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Naked City Paperback – 31 October 2023

by John Silvester (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 228 ratings
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John Silvester has been reporting on crime from the cop stations, courthouses, back alleys and gangster mansions of Melbourne for forty years. His contact book is a who's who of both sides of criminal justice and the shadowy worlds between. He is the trusted confidant of cops, criminals, lawyers and judges. He knows where the cash is stashed and where the bodies are buried.

Naked City is a collection of Silvester's best stories, from sophisticated heists to mindless acts of violence and deeds of pure evil - impeccably sourced, wry, wise and witty.

Travel the dark depths of Australia's criminal underworld with our most formidable crime reporter and an icon of Australian true crime.


'Sometimes I feel I am at war with Silvester, that I am a soldier in the trenches with my bayonet fixed.' Convicted murderer, Judy Moran

'Dear John, may the Yuletide log fall from your fireplace and burn your house down.' Standover man, Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read

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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Macmillan Australia
  4. Publication date
    31 October 2023
  5. Dimensions
    15.5 x 2.8 x 23.1 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1761267434
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1761267437
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Naked City by John Sylvester

A fascinating and riveting collection of true crime stories

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Co-author of the bestselling Underbelly books

Product description

Book Description

A fascinating and riveting collection of true crime stories from Australia's pre-eminent and longest-serving crime reporter - an icon of Australian true crime - John Silvester.

About the Author

John Silvester is Australia's longest-serving crime reporter, covering the beat since 1978. He has won four Walkley Awards, the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award, nine Melbourne Press Club Quills, nine Victorian Law Foundation Awards, a Ned Kelly Award for true crime writing, a Ned Kelly lifetime achievement award, an ASEAN Fellowship to study crime and corruption in South East Asia, and has been elevated to The Australian Media Hall of Fame.

John narrated and co-wrote true crime documentaries produced and directed by Terry Carlyon, including the Logie-winning ABC documentary, Conviction, on the murder of Jill Meagher. He has written or co-authored over 30 books including the Chopper and Underbelly series, later adapted to film and television.

John appeared in one Underbelly movie as himself but was asked to quietly remove himself from the set for overacting.

He writes the award-winning 'Naked City' column for The Age, presents the true crime podcast of the same name, and appears weekly on the top-rating 3AW breakfast program as 'Sly of the Underworld'.

John fought world champion Barry Michael to a draw in a charity boxing match which many experts still refer to as 'The Bloodbath of Blackburn'.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan Australia (31 October 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1761267434
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1761267437
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.5 x 2.8 x 23.1 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 228 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Ellen Datlow

    Ellen Datlow

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    I've been a short story editor for over forty years, starting with OMNI Magazine and webzine for 17 years, then EVENT HORIZON, a webzine, and SCIFICTION, the fiction area of SCIFI.COM. I currently acquire and edit short fiction and novellas for Tor.com and I edit original and reprint anthologies. I've lived in NYC most of my life, although I travel a lot.

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  2. Nathan Ballingrud

    Nathan Ballingrud

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs, and more

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  3. Matthew Kressel

    Matthew Kressel

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    "Matthew Kressel is a writer and software developer. He is a three-time Nebula Award finalist, a World Fantasy Award finalist, and a Eugie Award finalist. His first novel, KING OF SHARDS, was hailed by NPR BOOKS as, "A fantastic twist on Jewish mythology...a radical reinvention of Jewish faith and folklore, not to mention the portal fantasy." Multiple Hugo Award-winning author N.K. Jemisin (the BROKEN EARTH series) praised KING OF SHARDS as, "A surreal and exotic adventure in a unique mythological setting. Scary, exhilarating fun!" And Bram Stoker Award-winning author Paul Tremblay (HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS, THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD) called KING OF SHARDS "An imaginative, intelligent, and soaring debut...a unique spin on epic fantasy...timeless and timely, and a hell of lot of fun."

