The idea that Richard Prather's Shell Scott books were
originally goofs on Spillane sounds like a definite
possibility. WWII vet Scott, the sweet, usually undraped
girls, the over-the-top villains and the plots were all
Spillane-like with a West Coast woozy twist. But they were
also more than just parodies; they were wacky and
good-natured and just plain fun to read. Not to mention sexy.
I think the reason they haven't been reprinted is that late
in his career, Prather's political views (and I never quite
understood what they were, exactly) began to undercut the
humor and the series ended on something of a down note. His
last books (that I know of) were from Tor in the Eighties.
Regardless, the early Gold Medals are great fun. The
previously mentioned "Way of a Wanton," as well as "Bodies in
Bedlam" and
"Strip For Murder," are ones that come to mind. Just before
the Tor books were published, I shared a table with Prather
at a Private Eye Writers of America lunch in New York. I'd
just written my first book and was too much in awe of the guy
to ask him about his career, but I do recall him being
somewhat bitter about past publishers and upbeat about his
new contract with Tor. At the time I was too new to the game
to realize this attitude more or less went with the
territory. Dick Lochte
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