Short stories and serial novels by Donald Hamilton

Most of Donald Hamilton's short fiction and several of his novels were published in weekly magazines during the 1940's and 1950's. This list identifies the magazines. Why bother, some might ask? The serialized novels were all published in hardcover and/or paperback, and reprinted several times. They aren't difficult to find. Hamilton's better known short stories have been collected in several anthologies. Isn't that good enough? Well, no. Hamilton passed away November 2006 and he was much more than the creator of Matt Helm. I'd like to remember him for all of his work. Four of his short stories have never been reprinted. Some of the magazines have spectacular color illustrations. I had to find and share them.

The elusive uncollected short stories and several others have been scanned in color and assembled with PDF wrappers. Many of the PDF files are large (up to 5 megabytes) and may take awhile to download on a typical home broadband internet connection. There isn't any text to extract from the PDF files. Each page is just an image of a page from the original magazine, complete with illustrations, ads, and occasional ragged edges.

If you're looking for more to read online, you can also find Hamilton's first novel, Date With Darkness, available as a compressed text file in the book section of Don Benish's Donald Hamilton Worship Page.

My thanks to Robert Skinner, who suggested I contact Ray Peters, and to Ray, who maintains publishing chronologies, US and UK, of Hamilton's fiction, for his help identifying missing stories and providing photocopies to read. Thanks also go to Mike Leggett and David Keller for providing additional content. You can also view a gallery of Hamilton's book covers, movie memorabilia, and a list of online references.

Ray recently shared photos of his visits with Don.

If you know where I can find copies of articles written by Donald Hamilton, if you know about any missing articles on writing, if you have book cover scans, movie-related images, or anything else interesting that should be added to this site, please email Mark Martinez, stcomix at mac dot com. Thanks.

Story Title Magazine Title Issue Date Notes

Stranger's Return Collier's 1946-06-01 Uncollected short story. Hamilton's first published fiction. This issue contains a photo and brief biographical sketch of Hamilton.

Magnolia Collier's 1946-11-23 Uncollected short story.

The Black Cross The American Magazine 1947-09 Novela collected in Murder Twice Told, 1950 (hardcover) and 1952 (paperback).

The Steel Mirror, 1 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-08-21 Serial novel published as The Steel Mirror, 1948 (hardcover) and 1950 (paperback). Filmed as Five Steps to Danger with a pressbook and several posters, 1957. This issue contains a biographical sketch of Hamilton.

The Steel Mirror, 2 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-08-28 -

The Steel Mirror, 3 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-09-04 -

The Steel Mirror, 4 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-09-11 -

The Steel Mirror, 5 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-09-18 -

The Steel Mirror, 6 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-09-25 -

The Steel Mirror, 7 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-10-02 -

The Steel Mirror, 8 of 8 The Saturday Evening Post 1948-10-09 -

Deadfall, 1 of 3 Collier's 1949-09-03 Serial novela collected in Murder Twice Told. Adapted as a live teleplay, Dead Fall, by Victor Wolfson and broadcast 23 Jan 1951, during the third season of Suspense. Available from Amazon.

Deadfall, 2 of 3 Collier's 1949-09-10 -

Deadfall, 3 of 3 Collier's 1949-09-17 -

The Black Cross Newark Sunday News Novel 1950-10-29 Novela collected in Murder Twice Told. Printed on newsprint and published as an insert in the Newark Sunday News.

Mask for Danger, 1 of 5 Collier's 1951-06-16 Serial novel published as Night Walker, 1954. Currently in print from Hard Case Crime and available from Amazon.

Mask for Danger, 2 of 5 Collier's 1951-06-23 -

Mask for Danger, 3 of 5 Collier's 1951-06-30 -

Mask for Danger, 4 of 5 Collier's 1951-07-07 -

Mask for Danger, 5 of 5 Collier's 1951-07-14 -

Throwback Manhunt 1953-08 Uncollected short story.

Smoky Valley, 1 of 4 Collier's 1953-12-11 Serial novel published as Smoky Valley, 1954. Filmed as The Violent Men with a pressbook and several posters, 1955. The film is available from Amazon.

