Deadlier Than the Male

New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce. Very Good+. (c.1942). First Edition. Hardcover. (lacking the original dust jacket, but encased in a professionally-made facsimile reproduction of same; see 2nd image posted with this listing) [a good sound copy, spine very slightly turned, minor external soiling, a touch of fading to spine cloth]. The first (and only) novel by Gunn, who went on to a decent career as a film and TV writer/producer, which was unfortunately cut short by his death at age 46. Boiled about as hard as you can get, it's a ruthless book populated by ruthless, amoral people -- not only can you not put it down, as they say, but in this case I'd advise against even turning your back on it. Basis for the 1947 film noir BORN TO KILL, directed by Robert Wise for RKO, and starring Lawrence Tierney and Claire Trevor; the film was faithful to the book's misanthropic spirit and grisly violence, which earned it plenty of trouble from the movie censorship authorities. NOTE again that this book bears a FACSIMILE dust jacket, to serve the dual purpose of protecting the book from further wear and enhancing its appearance on the shelf; its presence has not been factored in to our pricing. .