It's probably hopeless to try to unravel the strings that make Leonard's novels so compelling. Certainly the lack of exposition renders the stories and characters starker while still setting a stage cleanly and sparely. People talk about how hard-boiled Leonard's writing is, but they don't mention how funny he can be. Mostly, his stories contrast the lack of flash in really dangerous men with the blustering of second-tier criminals. Threats are better off left unspoken, observes Get Shorty 's Chili Palmer, that nobleman in a field of leg breakers.
Admission is free.
He will sign copies of his books at 5pm at the Spartan Bookstore. The event is sponsored by the SJSU Center for Literary Arts and the Silicon Valley Forum of the Commonwealth Club of California.