“Hammered – an Ode to Mickey Spillane” Story Event: Official Support Thread

[drscar]

Stand alone story, yes.

Excellent. Thank you.

 

[RichardWark]

I'd be disappointed to see Mike Hammer fan fiction here - I would rather not just use Mike, Velda, Pat, etc., in new stories (someone already has that job anyway.) Of course, that doesn't mean your characters can't be Mick Pounder, Vera, and Pete Chiggers. Remember that Mickey had some pretty good work independent of Mike Hammer - "The Lady Says Die!" is a good, totally politically incorrect example, as are "The Deep" and "The Last Cop Out."

One thing to remember - it wasn't always the case (see the above mentioned "...Cop Out" for the exception), but Mickey tended to turn out the light on his sex scenes before they got too graphic. And he and Velda, while they came close, did not have sex. (In "The Killing Man" she tells Mike she's a virgin - albeit a pretty old one by this time. FURTHER NOTE: This does, admittedly, rather fly in the face of what is implied at the end of "The Snake" and during "The Body Lovers.")

Sure, Spillane wasn't the stylist Chandler or Ross MacDonald (the best of the bunch) was, but he was a powerful storyteller and there is a lot more going on in his work than meets the eye.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'd be disappointed to see Mike Hammer fan fiction here - I would rather not just use Mike, Velda, Pat, etc., in new stories (someone already has that job anyway.) Of course, that doesn't mean your characters can't be Mick Pounder, Vera, and Pete Chiggers.

The anthology theme isn't about fan fiction using Spillane's characters. It's about writing noir. Not sure where the notion of fan fiction came from??

 

[RichardWark]

The anthology theme isn't about fan fiction using Spillane's characters. It's about writing noir. Not sure where the notion of fan fiction came from??

Absolutely none. I was just worried someone might take it a little too literally.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Absolutely none. I was just worried someone might take it a little too literally.

Ah, gotcha. I reckon most writers are going to create their own characters, but I see your point.

 

[davion2308]

I want to play too

I'd be disappointed to see Mike Hammer fan fiction here - I would rather not just use Mike, Velda, Pat, etc., in new stories (someone already has that job anyway.) Of course, that doesn't mean your characters can't be Mick Pounder, Vera, and Pete Chiggers. Remember that Mickey had some pretty good work independent of Mike Hammer - "The Lady Says Die!" is a good, totally politically incorrect example, as are "The Deep" and "The Last Cop Out."

One thing to remember - it wasn't always the case (see the above mentioned "...Cop Out" for the exception), but Mickey tended to turn out the light on his sex scenes before they got too graphic. And he and Velda, while they came close, did not have sex. (In "The Killing Man" she tells Mike she's a virgin - albeit a pretty old one by this time. FURTHER NOTE: This does, admittedly, rather fly in the face of what is implied at the end of "The Snake" and during "The Body Lovers.")

Sure, Spillane wasn't the stylist Chandler or Ross MacDonald (the best of the bunch) was, but he was a powerful storyteller and there is a lot more going on in his work than meets the eye.

I picked up a few Mike Hammer books just to get an idea of what I'm going to write and I had the same thought: "Hopefully no one tries to recreate this with current characters."

I expect people will be writing their own hard-boiled Chandler-esque prose and just keep things moving without revisiting the joy of the original cast.

 

[ChloeTzang]

The anthology theme isn't about fan fiction using Spillane's characters. It's about writing noir. Not sure where the notion of fan fiction came from??

As EB says, it’s that hard boiled noir / Spillane style, rather than fan-fic using Spillane’s characters that I was thinking. That said, if anyone does want to do a fan-fic, that’s fine too. Mine is going to be Mike Hammer’s grandson meeting the granddaughter of Fu Manchu in a 2020’s Spillane-style New York. A sort of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow/ Spillane/ Sax Rohmer pastiche with sex.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm going to bring back Sonny Biggs, my Mike Hammer parody figure, from my BTB story, for this one. I've got a BDSM concept with a domme fatale. I've just been sketching the outline but the writing should be fun. The great thing about this story concept is you can go completely over the top and it fits right in with the theme.

 

[yowser]

I've got a BDSM concept with a domme fatale.

Hey! That was my idea!

But you mentioned it first. And mine will be in San Francisco.

 

[SimonDoom]

Hey! That was my idea!

But you mentioned it first. And mine will be in San Francisco.

There's plenty of room for two different takes on the idea. Go for it!

 

[Swelit]

Saw this a couple of days ago and actually feel kind of inspired to take part in it! It would be my first attempt at an erotic story, and indeed first story at all in years, but still (hey, it got me to register and post here after all!).

Can't say I know Spillane directly, my primary source of Noir is Philip Kerr's Bernie Günther series which mostly takes place in Nazi Germany. I'm also not sure I could make a believable American environment so I'm leaning towards making the setting a made up European country in the interwar period. So far I only have the opening scene figured out though.

 

[Handley_Page]

As EB says, it’s that hard boiled noir / Spillane style, rather than fan-fic using Spillane’s characters that I was thinking. That said, if anyone does want to do a fan-fic, that’s fine too. Mine is going to be Mike Hammer’s grandson meeting the granddaughter of Fu Manchu in a 2020’s Spillane-style New York. A sort of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow/ Spillane/ Sax Rohmer pastiche with sex.

