Mario Taboada wrote,
>
> To judge by recent books like _The Ax_ and _The
Hook_, both
> masterpieces of noir writing, Westlake is peaking
right
> now. But I agree that he has maintained a
consistently
> (very) high level throughout. By the way, Willeford
wrote
> high quality stuff until the end of his life, as did
Ross
> Thomas.
>
> About _The Hook_, which I read very recently: the
author
> managed to make the book both scary and moving. He
really
> makes those two writers live. It's one of his
most
> heartfelt books. All the suspense gimmicks are
perfectly
> integrated. I am surprised that this book is not
better
> known.
>
> About Chandler, production and batting averages: one
should
> not forget that Chandler started writing relatively
late in
> his life.
Mario, Those were the books I was thinking of though I
thought his last Richard Stark book disappointing. In the
unlikely circumstance you haven't read it, find his comic
novel, __A Likely Story__, which also deals with
writers
.As far as batting average, only MLB at bats count in
figuring it. Only Chandler's published work can be evaluated.
The fact his first novel was published late in life should
have no effect on a consideration of his career works.
Offhand I can think of Joseph Conrad, who not only had his
first books published at a fairly advanced age, but in a
language he had learned as an adult. I don't think critics
could bewail the loss of possible masterpieces he would have
produced if he had started writing at a young age and been
born in England. In both cases the writers might have needed
life's experience before they were able to write at the high
level they attained. Mark
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