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A review by saareman
Answers to Soldier: a Keller short story by Lawrence Block
3.0
Keller Begins
Review of the LB Productions eBook edition (June 6, 2021) of the short story originally published in Playboy Magazine (August 1984).
Lawrence Block's series on the somewhat neurotic hitman John Keller began with this short story written as a one-off back in 1984. It later became the first chapter of the Keller novel told in short stories called [b:Hit Man|380563|Hit Man (Keller, #1)|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408930904l/380563._SY75_.jpg|1062586] (1998).
The title Answers to Soldier is taken from the subterfuge which Keller uses in the story to get close to his target. He creates a fictional poster as if he is looking for his lost dog. The short story sets the pattern for the later Keller stories. He travels from NYC to the location where his assigned target is located (the hits being contracted by a cut-out man in White Plains, NY) and settles into the local environment under some pretense. Rather than do the work immediately, he bides his time and starts musing about what his life would be like if he stayed there. Eventually he proceeds with the job and returns back home.
The stories are quirky and although they are about a contract killer they are often reflective about modern life and how people are distanced from each other. There was enough of a fan following that several collections followed. I haven't read them all, but I think all of them use the "short stories as a novel" approach.
Trivia and Links
I read a considerable number of Lawrence Block books in my pre-GR and pre-reviewing days. Probably 40 or so out of the 100+ that are available. That included all of the Matt Scudder books, several of the Bernie Rhodenbarrs, several of the Evan Tanners, several of the Kellers, a dozen or so standalones and some of the memoirs. There were even a few of the earlier pulp novels which were originally published under pseudonyms. This re-read is part of an ongoing look back at some of those.
Lawrence Block (June 24, 1938 - ) considers himself retired these days, but still maintains an occasional newsletter with the latest issued in August 2024. He self-publishes some of his earlier works that have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint. This current eBook edition of Answers to Soldier is one of those.
Review of the LB Productions eBook edition (June 6, 2021) of the short story originally published in Playboy Magazine (August 1984).
"Answers to Soldier" marked Keller's first appearance—and I never expected to write more about the wistful hit man. But time passed, and I got to thinking about him. - Author Lawrence Block.
Lawrence Block's series on the somewhat neurotic hitman John Keller began with this short story written as a one-off back in 1984. It later became the first chapter of the Keller novel told in short stories called [b:Hit Man|380563|Hit Man (Keller, #1)|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408930904l/380563._SY75_.jpg|1062586] (1998).
The title Answers to Soldier is taken from the subterfuge which Keller uses in the story to get close to his target. He creates a fictional poster as if he is looking for his lost dog. The short story sets the pattern for the later Keller stories. He travels from NYC to the location where his assigned target is located (the hits being contracted by a cut-out man in White Plains, NY) and settles into the local environment under some pretense. Rather than do the work immediately, he bides his time and starts musing about what his life would be like if he stayed there. Eventually he proceeds with the job and returns back home.
The stories are quirky and although they are about a contract killer they are often reflective about modern life and how people are distanced from each other. There was enough of a fan following that several collections followed. I haven't read them all, but I think all of them use the "short stories as a novel" approach.
Trivia and Links
I read a considerable number of Lawrence Block books in my pre-GR and pre-reviewing days. Probably 40 or so out of the 100+ that are available. That included all of the Matt Scudder books, several of the Bernie Rhodenbarrs, several of the Evan Tanners, several of the Kellers, a dozen or so standalones and some of the memoirs. There were even a few of the earlier pulp novels which were originally published under pseudonyms. This re-read is part of an ongoing look back at some of those.
Lawrence Block (June 24, 1938 - ) considers himself retired these days, but still maintains an occasional newsletter with the latest issued in August 2024. He self-publishes some of his earlier works that have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint. This current eBook edition of Answers to Soldier is one of those.