43. The novels of Ross Macdonald, with Moira Redmond

1 months ago

A very nice review. I started reading the Archer novels, but then stopped at The Doomsters because they started to feel repetitive. Which is interesting because according to you, that’s just about the point where the books kick into a higher gear. I guess I’ll have to return to the series. I have also read The Underground Man and did enjoy it, so that’s a data point suggesting that it’d be worth my while to pick up the series again. Two authors you mentioned in passing. First, Fredric Brown. I’ve read some of his science fiction, and I know he’s the source of the Star Trek TOS episode Arena, but as for his hardboiled stuff the only thing I’ve read is The Five Day Nightmare. It was good. But I noticed that the protagonist puts away pitcher after pitcher of martinis throughout the book. At first I thought oh, it was a different time when people smoked and drank more than they do now. But it finally became so over the top that I decided it had to be on purpose, and that it was a kind of sly joke by Brown. Then there’s William Campbell Gault. Like Brown, he’s another guy who wrote in various genres. When I was in middle school I read several of Gault’s YA novels and enjoyed them, to the point that I remembered his name through the years. So when I discovered that he had a hardboiled detective series, I just had to check it out. You’re probably already familiar with Brock ”The Rock” Callahan. Brock’s a former American footballer, used to play for the LA Rams, and now is trying to make a living as a PI. He’s got an upwardly-mobile interior decorator girlfriend who doesn’t think much of his profession. Good stuff. Re the movies: Absolutely love Harper. Like The Drowning Pool. Haven’t seen The Underground Man.

Tipping My Fedora

Episodes

43. The novels of Ross Macdonald, with Moira Redmond