FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

FICTIONAL REALITY AND THE PORTRAYAL OF JUSTICE IN MODERN SOCIOLOGY AND CONTEMPORARY NOVELS *

Ralph G. O'Sullivan Chillicothe, IL

ABSTRACT Social justice is a popular subject of discussion in sociology, politics, jurispru­ dence, as well as popular novels. The outcomes of its proceedings are equally curious because that which is "just" depends upon such variables as defining the direction that justice needs to take, allocating authority to enforce it, and public reaction to its consequences. This article represents a layered investiga­ tive journey into the portrayal of justice in nine popular series of novels because its fictional enactment represents the way that the population would like to see it enforced, but does not. Since the body of the material reviewed here are works of fiction which incorporate known data a new expression is offered. Fictional reality refers to the ways in which novelists weave fair knowledge about modern justice into stories which please their audiences, and this article explores the means by which that melding occurs. *Originally printed in Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology 2006 34(2).

"You want justice done you got to get it INTRODUCTION yourself' (James Lee Burke, Moon of If these statements by three popular Red Ponies). novelists are correct then our system of justice is the subject of serious public "That's what the notion of 'justice' was despair and ridicule. A common under­ all about anyway: settling up" standing about social justice is that it (Sue Grafton, A is for Alibi). exists when that which is morally "right" prevails over that which is morally "I don't think Barbara Daggett gave a "wrong" in a legally-contested process. damn about seeing justice done, While such proceedings are intended whatever that consists of' to be swift and sure, they are often (Sue Grafton, D is for Deadbeat). slow with uncertain outcomes, leaving the population both unhappy with it, "First food, then justice. That's the and scornful of it. Contemporary writers proper ordering of world events" (Sue such as James Lee Burke, Sue Graf­ ton, and Nora Roberts understand Grafton, J is for Judgment). these mixed concerns and capitalize on them by writing books wherein "You can't leave justice to others" justice is depicted in ways which they (Nora Roberts, Northern Lights). would like to see it fulfilled. A novel,

37 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012 then, becomes "an internal search for then placed on the moral entrepreneur­ truth that the author shares" writes Jeff ial roles of the books' characters. The Rovin (2005:233), author of books in a third destination for this excursion is an Tom Clancy-created series. analysis of the near-autobiographical James Lee Burke created the series method by which several of the writers of books featuring Deputy Sheriff Dave have been able to create likable and Robicheaux (1987-2003, 2005, 2006) believable fiction. Authors can accom­ and the shorter series about Billy Bob plish this task by keeping our emotions Holland from which the above state­ peaked with aversion, sensuality, and ment was taken; Sue Grafton wrote the tension carrying us to the last pages of best-selling "Alphabet" crime books their books. starring private detective Kinsey Mill­ When this article is completed, we hone (1983-2005); and Nora Roberts will be able to better understand how created many stories whose genres selected novelists enlist wide reader­ are difficult to classify. One of the rea­ ship simply by providing surrogate im­ sons that these authors, and others to ages of a justice system that works. As be identified shortly, frequently top this journey into the melding of fiction best-selling lists is that they integrate and fact begins there is need to identify geo-politics, geography, sociology, ab­ the means by which the series novels normal psychology, forensic criminolo­ were chosen for use here, as well as gy, moral entrepreneurial roles, humor, listing the specific ones which were and romance into their stories. A sec­ selected a literature review. ond reason for their popularity is that the books fulfill our thirst for an ideal NOVELS: TYPES AND CHOICES system of justice as we are taken on journeys into the unreal-real world of Excluding genres, novels fall into literature- that of fictional reality. one of two categories- series or stand­ This article represents an excursion alone books. Each has particular ap­ into that world wherein celebrated he­ peals for the authors and their audi­ roes do not fit some stereotypical im­ ences. Each has designated proper­ ages. They no longer ride white hors­ ties. Each has certain limitations. Each es, use silver bullets, follow the rules, contains different types of storylines and have the full authority of the law and characterizations. Each can be re­ behind them. As this journey begins, lated to sociological methodologies, all there are several destinations which of which need to be discussed before await our arrival. First, there is need to the chosen authors and their books are discuss the logic behind the choice of presented. series novels instead of stand-alone books; this trip requires the identifica- Series and Stand-Alone Books tion of the authors and series chosen A series of novels is one in which for examination. The second stop on there is a set of characters, locales, or this trip identifies the several ideal events which have recurring presence types of justice which are portrayed in from one book to the next. Characters the books, and special emphasis is change over time by growing older, 38 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

suffering illnesses, having family mem­ other. I read series and stand-alone bers and friends emerge and die, and books, many of each because they are moving from one place to another as both appealing even though they may jobs require. Series fans read the latest contain similar thoughts, for which two installment as soon as it is available, illustrations are provided. The opinion then anguish for months or years until about social justice provided by Nora the next one is published. Fans may Roberts at the beginning of this piece also mourn or feel betrayed when the is virtually identical to those of James series ends by design or by the death Lee Burke and Sue Grafton, but the of the author. Friendships with the book is not one of a set. Likewise, San­ characters grow as does a like-minded­ dra Brown's Fat Tuesday (1997), star­ ness with the author and fellow believ­ ring Burke Basile as a New Orleans' ers. Dave Robicheaux, for example, is cop, contains probative methods simi­ discussed among readers as if he is a lar to the ones contained in James Lee real person. Fans of his might pur­ Burke's books, but her piece is not part chase baseball caps and t-shirts em­ of a set either. blazoned with the logo for the "Robi­ The stories chosen and the people cheaux Bait and Dock" shop from an in them are fictional. Yet as we define internet source. Borrowing from socio­ subjects and their actions as having an logy's methods, there is a longitudinal existence beyond mere fantasy, we quality to series books because they voluntarily suspend our intellectual portray their characters over an ex­ understanding of fiction and treat it as tended period of time even though being real- a luxury in which we en­ each episode in the series is a story gage for purposes of entertainment. unto itself- as in static dynamics. We are just literary junkies and voyeurs In comparison, stand-alone books as we delve repeatedly into the lives of have a kinship with cross-sectional stu­ imaginary people, illusory justice, and dies in sociology. They represent a the lives of the books' creators. So why snapshot story taking place within limit­ were the books chosen and which ed boundaries rather than ones which ones were selected? are not so restricted, but which can of- ten work to the advantage of a reader. The Authors and Their Series Since there are no intended links to The series books chosen for use preceding or succeeding books, the here were originally read for recrea­ reader is free to explore other authors tional purposes. It was later deter­ or genres without feelings of guilt or mined that an organized investigation disloyalty, free to have alternative liter- of them might be possible which pro­ ary experiences without becoming moted three dominant reasons for bored by stylistic or thematic duplica- their selection. tion. The first and obvious one is that While readers are free to choose they represent a convenience sample their own forms of amusement, it from private libraries or they were bor­ should not be concluded that they are rowed from public facilities. The sec­ restricted to one type of book over an- ond reason is that the books deal with 39 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

