One of the my oldest friends from the crime writing world, Tony Hillerman, author of the Leaphorn and Chee Navajo mysteries, died Sunday of pulmonary failure at 83. Marilyn Stasio – the NY Times crime fiction reviewer – has an excellent obituary here.
I have many personal tales to tell of Tony. He was an incredibly generous man to me and to other younger (at the time) mystery writers. Unfortunately, I am under Pajamas TV pressure and cannot go into them extensively at this moment, except to note that one of my cherished memories is a tour Tony took me on of the Indian pueblos of New Mexico in the mid-Seventies. Not surprisingly, he was an honored guest by the tribal chieftains. We were treated well.
That is sad news – I was very fond of Hillerman’s books – and loved a short assignment that I had at an airbase near Albuquerque.
He wrote so very beautifully of the desert country on the Res, and so very knowlegeably about the Dineh. Not only were his books interesting on their own as mysteries, they were also an education.
Darn. There goes another one of my favorite thriller guys.
I will miss his fascinating crime stories. I have them all in my book collection. I guess its time to reread them and look for my next favorite mystery writer. It will be difficult to find a replacement of his caliber. He will be sorely missed.
What a shame! He was a wonderful storyteller with an obvious respect for his subject matter. I greatly enjoyed his books. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
He was indeed a unique writer,and taught journalism for many years at my alma mater,the U. of New Mexico.If you want not only good mystery writing but an education in a great Southwestern culture,read Tony Hillerman.
Great writer; loved his stuff. His love for the desert southwest came through on every page.
Sorry to hear he has passed away.
Scott
having moved to Arizona in 1993 from the flatlands on the midwest I was fascinated with the vast beautiful desolate landscapes of Arizona. I soon discovered Tony Hillerman and his protagonists Leaphorn and Chee. Those stories brought to life Arizona and its native citizens in a way that will remain with me for a lifetime. The Blue Flint Boys are still up to their mischief as they deposit dust and debris on my car port as they whirl by on hot summer days.
I spent about six months on The Res back in the late 70′s. We were putting in a computer system for the Office of Navajo Economic Opportunity. I stayed at the motel in Window Rock that appeared many times in Mr. Hillerman’s books. I worked in Ft. Defiance – just down the road. I came to really love mutton stew and fry bread.
It was difficult to understand the Navajos. I wish that I had read Tony’s books before I worked there. I know that later in life his works enriched me.
Years ago, when I did my first work with the Indian Health Service in Gallup, I asked the Navajo nurses for a good anthropology book so I could understand my patients.
They told me to read Hillerman’s books instead…a rare recommendation from those who know the culture..