James Ellroy on His Anti-Computer Stance and Latest Novel Red Sheet

The Author's Anti-Computer Stance

James Ellroy, known as the 'mad dog of American crime fiction,' does not own a computer and has never used one. His publicist explains that a phone interview will suffice. Ellroy, 78, cheerfully shares his thoughts on the dependency people have on computers, calling it 'satanic.'

Ellroy's Writing Process

Ellroy's writing process is unconventional. He dictates responses to his assistant, who prints out emails for him. For his novel Red Sheet, his handwritten pages are transmitted to a retired FBI couple in southern France, who return typed pages. He relies on a researcher to summarize and send him pages, as he avoids the internet.

The Latest Novel: Red Sheet

Red Sheet, published on June 9, explores themes of anti-communism and the Hollywood blacklist. The story is set in 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis, and follows Ellroy's recurring antihero, Freddy Otash. The novel delves into the 'red probe' launched by the Los Angeles police department and features historical figures like Richard Nixon and Robert F. Kennedy.

Ellroy's Perspective on History

Ellroy offers a contrarian view of historical events, challenging the conventional narrative of the Hollywood 10 and the Red Scare. He believes that the Hollywood figures who refused to name names during the House Committee on Un-American Activities hearings were part of a 'criminal conspiracy.' His portrayal of Nixon is unexpectedly sympathetic, depicting him as a complex figure who 'went bad' over time.

The Protagonist: Freddy Otash

Freddy Otash, Ellroy's recurring antihero, is a corrupt private investigator and extortionist. In Red Sheet, Otash becomes involved in the civil rights movement and the passage of the Rumford Fair Housing Act. Ellroy has reimagined Otash as a more tortured and humane character, driven by a 'burbling humanity.'