different types of justices being ac­ She battles an alligator, near drown­ complished and they contain different ings, the confines of a pitch-black types of moral entrepreneurial roles to cavern, the ravage of a forest firestorm, fulfill justices. Third, most of the auth­ and her use of alcohol. ors who were selected have personal stories, or near-autobiographies, Alafair Burke's Samantha Kincaid which are particularly suited for their Alafair Burke is a newcomer to the creations. The series do not represent trade and daughter of James Lee random sampling because they were Burke, and has penned three Saman­ not given numerical assignments from tha Kincaid books (2002-2005). Sa­ which they were chosen. The series mantha is a Deputy District Attorney in do not represent an effort to exhaust Portland, Oregon who investigates the all possible options because that cases she is assigned. Burke's books would be an impossible task and it have been tightly and precisely written, would negate any possibility for a rela­ but we are beginning to acquire insight tively short undertaking. Given such into an uncomplicated ethical obligation reasoning the authors and their of "Get bad guys, don't get good ones." creations are identified in alphabetical (A. Burke 2005:214) This succinct phil­ order. osophy parrots the thinking of her suc­ cessful dad when he describes a "bust Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon 'em or dust 'em" ideology of police Nevada Barr has written thirteen work" (J.L. Burke 2005:213) for Robi­ Anna Pigeon stories ( 1993-2005). cheaux and his buddy when they were Anna is a middle-aged widow who left homicide detectives in New Orleans. New York City for a career in law en­ Given the similarity of lines and near­ forcement with the National Park Ser­ simultaneous publications of two of vice. Crime has left the cities, has their books in 2005, it is not hard to transferred into our national parks, and imagine the influence that father and has contaminated them. As with most daughter have on each other. The con­ crime-mystery novels, the most signifi­ fluence of their work is even more no­ cant crime which she investigates is ticeable as we read of Robicheaux's murder; but who would want to read book-daughter, Alafair, who has a pro­ many books about a ranger who issues minent presence in his stories. camping licenses to visitors and citations for littering? In order to make James Lee Burke's Dave good stories, there are often raw greed Robicheaux factors that precipitate human harm or James Lee Burke's sabulous Dave damage the ecologies of the parks that Robicheaux stories are an all-time fa­ she has sworn to protect. Anna gets vorite among this bunch (1987-2006). assigned to many parks across the Dave Robicheaux is now a more-than­ country from the Natchez Trace to the middle-aged Deputy Sheriff in Iberia Dry Tortugas, to islands of Georgia and Parish, Louisiana. He and his sidekick Minnesota, to caverns in the south- Clete Purcel have come to roost in west, to mountain ranges in California. bayou country after controversial ca- 40 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012 reers in the New Orleans Police De­ Patricia Cornwel/'s Dr. Kay partment. Resentful of outside assis­ Scarpetta tance from such an agency as the Fed­ Patricia Cornwell introduced us to eral Bureau of Investigation, he and Dr. Kay Scarpetta (1991 a-2005) as the fellow cops jeer the Feds as "Fart, chief medical examiner for The Com­ Barf, and Itch." (J.L. Burke 1995:315; monwealth of Virginia. Her duties at 2006:66) Beyond the commonplace that time included overseeing the of­ obligations of a policeman (J.L. Burke fice, giving legal testimony as needed, 2006:82-83), disputes surround him as conducting autopsies, and investigat­ he fights crime, authority, alcoholism, ing possible homicides with her friend, and the demon memory from a harsh Pete Marino, a Richmond police officer. combat tour of duty in Viet Nam. Like Over the years she has developed Anna Pigeon, most of the crimes he political rivals, helped raise an investigates are murders, but there are adventurous niece, been stalked and often deeper wrongs for which murder intimidated by le Loup-Garou, retired, is only a symptom. Organized crime in­ entered into a private business venture filtrates his turf. Corporate greed spon­ of security, and returned to her old sors environmental pollution. Vice traf­ haunts. Her life, like yours and mine, ficking targets unwary citizens. It is has changed and such ebbs and flows upon the already-poor that abusive elit­ cannot really take place in stand-alone ists impose even more "hunger, fear, books, but are staples of series. injustice, and oppression" (The Episco­ pal Church's Book of Common Prayer Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum 1979:392). He fights all of these social Janet Evanovich has now written ills with a moral certainty which con­ twelve numbered books starring Step­ tests his empowered duties. He too hanie Plum (1994-2006) as the bumbl­ could be labeled as an advocate for lo­ ing bond enforcement agent, or bounty calized liberation theology as he fends hunter, of Trenton, New Jersey. Plum's for people who cannot do so for them­ lack of job skills provides many laughs selves -a paladin. When manipulative, in her capers with a former hooker, a arrogant, and imperious power brokers transvestite, her funeral-lovin' and gun­ feel that they are above the law and totin' grandmother, a cousin who is cross his path, he makes them aware also her sleazy boss, two competing al­ of the errors of their ways. He may not pha males, and a vintage powder blue kill them, but does greater harm than Buick. While her job is to capture bail that which mere death accords: He jumpers, we find that she is more likely ruins them by provoking downward mo­ to be stalked by them as they destroy bility. While all this is happening he her cars than she is to nab them. receives public condemnations for his Evanovich encourages readership by aggressive methods and simultaneous inviting her fans to submit potential private approvals for their results. titles for her forthcoming books, and publicly thanking the submitter (2006).

41 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

Sue Grafton's Kinsey Mil/hone so it is no wonder that he could create, Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone has with some help, Peter Newman, been a private detective for twenty-two U.S.M.C. (2002-2005). Newman is a years (1983-2005). Kinsey was or­ career officer who is enlisted to inter­ phaned as a young girl, raised by an dict into international nuclear and elec­ austere aunt, was a police officer, and tronics crises by recruiting military spe­ is periodically contracted by a Califor­ cialists and local partisans to combat nia insurance company to investigate militant terrorists and co,, uf.Jt politicians possible fraudulent claims. As a side who would harm him, his family, and business, she is also contracted to look his country. While the series currently for missing people, to tend a parolee, contains three books they are, per­ and is ultimately involved in murder in­ haps, the most serial of the ones used vestigations such as a true Jane Doe for this project because the stories are case upon which the book Q is for definitely linked to each other. How­ Quarry (2002) is loosely based. Graf­ ever, the Epilogue to book three sug­ ton's prolific writings are matched only gests that there may be no more be­ by reader curiosity about her next book cause Newman has been assigned "T" and how she will conclude the abe­ command of the training center at cedarian series when she reaches the Quantico, removing him from harm's letter Z. way.

Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan, Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon books Ph.D. ( 1992-2005) chronicle the life of a for­ Finally, Kathy Reichs is a forensic mer assassin for the Irish Republican anthropologist who is employed by a Army who had a paradigm shift, and is southern university and the Montreal now working for a special intelligence police department just as her Dr. Tem­ agency within the British government. perance "Tempe" Brennan is (1997- Having ranked high on an Interpol 2006). Brennan is an expert scientist "most-wanted" list, Dillon was taken who is called by public agencies to de­ into custody by other British agents termine the classifications of recovered who recognized and needed his partic­ skeletal remains, to assist local police, ular skills. Realizing that cooperation and to bring closure to human death. was a better option than incarceration Throughout the series Brennan has en­ or execution, Dillon neutralizes such counters with outlaw bikers, military threats to world order as neo-Nazism, misconduct in Guatemala, religious oil cartels, and alliances between Irish zealots, burking for illegal organ har­ nationalists and a Russian mafia. Hig­ vesting, and is the conflicted prize of gins' continued popularity is measured competition between another dyad of by new book sales and library usage. alpha males. Reichs' popularity as an author is further reflected in the fact Oliver North's Peter Newman that a popular television series called Oliver North's military and govern- Bones is based on the Tempe Brennan mental careers are matters of record, role. 42 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

