Hap and Leonard in the Changeroom

Okay - I am sure I haven't talked about Joe Lansdale for at least a few days. I have been wondering about a recent splurge of Lansdale reissues - mostly the early Hap and Leonard stories. His books were as sparse as the East Texas landscape he writes about; or they are damn hard to find in my city anyway.

I just got back from a visit to our local Chapters where a stack of Lansdale books were on display - and not even the mystery section! Right in the literature department, rubbing shoulders with Updike (sadly missed) and Cormac McCarthy.

The two novels featured were Mucho Mojo and Savage Season - starring my favorite characters Hap and Leonard. These guys are always hard to explain to people that haven't read them. Well, they're not really crime fighters, and they sort of solve mysteries, but not really... and they're not what you would call "good" people, but they can do some heroic things. Oh, and they're funny as hell, are great with large guns and martial arts. And... I dunno, just go read the damn books.

So I am wondering - is Lansdale, after a basket of novels, and buckets of awards, finally going to hit it big? I mean, I am sure there are places where he is big (my local mystery bookstore owner is always raving about him). But besides the store owner and my friend that introduced me to Hap and Leonard (thanks, Mark), I've never come across another fan.

Until this week at my woodsian retreat (In the swimming pool change room no less). A guy asked what I was reading and I flipped the cover of Savage Season at him, figuring he would just nod his head and grunt. "Landale! Oh man, he is the best, have you read...."

And boom - I talked to the guy for a half-hour. We swapped stories of our favorite Lansdale books, and other people who were like him (though, never as good). But it wasn't just books -  I wanted to find out about him, he wanted to know about me. We jabbered on like long lost cousins - or book dweebs, anyway.

So it turns out the reissues are because a new Hap and Leonard book (first in 8 years) is coming out. I have this feeling a lot more people are going to be reading him, and it won't be just the guys in change rooms talking about him.

Okay, that sounded weird. But somehow, Lansdalian.