Novels FReepers Love (discussion)

April 4, 2004 | me

[Euro-American Scum]

However, I will only get his stuff via the library now as I will never buy another book of his...He participated in anti-war marches and is on our boycott list.

He is also passionately anti-gun. I read an interview, I cant' recall where, in which he declared the singular greatest source of evil in this country is the ready availability of guns.

And for all that, he still wrote a masterpiece in The Stand. Go figure.

[Long Cut]

"Sorta recalls Steed and Mrs. Peel, Don't it. And to, she might be the criminalist technician, commanding her own *Baker Street Irregulars* in specialized forensic fields...."

Great minds DO think alike. I had Watson in my concept imagined as a physician herself...a forensic pathologist for Scotland Yard. I see her as a widow, about 50, but still quite attractive and of good breeding. She might have one child, with whom she speaks frequently, a daughter.

Let's say, she examines a murder victim whose corpse provides more questions than answers. Unable to come to any conclusions, and with the Yard baffled, she remembers the old stories her family told her about great-grandad's best friend, and that that legendary detective has a descendant who shares his interests, and who ALSO has a reputation with the police, although not one nearly so respectful.

I picture the new Holmes as having grown up roughly, on the streets of London. He might have military service in his record...perhaps as an Enlisted SAS operator. In his mid-thirties now, he has educated himself well, and makes a comfortable living in his work. He has the legendary deductive skills, talent for disguise, and scientific knowledge of his forebear, but also the street-smarts that came with his youth on the mean streets. Although he also has classical knowledge, he has yet to lose his Cockney accent, or his willingness to use fists as well as his brains, a facet of him which proves surprising and somewhat dangerous to the proper Ms. Watson.

[archy]

Great minds DO think alike. I had Watson in my concept imagined as a physician herself...a forensic pathologist for Scotland Yard. I see her as a widow, about 50, but still quite attractive and of good breeding. She might have one child, with whom she speaks frequently, a daughter.

Let's say, she examines a murder victim whose corpse provides more questions than answers. Unable to come to any conclusions, and with the Yard baffled, she remembers the old stories her family told her about great-grandad's best friend, and that that legendary detective has a descendant who shares his interests, and who ALSO has a reputation with the police, although not one nearly so respectful.

I picture the new Holmes as having grown up roughly, on the streets of London. He might have military service in his record...perhaps as an Enlisted SAS operator.

I can improve on that. A Chessman.

In his mid-thirties now, he has educated himself well, and makes a comfortable living in his work. He has the legendary deductive skills, talent for disguise, and scientific knowledge of his forebear, but also the street-smarts that came with his youth on the mean streets. Although he also has classical knowledge, he has yet to lose his Cockney accent, or his willingness to use fists as well as his brains, a facet of him which proves surprising and somewhat dangerous to the proper Ms. Watson.

Clearly, he spent enough time around the Sasmen to have picked up some of their ways. You happen to have read Freddy Forsyth's compilation *The Veteran?* If not, give the title story a good read, and check out *The Miracle* while you're at it.

[Long Cut]

I have indeed read "The Veteran", and that entire collection. Good stuff! I love Forsythe's work...my first exposure to him was Fist Of God, and I was highly impressed by how he wove current events (even obscure ones) and history into a fictional tale to make it plausible. Also, all of his works that I've read have been informative...I'd never heard of Gerry Bull or his history, though I'd heard all the media insanity about the "supergun". Bull's story was fascinating in and of itself, and his murder was quite an intriguing mystery, too.

What's a "Chessman"? Is it someone who plays Chess, or is there some other meaning?

I think, actually, now that I think about it, that "The Veteran" may have subconsciously influenced my bio for my Holmes character.

[archy]

What's a "Chessman"? Is it someone who plays Chess, or is there some other meaning?

You'll have FReepmail.