There are many other thematically­ tributive justice, corrective/substantive similar series books which could have justice, commutative justice, procedural been used, it is certain readers are fa­ justice, and vigilante justice which re­ miliar with them, and are encouraged ceive special attention. These are pre­ to conduct other investigations of them sented in summary fashion, followed in order to extend the ideas presented by their entrepreneurial roles, and are here. It is now time though to move for­ subsequently combined for application ward with and offer necessary informa­ to this article. tion about social justice and its players as they are portrayed in more than one Distributive Justice hundred popular series novels. Pollock defines distributive justice as being concerned with "allocation of SOCIAL JUSTICE: TYPES AND the goods and burdens of society to ENTREPRENEURIAL ROLES its respective members." (1994:50) In other words, it represents an effort to Social justice is a complex matter "level the playing field" ensuring that with several tandem conflicts. It has an all people have fair or equal opportu­ ideal and an actuality. It is a process nities to participate in a competitive and a product. It is something which is society. A generous extension of the achieved and is missed. It is revered thought means that people, groups, or and is reviled. It is static and is dynam­ organizations which have unfair or un­ ic. It has real-life drama and is por­ equal advantages, and abuse them, trayed in fictional form. Its co-existent should be reduced in stature and divisions may work against each other. power. Their protections and rewards Justice also has diverse shapes and need to be re-allocated or re-distribu­ goals in the same way it contains duali­ ted to others in order to prevent feudal ties. This section of the article presents monopolies or controlling groups from those ideal forms and the roles of mor­ hurting others who are not similarly al entrepreneurs within them. Such in­ favored. formation is provided in order to show how each of the series' main charac­ Corrective/Substantive Justice ters fit into our justice system, even if Corrective justice is concerned with such placements exists only in the the distribution of punishment or the combined imaginations of creative nov­ principle of "just desserts" in the tradi­ elists and their eager audiences. tion of classical criminology (Pollock 1994:50). Its cousin substantive justice Types of Justice has the presumptive definition that pro- Scholars have long been interested cedural findings are based on such i- in the forms and functions of justice. deals as fairness, equality, and impar- Such writers as Cahn (1968), Montada tiality during investigative processes (2001 ), O'Connor (2004 ), and Pollock (Cahn 1968). Disciplinary and proba­ (1994) have sifted through much litera- tive activities are to be conducted with ture and have categorized justice into the utmost discretion and made avail­ its several ideal varieties to include dis- able for public scrutiny. 43 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

Commutative Justice that which it has been unable to do on According to Pollock commutative its own. justice is associated with transactions Case studies of public lynchings, for and interchanges in society when one example, have often been used to person feels unfairly treated ... for ex­ create our images of its enactment. ample, when one is cheated in a busi­ While case studies are always signifi­ ness deal or when a contract is not cant, they are limited in their abilities to completed (1994:50). That is, a busi­ explain wide-ranging causal variables, ness arrangement has "gone south" or and a number of questions illustrate formal arrangements between parties this concern: With what types of justice are not fully completed, so arbitrated are vigilantes concerned? Have legisla­ conclusions are reached. tors made the wrong laws and punish­ ments? Have police failed to protect Procedural Justice society? Have judges and juries made Cahn and Montada agree that pro­ the wrong decisions? Are certain cedural justice is a complex set of ac­ groups of people criminal solely be­ tivities which are instituted to guaran­ cause of membership? Are vigilantes tee that justice is fulfilled within social concerned with what might happen to and legal parameters of confidence. them? What are the moral foundations To be "legal" here means that discov­ for their actions? Each of these ques­ ery methods, testimony, and evidence tions has unique answers but the ability are used in strict legislated manners in to generalize beyond identified circum­ antagonistic settings. To be "antagon­ stances is specious. Besides, as is ar­ istic" here means that contending or gued, a certain amount of self-appoint­ competitive parties have the right to ed law enforcement is a necessary confront each other in open and public ingredient for fictional reality's enforce­ settings; they have equal access to all ment of justice. testimony and evidence; they are giv­ The types of justice presented here en fair opportunities to present their do not stand purely as abstractions. respective points of view; and binding They have ingredients, and the most decisions will be made by impartial notable of them is that they are com­ third-party observers. prised of people whose responsibilities are to make sure that justice happens. Vigilante Justice Broadly defined, these actors are Vigilante justice has been romanti­ called moral entrepreneurs. cized throughout mass media history; has almost always been portrayed in a JUSTICE'S MORAL negative vein; and is apparently lacking ENTREPRENEURS a wide knowledge base. A commonly­ held definition about vigilantism is that Becker (1963) provided us with the people take the law into their own term "moral entrepreneur" that repre­ hands (O'Connor 2004:1) as they skirt sents a person who has an active and the law or try to accomplish for the law a devoted interest in the direction of moral stability within a population. He 44 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

refined this classification to include does it with such zeal that social and several specific occupations which legal tolerances are stretched to their dutifully enact their moral nets (Davis fullest extent. The rule abuser be- and Stasz 1990) upon a community. comes a de facto or a de Jure vigilante, Rule creators, or rule makers, are but with righteous intentions and some legislators who create laws for people, legal backing. and these guidelines are intended to The third entrepreneurial role reflect the interests of the common stands by itself: The rule breaker is good. Rule enforcers are the policing someone who violates the standards agents who oversee the actions of of acceptable social behavior. This people to determine if their behaviors person has an alternative and person­ seem to be in accord with the rules alized moral vision which is innovative which have been imposed upon them. in nature (Merton 1968), but is cur­ Without deconstructing the scholar­ tailed by rule creators, rule enforcers, ship of Becker, O'Sullivan (1994) fur­ rule interpreters, and some rule users. ther enlarged moral entrepreneurial­ Those approved and licensed entre­ ism by identifying the rule interpret­ preneurial statuses and roles are de­ ers. These people sit in antagonistic signed to prevent the deviant or crim­ settings listening to ideological and inal enactment of individualized ethics. substantive debates, and then deter­ Now that the ideal forms of justice mine the course of justice's differential and their entrepreneurial occupations distribution. Occupations in this status have been established, it is time to may be of a full-time nature such as continue discussions about the por­ sitting judges or part-time jurors, both trayal of justice in series novels by re­ of whom are empowered to make per prising the series' main characters oc­ case decisions about the applicability cupational roles, identifying the types of laws and challenges of wrong­ of justices with which they are con­ doing. cerned, and appraising their entrepre­ Three more entrepreneurial status­ neurial roles. In most cases, the illus­ es are offered- two of which were cre- trations will be combined due to simi- ated for this use, and the third has an larities of occupational roles, but there obvious presence. Rule users are ex- will be a singular analysis. emplified by attorneys who represent both sides in a litigious setting, repre­ BOOKS' CHARACTERS, JUSTICES senting the accusers and someone be­ AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ROLES ing accused. They use the same laws, the same evidence, the same testimo- The numerous serial novels written nies, and the same rubrics of presen- by the nine authors were read in pre­ tation and decorum, but for different paration for this article. Time is now purposes. They are commonly called taken to share findings about how prosecutors and defense attorneys. Anna Pigeon, Samantha Kincaid, Dave Another entrepreneurial category is the Robicheaux, Kay Scarpetta, Stephanie rule abuser as someone who is em- Plum, Kinsey Millhone, Sean Dillon, powered to enforce the law but who Peter Newman, and Tempe Brennan fit 45 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

into the justice system based on their she follows the rules. The duties of occupations and entrepreneurial obli­ Dave Robicheaux are also magnified gations. but he has issues with authoritative guidelines. He was excused from duty Anna Pigeon and Dave Robicheaux in the New Orleans Police Department Anna Pigeon and Dave Robicheaux because of his unorthodox methods. are both cops, but with different juris­ During his employment in Iberia Parish, dictions. Anna Pigeon is a law enforce­ he is fired several times because those ment ranger within the national park methods have stayed with him, and he system and the tracts in which she is re-hired because those methods are serves. She is a federal officer, but effective nonetheless. Even though does not have the wider scope of auth­ Robicheaux is an entrepreneurial rule ority which other national, state, or enforcer because of his vocation, he county agencies have. With regard to can legitimately be called a rule abuser her job description, her duty was to re­ as well. He fights crime with equal port her findings to local authority, turn force and tenacity, going so far beyond over anything she had, be available for some moral inhibitions that he recog­ interviewing should they deem neces­ nizes his own vigilantism. " ... I couldn't sary, then butt out and be a private be mad at Clete. He was the first per­ citizen. (Barr 1999:253), but that would son to whom I always took my prob­ create boring books. lems, and in truth his violence, reck­ Dave Robicheaux's provincial re­ lessness, and vigilantism were simply sponsibility is technically limited to the other side of my own personality." Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Nevertheless, (J.L. Burke 2005:45). he boldly takes his criminal investiga­ His unconventional, but effective tions into other parishes or into other methods have resulted in a checkered cities like Baton Rouge and New Or­ career, but he has found the perfect leans, even without appropriate invita­ and like-minded partner to assist him. tions or notifications. Clete Purce! is now a licensed bail Pigeon and Robicheaux are rule en­ bond officer and private investigator so forcers who fight rule breakers in their he can cross jurisdictional boundaries territories so they are both involved in with impunity in the course of duty procedural justice. They are legally en­ which Robicheaux cannot do. As such, titled to investigate crimes, gather evi­ they often work together to commit dence and testimony, and make their mayhem and wreak havoc on bad allegations available to prosecutorial guys. Their commonality extends be­ officials. While murder is usually the yond the professional realm because crime which prompts their involvement they love each other, but not in an un­ it is often just the crime de jour prompt­ healthy way. Robicheaux and Purcell ing Pigeon and Robicheaux to delve speak of their bond as: "The Bobbsey more deeply for root causes in their Twins from Homicide ride again" (J.L. pursuits for distributive justice. Burke 2006:223); 'The Bobbsey Twins The role of Anna Pigeon is exagger­ from Homicide are forever" (J.L. Burke ated in order to make good stories, but 46 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

