If you're looking for a definition of the word "eclectic," I can offer you one in three words: Ramble House publishers. This small and very independent press publishes all kinds of books, including some fine mysteries. Fender Tucker, who runs the place, publishes all of Rupert Penny's Golden Age novels, for example, as well as reams of Harry Stephen Keeler books (I've never read any, but I promise to get around to it very soon and report back).
More to the point, at this holiday season, when you or someone you love may be looking for great e-books as stocking stuffers for that new, or old-and-treasured, e-reader, Ramble House's entire backlist is now available in several popular ebook formats at just six bucks a book.
Which brings me to my main point: I've posted here about "Rim of the Pit," by Hake Talbot, one of the best "impossible crime" books I've ever read. It rivals John Dickson Carr in its ingenuity and its atmosphere; it requires a lot of bravery to read it at home alone on a stormy night. It opens with the line: "I came up here to make a dead man change his mind." And it just keeps getting better - impossible murder, seances, footprints that begin and end in unbroken fields of snow, a giant flying...something...what's not to like?
My point is, if you have an ebook reader that takes either EPUB (Nook and, I think, Sony?) or MOBI format, you can get it now from Ramble House for six bucks. It may be the best six bucks you ever spent on a traditional, well-written, truly terrifying mystery. Check out the "back cover map" - one of the best of its kind - here. Email Ramble House for details on how to get the ebook version - [email protected]
Les - You know, I've been interested in Ramble House Press since reading your posts about it. I'm going to have to check out their releases. And I may be biased but let's face it; any stocking that's stuffed with a good 'impossible mystery' is a happy stocking indeed. But how did the mystery get there? The stocking's locked from inside! ;-)
Posted by: Margot Kinberg | December 19, 2012 at 04:40 PM
A locked stocking, eh, Margot? I could show my age and say they obviously used ladders, but...we've got them on the run anyway. OK, I'll quit now.
Anyway, yes, Ramble House has some unusual offerings. Their website is fascinating. Enjoy!
Posted by: Les Blatt | December 19, 2012 at 05:52 PM
Ramble House has been in publishing for quite a while. I remember seeing their name on the backs of a number of books that I enjoyed when I was younger. Nowadays I do most of my reading on digital media.
For that reason, I like your recommendation. Some publishers have been a little slow in making their books available in digital formats. They don't seem to realize that people like to be able to carry lots of books around with them at once. Print is good and the new formats offer even more flexibility.
Posted by: Krissa@educationalsoftware | December 29, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Krissa, I agree with you completely about the flexibility of ebooks. I'll admit I still love my printed books - they are gradually taking over my entire house - but the ease of storing and using ebooks is very welcome. And, as I've said before, I do wish more authors, especially out-of-print ones, were available again for new readers to discover.
Posted by: Les Blatt | December 29, 2012 at 10:23 AM
My ears are burning! And not in the usual painful way. I appreciate the good words expressed about Ramble House and our various editions of books. I recently learned how to make good, solid ebooks of almost any of our books, even the most oddly formatted of them. I've done about 130 titles so far and whenever I get an order for one (and it hasn't been converted yet) that triggers me to do the conversion. But I've been contemplating a crash course in Keeler converting, spending a few days to get all 90+ of the Keelers and the Keeler-related books (which are as fantastic as the Keeler novels themselves)into ebook format to put on a CD. I normally e-mail 5 or 6 ebook files at a time when I get an order for a dozen, say, but I think I would despair if I were to get an order for 50 or 60 ebooks at once. I'd be spending all my time e-mailing and attaching. So I'm thinking a CD with EVERYTHING concerning Keeler on it. All of it searchable. Shouldn't every Keeler fan on earth have this CD?
Posted by: Fender Tucker | April 04, 2013 at 01:37 PM
The mind boggles at the possibilities. As I said, I have yet to read any Keeler, though friends have told me that I should do so. I will...and that possible CD sounds like an interesting idea...
Posted by: Les Blatt | April 04, 2013 at 02:29 PM