Bruce Elliott (1) (1914–1973)

The summary:
One is a Lonely Number = 1 star. 0 stars. Trash.
Black Wings Has My Angel = 4 stars. Definitely recommended for noir fans.

Both books were originally from the 1950s & were republished together by Stark House in 2012: One is a Lonely Number / Black Wings Has My Angel.

I read the first story in this book, One is a Lonely Number, because it was the first story. (I had checked out the book from the library because I wanted to read the second story & this book was the only version it show more had.) I guess I should have just skipped this one but I read it since they were published together. One is a Lonely Number.... I would have said it was an adequate noir from the 1950s, nothing fabulous but squarely in the ok camp. Until I got to the child sex/rape. You can't even say well it was one of those books from back in that time when it might have been considered acceptable because even in the story, the main character himself knows it's statutory rape & the Mann Act is mentioned too. Originally he doesn't know her age. After he finds out the author then goes into a paragraph description of her naked body to tell what the differences are between a child and a woman. F#&king creepy-ass author. Then the main character rapes her again because what the hell. (Of course, it's presented as "tender" and what the girl wanted.) Jfc. I'm so mad about this story.

I actually stopped reading for a few days because I was so mad about this book.

Unfortunately for Elliott Chaze's book, Black Wings Has My Angel, it's packaged with this trash. Black Wings, however, is excellent noir. If you like hard-boiled noir, I definitely recommend it. The main characters are memorable & the writing & action zing along. NYRB published a version of Black Wings Has My Angel that would be a good way to get it as a standalone book if you plan to read it.

Also, from NPR: 'Black Wings' Is A Devilish Trip Worth Taking

After reading these & being completely flummoxed as to why Stark House might publish these two together (is it because both books have an escaped con as the main character?), my best guess is they put the two in the same book because both authors have Elliott as part of their name. Save yourself from the misery of the first book & spend your time & money on the Elliott Chaze book. show less

What a terrific pulpy story! Elliott takes a whole bunch of pulp motifs and knits them together. Here, we have the escaped convict desperate, lonely, and wandering through the dregs of society. The opening chapters to this book are dark, noir-ish, tragic, and bitter. There's little to look forward to and not much that is pure or good - not the girl who didn't wait for him or the money she disappeared with -- not the whore who seemed empty and flabby without her girdle -- not the hopheads show more haunting tea houses -- not the bums in the railroad yards with no loyalty to anyone.
And when Camonille reaches a small town where he get up a grubstake the world is no cleaner. There's jailbait teenyboppers, lush widows in fancy cars, thieving plotting men, jealous lovers, hatred, misery, and all kinds of twisted plots. Although the noir atmosphere of the first few chapters isn't quite there as strongly in later chapters, the dark, desolate, world is. And Camonille is trapped in this world with one foot in a grave just as surely as if he were serving out his full sentence. show less

Terrific book of both practical and stage magic, with tricks devised by, among many others, Walter B. Gibson (creator of THE SHADOW) and Elliot himself.

I used Don Allan's entertaining ball and cup routine (using a single cup) for many years. In Elliott's book, Don Allan attributes this exquisite routine to Roy Benson. See pages 189-198.