Neil wrote:
"Yeah, some imitators are able to push past that and come
into their own later. NOw I'll have to go think of more than
one name...."
This reminds me of a theory I have, that I call the "Fuck Up
Theory of Artistic Development." I'm pretty sure I've brought
this up here before, but it goes like this: Most (all?)
writers/artists/musicians start off imitating others.
Needless to say, they can never perfectly replicate their
models and their originality is measured as the degree to
which they get it wrong. Eventually, good artists notice this
and pursue their own "fuck ups."
Still, others are at their best during their early imitative
period. For instance, I always preferred Parker's early
very-Marlowe novels to the later ones in which Spenser took
on his own (or Parker's) personality.
As for other great imitators, John Evans/Howard Browne
immediately comes to mind. He's the first author I'd
recommend for anyone who's finished all of Chandler and wants
more.
Juri, I'm with you on the Monkees (by the way, "I'm Not Your
Stepping Stone" encapsulates David Goodis's stock theme),
self-consciously commercial work need not be mutually
exclusive of quality work. Just look at the classic Gold
Medal writers.
Did those great PBO writers follow trends? Well, almost every
series character published by Gold Medal became a spy after
James Bond caught on. And those who lasted past the era of
the PBO, their books got fatter as the market (publishers?)
demanded longer books.
Mark
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