The Bottoms (novel)

The Bottoms

Subterranean Press issue cover by Alan M. Clark
Author	Joe R. Lansdale
Cover artist	Alan M. Clark
Language	English
Publisher	Subterranean Press, Mysterious Press
Publication date	1 May 2000
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardcover)
Pages	332
ISBN	1-892284-60-X
Preceded by	Blood Dance (2000)
Followed by	A Fine Dark Line (2002)

The Bottoms is an Edgar Award[1][2][3]-winning suspense novel by American author Joe R. Lansdale.

Plot summary

This story takes place during the Great Depression in East Texas. Young Harry Crane discovers the mutilated body of a black woman that sets off a mystery involving rising violence and racism. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the killing continues. Harry and his younger sister, Thomasina, fix their suspicions on a local horror legend, The Goat Man, who lives deep in the Big Thicket. Together they set out to solve the mystery of who the real killer is.

Awards

• The 2001 Edgar Award for best novel.[2][3]
• A New York Times Notable Book of the Year (2000)[4]
• The 2000 Herodotus Award for The First US Historical Novel[5]
• A 2000 Dashiell Hammett Award for "Best Novel" (nominated)[6]
• The 2001 Mystery Readers International's Macavity Awards for best mystery novel. (nominated)[6]

Editions

Mysterious Press edition

This book was published as lettered edition and a limited edition by Subterranean Press[7] and as a trade hardcover by Mysterious Press. It was re-issued as a trade paperback by Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Publications on 7 December 2010.[8] As of August 2012, all hardcover editions are out of print.

Film adaptation

As of 2014 the book was being co-produced for a film by Joe R. Lansdale, Bill Paxton,[9] and Brad Wyman.[10][11] Paxton died in 2017, making any further plans uncertain.

References

1. "Edgar Awards throughout time". Mystery Writers of America. Retrieved 5 September 2012. Note: the link is to a database, a query must be entered to find this specific work.
2. Perskie, Jana L. "The Bottoms". Mostly Fiction Book Reviews. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
3. Ketchersid, Larry (17 April 2012). "REVIEW: Edge of Dark Water". SF Signal. Retrieved 5 September 2012. The Bottoms, Joe Lansdale's Edgar Award-winning novel from 2000, is one of my favorite stories
4. "Holiday Books 2000". New York Times Book Review. December 3, 2000. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
5. "Herodotus Award - Book awards - LibraryThing". librarything.com.
6. THE HAMMETT PRIZE: PAST WINNERS, NOMINEES, AND JUDGES retrieved 8/1/13
7. "The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale". Subterranean Press web site. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
8. "The Bottoms". Random House web site. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
9. Bill Paxton on Oprah Winfrey, retrieved 7/31/13
10. The Bottoms Film Adaptation (7 February 2014). "The Bottoms Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
11. Lansdale, Joe R. "The Bottoms Film Adaptation". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.

External links

• Author's Official Website
• Publisher's Website
• Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Website
• The Bottoms title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database