maura wrote:
>here's something to discuss. i was just mulling over
in my mind the general
>and consistent failure, in my eyes, of female writers
to produce female
>protagonists with any sort of real visceral fortitude
of the sort you see
>in the archetypal male PI. i think this missing
element is commonly
>identified as testosterone. does anyone
agree/disagree that a good PI has
>to have a strong heterosexual orientation?
Some thoughts:
Well, as far as heterosexuality being a requirement for P.I.s
go, Joe Hansen's Dave Brandstetter was certainly one of the
more exceptional exceptions--as tough and tersely written as
Hammett. And he definitely has a sex drive. And he was
actually in a long-term relationship. Come to think of it,
Hansen broke all kinds of "rules" besides the obvious one.
It's a shame how under-rated this uncompromising series is.
Last I heard, some of the books were being reprinted in the
U.S. by Alyson, a small gay/lesbian press. Great news, as it
goes, but it would be great to see them published by someone
a bit more mainstream.
As for female eyes with "visceral fortitude":
Max Collins' Ms. Michael Tree, who has a pretty good sex
drive, gave birth during a case, and there was even a
breast-feeding scene, I think. Another male-written female
eye, Reed Stephen's Ginny Fistoulari certainly qualifies, as
well. You really have to hand it to her. And Greg Rucka's
Bridgett Logan has plenty of guts, too. One of the reason's I
think a lot of women found her unrealistic is that she just
doesn't fit the stereotype. Of course, Max and Reed and Greg
are all guys, so I guess they don't count.
I haven't read it yet, but supposedly V.I. Warshawski's
latest has her subjecting herself to some real crap to crack
a case. And, if I remember correctly, Liza Cody's Anna Lee
was a pretty tough little cookie, in a hard-bitten Brit sorta
way, certainly not the soft, warm, gooey at the centre,
friend to all living things creature too many female-written
female eyes try to be. Jenny Siler's character in the recent
EASY MONEY isn't a P.I., but she seems to show some real
balls, as well. Perhaps Siler's will eventually cough up a
suitably-tough female eye.
Then again, if all women do is try to write like men, what's
the point? Then it becomes a sort of gender-based minstrel
show. I think there are all kinds of toughness, and the more
different voices detailing them, the better. (As long, of
course, as the voices don't get in the way of the story).
Certainly, most female eyes will never be mistaken for
stone-cold looney-toons like Race Williams, Mike Hammer or
Burke, but a lot of them make up in resolve and commitment
what they lack in stature and testicular development. It's
always easy to snort like a bull and thump on your chest like
King Kong and get all NFL when you're six-five, 250 pounds,
armed up to the wazoo, and have a psycho sidekick watching
your back. But it takes real courage to stand up when you're
all alone, 5-4, 130 pounds and only armed with your
instincts. That's real guts.
Oh, and if anyone's had difficulties e-mailing me lately,
keep trying. My ISP assures me they almost have it fixed.
Yeah, right...
And Dennis? Buy Maura some capital letters for her next
birthday, okay?
Kevin Burton Smith The Thrilling Detective Web Site http://www.colba.net/~kvnsmith/thrillingdetective/
Now: The last few days to vote for The Thrillies. Soon: The
P.I. Poll on Short Fiction, plus new stuff of our own.
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