# Travis McGee: Hero or asshole? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925 "2014-01-16T01:39:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/21 "2014-01-16T22:11:18Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Of course, Travis’ theory was that he would be killed during a recovery, so what the hell? Plus, he always made enough in a few days’ work (all expenses paid) to last for months. Not to mention the houseboat he won in a poker game, or the Rolls he got (IIRC) dirt cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/22 "2014-01-16T22:50:20Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Plus, he always made enough in a few days’ work (all expenses paid) to last for months. Not to mention the houseboat he won in a poker game, or the Rolls he got (IIRC) dirt cheap. Right, he was not just bumming it, but living a comfortable retired life… in chunks. Earn $10k, live on it for six months, go earn another chunk… I don’t remember that he got the Rolls cheap, just that he found it on a used-car lot. Probably cheap, though. The later conversion probably cost a purty penny or two. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/23 "2014-01-16T23:14:18Z")
I just started\* The Dreadful Lemon Sky.\* “After the drink it was time for juice and coffee…By then real dawn had arrived…I had vowed never to let myself get sloppy again…no tobacco ever again, easy on the booze…” Before dawn? Jeez! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/24 "2014-01-16T23:47:18Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Earn $10k, live on it for six months, go earn another chunk… … get laid regularly, always with more-than-willing hot babes … Damn, _I_ should live so well! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/25 "2014-01-17T00:12:12Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > …When they did end up in the sack, it was entirely by mutual consent… I remember one of these books ( **AB** can probably tell us which one, or maybe there was more than one) where he waxed philosophical to himself about sex, something about all this angst and emotional turmoil all over a little skin friction. That’s from memory probably 40 years old, that’s how long ago I read these. I liked them a lot and was sad to get to the end of the last one. But I’ve never been tempted to pick up one again either. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/26 "2014-01-17T00:19:55Z")
I became such a fan of Travis McGee that after reading most of the series I started looking up and finding earlier novels written by MacDonald. I found out then he had written Cape Fear. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/27 "2014-01-17T00:40:45Z")
It’s somewhat sobering to realize that he is, by any measure, at least 82 years old. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/28 "2014-01-17T01:43:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > … get laid regularly, always with more-than-willing hot babes … > > Damn, _I_ should live so well! :mad: There is _The Lonely Silver Rain_. The Wages of Sin. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/29 "2014-01-17T01:57:34Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I remember one of these books ( **AB** can probably tell us which one, or maybe there was more than one) where he waxed philosophical to himself about sex More than one. At least three soliloquies that I can think of, about how sad and silly and empty it all is, and the tendency of the male to fall into such depressed reveries afterwards. More passing comments to the effect. > [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > It’s somewhat sobering to realize that he is, by any measure, at least 82 years old. Slip F-18 stands empty. He’s out there somewhere, on a another adventure. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/30 "2014-01-17T02:11:02Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Slip F-18 stands empty. He’s out there somewhere, on a another adventure. Yeah, beating up some guy from his wheelchair because the guy stole some applesauce. 🙂 Was there truly a “Black for the (whatever)” narrated by Meyer? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/31 "2014-01-17T02:18:14Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Was there truly a “Black for the (whatever)” narrated by Meyer? I always liked Meyer, the hairy economist. I envisioned him being played by somebody like Ron Liebman, the guy who was the union organizer in _ **Norma Rae** _. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/32 "2014-01-17T02:24:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Yeah, beating up some guy from his wheelchair because the guy stole some applesauce. 🙂 But hey, he gets half the applesauce, right? > [@](#): > > Was there truly a “Black for the (whatever)” narrated by Meyer? The literary estate has said quite firmly that there are no unpublished McGee novels, not even unfinished ones. _Black Border for McGee_ was something of a joke by MacDonald, invoked to get a shock out of fans and his publisher. I always envisioned it as being a straight-up McGee adventure until McGee buys it in a flash of white light… then picking up in exactly the same style as Meyer completes the story and the adventure and the series. “…I look over at slip F-18 and try not to see the young couple in their cabin cruiser that now fill it. It’s not the same. It never again will be.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/33 "2014-01-17T02:25:59Z")
