Comments on: The Banter Gold Standard: Parker

By: Alex Belth

Alex Belth — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:11:13 +0000

4) Yes, he was. Also, don’t let the fist one fool you. I thought after reading it that the series might be one-note–Parker as a revenge machine. But starting in the second book, the tone is different. Again, it’s about professionals at work.

By: garydsimms

garydsimms — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:54:19 +0000

I’ve also had them on my “wish list” forever at Amazon. Just decided to order the first one (available in regular paperback, used).
By the way, was Lee Marvin fabulous?

By: Alex Belth

Alex Belth — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:27:43 +0000

Matt, I’m so with you on the mass market paperback thing. I suppose it’s just not a consideration in the age of tablets, though they stopped making a ton of them before that. I can’t figure it.

Anyhow, I’ve read the first four of the Parker books and they are terrific. All weigh in at around 213 pages. Terse, unadorned prose, but not in affected way. And the beauty of it is that Parker is a true professional and that’s really what the books are about–pro’s at work. They are right up your alley. So far, the first one–which they based “Point Blank” on–is the most vicious. But they aren’t one note.

By: Matt Blankman

Matt Blankman — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:22:33 +0000

Amazingly, Alex, I have never read a Stark/Parker novel! I keep meaning too, but damn, so many books…

I also wish they still printed them as mass market paperbacks. I hate trade paperbacks – they don’t fit in your goddamn pocket.

By: The Mick536

The Mick536 — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:20:59 +0000

Point Blank still works. Never read one of Stark’s books, though met Westlake at a murder mystery weekend many years ago. Hard to tell he was whom he was. Just wonderfully down to earth, creative and entertaining. As an aside, at the program which was held in a hotel in the gunks, the lights went out during a storm. Cool.