Rene
wrote:
> Andrew Vachhs : can't get into the Burke books
either, Mike R, my main
> problem being his band of merry helpers an extremely
unlikely assortment
> of characters, all from the "streets" (more like old
Doc Savage pulps,
> just tarted up modern neo-noir style - I mean to
say, Max the
> Silent,"Jeezus Crisuz!" as a Polish lady friend of
mine used to
> say).Having said that I've read a couple of
excellent shorts by the man
> & his stand alone novel "Shella" I like a hell
of a lot. I've noticed
> others on this list share my opinions re: Vachhs,
Burke & "Shella".
>
>
I'd have to throw in with the group that likes the stand
alones best,
(McBain's best books are non-87th Precinct, IMHO) although
there are innumerable exceptions: I will confess to having
read and reread in order all of Parker's Spenser and all of
John D.'s Travis McGee -- kind of light reading; likely what
Eric Ambler meant when he said "entertainments". Some series
don't make me feel so _used_as Vachhs, et.al. do: Hammett's
Continental Op, Cheyney's Slim Callaghan, Latimer's Bill
Crane, and Max Allan Collins' Nate Heller, among others I've
read. I think it must be a special talent to write series
that don't get stale. Slim Callaghan and Bill Crane hold up
really well, but the Vachhs I've read make me feel like he's
kind of a one trick pony (yeah, I'll probably catch hell for
that one). While I'm bashing Vachhs, I agree with Rene about
the cast of characters: half Baker Street Irregulars and half
circus mutants. Kinky Freidman does it too, though for some
reason his cast of regulars doesn't bother me nearly as much
(that special talent again?).
Best Regards, Erick
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