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George Pelecanos

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"Pelecanos" redirects here. For the 15th century scribe, seeTheodoros Pelecanos.

George Pelecanos
Pelecanos in 2013
Pelecanos in 2013
Born(1957-02-18)February 18, 1957(age 67)
Washington, D.C.,U.S.
Occupation
  • Novelist
  • journalist
  • television writer
GenreDetective fiction
Website
www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/georgepelecanos/

George P. Pelecanos(born February 18, 1957) is an American author. Many of his 20 books are in the genre ofdetective fictionand set primarily in his hometown of Washington, D.C. He is also a film and television producer and a television writer. On television, he frequently collaborates withDavid Simon,writing multiple episodes of Simon'sHBOseriesThe WireandTreme,and is also the co-creator (with Simon) of the HBO seriesThe DeuceandWe Own This City.

Early life[edit]

Pelecanos, aGreek American,was born in Washington, D.C., in 1957.

Career[edit]

Novelist[edit]

Pelecanos acknowledged thatElmore Leonardwas a prime influence on him as an author.[1]In addition to Leonard, he cited the works ofDashiell Hammett,Raymond Chandler,John D. MacDonald,Ross Macdonald,Mickey Spillane,andJohn le Carréfor getting him hooked on crime fiction.[2]

Pelecanos's early novels were written in the first person voice of Nick Stefanos, a Greek D.C. resident and sometime private investigator.

After the success of his first four novels, the Stefanos-narratedA Firing Offense,Nick's Trip,andDown by the River Where the Dead Men Go,and the non-series (though some characters do cross over)Shoedog,Pelecanos switched his narrative style considerably and expanded the scope of his fiction with his D.C. Quartet. He has commented that he did not feel he had the ability to be this ambitious earlier in his career.[3]The quartet, often compared toJames Ellroy's L.A. Quartet,spanned several decades and communities within the changing population of Washington. Now writing in the third person, Pelecanos relegated Stefanos to a supporting character and introduced his first "salt and pepper" team of crime fighters, Dimitri Karras and Marcus Clay.

InThe Big Blowdown,set a generation before Karras and Clay would appear (the 1950s), Pelecanos followed the lives of dozens of D.C. residents, tracking the challenges and changes that the second half of the twentieth century presented to Washingtonians.King Suckerman,set in the 1970s and generally regarded as the fans' favorite, introduced the recurring theme ofbasketballin Pelecanos' fiction. Typically, he employs the sport as a symbol of cooperation amongst the races, suggesting the dynamism of D.C. as reflective of the good will generated by multi-ethnic pick up games. However, he also indulges the reverse of the equation, wherein the basketball court becomes the site of unresolved hostilities. In such cases, violent criminal behavior typically emerges amongst the participants, usually escalating the mystery.The Sweet Forever(1980s) andShame the Devil(1990s) closed the quartet and Pelecanos retired Stefanos and the other characters that populated the novels. (Stefanos and other characters do reappear in subsequent works).

In 2001, he introduced a new team of private detectives, Derek Strange and Terry Quinn, as the protagonists ofRight as Rain.They have subsequently starred in the author's more recent worksHell to Pay(which won aGumshoe Awardin 2003) andSoul Circus.While these books have cemented the author's reputation as one of the best current American crime writers and sold consistently, they have not garnered the critical and cult affection his D.C. quartet did. Rather, they seem to be continuing the author's well received formula of witty protagonists chasing unconflicted criminals behind the backdrop of popular culture references and D.C. landmarks.

Perhaps sensing this, Pelecanos again switched his focus in his 2004 novel,Hard Revolution,taking one of his new detectives, Derek Strange, back in time to his early days on the D.C. police force. In another interesting move, Pelecanos attached a CD to the book itself, emulatingMichael Connellywho included a CD with his 2003 Harry Bosch bookLost Light.

In 2005, Pelecanos saw another novel published,Drama City.This book revisited the examination of dogfighting begun in his bookHell To Pay.Pelecanos is a dog owner and has written about his views of dogfighting.[4]

In 2006 he publishedThe Night Gardener,which was a major change of style and which featured a cameo of himself. Pelecanos has also published short fiction in a variety of anthologies and magazines, includingMeasures of PoisonandUsual Suspects.His reviews have been published inThe Washington Post Book World,The New York Times Book Review,and elsewhere.

