Donald Westlake, RIP

[bryant]

2009 is not exactly getting off to a good start with the news of Donald Westlake’s death.

He was a consummate professional. The guy knew how to write mysteries; his range went from the comic caper Dortmunder books to the hardboiled Parker novels. He was primarily a novelist, but he did a few screenplays too. The Grifters was probably too quiet a flick to get noticed a ton, but it’s one of my probably top twenty movies and the last scene still disturbs me like very few other cinematic moments.

Just a smart writer. The funny in his comic mysteries came from an understanding of darkness, I think. One of his later novels, The Ax, is about a laid off paper company exec and the lengths he goes to in order to get a job. It’s bleak and understated and oddly believable, particularly right now.

I’m really bummed out about this.

Originally published at Imaginary Vestibule.

Comments

[jayfurr.livejournal.com]

Mr. Westlake was in my top five all-time favorite writers. Probably ranks ahead of Terry Pratchett, even. Wrote the best comic crime novels ever in my opinion. I'm grateful he gave us so many funny, well-written, and entertaining books. It's just gonna be weird knowing that there won't ever be another John Dortmunder book after the final one coming out in April.

So long, Don.

Afghanistan banana stand

[editswlonghair.livejournal.com]

Bummer. I really need to pick up an anthology of his work. It's always been on my to do list, but i've never gotten around reading his stuff. :(

It's a shame so many of the film adaptations (besides 'the hot rock') have been so crappy.

Re: Afghanistan banana stand

[bryant]

Whoa, really? He is right in the middle of your sweet spot.

Re: Afghanistan banana stand

[editswlonghair.livejournal.com]

I know... I really don't have an excuse. So many books, so little time (and so hard to stay awake past my bedtime... ;)

[vaklam.livejournal.com]

I am in complete agreement about The Grifters. It's in my top twenty, as well. Up there with Sneakers and Silverado.

Several of Westlake's books are under the Hard Case Crime (http://www.hardcasecrime.com/index.shtml) imprint and are well worth seeking out.

[heart-of-stars.livejournal.com]

I've recommended The Ax to potential Hunter players for years. It's an incredible account of how a normal person can come to justify increasingly dangerous and deviant behavior in pursuit of a goal. I love it the same way I love something like The Shield, when you realize you're cheering for an "evil" character, and you have that moment of recoil because you've cocme to empathize with them but your moral compass is still spinning wildly.

We are the poorer without him.

[bryant]

Yes indeed.