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Guide to the Black Lizard Press Archive, 1977-1994

Processed by Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Steven Mandeville-Gamble Department of Special Collections Green Library Stanford University Libraries Stanford, CA 94305-6004 Phone: (650) 725-1022 Email: [email protected] URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc © 1998 The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Black Lizard Press Special Collections M0932 1 Archive, 1977-1994 Guide to the Black Lizard Press Archive, 1977-1994

Collection number: M0932

Department of Special Collections and University Archives Stanford University Libraries Stanford, California Contact Information Department of Special Collections Green Library Stanford University Libraries Stanford, CA 94305-6004 Phone: (650) 725-1022 Email: [email protected] URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc Processed by: Special Collections staff Date Completed: 1997 Encoded by: Steven Mandeville-Gamble © 1998 The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary Title: Black Lizard Press Archive, Date (inclusive): 1977-1994 Collection number: Special Collections M0932 Creator: Black Lizard Press Extent: 2.5 linear ft. Repository: Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives. Language: English. Access Restrictions None. Publication Rights Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections. Provenance Purchased, 1997. Preferred Citation: [Identification of item] Black Lizard Press Archive, M0932, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif. Historical Note In 1976 in Berkeley, California Don Ellis formed the Creative Arts Book Company. Later that year, Don Ellis met Barry Gifford, an author inspired by the nihilistic and violent side of the American dream presented in the crime fiction of the 1940's and 50's. Gifford later wrote Wild at Heart, the inspiration for the David Lynch movie of the same title. Shortly thereafter, Gifford became a consultant to the Creative Arts Book Company which gradually reprinted works by Huxley, Stein, Forster, and Kazantzakis. The Black Lizard imprint first appeared in 1980 when Ellis printed Gifford's novel Port Tropique: a story about the protagonist's involvement with smugglers and revolutionaries in Central America. Ellis, however, began to focus on more commercial ventures and Gifford drifted away, eventually ending up in France. In 1983,

Guide to the Black Lizard Press Special Collections M0932 2 Archive, 1977-1994 Gifford found a dozen novels in a Parisian bookstore by a forgotten American crime novelist, Jim Thompson. Upon returning to the states, Gifford discovered that none of Thompson's books had been in print since shortly before his death in 1977. With Gifford as the founding editor, the Black Lizard imprint was resurrected to serve the gritty criminal ethos of fifties pulp, including the tawdry stylized covers. Black Lizard went on to print 82 titles including two anthologies edited by Barry Gifford; new works by authors such as Murray Sinclair; reprints of the works of Jim Thompson, David Goodis, James M. Cain, Gertrude Stein; and the obscure, sophisticated thrillers of Charles Willeford. Black Lizard and Barry Gifford were, in fact, instrumental to the revival of the lurid romans noir. The revival carried over into film as well, with several of Thompson's stories being adapted for the screen (Grifters, and The Getaway) as well as Gifford's own Wild at Heart. For his editorial work, Gifford received the Max Perkins award from PEN West. In 1990, Don Ellis sold Black Lizard Press, including the 30 unprinted titles to which the rights had been secured, to Vintage Books. The sole exception in this sale were the rights to Port Tropique, which were retained by the author, Barry Gifford. Scope and Content The collection contains information regarding 81 of Black Lizard's 82 titles, with the exception being Elliot Chaze's Black Wings has my Angel. The 170 folders are arranged alphabetically in four record storage boxes by book title. Though the order of the folders was changed, the original division of content amongst the folders, as well as their titles and sub-titles, was maintained. Folders without sub-titles usually contain information regarding contracts, copies of the contracts themselves, and other item regarding aspects of production. They are fairly synonymous with folders sub-titled "production." Reviews, press releases, advertisements, photographs, other legal correspondences, and personal correspondences are included in separate folders and marked accordingly. The collection also includes two posters: a poster of the Black Lizard logo advertising the press itself and a poster with the cover art from You Only Live Twice. The collection does not contain information regarding the broader business practices and situation (financial records, advertising practices, employee information, etc.) of The Creative Arts Book Company or The Black Lizard Press. It is confined to information regarding the books themselves. Access Terms Alter, Robert Edmund. Brown, Frederic. Cain, James M. Cain, Paul. Carco, Francis. Causey, James O. Ellis, Don. Fischer, Steve. Gifford, Barry. Goodis, David. Gorman, Ed. Heath, W.L. Knight, Eric. Lutz, John. Malzberg, Barry. Marlowe, Dan. Nelson, Kent. Nichols, Victoria. Nielsen, Helen. Nisbet, Jim. Pronzini, Bill. Rabe, Peter. Simon, Roger L. Sinclair, Murray. Sorocco, Sin. Stein, Gertrude. Thompson, Jim.

