The IBIC Guide to Books By Lawrence Block

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Remarks from the IBIC Editor's Journal

February 5, 1995

A LONG LINE OF DEAD MEN, a Matthew Scudder novel by Lawrence Block (William Morrow & Company), is Block at his best. Harrowing, thought provoking, funny; Block's got great range and he hasn't lost a step yet. Highly recommended.


December 25, 1994

I was surprised to learn that THE BURGLAR WHO TRADED TED WILLIAMS (Dutton) is the first Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery by Lawrence Block in more than ten years. It didn't seem like there had been such a long hiatus in the adventures of one of the more entertaining series characters in the mystery genre. And, after finishing this enjoyable romp in the life of gentleman burglar Rhodenbarr, I'm still surprised. The series still has its zip. Block is showing no signs of Alastair Maclean syndrome. Quite the contrary, like Ted Williams, his technique is still impeccable, and he shows every sign of being ready to hit the next one out of the park.

Warmly recommended for fans of light mystery fiction.


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Editor's Recommendations, Summer 1996

In this inaugural edition of IBIC's Featured Books, I'd like to draw your attention to several titles which have helped to shape my life and thinking.

  • When I was around fifteen, I came across Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's science fiction novel, INFERNO. This '70s remake of Dante's classic describes science fiction writer Allen Carpentier's descent into Hell. It's still a very fresh, accessible take on the classic. What a great movie it would make!
  • The Niven/Pournelle INFERNO immediately inspired me to read the original Divine Comedy. I've read a number of translations over the years, but my favorite is the one by Dorothy Sayers (INFERNO; PURGATORY; PARADISE). The notes are excellent, and Sayers had such a knowledgeable and witty mind that reading her prose is a pleasure in itself. (For those interested in a more contemporary translation, I should mention that Robert Pinsky received excellent notices for his 1995 THE INFERNO OF DANTE : A NEW VERSE TRANSLATION; it's a very handsome book.)
  • I also want to tell you about the late Henry Fairlie's THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS TODAY, which probably did more than any other single book to galvanize me into a lifetime interest in Christianity that led me, eventually, to faith. Ironic, because Fairlie was a self-proclaimed agnostic socialist! But reading between the lines of this insightful and deeply feeling book, one realizes that the love of God cannot have been far from Fairlie's heart.
  • Finally, I should draw to your attention a more recent acquisition, the very handsome NIV STUDY BIBLE (10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) from Zondervan, indexed and bonded in leather in IBIC's theme color, burgundy (black and brown are also available). The notes to this Bible are amazing. They appear to provide you with a very substantial portion of what you need to know to have an intelligent layman's appreciation of the linguistic and historical issues involved in understanding Scripture.

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