You mean Fa Lo Suee had a daughter ?
PS. What happened to Lin Tang ?

 

[PoisonPen33]

Can't say I know Spillane directly, my primary source of Noir is Philip Kerr's Bernie Günther series which mostly takes place in Nazi Germany. I'm also not sure I could make a believable American environment so I'm leaning towards making the setting a made up European country in the interwar period. So far I only have the opening scene figured out though.

Welcome! It's all uphill from here!

I'm treating this event more like a "noir" event, so my style is more like Harry Bosch than Mike Hammer. I've never heard of the Bernie Gunther series, so I'm definitely looking forward to your style of story!

 

[Swelit]

Welcome! It's all uphill from here!

I'm treating this event more like a "noir" event, so my style is more like Harry Bosch than Mike Hammer. I've never heard of the Bernie Gunther series, so I'm definitely looking forward to your style of story!

Thank you! I do recommend the series, especially the first three books, often called the "Berlin Noir trilogy" together.

Can't promise that my style is exactly likt it, but certainly inspired by it.

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

I read Spillane's 4th Mike Hammer story, "One Lonely Night," a couple of weeks ago to make sure I was on track with the general language and darkness that such a story should emanate. After reading it, I'm pretty happy with what I have so far but there's still a long way to go.

 

[Silverslacker70]

spillane challenge

love this

 

[LAHomedog]

If you have Turner Classic Movies on TV or have access to it, every Saturday night around 9pm they run "Noir Alley" hosted by the great Eddie Mueller. His knowledge of the genre is deep and his intros are filled with fascinating facts and tidbits, and the movies are always interesting.

"Noir Alley" is a great way to immerse yourself in the genre and a wonderful compliment to reading the books.

 

[Acktion]

Well, dang. I may have to dust off "The Case of the Maltese Dildo" and see if I can't actually finish something for the first time in...well, too long.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Well, I better get working on one that I started just for this.

I'm about three word pages into it now. Need to work and think and work and think.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Well, I better get working on one that I started just for this.

I'm about three word pages into it now. Need to work and think and work and think.

Oh yeah, I better get started on mine soon, too. I would be so bugged if I did not get my story done for this one. LOL. I'm reading all these Noir novels and stories at the moment to get into the mindset.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm reading all these Noir novels and stories at the moment to get into the mindset.

It's great homework because noir novels are pure fun. I read The Postman Always Rings Twice a little while ago, an enjoyable tale about bad people doing bad things. Most noir stories also are very easy to read.

 

[ChloeTzang]

It's great homework because noir novels are pure fun. I read The Postman Always Rings Twice a little while ago, an enjoyable tale about bad people doing bad things. Most noir stories also are very easy to read.

I picked up a few from this collection - "Helsinki Noir," "Singapore Noir," "Kansas City Noir," etc. Short story collections, a bit mixed, but good reading overall.

 

[SimonDoom]

I picked up a few from this collection - "Helsinki Noir," "Singapore Noir," "Kansas City Noir," etc. Short story collections, a bit mixed, but good reading overall.

It's totally up in the air if I'll be able to get it done in time, but I've pretty much got the concept worked out. I'll use my private eye Sonny Biggs from BTB, Incorporated. He already was a Mike Hammer spoof character. I'll tone down the spoof quality of the writing for this one. The story idea is BDSM with a Fem Domme and there will be twists and surprises.

I'll probably re-read Robert Towne's Chinatown screenplay -- that's a perfectly written noir screenplay and my story will draw some of its elements from that.

If you haven't read Raymond Chandler, I'd recommend reading him. He has a more elegant and graceful noir style than Mickey Spillane, whose prose style is pure bulldog.

 

[LAHomedog]

Not all detective stories are noir. Noir is a particular type of style. It's hard to define but it's usually identifiable when you watch it or read it.

Elements characteristic of noir include:

A dark, cynical attitude that pervades about the world, people, and their motives.

People are easily corrupted by sex and money.

The hero, often a detective, usually has some good qualities, but he's not perfectly good. He's in it for the money, too. He is cynical, not optimistic, about the world. He doesn't expect much from people or the world. Usually, he finds people disappoint him.

Women are often femme fatales, temptresses, and instigators of bad stuff.

Authorities are often corrupt, or at least not to be trusted.

If there's humor, it's dark and bleak and sardonic. It's never light.

Noir is unpretentious. It appeals to the reader's basic desires for sex and violence, told in clear prose.

Sometimes it's hard to put your finger on.

Chinatown is definitely noir. Jack Nicholson's character Jake Gittes is noir.

Yes sir. Turner Classic Movie runs Noir movies every Saturday night hosted by Noir expert Eddie Muller and they are running Neo-Noir for the entire month of July every Friday night. "Chinatown" was one of the keystone movies for the Neo-Noir programming.

Hey gang -- Try some of Robert Parker's Spencer books. A bit closer to Raymond Chandler than Spillane, but definitely the same style, sass, and swagger.

 

[LAHomedog]

Question: Does this have to be a complete story with a begining middle and end, or can it be a chapter or two a longer story?

Thanks.