Mystery and fantasy

[gryphonrhi]

I was considering ltlj's ebay auction (and reminding myself that my Lindsey Davis books are temporarily packed and I'm not buying, really!) and I started thinking about a type in detective fiction: the proud and/or stubborn near-loser, frequently a depressed alcoholic. What is it with this type in detective literature? Holmes had his weakness for

Comments

[vaznetti]

I don't remember much about the Amber books (I liked them, but not enough to reread) but I do remember being irritated by the gender imbalance--but I also put it down to the author. The series was started rather a long time ago, and gender stereotypes were different then.

You know, the thing I like best about Falco is the extent to which he doesn't fit the usual PI stereotype (which I think of as the loner maverick). He tries for it, but it's so obviously just a pose for him--and of course, the fact that he can't walk more than fifty feet without being accosted by a relative only makes it worse. He can't be a loner, no matter how much he'd like to be.

[gryphonrhi]

::giggling:: Oh, don't get me wrong. I like Falco. Mostly, I'm thinking of him turning down the chance to move up a social class from sheer pride, and how much grief that's caused him. But you're right; having his family show up everywhere is just hilarious.

Yeah, I'm wondering if the imbalance isn't mostly due to their age, now that you mention it. Pity, though.

Loner/maverick

[gryphonrhi]

Hmm. Any idea on what it is about this stereotype showing up so much in detective fiction, though?

Re: Loner/maverick

[kanjin]

Just a guess, mind you - but most of the hard-boiled detective fiction I've read dealt with the really bad subjects, plumbing the depths to which human behavior can sink. Now someone who deals with that day after day, year after year, they'd be affected by it. And they find ways to cope. Holmes' cocaine addiction - escape from reality. Wimsey's lack of seriousness - if it can't touch him, it can't hurt him. Falco, well, all the world around him is rotten and corrupt but he is not going to be. He wouldn't call it pride (thought Helena would!) but integrity. And in my more cynical hours I believe him.

Make any sense?

Re: Loner/maverick

[gryphonrhi]

::Nodding:: Makes a lot of sense. You're saying it's a necessary compensation for the work they do, thus almost unavoidable. Okay, I can see that. Thanks for indulging me while I wonder about such things!

Re: Loner/maverick

[kanjin]

You're very welcome. And anyway, these things are fun to figure out!