This discussion of Glenn Dixon's Nero Wolfe pastiche, Welcome to Death, was conducted on the Nero Wolfe mailing list beginning on Monday, May 20th, 2002. My final post was on Saturday, June 1st, and other posts continued to trickle in until June 11th. They are grouped here by chapter. Within a chapter, the messages are in order, though of course during the real discussion the threads from different chapters overlapped. Mr. Dixon's plot notes, which he posted after the discussion was complete, are at the end of this page, and I recommend them highly to any Welcome to Death fan.
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Haiku
Mr. Dixon's Plot Notes
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 06:08:05 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Introduction
Welcome to _Welcome to Death_. The story is 35,000 words long, making it a novelette. The story is dedicated to Rex Stout, and opens with a quote from James Thurber regarding presumption -- Dixon I'm sure poking tongue-in-cheek fun at himself for being presumptuous enough to write it.
Mr. Dixon has provided some information regarding the writing of WTD:
-----
_Welcome to Death_ was written during the late fall of 1995 and finished during the Christmas holidays of that year. I was encouraged to write it by my friend Jeff Raper, who I had been working with at Iomega (I am an engineer and help design Zip drives and other things). We had just put in huge amounts of time bringing Iomega from a company that made 20,000 disk drives per year to one that made a million drives per month. Both of us were tired of looking at disk drives, and I had expressed to Jeff a desire to try writing some fiction instead of the technical matter I usually wrote.
Jeff had written a novel entitled _Contagion_, and he encouraged me to go ahead and write something. Since Wolfe was what I knew best, I decided to write a Wolfe story. But more than that, since no one had stepped forward to do it correctly, I wanted to do it, if only for my own satisfaction. Since I was a beginner at fiction, I had no expectation of publishing what I wrote -- it was merely a learning exercise to see if I could write a longer fiction story (I have written a few short stories). I decided to surprise my brother Paul by getting it done by his birthday. Jeff Raper showed me how to make a homemade paperback version of my book and I managed, with the help of FedEx, to surprise Paul with the first copy of a bound paperback on Feb 2, 1996.
Paul and Barbara [Paul's wife - gs] loved the book, and members of my family also read and enjoyed it, but that was as far as it went. It wasn't until I became active on the Internet later in 1996 that word of my story got out. I found and joined the Wolfe mailing list, and eventually offered a free copy of my book to anyone who wished to read it. I got exactly three requests. The requesters had to wait almost a year because I decided my story was not good enough as-is, and augmented it by writing the second story (_No Body_) before I sent copies to anyone. I will give some background on this story later.
-----
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 06:09:42 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 1
Don't be intimidated by the length of this posting. This is a long chapter, and a lot happens. We don't have another long chapter like this until number 5.
SYNOPSIS
Chapter 1 opens with the obigatory introduction of the brownstone and its inhabitants. We are happy to find that nothing has changed on West 35th between 1975 and 1995.
It's January. Archie is in a bad mood. He doesn't know why, but he takes it out on Wolfe anyway. As he's needling Wolfe, we learn that Homicide West is in an uproar because three cops have been murdered recently: Joey Martinez, a beat cop who had been patrolling the docks, and Jim Bannock and Mike Hu, two detectives who were killed while investigating wire fraud at a bank in the financial district. Bannock and Hu had been found in a dumpster behind the bank. There are no clues in any of the killings. Homicide is a "pressure cooker."
To top things off, we learn that Inspector Cramer "took early retirement." Homicide West is being run by someone named Lennings, from the East Side. Lennings is having a rough time, though Archie suggests that it may not be his fault.
The phone rings. It's Sue Spinnick, nee Langston, one of Archie's many old flames, and secretary to a Wolfe nemesis among the good guys, DA Archibald Skinner. "Mr. Skinner wants to consult Mr. Wolfe." Archie and Wolfe are surprised. "Are you sure it isn't just something to sign?" An appointment is made for 6:00 pm.
Archie bones up on the cop killings, figuring that must be why Skinner is coming. The Bannock and Hu murders are especially puzzling, because the two were on a routine wire fraud investigation at a bank when they were shot and dumped down the trash chute. The only possible connection to the Martinez killing is that two shipping companies, Sterling and Adriatic, have offices in the same building as the bank, and Martinez was killed on the docks, but nothing came of that.
At 6:14 the doorbell rings. It's not Skinner. It's a young man in an expensive suit, with an attache case, who identifies himself as David Ginosar. Archie recognizes the name as belonging to a new Assistant DA at Skinner's office -- one whom he's never met. He assumes that it _is_ just something to sign, and invites the alleged Ginosar into the office, where Wolfe is waiting. The alleged Ginosar takes the red leather chair, opens the attache case on his lap, and takes out a gun. It isn't just somthing to sign. It's an assasination attempt.
The first shots go in Archie's direction. He scoots from his chair into the kneewell of his desk. Then, using the only thing at hand as a weapon, and with an adrenalin- induced rush of strength, he heaves his desk up and in the direction of the red leather chair, crashing it down on the would-be assasin.
The would-be assasin is seriously injured. Wolfe is seriously impressed. He actually stands, "wide-eyed," and says, "Indeed!"
DISCUSSION POINTS
I mentioned that the chapter opens with the "obligatory introduction." Stout, of course, also wrote these introductions -- it must be a challenge to see how many different ways you can present exactly the same material, over and over in different books, because you never know which book is going to be the first one that a reader picks up. All series have to do this... except... you know, the Sherlock Holmes stories don't. Conan Doyle just assumes, in most of the stories, that you already know about Watson, Holmes, and 221B Baker Street. Was it because his stories (mostly) all ran in _The Strand_, so he assumed he had the same readership for each one? Way OT, I know. Sorry....
Archie says that Wolfe is five-feet eight-inches tall. Is this from the corpus? I don't remember ever reading about Wolfe's height, but I always pictured him as fairly tall -- taller than five-eight, anyway.
Of the three murdered NYC cops, one is Latino (Martinez) and one Asian-American (Hu). I think Stout would have thoroughly approved of diversifying his NYPD. Had he lived until 1995, and continued writing, I think he would have done so himself.
The Nero Wolfe database (http://wolfe.danlhos.com) does not include a Sue Langston/Spinnick. Is she a Stout character from the corpus? My memory for such things is terrible.
The chapter ends with an "action scene." The Wolfe corpus has relatively few action scenes, compared to other detective series, but when they happen they're usually short and quick. I think this is a hallmark of a good action scene -- that it doesn't drag out with excessive description. If it reads quick, then you get the sense that it's happening quickly. In this case, the whole scene, from the appearance of the gun to the crash of the desk, is over in eighty words. Well done! And the "I was shaking uncontrollably" afterward added a nice touch.
DIXON VS. STOUT
In this, the first chapter of the first Dixon book, we (the Wolfeans) are reading with especially critical eyes... and ears. How does the story _sound_? IMHO, Archie sounds, well, like _Archie_. Right from the individual words ("sore," "gosh") to the attitude ("When Wolfe is reading, he doesn't like to be interupted. Which, of course, made it imperative that I do just that.") to the humor ("with Wolfe providing the brains and me providing absolutely everything else").
I think there's a lot to comment on in this chapter, about how true (or not) Dixon is to the originals, and I hope some of you will contribute regarding the things that struck you. For my part, I'm just to comment on two things, from the very end of the chapter: The action scene, and Wolfe's reaction.
I reread the account of the shooting and "desk heaving" a couple of times, and what struck me most strongly was how cinematic it was. It was a very strong visual image. I could see this on A&E. Stout's action scenes are often not like that. For example, Archie saying (to paraphrase), "He swung at me, and I stepped aside and punched him in the kidney" doesn't give me the same intense visual image that I had of Archie heaving that desk into the air. Could this be the influence of television on our current generations? Do we write more cinematically?
The other thing that struck me was the description of Wolfe as "wide-eyed." At first I thought that this seemed unlike Wolfe. But then I rememebered that Stout sometimes had Wolfe do unexpected things. I still remember the line (I don't know which book), "Wolfe threw back his head and laughed." That sent chills down my spine.
In this case, Wolfe is wide-eyed. Why shouldn't he be? Archie has just done something truly astonishing. Why shouldn't Wolfe be astonished? And, by showing his astonishment, impress upon us readers how amazing a feat it was? Yes, I think Stout would have approved.
On the whole, I felt the same interest and excitement reading this chapter as I felt reading the original corpus.
Satisfactory!
FAVORITE QUOTES
I included this section for any lines that caught my eye (or ear). Nothing really did in this chapter, but there are some dillies in upcoming chapters.
Anything catch your ear?
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
At 06:09 AM 5/20/2002 -0400, Gregory Smith wrote:
Archie says that Wolfe is five-feet eight-inches tall. Is this from the corpus? I don't remember ever reading about Wolfe's height, but I always pictured him as fairly tall -- taller than five-eight, anyway.
"Courtesy of the Stout estate; pulled from Rex Stout’s own archives, here is rarely seen, never-before-published memorabilia. Rex Stout’s own description of his beloved characters, written in 1949 and not meant for publication at the time":
DESCRIPTION OF NERO WOLFE:
Height 5 ft. 11 in. Weight 272 lbs. Age 56.
Mass of dark brown hair, very little greying, is not parted but sweeps off to the right because he brushes with his right hand. Dark brown eyes are average in size, but look smaller because they are mostly half closed. They always are aimed straight at the person he is talking to. Forhead is high. Head and face are big but do not seem so in proportion to the whole. Ears rather small. Nose long and narrow, slightly aquiline. Mouth mobile and extremely variable; lips when pursed are full and thick, but in tense moments they are thin and their line is long. Cheeks full but not pudgy; the high point of the cheekbone can be seen from straight front. Complexion varies from some floridity after meals to an ivory pallor late at night when he has spent six hard hours working on someone. He breathes smoothly and without sound except when his is eating; then he takes in and lets out great gusts of air. His masssive shoulders never slump; when he stands up at all he stands straight. He shaves every day. He has a small brown mole just above his right jawbone, halfway between the chin and the ear.
Subject: GD-Wolfe' height
In his chapt 1 summary, Gregory questions Wolfe's height, given as 5' 8". He is right to do so. In _Wanted a Man_ Wolfe advertizes for a double who is 5' 11". And I seem to remember Archie once giving Wolfe's height at 5' 10". 5' 8" seems a little short, doesn't it?
Regards,
Thumbs Meeker
Glenn Dixon
Subject: Re: GD-Wolfe' height
Glenn Dixon wrote:
>
> In his chapt 1 summary, Gregory questions Wolfe's height, given as 5'
> 8". He is right to do so. In _Wanted a Man_ Wolfe advertizes for a
> double who is 5' 11". And I seem to remember Archie once giving
> Wolfe's height at 5' 10". 5' 8" seems a little short, doesn't it?
Yes, but... Archie alternately refers to himself as "a six-footer" or just under six-foot, which to me means 5'11". In The Black Mountain, after being smuggled ashore in Montenegro with Wolfe in the lead, Archie remarks that he can see the ground ahead of them because he has a three inch vantage point over Wolfe. Now, assuming that they are not walking down hill, and assuming that Archie is just under rather than right on six-foot, this would make Wolfe five-eight.
So it's no more out of the realm of possibility than the amazing expanding and contracting globe.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
At 6:09 am -0400 on 20/05/02, Gregory Smith <beaglewriter@att.net> wrote :
Don't be intimidated by the length of this posting. This is a long chapter, and a lot happens...
Well, so far everyone seems more concerned with how often Wolfe leaves the brownstone than discussing this Dixon story... so I'll just add the that *reason* for leaving is crucial to Wolfe's character, rather than the mathematical *number* of occasions he leaves... but anyway....
Chapter 1 opens with... ...Homicide is a "pressure cooker."
Good so far; a very reasonable beginning, on par with many original Stout scene settings.
The phone rings. It's Sue Spinnick, nee Langston, one of Archie's many old flames...
This didn't ring true for me; this setup didn't really fit the Skinner we know, or indeed the Archie we know, either.
It's an assasination attempt.
The first shots go in Archie's direction. He scoots from his chair into the kneewell of his desk. Then, using the only thing at hand as a weapon, and with an adrenalin- induced rush of strength, he heaves his desk up and in the direction of the red leather chair, crashing it down on the would- be assasin.
Oh-oh - hold ON just one minute... this incident is crucial to the story, but it doesn't take more than a moment too see just how bizarrely unrealistic it is. We know where Archie's desk is, in relation to Wolfe's; we know the size of it, we know - for example - that it contains a solid and presumably heavy Underwood typewriter... The desk is *behind* Archie, yet he heaves it over his head in less time than it takes to fire THREE bullets? I don't THINK so!
