Spy Killer Book

This has been an interesting experience. Unannounced and unordered, a box of books appeared at my school library doorstep from Galaxy press, a "charitable donation." That's always a red flag. Then I saw the cover - L. Ron Hubbard and a racist image. Those were red flags as well. L. Ron Hubbard of Scientology and the Sea Operation fame - controversial and kooky at best. I thought this would be a fun "test" for my Book Club kids. I gave them a copy of the book and "The Golden Gazette" that accompanied the book. I didn't say anything about the cover or the author. I told them to see what they could find out about the author and something called "pulp fiction." We will see what they come up with.

For a good discussion of what "pulp fiction" is see: If "pulp fiction" is synonymous with "short," "fast paced" or "poor quality writing," "Spy Killers" is successful on all levels. And if one reads the book through the lens of the common man of 1930's America, this book is/was successful on many levels. The relationship between China and Japan and the U.S. at the time might explain some of the sentiment here. Language like "chop-chop" or "yellow countries" or
"round faced, slit eyed proprietor," "yellow devils," or "coolie" might work within the context of the times.

However, the reason for re-introducing these books in 2012 must be purely economics. Read through the lens of an educated individual of the 2010's, this book was pretty much trash. Lots of racist, sexist language and situations. Most contemporary Americans will have thin knowledge of what was happening historically at the time - the tension between Chinese Nationalists and Communists, the tension between China and Japan, and the unwillingness of Americans to get involved in the affairs of China at the risk of angering the Japanese. This lack of understanding might only serve to perpetuate old stereotypes.

There book is purely plot driven, and even that is thin. Things happen way too coincidentally and quickly with little build-up or explanation. There is little in the way of character development. The author tends to concentrate on the physical qualities of the characters only. And gender stereotypes abound, as do stereotypes about the West versus the East. The writing, in terms of the use of figurative language, is sometimes pretty good and at other times crazy bad. Consider this simile: "Captain Yang loomed over him like a mountain which has a summer house at its summit." Awkward. Or this: "But his eyes were the worst. They were not black, they were an unhealthy, mud blue color, like bichloride of mercury." "Bichloride of mercury?" Really? The violence is described pretty graphically and in detail - glorified really. The writing is just plain crap.

Anyway, I think this ought to be a great discussion. I am interested in seeing what my high school readers come up with on this one. It will be interesting to see if the red flags appeared to them as well.