Donald westlake could not have lived a much different life from his father. Westlake, donald westlake, richard stark, stop, youre killing me. He died on december 31, 2008 in san tancho, mexico. They still chase the american dream like dogs chasing cars, and, when they cant stand the frustration any longer, they cross over to the noir side.
He has written dozens of novels over the past thirtyfive years, under his own name and a rainbow of pseudonyms. Burke devore is a middleaged manager at a paper company when the costcutting ax. Signature donald edwin westlake july 12, 1933 december 31, 2008 was an american. I am reminded of the movie heathers of a few years ago. Crisp, clean simple sentences without lots of adjectives.
Westlake is a consummate pro who can deliver both the cheerful zaniness of the dortmunder novels and thoroughly convincing noir. If westlake had only produced this opening salvo, he would still be a cult figure among those who love tough guy fiction. They have shocking, experimental endings and high body counts. Westlake, creator of john dortmunder, the most clever and least lucky thief in crime fiction, and, writing as richard stark, the hardboiled heist master parker. Westlake is about a man named burke devore who recently worked in an executive position at a paper mill until he was let go due to. Fiction, downsizing of organizations, middleaged men, serial murderers, suspense. Burke devore is a middleaged manager at a paper company when the costcutting ax falls, and he is. The multiawardwinning, widelyacclaimed mystery master donald e. A downsized line manager plots a murderous way to winnow the competition for his next job, in this unusually somber tale from the reigning king of crime comedy. Anyone who has ever been downsized or stood on an unemployment line can relate to the feelings of one burke devore, a downsized project manager at a paper mill plant, who, by placing a phony ad in a trade journal, acquires all the resumes of those potential competitors who might apply for. Westlake the ax is a book about murder not crazed psychotic murder, but coldblooded, intelligent murder survival of the fittest murder. Westlake, the unrivaled master of the formula caper comedy whats the worst that could happen. Most of the serial killers we meet in modern fiction are tortured souls, abused as children or tormented by multiple personalities.
Westlake is about a man named burke devore who recently worked in an executive position at a paper mill until he was let go due to budget cuts, and without a job he is worried his family he, his wife, son and daughter is going to go under. He eventually becomes so desperate that he is prepared to kill. The national din on downsizing, corporate americas wholesale decimation of jobs and workers in pursuit of higher profits and bigger returns to investors, rang loud during the early months of the 1996 presidential campaign then receded to the level of white noise, in the background. As novels go, the ax is pretty much flawless, with a surprise ending that will unplug your expectations. Westlake i wanted to interview him about his complete canon, he just shrugged, not really interested. This is a very unique book being a signed 1 st paperback, and very.
Donald edwin westlake was a noteworthy american author of the science fiction and crime genre. Westlake, and follows the attempts by a laidoff employee to get back on his feet. Burke devore, a middleaged paper company middle manager, has gotten the ax from his employer after years of devoted service. Donald westlake died in 2008, but during his life turned out mysteries comedic and otherwise, toughguy crime novels as richard stark he wrote the unforgettable parker series and even a few books that fell into the horror category. Westlake the ax mysterious press, hardcover, june 1997. Fro 25 years, burke devore has provided for his family and played by the rules. The antihero of donald westlakes novel has a new definition of justifiable homicide. When it comes to crimethe good, the bad, and the hilariousnobody does it like donald e. Air force he began his writing career with the mercenaries in 1960.
Le couperet is a frenchbelgianspanish film from 2005 by greekfrench director costagavras, starring jose garcia, karin viard and olivier gourmet. The credits rolled and when the screen flashed based on the novel by donald e. Meet burke devore, the protagonist and antagonist of this twisted and terrifying novel. Donald westlake was recently treated to a special bigscreen viewing of the hot rock, a 1972 film based on his novel of the same name. The ax by donald westlake is a book no one who has been laid off during our current recession should read, it will give them too many ideas. The ax is a cold, dark, and very wellcrafted novel. Westlake updates the gold medaleveryman formula for 1997. The ax by donald westlake signed first edition book. Married three times, twice divorced from the mothers of his own sons.
Though he saw the coworkers dismissed along with him turn instantly from teammates to competitors, burke devore knew from the first that they werent the cause of his misery. A firstperson serial killer novel from one of americas finest suspense writers. Westlake, a loud cheer erupted from the assorted mix of bestselling mystery authors and journalists in the audience. An anthology of mystery stories by the mystery writers of america. Westlake s outrageous new thriller is all about something too good to be. Westlakes books in order of publication and in chronological order. Although the crime and science fiction genres were his specialty, he used to write in other genres as well. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. Westlake, a prolific, awardwinning mystery novelist who pounded out more than 100 books and 5 screenplays on manual typewriters during a career of nearly 50 years, died on wednesday night. This is a very unique book being a signed 1 st paperback, and very collectable.
