Review by Choice Review
This set by Brunsdale (Mayville State Univ.) is designed to provide "students and general readers" with "an in-depth look at 24 iconic figures, each of which captures the essence of a broad topic." Included are detailed chapters on classic characters from detective literature and television, and entries on important authors. Chapters outline both characters' and creators' careers; provide historical context for the character, writer, and/or TV series; present a chronology that parallels events specific to the "star" of the chapter, with others occurring in the world around them; and list works in the author or character's canon, along with other media adaptations and selected works about the author, character, or series.The word "superheroes" in the title reflects one of the set's major problems. By including entries for costumed heroes Batman and Zorro, the book takes an already sufficiently broad topic and stretches it nearly to breaking. Including a chapter on Batman, while defensible, clearly pushes the author outside her area of expertise. Far more relevant characters--Dick Tracy, Adrian Monk, and (especially) Ellery Queen (character or author)--are omitted. Additionally the set suffers from very weak indexing, and is riddled with errors big and small. For example, Richard Stark's professional thief character, Parker, is included on a list of hard-boiled PIs; the Nero Wolfe series' Lon Cohen is referred to as "Len" Cohen; and the protagonist of Fitzgerald's The Last Tycoon is listed as the real-life Irving Thalberg rather than the fictional Monroe Stahr. Given its various problems and its price, wholehearted recommendation of this set for academic libraries is difficult--despite the serious work that has gone into it and the high quality of many chapters. It likely is best suited for public libraries with strong reader interest in mystery/detective fiction. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers. D. Highsmith California State University--East Bay
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Brunsdale continues the Greenwood Icons series with this entry on mystery and crime, covering authors from the golden age (Agatha Christy and Dorothy Sayers) to modern classic authors (Tony Hillerman); characters from the silver screen (Dirty Harry and James Bond) and television (Jessica Fletcher and Columbo); characters from comic strips (Batman and Dick Tracy); one director (Alfred Hitchcock); and one television program (Dragnet). Each of the 24 entries is 25 to 35 pages long and full of well-researched details as well as critical analysis. The combination will make this resource appealing to crime buffs as well as researchers needing to know more about the field's most enduring creations and creators. Most entries are accompanied by an image and include sections discussing historical and cultural context, authorship, and defining characteristics and legacy of the subject under review as well as a Parallel Chronology relating events germane to the subject with events in world history. Extensive bibliographies include primary and secondary works along with websites. The selection of entries from all types of crime and mystery media make this an intriguing work that will be useful for literary and cinematic research collections. Recommended for larger public libraries, crime collections, and academic libraries.--Moyer, Jessica Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Twenty-four essays averaging 30 pages apiece celebrate 19 fictional detectives including Dick Tracy, Jessica Fletcher, Nancy Drew, Columbo, Charlie Chan, and Hercule Poirot, plus five character creators such as Alfred Hitchcock. All chapters include a comprehensive bibliography organized by format, works cited, primary and secondary resources, websites (current as of August 30), and a chronology of characters' literary existence. The coverage concentrates on specific fictional detectives' authorships, lives, character development, cultural history, and mass appeal; creator essays provide the same information for more than one character. For example, the chapter on Tony Hillerman discusses Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, while the essay on Poe addresses Poe's literary predecessors and his character Auguste Dupin. Volume 2 contains a nicely detailed index and a selected bibliography. Brunsdale (English, Mayville State Univ.) selected characters meeting the "Icons" series definition: creations that "1) challenge the status quo, 2) influence millions, and 3) impact history," and in doing so successfully "trac[e] the development of the mystery, suspense, and detective genres.from a [variety] of historical periods, cultures, ethnicity and media and explor[e] the reciprocal relationships between popular sleuths and their times." This title is more current and expansive than the Cyclopedia of Literary Characters (Salem, 1998). BOTTOM LINE As one of the few titles available organized by character with in-depth character analysis and some literary criticism, this is a nice addition to any reference collection supporting serious mystery, suspense, and detective fans at the college and high school levels. Recommended.-Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Library Journal Review