2006:253); and "The Bobbsey Twins other people to do their work. While from Homicide stomp ass and take Plum is technically a rule enforcer names and are here to stay, big mon." under these circumstances, her work is (J.L. Burke 2006:354) really more of a vigilante nature, but It was stated earlier that Dave Robi­ with the consent of police officers. cheaux could be called a liberation the­ Humor is added and she is woven ologist for reasons the readers of this into complex webs with clients. She article can discern for themselves. The tries to track them and apprehend same label could be attached to Anna them, but since they feel unjustly Pigeon for the equal reason: They hate abused by the legal system, they vent injustice and want to stop it. their frustrations on Plum by tracking her and specifically targeting her cars. Stephanie Plum and Kinsey Millhone Some people might call the frequent Stephanie Plum describes her job in destruction of her cars as symbolic simple terms: "I enforce bail bond re­ death or rape, but an average reader of quirements. That's the extent of my this popular form of "beach reading" authority." (Evanovich 2004:62) Kinsey might not be so inclined. The police of­ Millhone makes similar statements: ficers with whom she has frequent con­ "Cops have some leverage. A Pl has tact take unprecedented joy in her bad none." (Grafton 1987:113), and "I may luck because it only strengthens their be a licensed Pl, but that cuts no ice belief that law enforcement should be with local law enforcement. The quick­ left to the professionals rather than with est way to alienate the cops is to tramp amateurs. on their turf." (Grafton 2005:272). As a former police officer, Millhone Bounty hunters and private investiga­ would have learned one immutable tors have limited enforcement duty, but fact: The public is obliged to pay atten­ Evanovich and Grafton have created tion to the police and their question­ fake police officers to attract attentive ings. The public is under no obligation, audiences. however, to pay any consideration to Stephanie Plum's job is to track bail the work of private investigators who skippers, take them into custody, and have no official rule-enforcement pow­ remand them to the court so that dis- er. Such a detail neither disturbs Mill- positions of their cases can occur. Her hone's self-image nor does it interrupt job, then, is basically involved with cor- her work which has a definite vigilante rective justice because her clients have quality to it in that she does for the po­ broken some law and she ensures lice that which they have been unable appearances in court. Her clients, how- to do for themselves. ever, feel as if they have been unjustly The crusty police officers with whom accused. They have gotten a "bum she has contact view private detectives rap," so they are recipients of com- as intruders who would question their mutative justice. skills and interfere with their work. Mill- Bounty hunting, or skip tracing, is hone walks a tightrope in her dealings actually the duty of police departments, with them. The police can provide offi­ but they eschew it, voluntarily licensing cial information on an "off the record" 47 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

basis, can provide her with certain le­ justice by preventing abusive reigns of gal protection and assistance, but they power. One of the several objectives in are not required to "serve and protect" the Dillon stories is to deter the nasti­ her in any way which is different from ness of Hitlerian Germany from renew­ other citizens. ing its place in history, and other recur­ If Millhone only investigated insur­ ring stories address his efforts to pre­ ance claims and did not get involved in vent a single family from gaining a crimefighting then Grafton's writing ca­ stranglehold on worldwide petroleum reer would likely have been short-lived. distribution. Newman's goals are to The vigilante nature of Millhone's work prevent nuclear terrorism from the use has ensured that Grafton will continue of so-called clean and dirty nuclear de­ her series, to such an extent that real­ vices, to preserve secret communica­ life police have enlisted Grafton to pub­ tions systems from general use, and to licize information about a case which extinguish political and military sources remains unsolved, thus affirming the and abuses of power. The Dillon books belief in the viability of fictional reality. are likely to continue with emergent characters, but the Newman story may Sean Dillon and Peter Newman have reached its inevitable conclusion. Dillon and Newman are the most notable vigilantes of the nine series' Tempe Brennan and Kay Scarpetta major characters. Neither of them car- At this time the moral entrepre­ ries a badge, and while Newman's neurial positions of these investigators career in the military does involve pro- are inconclusive. Their jobs place them tecting national security, his duties on the same side of the law. They are exceed normal responsibilities. Both not policing rule enforcers even though men are employed by special agencies both of them work with police depart- of their respective governments, but ments. They are not rule interpreters those agencies would disavow their ac- who make critical decisions but offer tions if caught, leaving Dillon and New- professional expertise and opinions as man to fend for themselves -Splinter needed. They are not rule abusers who Cell-style (Michaels 2004)- if captured manipulate laws for outcome advan­ or identified as outlaws. Newman's ten- tage, but their testimonies and opinions uous legal status is particularly evident are intended to affect rule interpreters. in the third book because there he They are not rule creators who make operates under auspices of a Presi- laws, but their opinions may affect the dentially-appointed star chamber to mi- laws which legislators enact. They are tigate certain nuclear and human high- not vigilantes who work outside the law value targets because the normal rules but passionately fulfill their public duty against assassination no longer apply; alongside the police. They are both but the cabal's constitutional authority guided by the rigors of forensic and is as suspect as his protected rights. anatomic sciences which their jobs Although the operatives have differ- require, just as they are led by human ent immediate imperatives, they are decency which their subjects deserve. both working to preserve distributive They work within the combined realms 48 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

of procedural justice and corrective/ requires a moral vision which contra­ substantive justice helping to solve dicts Kincaid's. Even so, the inimical crimes so that the dead can be treated jobs of prosecuting and defending honorably and the rule breakers can be attorneys require that they present their punished, accordingly. cases before sundry rule interpreters Eight of the nine series portrayals who make the ultimate decisions about have been discussed in tandem due to the directions which justice takes. Kin­ the similarities of occupations and caid directly addresses this entrepre­ entrepreneurial roles. The last book neurial triad. character, Samantha Kincaid, needs to Once a conviction is obtained be discussed separately. either by verdict or plea­ sentencing should be easy. Samantha Kincaid Defense counsel says his Kincaid's philosophy about appre­ thing, I say mine; judge does hending and punishing the "bad guys" what he wants is no different from the moralities of her (A. Burke 2005:214). fellow series' stars, but her entrepre- neurial status is beyond doubt. She is a Kincaid's occupation represents rule user who is positioned on the clear examples of entrepreneurial inter- prosecutorial sides of corrective/sub- action and the mingling of justices stantive justice and procedural justice which can be shown with Venn dia- whose litigious occupation places her grams: They overlap, invading the in complex relationships with other mo- boundaries of each other. Those amal- ral entrepreneurs. Kincaid and rule en- gamations can also be exemplified forcers work on the same side of the through emergence of a new popular law for similar purposes, but there are culture term co-opetition. This word times when the two occupations have was first noticed during the broadcast ideological and pragmatic differences of a NASCAR race and it refers to the of opinion. friendly competition between racecar Prosecutors and police officers are drivers. All of them want to win, but supposed to work as a team to defend sometimes they will help team mem- citizens from criminals. Sometimes po- bers or friends, all rivals, obtain an ad- lice officers become corrupted, abuse vantage on the track. Kincaid and other the law and civic responsibility, testi-lie moral entrepreneurs want to win, but (A Burke 2005: 138), or take others into sometimes they must relinquish a custody in order to detract attention particular advantage in order for justice from themselves. They have become to prevail. rule abusers and it is Kincaid's duty to Whether or not the nine authors are investigate them and prosecute them specifically familiar with the sociological just as she would any other rule and popular culture expressions used breaker. here is speculative. It is noted, though, As a prosecuting attorney Kincaid's that they are familiar with the concepts obligations stand in opposition to de- behind the terms, and such compre- fense attorneys whose rule user job hension has made all of them comer- 49 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

