Milton K Ozaki
Milton K. Ozaki (June 14, 1913 – November 7, 1989) was a Japanese American writer of pulp fiction mysteries. He also wrote under the name Robert O. Saber.
Life Story
Ozaki was born in Racine, Wisconsin to a Japanese father (Jingaro Ozaki, who later changed his name to Frank) and an American mother, Augusta Rathbun. He lost a leg as a young child. In addition to his work as a writer and journalist, he operated a beauty parlor (the Monsieur Meltoine beauty salon, in the Gold Coast section of Chicago). Ozaki and his wife Dolores B. Ozaki lived at 6314 Fifth Avenue in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In the 1970s, he operated phony mail-order colleges, including the Colorado State Christian College and Hamilton State University, and he was also involved in a company marketing a device fraudulently claimed to increase gas mileage. He died in Reno, Nevada.
Writing Career
Ozaki was the author of approximately two dozen popular mid-20th century detective novels under both his given name and the pseudonym Robert O. Saber, and was one of the first American mystery writers of Japanese descent. His novels are set in the fictional, mid-sized southeastern-Wisconsin city of Stillwell, Wisconsin, which is actually a barely disguised Kenosha.
He started at the bottom of the publisher ladder at the time with Phantom and Handi-Books, moved to Graphic, then to Ace, and finally to Gold Medal.
Novels
| Title | Year | Published as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cuckoo Clock | 1946 | Milton K. Ozaki | Ziff-Davis, hc, Handi-Books #100, pb 1950, as Too Many Women. Featuring Professor Androcles Caldwell and Bendy Brinks, amateur sleuths, along with Lt. Phelan of the cops. |
| A Fiend in Need | 1947 | Milton K. Ozaki | Ziff-Davis, hc, Handi-Books #116, pb, 1950. Featuring Professor Androcles Caldwell and Bendy Brinks, amateur sleuths, along with Lt. Phelan of the cops. |
| The Ram of Aries | 1947 | ??? | |
| The Black Dark Murders | 1949 | Robert O. Saber | Handi-Books #96, pbo, 1949. (PI’s Phil Keene and Hal Cooper) Ramble House, trade pb, 2004. Also published under the title "Out Of The Dark" (1954) |
| The Affair of the Frigid Blonde | 1950 | Robert O. Saber | Handi-Books #108, 1950. (PI Bob Stille) Also published under the title "The Deadly Blonde" (1953) |
| The Dove | 1951 | Robert O. Saber | Phantom #502, pbo, 1951. (PI Carl Guard; Handi-Books #130, pbo, 1951. Pyramid #90, pb, 1953, as Chicago Woman. |
| The Deadly Lover | 1951 | Robert O. Saber | Phantom #502, pbo, 1951. (PI Carl Guard) |
| The Scented Flesh | 1951 | Robert O. Saber | Handi-Books #124, 1951. (PI Carl Guard) |
| The Dummy Murder Case | 1951 | Milton K. Ozaki | Graphic #33, pbo, 1951. Featuring Professor Androcles Caldwell and Bendy Brinks, amateur sleuths, along with Lt. Phelan of the cops. |
| The Dove | 1951 | Robert O. Saber | Also published under the title "Chicago Woman" (1953) |
| No Way Out | 1952 | Robert O. Saber | Phantom Books 512, 1952. Also published under the title "Borrowed Time" (1955) |
| Murder Doll | 1952 | Robert O. Saber | Phantom Books 510, pbo, 1952. (PI Carl Good) Berkley D2016, pb, November 1959, as by Milton K. Ozaki. |
| The Deadly Pickup | 1953 | Milton K. Ozaki | Graphic #57, pbo, 1952. Graphic #92, 2nd pr., 1954. Berkley D2038, pb, 1960. |
| Murder Honeymoon | 1953 | ??? | |
| Chicago Woman | 1953 | Robert O. Saber | Pyramid #90, 1953. Reprint of The Dove. |
| City of Sin | 1952 | Robert O. Saber | Lancer Double 72-628, pb, 1962. Original Novels #722, pbo, 1952. (PI Pete Mallary) Carnival Books #922, pb, 1953. Lancer Double 72-628, pb, 1962, as by Milton K. Ozaki.
Previously appeared as by Robert O. Saber. [Paired with DAY KEENE Joy House.] |
| Dressed to Kill | 1954 | Milton K. Ozaki | Graphic #79, pbo, 1954. (PI Rusty Forbes) Graphic #141, 2nd pr., 1956. Berkley D2007, pb, 1959. |
| Too Young to Die | 1954 | Robert O. Saber | Graphic #90, 1954. (PI Carl Good) Graphic #150, 2nd pr., 1957. |
| Shake Hands With The Devil | 1954 | ??? | |
| Maid For Murder | 1955 | Milton K. Ozaki | Ace Double D-135, pbo, 1955. (PI Carl Guard) [Paired with JAMES HADLEY CHASE Dead Ringer.] |
| A Dame Called Murder | 1955 | Robert O. Saber | Graphic#111, pbo, 1955. (PI Max Keene) |
| Marked For Murder | 1955 | ??? | |
| Model for Murder | 1955 | ??? | |
| Sucker Bait | 1955 | Robert O. Saber | Graphic #99, 1955. (PI Carl Good) Graphic #156, 2nd pr., 1957. |
| Never Say Die | 1956 | Milton K. Ozaki | Ace Double D-167, pbo, 1956. (PI Bob Wherry) [Paired with JOHN CREIGHTON Destroying Angel.] |
| A Time For Murder | 1956 | Robert O. Saber | Graphic #123, 1956. (PI Max Keene) |
| Case of the Deadly Kiss | 1957 | Milton K. Ozaki | Gold Medal #715, pbo, November 1957. Unibooks, pb, no date. |
| The Case of the Cop's Wife | 1958 | Milton K. Ozaki | Gold Medal #795, pbo, August 1958. |
| Wake Up and Scream | 1959 | Milton K. Ozaki | Gold Medal #879, pbo, May 1959. |
| Inquest | 1960 | Milton K. Ozaki | Gold Medal #981, pbo, May 1960. |
| Too Cute To Kill | Unknown |
Games
Milton K. Ozaki also designed a dice game, Murder Dice, which was similar to Yahtzee and was based on the events in a murder trial.