Travis McGee Says a Long Goodbye (Not FR's Travis McGee)

American Spectator ^ | 8-27-04 | Lawrence Henry

[Temple Owl]

Travis McGee Says a Long Goodbye

By Lawrence Henry

Published 8/27/2004

My old college roomie from time to time cusses me out roundly for introducing him to the Travis McGee novels of John D. MacDonald. Like me, Mike was raised reading quality lit (he majored in classics, and teaches Greek and Latin), and we both came to popular literature -- indeed, to the very idea of reading for fun -- late in life. Like me, Mike was stunned by McGee and MacDonald -- by the sheer quality, the go-to-hell abandoned narrative mastery (MacDonald rejoiced in digression, and his readers rejoiced with him, as he threw his storytelling loops out into the universe and then reeled them back in, fast or slow, inevitably to the story, always the story), by the settings, the crimes, the characters (some of the most chilling villains ever), the social commentary. The last McGee appeared in 1985.

[Temple Owl]

He says John D. MacDonald was the best. He's got that right. I do not remember who introduced me to John D. MacDonald, but if I did I'd sent him a Christmas present every year.

[Larry Lucido]

Ping

[Tribune7]

Don't forget McDonald's non-McGee stuff. Last One Left & One More Sunday might be the best crime stories out there.

[cyborg]

My heart stopped. I thought this was a Travis McGee is dead thread. OOOOOOPS!

[Temple Owl]

I thought you guys would like this. He did a good job.

[Larry Lucido]

I thought, "Darn, another opus."

[RightWingMama]

Whew! When I first saw the headline I thought it was our Travis McGee.

[Tribune7]

Just in case you got non-de-plume from JDM.

[Larry Lucido]

I was ready to rate his opus on a scale of 1 to 10.

[cyborg]

LOL

[x1stcav]

'Travis McGee's still in Cedar Key
That's what Old John Mcdonald said'

[Cultural Jihad]

Like me, Mike was stuned by McGee and MacDonald -- by the beeber quality . . .

Hmmm.

[Tribune7]

Try this link

[Tribune7]

Nah. He'll call it the Lonely Silver Rain.

[AZamericonnie]

You had me worried there for a minute!

[cyborg]

Oh okay hehe

[Temple Owl]

Thank for the correct link Trib.

[glock rocks]

Gaaak! Don't do that.

[ken5050]

Remember "Condominium?"..I was thinking about it as I watched the hurrican hit Sanibel...It's in the attic somewheres, under a huge pile..

[Tribune7]

I couldn't get into it. I gotta give it another shot.