Talk:Ross MacDonald (author)

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In Romantic Literature as discussed by Ayn Rand ("The Romantic Manifesto"), Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer joins Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe as one of the very few who, to some extent, live and work as Ayn Rand characters (i.e., detective work as it should be and could be). Both detectives solve problems for clients for pay (no revenge or 'social good' work as a goal is ever performed by either detective; rather they risk their lives solving problems for people who pay them to do so). Both detectives offer the additional entertainment to readers by coming across as witty and cynical to the scum with whom they must deal on daily basis.

Further, complex analytical skills rivaling that of research physicists are displayed for us in a fascinating and completely absorbing manner. To be sure, the analytical process that Nobel Laureate Physicist Murray Gell-Mann went through to arrive at the Quark might not make for interesting reading for the mass market, but Archer and Chandler go through every bit as rigorous of an analytical process to catch a murderer. Thinking is the operative word (not fighting, chasing, stalking, etc.) for these detectives. Accordingly, there is a refreshing lack of gore and shock to our senses, while the reader's awareness that murder is gory is omnipresent! Neither are ever idle for a single moment and epitomize the 'plan your work and work your plan' mode of life.

These detectives are 'Human' as we know them. They make good love to bad women and bad love to good women in the process of solving murder mysteries - Archer is divorced and fights occasional bouts of depression. In these respects, they might not qualify as Ayn Rand type heroes, but they still come across as admirable craftsmen with integrity - distinct from detectives who are as rotten as the villains ethically and who too often seem to be going after "the guy who mugged my girlfriend."

Cecil R. Williams