[jim macomber]

Long cut: Sometimes the hardest thing about self-promotion is the...um...self-promotion. But, having said that, I have to comment on your reference to Forsyth. For the longest time, I have said one of my favorite books - and top three movies - was "Day of the Jackal". Way, way back I read and, like you, loved Forsyth's stuff. Now, fast forward....oh...just a few years...and I've been asked many times if I based my writing on anyone. For the longest time the answer was not really, not consciously, anyway. I've admitted to loving Clancy's multi-level plotting and some have mentioned Grisham (but that's because of the legal issues although my books are not courtroom dramas. The legal issues are mostly international). But, a couple of weeks ago I picked up "Avenger" and it was like coming home. I can honestly say that I didn't even realize it but the mix of fiction and fact and the international element - it had to be in here somewhere even if I didn't realize it at the time. Self-promotion notwithstanding, however, I'll leave it to others to decide how or if I can measure up to the master, though.

[Long Cut]

I won't deny, Forsyth's The Dogs Of War is influencing my thinking on my own book. I liked the movie, too, even though Christopher Walken was a horrible casting choice as Shannon, and it didn't really follow the book too well.

The other influences I'll freely acknowledge are the movies The Wild Geese and Dark Of The Sun, as well as Richard Hooker's original M*A*S*H* novel. I'm also a big fan of Carl Hiassen's novels, and I can say that his sense of humor is something I hope to come close to.

[jim macomber]

I read "The Dogs of War" and loved it but, it's funny, I never saw the movie. Based on my recollection of the book and the character, though, I would agree that Christopher Walken is strange casting. But then Christopher Walken would be strange casting for Christopher Walken.

Jim

[Long Cut]

Check out the DVD, it's uncut. It's also a pretty good action movie in its own right, and (for me, at least) it's fun to look for discrepancies with the book.

Walken's casting is a mystery...in the movie, his acting job is actually good, he portrays the disgust and cynicism of such a character well, but his physical "presence" kills it. He is, to be blunt, far too skinny, pale, and sickly-looking to be believable as a hardened, professional soldier-for-hire. He looks as if he could collapse and die at any time, and it is difficult to buy him in this role, especially after he survives a vicious beating at one point that would have killed a man who looks so poorly.

Nonetheless, if one overlooks this glaring imperfection, The Dogs Of War stands up quite well in the Merc Movie genre. Even better in this underrated action movie genre are the aforementioned Dark Of The Sun, starring Rod Taylor as a Congo merc in the '60s, Ronin, starring Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, and Sean Bean as 90's, post-cold-war mercs in Europe, and The Wild Geese, starring Richard Burton and Roger Moore in an adaptation of the original "Wild Goose", Mike Hoare's book of his own Congo exploits, only the movie is set in the '70s.

Taken together, they are fairly accurate and interesting accounts of their various historical periods. I recommend them highly.

[Sam Cree]

Interesting that you read about the Tichborne claimant.

Back in the 60's my parents were acquainted with the Tichborne family, and familiar with the curse, etc.

Regarding Umberto Ecco, did you like "The Name of the Rose?"

I started it a little while ago. It seems beautiful, but I've been falling asleep with it. 'Course I start reading the thing when in bed for the night.

[Xenalyte]

I loved "The Name of the Rose"! I'm a confirmed certified bibliophile, so stories about books really get me.

Did your parents have an opinion about whether Arthur Orton was Roger Tichborne?

[Sam Cree]

I think they did have an opinion, but they are both gone now, and I was 13 years old at the time (42 years ago), so I can't remember what they thought. I do remember the story of the Tichborne curse, however, and also meeting Sir Anthony and his wife, who died in true Tichborne fashion, according to the prophecy.

Yeah, I've always been an avid reader, ever since I was a little kid, love books and like to keep 'em around, they make the house look warm and friendly. I save lots of recommendations from FR.

[keeper53]

THANK YOU for this thread!:)
looking forward to reading the posts.


Have a great day!
keeper

[Long Cut]

You guys might like this, too.

[JockoManning]

bookmark to read later ... favorite novels ... did anyone mention


Conquistador



by S.M.Stirling?

[cascawebsite]

The Casca series originally had 22 books written by Barry Sadler until he got his head blown off in 1988 in Guatemala - and then it took 18 months for the guy to die. After about 10 years of wranglings a new author - Paul Dengelegi - took up the mantle and wrote 2 sub-standard books.

Now after another brief gap, there are things a-moving in the Casca world and another writer has been set the task of reviving the series. Any Casca trivia and stuff can be found on www.casca.net