John wrote:
". . . while following the Hammett model can lead to more
cutting edge work i.e. Jack O'Connell."
John, I'm not sure I understand how O'Connell follows the
Hammett model. It seems to me he has little in common with
either Chandler or Hammett. I'm not sure why, and I know I
can't articulate it, but his books somehow seem almost
European to me -- an odd merging of surrealism and German
expressionism, perhaps, all warped through an American
lens.
I think we may be applying this Hammett vs. Chandler thing
too rigidly, especially to contemporary writers. Sure, some
very consciously place themselves within the tradition of
one, the other, or both, but many have gotten so far from
their ancestors, mixed with so many others, that it's hard to
see the family resemblance.
Mark
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