Game 17: Reminder+Book 2
Dual-Purpose Post, here: First, it's a reminder that there's less than 24 hours left to guess lines for book one. At present, I have lines but no votes from tsukata and tenacitydrader.
And second, it's to introduce book two: Fletch and the Man Who, by Gregory Macdonald. Originally published in 1983, although I'm using the 2004 edition for cover text. The first novel in this series, publication-order-wise was made into a movie starring Chevy Chase. (The sequel to this movie was not based on any of Mcdonald's books.) The 'prequel', the book in the series set first in the internal timeline, has been in development as a movie for years with various actors and directors attached. This is the last, timeline-chronologically-speaking, of the 'proper' Fletch novels. (There are two more with the character in them, but the main character in both is Jack, Fletch's son.)
First, a brief Excerpt from the front cover:
"A girl jumped off the motel's roof. Five minutes ago..."
"Give it to me straight. Does the girl have anything to do with us? I mean, the campaign? The presidential candidate?"
"It's your job, Fletch, to make damned sure she didn't."
And second, the Back Cover text:
When Fletch arrives as the new press representative for Governor Caxton Wheeler's presidential campaign, he isn't sure which mystery to solve first: what his new job actually is or why the campaign has been leaving dead women in its tracks.
He finds himself on the other side of the press, a human shield deflecting the questions he is asking himself. Are the murders just coincidence, or is a coldhearted killer looking for a job in the White House?
When the campaign shifts into high gear, Fletch's skills are working overtime in a desperate bid of his own tofind the killer and make sure the governor doesn't lose any more votes.
And third, a larger Excerpt:
"It gives me great pleasure," the governor said, "to introduce one of your own colleagues to you-"
"Hardly," said Freedie Arbuthnot.
"-I. M. Fletcher-"
"Politicians will say anything," said Ira Lapin.
"-whom we've employed to hand out press releases to you-"
"He speeled Spiersville wrong already this morning!" shouted Fenella Baker. "It's ie, everybody, not ee!"
"-do your research for you, free of charge, did out an answer to your every question, however obstuse and trivial,and generally,to say things about me that I'd blush to have said myself."
"He's a complete crook," said the man wearing the Daily Gospel badge.
"Now, I know some of you miss ol' James," continued the governor. "I do too...more than you'll ever know." The governor pulled his touch-of-sentiment face. To Fletch, seeing the expression in profile, it seemed the governor was too obviously clocking the seconds he held the expression. "But, and you know, ol' James decided he wanted to go somewhere more agreeable."
"Yeah," Lansing Sayer said. "When anyone goes to play tennis, James wants to go play tennis."
"So," said the governor, coloring slightly behind the ear, "I'll leave ol' Fletch in your hands." Walsh had told Fletch to ride the press bus that morning. "Try not to chew him up and spit him out this morning. Can't promise you that lunch is going to be that good."
"Hey, Governor," shouted Joe Hall. "Any response yet to the President's statement on South Africa last night?"
Waving, the governor left the bus.
Fletch picked up the microphone. The bus driver turned on the speaker system for him.
"Good morning," Fletch said. "As the governor's press representative, I make you the solemn promise that I will never lie to you. Today, on this bus, we will be passing through Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, New York, and Keokuk, Iowa. Per usual, at midday you will be flown to San Francisco for lunch. Today's menu is clam chowder, pheasant under glass, roast Chilean lamb, and a strawberry mousse from Maine. Everything the governor says today will be significant, relevant, wise, to the point, and as fresh as the lilies in the fiend."
"In fact," Fenella Baker said, trying to look through the steamy window, "it's snowing out."
The other side of the motel's front door, Doris Wheeler was climbing into the back of a small, black sedan. Today the campaign would head southwest in the state; the candidate's wife would go north. The governor would ride the campaign bus, in front of the press bus.
"Any questions you have for me," Fletch continued, "write backwards and offer to your editors as think-pieces. Just ask your editors to label such fanciful essays as 'Analysis.'"
"Fletch, is it true you're a crook?" Roy Filby asked.
"No," said Fletch, "but if any of you run short of cash, just ask me and I'll put you in contact with people who will supply you with all you want at a modest charge of twenty-percent interest daily."
"Oh, you work for a credit card company, too?"
"Is it true you saved Walsh Wheeler's life overseas?" Fenella Baker asked.
"That's another thing," Fletch said. "I will never evade any of your questions."