Smoky Valley, 2 of 4 Collier's 1953-12-25 -

Smoky Valley, 3 of 4 Collier's 1954-01-08 -

Smoky Valley, 4 of 4 Collier's 1954-01-22 -

Too Soon Dead Bluebook 1955-05 Uncollected novela.

Mad River, 1 of 3 Collier's 1956-01-06 Serial novel published as Mad River, 1957.

Mad River, 2 of 3 Collier's 1956-01-20 -

Mad River, 3 of 3 Collier's 1956-02-03 -

Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 1 of 4 The Saturday Evening Post 1957-02-02 Serial novel published as The Big Country, filmed as The Big Country with several posters, a soundtrack, and a comic, 1958. The film is available from Amazon. This issue contains a photo and brief biographical sketch of Hamilton.

Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 2 of 4 The Saturday Evening Post 1957-02-09 -

Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 3 of 4 The Saturday Evening Post 1957-02-16 -

Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 4 of 4 The Saturday Evening Post 1957-02-23 -

The Mile Gun Sports Afield 1958-09 Short story collected in On Guns and Hunting, 1970.

The Last Gunman The Saturday Evening Post 1959-05-02 Short story collected in Spurs West, S. Omar Barker (ed.), 1960, The Gunfighters, Bill Pronzini and Martin H. Greenberg (ed.), 1987, and other anthologies.

The Guns of William Longley - 1967 Short story published in Iron Men and Silver Stars, Donald Hamilton (ed.), 1967. Won the 1967 Western Writers of America Spur Award for best short material. Reprinted in many anthologies over the years. Also contains an essay, The great tradition, originally published in 1956. Bill Longley was an outlaw with a ruthless reputation. Audio download available from Amazon (audible.com).

Story Title	Magazine Title	Issue Date	Notes
Stranger's Return	Collier's	1946-06-01	Uncollected short story. Hamilton's first published fiction. This issue contains a photo and brief biographical sketch of Hamilton.
Magnolia	Collier's	1946-11-23	Uncollected short story.
The Black Cross	The American Magazine	1947-09	Novela collected in Murder Twice Told, 1950 (hardcover) and 1952 (paperback).
The Steel Mirror, 1 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-08-21	Serial novel published as The Steel Mirror, 1948 (hardcover) and 1950 (paperback). Filmed as Five Steps to Danger with a pressbook and several posters, 1957. This issue contains a biographical sketch of Hamilton.
The Steel Mirror, 2 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-08-28	-
The Steel Mirror, 3 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-09-04	-
The Steel Mirror, 4 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-09-11	-
The Steel Mirror, 5 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-09-18	-
The Steel Mirror, 6 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-09-25	-
The Steel Mirror, 7 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-10-02	-
The Steel Mirror, 8 of 8	The Saturday Evening Post	1948-10-09	-
Deadfall, 1 of 3	Collier's	1949-09-03	Serial novela collected in Murder Twice Told. Adapted as a live teleplay, Dead Fall, by Victor Wolfson and broadcast 23 Jan 1951, during the third season of Suspense. Available from Amazon.
Deadfall, 2 of 3	Collier's	1949-09-10	-
Deadfall, 3 of 3	Collier's	1949-09-17	-
The Black Cross	Newark Sunday News Novel	1950-10-29	Novela collected in Murder Twice Told. Printed on newsprint and published as an insert in the Newark Sunday News.
Mask for Danger, 1 of 5	Collier's	1951-06-16	Serial novel published as Night Walker, 1954. Currently in print from Hard Case Crime and available from Amazon.
Mask for Danger, 2 of 5	Collier's	1951-06-23	-
Mask for Danger, 3 of 5	Collier's	1951-06-30	-
Mask for Danger, 4 of 5	Collier's	1951-07-07	-
Mask for Danger, 5 of 5	Collier's	1951-07-14	-
Throwback	Manhunt	1953-08	Uncollected short story.
Smoky Valley, 1 of 4	Collier's	1953-12-11	Serial novel published as Smoky Valley, 1954. Filmed as The Violent Men with a pressbook and several posters, 1955. The film is available from Amazon.
Smoky Valley, 2 of 4	Collier's	1953-12-25	-
Smoky Valley, 3 of 4	Collier's	1954-01-08	-
Smoky Valley, 4 of 4	Collier's	1954-01-22	-
Too Soon Dead	Bluebook	1955-05	Uncollected novela.
Mad River, 1 of 3	Collier's	1956-01-06	Serial novel published as Mad River, 1957.
Mad River, 2 of 3	Collier's	1956-01-20	-
Mad River, 3 of 3	Collier's	1956-02-03	-
Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 1 of 4	The Saturday Evening Post	1957-02-02	Serial novel published as The Big Country, filmed as The Big Country with several posters, a soundtrack, and a comic, 1958. The film is available from Amazon. This issue contains a photo and brief biographical sketch of Hamilton.
Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 2 of 4	The Saturday Evening Post	1957-02-09	-
Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 3 of 4	The Saturday Evening Post	1957-02-16	-
Ambush at Blanco Canyon, 4 of 4	The Saturday Evening Post	1957-02-23	-
The Mile Gun	Sports Afield	1958-09	Short story collected in On Guns and Hunting, 1970.
The Last Gunman	The Saturday Evening Post	1959-05-02	Short story collected in Spurs West, S. Omar Barker (ed.), 1960, The Gunfighters, Bill Pronzini and Martin H. Greenberg (ed.), 1987, and other anthologies.
The Guns of William Longley	-	1967	Short story published in Iron Men and Silver Stars, Donald Hamilton (ed.), 1967. Won the 1967 Western Writers of America Spur Award for best short material. Reprinted in many anthologies over the years. Also contains an essay, The great tradition, originally published in 1956. Bill Longley was an outlaw with a ruthless reputation. Audio download available from Amazon (audible.com).