    Kressel's more than fifty works of short fiction have or will appear in such publications as TORDOTCOM, CLARKESWORLD, LIGHTSPEED, NIGHTMARE, BENEATH CEASELESS SKIES, ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION AND FACT, THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, and in multiple YEAR'S BEST anthologies. His short fiction has also been translated into seven languages. Alongside Ellen Datlow, he runs the Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series in Manhattan. And he is the creator of the Moksha submissions system, used by many of the largest publishers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in the industry. He lives in Ridgewood, New York, with his wife and far too many houseplants."

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Top reviews from Australia

Mike Patterson
5.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable read!
Reviewed in Australia on 8 November 2023
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I really enjoy John's writing.
Unlike other crime writers, John offers a more balanced and informed view, especially when it comes to policing. Being an avid reader of true crime, I was familiar with some of the individual stories related. However I still found them interesting and informative.
I did find it very distressing to read of the difficulties many ex vicpol officers have experienced during and post service.
Theirs is a difficult job, made harder by a weak judicial system and largely incompetent senior management. It seems a regular outcome that the victims are just hung out to dry or forced out of the job without critically needed support.
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Dr. David Arelette
3.0 out of 5 stars Good start, Read all before middle, Self serving end.
Reviewed in Australia on 6 February 2024
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Started well, new to me material; the middle is what we hear on his radio spot and newspaper page (so boring as) and the end is stories expanding on classic cases with a bias towards his contacts. Where's the new inside information - gun suppliers, $ paid for hit jobs, do you shoot first to stop target then go for the kill shot or just fire at whatever you see first? Who no honest view of Lawyer X who broke all the rules of the game but keeps breathing?
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George K.
5.0 out of 5 stars Book review
Reviewed in Australia on 12 January 2024
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Love the book ,, first book I’ve read in years ,, absolutely loved it 5 stars from me
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Erol andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars very happy with my buy
Reviewed in Australia on 4 January 2024
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very fast delivery and well packaged. very happy with my buy as described well on Amazon page
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Ripdexoo
4.0 out of 5 stars Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy (Editor Ellen Datlow)
Reviewed in Germany on 15 March 2015
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Gekauft habe ich mir das Buch vor allem wegen Jim Butcher und Patricia Briggs. Abgesehen davon bieten Anthologien eine gute Gelegenheit, neue und interessante Autoren kennenzulernen.
Wie ich öfter feststellen musste, ist aber eine Kurzgeschichte, die einem (sehr) gut gefällt, leider kein Garant dafür, dass man auch Bücher der Autoren mag. Oder man hat Pech und die Kurzgeschichte steht für sich allein, ohne dass man mehr über die Charaktere lesen kann, die einem sympathisch geworden sind.
Im Folgenden die einzelnen Geschichten mit (Sehr-) Kurzbeschreibung, da ich niemandem die Spannung nehmen will. Dazu ein kurzer Kommentar von mir und Wertung (5 Sterne=sehr gut, 4=gut, 3=durchschnittlich, 2=nicht mal Durchschnitt, 1=mies)

"Jim Butcher - Curses": Zauberer Harry Dresden wird vom Manager der Chicago Cubs beauftragt herauszufinden, ob das Baseballteam tatsächlich mit einem Fluch belegt ist. Seine Suche führt ihn zu unverhoffter Stelle und die Lösung für den Fluch ist typisch Harry.
Die Dresden-Reihe ist einer meiner Favoriten. Die Kurzgeschichte "Last Call" im Band "Strange Brew" war ursprünglich der Grund dafür, dass ich begann, Jim Butchers Bücher zu lesen. Bei Curses geht es um Baseball, bei "Last Call" um Bier. Beides eigentlich keine Themen, die mich interessieren, aber was Jim Butcher daraus gemacht hat, sorgt für Interesse. ;)
5 Sterne

