# Robert B. Parker has died. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583 "2010-01-19T17:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/1 "2010-01-19T17:52:00Z")
Robert B. Parker has died. [LINK](http://online.wsj.com/public/page/news-lifestyle-arts-entertainment-columns-blogs.html) Spenser visits my hometown in one of his books. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/2 "2010-01-19T17:59:26Z")
That’s a loss. I’m a huge fan of the Spenser and Jesse Stone series; not so much a Sunny Randall devotee, but no matter. Parker was a compelling storyteller. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/3 "2010-01-19T18:10:59Z")
I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m a big fan of Spenser, even as he and his perfect girlfriend have been getting on my nerves lately. Ah, better a perfect Spenser, Susan and Hawk than a world without them. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/4 "2010-01-19T18:16:11Z")
That is too bad. I looked forward to a new Spenser every year. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/5 "2010-01-19T18:16:29Z")
I enjoyed his books - read pretty much every Spenser. Met him in Boston at random one time at a restaurant. He was very nice. Sorry to hear he passed. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/6 "2010-01-19T18:20:25Z")
This is really sad. I’ve been a fan of his books for many, many years, and even the low points were fun reads. I’ll miss looking forward to new Spenser books. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/7 "2010-01-19T18:21:33Z")
Oh, too bad. I liked his Spenser books a lot (esp. the early ones; he became more than a little formulaic in later years, I thought). May he rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/8 "2010-01-19T18:23:31Z")
I’ve read many of his Spenser books; I especially liked the older ones. Haven’t kept up with them lately, but sorry to see he passed. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/9 "2010-01-19T18:24:26Z")
Damn. I haven’t read a Spenser novel in years (my loss) but I have greatly enjoyed the ones I read. And Avery Brooks will always be Hawk to me. Off to the Kindle store to look for some Parker to download. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/10 "2010-01-19T18:27:25Z")
I quit reading Spenser about 10 years ago because Parker seemed to be tired of the character, but the 25 years or so worth of Spenser before that will always have a fond place in my heart. With Parker and Urich both dead now, I guess Spenser really is gone, too. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/11 "2010-01-19T18:49:15Z")
Not necessarily: [Small Vices - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spenser:_Small_Vices) ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/12 "2010-01-19T19:01:08Z")
Sorry about my original link. It was meant to go right to the WSJ Speakeasy page. [Speakeasy](http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/13 "2010-01-19T19:20:20Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Not necessarily: [Small Vices - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spenser:_Small_Vices) Sorry, no. I like Joe, but he ain’t Spenser. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/14 "2010-01-19T19:20:48Z")
Crap. I loved his early Spenser. Hell, I loved all his Spenser until at least _Pastime_, and though the later novels were hit & miss, some were very good–I think specifically of _Small Vices_ and _Walking Shadow_. And now I will be sad for the rest of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/15 "2010-01-19T20:28:22Z")
That’s too bad. Spenser was always my comfort reading when I was feeling down, and Parker himself always seemed like a cool guy. ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/16 "2010-01-19T22:12:46Z")
That’s too bad, I liked the Spenser novels as well. I’ve read them all (as far as I know), and Hawk was one of my favorite characters in all of fiction. Way bad ass and too cool for words. Parker wrote good, fun to read stuff. I’m sorry to see him go. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/17 "2010-01-19T22:50:48Z")
Damn. Spenser was fun; not deep literature, but entertaining. And Sunny/Jesse Stone still had places to go. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/18 "2010-01-19T22:58:48Z")
With Mickey Spillane already dead, who does this leave as the reigning living author of hard-boiled fiction? Elmore Leonard, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/19 "2010-01-19T22:59:23Z")
Damn. I only got turned on to him a few years ago, but I thoroughly enjoy everything I’ve read so far. Good mystery writers are hard to come by these days. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583/20 "2010-01-20T00:25:28Z")
:eek: Oh, NO! That’s too bad, I’ll miss his work so much! Even though every Spenser was a lot like the other Spensers, even though I could read one in an evening, there was something so enjoyable, even comforting, about Spenser, Hawk, and Susan’s doings. Was there ever a more perfect girlfriend than Susan? Color coordinated to the max, every hair in place, beautiful, intelligent, calm cool collected, NEVER took more than a nibble of food or a sip of a drink, and always ready to screw, with lots of smarmy praise afterwards. And Hawk! I do believe Hawk influenced Robert Crais’s character of Joe Pike, somewhat… My favorites were the earlier ones, like Taming A Seahorse - I think in the more recent books, Spenser was definitely feeling his age. R.I.P., Mr. Parker, and thanks for all the swell reading. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-b-parker-has-died/525583.md?page=2)