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My Hero, Ron Goulart Ron Goulart is just about my all-time favorite author. And I'm not just saying that because I communicate with him periodically via email. His is a unique style and always a pleasure to read. There aren't many authors I can truly say that I can read their works more than once and still find lots of pleasure. I have read some of his books and short stories more than a dozen times and still laugh.
I discovered his work way back in the early 60's when—unknown to me at the time—I began reading and enjoying The Chex Press, a series of bonus booklets found stuck on the backs of Chex cereals boxes (Wheat Chex, Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Goat Chex, Crunchy Leather Chex. etc.) You see, Ron worked for the advertising agency handling Ralston Purina foods and was picked to create these funny combinations of short stories, anecdotes, jokes and pictures. It wasn't until 1997 that I found out it was Ron who did those. And it was only through the kind emails I recently received from one of his sons, Sean, that I discovered he was also involved in the old Purina "Chuck Wagon" ads for their dog food. Of course, now that I think of it, I can see it would take his kind of humor to have a miniature chuck wagon being chased around a house by a dog. Anyway, Ron has been responsible for more than 100 novels, several hundred short stories and dozens of articles on the history of comics. I have all but four or five of his novels, even those written under pseudonyms. He has written everything from science fiction to mysteries to westerns to romance novels (yes, those "...and as he took her roughly into his massive arms, and gently cradled her face to his bulging chest, she sighed and knew that everything would be all right." books. He even did the novelizations of the Laverne and Shirley show. He writes under his own name as well as "ghosting" under other names. He has written Doc Savage books, The Phantom books, and many others using pseudonyms. I am fortunate enough to have discovered Ron's work early on and have many first editions of his hard bound and paperback editions (if you consider paperback 1st editions as having any real value) of books written uder most of his names. In all I believe I have about 95% of the books he has written. Once you have read some of his work, it is always fun to read a book by soeone you would never believe could write that has a lot of Ron's references and style. And though he can't comment on any of these ghosted works for contractual reasons, I am pretty sure I have spotted his hand in a number of books over the years. A COLLECTION OF GOULART'S SHORT STORIES (click here) Talk about versatile. Well, most of his books are still available from good used book dealers like Powells Books and your local merchants. His newest novels are highlighted below. Read Ron Goulart. That is an order. Anyone who can write about steam-powered robotic sparrows who tend to explode for no apparent reason, is an author you should be reading! GROUCHO LIVES!Mystery Writer Revives Famous Comedian First In GROUCHO MARX, MASTER DETECTIVE, Then GROUCHO MARX, PRIVATE EYE, Next in ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR GROUCHO then in GROUCHO MARX AND THE BROADWAY MURDERS and now in GROUCHO MARX, SECRET AGENT. New Mystery Novels Star Cigar-Smoking Comic As Amateur Sleuth In 1930s Hollywood.
RON GOULART, twice nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award by the Mystery Writers of America, brings the wisecracking Groucho Marx back to life in four book with a fifth in the works. Follow the exploits of Groucho as he takes on the private investigative business in 1930's Hollywood solving the crimes the police don't want to believe have happened. Nobody can capture everything that was Groucho—the walk, the cutting remarks, even the eyebrows—like Ron Goulart, the author of over 100 novels as well as more than 200 short stories and articles. I have been collecting his works for more than 20 years. His style is fast-paced and funny. If you like mysteries, and you have any sense of humor, you'll enjoy these books. The four the existing "Groucho" books are available for order now from Amazon Books (Click on the book covers, below). Goulart is available for interviews and rude remarks. You may contact him at rgoulart@snet.net
The "Groucho" books have been published by: St. Martin's Press Write to them and demand MORE GOULART!
This is, by the way, only one of a number of collections of his short stories. Some are from his science fiction writings, others are more of his mysteries.
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12 of Ron's short mystery stories featuring two of his ongoing
characters, Scrib Merlin and the unnamed Adman, are available
in one book. Since Ron has written several hundred short stories,
this is just a sampling, but it will leave you wanting more. Amazon.com
has the quality paperback book for sale.