cially successful. Their achievements qualitative and humanistic approach to may also be founded upon an empa­ social population research which al­ thetic and experiential "been there, lows us to envision the daily activities done that" empiricism, which now of subjects, described by them, and deserves attention. interpreted by specialists. In pure ethnography, the researcher SOCIAL SCIENCES AND uses the voices of insiders to tell the FICTIONAL REALITY peoples' stories using the perspective of the third-person singular or plural as The ability to create compelling sto­ the Yanomamo ... , the Danis ... , or the ries requires an active imagination, of Swazi ... for example. A variation of course. Plots must be credible. Char- ethnography is autoethnography acters must seem like people whom wherein the researcher describes life the readers would know. Places and as seen by the combined points of view events may be easily identified. Many provided by the first-person and third­ of the data contained in fictional reality person singular as "I-the-hunter," "!­ can be acquired through traditional lib­ the-biker," or "I-the-stripper," for exam­ rary research methods. Many feel, ple. Because the researcher has however, that a good story is ultimately unique experiences as everyone else dependent on the author's life. The does, the analyst becomes the object writer is so intimately familiar with the and the subject of investigation as storyline, the people who are por­ O'Sullivan (2002) showed in his article trayed, and the places that are visited, about industrial labor-management that the written word and the written conflict. world are merely extensions of the Autoethnography allows the writer writer's self. This point is substantiated to describe and interpret that which is with discussions about research meth­ seen personally. It is a life-story ap­ ods in cultural anthropology and socio­ proach which is useful for some types logy with their relevance to recreational of social research, but that term is too literature. arcane for this project, so that meth­ odological term is replaced with near­ ETHNOGRAPHY,AUTO­ autobiography for several reasons. ETHNOGRAPHY, AND NEAR­ None of the authors' books are declar­ AUTOBIOGRAPHY ative accounts about their lives. Simi­ larly, they do not combine the first-and Ethnography is the field methodo- third-person voices as in, for example, logy of cultural anthropology. Based on "I-the-lawyer". Their stories are near­ the work of embedded researchers, it autobiographies written with prosaic allows us to view the lifestyles of and fact-based qualities which support populations with which most of us this research, as is paraphrased from would not be familiar were it not for Roberts (2000:306). George and Louise Spindler's Case The novelist eases into the story Studies in Cultural Anthropology from because it is a familiar one. The main Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. It is a person portrayed is someone whom 50 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

the author knows intimately as are the Nevada Barr secondary characters. The author's ex­ Anna Pigeon is a direct reflection of periences, feelings, and beliefs are her creator. Both are (or have been) transferred to the readers via the story­ law enforcement rangers in their for­ line and the people in it. ties. Both have a sister named Molly. People whom the novelists know Both fled the big city in favor of the Na­ are renamed or become combined por­ tional Park Service (Davies 2004:3). trayals. Community names or locale Barr has served as a ranger in at least names may be changed, but they may two of our national parks: Track of the retain their familiar identities. Local Cat (1993) takes place in the Guada­ economies and political currents, as lupe Mountains National Park in Texas; well as global economies and geopoli­ then Deep South (2000) and Hunting tics, serve as infrastructures for the Season (2002) occur along the Natch­ books. The author's hometown, favor­ ez Trace in Southern Mississippi. ite cuisine, subcultural lingo, commun­ Barr was apparently introduced to ity patois, and local atmosphere be­ the National Park Service as an occu­ come those of the lead character pation because her first husband was whose sense of justice appears to re­ involved with the agency's responsibil­ flect that of the author. The writer's life ity, and that alignment " ... raised Barr's story becomes the biography of the interest in conservation and wildlife" protagonist. The novelist is embedded (Davies 2004:1 ), which are endemic in a private domain and chooses to portions of her plots. If she has not make it public province with fictional served as a ranger in the other books, and not-so-fictional stories woven into it seems fairly obvious that she has the fabric of fictional reality. visited them extensively; just as she has provided us with sufficient amounts WHO WAS WHERE AND of information in the ACKNOWLEDG­ WHAT DID THEY DO? MENTS sections to let us know that she has done her homework. Seven of the authors have personal stories which made them especially Alafair Burke qualified to create their novels, their The real Alafair Burke was named characters, and provide sufficient foun­ after her great-grandmother, raised in dation material to make their yarns southern Louisiana, attended Reed seem believable. Information about the College and law school at Stanford writers was obtained from several sour­ University, became a public prosecutor ces which include dust-jacket bio­ in Portland, Oregon, took a staff posi­ b/urbs, the writers' Internet home page tion teaching law at Hofstra University, sites, Wikipedia listings, and email and became a novelist like her dad. communications with two of the writers. The fictional Alafair Robicheaux was These novelists are discussed in al­ saved from drowning in a plane crash, phabetic order, concluding with Kathy was adopted by Dave Robicheaux, and Reichs who seems to have written four attended Reed College and law school, of her novels just for use here. before becoming a public prosecutor in 51 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

Portland, Oregon (J.L. Burke 2005). coastal Louisiana and Texas. Jim told The real Alafair's father writes about a me that both he and Robicheaux were sheriffs detective, while her fictional well aware of the dangers of alcohol "daughter" Samantha Kincaid has a abuse, and they take appropriate steps dad who is a retired police officer. With to avoid those dangers. Burke vowed such information, it is easy to identify Robicheaux was not his reincarnation, Samantha Kincaid's ancestry. She is a but instead reflected more of an experi­ descendent of three Alafairs, as Alafair ential self who shared many of the Samantha Burke has confirmed with same emotions and morals as he did. me: Her dad's maternal grandmother Robicheaux's father was an alco­ Alafair Holland Benbow, Alafair Burke, holic and Robicheaux is a recovering and Alafair Robicheaux. one. Robicheaux, like Burke, was Burke's ability to write keenly and raised in the Deep South gulf coast knowledgeably is due to the fact that region. Both men love bayou country she can use the voice of an occupa­ and balk at people who would abuse it. tional insider. A prosecuting attorney Robicheaux has held many jobs like who regularly interacts with other rule his creator, and one of those occupa­ users, rule enforcers, rule interpreters, tions was board-road construction, or rule breakers, and rule abusers is in an oilfield "swamping," for heavy vehicles ideal position to portray the backstage which I did once between semesters. It arena of negotiation in pursuit of jus­ was hard, dirty, dangerous, and low­ tice. A prosecuting attorney has an alli­ paying work. Burke and Robicheaux ance with the local morality of a com­ both live in Iberia Parish, have munity (O'Sullivan 1994) to pursue jus­ daughters named Alafair, and ponder tice for the greater good of all- to nab the strengths and frailties of human criminals even if they are local officials, nature and our system of justice. to debate with defense attorneys, and Throughout the series there are to sway the opinions of judges and several themes which are intense juries. A prosecutor-turned-novelist can issues for Burke and Robicheaux. They create vivid images of investigations, are environmentalists committed to interrogations, and degradation cere­ protecting coastal wetlands. They both monies. A prosecutor turned-novelist disdain the persistent antebellum two­ who is the daughter of an accom­ caste system wherein the artistocracy plished writer can learn much at home. or aristocrat wannabes abuse the masses at will. As such, the writer and James Lee Burke his creation are both champions for the As the author of fifteen Dave Robi- underdogs. Burke and Robicheaux are cheaux books, two other shorter series, also keenly aware of the effects of and several stand-alone novels, Burke alcoholism and the nature of Louisiana has received numerous literary awards. politics. Alcoholism and sobriety com- He was born in Houston, Texas and pete for one's self-esteem, self-image, after many jobs settled into writing as a and self-portrayal in opposing ways. career. He is intimately familiar with the Robicheaux admits that sobriety and fragile and fruitful environment of stupors can be equally scary and tenu- 52 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

