I really have very little to add to what Colin had to say
about Jack O'Connell, but I won't let that entirely stop
me.
The series doesn't have a continuing protagonist, but a
continuing setting, Quinsigamond, a factory town that has
been allowed to decay
(kind of for that reason, I think Fincher might be a better
director for him than Lynch, since the latter seems most at
home in Small Towns -- if only Fritz Lang were still alive).
This world is fully realized and most decidedly a character.
Each of the four books revolves around a theme dealing with
communication -- language, radio, film, comics -- as it
exists in the city. This makes the books seem kind of dry and
philosophical (and they do have those elements), but the plot
and characters are fascinating. As you can see, I'm having
trouble describing these books, but O'Connell's is a unique
voice worth getting to know. I've been impatiently waiting
for another books from him. Hope he's working on one.
As for influencing others, I'm only aware of one book that
clearly seems to follow him, New York Graphic, by Adam Lloyd
Baker. It's got it's moments, but is nowhere near the level
of O'Connell.
Mark
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 13 Mar 2007 EDT