Guide to the Black Lizard Press Special Collections M0932 3 Archive, 1977-1994 Thompson, Susan. White, Lionel. Whittington, Harry. Willeford, Charles. Williams, Charles. American literature--20th century. Detective and mystery stories. Printing--United States.

Box 1, Folder 1 After Dark, My Sweet, Jim Thompson 1985-1986 Box 1, Folder 2 Agreement to Kill, Peter Rabe 1987 Box 1, Folder 3 Alcoholics, Jim Thompson 1985 Box 1, Folder 4 The Baby Doll Murders, James O. Causey 1987-1988 Box 1, Folder 5 Black Friday, David Goodis 1986 Box 1, Folder 6 The Black Mass of Brother Springer, Charles Willeford 1986-1987 Box 1, Folder 7 Black Lizard Anthology, Ed Gorman, ed. Production 1986-1989 Box 1, Folder 8 Black Lizard Anthology, Ed Gorman, ed. Reviews/Press Releases 1987-1989 Box 1, Folder 9 Second Black Lizard Anthology, Ed Gorman, ed. Reviews 1988-1989 Box 1, Folder 10 Blood Dance, Lansdale 1986 Box 1, Folder 11 Blood on the Dining Room Floor, Gertrude Stein 1981 Box 1, Folder 12 Blood on the Dining Room Floor, Gertrude Stein; Press Releases 1982 Box 1, Folder 13 Blood on the Dining Room Floor, Gertrude Stein; Reviews, Etc. 1982-1983 Box 1, Folder 14 Blood on the Dining Room Floor; Gertrude Stein; Reviews, Etc. 1983 Box 1, Folder 15 Blood on the Dining Room Floor, Gertrude Stein; Correspondence 1983-1985 Box 1, Folder 16 Blood on the Dining Room Floor, Gertrude Stein; Correspondence On Copyright 1983 Box 1, Folder 17 The Box, Peter Rabe 1987 Box 1, Folder 18 Burglar, David Goodis 1987-1990 Box 1, Folder 19 Burnt Orange Heresy, Charles Willeford 1986 Box 1, Folder 20 Burnt Orange Heresy, Charles Willeford 1986 Box 1, Folder 21 Burnt Orange Heresy, Charles Willeford; Reviews and Press Release 1987 Box 1, Folder 22 Burnt Orange Heresy, Charles Willeford; Production 1987 Box 1, Folder 23 Carny Kill, Robert Edmund Alter 1985 Box 1, Folder 24 Cassidy's Girl, David Goodis 1986 Box 1, Folder 25 Cassidy's Girl, David Goodis; Reviews 1988 Box 1, Folder 26 Coffin & Co., Roger L. Simon 1986 Box 1, Folder 27 Coffin & Co., Roger L. Simon; Production None Box 1, Folder 28 Coffin & Co., Roger L. Simon; Reviews 1985-1988 Box 1, Folder 29 Coffin & Co.; Roger L. Simon; Letters 1985-1987 Box 1, Folder 30 Cockfighter, Charles Willeford 1986 Box 1, Folder 31 Cockfighter, Charles Willeford 1986 Box 1, Folder 32 Cockfigher, Charles Willeford; Reviews and Press Release 1988 Box 1, Folder 33 Cockfighter, Charles Willeford; Production 1987 Box 1, Folder 34 The Criminal, Jim Thompson 1985 Box 1, Folder 35 The Criminal, Jim Thompson; Reviews 1987 Box 1, Folder 36 Cropper's Cabin, Jim Thompson 1986 Box 1, Folder 37 Cropper's Cabin, Jim Thompson; Reviews 1987-1988 Box 1, Folder 38 The Damned Don't Die, Jim Nisbet 1985 Box 1, Folder 39 The Damned Don't Die, Jim Nisbet; Reviews 1986 Box 1, Folder 40 Dead Meet, Roger L. Simon 1987 Box 1, Folder 41 Dead Meet, Roger L. Simon; Reviews 1989 Box 2, Folder 1 Death Puppet, Jim Nisbet 1988 Box 2, Folder 2 Death Puppet, Jim Nisbet 1989 Box 2, Folder 3 Death Puppet, Jim Nisbet; Reviews 1989 Box 2, Folder 4 Detour, Helen Nielsen 1986-1987

