Walter Mosley: An American Institution

Crime fiction is not all spilled blood and gratuitous sex. There is a certian mindlessness about that. Good crime fiction is consisitent, has continuity and is creditable. Intergration of life and fantasy -- that's good fiction -- that's good literature. 

A writer, to be good at thier craft must have some degree of social consciousness. Not all do. Most are self absorbed and bad story tellers. 

Few writers are able to write about the subtext of American counter-culture and civil rights. Walter Mosley is a giant among writers because of this -- he has a decided point of view.