How Brown
11-23-2009, 05:04 PM
The Forums thanks new member, author, and good sport John Gaspard for the following response to my browbeating.
John of course is the author of "The Ripperologists", a Ripper fiction which has recieved praise from SPE among others.
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1. When did you first become interested in the Whitechapel Murders or...when did you first consider writing about the Case, such as your work, The Ripperologists ?
My interest was sparked on a trip to London, when a friend dragged me along on a Ripper Walk. I didn’t really know anything about the case, except from movies (like “Time After Time”). The guide was Donald Rumbelow, so of course it was amazing. I bought his book and read it on the plane ride home.
Later, back in Minneapolis, I came across a CD set of Patricia Cornwell’s book, “Portrait of a Killer - Jack the Ripper: Case Closed” at the library. I listened to the book on my commute to and from work. Her writing got me so incensed, with her poor reasoning and sloppy logic, that I found myself actually yelling back at the book while driving. (Good thing I wasn’t listening to it while riding a bus!)
Then I got to thinking, “What would happen if a writer like her had to team up with an actual Ripperologist to help the police on a Ripper copycat case?” I loved that idea, started doing more research on the case, and a scant four or five years later finished writing the book, which I titled “The Ripperologists” for lack of a better title.
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2. What are you impressions of suspect-based discussion within the realm of Message Board Ripperology? Are they favorable or otherwise?
I like reading a lot of different points of view, and tried to get as many as I could into the book. It’s always fun to read someone else’s reasoning and get a different perspective on the case.
I’m consistently amazed at the facts that some of the folks seem to have at their fingertips. So while I may not agree with their argument, I can admire the way they express it.
And, just for the record, my suspect is Unknown Male.
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3. Has message board discussion, even that which winds often up in dispute, improved your overall view of the Case and if so in what area(s)...such as the recreations of certain scenarios rather than opinions of suspects...?
The message boards have provided a plethora of different ideas and points of view. I think the average person on the street would be surprised at just how scholarly the study of the Whitechapel murders really is.
The impression I have gotten on the boards (which was confirmed and expanded at the one Ripper Conference I attended) is that, for the most part, these are really smart people engaged in a (perhaps unsolvable) puzzle.
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4. Without setting yourself up for date with the hangman, what has your impression been of how the community interacts....or, if you would prefer,...how have people responded to you from within the community in terms of assistance and amiability ?
With the exception of one (undeserved) flame that I got after posting what I thought was an innocent question, I’ve been treated with great respect and welcome by the folks on the boards.
When I was looking for assistance in fact-checking the novel, Tom Westcott stepped forward to help and was terrific. I’ve had great exchanges with Howard, Mike Covell, Stewart Evans and with Stephen Ryder.
I also love the podcasts and feel like I actually know the participants due to the amount of time I’ve spent listening to them. And, for the record, I have never yelled back at a podcast like I did while listening to the Cornwell book.
******************
5. What would be an achievable goal if those involved in Ripperology would put their collective heads together at some point...in your view?
Definitively solving the case would be nice, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible – unless some heretofore undiscovered irrefutable evidence surfaces.
But until that day comes, it’s a great social circle for some like-minded and not-so-like-minded folks to exchange ideas, kibitz, socialize and add to the greater pool of knowledge on the case.
Plus it’s great fun.
John of course is the author of "The Ripperologists", a Ripper fiction which has recieved praise from SPE among others.
*********************************
1. When did you first become interested in the Whitechapel Murders or...when did you first consider writing about the Case, such as your work, The Ripperologists ?
My interest was sparked on a trip to London, when a friend dragged me along on a Ripper Walk. I didn’t really know anything about the case, except from movies (like “Time After Time”). The guide was Donald Rumbelow, so of course it was amazing. I bought his book and read it on the plane ride home.
Later, back in Minneapolis, I came across a CD set of Patricia Cornwell’s book, “Portrait of a Killer - Jack the Ripper: Case Closed” at the library. I listened to the book on my commute to and from work. Her writing got me so incensed, with her poor reasoning and sloppy logic, that I found myself actually yelling back at the book while driving. (Good thing I wasn’t listening to it while riding a bus!)
Then I got to thinking, “What would happen if a writer like her had to team up with an actual Ripperologist to help the police on a Ripper copycat case?” I loved that idea, started doing more research on the case, and a scant four or five years later finished writing the book, which I titled “The Ripperologists” for lack of a better title.
*******************
2. What are you impressions of suspect-based discussion within the realm of Message Board Ripperology? Are they favorable or otherwise?
I like reading a lot of different points of view, and tried to get as many as I could into the book. It’s always fun to read someone else’s reasoning and get a different perspective on the case.
I’m consistently amazed at the facts that some of the folks seem to have at their fingertips. So while I may not agree with their argument, I can admire the way they express it.
And, just for the record, my suspect is Unknown Male.
********************
3. Has message board discussion, even that which winds often up in dispute, improved your overall view of the Case and if so in what area(s)...such as the recreations of certain scenarios rather than opinions of suspects...?
The message boards have provided a plethora of different ideas and points of view. I think the average person on the street would be surprised at just how scholarly the study of the Whitechapel murders really is.
The impression I have gotten on the boards (which was confirmed and expanded at the one Ripper Conference I attended) is that, for the most part, these are really smart people engaged in a (perhaps unsolvable) puzzle.
*******************
4. Without setting yourself up for date with the hangman, what has your impression been of how the community interacts....or, if you would prefer,...how have people responded to you from within the community in terms of assistance and amiability ?
With the exception of one (undeserved) flame that I got after posting what I thought was an innocent question, I’ve been treated with great respect and welcome by the folks on the boards.
When I was looking for assistance in fact-checking the novel, Tom Westcott stepped forward to help and was terrific. I’ve had great exchanges with Howard, Mike Covell, Stewart Evans and with Stephen Ryder.
I also love the podcasts and feel like I actually know the participants due to the amount of time I’ve spent listening to them. And, for the record, I have never yelled back at a podcast like I did while listening to the Cornwell book.
******************
5. What would be an achievable goal if those involved in Ripperology would put their collective heads together at some point...in your view?
Definitively solving the case would be nice, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible – unless some heretofore undiscovered irrefutable evidence surfaces.
But until that day comes, it’s a great social circle for some like-minded and not-so-like-minded folks to exchange ideas, kibitz, socialize and add to the greater pool of knowledge on the case.
Plus it’s great fun.