The would-be assasin is seriously injured. Wolfe is seriously impressed. He actually stands, "wide-eyed," and says, "Indeed!"
No wonder Wolfe is impressed - he's just seen a miracle!
Of the three murdered NYC cops, one is Latino (Martinez) and one Asian-American (Hu). I think Stout would have thoroughly approved of diversifying his NYPD. Had he lived until 1995, and continued writing, I think he would have done so himself.
I'd hope he'd have introduced diversified characters - these are just diversified names. Every *character* in this story is white..?
The chapter ends with an "action scene." The Wolfe corpus has relatively few action scenes, compared to other detective series, but when they happen they're usually short and quick. I think this is a hallmark of a good action scene -- that it doesn't drag out with excessive description.
I'd say that, because the whole thing is quite impossible, Dixon attempts to get through it as fast as he can; the longer the description, the greater the chance of the implausibility becoming too obvious?
I think there's a lot to comment on in this chapter, about how true (or not) Dixon is to the originals, and I hope some of you will contribute regarding the things that struck you. For my part, I'm just to comment on two things, from the very end of the chapter: The action scene...
I reread the account of the shooting and "desk heaving" a couple of times, and what struck me most strongly was how cinematic it was.
In the sense of *cartoon* cinema, I'd, uh, totally agree!
For the interested, a more detailed analysis of that desk incident:
Whatever it was, I was already on the way down, under my desk, by the time Wolfe bellowed "Archie! Gun!" and the first shot was fired.
We have a professional assassin - and it's essential to the plot that we believe this man is a skilled professional killer - who allows a situation to develop where he is personally at risk, and is certainly less likely to succeed in his job. Shooting an unsuspecting Archie while still in the hall must have left Wolfe a sitting target?
But let's ignore that problem in favor of much more serious criticism. This professional killer is armed and ready, facing an unarmed target. He must have anticipated from experience that targets might move; but, bafflingly, he is totally confused by Archie's downward movement. Remember the layout; Archie has his back to the desk - so he must move his chair, get behind it, and into the deskwell in the time it takes a professional killer six feet away to fire three shots, and miss three times.
Hmmm...
But wait - THAT was not the impossible bit. Listen to what happened next:
I pulled my feet into a squat under me, got as far under the desk as I could, and heaved the desk toward the shots.
<killer> <chair><desk>
Just how strong would a person have to be, to not just lift this desk off the ground, but to *throw* it at least (being generous!) four
feet in the air over a distance of six feet? And what, pray, is our professional killer doing while this massive projectile is getting off the ground and heading for him?
the fourth shot had embedded itself into the top of the desk, apparently when it was headed toward Ginosar. Ginosar had obviously fired at the chair thinking the bullets would still hit me.
Well, of course. Faced with a live target or a desk, the killer would naturally choose the desk... and only four shots? Just how long does it take a skilled man to fire a 'Hutchinson 9 mm'? I ask seriously; we don't have access to handguns in the UK, but my reading has led me to believe it doesn't take too long to fire off a whole clip?
Incidentally, the gun was 'fitted with a small silencer good enough to keep the shots from being heard on the street'? The killer had obviously not learned that the office is soundproofed...
No, sadly, for me this Chapter One centerpiece was not a believable incident!
- duncan
>Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 11:28:56 +0100
>From: Duncan Langford <d.langford@ukc.ac.uk>
>
>>It's an assasination attempt.
>>
>>The first shots go in Archie's direction. He scoots from his chair
>>into the kneewell of his desk. Then, using the only thing at hand
>>as a weapon, and with an adrenalin-induced rush of strength, he
>>heaves his desk up and in the direction of the red leather chair,
>>crashing it down on the would-be assasin.
>
>Oh-oh - hold ON just one minute... this incident is crucial to the
>story, but it doesn't take more than a moment too see just how
>bizarrely unrealistic it is. We know where Archie's desk is, in
>relation to Wolfe's; we know the size of it, we know - for example -
>that it contains a solid and presumably heavy Underwood
>typewriter... The desk is *behind* Archie, yet he heaves it over his
>head in less time than it takes to fire THREE bullets? I don't THINK
>so!
>
>- duncan
**------------------------------------------------------------------------**
Wolfe furniture-fans--
But Archie's desk is IN FRONT of him, not against the wall, so it
works. The typewriter is not on the desk. The desk is between Archie
and the gunman. Not unbelievable at all.
Dan
--
**--------------------------------------------------------------------**
** Dan Augustine Austin, Texas ds.augustine@mail.utexas.edu **
** "Why do they put gasoline in the sausage?" -- Archie Goodwin **
**--------------------------------------------------------------------**
Duncan Langford wrote (regarding the desk-heaving):
>>it doesn't take more than a moment too see just how bizarrely unrealistic it is.<<
I must respectfully disagree. I pictured it like this: The kneewell of Archie's desk faces the red leather chair. When Archie scoots underneath (diving headfirst), his back (actually, his rump <g>) is to the shooter. He rises up so his shoulders and back are against the bottom of the center drawer, and uses his legs, back, arms -- everything he's got -- to lift/propel the desk upward. As he completes the process of standing up, the desk is thrown behind him and toward the shooter. Archie ends up facing away from the red leather chair.
It's true that the desk is very heavy. That's what makes the effort so remarkable. But not unprecedented. There have been many accounts of adrenelin-induced feats of strength.
>>I'd hope he'd have introduced diversified characters - these are just diversified names.<<
Point well made.
>> Every *character* in this story is white..?<<
Except Linnings, who is nothing more than a minor character. Although there aren't that many major characters. Hmmm. How about if Steve Wyatt were a minority?
Gregory Smith
At 9:09 am -0500 on 21/05/02, Dan Augustine <ds.augustine@mail.utexas.edu> wrote :
>>From: Duncan Langford <d.langford@ukc.ac.uk>
>>
>>>It's an assasination attempt.
>>>
>>>The first shots go in Archie's direction. He scoots from his
>>>chair into the kneewell of his desk. Then, using the only thing
>>>at hand as a weapon, and with an adrenalin-induced rush of
>>>strength, he heaves his desk up and in the direction of the red
>>>leather chair, crashing it down on the would-be assasin.
>>
>>Oh-oh - hold ON just one minute... this incident is crucial to the
>>story, but it doesn't take more than a moment too see just how
>>bizarrely unrealistic it is. We know where Archie's desk is, in
>>relation to Wolfe's; we know the size of it, we know - for example
>>- that it contains a solid and presumably heavy Underwood
>>typewriter... The desk is *behind* Archie, yet he heaves it over
>>his head in less time than it takes to fire THREE bullets? I don't
>>THINK so!
>>
>**------------------------------------------------------------------------**
>Wolfe furniture-fans--
> But Archie's desk is IN FRONT of him, not against the wall, so
>it works. The typewriter is not on the desk. The desk is between
>Archie and the gunman. Not unbelievable at all.
Sorry, Dan - but where do you get this strange desk location from?
I don't have my Wolfe collection with me (sigh - it's what every
office needs!) but surely Archie's desk faces the wall, with a big
mirror over it? and Archie swivels around when necessary? I know the
A&E setup doesn't have it like that... but I've been there, and
there's no way the A&E desk could be lifted by anything short of a
forklift!
And as for the typewriter not being on the desk - are you sure? Do
you have a reference?
I think Archie's desk is against the wall, so the incident is, I
repeat - unbelievable!
- duncan
PS but even if the desk WERE in front of him... no, I still don't believe it!!
beaglewriter@att.net wrote:
>
> I pictured it
> like this: The kneewell of Archie's desk faces the red leather chair.
> When Archie scoots underneath (diving headfirst), his back
> (actually, his rump <g>) is to the shooter. He rises up so his shoulders
> and back are against the bottom of the center drawer, and uses his legs,
> back, arms -- everything he's got -- to lift/propel the desk upward.
That's pretty much the visual image I got as well, with one exception: I assumed that Archie turned as he dove and was facing into the room. It just seemed natural to me that Archie wouldn't turn his back on the attacker, but try to get a vantage point as well as some safety.
I agree on the adreneline rush as well and didn't find it inconceivable that someone in danger could hurl a desk across the room. The shakes afterwards help sell it because that is exactly what happens after a great whopping dose of adreneline.
My only problem is that the whole thing really would work better if Archie's desk was situated so he was facing into the room from behind it. Diving into the kneehole of desk against the wall leaves only the chair between himself and the gunman. But, I'll still buy it.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
Duncan Langford wrote:
>
> I don't have my Wolfe collection with me (sigh - it's what every
> office needs!) but surely Archie's desk faces the wall, with a big
> mirror over it? and Archie swivels around when necessary?
>
> And as for the typewriter not being on the desk - are you sure? Do
> you have a reference?
Right you are on that, although there is no mirror prior to The Rodeo Murder. Archie seems to have installed it as a precaution after Laura Jay pulled a gun on him while he was turned away from her at the desk. If I recall correctly, that passage has a good description of the positioning of Archie's desk: chapter 3, TRM.
Archie's desk is often described as being at right angles to Wolfe's. To make this work, Wolfe's desk has to be with his back to the south wall and Archie's on the east. (A&E got that right, although they have a seemingly impossible window in what should be the north wall -- must have been constructed when they moved the bathroom across the hall to adjoin the dining room. <g> I'm wondering how that bit of set construction is going to effect the plot of Help Wanted: Male.)
Some early descriptions of Archie's typing arrangements led me to believe that his desk was the type of old secretarial desk that had a hinged top -- flip it up and the typewriter rises up on an internal shelf into typing position. I don't have the references handy to back up this impression, but can recall Archie saying something along the line of "swinging the typewriter into position". Of course, that could also apply to a typing stand.
In any case by 1955 in Before Midnight, the typewriter is on a stand -- it is rolled over to Wolfe's desk in chapter 19.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
Subject: Re: GD-Wolfe' height
Corned Beef wrote:
>
> He could be like me 5' 11 1/2" Don't forget with us boys
> we tend to round up when dealing in inches.
LOL! I have noticed that, but I don't think we're still
talking about height.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 06:20:32 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 2
SYNOPSIS
Doc Vollmer and 911 are called. Vollmer patches a cut on Archie's neck and tells him he'll be in pain soon. The would-be assasin turns out to be one Jared Raker. Archie calls DA Skinner's office to find out why Skinner didn't show up, and Raker did instead. Purley Stebbins answers the phone at the DA's, and Archie isn't going to be getting answers from Skinner, because...
...Skinner's dead. Murdered. In his office.
Stebbins begs Archie to "come clean on this one," to shed some light on what's happening. Archie actually tells Purley everything he knows, but it isn't much. Stebbins is sure Archie is holding out.
The paramedics and police arrive.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Archie mentions that his chair, like Wolfe's, is also custom-made. Is that mentioned anywhere in the Stout corpus? I can't recall ever giving much thought to Archie's chair. In this story, it gets more attention, as there are now three bullet holes in the back <g>.
I liked that, when Archie went to call Doc Vollmer, he misdialed the number the first time. He says, "I rarely misdial, but you have to make allowances for my condition." It's a nice touch -- Archie as a human who is rattled by what's happened, and doesn't want to let it show, but it slips out when he dials. It also serves to underscore how close a call it was.
DIXON VS. STOUT
I admire the gumption that Mr. Dixon showed in killing off a recurring character from the corpus (albiet a minor one) in this, his very first Wolfe story. In pastiche, there has to be a balance between recreating the spirit and experience of the original, on the one hand, and losing the pastiche writer's own personality in the personality of the creator, on theother. Between keeping to the "gospel" of the original, and "stretching" to create new gospel. Here we see Dixon stretching: Skinner is gone, and there'll be a new Acting DA coming along shortly. I like it.
FAVORITE QUOTES
When Doc Vollmer offers Archie pain medication:
>>I refused his offer of pain pills. Having just proved myself a full-blown hero, pills seemed out of place.<<
When Wolfe is told that DA Skinner has been murdered, his first reaction:
>>"Confound it!" Wolfe exclaimed, [sic] "First this vermin comes in interrupting my dinner hour, and now the police will likely badger us until I have no appetite."<<
Purley Stebbin's reaction to hearing about the incident in Wolfe's office (this made me smile):
>>"You was shot at and you ain't dead? Of all the rotten luck!"<<
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Gregory Smith wrote:
>
> Archie mentions that his chair, like Wolfe's, is also custom-made. Is that mentioned anywhere in the Stout corpus?
