Books read and other media of note. |
Contract Null and Void by Joe Gores
A fastpaced suspenseful detective novel. After reading enough of
the series to keep the regular crew straight, it was a struggle for me
to keep all the subplots and minor characters straight, which was
necessary to understand the denouement. But I tried... Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman I listened to the audio of this juvenile historical novel, full of orphans, villains, and mountebanks. It was sort of like Joan Aiken, but with a lighter touch. Dead Man by Joe Gores This is the most bitter book I've read by Gores, a tale of revenge by a detective whose family and nearly himself were brutally murdered by hit men. Survivor's Quest by Timothy Zahn. A Star Wars book, with all the light saber work and treachery one would expect. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett This book also made a fine film, although emphasizing the comedy of the continually drinking sleuth and his perky wife, more than the drama. Reading it again also evoked the clever and terse dialog which is used in the movie. The Thin Man movie series, although not the product of Hammett aside from the first, is enjoyable period film, although by the 4th or 5th it gets a little too cute for comfort. The Maltese Falcon, and The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett. The Maltese Falcon evokes the Bogart film, and vice versa--they are both par exemplar of the noir detective field. Hammett always keeps the reader off balance as to what is really happening, or what it's really about. The Glass Key is both a mystery and a back room political thriller--the protagonist is not only hard-boiled but nearly smoked to death, after having his meat tenderized... He's also a questionable hero--hard drinking, gambling, at times suicidal. Both the Glass Key and the Thin Man seem to evoke Hammett's own demons. 32 Cadillacs by Joe Gores. 32 Cadillacs are conned out of area dealerships by Gypsies, and the DKA repo firm are contracted to get them returned. A lovely plot, with nice bits like a Shakespearian comedy. It was thrilling when Donald Westlake's Dortmunder gang makes a surprise guest appearance. Odd Girl Out by Timothy Zahn. More interstellar train mystery alien puppet master fun... The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett. He managed to take a curse similar to the Hound of the Baskervilles, and give it a plausible if incredible explanation. |
INBMA |