Chandler's better.
Maybe I've always been here.
Early ,'Objects In Space'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
erikaj - Feb 03, 2005 10:39:09 am PST #6986 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
Matt the Bruins fan - Feb 03, 2005 10:51:50 am PST #6987 of 10002
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
I thought this crowd might want to make their opinions known in the Locus All-time Fantasy Story Poll.
Nutty - Feb 03, 2005 12:25:09 pm PST #6988 of 10002
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
Thanks for the link, Hec. I too didn't read Hammett till after I'd seen movies made of his work, and like most awkward post-adolescent dummkopfs I was vaguely convinced that because it was "old" it would not be readable. Rather, I find that Hammett's got that great nasty verve you find in 1910s gossip columns and muckraking reporters -- except more cynical.
I think Chandler is glorious, but occasionally talking out of his glorious hindparts; but Hammett writes like a man who has been offered money to do murder (because he is one).
erikaj - Feb 03, 2005 12:50:21 pm PST #6989 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
This is true. The words are so pretty, coming out of his ass, and um, that didn't sound right. Hammett is more grounded in reality, but I like Chandler's use of language and find it sexy(Although as a blonde, maybe I should be offended...I'm not sure why I'm not. Maybe I secretly want to be poison.)
Angus G - Feb 03, 2005 4:18:43 pm PST #6990 of 10002
Roguish Laird
The Maltese Falcon is an absolutely amazing book for narrative theory geeks, because the entire story is told from Sam Spade's point of view (we never see anything Sam doesn't see) and yet we never find out a single thing that Sam is thinking, it has no interiority whatsoever.
NB it's possible I'm actually thinking of a different book, in which case I blushingly retract the above.
erikaj - Feb 03, 2005 6:54:45 pm PST #6991 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
I think you're right. No need to blush, Angus.
Jim - Feb 03, 2005 10:23:18 pm PST #6992 of 10002
Ficht nicht mit Der Raketemensch!
Chandler is so not better than Hammett. He's more fun, but Hammet's flinty coldness is amazing.
Nutty - Feb 04, 2005 4:32:08 am PST #6993 of 10002
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
it has no interiority whatsoever
Yes, you've got the right book in mind. Totally surprised me, when I read it. I would venture it's almost the sole source of suspense, not not-knowing how to get the falcon, but not-knowing how to feel about the viewpoint character.
I understand what Erika's about, too. When you compare Spade to Chandler's Philip Marlowe, you'll definitely like Marlowe more as a character. Because you can know him, and he's entertaining (and, rarely, moving), and because you can reasonably expect he's a right guy. Spade, you can't ever really be sure, and that's fascinating, but it's also very uncomfortable.
DXMachina - Feb 04, 2005 4:37:11 am PST #6994 of 10002
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.
Spade, you can't ever really be sure, and that's fascinating, but it's also very uncomfortable.
True that. I spent most of my read of TMF really disliking Spade.
Betsy HP - Feb 04, 2005 6:18:53 am PST #6995 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
They didn't list Jack Vance's The Moon Moth, so I refuse to vote.