Sun 17 May 2009
Panel Discussion: Series Characters vs. Stand-Alones.
Posted by Steve under General , Western Fiction[5] Comments
The Black Horse Extra website is designed primarily to promote Western fiction, and Westerns published by UK publisher Robert Hale in particular. The latest issue, however, as editor Keith Chapman told me in an email from him earlier this week, has at least one item of considerable interest to mystery fans as well.
The lead piece, though, is a long profile of western writer Gary Dobbs, aka Jack Martin, whose Tainted Archive blog is always worth a visit. Gary’s also a one man publicity factory for the revival of western fiction in general, making every effort he can to promote the genre and to keep it alive and well — and succeeding, too.
The direct connection to Mystery*File is further down the page, and at this point, I’m simply going to quote:
Steve admitted it was no more than “a premise,” and counter-examples would strike him as soon as he had hit the submit button to circulate his view.
He went on, “But also sometimes (not always) their non-series books lack something their series characters provided … their previously established personalities that the books they’re in can rely on for easy reader recognition and (even better) a solid foundation from the very start.”
The BH Extra put Steve’s contention to a panel of BHW writers: Keith Hetherington (aka Jake Douglas, Tyler Hatch, Hank J. Kirby and Rick Dalmas), David Whitehead (aka Ben Bridges, Matt Logan and Glenn Lockwood), and Keith Chapman (aka Chap O’Keefe).
Some of the authors seem to be one side, while others are on the other. The consensus answer, if any is arrived at, appears to be “It all depends,” which although I’m not an author, would have to be the answer I’d give if I were one.
Of course there’s a lot more to it than that. Since mystery writers face the same dilemma, I think most mystery readers will enjoy the far-ranging discussion that follows. (Follow the link in the first paragraph above.)
May 17th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Many thanks for this pointer, Steve. And thanks again for inspiring what turned out to be an enjoyable exercise.
Keith
May 17th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Keith works hard it putting The BLACK HORSE EXTRA site together, as do all his contributors. It’s nice to see it getting noticed by a wider audience than just us western buffs. And thanks for the kind words on The Archive.
All the best from this one man publicity factory.
May 17th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Keep up the good work, both of you!
— Steve
May 19th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Great site, a lot of fun to see the Western from a different but clearly affectionate, talented, and devoted point of view. I’ll be interested to read some of the books.
Not every writer comes to hate his series characters. Maurice Le Blanc, creator of the great Arsene Lupin, usually managed to at least mention Lupin in passing even in his non Lupin novels, like Woman of Mystery, a WWI spy tale where the hero at one point admits to being “no Lupin.” I don’t think Rex Stout or Erle Stanley Gardner ever tired of Nero Wolfe or Perry Mason, and while Ian Fleming called Bond a ‘cardboard booby’ he showed no sign of tiring of the fantasy.
I get the impression Agatha Christie did tire of Poirot, but then she managed to kill him off, if wisely witholding the book he dies in until her own death. I’m not sure fans ever forgave Nicholas Freeling for killing off Van der Valk no matter how much they liked Henri Castaing, and eventually Freeling brought Van der Valk back one last time.
In Conan Doyle’s case several things happened, not the least of which was that Holmes was more than merely successful. Even in Doyle’s lifetime Holmes was a phenomena. And it should be mentioned that Doyle felt his historical novels were his real literary contribution. He was sure that his reputaion as a writer would depend on them and disappointed when Holmes dominated his literary output.
Most writers are satisfied to create a character that elevates his fiction in the public eye, but Doyle had ambitions that he never realised were fulfilled by Holmes more truly than his other works ever could.
May 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
David, Your short history of famous crime crime writers and their relationships with series characters is succinct and illuminating.
Re the Westerns . . . you can read sample chapters from new ones at various websites and the books can be bought online with free delivery worldwide from the Book Depository. They currently have Misfit Lil Hides Out in paperback for $10.32. A sample chapter from this book — complete with a gruesome little murder scene! — can be found at
http://www.geocities.com/chapkeith/bhemlh