<<The critic's demand for a noble knight errant is an
arbitrary requirement that has more to do with current
fashion than it does with good writing.>>
I don't think the criticisms of Spillane had (or have) to do
with the lack of noble knight errant, but with the
psychological shallowness of his characters.
While I admire him as a technical writer of violent scenes, I
do find him shallow. In a short story I gladly put up with
shallow or dubious psychology if there are compensations, but
in a novel I find it intolerable. That is why Spillane
doesnt's grip me (and why I don't read him anymore). If you
don't believe in a writer's characters, the rest --including
brilliant action scenes-- is immaterial.
By the way, the much-maligned Bellem (whose work I've been
rereading with great intereset) did a far better job of
characterization than Spillane.
Best,
MrT
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