Posted by Jeff Hollett on September 18, 2006 at 21:16:31:
Dear GR:
Just wanted to say first that my dad and I are huge fans of your Q&C novels. The level of international intrigue is refreshingly sophisticated and current, and the characters are complex & enjoyable to read.
Was wondering if you have seen or read any of the Hard Case Crime novels (see hardcasecrime.com). "HCC brings you the best in hardboiled crime fiction, ranging from lost noir masterpieces to new novels by today's most powerful writers, featuring stunning original cover art in the grand pulp style."
These books are great quick reads that are gorgeous to look at and the concept has received some rave reviews. I was thinking that the same concept would apply well to some silver age DC publications, ie, take a character/comic, package it into a hard-boiled or retro pulp fiction paperback novel and top it off with classic old school cover art. Do you think that would be cool?
When I visualize the idea I see it working for DC's detective (Batman, Sandman), war (Sgt. Rock, Our Fighting Forces), western (Jonah Hex), fantasy (Spectre, Weird War, Challengers of the Unknown), Sci-Fi (Adam Strange, Strange Adventures) and horror (House of Secrets, I...Vampire) angles; I don't see it working for the more mainstream superhero stuff but the possibilities are endless.
From a market standpoint, they would probably appeal to comic buyers but more importantly, they could access audiences like myself who have fond memories of the characters and publications from childhood but who now prefer novels and the additional depth and detail they allow.
Thanks very much Mr. Rucka (and others in the forum) for listening to my ramblings. It was just a 'be cool to see idea' and nothing more, but given your books I'd be interested in what your thoughts were.
Looking forward to reading your next book,
JH