Travis McGee redux?
January 10, 2012 6:42 PM
My aged father laments that he has read all of John D. MacDonald's
Travis McGee books. What writer/character is similar? Bonus points for he-man, retro, male protagonists. And a series of books is even better than stand-alone novels. Thanks.
Gnod's literature map for John D. MacDonald (based on users' input, the closer the name is, more readers share that common taste).
posted by TheGoodBlood at 6:53 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by TheGoodBlood at 6:53 PM on January 10, 2012
Check out Lee Child's "Reacher" who is an ex-army drifter who solves crimes.
My favorite is Robert B Parker's Spenser novels, the earliest of which "The Godwulf Manuscript" took place in the early 70s.
Also, check out John Sandford's Lucas Davenport (Prey Series) and Virgil Flowers series.
If he likes McGee, I guarantee he'll enjoy the above!
posted by Draccy at 6:54 PM on January 10, 2012
My favorite is Robert B Parker's Spenser novels, the earliest of which "The Godwulf Manuscript" took place in the early 70s.
Also, check out John Sandford's Lucas Davenport (Prey Series) and Virgil Flowers series.
If he likes McGee, I guarantee he'll enjoy the above!
posted by Draccy at 6:54 PM on January 10, 2012
Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford books are probably worth a look.
posted by box at 7:15 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by box at 7:15 PM on January 10, 2012
I read "he-man, retro, male protagonists" and immediately thought of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels. There are about a dozen, some better than others, but Reacher is such a strange hero they are utterly addictive. The books can be read in any order, more or less. There's an overall story arc but it's not crucial to enjoy each one.
posted by zardoz at 7:16 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by zardoz at 7:16 PM on January 10, 2012
Jenna Brown, meet James Lee Burke. His hero Dave Robicheaux -- an alienated southwest Louisiana cop who's a recovering alcoholic and a Vietnam veteran -- would be right up your dad's alley. And there are 18 Robicheaux books in the series, starting in 1987, so there'll be plenty for your dad to read.
posted by virago at 7:20 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by virago at 7:20 PM on January 10, 2012
I was coming here to recommend Doc Ford as well. The later books in the series get much darker, for what it's worth. I'd start at the beginning. It's more a similarity in tone and setting, but I found it a good follow up to the Travis McGee books.
A less obvious pick is Earl Emerson's early Thomas Black series.
On preview: also second James Lee Burke. Which then reminds me of Robert Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike books. Both the Cole and Pike books are very good, but have a very different tone. Again, I'd be biased towards starting early in the series rather than at the end.
Enjoy!
posted by instamatic at 7:26 PM on January 10, 2012
A less obvious pick is Earl Emerson's early Thomas Black series.
On preview: also second James Lee Burke. Which then reminds me of Robert Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike books. Both the Cole and Pike books are very good, but have a very different tone. Again, I'd be biased towards starting early in the series rather than at the end.
Enjoy!
posted by instamatic at 7:26 PM on January 10, 2012
I read all MacDonald's books as well, when they were written. I second Lee Child's series and Burke is good until he repeats himself. My latest find is Jo Nesbo (the "o" should have a slash through it), a Swedish writer who has some of his Harry Hole (really) books translated into english. Not retro. Parker: I didn't care for his Spenser series until I re-read them all in the 2 years before his death. I love 'em now. He's a truly good writer in the Hemingway tradition. I am reading this thread for more ideas for my own reading.
posted by Hobgoblin at 7:56 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by Hobgoblin at 7:56 PM on January 10, 2012
Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder novels. Not as he-man as McGee, but retro, male, flawed and principled.
Seconding Earl Emerson, especially the out-of-print Mac Fontana books. Great, great titles.
Loren Estleman's Detroit PI Amos Walker is good too.
posted by infinitewindow at 7:57 PM on January 10, 2012
Seconding Earl Emerson, especially the out-of-print Mac Fontana books. Great, great titles.
Loren Estleman's Detroit PI Amos Walker is good too.
posted by infinitewindow at 7:57 PM on January 10, 2012
Walter Mosley is retro, gritty, and good. The Scudder hero is another great drunk detective.
posted by Hobgoblin at 8:29 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by Hobgoblin at 8:29 PM on January 10, 2012
I feel like a bunch of these suggestions have protagonists that are a little too grim and gritty (I'm not sure what your dad likes in that department, but what I remember about the Travis McGee series is the essential good humor and people-liking nature of the protagonist and his associates and the way stuff turns out basically ok at the end). So as alternatives, I'd suggest the various series by Gregory Mcdonald (Fletch and Flynn) and the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser.
posted by inkyz at 8:34 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by inkyz at 8:34 PM on January 10, 2012
I, too, grew up reading John D. MacDonald. Like someone posted above, Lee Child's Reacher is top shelf. Stephen Hunter's entire body of work is excellent reading but you have to start from the beginning. Vince Flynn is also very good. T. Jefferson Parker has excellent books. James Lee Burke you have to read from the beginning to get the entire picture. James Lee Burke has 3 primary characters, all different. I read all of Donald Hamilton's books but to read them today is really dated, plus they're all the same. Matt Helm goes after bad guys, bad guys capture Matt Helm, Matt Helm escapes, kills all the bad guys. Come on, how many times can the guy escape without someone putting a bullet in his head. "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die." end of story.
If you dig Indians, Tony Hillerman is excellent. Again to be read in order. John Sanford's Lucas Davenport, good reads. Robert Parker's Jesse Stone and Virgil Cole and others. I never cared for Spencer.
posted by JohnE at 9:01 PM on January 10, 2012
If you dig Indians, Tony Hillerman is excellent. Again to be read in order. John Sanford's Lucas Davenport, good reads. Robert Parker's Jesse Stone and Virgil Cole and others. I never cared for Spencer.
posted by JohnE at 9:01 PM on January 10, 2012
Seconding Donald Hamilton's great Matt Helm series, which is nothing like the Dean Martin movies, but is a refreshing antidote to James Bond spy stories.
JDM was one of the great Gold Medal paperback writers, and anyone who likes McGee should investigate other Gold Medal books. Matt Helm was one of the series characters, and others included Richard Prather's Shell Scott (comic crime), Stephen Marlowe's Chet Drum and Edward S. Aarons's Sam Durell (spy stories). Probably any classic Gold Medal would be welcome.
Another writer I recommend is Ross Thomas. He had worked in politics and was perhaps a spy. He wrote novels about criminals, con men, spies and politicians. They're absolutely delightful, very insightful, full of wisdom, masterfully constructed, and you get the sense, like you do from JDM, that he really knew what he was talking about. Try The Fools In Town Are On Our Side or Briarpatch to start.
For JDM's reflections on human nature, Robert A. Heinlein is also worth a look.
posted by wdenton at 9:01 PM on January 10, 2012
JDM was one of the great Gold Medal paperback writers, and anyone who likes McGee should investigate other Gold Medal books. Matt Helm was one of the series characters, and others included Richard Prather's Shell Scott (comic crime), Stephen Marlowe's Chet Drum and Edward S. Aarons's Sam Durell (spy stories). Probably any classic Gold Medal would be welcome.
Another writer I recommend is Ross Thomas. He had worked in politics and was perhaps a spy. He wrote novels about criminals, con men, spies and politicians. They're absolutely delightful, very insightful, full of wisdom, masterfully constructed, and you get the sense, like you do from JDM, that he really knew what he was talking about. Try The Fools In Town Are On Our Side or Briarpatch to start.
For JDM's reflections on human nature, Robert A. Heinlein is also worth a look.
posted by wdenton at 9:01 PM on January 10, 2012
Peter Bowen's sparse-but-delightful Du Pré canon comes to mind.
posted by jet_silver at 9:02 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by jet_silver at 9:02 PM on January 10, 2012
BTW, Clive Cussler was great until Dirk Pitt started meeting Clive Cussler. Besides the totally off the wall escapes.
posted by JohnE at 9:04 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by JohnE at 9:04 PM on January 10, 2012
He might like the Charles Willeford Hoke Moseley series which starts with Miami Blues. They are *really* dark, though.
posted by runtina at 9:09 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by runtina at 9:09 PM on January 10, 2012
Max Allan Collin's Nate Heller and Quarry books.
Nate Heller takes place in the '30s and '40s mostly. The Quarry books take place in the '70s and '80s. Don't let the number of "media tie-ins" and CSI novels put you off - he also writes graphic novels (Road to Perdition) and is pretty much the definition of "working writer." Nothing I've read of his is bad, and some of it's pretty good.
posted by fiercekitten at 9:19 PM on January 10, 2012
Nate Heller takes place in the '30s and '40s mostly. The Quarry books take place in the '70s and '80s. Don't let the number of "media tie-ins" and CSI novels put you off - he also writes graphic novels (Road to Perdition) and is pretty much the definition of "working writer." Nothing I've read of his is bad, and some of it's pretty good.
posted by fiercekitten at 9:19 PM on January 10, 2012
Has he read the other (non-series) MacDonalds? Because he often had protagonists similar to McGee.
James W Hall's books have a continuing character, Thorn, also set in Florida.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:20 PM on January 10, 2012
James W Hall's books have a continuing character, Thorn, also set in Florida.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:20 PM on January 10, 2012
Bernard Cornwell has a bunch of manly men doing manly things in his series, all historical: the famous Sharpe novels, his Arthurian trilogy (easily the best thing he's done, in my opinion), the Starbuck series, and so on and so forth.
posted by rodgerd at 11:21 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by rodgerd at 11:21 PM on January 10, 2012
Seconding Laurence Block! And maybe also the Inspector Rebus series from Ian Rankin: if your father likes the aspects of McGee that are a little drunk and a little dark, he would like Rebus.
