tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post5641088650400201122..comments2023-12-28T17:51:10.368-06:00Comments on Spiral Galaxy Musings: ...And, Just for Completeness' SakeKaren Burnhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-30159642291675458632009-04-12T10:07:00.000-05:002009-04-12T10:07:00.000-05:00I've noticed that the detective plot is a natural ...I've noticed that the detective plot is a natural fit, especially for sf. I think it's because it comes with a built in plot that lets a sharp-eyed observer wander around the world that the author has created--lots of advantages to show off world-building.Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-31408050983391401822009-04-11T17:47:00.000-05:002009-04-11T17:47:00.000-05:00I agree that it was an influential novel. Both Cha...I agree that it was an influential novel. Both Chandler and Hammett have been a big influence, not only to writers of fantasy or horror, but to writers in general -even to writers writing in Spanish. <BR/> However, I tend to think of that as a rather formal influence, in the sense that the structure and style of the hard-boiled detective novel is often appropriated by writers in other genres because it's such an effective way of telling a story. Having said that, I'm sure some readers may be able to read "The Big Sleep" as a rather realistic horror novel.Josenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-74153794710105966642009-04-11T17:04:00.000-05:002009-04-11T17:04:00.000-05:00Andrew Wheeler had the same complaint, I think. I'...Andrew Wheeler had the same complaint, I think. I'd argue that while it may not be a genre work, it was *really* influential on a lot of genre stuff that came later. "Yiddish Policeman's Union" anyone?<BR/><BR/>And really, is anything written before 1920 really in any of our modern genres? Things used to be much more jumbled back then. (I know "Big Sleep" is from 1936, but just making the point that its odd non-genre placement shouldn't ipso facto rule it out.)Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-30988816098046918592009-04-11T16:49:00.000-05:002009-04-11T16:49:00.000-05:00Is Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep" fantasy or h...Is Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep" fantasy or horror?<BR/>I mean, I enjoyed the novel, but putting it in any of those genres might be stretching it too far...Josenoreply@blogger.com