Vanilla Ride

Well, one mystery has been solved, or resolved, or something.

I've been a big reader of Joe Lansdale for a number of years (thanks to a friend who commented that my work was Lansdalian). But it was always difficult to find his books. I'd scour used bookstores, mystery stores, the big chains and the little stores - rarely would I find one of his books.

Then a year ago (or more?), copies of Mucho Mojo and Savage Season started showing up in a local store. I didn't recognize the cover, so I thought "wow, these are rare. I better snap them up." Just like dandelions these volumes started popping up in stores everywhere. Then Bad Chili was added, his new one Leather Maiden (not a great one), copies of The Bottoms (the best one) and even Bumper Crop, a collection of shorts. Huh? Is Lansdale finally going to get noticed - and by noticed I mean to other people besides fan-boys like me.

To cut to the chase - my take on all these re-releases is in preparation for his new book, Vanilla Ride. It's another Hap and Leonard book (his best characters). I haven't picked it up yet, mostly because of the 30 bucks hardcover tag, but I know I will. I've not read a lot of mysteries, or crime fiction - I admire Elmore Leonard, and Donald Westlake was required reading as a teen. And I've never read a series of books. Mystery writers do seem to employ that device frequently. Take a lead character and give them case after case. But I've never come across Characters like Hap and Leonard before.

I do wonder if Hollywood will come calling for Lansdale. his only movie, to my knowledge, is the wonderfully nutty Bubba Ho Tep. With the release of Tarantino's new one, it makes me think of that quirky marriage. Tarantino could direct a Hap and Leonard story - it seems right in his territory. But with his recent track record, and the reviews on Inglorious Basterds are mixed, I think it'd be best to leave The Bottoms to the Coen Brothers.

Now there's a movie I'd see repeatedly.