Long-lost novel by ex-con turned writer and Hollywood actor published for the first time

An unpublished novel by Edward Bunker, the career criminal who became a bestselling author and actor and who famously starred as Mr Blue in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, has resurfaced two years after the writer’s death.

Stark was Bunker’s first novel, written in the early 60s and a harbinger of the books that brought him critical acclaim such as No Beast So Fierce and The Animal Factory, yet it remained unpublished in his lifetime and the forgotten manuscript was only recently discovered in the vaults of British independent crime publisher, No Exit Press.

From September 3rd the book is available for the first time in hardback and paperback editions with a specially commissioned foreword by US crime writer James Ellroy and an afterword by the author’s widow, Jennifer Steele.

Edward Bunker’s life is beyond the imaginings of most fiction writers. He was a bright but troublesome child, who spent much of his childhood in different foster homes and institutions. He started on a criminal career at a very early age and he became the youngest ever inmate of San Quentin at the age of seventeen.

He spent most of his adult life behind bars before a parole violation resulted in a spell crossing America as a fugitive on the FBI’s most wanted list. His eventual capture took him back to jail where, inspired by the example of his literary heroes Dostoevsky, Cervantes and Caryl Chessman, he determined to write his way out of prison.

It took him 17 years, six novels and over a hundred short stories before his first book was published during which time he survived on the proceeds of crime and sold his own blood to raise money to send his writing to publishers and magazines.

His first published novel, No Beast So Fierce changed his fortunes and was filmed as Straight Time starring Dustin Hoffman. He has written three other novels, The Animal Factory, Little Boy Blue and Dog Eat Dog and his critically acclaimed autobiography, Mr Blue: Memoirs of A Renegade (all published by No Exit Press).

Bunker was also co-screen writer of the Oscar nominated movie, The Runaway Train and has appeared in a score of films, most famously his role as Mr Blue in Reservoir Dogs.

Edward Bunker died July 19 2005, aged 71.

For further information about Edward Bunker go to: www.noexit.co.uk/authorpages/edward_bunker.php

About No Exit Press:

Since 1987 No Exit Press has been committed to publishing quality crime fiction from Britain, the USA and Europe and has established itself as the UK’s leading independent publisher in the genre. Please visit www.noexit.co.uk for more information.