"Delia Sherman - How the Pookah came to New York City": 1855, Liam O'Casey, ein irischer Auswanderer, kommt nach New York. An seiner Seite ein schwarzer Hund, der ein bestimmtes Ziel vor Augen hat.
Recht gut geschrieben, interessante Idee, aber ein Ende mit einer viel zu leichten Auflösung.
4 Sterne

"Richard Bowes - on the Slide": Den Schauspieler Sean Quinlan hält nichts in der Gegenwart und er wünscht sich, 50 Jahre in der Vergangeheit (vor seiner Geburt) leben zu können. Er würde gerne in die Vergangenheit sliden (was sich wohl auf die Fernsehserie "Sliders" beziehen soll).
Die einzige Geschichte, bei der ich es nicht geschafft habe, dranzubleiben und alles zu lesen. Die Erzählung hat sich gezogen, ohne mich in ihren Bann zu ziehen. Nervend waren die immer wiederkehrenden Einschübe aus der Serie, in der er gerade mitspielt. Vom Thema her hätte es ansonsten interessant sein können.
2 Sterne

"Ellen Kushner - The Duke of Riverside": Ein junger Mann namens Alec taucht in einem weniger guten Viertel von Riverside auf und dürfte einen Todeswunsch haben, da er den Schwertmann St.Vier dazu bringen will, ihn zu töten. Doch es kommt ganz anders, als er gedacht hatte...
Hintergrundgeschichte zu den Riversidebüchern. Gefiel mir, lässt aber einiges offen, das vermutlich nur durch das Wissen aus den Büchern verständlich wird, daher ein Stern Abzug: eine Kurzgeschichte darf und soll durchaus Appetit auf eine dahinterstehende Welt machen, muss aber auch für sich allein Sinn ergeben.
4 Sterne

"Christopher Fowler - Oblivion by Calvn Klein": Helen führt eine unglückliche Ehe und findet ihre Befriedigung im Kaufen, bis sie einen ungewöhnlichen Mann trifft.
Obwohl mich das Thema an sich nicht fasziniert hat, ist Helens Kaufrausch gut beschrieben, was mich bei der Stange gehalten hat. Das Ende allerdings fand ich nicht zum Rest passend.
3 Sterne

"Patrica Briggs - Fairy Gifts"
Spielt in der Mercy Thompson-Welt. Der Vampir Thomas kommt nach Jahrzehnten zurück in seine Heimatstadt. Er erinnert sich, wie er zum Vampir wurde und findet heraus, warum er in die Stadt zurückgeholt wurde.
Gut geschrieben und mMn auch ohne Kenntnisse der Welt verständlich.
5 Sterne

"Pat Cadigan - Picking up the pieces": 1989, der Berliner Mauerfall. Quinn, die kleine Schwester der Erzählerin, ist in Berlin, um ihren Schwarm Martin zu finden, der seine Familie aus Ostberlin herausholen will. Mit einer übernatürlichen Überraschung am Ende.
Bei dieser Geschichte war mir am Schluss nicht klar, was eigentlich mit Martins Familie war. Ansonsten eine gute Beschreibung des Geschehens, wie es damals gewesen sein kann. Der übernatürliche Anteil der Geschichte hält sich aber sehr in Grenzen.
4 Sterne

"Peter S. Beagle - Underbridge": Richardson, Professor für Literatur, hat eine neue Stelle in Seattle als Vertretung angetreten. Bei seinen Streifzügen durch die Stadt entdeckt er den Betontroll, einen Touristenanziehungspunkt. Dieser und seine Hoffnung auf ein Festanstellung werden sein Leben verändern.
Sehr gut geschrieben, bringt wie Butcher ein Thema näher, das mich ansonsten nicht interessiert hätte (Probleme eines alternden Professors, der eine Festanstellung erhofft). Für meinen Geschmack zu sehr Richtung Horror gehend, ich fände es aber unfair, deswegen bei der Wertung etwas abzuziehen, denn die Geschichte ist dennoch sehr gut, auch wenn sie nicht ganz meinen Geschmack trifft.
4,5 Sterne