He turned the microphone off and hung it up.
Poll Game 17 Book 2
Deadline: Monday, noonish Pacific time.
And second, it's to introduce book two: Fletch and the Man Who, by Gregory Macdonald. Originally published in 1983, although I'm using the 2004 edition for cover text. The first novel in this series, publication-order-wise was made into a movie starring Chevy Chase. (The sequel to this movie was not based on any of Mcdonald's books.) The 'prequel', the book in the series set first in the internal timeline, has been in development as a movie for years with various actors and directors attached. This is the last, timeline-chronologically-speaking, of the 'proper' Fletch novels. (There are two more with the character in them, but the main character in both is Jack, Fletch's son.)
First, a brief Excerpt from the front cover:
"A girl jumped off the motel's roof. Five minutes ago..."
"Give it to me straight. Does the girl have anything to do with us? I mean, the campaign? The presidential candidate?"
"It's your job, Fletch, to make damned sure she didn't."
And second, the Back Cover text:
When Fletch arrives as the new press representative for Governor Caxton Wheeler's presidential campaign, he isn't sure which mystery to solve first: what his new job actually is or why the campaign has been leaving dead women in its tracks.
He finds himself on the other side of the press, a human shield deflecting the questions he is asking himself. Are the murders just coincidence, or is a coldhearted killer looking for a job in the White House?
When the campaign shifts into high gear, Fletch's skills are working overtime in a desperate bid of his own tofind the killer and make sure the governor doesn't lose any more votes.
And third, a larger Excerpt:
"It gives me great pleasure," the governor said, "to introduce one of your own colleagues to you-"
"Hardly," said Freedie Arbuthnot.
"-I. M. Fletcher-"
"Politicians will say anything," said Ira Lapin.
"-whom we've employed to hand out press releases to you-"
"He speeled Spiersville wrong already this morning!" shouted Fenella Baker. "It's ie, everybody, not ee!"
"-do your research for you, free of charge, did out an answer to your every question, however obstuse and trivial,and generally,to say things about me that I'd blush to have said myself."
"He's a complete crook," said the man wearing the Daily Gospel badge.
"Now, I know some of you miss ol' James," continued the governor. "I do too...more than you'll ever know." The governor pulled his touch-of-sentiment face. To Fletch, seeing the expression in profile, it seemed the governor was too obviously clocking the seconds he held the expression. "But, and you know, ol' James decided he wanted to go somewhere more agreeable."
"Yeah," Lansing Sayer said. "When anyone goes to play tennis, James wants to go play tennis."
"So," said the governor, coloring slightly behind the ear, "I'll leave ol' Fletch in your hands." Walsh had told Fletch to ride the press bus that morning. "Try not to chew him up and spit him out this morning. Can't promise you that lunch is going to be that good."
"Hey, Governor," shouted Joe Hall. "Any response yet to the President's statement on South Africa last night?"
Waving, the governor left the bus.
Fletch picked up the microphone. The bus driver turned on the speaker system for him.
"Good morning," Fletch said. "As the governor's press representative, I make you the solemn promise that I will never lie to you. Today, on this bus, we will be passing through Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, New York, and Keokuk, Iowa. Per usual, at midday you will be flown to San Francisco for lunch. Today's menu is clam chowder, pheasant under glass, roast Chilean lamb, and a strawberry mousse from Maine. Everything the governor says today will be significant, relevant, wise, to the point, and as fresh as the lilies in the fiend."
"In fact," Fenella Baker said, trying to look through the steamy window, "it's snowing out."
The other side of the motel's front door, Doris Wheeler was climbing into the back of a small, black sedan. Today the campaign would head southwest in the state; the candidate's wife would go north. The governor would ride the campaign bus, in front of the press bus.
"Any questions you have for me," Fletch continued, "write backwards and offer to your editors as think-pieces. Just ask your editors to label such fanciful essays as 'Analysis.'"
"Fletch, is it true you're a crook?" Roy Filby asked.
"No," said Fletch, "but if any of you run short of cash, just ask me and I'll put you in contact with people who will supply you with all you want at a modest charge of twenty-percent interest daily."
"Oh, you work for a credit card company, too?"
"Is it true you saved Walsh Wheeler's life overseas?" Fenella Baker asked.
"That's another thing," Fletch said. "I will never evade any of your questions."
He turned the microphone off and hung it up.
Poll Game 17 Book 2
Deadline: Monday, noonish Pacific time.