Life Lessons from a Fictional PI
Le Samourai
Honolulu, HIPosts: 573MI6 Agent
I wrote an article for a local newspaper this spring about Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. I thought some of you might find it interesting:
LIFE LESSONS FROM A FICTIONAL PI
Some people feel a sense of accopmplishment because they read the entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Or all seven books of the Harry Potter series. Or even all 16 of Lee Child’s “Jack Reacher” novels.
Well, I think I have those beat. I just finished reading all 40 of the late Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” series of detective novels, and just within the last six months.
You may be thinking, “That’s one heck of a long series!” and it is. But bear in mind the first novel, “The Godwulf Manuscript,” was published way back in 1973, and Parker tended to write roughly one book a year.
What attracted me to the series? I’ve long been a fan of the classic American genre of the hardboiled private eye fiction. It isn’t the intricate mysteries that draw me in. Those are secondary. I tend to agree with Raymond Chandler, creator of famous PI Philip Marlowe, that plot mostly is an excuse for the main character to go around interacting with different people.
The appeal of Robert B. Parker’s books is not only the interactions, but the main character himself. Spenser (“like the poet” as he often likes to point out) was a more complex and interesting detective than those who came before him. Unlike the chain smoking heroes written about by Chandler or Dashiell Hammett and played by actors like Humphrey Bogart, Spenser took care of himself. He jogged, pumped iron, and boxed. He had his indulgences, though. He was a gourmet cook, for example, and he loved beer, and fans always loved references to whatever brew Spenser was enjoying in any particular book. (For the record, at the start of the series, his favorite beer was Amstel—real Amstel, not the light stuff. By the last few books, he had become a big fan of Blue Moon Belgian White.)
But there was way more to Spenser than being tough and liking a good beer. There was a depth to the character you don’t see too often, and that depth is what made and continues to make Spenser a positive fictional role model. Though Spenser (like Parker) was a veteran of the U.S. Army, his personal philosophy would no doubt resonate with more than a few Marines. To put it simply: Do what you say you are going to do. That theme runs all through the series. It even applies to Spenser’s formidable allies—Hawk, Chollo, Vinnie Morris—who, despite being on the wrong side of the law, are men of their word.
One of the great things about Parker’s Spenser is that he is a man with a personal philosophy that is well thought out enough he can share it with others. A perfect example is in one of the earlier novels, “Early Autumn.” In this book, Spenser takes a weak, troubled teenage boy under his wing with the goal of making him a strong, self-reliant individual. As with the Marine Corps, part of this means being in good physical condition and having useful skills. “You got nothing. You care about nothing,” he tells the boy. “So I’m going to have you be strong, be in shape, be able to run 10 miles, and be able to lift more than you weigh and be able to box. I’m going to have you know how to build and cook and to work hard and to push yourself and control yourself.”
Robert B. Parker died in 2010. A new author is continuing the Spenser series, but to be honest, I’m not interested. I have enough of the original books to reread and enjoy for the rest of my life. And I’ll always keep Parker’s memory alive by trying to do what I can to be just a little bit Spenser-like in my own way, most of all by remembering that simple mantra that is so often forgotten nowadays: Do what you say you are going to do.
Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to do some chin-ups and maybe have a beer afterwards.
LIFE LESSONS FROM A FICTIONAL PI
Some people feel a sense of accopmplishment because they read the entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Or all seven books of the Harry Potter series. Or even all 16 of Lee Child’s “Jack Reacher” novels.
Well, I think I have those beat. I just finished reading all 40 of the late Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” series of detective novels, and just within the last six months.
You may be thinking, “That’s one heck of a long series!” and it is. But bear in mind the first novel, “The Godwulf Manuscript,” was published way back in 1973, and Parker tended to write roughly one book a year.
What attracted me to the series? I’ve long been a fan of the classic American genre of the hardboiled private eye fiction. It isn’t the intricate mysteries that draw me in. Those are secondary. I tend to agree with Raymond Chandler, creator of famous PI Philip Marlowe, that plot mostly is an excuse for the main character to go around interacting with different people.
The appeal of Robert B. Parker’s books is not only the interactions, but the main character himself. Spenser (“like the poet” as he often likes to point out) was a more complex and interesting detective than those who came before him. Unlike the chain smoking heroes written about by Chandler or Dashiell Hammett and played by actors like Humphrey Bogart, Spenser took care of himself. He jogged, pumped iron, and boxed. He had his indulgences, though. He was a gourmet cook, for example, and he loved beer, and fans always loved references to whatever brew Spenser was enjoying in any particular book. (For the record, at the start of the series, his favorite beer was Amstel—real Amstel, not the light stuff. By the last few books, he had become a big fan of Blue Moon Belgian White.)
But there was way more to Spenser than being tough and liking a good beer. There was a depth to the character you don’t see too often, and that depth is what made and continues to make Spenser a positive fictional role model. Though Spenser (like Parker) was a veteran of the U.S. Army, his personal philosophy would no doubt resonate with more than a few Marines. To put it simply: Do what you say you are going to do. That theme runs all through the series. It even applies to Spenser’s formidable allies—Hawk, Chollo, Vinnie Morris—who, despite being on the wrong side of the law, are men of their word.
One of the great things about Parker’s Spenser is that he is a man with a personal philosophy that is well thought out enough he can share it with others. A perfect example is in one of the earlier novels, “Early Autumn.” In this book, Spenser takes a weak, troubled teenage boy under his wing with the goal of making him a strong, self-reliant individual. As with the Marine Corps, part of this means being in good physical condition and having useful skills. “You got nothing. You care about nothing,” he tells the boy. “So I’m going to have you be strong, be in shape, be able to run 10 miles, and be able to lift more than you weigh and be able to box. I’m going to have you know how to build and cook and to work hard and to push yourself and control yourself.”
Robert B. Parker died in 2010. A new author is continuing the Spenser series, but to be honest, I’m not interested. I have enough of the original books to reread and enjoy for the rest of my life. And I’ll always keep Parker’s memory alive by trying to do what I can to be just a little bit Spenser-like in my own way, most of all by remembering that simple mantra that is so often forgotten nowadays: Do what you say you are going to do.
Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to do some chin-ups and maybe have a beer afterwards.
—Le Samourai
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
Comments
In fairness, the Ace Atkins continuation novel has received some pretty good reviews. However, like you, I remain wary. Spenser is just such a personal character. One thing amuses me though: Atkins's version of Susan Silverman is supposedly less annoying than Parker's. Not surprising... after all, how could she not be!
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
That alone makes me glad I posted this!
Oh, a quick FYI: This article was written for a local U.S. Marine Corps newspaper, hence the references to the Marines. Not a Marine myself, but I did freelance work as a writer/editor for them.
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
http://apbateman.com
Thanks, tsa. Much appreciated {[]
I have a great deal of respect for the hardboiled PI genre...Chandler, Hammett and Spillane loom large for me, so every time I sit down at my laptop and channel the life-force that is Oscar Jade, I do so with great humility. In my signature is the link to my website, which also links to Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. I am also available on Amazon UK, and greatly appreciate anyone's consideration when looking for reading material in this genre.
Cheers, all -{
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM