Book Description
Fadeout is the first of Joseph Hansen's twelve classic mysteries featuring rugged Dave Brandstetter, an insurance investigator who is contentedly gay. When entertainer Fox Olson's car plunges off a bridge in a storm, a death claim is filed, but where is Olson's body? As Brandstetter questions family, fans, and detractors, he grows certain Olson is still alive and that Dave must find him before the would-be killer does. Suspenseful and wry, shrewd and deeply felt, Fadeout remains as fresh today as when it startled readers more than thirty years ago.
Customer Reviews:
Hammett goes Hollywood.......2007-08-31
The insight and human empathy of Joseph Hansen's sleuth Dave Brandstetter equals that of sam spade. There's a deepness of thought seldom found in the epigonesof hard-boiled genre. Dave is a warm,gentle soul, understanding human frailty, even when it leads to unsavoury cinseqyuences, And he's justly severe to real miscreants. A refreshing read in mystery literature. He was also a pionieer, in a genre whhere, thanks to Chandlers, homosexuals were less more than effete degenerates. Hansen restored homosexual people's dignity.
Captivating mystery with surprise ending; can't put it down.......2006-11-06
Have seen many reviews of books that were supposed to be great and entertaining. This book was excellent, to the point where I could not put it down. Can't wait to read the next in his series.
More than just a Gay Detective Novel, A Good Novel.......2005-02-10
Can you imagine the impact of a gay tough guy detective in 1972, that was thirteen years before Rock Hudson. Indeed, can you imagine a gay tough guy detective even today with all the attacks on Sponge Bob and and other stupidities.
But it's true. In 1972 Joseph Hansen published the first of what would grow to twenty five novels, twelve of which featured Dave Brandstetter the openly, contentedly gay thinking man's tough guy.
Dave is an insurance company investigator in charge of looking into false claims. In Fadeout, pop star Fox Olson's white convertible plunged off a narrow wooden bride and killed him. But where's the body.
That's enough of the story, you can guess what happens from there. It's a good story, well written as any novel that starts a series of twelve mysteries has to be. Highly Recommended.
Impressive........2004-12-31
Joseph Hansen manages to fit a remarkable amount of storytelling in this relatively short novel. Fadeout is the story of an intriguing investigation. Yet it is so much more than that. Seemingly without effort, Hansen also succeeds in giving the reader a very revealing look into the inner life of the investigator.
Fox Olson of Pima, California has disappeared and is presumed dead. Mr. Olson is many things. Husband, father, local radio personality, writer, painter and erstwhile politician. He also owns a $150,000 insurance policy from a company known as Medallion Life.
Dave Brandstetter is a claims investigator for Medallion Life and it is his job to find out what really has happened to Fox Olson. As Brandstetter interviews the policyholder's family and acquaintances he learns that things are not as they appear. The ostensibly happy life Fox Olson seemed to be enjoying was anything but that.
All is not well with Dave Brandstetter either. You see, Dave is a homosexual and his life partner of more than 20 years has recently died of cancer. Dave is just now trying to learn how to live again.
In giving us the Dave Brandstetter character, Hansen has done a very remarkable thing, at least as far as detective fiction is concerned. Though proudly gay, there is nothing about Dave that would lead anyone meeting him in a professional setting to suspect he is anything other than heterosexual. His speech, his clothes, his mannerisms, everything about him speaks to a mainstream orientation. But since the reader is aware of Dave's homosexuality, the way in which Hansen has him relate to women, other gays and homophobic individuals he encounters in the course of his work is quite interesting indeed. Moreover, Hansen includes a number of scenes between Dave and the people in his own life which very tellingly expose the pain and anguish he carries within.
One cannot help but notice the similarities of Hansen's writing style in Fadeout to much of the work of Ross Macdonald. Both writers use a highly descriptive type of prose that is very effective. Both delight in exploring the geographic and sociologic diversity California has to offer. Both make use of long held family secrets to provide key plot twists. And both feature toughminded protagonists who steadfastly seek out the truth.
Fadeout is truly an impressive literary effort. Word for word, this book delivers as much value to the reader as any work of fiction out there.
A Classic Characterized by its Clear & Delightful Prose.......2003-05-01
When Pima, Californiaýs local celebrity/singer/radio show host Fox Olson turns up missing and his T-Bird is found in the arroyo after a fierce storm, his wife, daughter, friends, and fans expect his body to wash up any time. It doesnýt happen. Dave Brandstetter, claims investigator for Medallion Life Insurance Company comes to town. As he interviews family and friends, Dave discovers that all was not well in Fox Olsonýs charmed life after all. Did Fox commit suicide? Or kill himself? And if heýs dead, where is the body? Dave thinks Fox disappeared on purpose, but in order to prove it, heýll have to find the man.
Detective Dave Brandstetter is not only an appealing, sympathetic character, he is also a rugged, hard-drinking, relentless investigator with his own secrets. Heýs just lost his lover of 20+ years to cancer, and he is well aware that he is not in good shape emotionally. Against the backdrop of his loss, Dave talks to the people of Pima, noses into old issues, and gets a possible lead on Foxýs whereabouts. But there is more than one person in town with something to hide, and some of them may just be ready to kill to keep things quiet.
