I've been reading through George Pelecanos' novels this
summer, and just located his first two (thank you
interlibrary loan). I'm really impressed with the high level
of writing in his first, A Firing Offense (1992).
He is too slow in pacing for some readers, but that's because
he doesn't just take his protagonist through different
locations and encounters on the way to a climax. Nick enjoys
drinking, sometimes snorting, and the game of selling a line
to someone, and that translates into unexpected experiences
along the way. Pelecanos is excellent on the frenetic world
of discount
(appliance) selling or, for my money, the feel of certain
restaurants and bars, either as places one works or places
one lives. And, his shootouts are carefully staged, with
equal parts of planning and spontaneous action determining
the outcome.
Some have talked about a "Washington Quartet," but all the
novels center on DC and a loose group of characters who
connect to the Greeks--Old Nick, his son Nick, Costa and
Dimitri. All of the novels can be lined up into a chronology
involving these characters, starting with The Big Blowdown.
The weaving of characters and places through the different
novels offers unexpected riches, a world one enters.
Anyone know how the order would go after Blowdown? Expect A
Firing Offense might be second, and Nick's Trip third. After
that?
Bill Hagen
<
billha@ionet.net>
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