[LMB] dick francis, was trashy books for guys

[Peter H. Granzeau]

At 08:43 PM 2/2/2008, Tzivia Adler wrote:

>i got hooked on dick frances when my mom decided i was reading to much

Francis.

>sf/fantasy (gee, you think?) in my teens, and since i was still at the 'ooh,
>horses!' age, decided that early frances mysteries would be a good change of
>pace.*  she had read most of them at that point, so maybe he's not a
>guy-type writer?  my dad wouldn't touch his stuff.

He was evidently pretty dependent on his wife, Mary, for research and 
editing.  Some claimed he didn't write anything himself, she did, and 
pointed to his lack of production after her death in 2000--but he was 
80 years old, too.  He's recently produced another novel, with his 
son, Felix, serving whatever role Mary had.

>i read most of the executioner and destroyer books from my dad's shelves
>when i ran out of library books before the weekly book run... until he
>noticed that i was reading his trashy books and told me not to do it
>anymore.  he also had early darkover books, which my mom wouldn't touch, but
>i don't think those are classified guy books....
>
>i adore the fact that in the later books, frances researched all the roles
>his heroes play.  painter, pilot, photographer... then he does a few
>starring each type.  why waste research on just one book? :)  glass-blower,
>not so much

It appears that his wife did most of that.

-- 
Regards, Pete
pgranzeau at cox.net