RARA-AVIS: Re: Estleman

From: Kevin Burton Smith ( kvnsmith@colba.net)
Date: 28 Jun 2001


Gary wrote:

>I think Estleman may be
>one of the last of the direct links to the original style of the P. I.
>NEVER STREET has fun with film noir, and THE SMILE ON THE FACE OF THE TIGER
>does the same kind of thing with paperback writers.

I'm glad someone had fun with NEVER STREET. I didn't -- I thought it was too cute and clever by half. THE WITCH FINDER was more of a return to form, just the seemingly old-fashioned P.I. goods, straight up.

But I'm not entirely convinced Walker is a direct link. At best, he's an homage to the past, not a recreation of it. Marlowe, Spade, Archer, even Shell Scott, were men of their times. Walker isn't, either by example or design.

But that's his saving grace -- he knows he's a dinosaur. And that's part of why he's so much fun to read.

-- 
Kevin
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