organization in frontier Alaska?Roy is an honest man driven by frustration, despair, and disappointment, and loves to do things he never thought he would. How can he fight an...

They say that just before you die, your life passes before you. But what if you die in an instant? What memory or few memories would you recall and which memories would not be recalled? My daughter, Lina, who is a novelist, wrote a pastiche of Tobias Wolff’s short story, “Bullet in the Brain” for me one Father's Day. What makes it special is that a few years ago I wrote an autobiography, mostly to leave for my kids. When I wrote it, I wanted to provide a library of anecdotes for her to use...

Lord Harrowby came to Lloyds of London with a most unusual request. He wanted to ensure that nothing would prevent his imminent wedding and expected a big policy payout if things didn’t work out. It was insurance man Dick Minot’s responsibility to make sure everything worked smoothly. Trouble is, Dick Minot fell in love with the bride! What to do?Hilarity ensues as Dick tackles one crisis after another with a conflicted heart in this 1914 farcical romantic comedy. Kidnapping, jewel...

Saddle Up for a Wild Ride with Billy Bob, Texas's Own Angel of Death!Forget everything you think you know about the Grim Reaper. In the heart of Texas, there's an Angel of Death with a Stetson and a heart of gold (mostly). Meet William Robert Travis, better known to his friends as Billy Bob. He's been riding the dusty trails of Texas history for centuries, guiding souls to meet the Maker in the hereafter.Billy Bob's got a knack for bendin...

A soldier’s truth, told without glory. Hard Living, Easy Dying continues the fictional memoir of Ezekial McNair, a Confederate cavalryman whose voice is as raw and real as the war he survived. From the muddy roads of retreat to the chaos of ambushes and the quiet heartbreak of loss, McNair’s story is a deeply human account of camaraderie, courage, and the cost of command.With vivid detail and dark humor, Knud E. Hermansen brings the Civil War to life—not ...

For readers of Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove, Elizabeth Gilbert’s The Signature of All Things, and Hope Jahren’s Lab Girl, Diane Smith’s warmhearted and award-winning epistolary novel about a spunky young woman who joins a makeshift field study in Yellowstone National Park at the end of the nineteenth century“I loved this book in a way that I haven’t loved a book in some time.” —James Welch, author of Fools Crow...

This anthology of " genuinely haunting noir fiction " set in the Golden City features new stories by Jim Nisbet, Alejandro Murguía, Michelle Tea and others ( Publishers Weekly).Oscar Wilde once quipped that anyone who disappears is said to be seen in in San Francisco. With its famous fog, winding streets, and hazardously steep hills, it is certainly an ideal place for getting lost. It's also an ideal sett...

This original anthology of noir fiction set in Maryland's Charm City includes new stories by David Simon, Laura Lippman, Jim Fusilli, and more.As fans of the HBO series The Wire have known for years, Baltimore is home to a rich and diverse underworld that is matched by an equally rich and diverse literary tradition. This is the city where Dashiell Hammett worked as a Pinkerton agent. It's also where Zelda Fitzgerald came...