John Rickards - WINNER!
A while back I posted about my reading. I had pitted John Rickards and his novel Winter's End against George V. Higgins and his novel The Friends of Eddie Coyle. I was reading both at the same time (not unusual for me to be reading several books at a time). Back then, I noted that Rickards was holding my attention and Higgins was losing it. In fact, soon after that post, I became totally engrossed in Rickards' novel and finished it off in a few days which is pretty good timing for me as I am a slow reader.
Higgins spent the first twenty or thirty pages in setting something up. I've no idea what he was setting up. I lost the book - somewhere in my house, behind behind something larger. Now you might say, "Well, Rickards just won by default," but that would be wrong. For one thing, since I had the Rickards book firmly in hand, I didn't feel a need to find the Higgins at all. In fact, Rickards' book was very good, with plenty of tension to keep me reading, a well developed plot, a great main character and a satisfying conclusion.
Next time I read a Rickards novel, I'll be sure to pit him against some other classic novel - maybe a Hammett? James Cain? - Rickards can fight cage matches until he can't no more... Wonderful idea - pitting living authors against the classics in a sort of battle royale. Of course, the living authors have the advantage of...well...being alive. Still, the dead authors have the weight of tradition on their side. Could be interesting. There could be tag teams. There could be grudge matches. Like the World Cup, we could have nations pitted against each other. I could apply the science of bracketology...
Okay, that went on long enough.
Higgins spent the first twenty or thirty pages in setting something up. I've no idea what he was setting up. I lost the book - somewhere in my house, behind behind something larger. Now you might say, "Well, Rickards just won by default," but that would be wrong. For one thing, since I had the Rickards book firmly in hand, I didn't feel a need to find the Higgins at all. In fact, Rickards' book was very good, with plenty of tension to keep me reading, a well developed plot, a great main character and a satisfying conclusion.
Next time I read a Rickards novel, I'll be sure to pit him against some other classic novel - maybe a Hammett? James Cain? - Rickards can fight cage matches until he can't no more... Wonderful idea - pitting living authors against the classics in a sort of battle royale. Of course, the living authors have the advantage of...well...being alive. Still, the dead authors have the weight of tradition on their side. Could be interesting. There could be tag teams. There could be grudge matches. Like the World Cup, we could have nations pitted against each other. I could apply the science of bracketology...
Okay, that went on long enough.
posted by Steven at
1:34 PM
4 Comments:
I have no idea what bracketology is, but I'll take on all comers. Parentheses, curly, square, I'll close 'em all. BRING IT.
John,
Bracketology refers to the art or science whereby pairs of teams in a tournament can be compare through a series of brackets...You'll see this a lot from bookies and sports announcers as they pair off teams visually on the screen (or chalkboard) to show who'll win the first round then which teams will likely pair off in the quarterfinals, then the semi-finals, then the finals.
In our case, john R. met and defeated George h. in round one and qualifies to move on against another possible contender among the classics. John R. vs. Raymond C.
Of Course, on another track, some other living writer would be going up against other classic writers and eventually John R. (assuming he wins all his rounds) would need to defeat the winner of that track of bouts.
I need a nap now.
Put me down for twenty on Ray C.
That bum? He's got a good reach, but he don't think so well. Plus I hear for twenty thou he'll take a dive for anyone.
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