**Amateur Barbarian** pretty much nailed it about McGee, with the exception of him being a borderline drunk. He liked a certain variety of gin (blech), but he was certainly no regular hard drinker. The worst that could be said about Travis and women was that being around him increased one’s risk of sudden death through no direct fault of his own. In fact, being his buddy wasn’t good luck either, as Meyer could have told you. McGee was way ahead of his time as far as attitudes toward women (despite his successes, his outlook was in many ways the antithesis of the Playboy Philosophy), minorities (i.e. blacks and Hispanics) and the environment, even if his views look a bit quaint in 2014. I’m sorry to inform you that McGee died about 20 years ago of metastatic melanoma (acquired through years of cultivating a deep sunbaked Florida tan). He did however solve a fascinating mystery before kicking the bucket (look for my novel, to be published soon). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/34 "2014-01-17T02:26:57Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I always liked Meyer, the hairy economist. I envisioned him being played by somebody like Ron Liebman, the guy who was the union organizer in _ **Norma Rae** _. I always thought John Rhys-Davies. Hairy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/35 "2014-01-17T03:06:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I’m sorry to inform you that McGee died about 20 years ago of metastatic melanoma (acquired through years of cultivating a deep sunbaked Florida tan). He did however solve a fascinating mystery before kicking the bucket (look for my novel, to be published soon). How much did you have to pay the estate, Jack? 🙂 Hell, my girlfriend found mine, and all is well. Oh, his women get killed or blown off, so nome of them were around long enough to notice that ie grew! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/36 "2014-01-17T03:13:08Z")
I think he turned into Clinton Tyree ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/37 "2014-01-17T03:17:42Z")
According to Wikipedia, MacDonald died at the age of 70, on December 28, 1986, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from complications of an earlier heart bypass operation–not metastatic melanoma. > **[John D. MacDonald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._MacDonald)** > > John Dann MacDonald (July 24, 1916 – December 28, 1986) was an American writer of novels and short stories. He is known for his thrillers. > MacDonald was a prolific author of crime and suspense novels, many set in his adopted home of Florida. One of the most successful American novelists of his time, MacDonald sold an estimated 70 million books. His best-known works include the popular and critically acclaimed Travis McGee series and his 1957 novel The Executioners, which was filmed as Cape Fea... I had the impression that almost none of his stuff showed up on movies/TV but I was wrong: > **[John D. MacDonald - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0531792/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2)** > > John D. MacDonald. Writer: Cape Fear. John Dann MacDonald was born on July 24, 1916, in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He served in the OSS in the far east during World War Two. While still in the military, he wrote a short story and mailed it home to his... ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/38 "2014-01-17T19:21:19Z")
Thinking about The Lonely Silver Rain. McDonald and Travis really went out on top, didn’t they? Really no diminution in the quality of the storytelling, no downshifting into desultory or ludicrous plots, Travis was still vibrant, still curious, still questing, and his daughter showed up! A true loss for crime novel fans, no telling how much more great, compelling McGee there would have been. Apropos of nothing, I am an avid rereader, always have been, and I prolly have read each Travis 10 times or more. I still don’t tire of them, just need to take some time off between rereads. Lastly, McDonald was superb at villainry, particularly the charismatic sociopath variety. Maybe no one better. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/39 "2014-01-17T19:53:53Z")
> [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](#): > > Lastly, McDonald was superb at villainry, particularly the charismatic sociopath variety. Maybe no one better. Agreed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925/40 "2014-01-17T21:02:01Z")
Randy Wayne White is as good at creating really dark villains, I think. Probably better. Coincidentally, a lot of people consider Doc Ford to be a modern day Travis McGee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travis-mcgee-hero-or-asshole/678925.md?page=3)