I can't recall any mention of his chair being custom made. But, there is something curious in ABAV: "...you own this house and furniture, except the chair and other items in my room which I bought myself..." [ch. 1] At first, I thought he was referring to the reading chair in his bedroom, but couldn't figure out why he had singled it out, since he has said on other occasions that all the furniture in his bedroom is his. The statement, however, comes shortly after he says "I swiveled my chair to face Nero Wolfe", and the thought came to me that he was saying that his desk chair was his. Considering all the time he spends sitting in it, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he took a page from Wolfe's book and went out and got one customized for his own comfort.
> I liked that, when Archie went to call Doc Vollmer, he misdialed the number the first time. ...
> It's a nice touch -- Archie as a human who is rattled by what's happened, and doesn't want to let it show, but it slips out when he dials.
I thought that was a nice touch as well, especially in juxtapostion to the superhuman desk-hurling feat.
Since you already quoted Purley's line, I can't give you my favorite quote from this chapter, so I'll settle for the second best:
"'Fritz, keep an eye on our guest while I figure out why
I'm not dead.'
"Fritz, showing no surprise and asking no questions,
simply marched over to Ginosar, stood stiffly like a little
Swiss soldier should, and pointed the knife at him like a
sword."
Now that's Fritz to a tee. Nice work. I was also quite fond of:
"I suppose that was true but still, I was the sitting duck, not him. He was the sitting mountain."
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 06:25:35 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 3
SYNOPSIS
Vollmer leaves, accompanying the injured Raker to the hospital. Wolfe and Archie eat a cobbled-together dinner, near the end of which (but still during, which shows how rattled Wolfe is) they discuss whether or not they're still in danger (the answer is they don't know) and what they're going to do about it. Wolfe's answer is simple: Do nothing. They have nothing to contribute. It's a police matter. (Though "...the temptation to act is strong; no one should be allowed to fire a gun in my house with impunity.")
Archie suggests a metal detector for the doorjamb of the front entrance, and Wolfe agrees.
They're not supposed to disturb the office, so Wolfe retires to his bedroom, and Archie hangs in the kitchen with Fritz. The doorbell rings. Archie is expecting Purley Stebbins, but is surprised by who he sees through the one-way glass:
The once-retired Inspector Cramer. And a lump under his jacket shows he's packing a concealed.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Archie returns to the office to retrieve his Marley .32. Ah... the Marley .32. In these days, when police standard issue (at least in the U.S.) is either a .357 magnum revolver or a 9mm semi-auto with a 10 or 12 capacity clip, the Marley .32 seems... well... quaint. Should Archie be updated to a more lethal weapon? One thing to be said for the .32 is that it's small, light, and easy to conceal. I guess that's three things <g>. And I think Archie would say, "It doesn't matter how powerful the gun is; what matters is knowing where and how to aim."
Even in Stout's time, police standard issue would have been a .38 caliber revolver, so was having Archie carry a .32 a statement on Stout's part? A statement to the effect that, "Brains are better than guns any day, but if guns have to be used, then a combination of brains and a small gun is better than no brains and a big gun"?
If I'd been writing this pastiche, I'd have been tempted to "update" Archie with more powerful firepower. I'm glad Mr. Dixon resisted the temptation, and stuck with the Marley .32. I think that's what Stout would have wanted.
We hear that Wolfe's current book is _Between Silk and Cyanide_, by Leo Marks. For those of you who haven't googled this title yet, I'll fill you in: It's Marks's autobiographical account of his service in the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. It combines Mr. Marks's "coming of age" story with a history of the SOE during WWII. Mr. Marks's role in the SOE was to overhaul its cryptographic operations, and the book talks a lot about cryptography. Hmmm, is it a hint that Wolfe is reading this <g>?
Finally, Archie mentions that Cramer carries a Browning (gun). Is this from the Stout corpus? I don't remember any mention of the type of gun that Cramer carries. Heck, I don't even remember Cramer ever carrying or drawing a gun. In the real world (as I understand it -- not my line of work) an Inspector wouldn't carry a "serious" gun. He'd have a "token" gun (something small and light, like, say, a Marley .32 <g>), because all officers are required to carry, but Inspectors don't get involved in the street-level crimes that require guns. And a gun is a heavy thing to lug around if you never use it.
DIXON VS. STOUT
Wolfe's famous stubborness and refusal to work are really emphasized in this chapter: "But this is obviously a police matter.... We may simply have to wait this out and be content with ignorance." "We may not need to do anything at all." "Let's see what develops when the officers from the Homicide Department arrive." Is this an appropriate reaction, under the extrordinary circumstances?
FAVORITE QUOTES
I was tickled by Wolfe's use of the word "prey" to refer to himself:
>>"I suppose that we must consider ourselves still prey until we learn otherwise."<<
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
At 06:25 AM 5/22/2002 -0400, Gregory Smith wrote:
We hear that Wolfe's current book is _Between Silk and Cyanide_, by Leo Marks.
Did I miss that? In Chapter Three I found the following:
Archie: "I did sneak into the office for two items: My favorite gun, a Marley.32 with ammunition and shoulder holster, and the book Wolfe had been reading, which he asked me to get. Wolfe often reads more than one book at a time, but this time, it was only one: Bringing Along by David Grant." I googled and hit Amazon and found that while there are many mentions of David Grant as an author and as an editor, there was no Bringing Along. DidGlenn Dixon pull this one out of thin air?
Inspector Cramer aka Dot Moran
Dorothy Moran wrote:
>>Bringing Along by David Grant<<
My copy of WTD definitely says that Wolfe's current book is _Between Silk and Cyanide_, by Leo Marks. No mention of David Grant. Could we be dealing with different versions of the story? If so, I wonder which is most current?
Maybe Mr. Dixon could jump in here.
FWIW, the choice of _Between Silk and Cyanide_ struck me as a little bit of cosmic irony, given how the story comes out, but I can't say any more than that without a spoiler warning.
Gregory Smith
Leo Marks' book is the most recent version. In the online version I replaced the fictional 'Coming Along' with one I had actually read. Dot has a fairly old copy of the story, but other than minor things such as this (and some corrections) not much has changed.
I did like the irony presented by the second title.
Regards,
Glenn
-----Original Message-----
From: beaglewriter@att.net
To: wolfe-list@mirror.org
Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 13:01:40 +0000
Subject: GD: WTD - What book is Wolfe reading?
> Dorothy Moran wrote:
>
> >>Bringing Along by David Grant<<
>
> My
> copy of WTD definitely says that Wolfe's current book is _Between
> Silk
> and Cyanide_, by Leo Marks. No mention of David Grant. Could we be
> dealing with different versions of the story? If so, I wonder which
> is
> most current?
>
> Maybe Mr. Dixon could jump in here.
>
> Report, aka Gregory Smith
>
Hi Wolfellows,
--- Gregory Smith <beaglewriter@att.net> wrote:
First: so far your discussion leading was well organized and really enjoyable.
Keep up the good work!
>Archie returns to the office to retrieve his Marley .32. Ah... the Marley
>.32. In these days, when police standard issue (at least in the U.S.) is either
>a .357 magnum revolver or a 9mm semi-auto with a 10 or 12 capacity clip, the
>Marley .32 seems... well... quaint.
Archie usually don't shoot very much, only if it's needed so he doesn't need
a cannon. I think a small caliber bullet can do enough harm to stop an attacker,
some people say even more than a big one, which goes through the body while a
small one may st(r)ay and hurt more internal organs.
> Finally, Archie mentions that Cramer carries a Browning (gun). Is this from the
> Stout corpus? I don't remember any mention of the type of gun that Cramer
> carries. Heck, I don't even remember Cramer ever carrying or drawing a gun.
But now Cramer isn't an inspector!
=====
All the best,
Beer of Werowance AKA Miklos Kallo
Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 06:36:31 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 4
SYNOPSIS
Cramer is admitted, Wolfe descends from his bedroom, Cramer lifts the "seal" on the office, and they talk:
Cramer is "temporarily" out of retirement. Police Headquarters is "an awful mess." The "bigwigs" (including the Mayor) have a "looney" idea to hire Wolfe. After Wolfe and Cramer squabble briefly over the fee (Wolfe concedes the police a discount), and Wolfe gets some guarantees, we hear about the Skinner murder:
The DA was struck while sitting at his computer, and then, while unconscious, was strangled with a cord cut from the window blinds. No one saw anything.
Wolfe wants to know if logs are kept of who enters and leaves the building. Cramer is disgusted (but not with Wolfe): In the old days, a person sat at the entrance to every department and signed people in and out. But now they have electronic doors that open when you swipe a magnetic card. A record is kept of swiped cards, but the system is full of holes. For instance, several people can enter on one person's swipe. What's worse, Skinner made visitors "feel welcome" by propping the electronic door open, making a swipe unnecessary (hence the title, _Welcome to Death_). As Cramer says, "Bam, a two buck door stopper, and there goes your whole security system."
The chapter ends with Archie slamming computers, citing an incident in which a germination record was lost. (Remember this for the next chapter's discussion.)
The Cramer interview continues in the next chapter....
DISCUSSION POINTS
Instead of milk, Archie asks for a brandy (for the pain in his neck, you know). Does Archie drink alcohol anywhere in the corpus? If so, what's his drink of choice?
Very small nit, but one that comes to the attention of an orchid grower (like me): The story says that "Wolfe had hybridized a cross...." He either "hybridized," or he "made a cross." "Hybridized a cross" is redundant. Be that as it may, Stout also made mistakes regarding orchids. In one story he has Wolfe say that orchids don't have scents. Not true -- many do. And in another story Wolfe is potting orchids in the greenhouse, and as I recall Stout has him put the potting materials in the pots in reverse order. Has anyone noticed any other Stout mistakes regarding orchids? The famous one that there really isn't any such thing as a black orchid doesn't count -- I think Stout knew that, and made use of a black orchid just to emphasize how rare and desirable it was.
DIXON VS. STOUT
Is it my imagination, or is Cramer more... subdued... than usual, in this meeting. He seems, well, tired. He argues some with Wolfe, but isn't as fractious as he usually is. It's almost as though he's been... beaten down. Some, anyway. As with Archie's misdialing the telephone in an earlier chapter, it gives Cramer a real human dimension. And in a later chapter we'll see why might feel beaten down. Dixon is stretching again.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Wolfe, jokingly interpreting a Cramer remark as implying that he's a psychic:
>>"I'm afraid my thought process, convoluted as it may be, does not yet tread the ludicrous."<<
Wolfe, at the suggestion that he might offer the police a discount on his fees (this is a great one):
>>"Phui. An ego, once seduced by cupidity, cannot afford a charitable precedent."<<
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Early on, Archie drinks highballs and cocktails (I believe - no citations available). Later he switches to milk almost exclusively. Goes along with toning down his racial rough spots?
The Man About the Chair
-----Original Message-----
From: Gregory Smith [mailto:beaglewriter@att.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 5:37 AM
To: Wolfe List
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 4
DISCUSSION POINTS
Instead of milk, Archie asks for a brandy (for the pain in his neck, you know). Does Archie drink alcohol anywhere in the corpus? If so, what's his drink of choice?
Here are a few quotations concerning Archie's drinking habit:
From 'The Rubber Band' (1935)
"Then glancing at the clock and seeing it was midnight, I decided I had
better reinforce my endurance and went to the cabinet and poured myself
a modicum of bourbon."
From 'The Red Box' (1936)
"I went to the cabinet and found the bottle of Old Corcoran."
"I left him glaring and went to the cabinet and got a shot of brandy and glass of cold water ------."
From 'Right To Die' (1964)
"I went to a (kitchen) cupboard for a bottle of Big Sandy and to a shelf
for a glass, ......"
Peter Darrell aka Phil Fischer
Smith, Donald Leo wrote:
> Early on, Archie drinks highballs and cocktails (I believe - no citations
> available). Later he switches to milk almost exclusively. Goes along with
> toning down his racial rough spots?
>
> The Man About the Chair
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gregory Smith [mailto:beaglewriter@att.net]
> Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 5:37 AM
> To: Wolfe List
> Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 4
>
>
> DISCUSSION POINTS
>
> Instead of milk, Archie asks for a brandy (for the pain in his neck, you
> know). Does Archie drink alcohol anywhere in the corpus? If so, what's his
> drink of choice?
Smith, Donald Leo wrote:
>Early on, Archie drinks highballs and cocktails (I believe - no citations
>available). Later he switches to milk almost exclusively. Goes along with
>toning down his racial rough spots?
>
Or he has ulcers. Wolfe might be a carrier.
Missy
I am sure we all recall that in Mother Hunt he prepares martinis for Lucy and himself, proportions specified as 5 to 1. Archie does say, I believe, that it was the brand of gin he spied on the bar cart that induced him to imbibe.
And of course, he has champagne in Champagne for One. The one thing he never drinks, that I can recall, is beer.