Guide to the Black Lizard Press Special Collections M0932 4 Archive, 1977-1994 Container List

Box 2, Folder 5 Detour, Helen Nielsen; Reviews 1988 Box 2, Folder 6 Detour, Helen Nielsen; Production 1988 Box 2, Folder 7 The Devil Wears Wings, Harry Whittington 1986 Box 2, Folder 8 Doctor Syntax, Michael Petracca 1989 Box 2, Folder 9 Doctor Syntax, Michael Petracca; Reviews 1989 Box 2, Folder 10 Dig My Grave Deep, Peter Rabe 1987 Box 2, Folder 11 The Far Cry, Frederic Brown 1986-1987 Box 2, Folder 12 The Far Cry, Frederic Brown; Reviews 1988 Box 2, Folder 13 Fast One, Paul Cain; Production: Seven Slayers, Paul Cain; Production 1988 Box 2, Folder 14 Fast One, Paul Cain; Reviews 1988 Box 2, Folder 15 Fires that Destroy, Harry Whittington 1986 Box 2, Folder 16 Fires that Destroy, Harry Whittington; Production 1988 Box 2, Folder 17 Forgive Me, Killer, Harry Whittington 1986 Box 2, Folder 18 Forgive Me, Killer, Harry Whittington; Reviews and Press Release 1987 Box 2, Folder 19 Forgive Me, Killer, Harry Whittington; Production 1987 Box 2, Folder 20 Frenzy, James O. Causey 1987-1989 Box 2, Folder 21 The Getaway, Jim Thompson 1983 Box 2, Folder 22 The Getaway, Jim Thompson; Advertising 1984 Box 2, Folder 23 The Getaway, Jim Thompson; Reviews 1984 Box 2, Folder 24 Goodbye L. A., Murray Sinclair 1987 Box 2, Folder 25 Goodbye L. A., Murray Sinclair; Reviews 1988 Box 2, Folder 26 Goodbye L. A.; Murray Sinclair; Production 1987-1988 Box 2, Folder 27 The Grifters, Jim Thompson 1984 Box 2, Folder 28 A Hell of a Woman, Jim Thompson 1983 Box 2, Folder 29 A Hell of a Woman, Jim Thompson; Advertising 1984 Box 2, Folder 30 A Hell of a Woman, Jim Thompson; Reviews 1986 Box 2, Folder 31 His Name was Death, Frederic Brown 1986 Box 2, Folder 32 Ill Wind, W. L. Heath 1984 Box 2, Folder 33 Ill Wind, W. L. Heath; Production 1987 Box 2, Folder 34 I Woke Up Screaming, Steve Fischer 1987 Box 2, Folder 35 I Woke Up Screaming, Steve Fischer; Reviews 1988 Box 2, Folder 36 I Woke Up Screaming; Steve Fischer; Production 1988 Box 2, Folder 37 Its My Funeral, Peter Rabe 1987 Box 2, Folder 38 Jealous Woman, James M. Cain 1987-1988 Box 2, Folder 39 The Killing, Lionel White; Reviews No Date Box 2, Folder 40 The Killing, Lionel White; Production 1988 Box 2, Folder 41 Kill the Boss Goodbye 1987 Box 2, Folder 42 Lethal Injection, Jim Nisbet 1987 Box 2, Folder 43 Lethal Injection, Jim Nisbet; Reviews 1987-1988 Box 2, Folder 44 Lethal Injection, Jim Nisbet; Production 1987 Box 2, Folder 45 Lethal Injection, Jim Nisbet; Photo Physical Description: 1987 Scope and Content Note