Hamilton also wrote many magazine articles, including a few about his work and writing. Some are listed at the UCLA archive of his papers. Most of his articles are about hunting and boating. Here are a few.

Article Title Magazine or Book Title Issue Date Notes

The world was full of quail Outdoor Life 1954-05 pp50-51,119-120, collected in On Guns and Hunting

Inside on the rail Outdoor Life 1955-01 pp34-35,92-95, collected in On Guns and Hunting

What's the big mystery? Outdoor Life 1955-06 pp54-55,109-111, collected in On Guns and Hunting

The great tradition The Roundup 1956-04 pp3-4, essay collected in Iron Men and Silver Stars. The Roundup is a newsletter published by the Western Writers of America.

Watch my smoke Outdoor Life 1956-07 pp58-59,111-113,122, collected in On Guns and Hunting

You've got to fake it, 1 of 2 The Roundup 1959-09 pp3-4, contains a photo of Hamilton

You've got to fake it, 2 of 2 The Roundup 1959-10 pp6-7, contains a photo of Hamilton

Arctic hunt The American Swedish Monthly 1961-03 pp12-18, collected in On Guns and Hunting

Just want a deer? Outdoor Life 1961-06 pp66-67,126-130,132-133, collected in On Guns and Hunting

The great Swedish älg The American Swedish Monthly 1961-09 pp12-15, collected in On Guns and Hunting

An Argosy Crime Report: Who murdered Henry Marshall? Argosy 1962-11 pp23-25,91-96

Pronghorns in the pasture Outdoor Life 1966-02 pp54-55,131-133, collected in On Guns and Hunting, this issue contains a brief biographical sketch with a photo and cartoons of Hamilton

Caliber catastrophe Gun World 1967-06 pp34-37,52, collected in On Guns and Hunting

Block that kick! Gun Digest 22nd Edition 1968 pp71-76, John T. Ander (ed.), collected in On Guns and Hunting

Who can afford to write for money? Writer 1968-06 pp19-20,54

How to put the fetch in Fido True's Hunting Yearbook No. 20 1969 pp86-91, collected in On Guns and Hunting as First-year retriever man

