Ed McBain
Ed McBain was an
American crime fiction novelist best known for his 87th Precinct series.
Born Salvatore Lombino, he legally changed his name to Evan Hunter on
the advice of an editor. He adopted the pen name of Ed McBain to
separate his writing styles.
Born in New York City in 1926, Hunter began writing while he served in
the Navy during World War II. He returned to New York at the war’s end
and earned a degree in English and Psychology from Hunter College.
Hunter’s literary career began in earnest in 1951, when he published his
first story and began working as an editor at the Scott Meredith
Literary Agency. He published his first novel, The Blackboard Jungle,
several years later. Throughout the 1950s, he wrote prolifically and
published under ten different pen names, including Ed McBain.
As McBain, he published Cop Hater in 1956. It would be the first novel
of his 87th Precinct series. Through his life, Hunter would go on to
publish dozens of McBain novels. These included titles such as Heat,
Ice, Ten Plus One, Hail to the Chief, and Fiddlers. Candyland, published
in 2000, was credited to both Ed McBain and Evan Hunter. The 87th
Precinct series was also adapted for television, with a show of the same
title airing in 1961.
Hunter’s career spanned a variety of genres and styles, including
screenplays and children’s books. Hunter died in 2005, having written
over 100 novels during his career.
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