Jason Debly (DEBLY@nbnet.nb.ca)
Sat, 27 Nov 1999 10:03:35 +0000
Brian, apparently this type of question comes up quite
frequently. Most of the subscribers to this service will
dread discussing this issue and will regard it as simply
bashing certain authors (i.e. Sue Grafton). I am also a hard
boiled mystery writer and have been told ad nauseum by my
agent that I am too hard boiled (as if that's possible), and
that I need to inject some sensitivity into my main
character.
The Spenser books are not in my opinion hard boiled. They are
as about as close to cozies as you can get without actually
being one (perish the thought!). Page long descriptions of
what one had for lunch or the quality of their last trip to
the bathroom seems to be what editors are looking for. This
trend is in full force at present with no signs of letting
up.
I contend that Chandler and Hammet would no doubt find it
very difficult to get published today as they characters and
plots are simply too politically incorrect and lack the
aforementioned sensitivity as well as conservatism of writing
that seems to be dripping in Victorian drool.
Part of the problem with what is considered to be in vogue
with today's publishing houses is the obsession with trying
to launch a book that is marketable to every one. Publishers
are lookig for HB books that appeal to you, and your parents,
and the little old church lady (or gent) that lives down the
street. Whenver an industry tries to appeal to all possible
sectors of the market, that is when quality suffers. Punk
rock and grunge lost its sense of originality and angst when
every recording label tried to push their own copy cat
artist.
However, I would like to qualify my remarks above by saying
that I can't hold a candle to the talent of Robert B. Parker
or Sue Grafton for that matter, but inevitably their style of
writing I think has really taken a lot of the sting and
appeal out of the HB genre.
Most people reading this will no doubt strongly disagree with
me, but I think it is a significant problem for the reader
who is looking for books that are more true to the
genre.
I am hard pressed to think of any successful writers who are
writing in a real HB style. The only one I can think of in
recent memory is "The Big Enchilada" by L.A. Morse. It was
originally published in 1981 and about every ten years it
enjoys a reprint. Currently it is out of print and at present
is the closest work I can think of in tune with the genre as
I perceive it.
In an email about a month ago I asked if anyone knew much
about Morse of any of his other books and I only got one
response. This is indicative of the fact that my views are
shared by very few.
In closing, I would like others to give serious consideration
as to what they consider to be a good, recent! HB book. One
that I read recently by Les Roberts, entitled "A Shoot in
Cleaveland" was terrible.
Many readers may regard my views of HB as dated and out of
touch with the present, but I think this is an over sight.
The use of cliches in a novel is no great sin, but only if
they are employed in an uninspiring and boring fashion. The
sign of a great writer is the ability is to work within the
parameters of this great genre and use cliches as mere tools
to deliver the reader an original novel. It can be
done.
Okay, I'm done now. Let the criticism start, but remember,
who is today writing genuine HB novels. It is not enough to
write in the first person about a main character who happens
to be a detective.
There are writers
Brian Lawrence wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Thought I'd introduce myself as well as post a
question. I'm new to the list
> and a writer and a reader of hardboiled and other
mystery / suspense stuff.
> My first book, while not a detective novel, has been
called hardboiled by some
> reviewers. I'm not sure, myself. I simply wrote it,
didn't worry about
> classifying it. Anyway, if you're interested, you
can check out my web page.
> By the way, the book is sold in electronic form
only.
>
> Now, for my question. Today's trend seems to be to
give the detective more of
> a real life. They are becoming much more sensitive.
While the mood often
> stays "dark", the detective is closer to being a
real person.
>
> Does this trend change the definition of hardboiled?
And what are your
> thoughts on this trend? Finally, would, say, the
Spenser books be classified
> as hardboiled?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brian Lawrence
> http://www.eclectics.com/brianlawrence
>
>
____________________________________________________________________
> Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account
today at http://webmail.netscape.com.
> --
> # To unsubscribe, say "unsubscribe rara-avis" to
> # To unsubscribe, say "unsubscribe rara-avis" to
majordomo@icomm.ca.
> # The web pages for the list are at http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/
.
-- # To unsubscribe, say "unsubscribe rara-avis" to # To unsubscribe, say "unsubscribe rara-avis" to majordomo@icomm.ca. # The web pages for the list are at http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/ .
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Fri 26 Nov 1999 - 20:55:03 EST