Delurking to say how much I am enjoying the discussion of the Dixon stories. Much more enjoyable than Goldsborough, always IMHO.
Five Juniper Berries aka
Ellen Lienhard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Smith, Donald Leo" <dsmith@iupui.edu>
To: <beaglewriter@att.net>; "Wolfe List" <wolfe-list@mirror.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 9:48 AM
Subject: RE: WTD - Chapter 4
> Early on, Archie drinks highballs and cocktails (I believe - no citations
> available). Later he switches to milk almost exclusively. Goes along
with
> toning down his racial rough spots?
>
> The Man About the Chair
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gregory Smith [mailto:beaglewriter@att.net]
> Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 5:37 AM
> To: Wolfe List
> Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 4
>
>
> DISCUSSION POINTS
>
> Instead of milk, Archie asks for a brandy (for the pain in his neck, you
> know). Does Archie drink alcohol anywhere in the corpus? If so, what's
his
> drink of choice?
"Smith, Donald Leo" wrote:
>
> Early on, Archie drinks highballs and cocktails (I believe - no citations
> available). Later he switches to milk almost exclusively. Goes along with
> toning down his racial rough spots?
Okay, I'm doing this without references because I'm nowhere near my data.
There never is a switch from alcohol to milk. Archie drinks both, but for different reasons. He is always a social drinker when he is not on a job. When he is, he limits his intake because -- and I can't remember which book it is -- he says that he once had a third cocktail and missed an important piece of a conversation. He says that, for him, the time for bourbon is when he's winding down. In FdL, he does have a bottle of rye in his bedroom, but later it seems to have moved to a kitchen cupboard. He is still drinking in AFA when he has champagne from Lily's slipper.
To Archie, milk seems to be classified as food, not drink. He says on various occasions that he has a glass of milk to "rebuild" himself after strenuous activity, usually physical, but sometimes mental. He almost always has milk before going to bed unless he has been truly shaken by something. On one occasion at least, he starts to pour himself a glass of milk before bed then changes his mind and has a shot instead.
Someone else mentioned ulcers. Archie with ulcers? Pfui! To borrow a description from William James, the man was once-born -- he is innately optimistic and cheerful. An ulcer would run screaming in another direction.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
In a message dated 5/25/2002 1:14:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time, elienhard@comcast.net writes:
. Archie does say, I believe,
that it was the brand of gin he spied on the bar cart that induced him to
imbibe.
Follansbe
And of course, he has champagne in Champagne for One. The one thing he never drinks, that I can recall, is beer.
Also bourbon and scotch. Not to mention milk.
Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 06:17:03 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 5
Another long chapter (and posting <g>), though I think this is the last long one.
SYNOPSIS
The interview with Cramer continues:
During the investigation of the Martinez murder, a new assistant DA, Tammy Adrian, had lost a file of information. Cramer "lit into her a little." Mary Dunning, Skinner's next-in-command and "God's gift to feminism," got Adrian to accuse Cramer of sexual harrassment (i.e., he was harder on her because she was a woman). During a later meeting to settle the complaint, the situation escalated: Adrian accused Cramer of making passes, and Cramer hit Dunning. And that explains...
...Cramer's "early retirement." Dunning demanded it, and Cramer accepted to avoid prosecution.
Bannock was a Homicide man, on loan to Fraud because he "...was good with computers. He knew how to find things in bank records." Bannock had also worked on the Martinez killing. Two shipping companies, Sterling and Adriatic, had offices in the building where Bannock and Hu were killed, and both had ships docked the night Martinez was killed. Bannock and Hu served their warrant on a clerk at the bank, but the clerk doesn't know what information they saw or took. They left the bank an hour before they were killed. No one knows what they did during that hour.
The record of the card swipes in the electronic door reveals who may have been around at the time Skinner was killed: Tammy Adrian, Mary Dunning, William Spinnick (assistant DA and Sue Spinnick's husband), David Ginosar, and Walter Lambert. Lambert is (was?) Skinner's law clerk, is a very good clerk, and has no social life. Wolfe focuses on Lambert, asking Cramer to hold him overnight.
Cramer asks Wolfe (now his employee, in a sense) to "spill everything Skinner told you." When Wolfe tells him there is nothing more, Cramer is furious. He "knows" there is, and that Skinner hired Wolfe to investigate. Cramer reveals something he's been withholding:
Skinner had been typing his daily journal entry on his computer when he was killed, and the killer had deleted it. But, by the miracle of Geekdom, it was recovered. The journal reveals that Linnings (Dixon meant Lennings?) suspects a mole in either Homicide or the DA's office. Furthermore, Skinner himself "came across something that needed checking. In light of Linning's suspicions... I hired Nero Wolfe to look into it."
"Remarkable," says Wolfe. They put Skinner's past-tense reference to having hired Wolfe down to his expecting to do so at the 6:00 pm appointment, and wanting his daily journal to be wrapped up before then.
Wolfe asks Cramer to gather the likely suspects in the office at 3:00 pm the next day. Cramer grudgingly agrees, and then leaves.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Time for me to rant:
In the previous chapter we saw a lost germination record used as a reason to strongly criticize computers, and even return to manual record keeping. In this chapter, paper information is lost by a human (Tammy Adrian), and all it merits is a "lit into her a little" on Cramer's part. As far as Cramer, Archie, and Wolfe are concerned, it's water under the bridge. Happens sometimes. That's just the way things are.
Does anyone besides me see a double standard here?
I'n not criticizing Dixon -- I think he nailed the characters, and Stout would have written it the same. Well... maybe I was a little disappointed with Archie, but with techo- phobes like Cramer and especially Wolfe, it's perfectly in character to harshly criticize a fault in a new technology, when the same fault is tolerated and accepted in legacy.
You'd think Wolfe, being a genius, would see through this double standard. And if he had to think about this issue *for a case*, I think he _would_ see through it. But Wolfe, the greatest master of logic and inference, bases his day-to-day life (IMHO) on very illogical superstitions, prejudices, and unreasoning fears. His day-to-day life is practically neurotic. But when he has to work, he can set all that aside and see facts with unrivalled clarity. This contradiction is one of the things about him that I find fascinating.
I mentioned in Chapter 4's discussion that Cramer seemed beaten down. In this chapter, he perks back up, right about the time he has the run-in with Wolfe about what Wolfe does or doesn't know. It's as though fighting with Wolfe brought him back to his old self. Nice touch.
DIXON VS. STOUT
Stout often touched on social issues of his day, and in this story Mr. Dixon introduces one of our day: sexual harrassment. I live in the U.S. -- I know many of you do not. The U.S. is a very litigious society. This has affected the way institutions deal with S.H., and we see this in Cramer's case:
Cramer is accused of sexual harrassment. This can be a serious accusation. I work for a large company that has a "walk out" policy: If the company thinks an employee is guilty of S.H., then H.R. shows up at his desk, walks him out the door, and pulls his ID so he can't get back in. No warning, no second chance, no appeal. Later, his ex-boss boxes up his personal belongings and leaves them at the front desk. It's scary for a guy to think that a woman could make an accusation and get him fired, without his even having a chance to make a defense.
On the other hand, from the victim's point of view, harrassment still happens, and even in a company with policies like mine, many women are afraid to report it, for fear they won't be believed.
Whether or not Archie sometimes treats women in a demeaning way has been discussed on this list, and I'll give it a rest. But I like that Mr. Dixon has introduced this issue. I think it's very Stout-like. Although I'm afraid my comments may ignite some controversy. Peace! <g>
We're up to Chapter 5, and I have my first honest-to-goodness beef with Mr. Dixon's pastiche: I can't believe that Cramer would hit anyone. The rationale is supposed to be that Dunning manufactured evidence, but that doesn't ring true to me. Not a good enough reason. If I were Mr. Dixon's editor, I'd kick that back to him and say, "Find another way for Dunning to force Cramer to retire."
What do the rest of you think?
FAVORITE QUOTES
Cramer, when Wolfe says he has no recollection of being hired by Skinner:
>>How convenient.... You and Reagan."<<
Maybe you had to be there. <g>
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
> We're up to Chapter 5, and I have my first honest-to-goodness beef with
Mr. Dixon's pastiche: I can't believe that Cramer would hit anyone. The
rationale is supposed to
> be that Dunning manufactured evidence, but that doesn't ring true to me.
Not a good enough reason. If I were Mr. Dixon's editor, I'd kick that back
to him and say, "Find
> another way for Dunning to force Cramer to retire."
>
> What do the rest of you think?
>
I agree. More likely and more believeable would be for
Cramer to lose his temper and give her a severe (and
load) verbal dressing down. Would that do it?
Just returned from a little jaunt and caught-up on WTD. Great work Gregory.
Interesting to delve into other NWs.
Yt, Frank Spano, aka Mr. Jones
Hi Wolfellows,
--- Gregory Smith <beaglewriter@att.net> wrote:
> of making passes, and Cramer hit Dunning. And that explains...
Yes, now as I read it I agree it's out of character - I probably ignored it when I first read it. Agree with Walt, Cramer's furious yelling at a female employee would do the trick considering the seriously overPC'd American working environment.
> In the previous chapter we saw a lost germination record used as a reason to
> strongly criticize computers, and even return to manual record keeping. In this
> chapter, paper information is lost by a human (Tammy Adrian), and all it
> merits is a "lit into her a little" on Cramer's part. As far as Cramer,
> Archie, and Wolfe are concerned, it's water under the bridge. Happens sometimes.
> That's just the way things are.
>
> Does anyone besides me see a double standard here?
Not necessarily. One standard is applied to humans, another one to technology, machines etc. You may forgive your pal if he forgets which French King Louis was executed by Robespierre et co. but you would hardly accept that from your Ecyclopedia Britannica. While it's normal to accept the weaknesses of your colleagues (provided they are marginal and do not jeopardize a whole project) you expect your tools to work. Wolfe's rejection of computers is a logical extension of his whole mistrust in complex technology and Archie who has spent some years with him can feel the same. In any case... psst... he is aging... and while we have many people who master computers at their 80's there are others who just can't get along with them.
I personally think Glenn has carefully let only a right proportion of the present world into the sanctuarium of the Brownstone. Cell phones, metal detectors etc. are very useful devices of detective work and only modify our picture of Wolfe's office slightly. Computers might be necessary too but just imagine: 'Confound it, Archie! Call the Honest Geek IT service at once. Hackers broke into our servers and are fiddling with the germination database! Our firewall is inadequate or misconfigured. This alone is intolerable and now a DDOS attack is carried out against my laeliagouldiana.org...'
No, that would be too much.
=====
All the best,
Beer of Werowance AKA Miklos Kallo
Beer of Werowance <beerowance@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>I personally think Glenn has carefully let only a right proportion of the present world into the sanctuarium of the Brownstone.<<
I agree entirely!
>>'Confound it, Archie! Call the Honest Geek IT service at once. Hackers broke into our servers and are fiddling with the germination database! Our firewall is inadequate or misconfigured. This alone is intolerable and now a DDOS attack is carried out against my laeliagouldiana.org...'<<
This was great! Thanks for bringing me a big smile on a stressful day!
Gregory Smith
Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 07:43:52 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 6
SYNOPSIS
Archie returns after seeing Cramer out, and is surprised to find Wolfe doing the lip-thing. He's found something to ruminate on. Then he asks Archie to have the 'teers come by in the am. We are introduced to a new 'teer, Steve Wyatt, replacing Orrie. He's described as looking like Alfred E. Neuman, but has a knack for blending in and for getting information out of people. He's also good with computers.
Saul is to arrive early, and come up to the plant rooms, so Archie knows Wolfe has something.
Wolfe questions Archie in detail about the magnetic card id system used at Police Headquarters.
Archie mentally reviews the various pieces of evidence that might pass for clues -- Lambert's swiping his card twice, the knot in the cord, Wolfe's interest in the id card system.
The evening/night ends with Wolfe telling Archie, "Your work today was most satisfactory." Archie fairly glows.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Returning to my "techo-phobe" comments from the previous chapter, I noted in this chapter that Wolfe called the id card system, which could restrict access to certain areas, "Orwellian." At the same time, he doesn't have a problem with the previous practice, where a guard was stationed at the entrance to each department, scrutinizing and logging each person as they entered and left. Hmph!
DIXON VS. STOUT
I was disappointed by the new 'teer, Steve Wyatt. He seems like a clone of Saul. An up-and-coming clone, anyway. They both have a distinctive facial feature (nose on Saul, and I assume ears on Steve). Despite this, they both blend in easily. They're both great at tailing, and have an uncanny sense of what they can handle on their own, and when they need to check in. They're both exceptional at getting other people to open up.
