--- Bludis Jack <
buildsnburns@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Doug said:
> > I am still waiting for someone to write
a
> > hardboiled novel in which the protag. is
a
> psychotic killer and his sidekick is a
sarcastic,
> > wisecracking PI.
>
> Jim Doherty responded:
> >How about Mike Hammer and Velda? Mike's
edged
> toward the psychotic a time or two . . .
And
> >while his secretary, Velda, doesn't
crack
> >wise all that often, she IS an
honest-to-God
> >licensed PI.
>
> Good observation, Jim:
>
> Although Mike Hammer is important in the
history
> of PI fiction, he is also one of its most
vicious
> characters on either side of the law.
>
> Mike Hammer = Vigalante sadist
>
> It works for many if not most PI readers
through.
Sure works for me -- I like Spillane, when he's on.
As for citing him here -- nah. Close but no cigar. IMO the
cliche was really formed in the mid/late Seventies with the
success of Spenser/Hawk, and so my imaginary book would have
to be post-Parker.
As for ONE LONELY NIGHT, my pet theory about that book is
that the first chapter is brilliant, maybe the best piece of
writing Spillane ever did. (The whole
"walking across the bridge in the rain" bit.) It should have
been published as a stand-alone short story. Unfortunately
the rest of the novel is pretty lame and dated, the worst of
Spillane's first run. But that first chapter is a
killer.
doug
===== Doug Bassett
dj_bassett@yahoo.com
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