One of the main things I've liked about this list is that,
though we may disagree on a number of aspects about crime
writing, we're usually on the same page about the genre. The
negative comments about Bill Pronzini are jaw-droppers.
Childish? Marginal? The later opinion is quite plainly
uninformed. From his first novel about his nameless
detective, Pronzini has been a powerful presence. That's not
an opinion; it's a matter of record. Thirty years at the game
and still going strong. He's about as marginal as Ed
McBain.
I'm not sure what prompted the "childish" comment. Is it
Pronzini's private eye's fondness for pulp magazines? His
difficulty in establishing relationships? It's always a good
idea to accompany a criticism with at least a clue as to what
you're taking about.
Regarding the death of the hardboiled private eye, discussing
these kinds of pronouncements may be fun but, to quote a TV
series that features the private eye formula in contemporary
garb - the truth is out there. Basic ideas and concepts don't
die. I'm not a wild fan of Greg Rucka or Dennis Lehane, but
they seem to have figured out a way to keep the tough 'tec
flame burning. Just as Sue Grafton and Sarah Paretsky did a
while back. The television series "Angel" is another
contemporary take on Chandler's knight and a damned (pun
intended) good one. Odds are the private eye will be alive
and well long after we've all been put to bed.
Dick Lochte
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