Author Joseph Hansen writes clear and delightful prose: ýthe rust from the nailheads had written long, sad farewells down the salt-silver planks.ý Alternating captivating description with classic hard-boiled narrative, the author brings Brandstetterýs world alive, both inside and out. No wonder Hansen has been compared to classic mystery writers such as Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald.
Originally published in 1970, FADEOUT is remarkable in at least three ways: 1) the mystery features the first openly gay private detective, Dave Brandstetter, who is unapologetically homosexual and displays a solid strength and confidence that seems ahead of its time; 2) the writing is crisp, exciting, and exudes style beyond the level of the typical mystery; and 3) after over three decades, every aspect of the story and the writing holds up marvelously. Hansenýs work is destined to be deemed classic. The fact that Alyson has reprinted this debut novel and, so far, two of the eleven subsequent installments of the Brandstetter series bodes well for Joseph Hansenýs revival.
Lori L. Lake
Midwest Book Review
Product Description
3 Titles By Joseph Hansen Dave Brandstetter Series : Fadeout Death Claims Nightwork. Three mmpb books.
Book Description
This text, designed for courses in US labor history or the history of American workers, presents a carefully selected group of readings that allow students to evaluate primary sources, test the interpretations of distinguished historians, and draw their own conclusions.
Major Problems in the History of American Workers follows the proven Major Problems format, with 14-15 chapters per volume, a combination of documents and essays, chapter introductions, headnotes, and suggested readings.
Book Description
Linda Wilson and Mark Maier have also teamed up to produce the Study Guide which helps reinforce the material in the textbook. Sections include Quick Reviews, Learning Objectives, Using Key Terms, True or False, Multiple Choice Questions, Problems and Applications, and Common Errors.
Average customer rating:
- Funny and fun
- Fun Through Adventure
- Weird Snacks Cured My Appetite
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Weird Snacks
Ron Wiggins
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0740733443 |
Book Description
Who hasn't thought up a weird snack concoction and found it not only edible but downright delectable? Author Ron Wiggins brings 150 of the wackiest food combinations this side of pickles and ice cream-including dark chocolate dunked in red wine, Elvis' famous fried peanut butter-and-banana sandwich, and marshmallow ducks microwaved to puffy, crispy perfection together in this not-quite-a-cookbook collection.Wiggins was inspired as a child by his pastor, who stood before the congregation one Sunday and confessed to combining milk, powdered sugar, and a spoonful of Hershey's chocolate syrup and licking it off his fingers while listening to The Lone Ranger. Wiggins was hooked! For over 28 years, he has been on a mission to unearth the strangest (but yummiest) snacks imaginable. He's created a Web site devoted to weird snacks and includes recipes from readers of his column from all over the country.After learning how to make "Desperation Shepherd Pie," a "Popcorn Sandwich," and "Fishy Peanut Butter," you'll be chuckling all the way to the kitchen to invent your own creation.
Customer Reviews:
Funny and fun.......2003-05-12
It's a gag book in more than one sense, but it's also a dream book, an escapist book, a health foodie's recreational fantasy book, and....
Speaking as writer and contributor....
Ron did a terrific job of editing.
Definitely a fun read.
Fun Through Adventure.......2003-04-27
Ron Wiggins knows how to have fun through adventure. As a newspaper columnist, he has amused his readers with his derring-do. Weird Snacks is fun through adventurous snack concoctions. Many of the snacks were submitted to his Web site [...], so there is a good variety of snacks. Two snacks that appealed to me are Roaches on a Raft (banana, peanut butter and chocolate chips) and Pecos Movie House Popcorn (dill pickle juice on popcorn). Weird Snacks is fun to read, and it's a great gift idea.
Weird Snacks Cured My Appetite.......2003-04-27
A fun book to keep by the - well, no, not there - pantry maybe? It's fascinating to read what otherwise seemingly sane people will eat. We've tried several concoctions as listed, and, while dubious at first, have come to realize our own taste is quite pedestrian. It's fun to try new stuff, especially if it doesn't seem edible, but really is, and the author "spices" up the recipes with interesting tales and "tidbits". Well worth the price, if you steal it (just kidding). Makes a great gift.
Book Description
The ISB pioneered "world music" on '60s albums like The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter-Paul McCartney's favorite album of 1967!-experimented with theater, film, and lifestyle; and inspired Led Zeppelin. Be Glad features interviews with all the ISB key players, as well as a wealth of background information, reminiscence, critical evaluations, and arcane trivia, this is a book that will delight any reader with more than a passing interest in the ISB.
Customer Reviews:
An informative book about the best songwriters of the 60's.......2004-06-16
Speaking as a long-time lover of the music of the Incredible String Band, I can highly recommend this compilation, which gathers fact-filled articles from the ISB newsletter, "Be Glad For the Song Has No Endng." If you aren't familiar with the ISB's music, go buy The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, Wee Tam, and 5,000 Spirits before buying the book. But them definitely buy the book. Details about the band have always been somewhat elusive and it was a pleasure and a revelation to discover many of the things herein, including interviews with people who lived with the band members and knew them well. The authors also place the band firmly in a historical and cultural contact and present honest looks at the group's artistic highs and lows. Again, recommended reading for anyone interested in a band that offered moments of genius and musical vision (along with some really painful missteps) unsurpassed by anyone in the field of "popular" music. Says me, at least.