Fro 25 years, burke devore has provided for his family and played by the. Two years later and still jobless, he hits on a solution. Author interview donald westlake, author of bad news bookpage. Westlake wrote the ax at age sixtyfive, with more than forty published novels to his credit. Best known for his mystery novels including the dortmunder series, he also wrote screenplays, including the script for the grifters which was nominated for an academy award for best screenplay. The national din on downsizing, corporate americas wholesale decimation of jobs and workers in pursuit of higher profits and bigger returns to investors, rang loud during the early months of the 1996 presidential campaign then receded to the level of white noise, in the background, acknowledged but. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. It takes a westlake is a consummate pro who can deliver both the cheerful zaniness of the dortmunder novels and thoroughly convincing noir. Westlake brings a true writers wisdom to this work i judge an overlooked classic. Almost afraid to admit it in a crime fiction community, but the ax is the first of donald e.
The donald westlake novel on which the film is based gives him every incentive to play it straight. That book combined an absorbing psychological study of a man with a thoughtprovoking look at one of contemporary societys genuine problems. Westlake the ax 1 st paperback edition signed by author excellent rare. Being born in the year 1933, westlake died in the year 2008 at the age of 75 after writing hundreds of novels and nonfiction books. This is a may 1998 first paperback edition of a 1997 title. Westlake is perhaps bestremembered for creating two professional criminal characters who each starred in a longrunning.
Donald westlakes 1997 novel the ax, shelved in the mystery section of my local library, is a sterling example of black humor. The ax author westlake, donald e book condition used very good quantity available 1 binding paperback isbn 10 0446606081 isbn 9780446606080 publisher warner vision place of publication new york date published 1998 bookseller catalogs crime. Westlake is available at in several formats for your ereader. He was a writer, known for the grifters 1990, payback 1999 and the stepfather 2009. Burke devore is a middleaged manager at a paper company when the costcutting ax falls, and he is laid off. Donald edwin westlake 1933 2008 welcome and thanks for visiting the official website of crime novelist and mwa grand master donald e. Donald edwin westlake 19332008 was an american author of numerous bestselling novels and nonfiction books under his own name and many pseudonyms.
Doubly dangerous to be posting my report on this blog, risking its being seen by my literary advisor, fictionauts kitty boots, who most certain ly would allow a n inquiring eyebrow to ascend over a second consecutive popular crime novel in this space. Donald westlake s 1997 novel the ax, shelved in the mystery section of my local library, is a sterling example of black humor. A donald westlake nonfiction miscellany 2014 share. Getting advice, or getting the ax the new york times. Ive never actually killed anybody before, murdered another person, snuffed out another human being. I was recommended this book by a friend, and author, and normally i dont read crime fiction, but i was intrigued enough with the premise to give it a try a guy who loses his job then in order to secure himself another job, he kills off his competition. Not much has changed for honest, hardworking guys since the frustrating fifties. Downsizing, of course, is linked to the reengineering theory pushed by so many management consultants in the last decade. Westlake delivers a masterpiece with this brilliant. The ax is one of his darkest efforts, a mesmerizing chiller. It is signed by the author on the title page, with a short inscription to the p. The film is an adaptation of the 1997 novel the ax by donald e.
Westlake delivers a masterpiece with this brilliant, lasersharp tale of the deadly consequences of corporate downsizing. Go to the first chapter of the ax read a feature story about author donald westlake. As much as i have enjoyed various donald westlake novels over the year, i was unprepared three years ago for his superb the ax. A second lighter revision was made in september 2014 to coincide with the publication of the getaway car.
Westlake was the mad scientist of crime fiction for nearly 50 years, experimenting with style and structure under myriad pen names while creating some of the funniest, darkest and most original examples of the genre. Whether he is making you laugh with his dortmunder crime capers or making you shiver with his parker novels or recent bestseller the ax, donald e. Westlake is a good storyteller and it is evident in the ax. I was recommended this book by a friend, and author, and normally i dont read crime fiction, but i was intrigued enough with the premise to give it a try a guy who loses his job then in order to secure. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction and other genres. The resulting widespread layoffs in the name of corporate efficiency show just how.
Burke devore is american man at the millennium as emblematic of his time as george f. Donald edwin westlake july 12, 1933 december 31, 2008 was an american writer, with more than a hundred novels and nonfiction books to his credit. Twentyfive years since his last viewing, westlake flashed a grin. Westlake s latest novel, is as chilling as it sounds. Westlake was born on july 12, 1933 in brooklyn, new york, usa as donald edwin edmund westlake. Now he presents a diabolically clever tale of murder, ambi. The ax 1997 the hook 2000 the scared stiff 2002 put a lid on it 2002 money for nothing 2003 memory 2010 the comedy is finished 2012 forever and a death 2017 publication order of nonfiction books. Westlake, the creator of the uproarious dortmunder novels and the dark classic the ax.