Be Cool was published by Delacorte Press in 1999 as the sequel to Get Shorty (1990). Chili Palmer, now a successful movie producer, grows bored with the film industry and decides to move into the music business. The plot — involving a singer named Linda Moon, rival record producers, Russian gangsters, and a gay Samoan bodyguard — is characteristically labyrinthine.
The novel demonstrates Leonard’s ability to apply his method to any milieu: the music industry is rendered with the same specificity and satirical edge he brought to Hollywood in the original.
The Music Industry
Leonard’s depiction of the late-1990s music business — the feuds between rap and rock labels, the ego battles between producers, the exploitation of talent — is sharp and well-researched. His inclusion of Aerosmith (who appear as themselves) and the Russian gangsters who have moved from Brighton Beach into the record business reflects the era’s cultural landscape accurately. The novel’s central argument is the same as Get Shorty’s: every entertainment industry is essentially a protection racket with better marketing.
The Film Adaptation
The 2005 film, directed by F. Gary Gray, starred John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, The Rock, and a cast of musicians. Despite the talent involved, the film was a critical and commercial disappointment. The magic of the original — Sonnenfeld’s light touch, the novelty of Chili Palmer — could not be recaptured. The sequel’s failure confirmed what many Leonard readers already knew: lightning rarely strikes twice in the same franchise.
Collecting Be Cool
First edition (1999, Delacorte Press, New York): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine/Fine in dust jacket: $30–$75
- Signed first edition: $75–$200
- Without jacket: $5–$15
Value trajectory (2016–2026): Minimal. A sequel title with limited collector interest.
Projected values (2026–2036): Flat. The Get Shorty connection keeps it from being entirely forgotten, but signed copies are unlikely to exceed $300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the sequel as good as the original? No. Get Shorty succeeded partly through surprise — Chili Palmer was a new kind of Leonard protagonist. Be Cool rehashes the formula without the freshness. Leonard himself seemed less engaged with the material.
Why does Aerosmith appear in the novel? Leonard was friends with the band and included them as a gesture of affection. Their cameo is one of the novel’s more entertaining elements.