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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1999)
it ByJoshKrauter Senior staff writer Editors note: In this weekly series, we explore the lives and works of notable Nebraska artists of the 20th cen tury. “I may be wrong - I have been wrong about so many things — but I can’t recall ever hearing or knowing of a son-of-a-bitch who did not do all right for himself. I’m talking about real sons of-bitches, understand. The Grade-A, double-distilled, steam-heated variety. You take a man like that, a son-of-a bitch who doesn’t fight it - who knows what he is and gives his all to it - and you’ve really got something. Rather, he’s got something. He’s got all the things that are held out to you as a reward for being a non-son-of-a-bitch.” - Jim Thompson, “The Nothing Man” Jim Thompson made a living writ ing about and for SOBs, but he didn’t get any of the rewards for not being a SOB until after his death. Robert Polito, author of “Savage Art,” a biography of Thompson, called him a “novelist of failure, not a failed novelist.” This is certainly true. Thompson wrote about killers, corrupt cops, alcoholic reporters and other i assorted failures, but his novels were always sharp, clear and exciting. His life was another story. Thompson was often overlooked, and when he died, none of his books were available in the United States. Thompson was born in Anadarka, Okla., in 1906. His family moved back and forth from Burwell, Neb., and Oklahoma throughout his childhood. At age 25, Thompson enrolled in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an agriculture major. His professors were so impressed with his writing that they recommended him to Prairie Schooner Editor Lowry Wimberley. Thompson later wrote fiction and poet ry for the publication, but he quit school for financial reasons. Thompson then embarked on a series of odd jobs, including being a steeplejack, burlesque actor, profes sional gambler and seller of bootleg whiskey. He was working in the West Texas oil fields when he began to be published in true-crime magazines. He moved back to Oklahoma and joined the Oklahoma Federal Writers Project in 1936, becoming head of the organization in 1939. In 1940, he resigned and spent the next 10 years working in an aircraft plant and later reporting for the New York Daily News and the Los Angeles Times Mirror. His time in New York and Los Angeles pro vided information for his crime novels. Swto9tecetoOketaM5«fl»9 Oea 1776 MorttMttSfreH A<tafcdM$S($4ir/S«MfM(ID) ’ I Saturday, Oct 23 8pm - lam «£tag™»ust.*i8 Mu'.stop Snfaq, He published his first novel, “Now and On Earth,” in 1942. His first few novels were described as “proletarian, populist” works and were more con nected to his Midwest upbringing. From his third book, “Nothing More Than Murder,” to his last, “King Blood,” he stuck with crime fiction. “They embraced passionately. Her body pressed against the meat cleaver, concealed inside his shirt, and Ardis shivered with delicious anticipation. Very soon now, it would all be over. That stupid ox, her husband, would be dead. He and his stupid cracks - all the dull ness and boredom would be gone forev er. And with the twenty thousand insur ance money, ten thousand dollars dou ble-indemnity ...” - Jim Thompson, “Forever After” Thompson’s novels and stories owed a lot to the cliches established by crime writers before him, particularly Raymond Chandler. But Thompson’s novels were more nihilistic and much darker than his peers’ and influences’. He often wrote from the point of view of the criminal, giving him or her a quick-witted, likable personality, forc ing the reader to identify and empathize. Thompson wrote 12 novels between 1952 and 1954, including what most critics hail as his masterpiece, “The Killer Inside Me.” Also during this time, Thompson wrote screenplays for Hollywood films, including Stanley Kubrick’s “The Killing” and “Paths of Glory.” Thompson had a bitter falling out with Kubrick after “Paths of Glory.” Thompson claimed to have written the bulk of the screenplay, but Kubrick took more credit. The screenplay won an Oscar in 1957. Thompson began to get bitter. His books sold 200,000 copies each in the 1950s, but he was critically shunned. Eventually his audience waned, too. He wrote for the TV series “Dr. Kildare” to make money and turned out generic work for many magazines to make ends meet. ^Deb Lee/DN Thompson’s drinking was getting worse, too. He had been drinking heav ily since he was a child when his alco holic grandfather would serve him drinks. Thompson had been hospital ized for alcoholism when he was only 17. By the late 1960s, Thompson’s books were out of print in the United States, and he began to drink himself to death. ^ “I have neyer been able to under stand the high regard that leaders of dangerous missions have for sobriety. Sober, one challenges the fates; unsober, the fates cannot be bothered with you. While the drunk wanders unharmed amid six-lane traffic, a car swerves up on the sidewalk to pick off the sober man. While the drunk walks away from an eight-story fall, the sober man stumbles from the curve and breaks his neck. It never fails. That’s the way it is, so that’s the way it is.” - Jim Thompson, “The Nothing Man” In 1977, Thompson died at the age of 71. He didn’t live to see his revival. In 1985, Vintage Crime/Black Lizard books reprinted 17 of his novels. Critics began to belatedly praise his works. Two of his novels, “The Grifters” and “After Dark, My Sweet,” were made into films. The “novelist of failure” was finally getting his shot at success, but he wasn’t around to see it. 402-472-2588 402-472-1761 (FAX) dn@unl.edu 20 Nebraska Union P.O. Box 880448 Lincoln, NE 68588-0448 $5.25/15 words $3.50/15 words (students) $0.15 each additional word $0.75 billing charge $0.75/line headline Deadline: 3 p.m. weekday prior 200s far sale *&* Blue’s Bike & Fitness ALL 1999 BIKES ON SALE!. Buy one bily), get 2nd at 1/2 price (see store for details). We service all brands. 3321 Pioneers Blvd. 488-2101. www.bluesbike.com. Macintosh Performs 638 with Zip. scanner. HP printer, $300 080. Call 435-8558. Queen size.waterbed. complete set, waveless mattress. Call Steve St 466-4990. Color TV,"$85. Also a VCR, $75. Call 423-8555. TOR SALE: 4 Elton John Tickets. 476-0717. Best offer. Leave Message.• For sale: 4 Texas A&M $500,2 Kansas State tickets $250. Call 483-4887. TICKETS WANTED: 2 or more Nebraska home tickets. Will pay at least $50 each or best offer. Call Barbara 421-1737. _ WANTED: Student tickets for Texas A&M game. Call Mike 466-3411,_ '89 Chevy S-10 Blazer, 4x4, Tahoe, excellent condition, only 72K. $6,100 OBO, 435-3534.__ ‘89 Honda Accord SE-I, runs great, sun roof, leather, CD, tint, 5-speed, 4 door, $3,750 OBO. 420-1495. ‘92 red Toyota Tercel. New tires, brakes, clutch, muffler and radiator. 128,780 total miles; 70K on engine. $3,100. Call 488-8698. _ | dailyneb.com | City Campus Employment Opportunities in UNL Housing ***Weekend Custodial Positions*** 7 to 10 hours - $6.25/hour Apply in Person to JOLENE at Abel/Sandoz Facilities Operations or DAVE at Selleck Quadrangle Facilities Operations East Campus Employment Opportunities in UNL Housing ***Student Custodians, Painter and Mechanic Needed - starting at $6.25/hour*** Apply in person to JERRY at Burr-Fedde Facilities Operations 1993 Suzuki Swift GT, 25K, 5-speed, tinted windows, power mirrors, AM/FM cassette, very clean, perfect school car. Call Pat. (402) 450-3779. ADOPT: A childless couple awaits with empty arms and loving hearts. Ready to welcome your baby into our financially secure home and close caring extended family. Medical and legal expenses paid. Please call Vickie and Steve, 1-800-404-0737. ADOPTION—A happily married childless couple with high energy and lots of love dream of an