"Naomi Novik - Priced to sell": Schildert das auf und Ab im Leben von Immobilienmaklern, die für Vampire und andere Wesen in New York geeignete Zuhause finden sollen.
Mein Favorit unter den Geschichten, witzig und interessant geschrieben.
5 Sterne

"Matthew Kressel - The Bricks of Gelecek": ein Wesen, das mit seinen Brüdern Städte vom Erdboden verschwinden lässt und dadurch auch (wörtlich zu nehmen) die Erinnerung der Menschen an diese Städte löscht, trifft auf ein Mädchen, dessen Gesang ihn auf ungewohnte Weise berührt. Es will mehr über das Mädchen herausfinden...
Eine interessante Geschichte, aber ich fand das Ende etwas unbefriedigend.
4 Sterne

"Kit Reed - Westin Walks": Westin hat als Kind seine Eltern verloren und lässt daher niemanden näher an sich ran. Finanziell ist er sehr gut versorgt und muss nicht aus sich herausgehen. Nur wenn er eine seiner Stadtführungen macht, gibt er sich freiwillig mit Fremden ab.
Anfangs recht interessant, wird es zum Schluss hin seltsam und mit dem Ende kann ich nichts anfangen.
3 Sterne

"Lavie Tidhar - The Projected Girl": Der Junge Danny entdeckt ein Mauergemälde von einem Mädchen, das ihn anzusehen scheint und macht sich auf, die Geschichte hinter dem Bild und dem Mädchen herauszufinden.
Ein ungewöhnliches Setting (Haifa in Israel), kleine Einblicke in jüdische Kultur und Geschichte machen die Story lesenswert. Das Thema an sich ist auch interessant, aber ich hätte mir ein aufschlussreicheres Ende gewünscht.
4 Sterne

"Nathan Ballingrud - The Way Station": Beltrane ist ein Obdachloser, der nach dem Hurrikan Kathrina aus New Orleans weg musste und nun versucht, anderswo zurechtzukommen.
Eine Geschichte über Verlust; auch hier eine interessante Idee im Hintergrund, die mich aber letzendlich nicht hundertprozentig überzeugen konnte.
3,5 Sterne

"Melissa Marr - Guns for the dead": In einer Welt, in der alle tot sind, sollte man dennoch nicht ohne Waffe herumrennen. Alicia verkauft hereingeschmuggelte moderne Waffen und muss sich gegen den Herrn der Stadt, Charles, durchsetzen, dem dies nicht gefällt. Dabei steht ihr ein Neuankömmling, Francis Lee Lemons, zur Seite.
Interessante Prämisse, gut und auch witzig beschrieben. Laut Beschreibung zur Welt von Marrs Buch "Graveminder" gehörend, das ab jetzt auf meiner "Zu Lesen-Liste" steht. Man merkt, dass hinter der Geschichte noch mehr steckt (ich hoffe, es wir im Buch erklärt), die Geschichte ist dennoch sehr gut für sich allein lesbar, macht aber Appetit auf mehr, also Vorsicht! ;)
5 Sterne

"John Crowley - And go like this": Schwer zu beschreiben. Prämisse für die Geschichte ist das davorgestellte Zitat, dass man in New York genug Platz hätte, um die Weltbevölkerung von 1963 in der Stadt unterbringen könnte.
Zwar nicht schlecht beschrieben, aber vom Thema her sinnlos.
3 Sterne

"Holly Black - Noble Rot": Agathe arbeitet in einem Restaurant und bringt dem krebskranken ehemaligen Sänger Colin abends immer seine Essensbestellung vorbei. Dabei lernt sie ihn besser kennen und möchte ihm helfen, die Erkrankung zu besiegen. Nur ihre Vorstellung davon, wie sie ihm helfen kann, ist reichlich ungewöhnlich...
Gut geschrieben, aber ich fand es etwas grauslich und auch nicht ganz überzeugend (sowohl Agathas Vorgehen als auch Colins Reaktion).
4 Sterne

