The Collected Stories of Max Brand

Brand (the pen name of Frederick Schiller Faust) was one of the most prolific and protean pulp writers of the century. (Born in 1892, he was killed while serving as a war correspondent in Italy during WWII). Though best known for his westerns, Brand also wrote spy thrillers and created the character of Dr. Kildare. According to Bloodworth's introduction, in one three-year period during the early '30s, Brand produced more than five million words-equivalent to 75 pulp-length books. The breadth of Brand's work-written under 20 pseudonyms and totaling nearly 900 stories and novels-is well represented in the 18 stories collected here, which range from early tales (``John Ovington Returns,'' a surprisingly tender love story) to posthumously published selections (including another fine love story, ``Honor Bright''). Among the high points are ``Internes Can't Take Money,'' the first Dr. Kildare tale, and ``The Strange Villa,'' which introduces suave Secret Service Agent-and James Bond precursor-Anthony Hamilton and is set in Monte Carlo. Brand's western fiction is also well represented. (Sept.)