Also, maybe try the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. My father was a huge McGee fan when I was a kid, and he also devoured Nero Wolfe. The Archie Goodwin sidekick character is a New York, genteel version of McGee -- a slightly eccentric smart-ass, capable of handling himself in any situation and irresistible to the ladies. The Wolfe books were published from the mid-thirties until the mid-eighties, so although they mostly predate it, they do include the McGee heyday. I am actually kind of surprised that nobody's mentioned them yet.
And I think wdenton is right -- although the subject matter is very different, Heinlein has the same flavour as MacDonald.
posted by Susan PG at 11:57 PM on January 10, 2012
Also, maybe try the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. My father was a huge McGee fan when I was a kid, and he also devoured Nero Wolfe. The Archie Goodwin sidekick character is a New York, genteel version of McGee -- a slightly eccentric smart-ass, capable of handling himself in any situation and irresistible to the ladies. The Wolfe books were published from the mid-thirties until the mid-eighties, so although they mostly predate it, they do include the McGee heyday. I am actually kind of surprised that nobody's mentioned them yet.
And I think wdenton is right -- although the subject matter is very different, Heinlein has the same flavour as MacDonald.
posted by Susan PG at 11:57 PM on January 10, 2012
Bill Pronzini's "Nameless Detective" series might work. Also the previously mentioned Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series by Robert Crais.
posted by mermayd at 4:51 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by mermayd at 4:51 AM on January 11, 2012
Characters from long series' (I just finished travis mcgee)
Nero wolfe, amazing, more detectivey.
Matt scudder, more emotional less pulpy.
Spenser, pretty much bang on travis mcgee and there's a damn ton of them.
posted by chasles at 5:25 AM on January 11, 2012
Nero wolfe, amazing, more detectivey.
Matt scudder, more emotional less pulpy.
Spenser, pretty much bang on travis mcgee and there's a damn ton of them.
posted by chasles at 5:25 AM on January 11, 2012
I cut my teeth on Travis McGee, and later discovered Dick Francis mystery/thrillers.
Though not a series with a recurring main character, the main character is generally moral, witty, and gets way deep into a tight spot before getting out and tying up loose ends.
posted by ElGuapo at 9:21 AM on January 11, 2012
Though not a series with a recurring main character, the main character is generally moral, witty, and gets way deep into a tight spot before getting out and tying up loose ends.
posted by ElGuapo at 9:21 AM on January 11, 2012
Ross Thomas is a great suggestion.
Donald E. Westlake's Dortmunder series are considered "caper" crime novels-- everything goes wrong and at the worst possible moment with comic results. Donald E Westlake writing as Richard Stark's Parker series are dark, violent and amoral.
Jim Thompson became successful as a writer with the pulp fiction houses of the 1950s, writing a dozen of his more enduring novels in just 19 months. Among his many novels are The Killer Inside Me, The Grifters, The Getaway and After Dark, My Sweet. He also wrote two screenplays (for the Stanley Kubrick films The Killing and Paths of Glory). Pop. 1280 was an acclaimed French film under the title Coup de Torchon.
Cornell Woolrich was another Godfother of Noir. The Night has a Thousand Eyes and Rear Window are well known.
Elmore Leonard, prolific author of crime and western novels, is a consummate artist of genre fiction.
For masculine adventure novels, I love Hammond Innes and Alistair Maclain.
Bernard Cornwell and George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman for historical adventure fiction. Flashman is a comical anti-hero.
Patrick O'Brian [the Aubrey / Maturin series] for complex, sophisticated historical adventure fiction.
posted by ohshenandoah at 10:50 AM on January 11, 2012
Donald E. Westlake's Dortmunder series are considered "caper" crime novels-- everything goes wrong and at the worst possible moment with comic results. Donald E Westlake writing as Richard Stark's Parker series are dark, violent and amoral.
Jim Thompson became successful as a writer with the pulp fiction houses of the 1950s, writing a dozen of his more enduring novels in just 19 months. Among his many novels are The Killer Inside Me, The Grifters, The Getaway and After Dark, My Sweet. He also wrote two screenplays (for the Stanley Kubrick films The Killing and Paths of Glory). Pop. 1280 was an acclaimed French film under the title Coup de Torchon.
Cornell Woolrich was another Godfother of Noir. The Night has a Thousand Eyes and Rear Window are well known.
Elmore Leonard, prolific author of crime and western novels, is a consummate artist of genre fiction.
For masculine adventure novels, I love Hammond Innes and Alistair Maclain.
Bernard Cornwell and George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman for historical adventure fiction. Flashman is a comical anti-hero.
Patrick O'Brian [the Aubrey / Maturin series] for complex, sophisticated historical adventure fiction.
posted by ohshenandoah at 10:50 AM on January 11, 2012
Carl Hiassen isn't quite the same, but I like McGee, and I like Hiassen, as well as Robert B. Parker.
posted by theora55 at 6:38 PM on January 11, 2012
posted by theora55 at 6:38 PM on January 11, 2012
Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series is excellent.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 7:51 AM on January 13, 2012
posted by fivesavagepalms at 7:51 AM on January 13, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 6:52 PM on January 10, 2012