A Fancy Look and the History of Heller

September 14th, 2021 by Max Allan Collins

Here is a hot-off-the-presses look at the cover of the print edition of Fancy Anders Goes to War.

Fancy Anders Goes to War Print Cover

As I’ve mentioned here, three Fancy Anders short novels have been done for NeoText. The emphasis is on e-book, but I realize many of you (who are nice enough to follow these updates) much prefer actual books…the much-derided “physical media” of us Luddites.

Well, the physical version of Fancy Anders Goes to War should be very nice indeed. The interior illos by Fay Dalton will be in black-and-white (color in the e-book) and with luck one day we’ll have a collection of all three novellas that will be a larger format with color interior pics.

For now, this is the only print edition. And be advised it’s strictly available online – the e-book is Kindle only – and will not be seen in brick-and-mortar bookstores.

I am really proud of this project and hope you will support Fancy, Fay and me. Here’s where you can pre-order the Kindle edition.

Pre-ordering the print edition has not gone live yet, but I will let you know as soon as it does.

[NEWS FLASH: Pre-order of FANCY ANDERS GOES TO WAR now available: Amazon Purchase Link]

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The main event this week is again an installment of my ongoing “A Life in Crime” series at NeoText’s site, this time dealing with the history and development of the Nathan Heller saga.

One of the great things about NeoText is their willingness – even enthusiasm – to support my work even when it’s for other publishers. I will be starting on – later this year – The Big Bundle, the first of at least two Nathan Heller novels for Hard Case Crime.

Right now I am working on the Spillane biography with Jim Traylor for Otto Penzler at Mysterious Press. It’s a big job but one Jim and I enjoy. I had to gather from several places in my house huge stacks of Spillane material to go through and, in many cases, take notes from. My collecting of articles and reviews and what-have-you pertaining to Mickey’s work goes back to my junior high days in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, and earlier material that I picked up through collecting sources. It’s been like poking my ink-stained fingers through a brain filled with decades of memories.

My hope is that Jim and I will be able to present the story of Mickey’s life in the context of the important, much under-estimated contribution he made to the American mystery and world popular culture.

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Here’s a podcast about Road to Perdition, film and (to a lesser degree) graphic novel.

M.A.C.

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4 Responses to “A Fancy Look and the History of Heller”

  1. Ray Cuthbert says:

    I continue to enjoy your “A Life in Crime” series and NATHAN HELLER remains my favourite of all novelized characters. I have to wonder though with all the collaborations you have done with George Hagenauer, how is it I cannot remember a photo of the two of you together? Are there none in the files?

  2. Excellent question, Ray. Don’t remember one, but if I run across an example I will run it here.

  3. Frank says:

    MAC,
    The paperback for Fancy Anders just hit Amazon today

  4. Steve Gursky says:

    So… in the past two week I have “reread” the first three Heller books through Audible. It all holds together so well and is very engaging. I find myself going on rides just to “read” more. As soon as I’m done with “A Matter of Life and Death” by Irwin and Marilyn Yalom I’m going to “read” Neon Mirage. My intent is to plow through all the Hellers. I am almost done with the first John Sand and looking forward to the whole trilogy.

    Life is good. Thank you Max!