Pop. 1280, By: Jim Thompson

Pop. 1280 (1965) is a pulp fiction novel written by Jim Thompson (1906-1977). Looks like most of Thompson’s stories take place in small towns. He often writes about grifters, sociopaths and losers. The town is a product of the times in regards to racism, poverty and bigotry. There’s not a likable character in here. I didn’t know what to expect when I opened the book. I read somewhere that Jim Thompson’s books have no heroes. Once I started, it didn’t take me long to finish it. What drove me on was how the story would end. The novel takes place in some obscure town in Texas, set around 1917. As referenced from the title, the population is “1280 souls” which is reduced later by story’s end. The town is led by a corrupt sheriff whose actions and dialogue changes the tone/ atmosphere of the story.

The novel opens and is told in first person narrative by the high sheriff of Potts County, Nick Corey. Nick’s an elected public official staying on the second floor of the courthouse with his family. He shares his free living quarters with his wife, Myra, and her “half-witted” brother, Lennie, a known peeping Tom around town. Nick thinks he has it good and can’t imagine a better life for himself. As he says,”I guess you could say that Kingdom Come was really here as far as I was concerned.”

Nick likes to saunter around town in his Stetson hat and his four-dollar Levi’s with his head turned away from any possible hint of trouble. He doesn’t believe in enforcing the law in Potts County. It’s what keeps him re-elected he thinks. He’d rather “mind his own business” than arrest somebody for causing trouble. Despite his friendly nature, he’s used to being laughed at and ridiculed. People treat him like a simpleton. His tone is often cynical, marked by poor grammar that makes him sound ignorant. People tend to think he’s lazy. Lately though, he’s started noticing that people have grown tired of his “grinning and joking and looking the other way.”

And so goes the story, following Nick around while he ponders some of the problems that life has plagued him with and we watch in horror as he deals with those problems, too. Nick is an interesting character. His speech and manner is really an insult to the people he associates with especially to those who think he’s stupid. There’s a point in the story where Nick states that people only see what they wanna see and he plays off their ignorance brilliantly. I’d say out of the various people in this story who knew Nick, maybe two people weren’t fooled by his act. There are a lot of remarks that Nick makes about people in general that made me think, starting with this scene where he’s asked why he talks the way that he does:

“You’re no ignoramus, Nick. Why do you talk like one?
“Just habit, I guess. Kind of a rut I’ve got into. English and grammar, I reckon, they’re like a lot of things. A fella don’t use ‘em – he don’t see no real demand for ‘em–and pretty soon he loses the knack. Wrong is right for him, an’ vicey versa you might say.

I can’t do justice to this story. The novel is much more than what I’m able to convey in this post due to my trying very hard not to spoil anything for those who may have an interest in reading this book someday. This is pulp fiction. The story is dark, cynical and offensive, the last due in part to the time. The abrupt ending puzzles me though but still. Overall Pop. 1280 was an interesting read that reads very well today. There is humor within these pages to lighten up things. I laughed quite a bit at some of the antics in here even at stuff that wouldn’t be funny to others. The main character is one of Jim Thompson’s memorable creations alongside sheriff Lou Ford from THE KILLER INSIDE ME (will read this one soon). I did read up on Thompson briefly and see that most critics note that his body of work is uneven. His best work for some seems to be AFTER DARK, MY SWEET.