ous places when he states that "[f]or Robicheaux and his quests for justice. the recovering alcoholic introspection There are more than enough allusions and solitude are the perfect combina­ and proverbs in the books, though, to tion for a dry drunk" (J.L. Burke 2005: suggest that the mirroring is substan­ 29). tial. Readers would like to learn more, Similarly, but for now must wait until the next There is no possession more chapter in his life is published. valuable than a sober sunrise, and any drunk who demands Patricia Cornwell more out of life than that will Patricia Cornwell has written sev­ probably not have it. eral non-fiction books (1991-2005) as (J.L. Burke 2006:60) well as two series of novels, from which the Kay Scarpetta stories were Louisiana politics has had a notori­ chosen for use here. To date, there are ous reputation from the days preceding fourteen books about the life and work Huey Long to the modern era. Political of the now-former Chief Medical Exam­ positioning is not so much of a job or a iner for the Commonwealth of Virginia. public service as it is engrained life­ Cornwell is a novelist, not a medical style, especially when it takes place doctor, so Scarpetta is not the writer's south of Baton Rouge and Interstate reincarnation. The series is loaded with 10. It seems to be reserved for people vivid descriptions of autopsies, forensic who would sell their souls and morality, methods of investigation, and the we/­ then skew justice and the state for per­ tanschaung of crusty and seasoned sonal privileges and stations of power police officers, such as Scarpetta's de­ as Robicheaux muses on this condi­ dicated friend Pete Marino which were tion. produced by a good imagination and The person who believes he related research. can rise to a position of wealth Cornwell is often credited for her and power in the state of Loui­ accuracy and expertise, an expertise siana and not do business acquired by working at the Virginia with the devil probably knows Chief Medical Examiner's office, where nothing about the devil and she witnessed hundreds of autopsies. even less about Louisiana. Cornwell also worked for three years (J.L. Burke 2005:95) as a Voluntary Police Officer and would often work the arduous midnight shift. Throughout the series, and espe­ She has undertaken intensive training cially in Pegasus Descending (J.L. at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Burke 2006:66-67), we read of the Virginia, and has run the 'Yellow Brick corruption existing between politics, Road', a grueling obstacle course for crime, avarice, vice, and justice turned recruits ... (Rabago n.d. 1 ). upside down which Robicheaux abhors To that end, Cornwell speaks of yet faces as a cop. herself: I do not know how much of James It is important for me to live in Lee Burke is actually reflected in Dave the world I write about. .. If I 53 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

want a character do or know ern Europe during the cold something, I want to do or war. Subsequently, he was a know the same thing. circus roustabout, a factory (Cornwell 2005b). worker, a truck driver, and a laborer before entering college Whether or not the stories are at age twenty-seven. He has based on actual or composite cases is degrees in sociology, social a matter of conjecture. There is, how­ psychology, and economics ever, a consistent rumor that one of her from the University of London, recurring villains is similar to an actual and a doctorate in Media from serial killer, but Cornwell has never Leeds Metropolitan University. verified that suggestion (Rabago n.d.: 1-2). Higgins seems to be a man of many Cornwell's popularity as a storyteller talents, several of which have pro­ is evident by her wide audience, and minent places in his books. He is an she has earned numerous awards from accomplished scuba diver and there mystery writers' associations. The bio­ are several occasions in the stories blurb data from her book Trace where Dillon uses that skill to his (Cornwell 2004) also indicate that she advantage. Higgins, a former soldier, has helped establish the Virginia Insti­ would be knowledgeable about guns tute of Forensic Science and Medicine, and ballistics, as is Dillon. There is the first forensic training facility of its though another major element of kind in the nation, and serves as the Higgins' background which he uses to lnstitute's Chairman of the Board. good advantage in the series. It would seem then that Cornwell is Dillon is " ... a walking contradiction - an avid student of writing and science, warm and humorous, yet he kills at the allowing her to combine fact and fiction drop of a hat" (Higgins 2005:17). Dillon into enjoyable formats. is a hired gun who is paid to support social movements, but he is most pro­ Jack Higgins minently known in the series as a for­ Jack Higgins is one of the pen mer IRA terrorist who once plotted an names used by Harry Patterson (Wiki­ unsuccessful assassination of a pop­ pedia 2005a), but the readership world ular British Prime Minister. Higgins' has become more comfortable with the background naturally led to the crea­ pseudonym. His most recent book tion of Dillon through his formative Without Mercy (2005) contains the years in Northern Ireland where he wit­ following bio-blurb statement. nessed the effects and the tactics of Higgins, who lived in Belfast urban and freedom terrorism. In the until he was twelve, had sev­ beginning of the series there was no eral close calls with bombs love lost between Dillon and anglo­ and gunfire at an early age. philes, but he was persuaded to think After leaving school at fifteen, otherwise and uses his crafts to strike he served three years with the against anyone who poses a threat to Royal Horse Guards in East- international political and economic 54 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

stability- even against his former IRA correspondent and military analyst for associates. When international terror­ a mass media network. ists or worldwide gangsters hurt his There are many allegations about friends, he executes a dark combina­ covert operations in which Lt. Col. tion of distributive and corrective justi­ North had either been a participant or ces upon them because that is his job. an architect, but I am not positioned to At the same time, he exacts an even either substantiate them or refute them. darker and merciless vigilante justice I feel that it would be safe to assume upon those enemies due to deep loyal­ though that Lt. Col. North was aware of ty to his friends. the kinds of operations in which Peter Higgins and Dillon are worldly and Newman was engaged, so the fictional savvy men whose practical under­ U.S. Marine and his work may also be standings of geopolitics and global composite constructions. economics extend far beyond theore­ There is another element in the tical understanding. Both men are also lives of Lt. Col. North and now General students of history in that two of the Newman wherein art reflects reality. books in the Dillon series address the Biographical data state that Oliver possible revival of Nazism, and one of North was raised as a Roman Catholic these recalls Martin Bormann's escape but now participates in evangelical from Germany at the end of World War Christian activities (Wikipedia 2005b). II. Dillon's failed assassination effort is Newman's Christian wife and their based on an actual attempt on the life combined beliefs and work in Christian of former Prime Minister John Major. outreach programs became important Given all that, I wonder what Higgins' elements as the series progressed in at classes were like when he taught, and least two integrated ways: Religious am I especially curious about how conflict is an endemic ingredient to many of his world views on social international terrorism, and potential justice are projected in Sean Dillon? harm to his family supercedes New­ They are probably substantial. man's loyalty to country. Newman's senses of national loyalty and preferred Oliver North forms of justice may be cautiously The American public was first intro­ inferred, but I am better able to guess duced to Lt. Colonel Oliver North, at North's by simply looking at his mili­ U.S.M.C. during the televised debates tary education, his length of military on congressional inquiries into the Iran­ duty, and the oath to which military Contra Affair during the presidency of people give allegiance. All U.S. military Ronald W. Reagan. We were told that personnel, officers and enlisted pledge Lt. Col. North, a graduate of the U.S. to defend their country against all Naval Academy at Annapolis, Mary­ enemies foreign and domestic. Oliver land, had served in Viet Nam and in North and Peter Newman were so other global hot-spots, and was a mili­ sworn and they did so in reality and in tary and intelligence advisor in Wash­ fiction. ington, D.C. He now serves as a war

