tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post7930840297288527241..comments2024-03-27T11:26:20.466-07:00Comments on The Passing Tramp: Carrion Death: Vultures in the Sky (1935), by Todd DowningThe Passing Tramphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-39474192949967989272012-06-19T13:38:20.004-07:002012-06-19T13:38:20.004-07:00Pietro, I am reposting your comment with spoiler w...Pietro, I am reposting your comment with spoiler warnings added.<br /><br />Pietro said:<br /><br />Great writer Todd Downing. And not so well known as he should be.<br />His novels (especially the first two) were written primarily on the basis of anthropological knowledge of the same Downing (and this, surprisingly anticipated the atmosphere carried out by Tony Hillerman, a great writer of thrillers, who died four years ago).<br /><br />SPOILERS<br /><br />The hidden order in the novels of Downing: revolutionizing the belief that the Indian was dangerous, and were the enemy or criminal, reversing the terms of the question, and present he instead as a victim.<br />Moreover, in all his novels, the murderers are never natives, except in his last novel, The Hour Shadowless (1945), in which a young indigenous person is forced by an emergency situation to kill.<br /><br />END SPOILERS<br /><br />In Italy were translated more or less eigthy years ago, the second, the third, and the fourth among the novels by Downing: The Cat Screams, 1934 (La pensione di M.me Fournier); Vultures in the Sky,1935 (Il terribile viaggio); Murder on the Tropic,1935 (La luce gialla).<br />If Vultures in the Sky speaks of a train journey, Murder on the Tropic (1935) speaks of the Pan American Highway, as well as the eighth novel, Night Over Mexico (1939).<br />I anticipated what would you have said in the next article, Curtis, speaking of the Pan American Highway?The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-32981370127250025662012-06-19T13:05:24.094-07:002012-06-19T13:05:24.094-07:00Hi everyone,
Thanks for the comments, sorry for m...Hi everyone,<br /><br />Thanks for the comments, sorry for my lateness in replying.<br /><br />I know TomCat wasn't crazy about The Cat Scream, but I think it was probably oversold as a book of terror. when it's really more sedate than that. I think the background in native legend is quite interesting though.<br /><br />Vultures is much faster-paced, as is Murder on the Tropic, from the same year (though Vultures essentially is another country house, or hacienda, mystery).<br /><br />All these books, along with Murder on Tour, should be out in new editions next month, along with my book on Downing. The other titles will follow.<br /><br />Pietro, it's interesting that Downing's books were well-received in Italy. I probably will do another book by him on the blog, but don't want too turn this into the Todd Downing blog with too many pieces!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-62242887815191922252012-06-16T08:53:43.716-07:002012-06-16T08:53:43.716-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Pietro De Palmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051060020493340331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-11524371503287150732012-06-15T09:10:46.215-07:002012-06-15T09:10:46.215-07:00I love the idea of Hugh Rennert, the customs agent...I love the idea of Hugh Rennert, the customs agent who works the Mexican border. No other American mystery writer comes close to inventing a series character that original in the 1930s. I have several of Downing's books and only attempted THE CAT SCREAMS years ago, but lost interest in it. The Crime Club DJs for the Todd Downing books are fantastic! I do have a copy of VULTURES IN THE SKY and think I will have to read it this summer.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-66495578243391052262012-06-15T08:08:32.068-07:002012-06-15T08:08:32.068-07:00I've never read Downing but your review certai...I've never read Downing but your review certainly makes me want to do so. I hope that new edition does make it to fruition.<br /><br />Ron SmythRon Smythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00575735524072816238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-50178498749388324252012-06-15T05:54:15.844-07:002012-06-15T05:54:15.844-07:00Curt,
IIRC, one of my first comments on your blo...Curt, <br /><br />IIRC, one of my first comments on your blog was in regards to Todd Downing, and how disappointed I was over <i>The Cat Screams</i>, but this post has rekindled my interest and I will gladly give him another shot when this one becomes available again. Thanks for feeding our addictions. ;) <br /><br /><i>The Cat Screams</i> was reprinted a few years ago by the Wildside Press.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-186473240943793402012-06-15T05:51:22.645-07:002012-06-15T05:51:22.645-07:00I've never read anything by Downing I don'...I've never read anything by Downing I don't think but certainly sounds good - very intrigued to hear about a possible new edition though, thanks!<br /><br />SergioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com