Jim wrote:
"While I don't share your disdain (or at least preference)
for short stories in general, I think I'd generally agree
with your comment about Hammett."
Although I do have a preference for novels, I certainly don't
have a disdain for short stories. As I said, I'm about to
reread Chandler's, and I'm looking forward to it.
Similarly, long before they were as available as they are
today, I spent a lot of effort tracking down those Hammett
Mercurys and mapbacks to read as many of his short stories as
I could.
Jim again:
"On the other hand, THE MALTESE FALCON is still the best PI
novel ever written, so he must have had SOME competence with
novels."
While recognizing your understatement for effect, I don't
think I was in any way demeaning Hammett's "competence" at
novels -- I agree that Maltese Falcon is a masterpiece (and
Red Harvest and Glass Key come damn close), although maybe
not the best PI novel in my estimation (I'd go with Chandler)
-- when I said I wouldn't expend much effort negating the
argument (although not making it myself) that Hammett's
shorts were better than his novels.
Does everything have to be either/or? Just because I prefer
one of my favorite authors in one form over another does not
mean I don't think he was still awfully damn good in that
other area. By that logic, you were telling Mat that
Chandler's shorts were no good, which you clearly were
not.
Mark
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