"Jeffrey Ford - Daddy Long Legs of the Evening": ein Junge wird von einer Spinne gesteuert und übernimmt eine ganze Stadt.
Beinhaltet definitiv Horrorelemente und damit nicht mein Geschmack, aber gut geschrieben.
4 Sterne

"Lucius Shepard - The Skinny Girl": Mexico City - Hugo ist ein bekannter Fotograf, der davon lebt, Tote zu fotografieren. Seine Fotos sind bekannt und begehrt, denn in Mexico City verehrt man "Sante Muerte", auch "Saint Death" oder "The Skinny Girl" genannt. Doch gibt es sie vielleicht wirklich?
Auch hier eine ungewöhnliche Idee, interessant geschrieben, aber vom Ende her für meinen Geschmack zu offen.
4 Sterne

"Caitlin R. Kiernan - The Collier's Venus (1893)": was wäre, wenn man in Minen tief unter der Erde Lebewesen finden würde, die es eigentlich nicht mehr geben dürfte, die ausgestorben sind? Oder von denen man gar nicht gewusst hat, dass sie existieren?
Ich mochte die handelnden Personen, Professor Ogilvy und die Mechanikerin Dora Bolshaw. Aber auch hier ein eher unbefriedigendes Ende, bei dem ich mich fragte, worauf die ganze Geschichte eigentlich hinauslief. Von daher nur gut ->
4 Sterne.

"Elizabeth Bear - King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree": Was wäre, wenn Las Vegas eine Personifikation hätte, eine Person, die die Erinnerungen der Stadt in sich trägt? Und was, wenn diese Person anfangen würde, zu vergessen?
Klingt abstrakt, ist aber ganz gut umgesetzt. Fand es aber am Ende ein wenig zu abgehoben und den Bösewicht hätte man besser erklären sollen.
4 Sterne

Nicht jede Geschichte hat mich hundertprozentig überzeugt, oft hätte ich mir ein anderes, ausführlicheres Ende gewünscht. Bei anderen Geschichten war zwar die Geschichte sehr gut geschrieben und auch das Ende klar, aber ich hätte auf die Horroelemente verzichten können (Underbridge, Daddy Longlegs). Insgesamt jedoch eine durchaus lesenswerte Anthologie.
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Lind Robert
3.0 out of 5 stars A little too much of steamy sex for me
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2013
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But I suppose that is what the book is supposed to contain, so I should not complain.
The book was not what I expected, that is why I give it a middle rating.
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Elisabeth Zeh
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection of modern Fairy Tales
Reviewed in the United States on 6 July 2011
Verified Purchase
With 20 authors contributing to this anthology, I have decided not to break it down by each story. My review would then be endless and y'all would just get bored reading it. Instead, I'll tell you that this is an outstanding collection of short stories that showcases some of the many faces of urban fantasy. From Horror to Faeries, a Wizard Detective, and the Troll of Seattle, you will find something you like in this collection.

My favorites are the following (in order of appearance):

1. Curses by Jim Butcher
2. On the Slide by Richard Bowes
3. Fairy Gifts by Patricia Briggs
4. Picking up the Pieces by Pat Cadigan
5. Underbridge by Peter S. Beagle
6. The Bricks of Gelecek by Matthew Kressel
7. The Way Station by Nathan Ballingrud
8. Guns for the Dead by Melissa Marr
9. King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree by Elizabeth Bear

