Robert Parker, creater of the Spenser series, has died

[DavidDvorkin]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Author Robert B. Parker, one of America's preeminent crime writers, has died. Born in 1932 in Springfield, Mass., Parker wrote his PhD thesis on detective fiction and left a career teaching college English after his own writing became successful.

Parker hit it big with his Spenser series. Spenser was a classic tough-talking private eye, a former Boston boxer. Beginning with "The Gudwulf Manuscript" in 1973 and running through 2009's "The Professional," the Spenser series included almost 40 books.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/01/robert-b-parker-creator-of-spencer-for-hire-has-died.html

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I kept hoping that the Spenser series would get back to the quality of the early ones. I wonder if someone will be hired to continue the series.

[onehandle]

1. My wife just called me in shock about this.

She loved his books so much.

[WCGreen]

2. I liked the Jesse Stone Books....

And the string of two hour movies they made with Tom Selleck...

[old guy]

3. Also Sunny Randall

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Another link

http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2010/01/19/spenser_novelist_robert_parker_dies_in_mass/

I have friends who were his students back before the Spenser books were able to pay the rent.

[virgogal]

5. I worked with Joan when she and Bob got engaged and married,

We've all become old----how the years go by.

RIP,Bob.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I didn't realize how old he was

Even though I first read a Spenser novel many years ago.

[Rebubula]

6. Such great characters

Hawk...the Renaissance thug
Capt. (was LT for most of the series) Quirk...hardboiled cop with a soft heart
Susan Silverman...tough, loving girlfriend

And a host of great guest heroes and villains.


RIP Mr. Parker


BTW - - - for fans of Spenser, I HIGHLY recommend John D. McDonald's series with Travis McGee. McDonald was one of the greatest writers ever.

[KamaAina]

17. And lots of strong gay characters

like Spike and Tedy.

[Lurks Often]

8. Damn

My condolences go out to his wife Joan, his sons and the rest of his family

[monmouth]

9. Loved Parker, one of my fav crime writers. RIP Robert..n/t

[proteus_lives]

10. That's sad.

I've read a wheelbarrow's worth of Spenser novels.

RIP Mr. Parker.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. he wrote wonderful brain candy books.

something for the tub, or late at night.

I will miss his books. (and the cute dogs on his covers)

[smoogatz]

12. Damn shame.

Loved the early Spenser books. Parker was one of the people I set out to imitate when I started writing my own crime series.

[old mark]

13. I have all of his books from the first till the early 2000's. I am very sorry he is gone,

I love this kind of writing, from Chandler and Hammett on through Parker and Walter Mosley. If I could write, this is what I'd love to do. Failing that, I have been a lifelong fan.

Great work, Mr. Parker - thanks for all the good times and those to come.


mark

[ellie]

14. RIP Robert

Love Spenser.

[lapfog_1]

15. Spenser!

Hawk - possibly the coolest "sidekick" ever... both in the books and the TV series.

[KamaAina]

18. The books were MUCH better than the series

in large part because the series focused on Spenser and Hawk and largely ignored Susan, who would have made a GREAT role for the right actress.

[lapfog_1]

21. Yes, the books were better than the TeeVee.

Except for Avery Brooks, who was a better "Hawk" on the TeeVee show than the character in the book.

Almost too good, which is why he got his own short lived spin-off show.

[Skink]

16. My first dotm room in Boston was right across from Spencers then office.

[Angry Dragon]

19. I like his books.........n/t

[Vidar]

20. RIP Mr.Parker,

[rhett o rick]

22. Big fan of Robert Parker, may he RIP. nt

[mikeargo]

23. Damn

This is turning out to be a lousy day.

RIP Mr. Parker

[Hepburn]

24. I love this author....

...:cry:

[Tracer]

25. I met him once.

Walked up to him at a party and chatted for a few minutes.

There was a time when I just couldn't wait for the next Spenser novel. But as time went on, I thought that he was just another author who "wrote himself out".

But I appreciate his earlier work and send my condolences to his wife and family.

[Solly Mack]

26. To Bang - I'm so sorry for your loss.