Each of Stout's three 'teers have distinct personalities with different strengths and weaknesses. (Well, Saul doesn't have any weaknesses <g>.) For example, Fred is less secure in his abilities, while Orrie thinks too much of himself. These traits come into play in the progressions of the plots. And Saul was a convenient literary device for Stout: He could do anything, so Stout could run him on stage when he needed something seemingly impossible to happen, to advance the plot.
I would have liked to see the new 'teer have a new, distinct personality. For example, maybe a little goofy (since he's young <g>), but in awe of Wolfe's reputation. Or possibly, as we discussed earlier, maybe a member of a minority. That would really have been interesting. But whatever, he would have to be good with computers <g>.
Another nit: My Wolfean hackles were raised when Wolfe said, "I have nothing really...." In my mind, he said, "I have nothing tangible...."
FAVORITE QUOTES
Nothing struck me in this chapter. Anyone?
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 21:11:18 -0400
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 7
SYNOPSIS
Next morning. Archie arranges for the 'teers. Wolfe then sends him to interview the shooter, Raker, and to find out if Homicide has anything new, and if Lambert has spilled anything. Archie is bummed that he's going to miss the mortress for lunch -- one of his favorites. Wolfe seems to feel for him: "We shall miss you."
At the hospital, Archie runs into Cramer, Stebbins, and Tamera (Tammy) Adrian. As is usual in a Wolfe story, the girl is drop-dead gorgeous. She makes you want to open doors for her. As in elevator doors. And, as usual, Archie is appreciative. Though he's a little spooked to find he's so taken with her.
Archie is surprised to see Cramer and Adrian on friendly terms. Adrian has even apologized to Cramer for her part in getting him fired... er... retired. Sorry. Cramer tells Archie that Raker is an expensive, freelance hit man. His gun also fired the bullets that killed Bannock and Hu. Things are starting to connect. "And something's funny with Lambert. He acts funny, or maybe just strange...." They've been holding him, as Wolfe requested, but without cause, which ain't exactly legal. Being a lawyer, Lambert knows he could spring himself, but he hasn't. Why? The other lawyers at the DA's office are puzzled by his behavior.
Raker's lawyer, name of Curtis, is already with him when the troop arrives. Adrian and Curtis spar briefly, but it's obvious from the get-go that the "questioning" of Raker is going nowhere. Raker stares at Tammy the Barbie doll, making Archie jealous.
Archie phones home. Wolfe orders him to return immediately. "There is a bereaved woman here." Horrors!
DISCUSSION POINTS
Archie refers to washing as "descumming." I was amused. Does he refer to it this way anywhere in the corpus?
Archie notes that Wolfe has bloomed a member of the genus _Cypripedium_, and remarks on the flower's beauty. _Cypripedium_ is an unusual genus among orchids in that it's terrestrial -- the plants grow in the ground, rather than on trees or rocks. They're native to cold northern climates, rather than the tropics. They're notoriusly difficult to grow, because they have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that live on their roots. If the bacteria don't thrive, the plant won't, either. The flowers are unusual, with a large sac that gives them the nickname Lady's Slipper Orchids. They aren't what most people picture when they think "orchid." I've posted a few pictures of some Cyp species, for those who are interested. See http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon\cyp1.jpg, http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon\cyp2.jpg, and http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon\cyp3.jpg.
Archie points out that cell phones have become an invaluable detective's tool. This makes excellent sense. Besides the obvious benefits -- keeping in touch, etc. -- he notes that you can gain entry to places on the pretense of looking for better reception. I wouldn't have thought of that. Tip my hat to Mr. Dixon.
Cramer pines for the "good old days before Miranda." Personally, I think Cramer is just needling Adrian, in a good-humored way. I don't recall Cramer ever roughing up a suspect in the corpus.
Raker's lawyer, Curtis, threatens to sue Archie for assaulting his client. It pains me personally to say that I did not find this exchange either funny or far-fetched. Only in America.... (Sigh.)
DIXON VS. STOUT
When Archie says, "ASAP," Wolfe responds with, "ASAP? Please communicate in English." Not "speak English," but "communicate in English." Ah... a Wolfe moment. <g>
The penultimate paragraph -- the one that starts with "Okay, but I have some information." -- is *perfect*. (To appreciate the perfection of this paragraph, you have to have read WTD to the end, and then come back and reread.) I tip my hat again.
Mr. Dixon has provided information on the origins of some of the characters in this chapter: Tammy Adrian's physical description matches one of Dixon's casual acquaintances. (No word on whether doors are opened for her <g>.) The character of Jared Raker was originally named Jeff Raper -- you may remember him as Mr. Dixon's coworker and aspiring novelist, who encouraged Mr. Dixon to write this very story. Mr. Dixon: "I changed the name later as it seems possible he may be a well- known name some day. My friend is not a murderer, as far as I know." Whew! <g>
FAVORITE LINES
Archie, when Cramer asks him why Wolfe is interested in Lambert:
>>"Wolfe likes guys that act strange. Look at you and me."<<
Wolfe, after Archie implies he might marry Tammy Adrian and Wolfe would have "...a lawyer for an in-law, Dad?":
>>"Pfui. I'm not your father, and would deny it if I were. Any lawyer, especially a beautiful one, is treacherous and not to be trusted. Don't let yourself be ensnared. Come home. I need you here. There is a bereaved woman here."<<
I laugh again every time I read it.
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Wolfe hounds:
I did have a few nits to pick. They truly were tiny little nits that did/do not in any way detract from the story, but as a native New Yorker (although I haven't lived there in years) I feel I must. Glenn is not a NYer and does not know NYC well. I did talk to him about these when he asked me to pick up any errors about NYC geography some years ago. He did make changes in the newer edition. Perhaps someone with the newer version will give us the corrections made there. Here are three, two of which were corrected. I am not sure I gave that one to GD then. This is still not quite right in the newer edition, so maybe I goofed.
1. Chapter 7, Archie: "I had thought about leaving via our read entrance, which goes through a gate in Fritz's her garden through an alleyway onto Eighth Avenue ---"
The alleyway led to 34th Street as mentioned in at least 2 books by RS.
I don't have the names of the stories, sorry. Corrected in newer edition.
2. Chapter 8, Amy Skinner: "I don't live far from here, just off 33rd Street, up two blocks."
33rd Street is down two blocks from 35th, not up. Up is 36th, 37th, etc. Corrected in newer edition.
Not quite right in the new edition:
3. Chapter 10, Archie: "Me. Up Ninth Avenue on 46th. Lambert is three cars ahead. In front of me are, I think, Valdes and Rich of Homicide, also tailing."
If memory serves, Ninth Avenue is a one-way street going downtown.
I lived on 34th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue for 10 years. I doubt this has changed. Almost all the avenues and streets in Manhattan are one-way, or were. There are some exceptions ie 34th Street, 42nd Street, 59th, and Park Avenue to name a few. This doesn't include the pattern in Greenwich Village or Lower Manhattan which is a whole different story. Corrections, New Yorkers? .
See? I told you they were tiny nits.
Inspector Cramer aka Dot Moran
Hi - Just a small correction regarding cross streets in Manhattan. 59th Street is one-way; 57th Street is two-way. You are correct about the north-south avenues which alternate up- and downtown directions, and Park Avenue is indeed two-way with magnificent center islands.
Regards,.
Five Juniper Berries
aka Ellen Lienhard
Malvern, PA
(grew up on Long Island and lived in NYC for nine years)
Subject: GD - WTD - Mortress
When reading Chapter Seven I found that Fritz was serving mortress. I never heard of that dish and a search on the net found this:
Mortress \Mor"tress\ (?), Mortrew \Mor"trew\ (?), ] n. [See Mortar.] A dish of meats and other ingredients, cooked together; an ollapodrida.
--Chaucer. Bacon.
-- web1913
Now I will look up ollapodrida --- it seems my education is lacking and my dictionaries are all almost as old as I am.
Cramer
For those of you dying to know: (but not willing to look it up)
Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection.
Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection. Here's how
to put the beast together: Lay the turkey flat, skin side down. ...
webhome.idirect.com/~boof/tdk40.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages
At 11:10 AM 5/27/2002 -0400, Ellen Lienhard wrote:
Hi - Just a small correction regarding cross streets in Manhattan. 59th Street is one-way; 57th Street is two-way.
Thanks, Ellen. I did mean to write 57th, which I should have remembered since I did live on it for 3 years. Chalk it up to age and the length of time I've lived outside of the city.
You are correct about the north-south avenues which alternate up- and downtown directions, and Park Avenue is indeed two-way with magnificent center islands.
> Hi - Just a small correction regarding cross streets in
> Manhattan. 59th Street is one-way;
Not quite. Unless Guiliani really screwed up the streets after I left town, 59th Street -- Central Park South -- goes both ways from Columbus Circle to Fifth Avenue. East of Fifth, it is one-way going east.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
You are right, of course, I was thinking of Bloomies at 59th and Lexington. where I know it is one way. As a point of trivia, does the name of the street change from East 59th Street to Central Park South from Columbus Circle to Fifth Avenue and then back again to West 59th Street? If that is the case, then we are both right. Where the street is called East or West 59th Street, it is one-way, and only the Central Park South portion is two-way. Talk about picking nits! (:>)
Five Juniper Berries
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lovin' Babe!" <entwold@att.net>
To: "Wolfe List" <wolfe-list@mirror.org>
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 8:45 PM
Subject: Re: GD - Window to Death
>
> > Hi - Just a small correction regarding cross streets in
> > Manhattan. 59th Street is one-way;
>
> Not quite. Unless Guiliani really screwed up the streets
> after I left town, 59th Street -- Central Park South -- goes
> both ways from Columbus Circle to Fifth Avenue. East of
> Fifth, it is one-way going east.
>
Dot wrote:
>For those of you dying to know: (but not willing to look it up)
>Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection.
>Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection. Here's how
>to put the beast together: Lay the turkey flat, skin side down. ...
>webhome.idirect.com/~boof/tdk40.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages
One of the advantages of being married to a Mexican, aside from the great home-cooked meals, is that it has helped this gringo's Spanish immensely.
In Spanish, an "olla" is a pot, and "podrida" (with a second "d") means rotten or decaying. (I've heard the latter word used by my wife in conjunction with my sweaty athletic socks more often than I care to admit. I don't imagine that will help your craving for olla podrida any.)
I'm not sure if "ollapodria" is an americanized spelling or if the original poster to the internet in the citation above (not Dot) omitted the second "d", but it does make a difference, at least in this teenager-occupied domicile. "Ollapodria" translated literally would say, "He could pot," but there'll be no smoking of marijuana in this household, thank you.
An olla podrida is therefore a stew, referring to the centuries old tradition of slapping the pot on the fire and throwing anything and everything (edible) into it, often for days or weeks at a time.
Hey, what's this potato doing in my Nike's? ;-)
Skinner
Five Juniper Berries wrote:
>
> As a point of trivia, does the name of the
> street change from East 59th Street to Central Park
South from Columbus
> Circle to Fifth Avenue and then back again to West
59th Street?
Not changed. On maps and street signs, it takes on the additional name "Central Park South" with the East/West 59th Street still appearing where appropriate. In common parlance, of course, that stretch would never be referred to as 59th Street, but rather as CPS. But then, what's on a street sign and what a die-hard New Yorker calls a street are often at variance, e.g., only a raw newbie would refer to Sixth Avenue as the Avenue of the Americas.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
Skinner wrote:
>
> An olla podrida is therefore a stew, referring to the
centuries old
> tradition of slapping the pot on the fire and throwing
anything and
> everything (edible) into it, often for days or weeks
at a time.
Thanks for the etymology. I had figured out the "olla" there (too, many crossword puzzles, I think) but was stuck on the rest of the word.
In any event, the next time I'm making a Mulligan stew, I'll tell everyone it's a fine old recipe for "mortress", and when they ask what that is, refer them to "ollapodria" with the hope they'll stop asking at that point.
--
Lovin' Babe! aka Jessie Strader
entwold@att.net
"I read it because it was a book."
>
> >Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection.
> >Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection. Here's how
> >to put the beast together: Lay the turkey flat, skin side down. ...
> >webhome.idirect.com/~boof/tdk40.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages
>
Is this something that would fit in an abditory? ;->
Abditory? Ah yes "Abditories of Steel", I think I caught the infomercial!
(Sorry, couldn't resist) Mr. Jones
> > >Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection.
> > >Ollapodria: n. hodgepodge, mishmash, motley collection. Here's how
> > >to put the beast together: Lay the turkey flat, skin side down. ...
> > >webhome.idirect.com/~boof/tdk40.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages
> >
>
> Is this something that would fit in an abditory? ;->
Maybe Cramer didn't do it himself, but his subordinates beat Perrin Gebert (sp?) for the better part of a day in The Red Box.