The Turnaroundwas published in August 2008, reflecting a return to his roots, as the novel opens in the 70s in a Greek diner, and a continuation of his more modern style in the portion set in the present.The Turnaroundwon the 2008'sHammett Prize.

In 2011, Pelecanos publishedThe Cut,introducing the character Spero Lucas, a young veteran of the Iraq war. The former Marine works part-time as a private investigator for a D.C. defense attorney as well as taking jobs finding stolen items for a 40% cut of the value of the returned item. In 2013, Pelecanos publishedThe Double,the second Spero Lucas book.

Pelecanos has in turn influenced other novelists. They include Kristen Lepionka, who won theShamus Awardfor Best First P.I. Novel in 2018. Lepionka cited his "lean, laconic prose."[5]The introduction to a 2018 interview withWilliam Boylepointed to Pelecanos's influence on Boyle, in particular as a "meticulous chronicler of process."[6]

Film and television[edit]

Pelecanos has written and produced forHBO'sThe Wireand is part of a literary circle withThe WirecreatorDavid Simonand novelistLaura Lippman.Simon sought out Pelecanos after reading his work. Simon was recommended his novels several times but did not read his work initially because of territorial prejudice; Simon is from Baltimore.[7]Once Simon received further recommendations, including one from Lippman, he triedThe Sweet Foreverand changed his mind.[8]The two writers have much in common including a childhood inSilver Spring, Maryland,attendance at the University of Maryland, and their interest in the "fate of the American city and the black urban poor".[8]They first met at the funeral of a mutual friend shortly after Simon delivered the pilot episode.[8]Simon pitched Pelecanos the idea ofThe Wireas a novel for television about the American city as Pelecanos drove him home.[8]Pelecanos was excited about the prospect of writing something more than simple mystery for television as he strived to exceed the boundaries of genre in his novels.[8]

Pelecanos joined the crew as a writer for the first season in 2002.[9]He wrote the teleplay for the season's penultimate episode, "Cleaning Up",from a story by Simon andEd Burns.[10][11]Pelecanos was promoted to producer for the second season in 2003.[12]He wrote the teleplay for the episodes "Duck and Cover"[13][14]and "Bad Dreams"from stories he co-wrote with Simon.[15][16]He remained a writer and producer for the third season in 2004.[17]He wrote the teleplay for the episodes "Hamsterdam"[18][19]and "Middle Ground"from stories he co-wrote with Simon.[20][21]Simon wrote the teleplay for the episode "Slapstick"from a story he co-wrote with Pelecanos.[22][23]Simon and Pelecanos' collaboration on "Middle Ground" received the show's firstEmmy Awardnomination, in the categoryOutstanding Writing for a Drama Series.[24]Pelecanos left the production staff ofThe Wireafter the show's third season to concentrate on writing his novelThe Night Gardener.[25]His role as a producer was taken on byEric Overmyer.[25]

George Pelecanos at theQuais du polar[fr],Lyon,in 2008

Pelecanos remained a writer for the fourth season in 2006. He wrote the teleplay for the penultimate episode "That's Got His Own"from a story he co-wrote with producerEd Burns.[26][27]Simon has commented that he missed having Pelecanos working on the show full-time but was a fan ofThe Night Gardener.[25]Simon also spent time embedded with a homicide unit while researching his own bookHomicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.Pelecanos and the writing staff won theWriters Guild of America (WGA) Awardfor Best Dramatic Series at theFebruary 2008 ceremonyand the 2007Edgar Awardfor Best Television Feature/Mini-Series Teleplay for their work on the fourth season.[28][29]Pelecanos returned as a writer for the seriesfifth and final season.He wrote the teleplay for the episode "Late Editions"from a story he co-wrote with Simon.[8][30][31]Pelecanos and the writing staff were again nominated for the WGA award for Best Dramatic Series at theFebruary 2009 ceremonyfor their work on the fifth season butMad Menwon the award.[32]