The other eleven stories are good, but to me, these just stood out as great examples of what a short story should be (a glimpse in a character's life, one theme explored; in short the modern fairy tale). With so many to choose from, I am sure there will be those who disagree with me on which stories are their favorites. But that is the beauty of this collection, it's all good and there is something for everyone
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Anne B
4.0 out of 5 stars Much darker than I expected with some dropped endings
Reviewed in the United States on 23 March 2024
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This is a very dark anthology about cities and some of the strange occurrences experienced in them. Some of the stories were very good, and some ended at odd times or seem to drop their endings completely. I did like the Jim Butcher and Patricia Briggs stories, but they are two of my favorite authors, so I am more familiar with their work.
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Rabid Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars More Like Scantily Clad City
Reviewed in the United States on 16 May 2013
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"Naked City" suggests Las Vegas of the 1960s to me, for whatever reason. Something hard and edgy, dark and bright at the same time. Stunningly gorgeous and unbelievably filthy. In a word, bold. This collection of stories just wasn't bold. It was more like Vegas at 5AM, dawn just beginning to open one sleepy eye, everything washed in blue-grey light that makes the posters look sad and the bright lights garish. I will accept that might have been what the editor was going for, but if it was, they didn't quite hit that mark either.

The stand out stories (for both good an bad reasons) were:

1. Jim Butcher's "Curses": this story was funny enough, but it didn't match the tone of the rest of the book at all, and came across as sort of a throwaway opening act that happens while the audience is still trickling in for the real show. I'm not saying it's a bad Dresden story, it's not, it just didn't suit the anthology at all, though a darker Dresden tale would have.

2. Delia Sherman's "Pooka": Let me be the bearer of bad news. This woman cannot write and it is increasingly clear that she is riding on her wife's coat-tails to the DETRIMENT of her wife's career. Ellen Kischner is capable of brilliant work, fascinating work, but she insists on either co-writing with Delia or forcing editors to include Delia's work along side Ellen's. This linkage is making me really want to stop reading Ellen Kushner's work as it has more and more influences from Delia. I don't think Editors should let themselves get blackmailed into publishing Delia's tripe.

3. Ellen Kushner's "Riverside": I love Alec and Richard and their weird relationship that specifically doesn't make a lot of sense. This is a wonderful addition to the story (and solidifies my suspicions that Alec is a less than reliable narrator.) I would prefer though, that Ellen spends more time writing novels (by herself) and stopped writing shorts to essentially promote her wife's crappy work.

4. Patti Briggs' "Gifts": Not her best work, but solid. Enjoyable. It mostly stood out because so many of the other pieces were forgettable. (In an anthology with higher calibur work I think this still would have been a good story, it just wouldn't have stood out like it did here.) This story definitely grew on me, and remains one of the ones I'd like to see fleshed out in her future work.

5. Peter S. Beagles "Underbridge": I hated this story so much I could have screamed. The Troll is, according to most Seattlites I've talked to, a benign if not benevolent force. To the folks that are a bit more woo-woo he's one of the gateway's to the city's hill spirit and thus, a VERY happy fellow. To sit there and darken this wonderful bit of whimsy just seemed like a cheap shot and sad effort. Careless, disrespectful of local lore. If PSB had spent some time weaving in the local lore and then twisting it, I'd have enjoyed this story a lot more.

6. Naomi Novik's "Priced": This was notable because it's plagarized. Totally. If you've ever read "Strange Candy" which is a collection of L.K. Hamilton''s books, you'd recognize not just this story, but the plot and even the tone of voice that the narrator uses. I was not impressed with this story and have grown totally unamused with this author whom I used to like. I won't be reading a single thing she does going forward. I do NOT take plagiarism lightly.

7.Lucius Shepherd's "The Skinny Girl": This was fantastic, absolutely fantastic and incredibly lush and evocative for a short story. Anything I say about will ruin the story, so I won't say much other than this comes across as technicolor painting next to a desaturated, monochromatic and boring couch.

A lot of people seem to go nuts for Holly Black, she seems really... dull.... to me. I didn't dislike reading her stuff, but it was just sort of predictable with characters that seemed like I'd read them before. I kept mistaking the main character for C. Clare's "Maia" and the rock star character seemed like an expy of Keith Richards. It just was not inspired.

All in all, this anthology was not a bad way to kill some time.
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