55 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

Dr. Kathy Reichs gations during the daytime, and at Dr. Kathy Reichs has her Ph.D. in night she writes a series of crime­ physical anthropology from Northwest­ inspired novels starring Kathy Reichs. ern University; she teaches at the Uni­ Reichs invented Brennan, then Bren­ versity of North Carolina-Charlotte; is a nan invented Reichs in a manner which certified forensic Anthropologist; works is reminiscent of Samantha Kincaid's for the Office of the Chief Medical ancestry. Examiner for the State of North Carolina and for the Laboratoire de Commentary Sciences Judiciares et de Medicine Samuel Pepys (b1633-d1703) was Legale for the Province of Quebec; is a renowned public servant, chrono­ an executive for the Board of Directors grapher and diarist who recorded his­ of the American Academy of forensic tory as it was happening and life as he Sciences; and is a popular novelist. It viewed it (Wikipedia 2005c). Had he is relatively easy to surmise that the life written novels, I foresee they would of Tempe Brennan imitates that of have been epochal and Dickensian. Kathy Reichs as Reichs tells us in her Instead, he wrote a diary dedicated to own words. the patterns of his life. In some ways, At the end of several books the seven near-autobiographical au­ Bare Bones (2003:305-306), Monday thors identified in this section wrote in a Mourning (2004:301-303), Cross Pepysian diarist tradition. The novelists Bones (2005:349-351 ), and Break No substituted themselves with surrogate Bones (2006:335-337) we read sec­ portrayals in a variety of occupational tions called "From the Forensic Files of roles to signify how social justice could, Kathy Reichs" in which she identifies and perhaps should, happen. One the means by which she became in­ could imagine that Pepys would have volved in investigations which resulted liked the several authors addressed in those books. She states: "For legal here, especially those who projected and ethical reasons I cannot discuss themselves into their fictional realities. any of the real-life cases that may have inspired [my books], but I can share CONCLUSION with you some experiences that contributed to the plot[s]." (2003:305; Reading novels gives the readers 2004:301) and then outlines the opportunities to suspend personal dis­ stories' developments. belief in the falsity of the stories. We It is evident to many other readers treat the plots as possible for reasons that Kathy Reichs can write about the of entertainment and recreation. The work and the adventures of Tempe ability to create a series of novels is Brennan with full experiential authority, dependent on the writer's skills to have and there is an interesting reversal of the characters change and to create roles in the television series Bones new plots, and this may mean the sto­ which is based on Reichs' books. ries contain more than a little near- Tempe Brennan, the lead character in autobiographical reasoning: The writer the show, engages in forensic investi- addresses subjects, people, and pla- 56 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

ces which are familiar by mingling notion that the American public has fiction and reality into plausible plans. significant emotional concerns about The purpose in writing this article our system of social justice which does was to show how successful blends not meet our expectations. We want between fact and fiction happened in good guys to win, bad guys to lose, the series novels from nine different and justice to prevail; but all too often authors. The novelists portrayed peo­ our ideals are left unfulfilled, leaving us ple in diverse entrepreneurial roles saddened, in despair, and untrusting. whose personal moralities and job As a possible means of abating our responsibilities required that they ad­ worries novelists have identified the dress wrongful behavior and the ad­ taproots of that disquietude and they ministration of justice in different ways. have created likeable rule users, rule Two of the series' people were law enforcers, rule abusers, rule interpret­ enforcement agents. Two of the series' ters, rule breakers, and vigilantes who people were engaged in work adjacent satisfy our social ideals, at least in our to formal law enforcement. Two of the imaginations. The authors have done series' people were involved in forensic so through creative combinations of in "clearing" a crime. fiction and fact, yet when all is said and When arrests are made, or when done, fictional reality depends on wob­ rule breakers are terminated, the story, bling for its very existence. It is that the book, and our investment have wobbling beyond known data, that cre­ ultimately reached "THE END." Crimes ative combination of fiction and fact, cleared or tyrants vanquished denote which keeps the reader's imagination prima facie evidence that justice has and quizzical nature begging for more been fulfilled and our thirsts are fictional reality. quenched; not in real life, of course, but only in our imaginations created for ENDNOTE our entertainment by novelists of fic­ tional reality. In The Historian, a recent Series of related interest which and popular novel about Dracula, the were not included are: The Jack author writes that " ... the line between Ryan books written by Tom Clancy, literature and history is often a wob­ and the NetForce, Op-Center, Pow­ bling one (Kostova 2005:27 4 ), which er Plays, and Splinter Cell series was later rephrased as "what can you created by Clancy; the investiga­ expect. .. when historians begin using tions of Dr. Alex Delaware, psycho­ their imaginations" (Kostova 2005: logist-detective, by Jonathan Keller­ 384 ). While these thoughts are ex­ man; the wanderings of "insurance pressed in a novel about a search to investigator" Travis McGee penned separate the historical Dracula from by John D. McDonald; the Jack Au­ impressionistic versions of the person, brey "Master and Commander" na­ the same can be said about the por­ val series by Patrick O'Brian; Sara trayal of justice in crime and intrigue Paretsky's Chicago-based detective novels. V.L. Warshawski; James Patter­ This article is premised on the son's Dr. Alex Cross as detective- 57 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

psychologist; and the comedic-mys­ ------. 1990. A Morning for Flamingoes. tery books starring Bubbles Yablon­ Boston: Little Brown. sky as a beautician-turned-reporter ------. 1992. A Stained White Radiance. which were written by Sarah Stroh­ NY: Hyperion. meyer and inspired by Janet Evano­ ------. 1993. In the Electric Mist with vich. Confederate Dead. NY: Hyperion. ------. 1994. Dixie City Jam. NY: References Hyperion. 1995. Burning Angel. NY: Barr, N. 1993. Track of the Cat. NY: St. Hyperion. Martin's. ------1996. Cadillac Jukebox. NY: ------. 1994. A Superior Death. NY: Put- Hyperion. nam. 1998. Sunset Limited. NY: ------. 1995. Ill Wind. NY: Putnam. Doubleday. ------. 1996. Firestorm. NY: Putnam. ------. 2000. Purple Cane Road. NY: ------. 1997. Endangered Species. NY: Random House. Putnam. ------. 2002. Jolie Blon's Bounce. NY: ------. 1998. Blind Species. NY: Put­ Simon and Schuster. nam. ------. 2003. Last Car to Elysian Fields. ------. 1999. Liberty Falling. NY: Put- NY: Simon and Schuster. nam. ------. 2004. In the Moon of Red Ponies. ------. 2000. Deep South. NY: Putnam. NY: Simon and Schuster. ------. 2001. Blood Lure. NY: Putnam. ------. 2005. Crosses to Bear. NY: ------. 2002. Hunting Season. NY: Put- Simon and Schuster. nam. ------. 2006. Pegasus Descending. NY: ------. 2003. Flashback. NY: Putnam. Simon and Schuster. ------. 2004. High Country. NY: Putnam. Cahn, E. 1968. "Justice." Pp. 341-347 ------. 2005. Hard Truth. NY: Putnam. in D.L. Sills ed. International Ency­ Becker, H.S. 1963. Outsiders. NY: clopedia of the Social Sciences 8. Free Press. NY: MacMillan. Brown, S. 1997. Fat Tuesday. NY: Cornwell, P. 1991a. Postmortem. NY: Warner Books. Scribners. Burke, A. 2002. Judgment Calls. NY: ------. 1991b. Body of Evidence. NY: Henry Holt. Scribners. ------. 2004. Missing Justice. NY: Henry ------. 1992. All that Remains. NY: Holt. Scribners. ------. 2005. Close Case. NY: Henry ------. 1993. Cruel and Unusual. NY: Holt. Scribners. Burke, J.L. 1987. The Neon Rain. NY: ------. 1994. The Body Farm. NY: Henry Holt. Scribners. ------. 1988. Heaven's Prisoner. NY: ------. 1995. From Potter's Field. NY: Henry Holt. Putnam. ------. 1989. Black Cherry Blues. NY: ------. 1996. Cause of Death. NY: Boston: Little Brown. Putnam. 58 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

