tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413013422636027916.post8727904714198207157..comments2024-03-05T10:32:32.208+00:00Comments on IRRESISTIBLE TARGETS: JOE GORES' INTERFACE A Forgotten Friday (the 13th) EntryMichael Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490121869284175945noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413013422636027916.post-4026577410016565852019-09-05T23:55:20.010+01:002019-09-05T23:55:20.010+01:00I enjoyed it, but I'd certainly rate the Parke...I enjoyed it, but I'd certainly rate the Parker novels of the 70's over it and Eddie Coyle. Having just reread The Maltese Falcon, I would have to say Spade was a more morally troublesome character, since he has a conscience, but opts not to make use of it--people keep confusing him with the Bogart character in the movie. <br /><br />The problem with the two protagonists of Gores' novel is that the twist requires never really getting inside their heads at all, which makes character development a challenge. I suppose that's part of the allure as well, but there's not quite enough there there. Westlake did a better job making Parker an enigma while still giving us some insights into his true nature. Obviously both Spade and Parker are influences here, but that's not such a stretch, since Westlake very clearly drew on Spade as one of the influences on Parker. Gores clearly recognized that, so it's a double homage. <br /><br />And the one thing all the great private detective novels of all eras have in common is that they have nothing to do with what a private detective really does for a living. The DKA novels could have done, but then nobody would have read them. Gores certainly was one of the finest exponents of this form, but he was not in quite the same league as Hammett or Westlake.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00271250698430923736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413013422636027916.post-42853400823506086162009-03-13T23:58:00.000+00:002009-03-13T23:58:00.000+00:00INTERFACE is one of my favorite crime books. Just...INTERFACE is one of my favorite crime books. Just absolutely merciless. And you're right, the tone is the same as films such as DIRTY HARRY or THE FRENCH CONNECTION.Graham Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775285782385634486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-413013422636027916.post-7504399583817790392009-03-13T17:32:00.000+00:002009-03-13T17:32:00.000+00:00Excellent post about an excellent book. Interface ...Excellent post about an excellent book. Interface is a favorite of mine. I have a first edition that I would love to have Mr. Gores sign.<BR/><BR/>And I would recommend The Siege of Trencher's Farm. It differs quite a bit from Straw Dogs in some signifcant ways. <BR/><BR/>A Time of Predators and Trencher's Farm (and Straw Dogs) are excellent revenge stories and stand in sharp contrast to say, something like Last House on the Left, which is a terrible movie that's been remade into what is undoubtedly another terrible movie.Nathan Cainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18364739659597230106noreply@blogger.com