[LMB] Canonical Detectives

[Pouncer at aol.com]

Jim Parish jparish at siue.edu writes,
in referring to 
 
>> the "hard-boiled" investigator / detective 
>> of the  Lew Archer, Travis McGee, Spenser 
>> model
 
> I could see such a character in ...
> a city which is sullenly  but firmly under 
> Ceta control, perhaps in Vordarian's District.  
> ...many ...would be reluctant to trust the 
> "legitimate (Ceta)  authorities", and there 
> could easily be a netherworld - part 
>  Resistance, part Mob ...to provide ...
> for good noirish  stories.
 
Not Sam Spade so much as Rick Blaine, I see.
Yeah,that works. I see  that.
 
In fact, I'm tempted to see and raise you.
 
Your backdrop provides, also, the Glittering 
Galactics: Jacksonian  carpet-baggers, 
Athosian missionaries, Hegan Hustlers, 
bohemians from  Komarr scrounging for a 
tenth-share of a venture. Many of the 
sort of  riff-raff Baz (later) recruited 
in Tau Verde system as likely mercenaries.  
A broken-hearted Betan ex-gun-runnner 
operating a casino under the  watchful
eyes of the colaborating police while the 
occupation hunts for  the beautiful woman 
from Escobarran who will lead them to the 
famous  resistance organizer from Marilac ... 
 
Nah. I think Pournelle already adapted all 
THAT for Niven's  Kzin/Known Space shared 
universe. Not to mention what Madonna
has  planned... 
 
What you see is why I can't do this anymore. 
Too easily carried away.  


I wonder if missing this transitional bit of 
Barrayaran history, I'm similar to many 
Barrayarans themselves.  Ezar's Ministry of
Political Education would, I suppose, have
been rather Orwellian in attempting to
blot out any suggestion that any area or
any era was tolerably well run during the
Occupation.  To suggest that it might have
been dark but stable might have involved
crimethink of doubleplusungooditude.
--



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