Literary world loses significant authors

The year 2008 was costly in the deaths of significant authors.

Tony Hillerman defined the niche in which he wrote. His classically crafted mysteries based in the Southwest feature protagonists who are Navajo tribal police officers. The insight with which he describes traditional tribal beliefs and interface with Anglo society is so on target he was awarded a Navajo Tribal Council commendation.

He began with two separate series but in 1990 he combined his characters with the release of Skinwalker. A number of the combined character story lines have been made into public television movies. Hillerman was a regular contributor to The Nation. He also wrote an insightful memoir titled "Seldom Disappointed."

A student in medical school when he first picked up his pen, the science in Michael Crichton’s writing is plausible if not practiced. Genetic engineering was a favorite topic.

From "The Andromeda Strain" (the first book he published under his own name) to his last published novel, "Next," both the promise and potential horrors of gene manipulation were the basis of his thrillers.

He also made forays into sexual harassment with "Disclosure," international business with "Rising Sun" and historical fiction with "The Great Train Robbery." His success was not limited to writing. He was the creator of the television series "ER," producer of the "Jurassic Park" movie franchise, and director of "The Great Train Robbery" movie.

It is the outlier of Crichton’s work that is my favorite. "Travels" (Harper Collins, $14.95) is his journal of adventure to escape what he perceived as routine. He traveled to Rwanda jungles to track wildlife, to Tahiti to swim with sharks, to the Yucatan to explore the Mayan pyramids, to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro. There is a surprising amount of self-discovery and appreciation for the mysticism of some of the locales in the book.

The essays of David Foster Wallace are cultural commentary. Many collections of essays were published, but either "Consider the Lobster" or "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" would be great introductions if you have not read him. His novel, "Infinite Jest," is based on the premise that a movie might be so entertaining that it actually endangers its viewers. His observations of culture are morphed into pointed humor.

"The Last Good Kiss" is the most often cited detective story by James Crumley. He actually wrote two series with recurring characters – C.W. Sughrue and Milo Milodragovitch.

A number of other contemporary authors including Neal Stephenson cite Crumley’s novels as their inspiration. He is the master of transforming the routine into the memorable.

In one novel, the main character sees a man wearing the overcoat donated to charity from his deceased father’s possessions. The description of his reaction to the situation is great training ground for aspiring novelists.

Thomas M. Disch wrote poetry and horror in addition to science fiction, the genre in which he won nearly every award. His first novel, "The Genocides," was released in 1965. "The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of" was his cynical take on writing for a living. It won him a Nonfiction Hugo in 1999.

It will be interesting to observe what new or yet unrecognized authors fill the gap left by those lost in 2008.

Have a happy reading new year.