I think that dated hooks or gimmicks are more of a problem
for the reader than for the genre as a whole. I mean look at
Dickens "A Christmas Carol" or A. C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes
stories. They are full of dated concepts and gimmicks, but we
as readers are so familiar with the Victorian environment (at
least fictionally), that it doesn't interfere with the
telling of the tale. On the other hand, there are everyday
concepts of '20s-'40's America that not so well known to the
everyday reader today.
As a bit of a history buff (runs in the family), I have to
admit to not having a problem, if the writer successfully
pulls me into the period. Chandler, to me does that best. But
I remember literature class where simple things became
massive stumbling blocks to readers. Especially in pre-WWII
mystery fiction.
My $0.02 Andrew
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