Don Herron

Don Herron is an American writer and literary scholar best known for his expertise on hardboiled detective fiction author Dashiell Hammett and the broader noir genre. He has been leading the Dashiell Hammett Tour in San Francisco since 1977, making it the longest-running literary tour in the United States. His most significant works include "The Dark Barbarian" (1984) and "The Literary World of San Francisco" (1985). Herron has also written extensively about author Robert E. Howard, contributing important scholarly analysis of Howard's sword and sorcery fiction. As a critic and researcher, Herron has published numerous articles and essays in various publications focused on pulp fiction, noir, and fantasy literature. His work documenting San Francisco's literary history and connection to crime fiction has been particularly influential in preserving knowledge about the city's rich literary heritage. The Hammett walking tour he created has become a San Francisco institution, taking visitors through the streets and locations that inspired Hammett's novels like "The Maltese Falcon." Herron's deep knowledge of both the author and the city has helped maintain interest in Hammett's work and the hardboiled detective genre.

Readers value Herron's deep research and firsthand knowledge, particularly in his works about Dashiell Hammett and San Francisco's literary history. Online reviews highlight his detailed documentation of locations and historical context. Several tour participants praise his storytelling abilities and encyclopedic knowledge during the Hammett walking tours. What readers liked: - Comprehensive research and historical accuracy - Clear writing style without academic pretension - Personal anecdotes and insights from decades of experience - Connection of physical locations to literary works What readers disliked: - Some find his writing style dry - Occasional repetition of information across different works - Limited availability of his older books Ratings: - Goodreads: "The Literary World of San Francisco" averages 3.9/5 stars - Amazon: "The Dark Barbarian" maintains 4.2/5 stars - Tour reviews on TripAdvisor: 4.5/5 stars average Note: Limited online reviews available for his academic works and earlier publications.

Willeford (1997) A biographical study of crime fiction author Charles Willeford, examining his life, literary works, and influence on the genre.

The Dark Barbarian: The Writings of Robert E. Howard (1984) A critical analysis of Robert E. Howard's literary works, focusing on themes, characters, and writing style across his fantasy and adventure stories.

The Literary World of San Francisco & Its Environs (1985) A guidebook detailing the literary landmarks and history of the San Francisco Bay Area, including locations associated with notable authors.

The Dashiell Hammett Tour: Thirtieth Anniversary Guidebook (2009) A detailed guide to San Francisco locations featured in Hammett's works and places significant to the author's life in the city.

Selected Letters of Philip K. Dick, 1974 (1991, as editor) A curated collection of correspondence from science fiction author Philip K. Dick during a pivotal year in his career.

Selected Letters of Philip K. Dick, 1975-1976 (1992, as editor) The second volume of Philip K. Dick's letters, covering his thoughts and communications during the mid-1970s.

S.T. Joshi writes extensively about H.P. Lovecraft and other writers of weird fiction, with multiple scholarly works analyzing their literary contributions. He shares Herron's deep interest in pulp authors and literary criticism of genre fiction.

William Nolan produced critical analysis of hardboiled detective fiction and noir, focusing on authors like Dashiell Hammett. His examination of crime fiction's history and key figures aligns with Herron's work on the same subject matter.

E. Hoffmann Price wrote about his personal interactions with pulp-era writers and provided insights into that literary period's inner workings. His memoirs and essays offer similar behind-the-scenes perspectives to Herron's writings about pulp authors.

John D. Haefele researches and writes about August Derleth and the history of Arkham House publishing. His detail-oriented approach to documenting genre fiction history matches Herron's investigative style.

Fritz Leiber combined sword & sorcery with urban fantasy while also writing essays about other authors in the field. His analytical pieces about fellow writers demonstrate the same kind of insider perspective found in Herron's work.