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It
is probably a truism that the way to gauge the strength of the science
fiction, horror and mystery genres is to check out the multiple
annual "Best Of" anthologies that are spawned from each
of them. If a particular genre's anthologies seem to contain pretty
much the same stories, there probably isn't much depth to the genre
that particular year. If, however, different editors have made different
selections and it is hard to pick winners from among the different
anthologies, then the genre in all probability has had a strong
year.
THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2000 is the latest annual anthology
published in what has, to the benefit of all, become a regular event.
The series, which features a rotating editor under the guiding hand
of series editor Otto Penzler, has become a perennial favorite.
It does have some competition this year from other anthologies.
Any serious lover of fiction from any genre, however, should consider
purchasing this volume with the other mystery anthologies for 2000,
as they complement rather than compete with each other. And if we
use my humble standard, they demonstrate that the mystery genre
is very strong, indeed.
I have developed a bad habit, which I do not recommend to anyone.
If an anthology has a Jeffery Deaver story in it, I turn to it and
read it immediately. The one featured here is "Triangle."
It's all about a...relationship, but it's not what you might think
at first. Or second or third, either. And I swear to you I had it
all figured out. I really did, based on my extensive reading of
Deaver's novels and short stories. And I was wrong, as wrong as
wrong could be, not even in the right church wrong! And the
story was flawless!
There is also a short little tale in here by Shel Silverstein. Yes,
Shel Silverstein, the late lamented one, himself. The author
of children's books for adults, like THE GIVING TREE, and the lyricist
who wrote many of Dr. Hook's songs --- that Shel Silverstein.
And who would have dreamed that he had this story in him, this folksy
yet sophisticated account of a courtroom proceeding where justice
is done. Tom Franklin, whose brilliant "Poachers" was
all over the place last year, is back with the almost as brilliant
"Grit," a darkly funny, or maybe funnily dark, little
tale about the silent takeover of a factory.
Where anthologies of this sort really prove their worth, however,
is with regard to their ability to introduce readers to authors
who are new to them. My favorite this year in this category is my
paisano, Robert Girardi, with "The Defenestration
of Aba Sid." Girardi's protagonist is Martin Wexler, a public
defender who, for whatever reason, is a really lousy lawyer; and
who is plucked from the legal pool to defend a Russian immigrant
accused of murder. Girardi is brilliant --- this story was so good
that I could hardly wait to finish it so that I could go hunt up
every word he's ever written. Girardi juggles any number of chainsaws
in the air in this one. We're wondering if the accused did it; is
Wexler going to get him off; should he get him off; how is he going
to get him off; and why was Wexler picked as counsel when he is
a base incompetent. Or is he? Girardi in this novelette plumbs depths
that other legal thriller authors never come close to in 500 plus
pages. His story is worth the price of admission alone.
THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2000 should be on your bookshelf
now, if it isn't already. Don't put it on your Christmas list; that's
too long to have to wait. Buy it for yourself so that you can start
reading it immediately. You'll be impressed by the strength of the
genre.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
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