Posted by Dietrich from client201-123-69.bellatlantic.net on February 23, 1999 at 21:02:38:
First off, let me say that I've read them all - and I enjoyed them
all. McCoy and MacGregor put forth some really great Indy
adventures. They were all fun. Were some better than others? Of
course, but which author was better? Well now it gets a bit hairy.
McCoy was good. His adventures were fun and aimed at getting as
close to a movie'style adventure as possible. Some of his vilians
were cool. Hell, I even liked "Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs,"
in spite of its insipid title. But there's always been something
about his books that bugs me, long after i've finished reading
them. They fall short. Waaaaay short. The biggest problem is the
women. McCoy has inexplicably managed - in light of the fact that
judging by the 3 films Indy is something of a womanizer - to cast
all female characters in a position preventing them from accepting Indy's advances. Let's look at the list. Faye Maskelyne - a married
woman searching for her long-lost husband. Alecia Dunstin - cursed
by a crystal skull to be unble to consumate any sort of a relationship
with Indy. "Sister" Angela Starbuck (no relation to the coffee) -
posing as a woman of the cloth, she's hardly the available type.
And lastly, let's not forget Ulla Tornaes - as cold as the Arctic
wastes "The Hollow Earth" takes place in. What gives? When has
Indy ever appeared as melodramatic and sullen and depressed as
he has in McCoy's novels? I know McCoy's something of a fan
favorite here in the Forum so I'm sure to be stirring up some
trouble here. I just don't get why he's praised so highly over
MacGregor. MacGregor may have presented us with a slightly younger
Indy, but he also gave us great adventures worthy of carrying the
Jones name. Not to mention two wonderful supporting characters:
Jack Shanoon and Diedre Campbell. Yeah, that's right, he invented
interesting foils for Indy - he didn't just bring Sallah back in
the last third of the novel to fill the void. Jack Shannon is
an interesting character for Indy to play off of. With no stake
in archaeology and a slew of problems all of his own, his prescence
never seems forced. Diedre Campbell as well, is the single best
thing to happen to the Indiana Jones mythos, since they rode off
into the sunset at the end of Last Crusade. She's fiesty, determined
and intelligent, the perfect match for Indy. Their relationship
was a joy to watch (read!) unfold. She was quite possibly, the
perfect woman for Indiana Jones. Their marriage was utterly
beleivable, making her death all the more tragic. It makes perfect
sense for Indy to be a widower and explains his tendency towards
fast, short-lived relationships (Marion, Willie, Elsa). Bravo Mr.
MacGregor.
On the other end of the scale, it seems to me that the biggest thing
McCoy will be remembered for is continuing an over-depoendance on
the Nazis as villians, portraying Belloq as a whiny, French (excuse
the term) pussy, and turning Marcus into a sappy, overly-worried
surrogate father-figure for an unsure, beleagured Indiana Jones.
Is it just me, or does Marcus only appear to bail Indy out of trouble
and give him a shoulder to cry on? "It's good to hear your voice
again, Marcus." Whatever. Why don't you just send him a dozen roses
and thank him for always being there?
Bottom line: MacGregor all the way.