Quotes
“Doug Swanson is one terrific reporter and writer. In Blood Aces,
he delivers not just the facts, ma’am, but an appalling yet wickedly
humorous portrait of the Godfather of Glitter Gulch, a warm-hearted
family man and cold-blooded killer who pioneered Vegas odds-making and
launched the World Series of Poker.” James McManus, New York Times bestselling author of Positively Fifth Street
“Prepare to meet one of the great unknown crime kingpins
in American history: Benny Binion, a semiliterate, grammar-murderin’,
Stetson-and-boots-wearin’ Texas hick who presided over an underworld of cowboy
gangsters every bit as unique, lethal, and compelling as the Cosa Nostra. In Blood Aces, Doug J. Swanson has written
a terrific, propulsive account of a man and a subculture I can virtually
guarantee you know little or nothing about. This is dazzlingly original stuff,
and it’s entertaining as hell.” S. C. Gwynne, New York Times bestselling author of Empire of the Summer Moon
“Welcome to the world of Benny Binion, the cowboy
with a second-grade education who helped create Sin City and laid the
groundwork for modern-day spectator poker. Steeped in lore and backed by
meticulous research, Doug Swanson’s Blood
Aces gives readers an intimate and in-depth look at a key era in the
history of American capitalism…Prepare to be Binionized.” Denise Kiernan, New York Times bestselling author of The Girls of Atomic City
“Blood Aces
delivers the best of everything—a tale of two cities (Dallas and Las Vegas), a
primer on the history and nuances of gambling (poker and dice, especially),
and, above all, the many adventures of the one and only Benny Binion, who could
charm or kill with equal ease. It’s a fascinating slice of colorful Americana
delivered with insight and sly humor by Doug J. Swanson, one of the best
historian-storytellers around. Unlike Binion’s crooked cons, Blood Aces is a sure thing for every
reader.” Jeff Guinn, New York Times bestselling author of Manson
“‘He was either the gentlest bad guy or the baddest
good guy you’d ever seen.’ Friends of Benny Binion had difficulty describing
him and his enemies often died before they had the chance. During his long life,
Binion controlled the Dallas underworld and created the World Series of Poker and
the Las Vegas casino scene that still thrives. Even two murder convictions did
not cramp his gangster style, yet this long-lived, enigmatic horse trader’s son
was also known for spontaneous philanthropy. Doug Swanson’s biography of this
colorful cowboy mobster fills in gaps in gambling history and, just as
importantly, keeps us riveted to the page.” Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review
“Armchair detectives and other aficionados of the
history of thug culture in America will feel a warm glow of assurance at the
first few paragraphs of Blood Aces...[Swanson]
brings new credibility to the subject without trying too hard to mythologize
him and, wisely, without trying to make him seem likable. No one ever said you
have to be likable to be interesting.” Austin Chronicle
“Benny Binion is not as well known as Bugsy Seigel,
who created Las Vegas, but, as crime-novelist Swanson makes clear in
this rollicking biography, Binion also deserves his place in the Sin
City Hall of Fame…Swanson, a Dallas Morning News
editor when he’s not writing crime novels, has turned the biography of
Binion into a great piece of narrative nonfiction that reads like, well,
a great crime novel.” Booklist (starred review)
“Swanson skillfully brings Binion to life and continually intrigues
with the exhilarating account of the history of poker and the decadent
metropolis that reminds us that ambition, power, and violence often go
hand in hand. This is the madcap, bloody, improbable life of an outlaw
who left his mark on Las Vegas, poker, and gambling from coast to coast.” Publishers Weekly
“The big life and fast times of one of the most
charismatic and dangerous good ol’ boys in America’s criminal history...[A]
well-researched and executed biography...Fans of other gangster histories will
likely be intrigued by Binion’s arc...The later sections of the book will be of
interest to poker fans, as Binion retreats to Sin City to buy casinos and
accidentally creates a legacy when he founds the World Series of Poker as a
promotional stunt...An entertaining and provocative portrait of a man whose
dichotomies were largely a product of the violent times in which he thrived.” Kirkus Reviews
“A compelling narrative full of outlandish
characters, Blood Aces is a
fast-paced read as enlightening as it is shocking.” Sally Denton, author of The Money and the Power
