Plum Island [antikvár]

ForewordIn Plum Island, I first introduced the character of John Corey, NYPD. This was meant to be a one-time appearance of Detective Corey, but he drew such an overwhehningly positive response that I decidedor was talked into bringing him back in my next novel. The Lion's Game, then Night Fall, and, most recently, Wild Fire. I know a good thing when I see it, and so, obviously, do my readers.I never wanted to use a continuing character in my novels, though I did start my writing career that way with a homicide detective who appeared in a number of paperback originals that I wrote for fun and not profit.When I graduated to hardcovers, I happily abandoned this idea of a continuing character, but now I'm back to my roots with John Corey.When I first created John Corey in 1997, there was a wave of something new called political correctness sweeping the country, and people, including writers, were shying away from the old stereotypes, the macho cop, the guy who told sexist and ethnic jokes, swore, drank hard liquor, and smoked.So, in a contrary moment, I decided to create a character who was decidedly un-PC, and who had some real issues with the world of feelings and sensitivity. The only adjustment Corey makes to the modem world is that he doesn't smoke, and you shouldn't either.I wasn't sure if I could get away with this guy as a hero, and I pictured my editors having seizures, my readers abandoning me in droves, and the press characterizing me in print as a man who needed to go to a re-education camp.But, recalling my First Amendment rights to speak and write freely, I let it rip. And I had fun writing Plum Island.