Mystery 101
Posted by jaytomio on May 15, 2008
Over at the Mysterybookspot.com Brian gives people trying to take their first or second step into mystery with A Mystery/Crime Fiction Primer.
When I look at something like this I can’t help but think how much I don’t like the ’specialist’ mentality. That isn’t to say that these authors consider themselves what people slot them as but the fact that people can file on some type of consistent basis/outcome for some completely senseless reason bothers me. I admit this just be an artificial way for me to raise authors I enjoy, but in discussions we had at the old ‘bookspot I look at the authors of some of my favorite mystery books - Chabon, Lethem, Auster, Banville (Benjamin Black), Jeffrey Ford, Eco, Kobo Abe and what I’m left with are authors that certainly are not considered mystery writers. I look at a Ian Pears and I find I only like the work he did where we unshackled himself from the members only jacket (An Instance of the Fingerpost).
Another danger in labels is that mystery is taking taking (for me) the role of fantasy where just about every quality book can claim it by single element. Isn’t VanderMeer’s Shriek: and Afterword essentially a mystery? Danielewski’s House of Leaves? Hell, Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is a one big mystery surrounded by min-mysteries, with more consistent talk of what, and whodunit than any mystery/crime book you will find on the web right now.
At any rate check out Brian’s list and be on the lookout for some sweet new exclusives coming up. Hopefully my interviews will be coming up soon, and a fresh new look for FBS, and sweet Heliotrope announcements for issue#5!
