As a writer of crime fiction, Edward Bunker had firsthand knowledge of his subject matter. The youngest inmate to be admitted to San Quentin State Prison, Bunker’s salvation came in the form of the written word, as he was able to successfully make a transformation from career criminal to novelist. His first published novel, ‘No Beast So Fierce’, is what inspired me to truly realize that those who are in prison are human beings with whom we all share the common bond of humanity. Prior to reading the novel, I was a major proponent of law enforcement, and did not see beyond the fallacious and overly simplistic labels of good and bad in regards to people and their roles in society. Bunker was able to show me that we are all humans, however, and though some may have made mistakes that have resulted in their incarceration, we cannot simply forget about those who we have cast off to the outskirts of society. Bunker was also the first to make me question the effectiveness and efficiency of the Criminal Justice system in America. This novel is an inspiring read that examines the inefficiency of the Criminal Justice system, the pathos of the criminal class, and the societal hypocrisies that are clearly overlooked contributors to the disproportionate recidivism rate in the United States.
As far as the literary aspect of the novel goes, it is an exhilarating first person account of Max Dembo, a recently paroled ex-convict who is trying to make his way through Los Angeles without violating his parole or losing his sense of identity. This proves harder than it sounds, given that all of his friends are criminals, and his attempts to procure legitimate work are all thwarted by the stigma of being an ex-convict. At times gripping and heartbreaking, Bunker's debut novel makes one feel a sense of compassion for those who are coming out of prison, and helps the reader gain a new perspective on the criminal class in America. It is also an incredibly accurate depiction of Los Angeles, as this was Bunker's home town, and he writes about areas of the city with a flair for the underworld that is hauntingly real.
'No Beast So Fierce' is by far the best crime novel I have ever read, but it should definitely be regarded as a tremendous work of literature, first and foremost.
The novel was actually adapted into the movie 'Straight Time', starring Dustin Hoffman as Max Dembo. It boasts an all star cast, but was not a commercial success.
'Animal Factory' is another great read by Bunker. The entire novel takes place in prison, and it is an honest depiction of an unpleasant place, by a man who has experienced it firsthand.
'Little Boy Blue' is rather heavy on the prose, and is a difficult read at times. It is a great story, however, and is based on Bunker's personal experiences growing up as an intelligent juvenile delinquent in Southern California.
Bunker's memoir 'Education of a Felon' is nothing short of riveting.
Published posthumously, 'Stark' was a novel that Bunker was never able to get published, yet it ranks among his best work. In terms of the plot, it is much more of a fun read than his other works, though it still delivers a harrowing account of crime, addiction, and hopelessness that could only be penned by Bunker. The foreword by James Ellroy is typically pretentious Ellroy that the reader should skip.
If any of Bunker's other books could claim to be equal to 'No Beast So Fierce' it is 'Dog Eat Dog', the most gripping and thrilling crime novel that I have ever read. While it may not be as literary as 'No Beast So Fierce', it is probably more exciting than any of his other novels. The story of a trio of armed robbers, it is a novel that is a brutally honest account of armed robbery and the criminal lifestyle. It is also a real Los Angeles novel, as it takes the reader from the LA underworld, to the modest San Gabriel Valley in the most authentic descriptions one can read about the area. This is classic Bunker, and I insist you read it.
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