<<Now the question: Would Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins
qualify as a P.I.?>>
<<Oh, and the question: Would Reg Hill's Joe Sixsmith
qualify as a PI. seems
he never gets "paid". >>
I just LOVE these issues which promise spirited debate with
little or no
hope of consensus. To me, the fictional PI represents less an
occupation
than a stance -- an attitude, if you will. Who is closer to
the idea we have
of a PI? The licensed but sedentary Nero Wolfe? Or characters
(all
unlicensed) like Travis McGee, John Deal, Gabriel Du Pre and
(the early)
Matt Scudder?
Crazy-making, ain't it? For myself, I look upon any character
who is engaged
in an investigation for a private party . . . or for private
reasons . . .
as a PI. The job's basically the same, anyway, and labels are
just a
convenience.
Of course, I know there are other viewpoints.
PB
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