The Man About the Chair
-----Original Message-----
From: Gregory Smith [mailto:beaglewriter@att.net]
Subject: GD: WTD - Chapter 7
DISCUSSION POINTS
Cramer pines for the "good old days before Miranda." Personally, I think
Cramer is just needling Adrian, in a good-humored way. I don't recall
Cramer ever roughing up a suspect in the corpus.
5/29/02 9:22:49 AM, "Smith, Donald Leo" <dsmith@iupui.edu> wrote:
>Maybe Cramer didn't do it himself, but his subordinates beat Perrin Gebert
>(sp?) for the better part of a day in The Red Box.
Thank you, Man About the Chair, for reminding me of this. It made me get out my copy of TRB to review the scene.
Stout does not treat the Gebert character very sympathetically in TRB. In fact, Archie's the one who sells him down the river to the police, leading to his interrogation.
In the relevant scene, Cramer tells Archie, "They've been working on him since seven o'clock this morning.... They can't even make him mad." I'll tell you, if someone was beating me up, I'd be mad! Weird.
In room 5, Gebert is sitting in a chair with a bright light shining in his face. When he sees Archie, he tries to stand, and, "The wiry cop reached out and slapped him a good one on the left side of his neck, and then with his other hand on his right ear. Gebert quivered and sank back. 'Sit down there,will you?' the cop said plaintively." Note Gebert only quivers, and the cop is plaintive.
Archie looks closer at Gebert: "He was reddened up a good deal and kind of blotchy, but I couldn't see any real marks.... His eyes were bloodshot... probably from having them slapped open when he closed them."
Archie watches the questioning (with more slapping) for a while. The effects of the slapping are downplayed: "Of course he was going to be as good as new in the morning." Archie/Stout doesn't take the violence entirely for granted: "...though the ethics of it was none of my business, I admit I had my prejudices. I can bulldog a man myself, if he has it coming to him, but I prefer to do it on his home grounds...." The police are portrayed as idiots: "The cop was about on the mental level of a woodchuck." In the end, Gebert is given a drink, to stiffen him up, and pushed out the door, as though the police don't want anyone to know this happened.
This is a complicated scene. TRB was written in 1937, early in the corpus. Police beatings were common then? Stout seems to be accepting the reality, while at the same time trying to play it down: No real marks, good as new, really dumb cops, etc. It's not very intense when compared to other fiction set in the same period. I mean, it's not like Gebert's beaten with a rubber hose, or sodomized with a broom handle... oh... wait... that wasn't fiction. Sorry.
The scene is not very realistic. I didn't notice all this when I first read TRB, and I thank you, Man About the Chair, for calling this to my attention.
But of course the issue isn't Stout, but Cramer. I said in my discussion that I didn't think Cramer was serious when he suggested beating up on Jared Raker, in WTD. I thought he was needling Tammy Adrian. I stick by my position, for two reasons. The first is that if Cramer thinks simple slapping is going to work on a professional killer like Raker, well, you fill in the rest.... And the other is that I think Cramer has matured and changed since 1937. I know _I_ have <g>.
Thanks for the insight, Man About the Chair,
Gregory Smith
Hi Wolfellows,
--- Gregory Smith <beaglewriter@att.net> wrote:
> Stout does not treat the Gebert character very sympathetically in TRB. In fact,
Well, after all, Gebert is a worm, he gets what he deserves.
> Archie's the one who sells him down the river to the police, leading to his
> interrogation.
Hmmm. If my memory doesn't fail he first wants to bootleg him out of the cottage and when it fails and the cops would find out who Gebert is anyway only then he throws him to the wolves.
> This is a complicated scene. TRB was written in 1937, early in the corpus.
> Police beatings were common then? Stout seems to be accepting the reality, while
> at the same time trying to play it down: No real marks, good as new, really dumb
> cops, etc.
> The scene is not very realistic.
Maybe. A bought it. For me it looked like the cops weren't doing it enthousiastically, just some routine task. They tried to frighten him but he knew better - he was a foreign citizen, wasn't he?
=====
All the best,
Beer of Werowance AKA Miklos Kallo
Hi Wolfellows,
--- Gregory Smith
>"Pfui. I'm not your father, and would deny it if I were.
Yes, this one is a gem. It's Wolfe to any character of the alphabet.
> Any lawyer, especially a beautiful one, is treacherous and not to be
Again, for me this is Mr. Wolfe who speaks and I can't think of a greater
prize for a Wolfe pastiche writer.
=====
All the best,
Date:
Mon, 27 May 2002 08:21:25 -0400
Subject:
GD: WTD - Chapter 8
SYNOPSIS
Archie arrives home to find Wolfe hiding in the kitchen with Fred, Steve Wyatt, and Fritz. Amy Skinner, daughter of the late DA, is in the office, dressed in mourning.
Naturally (this is a Wolfe story, after all <g>) "she wasn't hard to look at." She's come to see if there's anything she can do to help. We find that although Skinner hated
Wolfe's guts, he also respected Wolfe as an investigator and as a man of discretion.
Amy doesn't have anything of substance to contribute.
Archie offers to walk her home (pff 32nd). When he informs Wolfe, he's informed in turn that Saul, Fred, and Wyatt are looking for a man named Ron Naylor -- we're not
told why. Fritz warns Archie to beware his "weakness towards women in distress."
At her house, Amy invites Archie inside, and they drink hot cocoa with marshmallows. Archie waxes nostalgic for his boyhood in Ohio. Then Archie kisses her. "It must
have been the cocoa." Yeah, right.
DISCUSSION POINTS
This is a touchy-feely chapter. I noted that Fritz and Wolfe both refer to the two 'teers as "Fred and Mr. Wyatt." Fred by his first name, but Steve is "Mr. Wyatt." Is it
because Steve is subcontract? Or haven't they known him long enough? Americans will typically call someone by their first name as soon as they've been introduced,
but Fritz and Wolfe are Old World. How long will it be before they call him Steve?
Much has been said on this list about Archie's relationship with Lily vs. other women. In this chapter, he kisses Amy Skinner. Lest anyone think that Mr. Dixon is writing
Lily Rowan out of the series, he isn't -- she shows up in the next book, _No Body_. I'm going to say any more <g>.
DIXON VS. STOUT
The kissing scene with Amy was "warmer" than anything I can remember from the corpus (though it's been fifteen years since I last read some of the books). But I thought
the run-up to it was very well done. It was credible.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Fritz utters this almost Zen-like line:
>>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku. Would anyone care to contribute four perfect syllables?
Gregory Smith
On Monday, May 27, 2002, ay 8:21:25 AM, you wrote:
>>>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
> Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku.
"But not Goodwin!"
--
Jonathan Andrew Sheen
http://www.leviathanstudios.com
"What'dya expect? I'm a New Yorker!"
> FAVORITE QUOTES
Mr. Wolfe afraid?
Hi Wolfellows,
--- Gregory Smith <beaglewriter@att.net> wrote:
> I noted that Fritz and Wolfe both refer to the two 'teers as "Fred and
The latter for sure.
> Americans will typically call someone by their first name as soon as
A couple of years will do it. (I for one don't call any new acquaintance by his/her
first name. Mainly friends and close colleagues.)
> Much has been said on this list about Archie's relationship with Lily vs. other
We've just discussed TMH - it's the same scheme. Archie is philandering a bit but he
keeps going back to Lily.
> Fritz utters this almost Zen-like line:
Back to cooking. (?) :)
=====
> > Fritz utters this almost Zen-like line:
Montenegrins.
Skinner
At 04:27 PM 5/30/02 , Brian K. Mitchell wrote:
Archie is near.
or
Archie! Bring beer.
At 06:50 PM 5/30/02 , Ken Wildman wrote:
or even:
Archie. Beware!
"Rusterman"
Montenegrins
Montene-grins ;-))))))
----- Original Message -----
> > > Fritz utters this almost Zen-like line:
Date:
Mon, 27 May 2002 22:15:20 -0400
Subject:
GD: WTD - Chapter 9
SYNOPSIS
So Archie gets to have mortress after all. (Several people have contributed descriptions of mortress. I will only add that the recipe dates back to the Middle Ages, and is
mentioned in _The Canterbury Tales_.) He also cops come orchids for Amy Skinner.
The mysterious Mr. Naylor (of whom we still know nothing) has disappeared from work and home, and has yet to be found.
The session with the suspects is due to start at 3:00. The guests will include Lambert, the law clerk, but he's finally filed a writ, and can't be held once the meeting ends.
Wolfe asks Archie to have a taxi waiting, in case someone needs to be followed. Archie arranges for Herb Aronson, a hack we remember from the corpus.
The session opens with Wolfe taking a cheap shot at Rowcliffe, just to show Archie up. "And Wolfe says sometimes I'm puerile."
Wolfe then proceeds to infuriate Mary Dunning by publicly revealing that Tammy Adrian had misplaced information from the Martinez investigation. Dunning is apparently
obsessed with shielding Adrian. Wolfe finally bellows at Adrian directly, bringing Cramer, Dunning, and Lambert to their feet. Adrian, for her part, remains calm and admits
her mistake. Dunning threatens Wolfe: "You can't treat one of my people this way. Especially a woman!"
Abruptly, Wolfe ends the session. Everyone is free to leave. Go. Vamoose. Get outta here. Everyone wonders what the heck is going on. Wolfe passes Archie a note
instructing him to follow Lambert. Archie hoofs it to where Herb and his cab are waiting.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Both Wolfe and Linnings refer to Cramer as "Mr. Cramer," and Wolfe calls Linnings "Mr. Linnings." Whatever happened to that "Inspector" thing? <g>
DIXON VS. STOUT
In this chapter, Wolfe takes a cheap shot, airs some dirty laundry, and then sends everyone home. I must confess that when I read WTD for the first time, it seemed so
pointless that I mentally criticized Mr. Dixon for staging a "big session with the suspects" apparently for no other reason than a Wolfe story requires one. I later found that I
was wrong, though to reveal what Wolfe was trying to (and did) accomplish would be a spoiler.
I encourage everyone to evaluate Mr. Dixon's scenes (in all his books) from this perspective: If the name Rex Stout had been on the cover, would you have accepted it
then? In this case, I can honestly say that I would have. Stout wrote some pretty wild scenes, too, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
This isn't a blind acceptance of everything Mr. Dixon writes. There are scenes in the Dixon pastiches that I can honestly say I wouldn't buy, even if Stout's name was on
the cover. Cramer kitting Dunning is an example. But at the same time, when you're reading a pastiche that you know is a pastiche, it's easy to be critical when it isn't
warranted, as I was when I first read this scene.
Okay, enough of that.... In this chapter we meet the real David Ginosar for the first time. He marches to the beat of his own drummer: An assistant DA with ponytail and a
sense of humor. Mr. Dixon has provided this information about the origin of this character: "David Ginosaur is a good friend. He is currently doing an M. D. internship at a
hospital in Manhattan (starts with St.--?) and really has the nose described." (Note that the real-life Ginosaur has an extra "u" in his name -- gs.)
FAVORITE QUOTES
Wolfe has a definition of integrity which, IMHO, makes the word meaningless, but it sounds so great:
>>A man is responsible only to himself for setting the fences his integrity must not cross.<<
Very individualistic, and very much like Nero Wolfe. But it kind of makes you want to ask each man you meet, whose integrity you have to count on, to provide you in
advance with a map that shows exactly where his fences lie. GPS coordinates would help <g>.
Gregory Smith
Date:
Tue, 28 May 2002 21:38:32 -0400
Subject:
GD: WTD - Chapter 10
SYNOPSIS
Archie (and Herb) follow Lambert towards his apartment. They're in a parade: Saul, Fred, and two cops from Homicide are also tailing Lambert. Steve is covering
Lambert's apartment.
Archie calls Wolfe. Wolfe insists that the "...conference, as short as it was, was most illuminating." But "now we are in a pickle." Naylor must be found. Archie and the
'teers are to converge on Lambert's apartment and lay in wait for Naylor, whom they believe is on his way to kill Lambert.
They set up an ambush, with Steve downstairs on lookout. Naylor arrives and gets jumped. They frisk him for a gun and -- surprise! -- he's not packing. Lambert opens
his door to see what's going on. He tells our heroes that Naylor is his friend, and is expected, so let him go. Meanwhile, Naylor is furious, and only wants a chance to take
on Archie and Co.
Things are *so* not going according to plan.
