{"id":19404,"date":"2021-12-18T15:54:08","date_gmt":"2021-12-18T20:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=19404"},"modified":"2021-12-29T19:54:34","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T00:54:34","slug":"bitter-gold-hearts-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/19404","title":{"rendered":"Bitter Gold Hearts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bitter Gold Hearts<\/a><\/em> (1988) Glen Cook<\/a> (Garrett P.I.)<\/p>\n

\"Bitter<\/a>I obviously read this before, because there were passages underlined and I have a review for it.<\/p>\n

I didn’t remember anything about it though, except that it was a fantasy take on a noir PI, which I generally adore. (See Simon Green<\/a>‘s Nightside)<\/p>\n

Garrett is asked to consult on a case where an heir of the Stormwarden has been kidnapped. But they don’t want Garrett to mediate between the family and the kidnappers, they just want to talk to him and make sure they are doing everything correctly.<\/p>\n

“He has a good question, Domina.\u201d I\u2019d been working up to it when he burst in. \u201cWhy bring me in when the kidnappers said don\u2019t tell anybody? A man with my reputation, and you sent out what amounted to a platoon of clowns, with the girl dressed flashy enough to catch a blind man\u2019s eye. It\u2019s not likely the kidnappers won\u2019t hear about it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nothing goes as planned.<\/p>\n

The mystery was fine. The world building was interesting.<\/p>\n

But.<\/p>\n

This was written in 1988, which is obvious from the cover. (ie, HER HAIR. Obviously this fantasy world has Aquanet.) It’s also obvious to some degree in the writing. That is the casual misogyny and sexism.<\/p>\n

To be far, a lot of that is expected when you’re writing a 1950s style noir detective: the hard drinking and the womanizing especially. But there was one bit that I don’t remember from the first time I read it (natch) but was somewhat disturbing this time around.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys got any reason to hang around?\u201d <\/p>\n

Crask was leaning against a wall, watching the witch. He said, \u201cYeah.\u201d He pointed. \u201cHer.\u201d He meant [female bad character]. \u201cChodo wants her. When you\u2019re done with her. If she\u2019s still breathing.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat for?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAn ornament. Like the broads that hang around the pool. He thinks she\u2019d be interesting, all he\u2019s heard.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d I liked an aspect of the idea. I examined my conscience. Better than killing her. Maybe. \u201cIt\u2019s all right with me. Take her now.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

then<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t recognize her at first. When I did, I was startled. <\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t the [female character] I\u2019d known so briefly. Not the [female character]who had been so tough on that farm. This [female character]had been broken down and rebuilt. She looked as eager to please as a puppy. <\/p>\n

Chodo noticed my surprise. He looked me in the eye and smiled. His smile was like Crask\u2019s. That was like looking Death in the face and having him grin. \u201cA gift, Mr. Garrett. Not to be considered for the favor I owe. Just a token of my esteem. She\u2019s quite tame now. Quite pliable. I have no more use for her. I thought you might. Take her.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That is really fucking disturbing.<\/p>\n

Publisher: Ace
\nRating: 6\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bitter Gold Hearts (1988) Glen Cook (Garrett P.I.) I obviously read this before, because there were passages underlined and I have a review for it. I didn’t remember anything about it though, except that it was a fantasy take on a noir PI, which I generally adore. (See Simon Green‘s Nightside) Garrett is asked to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[292,2,8,43,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ebook","category-fantasy","category-mystery","category-private-eye","category-reread"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/piQkW-52Y","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2393,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/2393","url_meta":{"origin":19404,"position":0},"title":"Bitter Gold Hearts","author":"Michelle","date":"June 10, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Bitter Gold Hearts (1988) Glen Cook The second book in the Garrett PI series finds Garrett at loose ends--and not particularly wanting to take another job, however, a beautiful fairy makes him an offer he really should--but won't--refuse. To look into the kidnapping of the son of the local Stormwarden--and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fantasy"","block_context":{"text":"Fantasy","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/fantasy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Bitter-Gold-Hearts.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2320,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/2320","url_meta":{"origin":19404,"position":1},"title":"Cold Copper Tears","author":"Michelle","date":"April 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Cold Copper Tears (1988) Glen Cook Garrett isn't looking to take any work. Unfortunately, a beautiful woman charms her way through Dean and asks Garrett to take her case. He doesn't want the work, so passes it along to someone else, but soon someone else--a high church official is asking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fantasy"","block_context":{"text":"Fantasy","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/fantasy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Cold-Copper-Tears.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2231,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/2231","url_meta":{"origin":19404,"position":2},"title":"Sweet Silver Blues","author":"Michelle","date":"February 5, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Sweet Silver Blues (1987) Glen Cook This was the second book I read on the Nook, but unlike the first, this is available in paper format, so if you don't have an e-reader, you aren't out of luck. Garrett is a private investigator and hero (read: survivor) of the Cantard\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fantasy"","block_context":{"text":"Fantasy","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/fantasy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Sweet-Silver-Blues.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3291,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/3291","url_meta":{"origin":19404,"position":3},"title":"Garrett Investigates","author":"Michelle","date":"November 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Garrett Investigates (2012) Elizabeth Bear Five short Abby Irene short stories, covering most of her career, from 1897 to 1941. The first story, \"The Tricks of London\" has her investigating the return of Spring-Heeled Jack. Although the story set from the point-of-view of the Detective Sergeant Sean Cuan, we get\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Garrett-Investigates.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11358,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/11358","url_meta":{"origin":19404,"position":4},"title":"Hello Stranger","author":"Michelle","date":"January 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Hello Stranger (2018) Lisa Kleypas Set in England in 1876 Dr. Garrett Gibson is the only female doctor in England, and has spent so much time proving she's good enough, she's spared nothing for herself. Ethan Ransom is a Ravanel bastard, former detective for Scotland Yard, and secret agent for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "7.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"7.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/7-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Hello-Stranger.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11657,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/11657","url_meta":{"origin":19404,"position":5},"title":"DNF: The Curse of Lord Stanstead","author":"Michelle","date":"February 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Curse of Lord Stanstead (2015) Mia Marlowe Set in London in 1819. With his pretenatural ability to influence the thoughts of others, Garrett Sterling is sent to gather Cassandra for the Order of the M.U.SE. He's entirely unprepared for his immediate attraction to the comely little firestarter. But it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "British"","block_context":{"text":"British","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/british"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/The-Curse-of-Lord-Stanstead.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19404\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}