Following the conclusion ofThe WirePelecanos joined the crew of the HBO World War II mini-seriesThe Pacificas a co-producer and writer.[33]After a lengthy production process the series aired in 2010. He co-wrote "Part 3" of the series with fellow co-producerMichelle Ashford.[34]The episode focused on Marines on leave in Australia and featured a displaced Greek family in a prominent guest role.[34][35]Pelecanos saw the project as a chance to make a tribute to his father, Pete Pelecanos, who served as a Marine in the Philippines.[36]

Also in 2010 Pelecanos joined the crew ofHBONew Orleans dramaTremeas a writer. The series was created bySimonandOvermeyer.It follows the lives of residents of theTreméneighborhood afterHurricane Katrina.[37]Pelecanos wrote the teleplay for the episode "At the Foot of Canal Street" from a story he co-wrote with Overmyer.[38]Pelecanos returned as a Consulting Producer and writer for the second season in 2011. He joined the crew full-time as a writer and executive producer for the third season in 2012. He remained in this role for the fourth and final season in 2013.

Following the conclusion ofTremePelecanos worked with Overmyer on his next seriesBosch.The series was developed by Overmyer and is based on the series of novels byMichael Connelly.The series starsThe WirealumniJamie HectorandLance Reddick.Pelecanos andMichael Connellyco-wrote the show's fourth episode "Fugazi".

In 2017, HBO premieredThe Deuce,a new series developed by Pelecanos and David Simon. The show focuses on the birth of the pornography industry in 1970sTimes Square.George also co-authored several of the teleplays, including the pilot, with Simon, and co-authored episodes withRichard PriceandLisa Lutz.[39]

In 2019, Pelecanos' D.C. Noir anthology was made into a film featuring several short fictional crime stories which take place in Washington, D.C.[40]Pelecanos wrote the film and also served as a director and executive producer. The film was shot on location in Washington, D.C., and is reminiscent of HBO'sThe Wire.

He is currently developing a series based on his Derek Strange character for HBO. The first season will be based on the Derek Strange novelHard Revolution.[41]More recently, he signed an overall deal with HBO.[42]

Personal life[edit]

As of 2006, Pelecanos lives in the Washington, D.C., suburb ofSilver Spring, Maryland,[43]with his wife and three children.

Bibliography[edit]

Novels[edit]

Standalone novels[edit]

  • Shoedog(1994).ISBN0312110618
  • Drama City(2005).ISBN0316608211
  • The Night Gardener(2006).ISBN978-0316156509
  • The Turnaround(2008).ISBN978-0316156479
  • The Way Home(2009).[44]ISBN978-0316156493
  • The Man Who Came Uptown(2018)ISBN978-0316479820

Nick Stefanos series[edit]

D.C. Quartet series[edit]

Derek Strange and Terry Quinn series[edit]

Spero Lucas series[edit]

Short fiction[edit]

Collections[edit]

Edited anthologies[edit]

Essays, reporting and other contributions[edit]

  • Pelecanos, George (June 10–17, 2013)."Twisted".True Crimes.The New Yorker.Vol. 89, no. 17. pp. 54–55.

Filmography[edit]

Production staff

Year Show Role Notes
2022 We Own This City Executive Producer Season 1
2019 D.C. Noir Writer, Director, Executive Producer Anthology Film[47]
2017 The Deuce Executive Producer Season 1
2013 Treme Executive Producer Season 4
2012 Executive Producer Season 3
2011 Consulting Producer Season 2
2010 The Pacific Co-Producer Mini-series
2004 The Wire Producer Season 3
2003 Writer Season 1