Archie whips out his cell phone and calls Wolfe. Wolfe gives instructions that IMHO can hardly be called clear, but Archie is a quick study. Archie gives Naylor three
choices: (1) Call for and wait for the police, (2) conduct his business with Lambert, but with our heroes present, or (3) take on Archie and Co. Naylor, who is still furious and
strikes one as something of a hothead, chooses option 3.
He decides to take on Saul first. Another short action scene. Then they help the "gasping" Naylor into Lambert's apartment. Archie leaves them under Saul's and Fred's
guard, and heads downstairs for Steve.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Wolfe uses what is apparently an expletive in a language other than English: _Ypah_. Anyone know what language this is and what it means?
Naylor drives a Porsche 911. Granted, it's not exactly a high-end Porsche, but it still seems like a fancy car to be driving around the wilds of Manhattan.
If I ever hear the line "did you register your hands with the police" again, I think I'll whack the person who says it. <g>
DIXON VS. STOUT
A couple of you have already mentioned on this list that the description of Manhattan's geography contains some mistakes.
Overall, This struck me as a good, solidly written chapter. It moved right along, with a little bit of humor. Made me want to keep reading, to find out who the heck this
Naylor is, and why he's in such a bad mood. <g>
FAVORITE QUOTES
Nothing to report.
Gregory Smith
Date:
Wed, 29 May 2002 21:19:03 -0400
Subject:
GD: WTD - Chapter 11
SYNOPSIS
Archie and Steve head back downtown. Archie calls Wolfe. Wolfe says, "we need a lever for Mr. Lambert." It will be something risky. He then talks to Steve, and then
back to Archie. Wolfe instructs Archie to break into the late DA Skinner's office to search for evidence -- Archie to search the office, and Steve the computer.
Archie is flabbergasted. Break into the DA's office? How will he even get in? Wolfe suggests getting a key from Sue Spinnick. "Use your inestimable charms."
Archie isn't feeling very charming. Steve suggests a direct approach, because, after all, "We aren't doing anything wrong." Mr. Boy Scout. When they arrive at the
Spinnick apartment, Bill is out. Sue is there alone. Archie tries to charm her, but it backfires. Then Bill walks in. Steve tries the direct approach: "Bill, we need to get
some stuff from Mr. Skinner's computer. Can you help us?"
Bill: "Sure. Hon, give them your key."
I thought this was hilarious!
They get into Skinner's office. Archie is going through books from the bookshelf, while Steve works at the computer. They search for almost two hours, and then they're
surprised/caught by Purley Stebbins.
They're hauled down to Cramer's office, where Archie dodges questions and says that Wolfe would be happy to explain. Cramer calls Wolfe. Wolfe tells Cramer he has it
-- the solutions to all four murders. He wants another session: the Spinnicks, Dunning, Adrian, Linnings. He's already got Lambert (as we know).
Cramer tells Archie to clear out.
DISCUSSION POINTS
This chapter has two of the hallmarks of the Wolfe corpus: Wolfe's belief that Archie can charm any woman, and food. Let's take food: On their way to break into
Skinner's office (and maybe get put away for a long time) they call ahead for sandwiches. "Didn't I say cell phones were great?" And after they've been caught, and are
being held in Cramer's office, Wolfe wants to know if they've eaten.
The character of Steve Wyatt gets more development in this chapter than anywhere else in the story. As the chapter opens, the lady in apartment one calls him
"Steven." Aw, shucks! But in fact that one little word, not even spoken in his presence, tells us a lot about his personality. Nice characterization.
Regarding the tempo of the story, at this point, I was in "can't put it down" mode.
DIXON VS. STOUT
At one point Archie calls Herb "Andy." Is this an editorial slip? Or is Andy a nickname for Aronson.
When Stebbins catches Archie in Skinner's office, Archie responds with, "Hi Purley, just catching up on my reading. Needed a quiet place." Very Archie-like.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Nothing to report.
Gregory Smith
At 09:19 PM 5/29/2002 -0400, Gregory Smith wrote:
SYNOPSIS
Archie and Steve head back downtown. Archie calls Wolfe. Wolfe says, "we need a lever for Mr. Lambert." It will be something risky. He then talks to Steve, and then
back to Archie. Wolfe instructs Archie to break into the late DA Skinner's office to search for evidence -- Archie to search the office, and Steve the computer.
Archie is flabbergasted. Break into the DA's office? How will he even get in? Wolfe suggests getting a key from Sue Spinnick. "Use your inestimable charms."
Archie isn't feeling very charming. Steve suggests a direct approach, because, after all, "We aren't doing anything wrong." Mr. Boy Scout. When they arrive at the
Spinnick apartment, Bill is out. Sue is there alone. Archie tries to charm her, but it backfires. Then Bill walks in. Steve tries the direct approach: "Bill, we need to get
some stuff from Mr. Skinner's computer. Can you help us?"
Bill: "Sure. Hon, give them your key."
I thought this was hilarious!
Yes, funny. But have you all noticed Archie's reaction to Steve's charm? I do believe our boy is jealous of Steve. At the beginning of the chapter, Archie says: I asked him (Steve) how he obtained such a sweet spot to settle, and he just looked at me and said, "I asked her. I just told her what I was doing, and what I needed, and she said okay."
Cramer aka Dot
Subject:
GD: WTD - Chapter 12
SYNOPSIS
The big denouement. The guests arrive. Saul and Fred have already brought Lambert and Naylor to West 35th, but Naylor is squirreled away upstairs.
Wolfe makes his entrance. He has to haggle with Dunning to keep her silent during his performance. Then he opens by talking about palimpsests, which are documents
that have been erased and overwritten with different messages. While palimpsests are rare in our modern world, computers have recreated the opportunity for them to
exist, in electronic form. He reveals that Skinner's deleted journal entry was recovered (something that Cramer was keeping secret), and has Archie read it to the group.
Wolfe now reveals that there's a second palimpsest, found by Wyatt that evening, that names the killer. Steve explains that it was a clipboard entry that was paged to
disk. Wolfe has him read it out loud. In it, Skinner says he saw Tammy Adrian with a manager from the Sterling Shipping Company, and they seemed friendly. Skinner
suggests that Adrian may have "lost" the shipping information on purpose.
Lambert loses it. He accuses Wyatt of lying. He says Skinner attacked Tammy, and she killed him in self defense. "She told me so herself!"
Oops! Looks like Wolfe found his lever.
Lambert realizes what he's done. Wolfe asks how he could ever have accepted Adrian's story, and then answers his own question: Lambert is a man of obsessions, and
is obsessed with love for Tammy Adrian.
Dunning turns on Adrian for telling Lambert lies about Skinner.
Now Naylor is brought down. Naylor and Adrian react on seeing each other, and Wolfe introduces Naylor as the man Skinner saw with Adrian, as recorded in the second
palimpsest. Naylor is the real killer of Skinner, and arranged for Raker to kill Bannock and Hu. Naylor also knows who killed Martinez. He and Adrian are partners in what
Wolfe surmises is a smuggling operation.
Cramer wants more evidence. Wolfe insists that the riffraff be removed first. Archie wonders about this, since Wolfe usually likes a crowd when he's showing off, but puts
it down to "...too many killers, liars, and unstable women present."
That isn't the reason.... But that's the next chapter.
DISCUSSION POINTS
I liked the little interruption that Dunning provided at the start of the denouement. It broke up the continuity between Wolfe's entrance and the start of his presentation. It
was refreshingly irritating. Wolfe needs to have his staged events go a little wrong sometimes.
After that, it just Wolfe being Wolfe -- performing.
Wolfe took a cheap shot at Dunning near the end. He told her that if she hadn't interfered with Cramer, Cramer might have found the truth about the lost files, and Skinner
would probably still be alive. Hogwash! Cramer wasn't investigating the lost files -- he sincerely believed they had been accidentally lost, and we can be certain that
Adrian made sure they wouldn't be found. Wolfe dislikes Dunning, and he really can be puerile sometimes.
Wolfe says Adrian didn't directly kill anyone. "Kill someone? Miss Adrian? Bah! ...A beautiful woman with her charms? ...People are always more than willing to do things
for her." Yeah, like open elevator doors. And murder. Some charms! <g>
DIXON VS. STOUT
There were a couple of phrases during Wolfe's performance that didn't ring true for me:
"If you allow me to the finish line unhindered...." Finish line? That isn't a phrase that I expected to hear rolling off Wolfe's lips.
"Maybe a musty pirate's cave." Maybe? I don't know.... How about "Perhaps a musty pirate cave"?
And at one point Wolfe actually says, "eh." EH???
Bannock, Hu, and Martinez are refered to as Mr. Bannock, Mr. Hu, and Mr. Martinez. Whatever happened to Detective and Officer?
Also, am I just getting pickier, or are there more typos in this chapter than in the early ones? For example, palimpsest is inconsistenty italicized. There are unclosed quote
marks, and spelling errors. I don't hold any of these against Mr. Dixon: If he were a professional writer, he would have a professional publisher, who would have a
professional editor to catch stuff like this. What we're reading (most of us, anyway
Overall, the performance was smooth and powerful. Dominating. It had to be, because it was based on flummery. Oops -- next chapter <g>.
FAVORITE QUOTES
This was a good performance, with mostly Wolfean lines, but while most of them were good, I didn't see any good enough to single out.
Gregory Smith
Date:
Fri, 31 May 2002 21:59:56 -0400
Subject:
GD: WTD - Chapter 13
SYNOPSIS
Everyone leaves except Cramer. (Linnings is amazed -- that's the extent of his character development in this story <g>.)
Wolfe spills it all. He suspected Adrian from the get-go for three reasons: Skinner becoming "gender conscious" (well put, BTW) in his journal, Adrian's having run her
card through the electronic door seconds after Bill Spinnick, and the similarity between "Adrian" and "Adriatic," as in Adriatic Shipping. Wolfe surmised that Bannock,
after finishing his fraud business, did some informal perusing of the bank's records regarding the shipping companies. While going through alphabetized lists of Adraitic
checks, Bannock stumbled on a check to Adrian, probably from Naylor. Bannock found Naylor (who worked in the same building) and asked him to explain. Naylor had
Raker kill the two detectives to conceal his connection to Adrian.
Wolfe confirmed these surmises by sending Saul to the bank. Saul, disguised as a dock worker, found the Adrian check by a ruse. That was what put them on Naylor's
trail.
Next, Wolfe knew that Adrian had somehow learned that Skinner was suspicious of her, and that he had a 6:00 pm appointment with Wolfe. That was obvious because
she sent Raker to kill them. But how did she learn this? That led Wolfe to Lambert, Skinner's confidant, and to the theory that Lambert was in love with Adrian. Lambert's
knowledge was a liability to Adrian and Naylor, and Wolfe knew they would try to kill him as soon as he was out of police custody. Hence the ambush in the hallway.
The coup de grace (which we've seen coming): Wolfe "manufactured" the second palimpsest. Steve had really found nothing on Skinner's computer. Archie and Steve
had broken into Skinner's office for no other reason than to set the stage for the bogus palimpsest.
Archie glowers at Wolfe.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Cramer calls the palimpsest a "palindrome." Cute.
Wolfe comments on our language's lack of a gender-neutral pronoun. This _can_ make things awkward sometimes. Many years ago I read a proposal to create a new
gender-neutral pronoun by combining the words "she," "he," and "it." The proposal... well, you can figure it out. <g>
Cramer takes for granted that Bannock would have gone through the bank's records for information on the Martinez killing. Now, I'm not a lawyer, but wouldn't anything
he found that way be inadmissable? His subpeona would have limited him to specific information related to the fraud case. Wouldn't anything beyond that constitute an
illegal search? Or, once he was "in" to the bank's computer, was he legally entitled to "look around," as long as the bank clerk (who wasn't paying attention) didn't
object. Any lawyers out there?
Wolfe calls computers "That pinnacle of what's wrong with the industrial revolution." Do we really think Wolfe is a Luddite? Or is he saying that the industrial revolution
itself isn't inherently bad, but has been led astray by computers.
Another techno-phobe double-standard: Wolfe disparangingly points out that Skinner's journal entry could have been typed by the killer, to mislead. This is why
"computers are not to be trusted." Of course, paper letters and memoes can be forged as well. But that's not worthy of Wolfe's criticism or note.
DIXON VS. STOUT
Wolfe says (about Dunning), "She would have had to tell a fellow in the cause, or bust" Bust? Aw, come on, Mr. Dixon. At least use "burst." But other than that, I
though the pontificating style of Wolfe's dialog (er, monologue) was very good.
Dixon telegraphed that Wolfe had "manufactured" the second palimpsest. I think that could have been done better. At least Steve could have making notes as he
worked in Skinner's office, so Archie would have seen him writing.
