I absolutely agree. Derek Raymond (the by-line he adopted once his
birth name of Robin Cook was co-opted) was well into an interesting
life by the time he began the Factory novels. There is a bleak, world-
weary tone that may come from that maturity. He was a very fine writer
with a voice unlike any that I can recall.
There is a good interview with Raymond in Paul Duncan's THE THIRD
DEGREE, CRIME WRITERS IN CONVERSATION (No Exit 1997). He comes across
as a very interesting man, funny and insightful, and a great fellow to
share an hour or two at some pub.
Paul was once a member of this list but not currently. I recall that
John Williams, who is an active member of this list, was a friend to
Cook/Raymond and his literary executor.
Richard Moore
--- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "davezeltserman" <davezelt@...>
wrote:
>
> I've been working my way through his factory series (out of order)
> with "I was Dora Suarez" next, and this so far is easily the best
> crime series I've seen from the last 25 years, and Raymond is becoming
> one of my favorite writers within the crime genre. There are certain
> themes that are present in the books I've read so far--physical
> decline, the inevitability of death, cruelty and compassion, and his
> writing has a poetry and verve that's unique, as well as an
> audaciousness that at times leaves me laughing out loud. This is
> really great stuff, and people here who haven't read him, I can't
> recommend him highly enough.
>
> --Dave Zeltserman
> http://www.davezeltserman.com
>
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