I spent last evening
reading the first (I think) of the Travis McGee novels. (Deep Blue Goodbye)
I have to say I started reading it right after the last of the Pratchett books, and was immediately disapointed, the difference in writing style is astounding. I had to put it down and get in the mood for it first.
I am a little put off by the way he spends so damned much time developing details I’m frankly not all that interested in and are not necesarily cogent to the book; I consider the way he’s coyly promiscuous with anything skirtwise a bit crude- but it’s coming along. If the next books straighten up I may enjoy them a good deal. Update: Oh, nevermind, he’s a moron, this will be the last one of THESE I read.
Meanwhile, at the time of this writing I have no stomach for the erection. I am going to get a sound nights sleep and deal with what the morning brings, because that is all any of us can do.
But if Obama gets elected, my life will be a whole lot different by friday. And no, I won’t discuss any of it here.
Og,
I’ve got all the McGee books (both in paperback, and as e-books). They’re generally very good, but more than a bit dark at times.
Deep Blue Goodbye is the first, but not one of the best. It is fairly strong in establishing the McGee character; but it’s just not that great a story.
Also, the atmospheric, and philosophical musings aren’t as prominent, or as quotable.
A Nightmare In Pink (book two), is a much better story; though it’s quite odd.
“A Purple Place for Dying” book 3, is better than book 1 and 2.
The first really very good book of the series is probably book 4 “the quick red fox”.
“A Deadly Shade of Gold”, book 5, is even better.
From book five or six “Bright Orange for the Shroud” and onward; most of the books are pretty much excellent.
Yah, it’s the first. In fact, MacDonald published the first three the same year, as I recall (pulp era, MacDonald was a pulp writer and published under pseudonyms, as well). Keep in mind the pulps were rife with womanisers and boozers; MacDonald created McGee to cash in on the success of such writers as Spillane, Fleming and Chandler.
You don’t have to read them in sequence, as there wasn’t much continuity from one to another until much later. If you want to read some of the better ones, go to Bright Orange For the Shroud, Darker Than Amber, and Pale Gray For Guilt. MacDonald had fleshed McGee out by then and had a good notion of what he wanted from him.
When he walks up to the guy he just sapped on the boat and gets tossed while picking his pocket because he was too stupid to tie him up first, well, I just can’t read shit like that, it’s too annoying.
Yeah… it get’s a LOT better than that.
Not that McGee doesn’t make some dumb moves; but they’re generally realistic dumb moves.
I was reading The Light’s On At Signpost last night, and stopped after one of the “Angry Old Man” chapters. No wonder I was in a lousy mood when I read the news.
The light’s definitely on at Signpost for the Republic, this morning.
Chris: Well, I hope to hell you’re right. I’ll keep plugging along- (well, they only take me six or eight hours to read, I just never get that six hours all at once) amd hoping it improves.
I remember enjoying the McGee books enormously when they came out, but they taste a lot like cotton candy.
And, as I get older, Meyer (the neighbor on a boat called the John Maynard Keynes) comes off more and more as a credentialed ignoramus and a Mary Sue/Stapeldon combination that’s hard to bear.
M