Jan Herman's "The Z Collection: Portraits & Sketches" (2015)

New York City: AC Books (book, 1st), 2015.
8" x 5" x 0.625", 238 pages, softcover, ISBN 9781939901071

Jan Herman's book of essays, The Z Collection: Portraits and Sketches, was published in 2015 by AC Books in New York City. A set of essays on several writers whom Herman knew.

There are three specific essays of historical and biographical value for those interested in Burroughs. The first, "My Adventures in Fugitive Literature", pp. 29-57, is a history of Jan Herman's publishing and editing, including the San Francisco Earthquake, Nova Broadcast Press, and Something Else Press – all of which published Burroughs (and Brion Gysin).

The second essay is "William S. Burroughs: Incidental Intelligence", pp. 59-71, a history of Jan Herman with William S. Burroughs. 

The third essay is "Herbert Huncke: Triple Threat", pp.187-190, which contains significant mention of Burroughs.

This book was later republished by Blue Wind Press and Moloko+ in 2018.

Contents: 

• Preface
• Portraits:
• "Nelson Algren: Ticket to New Jersey"
• "Jan Herman: My Adventures in Fugitive Literature"
• "William S. Burroughs: Incidental Intelligence"
• "Godfrey Reggio: Life Out of Balance"
• "Norman Mailer: In the Middle of His Journey"
• Sketches: 
• "William Styron: "Points on the Compass"
• "Jack Abbott: Lost and Convicted"
• "Paul Theroux: Climbing Parnassus"
• "E. L. Doctorow: "Inside Straight"
• "Frederick Forsyth: Exit from Fleet Street"
• "James Michener: The Professional"
• "Mary Welsh Hemingway: Their Storybook Life"
• "Alistair Cooke: Writing for Listeners"
• "John Cheever: Felling a Tree"
• "Athol Fugard: His South Africa"
• "Herbert Huncke: Triple Threat"
• "Allen Ginsberg: Way Out West"
• "Jack Kerouac: Bottoms Up"
• "Abbie Hoffman: Stand-up Activist"
• "Ben Hecht: The Paradox"
• "Garson Kanin: Scribble, Scribble"
• Notes
• About the Author