In Memory of Robert B. Parker

If you were to ask me who my favorite writer was I would pause briefly while I tried to decide between Elmore Leonard and Robert B. Parker.

In the world of literature each of these writers is considered a master at his craft and the number of books written by the two of them would make a career for 20 authors.

Sadly, one of these iconic story tellers has passed away.

Robert B. Parker died at his Cambridge, Mass. home today, January 19th, 2010, at the age of 77.

Early reports state that Parker died, fittingly, at his desk.

Known mostly for creating Spenser; the well-read, wise-cracking, gourmet, pugilistic private eye who regularly mixed it up with the seedy underworld of Boston, Parker leaves behind a rich legacy consisting of nearly 70 published books.

The Massachusetts native released the first Spenser novel, The Godwulf Manuscript, in 1973 and routinely followed it with one, and sometimes two, installments per year.

Robert Urich brought Spenser to life in the 80’s T.V. drama Spenser: For Hire along with Avery Brooks as the enigmatic Hawk and Barbara Stock as Spenser’s soul mate Susan Silverman. The series ran from 1985 to 1988.

If you like private-eye stories but have never read a Spenser novel, I strongly recommend that you do. Set in and around Boston, the stories are never bogged down with unnecessary detail and the snappy dialogue and colorful characters keep them moving along at a very nice pace.

Parker was the winner of the Edgar Allen Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1976, a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 2002 and a 2007 Gumshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement.

As a reader I will greatly miss Parker’s work. As a writer, I will greatly miss his example.