Post by Scott RayHi all -- I have a question. While scanning through potential
stocking-stuffers on Amazon, I came across a couple of NYPD Blue novels
(NYPD Blue: Blue Beginnings, and NYPD Blue: Part II). They are described as
being kind of "prequel nnovels" for the series. I would be interested in
the opinion of anyone that has read either/both of the books. I am a
relative newbie to the site, so if it has been discussed before, I
apologize.
Both are written by Max Allan Collins, a very prolific crime
novelist (he first got on the map for a series of historical thrillers
about private eye Nate Heller) and comic book author (he wrote the Road to
Perdition graphic novel) who's also something of a specialist in doing
movie and TV show tie-in projects like this (he's written several CSI
novels and comics).
Blue Blood takes place in the months leading up to the series' pilot,
giving more details about the end of John and Laura's marriage and the
reasons for Sipowicz's vendetta against Alphonse Giardella. I really
enjoyed it as a time capsule portrait of the drunk, out-of-control
Sipowicz we've seen only bits and pieces of on the show itself. On the
other hand, the book doesn't so much end as it points the way towards the
events of the first season. If you're familiar with those shows, you
shouldn't have a problem.
The second book, originally called Blue Blood, I can't say much about. I
own a copy, but never got around to reading it. Originally, it was
supposed to feature Simone working together with John Kelly, but that plan
was scrapped in favor of a more traditional Simone/Sipowicz story.
Neither book sold very well -- Blue, for all its popularity, doesn't seem
to inspire a cult-like following (ala most science fiction and fantasy
TV) that makes fans want to buy everything associated with it -- and plans
for any future novels were scrapped.
But I liked Blue Beginnings, and I bet if I ever cracked open my copy of
Blue Blood, I'd like that, too. Collins is a very reliable writer.
-Alan