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.)

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.

I think you're right. No need to blush, Angus.

Chandler is so not better than Hammett. He's more fun, but Hammet's flinty coldness is amazing.

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.

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.

They didn't list Jack Vance's The Moon Moth, so I refuse to vote.

They didn't list Jack Vance's The Moon Moth, so I refuse to vote.

They had several Dying Earth stories, though.

Chandler is so not better than Hammett. He's more fun, but Hammet's flinty coldness is amazing.

I concur with this. I remember Wm. Gibson plumping for Hammett over Chandler too. I like Chandler - the similes, the snarky descriptions and snarky dialogue - all juicy fun. Hammett's very evocative but hard. It's especially notable with him when he backs off the hardness just a little - the effect is big. Like the famous last line of Red Harvest.

I was just thrilled that they included both Peter Beagle's "Come Lady Death" and the best of C.L. Moore's Jirel stories. There were enough really good stories I remember from my youth that LeGuin and Lovecraft didn't make the cut.

Heh. Since returning to Australia, my reading matter has been almost entirely Doctor Who novels. About thirty of them, I think.

No, really, I can quit anytime I want.