RARA-AVIS: Re: Joseph Hansen

From: Richard Moore ( moorich2@aol.com)
Date: 30 Nov 2004


As a result of this news I began reading one of the Dave Brandstetter mysteries I had left unread. It is OBEDIENCE (1988) and I am enjoying it tremendously. I still recommend reading the series in order but 20% into this novel it strikes me as one of the better ones. Brandstetter is such an enjoyable, comfortable lead character. No two-dimensional aspects to this guy. Having enjoyed the series in the past I could pick it up and Dave was as comfortable as an old shoe. I'm straight but I would give him a hug and a cuddle if I could. He's a good guy and I enjoy his company.

Richard Moore

--- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, Kevin Burton Smith
<kvnsmith@t...> wrote:
> Jim wrote:
>
> >I just heard that Joseph Hansen passed away.
> >
> >Very few people since Hammett and Chandler and have
> >brought something truly new to the hard-boiled PI
> >story, but Hansen is certainly one of those few.
> >
> >His novels and stories about gay insurance detective
> >Dave Brandstetter were praised for being
> >ground-breaking, but, aside from that, they were just
> >damned good PI stories. Well-written,
> >well-characterized, well-plotted.
> >
> >He'll be missed.
>
>
> That IS sad. The Brandstetter books were always favourites of mine,
> although I admit it originally took a bit to get over prejudices I
> didn't even know I had (Hey, I was a stupid young man when I first
> read them).
>
> One thing I really liked about them was their terseness, and the
> staccato jumps forward between chapters -- he assumed readers would
> be smart enough to make the plot leaps along with him, and as a
> result the books often moved very quickly. if only today's writers
> trusted thewir readers that much, we wouldn't have so many bloated
> 400-page turkeys.
>
> A few years ago, on this list, I pondered aloud about a rumour I'd
> heard that he wasn't gay. He wrote me to assure me that that was
not
> the case, and then thanked me for the kind words on my site. The
> letter is reprinted on my site, for those of you who are interested.
> --
>
> Kevin Burton Smith
>
> The Thrilling Detective Web Site Holiday Issue
> New stories and the 2004 Thrillies.
> http://www.thrillingdetective.com

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