Box 3, Folder 1 Low Bite, Sin Sorocco 1989 Box 3, Folder 2 Low Bite, Sin Sorocco 1988 Box 3, Folder 3 Low Bite, Sin Sorocco; Reviews 1989 Box 3, Folder 4 Low Bite, Sin Sorocco; Correspondence with the Author 1988 Box 3, Folder 5 Man on the Run, Charles Williams 1987-1989 Box 3, Folder 6 Masques, Bill Pronzini 1986 and 1989 Box 3, Folder 7 A Moment to Prey, Harry Whittington 1986 Box 3, Folder 8 A Moment to Prey, Harry Whittington; Reviews No Date Box 3, Folder 9 A Moment to Prey, Harry Whittington; Productions 1988 Box 3, Folder 10 The Name of the Game is Death, Dan Marlowe 1986 Box 3, Folder 11 The Name of the Game is Death, Dan Marlowe; Reviews No Date Box 3, Folder 12 The Name of the Game is Death, Dan Marlowe; Production 1988 Box 3, Folder 13 Never Live Twice, Dan Marlowe 1986 and 1994

Guide to the Black Lizard Press Special Collections M0932 5 Archive, 1977-1994 Container List

Box 3, Folder 14 Never Live Twice, Dan Marlowe; Reviews No Date Box 3, Folder 15 Never Live Twice, Dan Marlowe; Production 1988 Box 3, Folder 16 Nightfall, David Goodis 1986 Box 3, Folder 17 Nightfall, David Goodis; Reviews and Press Releases 1987 Box 3, Folder 18 Nightfall, David Goodis; Production 1987 Box 3, Folder 19 Nightsquad, David Goodis 1987 Box 3, Folder 20 Nothing in her Way, Charles Williams 1988-1989 Box 3, Folder 21 Nothing More than Murder, Jim Thompson 198-1988 Box 3, Folder 22 Only in L. A., Murray Sinclair 1987-1988 Box 3, Folder 23 The Only Out is Death, Peter Rabe 1987 Box 3, Folder 24 Perversity, Francis Carco; Reviews and Press Releases 1987 Box 3, Folder 25 Perversity, Francis Carco; Production 1987 Box 3, Folder 26 Pick-U, Charles Willeford 1986-1987 Box 3, Folder 27 Pick-Up, Charles Willeford; Reviews and Press Releases 1987-1988 Box 3, Folder 28 Pick-Up, Charles Willeford; Production 1987 Box 3, Folder 29 Population 1280, Jim Thompson 1983 Box 3, Folder 30 Population 1280, Jim Thompson; Reviews 1984 and 1989 Box 3, Folder 31 Population 1280, Jim Thompson; Advertising 1984 Box 3, Folder 32 Population 1280, Jim Thompson; Production 1984 Box 3, Folder 33 Port Tropique, Barry Gifford 1980 Box 3, Folder 34 Port Tropique, Barry Gifford 1980-1981 Box 3, Folder 35 Port Tropique, Barry Gifford; Reviews 1980-1981, 1986-1987, and 1989 Box 3, Folder 36 Port Tropique, Barry Gifford; Advertising No Date Box 3, Folder 37 Port Tropique, Barry Gifford; Contract, ABI, etc. 1980, 1986-1988, 1990 Box 3, Folder 38 Port Tropique, Barry Gifford; Sub-Rights 1987-1988 Box 3, Folder 39 Recoil, Jim Thompson 1984 Box 3, Folder 40 Root of His Evil, James M. Cain 1987 Box 3, Folder 41 Running of Beasts, Bill Pronzini and Barry Malzberg 1986-1988 Box 3, Folder 42 Running of Beasts, Bill Pronzini and Barry Malzberg Reviews 1988-1989 Box 3, Folder 43 Running of Beasts, Bill Pronzini and Barry Malzberg Production 1988 Box 3, Folder 44 Savage Night, Jim Thompson 1984 Box 3, Folder 45 Seven Slayers, Paul Cain; Reviews: Fast One, Paul Cain; Reviews 1987-1988 Box 3, Folder 46 Seven Slayers, Paul Cain; Reviews 1988 Box 3, Folder 47 Shoot the Piano Player, David Goodis 1986 Box 3, Folder 48 Shoot the Piano Player, David Goodis; Reviews 1987 Box 3, Folder 49 Shoot the Piano Player, David Goodis; Production 1987 Box 4, Folder 1 Silk Stalkings, Susan Thompson and Victoria Nichols 1987 Box 4, Folder 2 Silk Stalkings, Susan Thompson and Victoria Nichols; Contract 1987 Box 4, Folder 3 Silk Stalkings, Susan Thompson and Victoria Nichols; Advertising 1989 Box 4, Folder 4 Silk Stalkings, Susan Thompson and VictoriaNichols; Production 1988-1989 Box 4, Folder 5 Silk Stalkings, Susan Thompson and Victoria Nichols; Production 1988-1989 Box 4, Folder 6 Silk Stalkings, Susan Thompson and Victoria Nichols; Reviews 1988-1989 Box 4, Folder 7 Sinful Woman, James M. Cain 1987 and 1989 Box 4, Folder 8 Sing Me a Murder, Helen Nielsen 1986 Box 4, Folder 9 Sing Me a Murder, Helen Nielsen; Review 1988 Box 4, Folder 10 Sing Me a Murder, Helen Nielsen; Production 1988 Box 4, Folder 11 Straight Man, Kent Nelson 1978 and, 1987-1985 Box 4, Folder 12 Street of No Return, David Goodis 1986 Box 4, Folder 13 Street of No Return, David Goodis; Reviews 1988 Box 4, Folder 14 Strongarm, Dan Marlowe 1986 Box 4, Folder 15 Swamp Sister, Robert Edmund Alter 1985 Box 4, Folder 16 Swamp Sister, robert Edmund Alter Reviews 1987 Box 4, Folder 17 A Swell-Looking Babe, Jim Thompson 1984 Box 4, Folder 18 A Swell-Looking Babe, Jim Thompson; Reviews 1986-1987 Box 4, Folder 19 A Ticket to Hell, Harry Whittington 1986 Box 4, Folder 20 A Ticket to Hell, Harry Whittington; Reviews 1989 Box 4, Folder 21 Tough Luck L. A., Murray Sinclair 1987

