Kevin Burton Smith (kvnsmith@colba.net)
Fri, 31 Dec 1999 12:36:49 -0400
Gee, I'm not sure how I could list just five authors that
blew me away. Of course, Hammett, Chandler and Macdonald and
MacDonald would be on it. But that almost goes without
saying.
So here's five that nobody else, as far as I know, have
bothered to list. Just to skewer the results a bit. Authors
that blew me away on first readings.
Michael Collins Stephen Greenleaf Neil Albert Norbert Davis
Bill Pronzini
Not that they've all been consistently rewarding (although,
mostly, they have), and at least in Davis' case, it's been
damn hard to find his stuff. Part of the problem with this
list is that it takes into account not just the quality of
the book, but the circumstances in which you've read it. How
can you rush out and buy all the works of a first-time
novelist? Or an obscure pulpster whose works are justifiably
affordable only to collectors? And if a boxload of an
author's books is dumped on you, are you reading them because
they're there, or because the first so impressed you?
Anyway, I'll gladly post the results of the list on my site,
once it's compiled, if it's okay with folks here. And,
speaking of my site, I spent yesterday trying to dig up info
on FALLEN ANGELS (see what ya started, Eddie?).
A first whack at an entry is now up on my site, at
http://www.colba.net/~kvnsmith/thrillingdetective/eyes/fallen.html
. If anyone can fill in any blanks, it'll be much
appreciated.
Oh, and if it's the end of the world as we know it, I feel
fine.
Top of the world, Ma!
Kevin
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