The .410: Giant of a pipsqueak True 1971-02 pp82-85

Shadrach, a gun-shy retriever True 1971-10 pp106-111

Stop picking on our little guns! Guns & Ammo 1972-02 pp42-5,65

The ravagers and the rabbits Gun World 1972-06 pp24-27,88, collected in On Guns and Hunting as Cottontail carnival, there may have been an earlier appearance of this article in Gun World

Fastnet I Trailer Boats 1980-01 pp8,70

Old black dog Sports Afield 1982-04 pp98,170,172-173

Murdersville Trailer Boats 1983-08 pp6,35,49

What do you write with? Trailer Boats 1984-05 pp8,9,84,85

Firearms for the mystery reader Trailer Boats 1984-07 pp6,9,64

First person singular Writer 1984-10 pp16-18

Fact and fiction Trailer Boats 1985-06 pp8,97

Going to the dogs Trailer Boats 1985-08 pp6,84,86

My last boating career Trailer Boats 1986-02 pp8,84-85, last column after about 12 years and 140 columns

Shut up and write Colloquium on Crime 1986 pp99-110, Robin Winks (ed.)

The yesterday hunt Colorado Outdoors 1987-01/02 pp6-7

Matt Helm's knives & mine Knives '96, 16th Annual Edition 1995 pp6-9, Ken Warner (ed.)

Article Title	Magazine or Book Title	Issue Date	Notes
The world was full of quail	Outdoor Life	1954-05	pp50-51,119-120, collected in On Guns and Hunting
Inside on the rail	Outdoor Life	1955-01	pp34-35,92-95, collected in On Guns and Hunting
What's the big mystery?	Outdoor Life	1955-06	pp54-55,109-111, collected in On Guns and Hunting
The great tradition	The Roundup	1956-04	pp3-4, essay collected in Iron Men and Silver Stars. The Roundup is a newsletter published by the Western Writers of America.
Watch my smoke	Outdoor Life	1956-07	pp58-59,111-113,122, collected in On Guns and Hunting
You've got to fake it, 1 of 2	The Roundup	1959-09	pp3-4, contains a photo of Hamilton
You've got to fake it, 2 of 2	The Roundup	1959-10	pp6-7, contains a photo of Hamilton
Arctic hunt	The American Swedish Monthly	1961-03	pp12-18, collected in On Guns and Hunting
Just want a deer?	Outdoor Life	1961-06	pp66-67,126-130,132-133, collected in On Guns and Hunting
The great Swedish älg	The American Swedish Monthly	1961-09	pp12-15, collected in On Guns and Hunting
An Argosy Crime Report: Who murdered Henry Marshall?	Argosy	1962-11	pp23-25,91-96
Pronghorns in the pasture	Outdoor Life	1966-02	pp54-55,131-133, collected in On Guns and Hunting, this issue contains a brief biographical sketch with a photo and cartoons of Hamilton
Caliber catastrophe	Gun World	1967-06	pp34-37,52, collected in On Guns and Hunting
Block that kick!	Gun Digest 22nd Edition	1968	pp71-76, John T. Ander (ed.), collected in On Guns and Hunting
Who can afford to write for money?	Writer	1968-06	pp19-20,54
How to put the fetch in Fido	True's Hunting Yearbook No. 20	1969	pp86-91, collected in On Guns and Hunting as First-year retriever man
The .410: Giant of a pipsqueak	True	1971-02	pp82-85
Shadrach, a gun-shy retriever	True	1971-10	pp106-111
Stop picking on our little guns!	Guns & Ammo	1972-02	pp42-5,65
The ravagers and the rabbits	Gun World	1972-06	pp24-27,88, collected in On Guns and Hunting as Cottontail carnival, there may have been an earlier appearance of this article in Gun World
Fastnet I	Trailer Boats	1980-01	pp8,70
Old black dog	Sports Afield	1982-04	pp98,170,172-173
Murdersville	Trailer Boats	1983-08	pp6,35,49
What do you write with?	Trailer Boats	1984-05	pp8,9,84,85
Firearms for the mystery reader	Trailer Boats	1984-07	pp6,9,64
First person singular	Writer	1984-10	pp16-18
Fact and fiction	Trailer Boats	1985-06	pp8,97
Going to the dogs	Trailer Boats	1985-08	pp6,84,86
My last boating career	Trailer Boats	1986-02	pp8,84-85, last column after about 12 years and 140 columns
Shut up and write	Colloquium on Crime	1986	pp99-110, Robin Winks (ed.)
The yesterday hunt	Colorado Outdoors	1987-01/02	pp6-7
Matt Helm's knives & mine	Knives '96, 16th Annual Edition	1995	pp6-9, Ken Warner (ed.)

