Tony Hillerman, whose lyrical, authentic and compelling mystery novels set among the Navajos of the Southwest blazed innovative trails in the American detective story, died Sunday at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque…
Mr. Hillerman’s evocative novels, which describe people struggling to maintain ancient traditions in the modern world, touched millions of readers, who made them best sellers. But although the themes of his books were not overtly political, he wrote with a purpose, he often said, and that purpose was to instill in his readers a respect for Indian culture…
A mastercraftsman who will be sorely missed, Tony Hillerman created a world like no other. In his world of the Southwestern Indians, a Hosteen is a wise old man who was kind to others [the opposite of a curmudgeon]. Hosteen Hillerman’s novels have populated my summer reading for 25 years and although I’ll miss next summer’s offering, I expect I’ll just start at the beginning and reread them all. Thanks for the ride, Tony…
I saw this yesterday and was really saddened. I started reading him in the early ’90’s and have enjoyed tale after tale from him. He will be missed.
I’m a little embarassed to say that I have never read any of his books but today you have convinced that I have been missing something special. I will start asap. I’ve had my fill of reading the misdeeds of the Bush Administration for a while.