Speaking of Greed: Stories of Envious Desire
Lawrence BlockThe second volume in the Seven Deadly Sins series, Speaking of Greed
is a collection of short stories on the destructive deadly sin known as
greed. In addition to being the title of this anthology, “Speaking of
Greed” is also the title of Lawrence Block’s original novella that leads
off this unique collection.”My task as an anthologist in this series,” Block writes in the introduction, “is threefold: first, I have to pick
the stories; then I have to write a longish novella with my four series
characters, whom we know only as the priest, the doctor, the soldier,
and the policeman; finally, I have to hammer out an introduction.”
The
stories Block has chosen are delightful. His novella delivers what he
promises. And the introduction is a heads-up plea for authors to ensure
that their work will continue to be read after they are no longer around
to write any more. Included in this stellar anthology are the following
stories and authors: “Speaking of Greed” by Lawrence Block * “The Word’
by F. Paul Wilson * “Hitler, Elvis, and Me” by Doug Allyn * “One Hit
Wonder” by Gabrielle Kraft * “The $5,000 Getaway” by Jack Ritchie *
“Rotten to the Core” by Jeremiah Healy * “Front Man” by David Morrell *
“Water’s Edge” by Robert Bloch * “A Taste of Paradise” by Bill Pronzini *
“Bits” by Mat Coward * “Come Down From The Hills” by John F. Suter *
“The Wrong Hands” by Peter Robinson * “The High Cost of Living” by
Dorothy Cannell * “My Heart Cries For You” by Bill Crider * “Inside Job”
by Ed Gorman * “Deadly Fantasies” by Marcia Muller * “Death Scene” by
Helen Nielsen * “Good-bye, Sue Ellen” by Gillian Roberts * “Death and
Diamonds” by Sue Dunlap * “A Ticket Out” by Brenda DuBois