That, I suppose is part of the book's defining quality. It is
very
powerful stuff. Another quality, which was also commented
upon, is
Raymond's style, which, along with the violence is another of
the book's
IN YOUR FUCKING FACE qualities.
Raymond was certainly driven--often by drink, which I think
has
something to do with his style. I loaned IWDS to a writer
friend a
little while ago, along with a couple of Pelecanos's. He
declared _A
Firing Offence_ 'unreadable' while _King Suckerman_ was
'more
interesting'. Raymond, however, 'has really got something',
and,
although he hadn't read Raymond before (though Julian
Rathbone, I think,
had recommended Raymond to him also) put Raymond's style--and
his
inability to really bring it off--down to the drink.
So, Derek Raymond: the darkest corner of Brit Noir, proves
too tough for
rara-avis.
(Who was that character who breezed briefly into the list to
accuse the
rara-avians of being soft?--don't remember his name, but the
relevant
quote is on Kevin Smith's Thrilling Detective site--maybe he
was right
after all?)
ED
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