Average customer rating:
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Prosthetic Territories: Politics and Hypertechnologies (Politics and Culture, No 3)
Gabriel Brahm
Manufacturer: Westview Pr (Short Disc)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Anthropology
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ASIN: 0813323681 |
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Television Drama: Agency, Audience and Myth (Studies in Communication Series)
John Tulloch
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Textbook Binding
Drama
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ASIN: 0415016495 |
Book Description
Views television drama from a cultural studies perspective, examining the active agency of both viewers and media practitioners. Tulloch looks at genres such as soap opera, science fiction, sitcoms and police series.
This title available in eBook format. Click here for more information.
Visit our eBookstore at: www.ebookstore.tandf.co.uk.
Average customer rating:
- ColdFusion MX for Dummies
- Ok, but I think I can find better...
- Why did the author make so many typos in this book?
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ColdFusion MX for Dummies
John Paul Ashenfelter , and
Jon N. Kocen
Manufacturer: For Dummies
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ASIN: 0764516728 |
Book Description
ColdFusion MX is a Web-application development platform from Macromedia and it can definitely help energize your Web application development work. Super-simple to use—the only pre-requisite is knowing HTML—and featuring a set of powerful Web application development tools, ColdFusion MX makes it easier and quicker than ever to develop Web applications of every level of sophistication—from a homey photo archive of family snapshots, to a swanky enterprise application for managing electronic commerce.
Ready to turn up the heat with ColdFusion and take your site to the next level? Well, look no further. ColdFusion MX For Dummies offers you a fun, easy way to get up and running with everything you need to build amazing Web applications. In no time, you’ll:
- Work with databases, forms, variables, and tags
- Get a handle on CFML, components database connectivity, and more
- Use ColdFusion with Flash, Java, and XML
- Harness Flash Remoting, XML handling, Web services support
- Integrate ColdFusion with other sites, applications, and Web services
- Supercharge your development efforts using Fusebox and FLiP
ColdFusion MX For Dummies is an excellent all-in-one source for newcomers to ColdFusion. It also provides developers who’ve worked with earlier versions of ColdFusion with an enjoyable way to get up to speed on all of ColdFusion MX’s powerful new features. Topics covered include:
- Making database connections, working with forms, displaying data, and programming variable, decisions, and loops
- Building applications using the CF application framework
- Using custom tags, ColdFusion components, CFSCRIPT, and UDFs
- Building secure applications and debugging your ColdFusion application
- Using complex data types and WDDX
- Using Flash, Java, and XML with Coldfusion
- Understanding Fusebox and FLiP
ColdFusion MX is loaded with tools to help you build high-performance Web applications. But where do you begin? This friendly guide delivers all the answers. ColdFusion MX For Dummies is your passport to a bold new level of Web development.
Customer Reviews:
ColdFusion MX for Dummies.......2007-09-08
As with all the 'Dummies' books, it provides a quick and entertaining introduction to its topic. Thank you helping someone who needsa to be a quick study from time to time.
Ok, but I think I can find better..........2006-05-31
For me it was just OK. I'm a long-time developer, but just recently decided to look into web development with CF. I have read many 'For Dummies' books in the past on various subjects and many of them are pretty good, but this one left me with the feeling that whoever was supposed to edit the book was on vacation. There are numerous typos and a few grammatical errors, but really the main problem was the lack of detail. I suppose this is to be expected as I think the main focus here was a quick and dirty introduction to Cold Fusion MX. If you are a raw beginner and have never written any kind of program, not even HTML, I don't think this would help you much. If you are a seasoned programmer, don't bother, just read the documentation that comes with ColdFusion, it's much more in-depth. If you are somewhere in the middle, this might be OK for you, but I think there are better books out there.
Why did the author make so many typos in this book?.......2003-09-05
I've been a ColdFusion programmer for about three to four years now, but if I hadn't read Ben Forta on ColdFusion 4.0, I would have really not understood this book. There were so many typos and incorrect spellings in certain sections of the book that I wondered if the author was testing us. I was really impressed by ASP.NET for Dummies which I highly recommend, but this was a real disappointment. The Flash-CF program interactive you download was very interesting, but considering the download also included only two downloaded tables persons and departments, I wondered why some of the book's code asked for a table called employees. (page 93) Also XAsisTitle (page 83) -- very bad taste, but it's right next to YAxisTitle so I guess we're supposed to figure that out. Also I believe there is no ColdFusion internal function for Sqrt (page 92) so when you poor programmer try to program that -- you get a please define variable Sqrt. Not recommended for the faint of the heart. Ben Forta forever.
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Books Index
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Troublemaker (Dave Brandstetter Mysteries)
Death Claims (Dave Brandstetter Mysteries)
Gravedigger (A Brandstetter Mystery)
The Little Dog Laughed: A Dave Brandstetter Mystery
Early Graves
