Back in the 1960s when a paperback book cost $1.95 and pulp fiction was on firm footing, a certain gentleman named John D. MacDonald invented a character called Travis McGee. Yes ~ his books are mysteries, often quite violent and gruesome. Yes ~ they are alpha male occasionally anti-woman. No ~ I don’t read them for pleasure. No ~ I don’t own any myself. But I think he’s probably the best writer America has ever produced.
Just look at this set up for a fight scene:
“He stood up, impressively tall and broad. “You insulted the lady.”
The lady was sitting erect, buttoning her blouse. The lady said, “Deck him, Lew!” Sick him, Rover. He swarmed at me, obedient as any dog.
I am tall, and I gangle. I look like a loose-jointed, clumsy hundred and eighty. The man who takes a better look at the size of my wrists can make a more accurate guess. When I get up to two twelve I get nervous and hack it back on down to two oh five. As far as clumsiness and reflexes go, I have never had to use a flyswatter in my life. My combat expression is one of apologetic anxiety. I like them confident. My stance is mostly composed of elbows.”
Brilliant! I’m not a good enough writer to describe how good he is. Unfortunately for him, like Picasso producing only postcards, he never got credit as a writer because he produced only pulp mysteries (and one, extremely hard to find but wonderful, collection of sci-fi shorts). He still, to this day, has a small but rabid fan base (Spider Robinson is reputed to be one). They ought to teach this man in schools. Commercial fiction, baby, is all too often underrated.
You don’t have to take my word for it: Jared over at Pornokitsch also loves J.D.
{Gail’s monthly read along for August 2015 is My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse}
GAIL’S DAILY DOSE
Your Moment of Parasol . . .
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| Royal Family, 1870s-80s. via sheworshipscarlin tumblr |
Your Infusion of Cute . . .
11 Fun Facts that Prove Octopuses are Are All Kinds of Astonishing
Your Tisane of Smart . . .
Galactic Suburbia Podcast: Teen Feminism Edition (full of some wonderful resources)
Your Writerly Tinctures . . .
Fiction University: The Do-It-Yourself Writers’ Retreat
Book News:
The Life (and lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object interviews yours truly.
Quote of the Day:
“…like a grain of sand that gets into an oyster’s shell. What if the grain doesn’t want to become a pearl? Is it ever asked to climb out quietly and take up its old position as a bit of ocean floor?”
~ Robin McKinley, The Blue Sword
Tags: Gail Carriger Recommends, Important For Authors
Oh, yes — I grew up on McDonald. My father had every book he ever wrote, including that sf collections.
What is it with literary novels and dark & depressing themes? Sometimes I wonder if the reason they write so brilliantly is because that is the only light available in their worlds.
Want literature with a positive slant? I love Brazilian literary author Paulo Coelho. His works tend to have an upbeat, feelgood vibe.