Mario wrote:
> I think Parker has a technique close to Chandler's
but not the older > man's remarkable imagination or verbal
originality.
I separate early Parker (GODWULF through VALEDICTION) from
late Parker
(CATSKILL EAGLE through POTSHOT). While late Parker is
evidently unoriginal, early Parker imagined a intellectual
woman and an intelligent and utterly practical black
man--perfect counterpoints to his white PI hero.
As for verbal originality (and these may just be my
sensibilities growing up in the 70s and 80s), Chandler's
writing often feels mannered. I can almost see him trying for
"literate" prose. I get the sense that either Marlowe isn't
quite real, or he wouldn't say what Chandler gives him to
say.
I see early Spenser as more of a character who happened to be
a P.I. His thought processes and dialogue seemed natural and
well integrated.
(This isn't as noticeable as an evocative description or
snappy line.) This accomplishment is more original to me than
Chandler's prose.
Late Spenser *is* made out to be larger than life, and does
seem unrealistic and like Parker's mouthpiece. One cause of
the change may be Parker's adopting Chandler's technique of
writing with no outline or plan to finish POODLE SPRINGS
(1989). He's used the same technique for subsequent Spenser
novels. (At least Parker says it was Chandler's
technique.)
Gerald
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