Writer

Year Show Season Episode title Episode Notes
2022 We Own this City 1 "Part One" 1 co-written withDavid Simon
"Part Five" 5
2017 The Deuce 1 "Pilot" 1 co-written withDavid Simon
"Show and Prove" 2 co-written withRichard Price
"I See Money" 4 Teleplay byLisa Lutz,story by Pelecanos and Lisa Lutz
"My Name Is Ruby" 8 co-written withDavid Simon
2011 Treme 2 "What is New Orleans?"[48] 9 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos andDavid Simon
2010 1 "At the Foot of Canal Street"[38][49] 4 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos andEric Overmyer
The Pacific 1 Part 3[34] 3 Co-written withMichelle Ashford
2008 The Wire 5 "Late Editions"[30][31] 9 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos and David Simon
2006 4 "That's Got His Own"[26][27] 12 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos andEd Burns
2004 3 "Middle Ground"[20][21] 11 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos and David Simon
"Slapstick"[22][23] 9 Teleplay by David Simon, story by Pelecanos and David Simon
"Hamsterdam"[18][19] 4 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos and David Simon
2003 2 "Bad Dreams"[15][16] 11 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos and David Simon
"Duck and Cover"[13][14] 8 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by Pelecanos and David Simon
2002 1 "Cleaning Up"[10][11] 12 Teleplay by Pelecanos, story by David Simon and Ed Burns

Awards[edit]

Year Award Category Result Work Notes
2009 Writers Guild of America Award Outstanding Dramatic Series Nominated[32] The Wireseason 5 Shared withEd Burns,Chris Collins,Dennis Lehane,David Mills,Richard Price,David SimonandWilliam F. Zorzi
2008 Won[29] The Wireseason 4 Shared with Ed Burns, Chris Collins,Kia Corthron,Dennis Lehane, David Mills,Eric Overmyer,Richard Price, David Simon and William F. Zorzi
2007 Edgar Award Best Television Feature/Mini-Series Teleplay Won[28] Shared with Ed Burns, Kia Corthron, Dennis Lehane, David Mills, Eric Overmyer, Richard Price, David Simon and William F. Zorzi
2005 Emmy Award Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Nominated[24] The Wireepisode "Middle Ground" Shared with co-writer David Simon
1999 Maltese Falcon Award,Japan Best hardboiled mystery novel published in Japan Won The Big Blowdown

References[edit]

