The George Pelecanos Multiverse

I realize Pelecanos is probably more well known for his work on The Wire but his novels are astonishing in terms of characterization and weaving a multitude of characters in the same universe, occasionally they interact or they're referenced. I've been re-reading his novels, I started with The Big Blowdown and followed it up with the Nick Stefanos PI series.

Although officially, in terms of chronology, TBB comes in between Where the Dead Men Go and King Suckerman, I like to think of it as the very beginning of this universe, it's still one of the best coming of age novels I've ever read (I realize it only takes up a small portion of the book) and a great homage to the gangster films of the thirties and forties. I think Nick's Trip might be the best book in the Stefanos trilogy, it's a wonderfully nostalgic look at the bonds of friendship or friendships that existed in a certain moment but were lost to the casualties of time. The progression of Nick Stefanos is fascinating, in the first book he reluctantly becomes a private investigator and his inexperience ends up getting a friend killed, In the second he's starting to realize the passage of time and his youth is over and by the third, his drinking is reaching a critical state, he ends up crossing the point of no return and in the end, all he has left are memories floating at the bottom of a glass.

It's the same way with Dimitri Karras in King Suckerman, only his regrets are all tied up with drugs. He eventually comes to a realization that his dealing has consequences but merely switches from one form of substance to another, from weed to coke, both Stefanos and Karras have a controlled addiction which makes them rationalize their behaviour to a certain extent. They're both kind of tragic characters really.

Pelecanos also knows how to write fascinating villains, from Wilton Cooper to Charles Baker, there's an essence of humanity to them, it doesn't lessen their crimes (certainly not in Wilton Cooper's case) but it makes them seem familiar.

 

I'm honestly amazed no-one's adapted any of his books yet, they're incredibly cinematic and alive with movie and music references.

I can't argue with that, if they ever turn it into a film, my choice for Wilton Cooper is Michael Jai White.  My personal preference would be The Turnaround, it's not vintage Pelecanos but it's a standalone novel and a well told story about forgiveness. I think his best overall book might be Hell to Pay. I do love the constant Leone references in the Strange/Quinn series.

I just thought he would've fit in with the blaxploitation feel of the book, to each their own. I'm currently reading Shame the Devil, I know I said Hell to Pay might be Pelecanos best book overall but there's some powerful moving stuff in this book.