Guide to the Black Lizard Press Special Collections M0932 6 Archive, 1977-1994 Container List

Box 4, Folder 22 Tough Luck L. A., Murray Sinclair; Production 1988 Box 4, Folder 23 Truth of the Matter, John Lutz 1988-1989 Box 4, Folder 24 Truth of the Matter, John Lutz 1988-1989 Box 4, Folder 25 The Vengeance Man, Dan Marlowe 1986 Box 4, Folder 26 Violent Saturday, W. L. Heath 1984 Box 4, Folder 27 Violent Saturday, W. L. Heath; Production 1955 Physical Description: (Xeroxed)

Box 4, Folder 28 Web of Murder, Harry Whittington 1986 Box 4, Folder 29 Web of Murder, Harry Whittington; Production 1987 Box 4, Folder 30 Web of Murder, Harry Whittington; Reviews and Press Release 1987 Box 4, Folder 31 Wild Town, Jim Thompson 1984 Box 4, Folder 32 Wild Town, Jim Thompson; Reviews 1986 Box 4, Folder 33 You Play the Black and the Red Comes Up, Eric Knight 1985 Box 4, Folder 34 You Play the Black and the Red Comes Up, Eric Knight; Reviews 1987 Box 4, Folder 35 Titles Under Consideration: Unpublished by Black Lizard 1959, 1961, 1962, 1987-1989 Box Posters, Logo poster and cover art from Never Live Twice: No Date Folder 1 Physical Description: 2 copies of each (4 total)

Guide to the Black Lizard Press Special Collections M0932 7 Archive, 1977-1994