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7/20/2010 1:08:52 AM
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alphonse
Posts 8
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Hello All,
Twenty years ago, or more, I read a story (I think in EQ) that I have several times since wished I could find. Naturally, I can remember neither the title, nor the author, nor even the year of issue.
Briefly, the story concerned a man who was beset by a series of ‘attacks’ that consisted of pranks that could be arranged by mail or phone, such as unwanted magazine subscriptions, and various items ordered for delivery to his home.
His attacker, who had selected him at random, was handicapped in some way and confined to his apartment. He had made himself known to his victim, and defied him to do anything about it.
The victim hired someone to help. This PI, or whatever he was, proceeded to respond in kind, representing himself as the attacker to the phone company and having the service discontinued. He arranged to have the windows of the apartment painted from the outside. He suggested that he might have the power cut off and the mail held. The guy caved.
If this rings a bell with anyone, I would love to hear about it.
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7/20/2010 4:13:37 AM
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Yoshinori Todo
Posts 232
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Jon?
--
Josh
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7/20/2010 11:34:27 AM
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Allan Kalupar
Posts 27
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I don't recall it - but plan to read it!
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7/21/2010 7:10:38 AM
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Leigh
Posts 211
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Jon? Jack? Rob? Jeff? Stephen?
With all the deep memories here, someone's got to know it!
I'd love to read it, too.
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7/21/2010 8:04:57 PM
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Jeff Baker
Posts 132
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Beats me! I started reading EQMM in the mid-90's and since have a stack of back issues from used stores. I'll keep an eye out, it sounds interesting! It has the flavor of Jack Ritchie, but I'm just guessing.
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7/23/2010 11:09:52 PM
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alphonse
Posts 8
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Found it!
I read the story in EQ #421 December 1978. It turns out to be by Lawrence Block and was entitled "The Ehrengraf Riposte". Martin Ehrengraf, I have learned, was a recurring character of Block's, a defense lawyer. His trademark was that his clients rarely went to trial.
In the process, I have gotten interested in Jack Ritchie, so I have Jeff to thank for introducing me to something new.
For the record, I remembered bits of a conversation in the story and searched in Google Books on the words "mischief connotation child's prank". From there it was a short reach to the exact issue, and when I saw an image of the cover I recognized it at once.
You just gotta love the Internet and Google.
edited by alphonse on 7/23/2010
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7/24/2010 4:26:02 AM
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Yoshinori Todo
Posts 232
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I think it's amazing--amazing and wonderful--that some people (me included) sometimes want to reread a story years, or even decades, after they had first read it. . . .
edited by Yoshinori Todo on 7/25/2010
--
Josh
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7/24/2010 7:56:26 PM
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Jeff Baker
Posts 132
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Ohhhh, Ehrengraf! I should have known! I think there was a collection of the Ehrengraf stories quite a while back (maybe not!) Glad to introduce you to Jack Ritchie who is spoken of here like the devout speak of a favorite saint. Perhaps related to Block's uh, criminal lawyer is Mellville Davisson Post's Randolph Mason, who dates back over a century.
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7/26/2010 4:05:51 PM
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alphonse
Posts 8
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I have ordered a Lawrence Block collection, called Rope's End from Amazon. It includes "The Ehrengraf Riposte". When I finish that, I'll start in on Ritchie. I have to say, this Post fellow sounds interesting, too. I think the number of items in my reading list in inversely proportional to my time left on earth!
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7/27/2010 10:10:18 AM
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Robert Lopresti
Posts 67
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I think you will really enjoy the Block book. And I love Jack Ritchie. Alphonse, you have inspired me. I will put another thread here trying to find a story I read years ago and have similarly lost track of.
Rob
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