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A new "favorite author"...
Jul. 10th, 2014 10:35 amThe scare quotes in the subject are there to remind me of the fact that "favorite" is a very transient adjective, in this context, meaning almost nothing at all, but I digress... (assuming one can do so before actually having set out on some course).
My television viewing has gone vertually dark since Aero went silent, but while browsing through Hulu, I ran across a BBC series Zen, a series of three 90-minute films—what is is with the BBC and their apparent mania for three-show "seasons," anyway?—about one Aurelio Zen, a police detective originally from Venice working in Rome. What apparently makes Zen the focus of attention by higher-ups (and presumably the viewing audience) is his reputation for integrity, which they wish to use for their own nefarious ends (i.e., assuring certain outcomes).
The series was axed a month after the shows were aired, as far as I can tell, and according the the BBC Entertainment & Arts News page, it was because "there were already enough male crime-fighters on TV," according to a BBC One official.
Anyway, relying on the rules of "the book is better than the movie" and "the Beeb has no power to have books removed from shelves because there are already enough male crime-fighters in fiction," I started to read Ratking, the first of the Zen novels by Michael Dibdin, and must say I am not disappointed. A sample:
One step at a time, signore.
My television viewing has gone vertually dark since Aero went silent, but while browsing through Hulu, I ran across a BBC series Zen, a series of three 90-minute films—what is is with the BBC and their apparent mania for three-show "seasons," anyway?—about one Aurelio Zen, a police detective originally from Venice working in Rome. What apparently makes Zen the focus of attention by higher-ups (and presumably the viewing audience) is his reputation for integrity, which they wish to use for their own nefarious ends (i.e., assuring certain outcomes).
The series was axed a month after the shows were aired, as far as I can tell, and according the the BBC Entertainment & Arts News page, it was because "there were already enough male crime-fighters on TV," according to a BBC One official.
Anyway, relying on the rules of "the book is better than the movie" and "the Beeb has no power to have books removed from shelves because there are already enough male crime-fighters in fiction," I started to read Ratking, the first of the Zen novels by Michael Dibdin, and must say I am not disappointed. A sample:
Yes, it had all been consummately handled, no question about that. Iovino's speech has been a brilliant set piece, systematically exploiting all of the weaknesses of Zen's position. Words are not everything, however, and the Questore had by no means neglected other possibilities of making his point, such as the contrast between the bombastic formality with which he had rolled out the red carpet and beaten the big drum and the perfunctory way he had then dismissed Zen into the 'safe hands' of the local third-degree specialist. The message was clear. Zen would be offered the moon and stars, but if he wanted a coffee, he'd have to go and fetch it himself.Now, to find ample time that I can devote to reading the book.
One step at a time, signore.
