I enjoy reference books on classic fiction magazines. Whether indices or annotated guides, I love pouring over details and trends. I have annotated guides on Starling Stories and Fantastic Adventures. I have indexes on Weird Tales and Black Mask.

My newest addition is The Manhunt Companion by Peter Engantino and Jeff Vorzimmer from Stark House. Manhunt was a crime magazine from 1953 to May 1967. Some like Bill Pronzini and Ed Gorman consider(ed) it the greatest of all crime fiction magazines.

Contents include:

Preface

The History of Manhunt

Manhunt Story Reviews: divided by year from 1953 to 1967.

Indices:

Stories and Article by Issue

Alphabetical Index by Story

Alphabetical Index by Author

Alphabetical Index by Series

TV Episodes base on Manhunt Stories

I have read a few stories reprinted from Manhunt in The Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction and American Pulp. Peter Enfantino give a synopsis and review of every single story ever to appear in the magazine.

The author indices are interesting. Charles Beaumont had two stories in Manhunt, Ray Bradbury had one, Avram Davidson- 2, H. A. DeRosso – 2, Harlan Ellison – 1, Joe Gores – 6, Donald Hamilton – 1, Clair Huffaker – 1, John Jakes – 2, Murray Leinster (Will F. Jenkins) – 1, John D. MacDonald – 4, Mickey Spillane – 4, Rex Stout – 1, Bryce Walton – 14, Donald Westlake – 3, Cornell Woolrich – 2.

Evan Hunter/Ed McBain/Richard Marsten/Sal Lombino was the most prolific author with 48 stories. One of the most interesting items I found is the October 1963 issue ran a 17,500 word condensed version of Donald Westlake as “Richard Stark’s” “The Outfit.” It is the third novel in the Parker series.

Having read a history of the magazine and descriptions of every story, I was prepared to read The Best of Manhunt. Stay tuned next week for my evaluation.