Remembering Ed McBain

Contemporary American literature lost a major figure when Evan Hunter -- also known as Ed McBain -- died last week at age 78. Writing as McBain, Hunter is credited with creating the police-procedural genre, with his 87th Precinct series of mysteries. The Mystery Writers of America gave McBain its Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement in 1986. I interviewed Evan Hunter-Ed McBain several times over the years, including this 1995 talk after publication of his 46th book in the 87th Precinct series, Romance.