On behalf of Banville, Atkins and Marlowe

There's a lively debate going on about John Banville's contract to write a new Philip Marlowe novel. It follows the debate about Ace Atkins continuing Robert B. Parker's Spenser series.
Ace has recently been sticking up for John about it. Personally I've given it a lot of thought.
At first, I wasn't against it really, but didn't see why it should be written. I could see why Spenser should continue, after all Spenser had characters like Hawk, Belson, Susan, Vinnie, Chollo, etc. Marlowe was just Marlowe, not an entire world of recurring characters. There have been so many PI's inspired by Marlowe a new Marlowe would probably seem like an unoriginal, pastiche-like character to new readers. I figured Holmes and Bond were original enough to warrant new books by other writers than Fleming. I wasn't sure about Marlowe. Wasn't Chandler's voice what made him unique, not the character?
Then I read Ace's article and I kind of changed my mind...
I started to think about Superman. He was the first superhero. A lot of imitations followed. Still, he kept returning, having become the property of the people as much as the writer who created him. Isn't that the case with Marlowe as well? Isn't he so legendary, so important a character in the world of fiction he SHOULD be alive for decades to come. Without him there would be no Noah Milano, because there wouldn't be a Spenser, or an Elvis Cole.
Philip Marlowe deserves to live on. I wish John the best of luck.
What do all of you think?

Short stories: the future of Kindle?

Lately my best selling work has been a Noah Milano short story, The Honey Trap. It surprised me at first because I'd heard in the past they don't sell, so you should make novels available on Kindle.
I've always been sure shorter works are best-suited for the Kindle-generation. Fast and furious stories of action and mystery... Those are my strenghts anyway. I've often received the comment my work is great for reading during commutes to work. I decided to bring out several novelettes and I've got a novella coming up.
But the success of The Honey Trap made me put out a new short story: No Dead Body In Sight. It's a ''high-concept'' PI mystery featuring my usual protagonist Noah Milano. Here's the description:

An aging movie star is sure she discovered a dead body on the beach. When the police arrives there's no deady body in sight. She hires Noah Milano, son of a mobster and security specialist to prove she's not crazy. Trying to uncover this mystery Noah soon finds himself in grave danger...

You can buy it here.http://www.amazon.com/Sight-Milano-short-story-ebook/dp/B008Y0YQTY/ref=la_B00570XLC2_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1345465807&sr=1-8 .

What do all of you think? What's the future of Kindle? Short stories, novellas, novelettes or novels?

Welcome

Welcome to Trouble Is Our Business!
On this blog I will be blogging with the most talented crime writers working in the business now.
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Best,
Jochem Vandersteen