  1. ^McClurg, Jocelyn and Carol Memmott (August 20, 2013)."Author Elmore Leonard dies at 87".USA Today.
  2. ^"By the Book: George Pelecanos".New York Times.August 23, 2018.
  3. ^Robert Birnbaum (April 21, 2003)."Interview: George Pelecanos".Identity Theory.RetrievedSeptember 17,2007.
  4. ^George Pelecanos."Dogfighting's Poisonous Politics".New Republic. Archived fromthe originalon October 10, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 1,2007.
  5. ^Brissette, Karen (July 17, 2008)."A Certain Sly Intelligence".L.A. Review of Books.
  6. ^Nelson, Elizabeth (October 12, 2018)."Noir Is All About Bad Decisions: The Millions Interviews William Boyle".The Millions.
  7. ^Mary Alice Blackwell."Fun comes down to 'The Wire'".Daily Progress. Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 27,2006.
  8. ^abcdefMargaret Talbot (2007)."Stealing Life".The New Yorker.RetrievedOctober 14,2007.
  9. ^"Season 1 crew".HBO. 2007.RetrievedOctober 14,2007.
  10. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 12 The Hunt".HBO. 2004.RetrievedJuly 31,2006.
  11. ^abDavid Simon, Ed Burns, George P. Pelecanos (September 1, 2002). "Cleaning Up".The Wire.Season 1. Episode 12. HBO.
  12. ^"Season 2 crew".HBO. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon October 12, 2007.RetrievedOctober 14,2007.
  13. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 21 duck and cover".HBO. 2004.RetrievedJune 22,2006.
  14. ^abDavid Simon, George P. Pelecanos (July 27, 2003). "Duck and Cover".The Wire.Season 2. Episode 8. HBO.
  15. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 24 bad dreams".HBO. 2004. Archived fromthe originalon December 16, 2018.RetrievedJune 22,2006.
  16. ^abDavid Simon, George P. Pelecanos (August 17, 2003). "Bad Dreams".The Wire.Season 2. Episode 11. HBO.
  17. ^"Season 3 crew".HBO. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon October 12, 2007.RetrievedOctober 14,2007.
  18. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 29 Amsterdam".HBO. 2004.RetrievedAugust 7,2006.
  19. ^abDavid Simon, Ed Burns (October 10, 2004). "Amsterdam".The Wire.Season 3. Episode 4. HBO.
  20. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 36 middle ground".HBO. 2004.RetrievedAugust 9,2006.
  21. ^abDavid Simon, George P. Pelecanos (December 12, 2004). "Middle Ground".The Wire.Season 3. Episode 11. HBO.
  22. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 34 slapstick".HBO. 2004.RetrievedAugust 9,2006.
  23. ^abDavid Simon, George P. Pelecanos (November 21, 2004). "Slapstick".The Wire.Season 3. Episode 9. HBO.
  24. ^ab"Emmy award archives".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2007.RetrievedOctober 16,2007.
  25. ^abc"Exclusive David Simon Q&A".AOL. 2007.RetrievedOctober 14,2007.
  26. ^ab"Episode guide - episode 49 That's Got His Own".HBO. 2006.RetrievedMarch 30,2007.
  27. ^abEd Burns, George Pelecanos (directors), George Pelecanos (writer) (December 3, 2004). "That's Got His Own".The Wire.Season 4. Episode 12. HBO.
  28. ^ab"Curtains Receives Edgar Award Nomination".Theatre Mania. Archived fromthe originalon December 16, 2008.
  29. ^ab"2008 Writers Guild Awards Television & Radio Nominees Announced".WGA. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon December 19, 2007.RetrievedDecember 13,2007.
  30. ^abJoe Chappelle (director), George Pelecanos (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (March 2, 2008). "Late Editions".The Wire.Season 5. Episode 9. HBO.
  31. ^ab"The Wireepisode guide - episode 59 Late Editions ".HBO. 2008.RetrievedMarch 10,2008.
  32. ^ab"2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced".WGA. 2008. Archived fromthe originalon December 12, 2008.RetrievedDecember 12,2008.
  33. ^"The Pacific Cast and Crew - George Pelecanos".HBO. 2010.RetrievedMay 15,2010.
  34. ^abcJeremy Podeswa (director), George Pelecanos and Michelle Ashford (writers) (March 28, 2010). "Part 3".The Pacific.Season 1. Episode 3. HBO.
  35. ^"The Pacific Part 3 - synopsis".HBO. 2010.RetrievedMay 15,2010.
  36. ^George Pelecanos (2010)."George Pelecanos on Film - The Pacific".Hatchett Book Group USA.RetrievedMay 15,2010.
  37. ^George Pelecanos (2010)."Pelcanos on Film - Treme".Hatchett Book Group USA.RetrievedMay 15,2010.
  38. ^abAnthony Hemingway (director), Eric Overmyer & George Pelecanos (story), George Pelecanos (teleplay) (May 2, 2010). "At The Foot of Canal Street".Treme.Season 1. Episode 4. HBO.
  39. ^"The Deuce".HBO.
  40. ^"DC Noir (2019) - IMDb".IMDb.
  41. ^Heim, Joe (January 30, 2015)."Just Asking: Author George Pelecanos on the 'other' Washington's history".RetrievedMay 31,2018– via www.washingtonpost.com.
  42. ^Petski, Denise (August 25, 2021)."George Pelecanos Inks Overall Deal With HBO; Sets Series Adaptation Of John D. MacDonald's 'The Last One Left'".Deadline.RetrievedAugust 26,2021.
  43. ^Walker Lamond."DC Confidential".Stop Smiling.RetrievedSeptember 21,2008.
  44. ^Allman, Kevin (May 11, 2009)."WaPo review - The Way Home".The Washington Post.RetrievedMay 3,2010.
  45. ^Ashman, Jud."The Cutreview ".Book review.The Washington Independent Review of Books.RetrievedSeptember 8,2011.
  46. ^Hewitt, Duncan (September 26, 2012)."'Treme' Writer and Detective Novelist George Pelecanos: How I Write ".The Daily Beast.RetrievedOctober 22,2012.
  47. ^"DC Noir (2019) - IMDb".IMDb.
  48. ^HBO."Tremeepisode "What is New Orleans?" synopsis ".RetrievedJune 21,2011.
  49. ^HBO."Tremeepisode "At the Foot of Canal Street" synopsis ".RetrievedMay 10,2010.

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