I too just recently read "The Difference" and I agree it's
not superior Willeford, but it does feature some of his
hallmark touches.
In particular nobody writes casual psychopaths like
Willeford. Although the hero is introduced as a young
innocent wronged by greedy ranchers, there's something
insidious going on. The narrator's casual disregard for human
life is startling. He kills people in a way that suggests to
him it's just an annoyance. If someone wrongs him, he doesn't
make a big deal about killing them, but it's just a fact of
nature that they have to die. In fact, the narrator doesn't
even need an excuse to kill someone or any motivation. Their
death is just part of his self-preservation.
I also recommend "The Woman Chaser" as one of Willeford's
best novels, which features a psychotic scumbag as a
hero.
And "The Cock Fighter" is the best cockfighting novel ever
written.
Channing
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