------. 1997. Unnatural Exposure. NY: ------. 1985. B is for Burglar. NY: Henry Putnam. Holt. ------. 1998. Point of Origin. NY: Put­ ------. 1986. C is for Corpse. NY: Henry nam. Holt. ------. 1999. Black Notice. NY: Putnam. ------. 1987. D is for Deadbeat. NY: ------. 2002. The Last Precinct. NY: Put- Henry Holt. nam. ------. 1988. E is for Evidence. NY: ------. 2003. Blow Fly. NY: Putnam. Henry Holt. ------. 2004. Trace. NY: Putnam. ------. 1989. Fis for Fugitive. NY: Henry ------. 2005a. Predator. NY: Putnam. Holt. ------. 2005b. Patricia Cornwell. Re------. 1990. G is for Gumshoe. NY: trieved from http://www.patricia Henry Holt. cornwell.com. ------. 1991. H is for Homicide. NY: Davies, J.M. 2004. Nevada Barr. Henry Holt. Retrieved from http://olemiss.edu/ ------. 1992. I ls for Innocent. NY: Henry dets/english//ms-writers/d ir/barr_ Holt. nevada. ------. 1993. J is for Judgment. NY: Episcopal Church, The. 1979. Book of Henry Holt. Common Prayer. NY: Seabury. ------. 1994. K is for Killer. NY: Henry Evanovich, J. 1994. One for the Holt. Money. NY: Martin's. ------. 1995. L is for Lawless. NY: Henry ------. 1996. Two for the Dough. NY: St. Holt. Martin's. ------. 1996. Mis for Malice. NY: Henry ------. 1997. Three to Get Deadly. NY: Holt. St. Martin's. ------. 1998. N is for Noose. NY: Henry ------. 1998. Four to Score. NY: St. Mar- Holt. tin's. ------. 1999. 0 is for Outlaw. NY: Henry ------. 1999. High Five. NY: St. Martin's. Holt. ------. 2000. Hot Six. NY: St. Martin's. ------. 2001. P is for Peril. NY: Henry ------. 2001. Seven Up. NY: St. Mar- Holt. tin's. ------. 2002. Q is for Quarry. NY: Henry ------. 2002. Hard Eight. NY: St. Mar­ Holt. tin's. ------. 2004. R is for Ricochet. NY: ------. 2003. To the Nines. NY: St. Mar­ Henry Holt. tin's. ------. 2005. Sis for Silence. NY: Henry ------. 2004. Ten Big Ones. NY: St. Holt. Martin's. Higgins, J. 1992. Eye of the Storm. NY: ------. 2005. Eleven on Top. NY: St. Putnam. Martin's. ------. 1993. Thunder Point. NY: Put­ ------. 2006. Twelve Sharp. NY: St. nam. Martin's. ------. 1994. On Dangerous Ground. Grafton, S. 1983. A is for Alibi. NY: NY: Putnam. Henry Holt. ------. 1995. Angel of Death. NY: Put- nam. 59 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

------. 1996. Drink with the Devil. NY: ------. 2002. "Voluntary Serfdom: An Putnam. Ideological Journey into Dual-class ------. 1997. The President's Daughter. Labor Conflicts and Possible NY: Putnam. Workers' Solutions." Free Inquiry in 1998. The White House Creative Sociology 30: 119-133. Connection. NY: Putnam. Pollock, J.M. 1994. Ethics in Crime and ------. 2000. Day of Reckoning. NY: Justice. (2nd ed.) Belmont, CA: Putnam. Wadsworth. ------. 2001. Edge of Danger. NY: Put­ Rabago, S. n.d. Patricia Cornwell Phe­ nam. nomenal Women. Retrieved from ------. 2002. Midnight Runner. NY: Put­ http:llwww.phenomenalwomen. nam. com/showcase/writinglshelli_rabago ------. 2003. Bad Company. NY: Put­ .htm. nam. Reichs, K. 1997. Deja Dead. NY: Scrib­ ------. 2004. Dark Justice. NY: Putnam. ners. ------. 2005. Without Mercy. NY: Put------. 1999. Death Du Jour. NY: Scrib­ nam. ners. Kostova, E. 2005. The Historian. NY: ------. 2000. Deadly Decisions. NY: Little Brown. Scribners. Merton, R.K. 1968. Social Theory and ------. 2001. Fatal Voyage. NY: Scrib­ Social Structure. NY: MacMillan. ners. Michaels, D. 2004. Splinter Cell. NY: ------. 2002. Grave Secrets. NY: Scrib­ Berkley Books. ners. Montada, L. 2001. "Justice and its ------. 2003. Bare Bones. NY: Scrib­ Many Faces: Cultural Concerns." ners. Pp. 8037-8042 in N.J. Smelser and ------. 2004. Monday Mourning. NY: P.B. Baltes eds. International Ency­ Scribners. clopedia of the Social and Behav­ ------. 2005. Cross Bones. NY: Scrib­ ioral Sciences 12. NY: Elsevier. ners. North, 0. and J. Musser. 2000. Mission ------. 2006. Break No Bones. NY: Compromised. Nashville: Broadman Scribners. and Holman. Roberts, N. 2000. Carolina Moon. NY: ------. 2003. The Jericho Sanction. Putnam. Nashville: Broadman and Holman. ------. 2004. Northern Lights. NY: Put­ ------. 2005. The Assassins. Nashville: nam. Broadman and Holman. Robin, J. 2005. War of Eagles. NY: O'Connor, T. 2004. "Vigilantism, Vigil­ Berkley Books. ante Justice and Victim Self-Help." Wikipedia. 2005a. Jack Higgins. Re­ Retrieved from http://faculty.newc. trieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/ edu/toconnor/200/300lect1 O.htm. wiki/Jack _ Higgins. O'Sullivan, R.G. 1994. "Moral Entrepre­ ------. 2005b. Oliver North. Retrieved neurs, Local Morality, and Labeling from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oli Processes." Free Inquiry in Creative ver_North. Sociology 22:73-77. 60 FREE INQUIRY IN CREATIVE SOCIOLOGY Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 2012

------. 2005c. Samuel Pepys. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa muel_Pepys.

Moving Beyond Borders Julian Samora and the Establishment of Latino Studies Edited by Alberto Lopez , Barbara Driscoll de Alvarado, and Carmen Samora ISBN 978-0252076565

The lifework of a pioneering scholar and leader in Latino studies.

Moving Beyond Borders examines the life and accomplishments of Julian Samora, the first Mexican American sociologist in the United States and the founding father of the discipline of Latino studies. Detailing his distinguished career at the University of Notre Dame from 1959 to 1984, the book documents the history of the Mexican American Graduate Studies program that Samora established at Notre Dame and traces his influence on the evolution of border studies, Chicano studies, and Mexican American studies.

Samara's groundbreaking ideas opened the way for Latinos to understand and study themselves intellectually and politically, to analyze the complex relationships between Mexicans and Mexican Americans, to study Mexican immigration, and to ready the United States for the reality of Latinos as the fastest growing minority in the nation. In addition to his scholarly and pedagogical impact, his leadership in the struggle for civil rights was a testament to the power of community action and perseverance. Focusing on Samara's teaching, mentoring, research, and institution-building strategies, Moving Beyond Borders explores the legacies, challenges, and future of ethnic studies in United States higher education.

Contributors are Teresita E. Aguilar, Jorge A. Bustamante, Gilberto Cardenas, Miguel A. Carranza, Frank M. Castillo, Anthony J. Cortese, Lydia Espinosa Crafton, Barbara Driscoll de Alvarado, Herman Gallegos, Phillip Gallegos, Jose R. Hinojosa, Delfina Landeros, Paul Lopez, Sergio X. Madrigal, Ken Martinez, Vilma Martinez, Alberto Mata, Amelia M. Munoz, Richard A. Navarro, Jesus "Chuy" Negrete, Alberto Lopez Pulido, Julie Leininger Pycior, Olga Villa Parra, Ricardo Parra, , Victor Rios, Marcos Ronquillo, Rene Rosenbaum, Carmen Samora, Rudy Sandoval, Alfredo Rodriguez Santos, and Ciro Sepulveda.

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