coprime_recs (
coprime_recs) wrote2004-04-28 03:55 pm
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Entry tags:
Nero Wolfe: Aesthetics by Jennifer Lon
Aesthetics (Wolfe-Archie | PG | 4,558 words) is the story of how Archie and Nero meet, from Saul's pov. It's good. Shows how Archie and Nero complement each other. And young Archie is always a plus. I feel silly saying it's cute because it's not really cute. But it is a fun read with good characterization.
Excerpt:
He opened his eyes again. "So, Monday night, I'm hanging around seeing if I can catch Grassman's goons, when Lonnie decides to send over a couple of his own. I shoot them, I go to jail, the crates get lifted, I get out of jail. End of story."
At some point Wolfe's finger started making little circles on the arm of his chair. I hadn't thought to warn the kid about it. I hadn't foreseen a situation where it would come up. It was too late now. Wolfe doesn't raise his voice when he's really angry. It gets low and tense. There's an edge to it you could shave with.
"Did it not occur to you to enlighten the authorities with what you had heard, Mr. Goodwin? Did it not occur to you that if you caught Mr. Grassman's 'goons' he would retaliate? Or that Mr. Brougham will do so once he is release, as he will no likely presume, as we have, that you told the police he was involved with the robbery? You have put yourself in grave danger, and you make no effort to avoid it. Are these the actions of a prudent man?"
If you had asked me before hand, I would have put it at ten to one the kid would lose his temper. I would have been wrong. Archie drew himself up and looked Wolfe in the eye.
Excerpt:
He opened his eyes again. "So, Monday night, I'm hanging around seeing if I can catch Grassman's goons, when Lonnie decides to send over a couple of his own. I shoot them, I go to jail, the crates get lifted, I get out of jail. End of story."
At some point Wolfe's finger started making little circles on the arm of his chair. I hadn't thought to warn the kid about it. I hadn't foreseen a situation where it would come up. It was too late now. Wolfe doesn't raise his voice when he's really angry. It gets low and tense. There's an edge to it you could shave with.
"Did it not occur to you to enlighten the authorities with what you had heard, Mr. Goodwin? Did it not occur to you that if you caught Mr. Grassman's 'goons' he would retaliate? Or that Mr. Brougham will do so once he is release, as he will no likely presume, as we have, that you told the police he was involved with the robbery? You have put yourself in grave danger, and you make no effort to avoid it. Are these the actions of a prudent man?"
If you had asked me before hand, I would have put it at ten to one the kid would lose his temper. I would have been wrong. Archie drew himself up and looked Wolfe in the eye.