Speculative Friction:
a blog of comics and literary criticism written by Bill Baker

1-6-06

Right from the start, I read just about any kind of literature I could get my hands on. Whether it was classic literature, the myths and legends that have sustained and enlivened the lives of folks for centuries, I read 'em all. The shining and dark tomorrows imagined by the likes of Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke, along with the terribly alluring and fierce fever dreams of Harlan Ellison, Michael Moorcock and J. G. Ballard were followed by or alternated with fantasies high and low, by authors ranging from J.R.R. Tolkien to Fritz Lieber to Robert E. Howard and back. I shivered my way through Lovecraft and all the other masters, those whose names must never be written, much less uttered aloud. Ditto all types of sciences, hard and soft, as well as the arts and letters. But I never really ventured into mystery or western novels much, though, for some reason. Until recently, that is...

I'm still casting about in the western area, and can't really say much about that process, yet. However, I have been following the work of a few mystery writers long enough that I can make a few observations, I think, about what makes these particular individuals' work.

While I haven't yet had the chance to crack the cover of The Perfumed Sleeve, the latest paperback release from Laura Joh Rowland, I have recently finished The Haunted Abbot by Peter Tremayne. This is the eleventh installment in the series of novels chronicling the adventures of Sister Fidelma, whose is aided in her inquiries by her constant companion and foil, Brother Eadulf. Set largely in ancient Ireland and the surrounding lands, I found myself initially intrigued by the setting and characters. Taking place in the middle years of the Sixth Century, AD, at a time when civilization was still teetering on the brink and the Catholic Church still in its infancy. Sister Fidelma is a member of a branch of the Church that still adheres to the older ways, which allowed for marriage of both priests and nuns; she also happens to sister to a king as well as a dalaigh, essentially the Medieval Irish equivalent of a prosecutor. Brother Eadulf is himself a member of the clergy, too, obviously...but he's actually from the other camp when it comes to the celibacy issue. Which wouldn't be a problem if these two weren't equally attracted to each other, and constantly having to solve these odd murders which coincidentally occur around them. But what Tremayne has achieved with these characters and period, aided by some good research and fine writing, is always entertaining and thought-provoking. These are some of the most engrossing mysteries I've ever had the pleasure to encounter. Even better, each one is what couldn't be considered "fair"--meaning that the reader is given all of the information needed to solve the mystery before the reveal and restoration of normal society at the end of the book. But what really made me bring up this particular book, aside from wanting to spread the good word on it and its older siblings in the series, is the fact that most mysteries, and this particular volume particularly, are a great source for lessons on how to employ a lot of the devices mentioned in my previous posts in quite inventive ways.

The novel begins with an incredibly audacious Late Attack. The chase is already afoot, and the two sleuths have been summoned by a childhood friend of the Brother to appear at a certain spot by midnight that night. Unfortunately, it's the dead of winter and a terrible storm rages outside, seemingly intent on preventing their safe passage to their nearby rendezvous point by the allotted time. The two wayfarers finally do find passage with a local, and after a nightmarish journey [the forbidding landscape contrasted with the harshness of human nature creates both a nice tension and sub-theme throughout], they arrive in time for the funeral of Eadulf's friend. Who, it turns out, has been dead since that morning, when he was murdered by persons unknown. Finding himself alone, as Fidelma has been incapacitated by a raging fever caused by their journey, Eadulf struggles to find out why and who killed his friend.

And which introduces an entire novel's worth of cliffhangers skillfully interwoven with deceptions, deceits and endlessly inventive Delaying Action. And it's this last concept, that of the author using some kind of delay to put off the revelation of an important fact--or red herring-- and consequently ratcheting up the level of suspense for the reader that really interests me at this point. In a real way, the entire book is one long lesson in doing Delayed Action Right. In fact, the classic Revelation Scene at the end is itself delayed by a sudden and unexpected escape, causing Fidelma, by then recovered and charged with untangling this Gordian Knot, to become a bit peeved with the interruption and the tension to rise yet more. And then, when all seems resolved except for some slight personal misunderstanding between our two heroes--literally at the last sentence of the book!--the author drops a bomb that leaves the readers, new and old, with more expectations and unresolved questions than they entered with...and does so in such a straightforward and offhand manner that he had me laughing and cursing out loud.

The Haunted Abbot proves not just that Tremayne is at the top of his game, creating both mysteries and meaningful character embellishments that move the series forward while touching his readers, he's also provided a handbook for how to use some of the most effective, yet typically mishandled, devices available to creators. So, whether you're looking for something fun and engaging to read, or you're actually looking for a new way to learn about how to launch Late Attacks, or how to create, maintain and build suspense with Delaying Action, you would do well to look inside the pages of this book for what they're looking for.

The Perfumed Sleve
written by Laura Joh Rowland
published by St. Martin's Paperbacks


The Haunted Abbot
written by Peter Tremayne
published by Signet Mystery
www.penguin.com