FAVORITE LINES
Wolfe, on love:
>>"That Lambert believed her, and did not suspect his life was in peril, shows how far he had sunk into the bog of her charms."<<
Indeed. I'm afraid I've sunk that far into the bog once or twice in my life. Luckily, none of my ladies have been murderers. At least, as far as I know <g>.
Wolfe, on computers:
>>"They are benign looking boxes that belie the sordid workings of unseen bits; who dance their turgid dance, always to the tune of the capricious daemons within."<<
I especially liked the phrase "sordid workings of unseen bits." Kind of made me want to take the cover off my PC, to see what was _really_ going on in there. Oh, my!
<g>
Gregory Smith
Wolfe comments on our language's lack of a gender-neutral pronoun. This
_can_ make things awkward sometimes. Many years ago I read a proposal to
create a new
gender-neutral pronoun by combining the words "she," "he," and "it." The
proposal... well, you can figure it out. <g>
it-she-he = itchy? ?
;->
Date:
Sat, 01 Jun 2002 18:59:15 -0400
Subject:
GD: WTD - Chapter 14
SYNOPSIS
This is the wrap-up. Archie is mad at Wolfe for setting him up in Skinner's office. The police have found evidence on the bad guys, and nailed Martinez's killer. Lon Cohen
got an exclusive. Adrian, Raker, and Naylor have all been convicted. Cramer has been reinstated at Homicide, and Lennings (now it's back to "Lennings") is back on the
East side. Archie hints that he got on well with Amy Skinner. THE END.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Stebbins is said to have a gold tooth. Is that from the corpus?
DIXON VS. STOUT
I mentioned earlier that Mr. Dixon had provided information on some of the characters. I'd like to close with what he had to say about Steve Wyatt, the new 'teer:
"Steve Wyatt has a little of me in him. I like the idea of a detective who will often get his way simply by being honest and nice. I don't know if that works in the big city, but I
like to think it might. I wish I had not made him look like Alfred E. Neuman, though. I doubt it is in Archie's character to describe him like that."
FAVORITE LINES
A typical Archie line, that leaves a door open for the future:
>>He was trying to buy me off, so I'm looking for an opportunity to show him I can't be bought.<<
Gregory Smith
Just wanted to say -- Good job on leading the discussion! Sorry I
couldn't join in, but I've been reading as time allows.
_________________________________________________
Rachel Christine Hatcher Luther
> DIXON VS. STOUT
I think one of the main differences between Dixon and Stout
--WD
Date:
Sat, 01 Jun 2002 19:14:59 -0400
Subject:
GD: WTD Haiku, and on to _No Body_
We're at the end of my participation, at least, in the discussion of Glenn Dixon's _Welcome to Death_. I'm going to be unavailable for the next week. I hope those of you
who haven't read _No Body_, the next Dixon story, will take advantage of this time to read it. When I return, and dig out from the mountain of spam I'll have received
while gone, we'll start the discussion of NB -- I hope on June 8th or 9th.
To close out my part in WTD, I'd like to remind you of Fritz's "Zen-like utterance":
>>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
Fritz, as we know, melds cooking with life in the brownstone on West 35th, and reflects wisdom on the world at large. I asked for four perfect syllables to complete a
Haiku, and several of you responded. They're listed below, for you to enjoy, or discuss if you wish. To make them easier to reference, I've numbered them in reverse
order (I was going backward through my e-mail):
----------------
#1a) Ken Wildman (3 entries):
She is very beautiful;
#1b):
#1c):
#2) Skinner:
She is very beautiful;
#3) Beer of Werowance:
She is very beautiful;
#4) Jonathan Andrew Sheen:
She is very beautiful;
#5a) Walt Doherty rewrote it in true 5-7-5 Haiku form as:
Mr. Wolfe afraid?
#5b) Walt Doherty's variation on #2:
She is very beautiful;
----------------
I've been known to write a Haiku myself, and was considering answering my own challenge, but I was blown away by #4. As soon as I read it, I saw Goodwin with a
twinkle in his eye <g>. I could never top that, so I gave up. I tip my hat to Jonathan Andrew Sheen, and thanks to everyone!
Gregory Smith
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
> #4) Jonathan Andrew Sheen:
I won't say I was blown awzay, but it does seem to
;->
Hi Wolfellows,
--- Gregory Smith <beaglewriter@att.net> wrote:
I have really enjoyed this. Satisfactory.
=====
Beer of Werowance AKA Miklos Kallo
<beerowance@yahoo.com>
For the list of Noms taken and rules check
It is way past time for me to jump in and make some comments. I have
enjoyed every discussion topic, especially the haiku. I've written a
few myself, mostly in Japanese, but I don't think I can outdo Mr.
Sheen's. I will respond to a few topics, and if I don't comment on
one you're interested in, please forgive me, or ask again.
Manhattan streets: Years ago Dot Moran was very kind to point out some
of my mistakes regrading NYC streets and other geography. I think I
may have corrected some mistakes in the online revision of WTD, but I
remember leaving some in deliberately. I don't remember why I did
this, but I think it was because I didn't want to change the original
version too much. I studied maps, NYC history, and made a visit to
Manhattan between the second and third stories, so hopefully things
will get better.
I actually lived near Manhattan once, so I must have a little bit of
the grime in me somewhere, but I was only three at the time. I have
recollections of visiting Manhattan a couple of times--the Empire
State Building and going to a rodeo at Madison Square Garden and
seeing Silver, the Lone Ranger's horse. I got lost in the subway
afterward and was traumatized, so at least that memory is vivid. A
nice man in an overcoat and hat helped me find my Dad.
Chapter 12: Gregory pointed out that chapter 12 had some typos and
appeared to be written in haste. Actually, Chapt 12 was a rewrite,
and I guess I didn't proofread it very well. Even after the rewrite I
felt I had not written that chapter clearly or well, so we'll chalk it
up to the errors of a tyro.
As you know, Stout never revised (he made plenty of typos, though).
Only the second story, _No Body_, was written Stout-style. It has not
been revised beyond minor typing and grammatical errors since I wrote
it. WTD was revised mostly to make things clearer. There were no
plot changes that I remember.
Steve Wyatt: I think Archie is a little jealous of Steve, but the
jealousy is complicated because Archie genuinely like Steve. He
thinks Steve is too naive, and has a sincere desire to show him the
ropes and make a good detective of him.
I have received many comments about the stories ranging from
enthusiatic to derision. But it seems that everyone likes Wyatt and
wants to see more of him. I've toyed with the idea of doing a story
starring this innocent abroad.
PLOT NOTES
The beginning chapter of WTD was the answer to my question to
myself, "what happens if someone comes to the Brownstone and just
starts shooting?". On several occasions Archie mentions that there
are quite a few people who wouldn't mind helping Wolfe shuffle off, so
it seemed quite likely that someone might come into the brownstone on
some pretext, or by simply making an appointment, and start shooting.
The question bothered me for a while, because I knew Archie would
handle it somehow, but couldn't figure out how he would do it. I
dismissed the notion that Archie would get it in the hallway, since
that is always the time he is on guard with an unknown visitor, and no
professional would take on an equally skilled pro like Archie while
Archie was still on his feet. A pro would figure he could make his
move as soon as Archie was distracted by something.
The chance came, of course, when Archie opened his notebook and
started taking notes. This would have been the first safe opportunity
to act, I think. I finally realized what Archie would do in that
situation, and he did it.
When I started writing WTD, several years had passed since any Wolfe
had been written by anyone. Though the Brownstone Family (and
Cramer!) does not age, Stout does mark the passing of time. For
example, in _Please Pass the Guilt_ Fred's kids are troubled
teenagers, where in earlier stories they are younger. I felt that
starting with Cramer retired would be a good way to show time had
passed. A little better than starting with Wolfe retired, which is
what Goldsborough did.
Of course, a Wolfe story cannot be Wolfe without Cramer. Though he
does step out a time or two in earlier stories, it is only because
what happens isn't on his turf. So it isn't long before Cramer is back
in, as Wolfe's client. You can certainly tell what tickles me: Cramer
as a client, police having the tables turned on them by being bullied
by Wolfe, and Archie breaking into police HQ.
Though I may not have written it too clearly, I felt like the ending
was good Wolfe, with Wolfe manipulating people through a stunt.
The fact that I felt I hadn't written certain parts too clearly was my
motivation for writing the second story. Could I write clearly and
economically? Could I maintain a consistent tone through a story?
Could that tone be a little more reminiscent of early Wolfe? These
were my goals in writing _No Body_.
Of the three stories, _No Body_ is, in my opinion, the best written.
It is also the least liked by anyone. I will justify these statements
in a later post.
Thanks to Gregory for conducting an excellent discussion. He
obviously spent a lot of time at it.
Regards,
Glenn Dixon
> trusted. Don't let yourself be ensnared. Come
> home. I need you here. There is a bereaved woman here."
Beer of Werowance AKA Miklos Kallo
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
> Would anyone care to contribute four perfect syllables?
Leviathan of the GEI (Detached.)
jsheen@leviathanstudios.com
-Anonymous New York Firefighter, 9/12/01
>
> Fritz utters this almost Zen-like line:
>
> >>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
>
> Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku. Would anyone care
to contribute four perfect syllables?
>
. . . She is very beautiful.
Mr. Wolfe . . . afraid!
> Mr. Wyatt." Fred by his first name, but Steve is "Mr. Wyatt." Is it
> because Steve is subcontract? Or haven't they known him long enough?
> they've been> introduced, but Fritz and Wolfe are Old World.
European!
> How long will it be before they call him Steve?
> women. In this chapter, he kisses Amy Skinner. Lest anyone think that Mr. Dixon
> is writing Lily Rowan out of the series, he isn't --
> >>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
> Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku. Would anyone care to
> contribute four perfect syllables?
All the best,
Beer of Werowance AKA Miklos Kallo
> > >>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
> > Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku. Would anyone
care to
> > contribute four perfect syllables?
>
> Back to cooking. (?) :)
> > > Fritz utters this almost Zen-like line:
> > > >>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
> > > Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku. Would anyone
>care to
> > > contribute four perfect syllables?
> >
Ken
>At 04:27 PM 5/30/02 , Brian K. Mitchell wrote:
>> > > Fritz utters this almost Zen-like line:
>> > > >>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
>> > > Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku. Would anyone
>>care to
>> > > contribute four perfect syllables?
>> >
>
>Archie is near.
>
>or
>
>Archie! Bring beer.
Ken Wildman
From: "Brian K. Mitchell" <moleskinner@hubwest.com>
To: "Beer of Werowance" <beerowance@yahoo.com>
Cc: <wolfe-list@mirror.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 1:27 PM
Subject: Re: GD: WTD - Chapter 8
> > > >>She is very beautiful; Mr. Wolfe is afraid.<<
> > > Four more syllables and it could be a wonderful Haiku. Would anyone
> care to
> > > contribute four perfect syllables?
> >
> > Back to cooking. (?) :)
>
>
> Montenegrins.
>
>
> Skinner
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Archie's reaction: "It was his looks that did it. I would have had to think up some sort of angle."
Then, after Steve asks Bill simply, can you help us, and Bill gets the key for them and gives them his badge,
Archie says: "I couldn't believe it. How did Steve do it?"
I do hear lots of envy in those comments. Is Archie losing confidence in his "charm women" abilities?
Date:
Thu, 30 May 2002 21:42:06 -0400
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
Stories at: http:\\underdogishere.com\dixon
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord,
only makest me dwell in safety. -- Psalm 4:8
>
is that this (WTD) is much better plotted. To me, Stout's
stories are usually very straight-forward, and there are few,
if any, sub-plots. One of the things I liked about WTD was
the story of the murder combined with Cramer's situation.
Nicely intertwined and actually dependant on each other.
Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
Archie is near.
She is very beautiful;
Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
Archie! Bring beer.
She is very beautiful;
Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
Archie. Beware!
Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
Montenegrins.
Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
Back to cooking.
Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
But not Goodwin!
She is very beautiful.
Mr. Wolfe . . . afraid!
Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
Montene-grins.
>
> She is very beautiful;
> Mr. Wolfe is afraid.
> But not Goodwin!
>
> I've been known to write a Haiku myself, and was considering answering my
own challenge, but I was blown away by #4. As soon as I read it, I saw
Goodwin with a
> twinkle in his eye
hat to Jonathan Andrew Sheen, and thanks to everyone!
sum up in a very few words, part of the major
characterizations of Wolfe and Archie and their relationship.
I doubt it could be put more concisely.
> We're at the end of my participation, at least, in the discussion of
> Glenn Dixon's _Welcome to Death_.
Keep up the good work.
All the best,
http://www.extra.hu/beer or http://www.nexus.hu/mic/beer
Thumbs Meeker
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