in fant to cherish. We offer love, security, and a wonderful future. Medical/legal expenses paid. Please call Barbara ana Peter toll free 888-540-7626. Auto Accidents & DWI Other criminal matters, call Sanford Pollack 476-7474. For all your insurance needs: auto, home, health, life and business, call Jim Wallace at American Family Insurance, 1340 L St., Lincoln, NE 68508 or call 402-474-5077. Tired of running around naked? We’ve got a free shirt for you. www.sportssleuth.com/freeshirt. The top sports site for shirtless sports fans. Free Pregnancy Test Birthright is a confidential helping hand. Please call for appointment or more information, 483-2609. Check out our website www.birthright.org. ' . ■ ■■■■ - ■■ ' .. ■ : ‘ ' II 1 1IIIIIHWII ip i Close to campus. $235/month, $40 utilities, $150 de posit. Move in 10-10-99. Leave a message at 477-6236. Need 1 M/F roommate for super nice apartment, 5 minute drive to campus, $275/month. 435-3391. Need male or female student roommate by October 31 St. Great house in nice neighborhood, 5 minute drive to campus, $165/month + utilities. 1301 S. 35th St. 476-5670, Paul, Dave, Eric. Need one M/F roommate. Close to campus. $240/month. Move in December 18. 435-7778. One M/F roommate to share large 2 bedroom, 2 bath, W/D, close to campus. 580-3441. 3 bedroom house, dose to campus, $645.432-2288. 4 bedrooms, large, wood floors, and very nice. $950/month. 525-4888. 3204 Hddrege, 3 bedroom. 1 1/2 bath, garage, parking, near UNL $750,432-0644._ Brand new 3 bedroom, z baths, z garages, ramny room, fireplace, 3 blocks to campus, no pets or smoking. Available now, $875+. Call 432-0415.' Just built— 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, lawn service, $1,200+ utilities. Available November 1st. 4315 Orchard. Call for showing, 402-598-8823. Nice 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom, W/D hook ups, AC, parking, in campus area. $350-5550, first, last, and de posit. No pets. 402-730-5922. Nice 4 bedroom, 2 baths, close to campus, available immediately. Call 475-2323. _ Walk to campus, off street parking, remodeled 2 bed room, appliances furnished. 2410 vine, 432-6476. !! CLEAN & ATTRACTIVE U Efficiency, 1342 B Street Free electric. $280 1 Bedroom 2000 J Street. Clean. $305 2 Bedroom 1505 S. 19th, New carpet $410 No Smokers or Pets 440-3000 112618 Q, new 2 bedroom, all appliances, double garage $575. Call 430-6328. *****475-7262***** All sized apartments...from efficiency at $299; one bedroom unit at $329; to two bedrooms from $429. Just minutes to campus if you bike or walk. Quiet con crete construction! Laundry. 1 bedroom, security building, off street parking, micro wave, dishwasher, disposal, central air, 2501 E St. $350,432-6476. 2 bedroom, dean, furnished, free cable, $390+. Laundry room, 1-year lease, 931 G St. 435-0608 after 12pm. 911 Garfield. Newer, freshly redecorated, 2 bedroom apartment with dishwasher, disposal, laundry, and free in October. $395. Call 470-3161 of 560-6777. 1256 S. 26th, 3'bedroom, 1 bath. Clean and roomy, laundry, no pets, $525-$540.466-9526. Clean 3BR apartment, newly remodeled kitchen and bath, rent $410 plus electric. For more information call Melody or Pat 402-434-2610 or hearing impaired/TDD 402-434-2613. Clean and Quiet 1910-20 J Street. 2 bedrooms, $425/month. No pets. Call Jim, 430-9014. ★ UNIQUE 1 BR * Gas/water/trash paid, 3 closets, dishwasher, blinds, laundry, parking, between campuses, 3 or 6 month lease, great layout 2504 Vine Street. $355, 489-4657. Nice 1 bedroom condo in Water Park Building. Easy access to UNL campus, downtown or Gateway. Available November 1st. For details call 438-0777. Nice large efficiency, heat and water paid, off-street parking, close to both campuses, no smoking, nO pets. $300 + deposit 2545 S St, first floor, 432-5573. NOVEMBER 1st! East Campus! Large 2 bedroom, fireplace, balcony, parking, $450/month, 4220 Huntington, 423-0902 or 580-0&2.