Hamilton has been the subject of interviews and articles about his work. Here are a few.

Article Title Magazine or Book Title Issue Date Notes

Donald Hamilton Conversations 1967 pp131-132, Ray Newquist (ed.)

The sordid truth: Donald Hamilton The New Republic 1975-07-26 pp21-24, Robin W. Winks

Western motifs in the thrillers of Donald Hamilton Western American Literature 1976 Vol. 10, No. 4, Winter 1976, pp283-292, Fred Erisman, Texas Christian University

The degeneration of Donald Hamilton The Mystery Fancier 1977-11 Vol. 1, No. 6, pp11-12, George Kelley

The Matt Helm series The Mystery Fancier 1978-03 Vol. 2, No. 2, pp3-11, R. Jeff Banks and Guy M. Townsend

Matt Helm The Great Detectives 1978 pp120-126, Otto Penzler (ed.)

Great mystery series: Matt Helm Mystery 1982-07 Vol. 4, No. 2, pp46-52, Andy East

Business before everything: The hard-boiled world of Matt Helm The Mystery Fancier 1988 Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter 1988, pp39-53, Robert E. Skinner

Donald Hamilton: The writing crew Murder off the rack: Critical studies of ten paperback masters 1989 pp99-111, by Loren D. Estleman, Jon L. Breen and Martin Harry Greenberg (ed.)

The man behind Matt Helm: An interview with Donald Hamilton Mystery Scene 1992-07/08 pp24-28, Michael Pettengel

Donald Hamilton: A paperback original Firsts 1997-11 pp42-47, Robert Skinner, includes Knowing Donald Hamilton by Raymond J. Peters. Collected in The Big Book of Noir, 1998.

The death of Matt Helm? Booklist 2002-05-01 pp1456-1458, Frank Sennett

Article Title	Magazine or Book Title	Issue Date	Notes
Donald Hamilton	Conversations	1967	pp131-132, Ray Newquist (ed.)
The sordid truth: Donald Hamilton	The New Republic	1975-07-26	pp21-24, Robin W. Winks
Western motifs in the thrillers of Donald Hamilton	Western American Literature	1976	Vol. 10, No. 4, Winter 1976, pp283-292, Fred Erisman, Texas Christian University
The degeneration of Donald Hamilton	The Mystery Fancier	1977-11	Vol. 1, No. 6, pp11-12, George Kelley
The Matt Helm series	The Mystery Fancier	1978-03	Vol. 2, No. 2, pp3-11, R. Jeff Banks and Guy M. Townsend
Matt Helm	The Great Detectives	1978	pp120-126, Otto Penzler (ed.)
Great mystery series: Matt Helm	Mystery	1982-07	Vol. 4, No. 2, pp46-52, Andy East
Business before everything: The hard-boiled world of Matt Helm	The Mystery Fancier	1988	Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter 1988, pp39-53, Robert E. Skinner
Donald Hamilton: The writing crew	Murder off the rack: Critical studies of ten paperback masters	1989	pp99-111, by Loren D. Estleman, Jon L. Breen and Martin Harry Greenberg (ed.)
The man behind Matt Helm: An interview with Donald Hamilton	Mystery Scene	1992-07/08	pp24-28, Michael Pettengel
Donald Hamilton: A paperback original	Firsts	1997-11	pp42-47, Robert Skinner, includes Knowing Donald Hamilton by Raymond J. Peters. Collected in The Big Book of Noir, 1998.
The death of Matt Helm?	Booklist	2002-05-01	pp1456-1458, Frank Sennett

Last modified: 11 Jul 2009