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konain's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars actually. 3 for the first one and 2 for the second.
abookishtype's review against another edition
Dead Funny contains two full novels, Flying Dutch and Faust Among Equals. Flying Dutch takes the story of the Flying Dutchman, adds nuclear power, alchemy, insurance, and accounting and creates a delightfully weird book. Faust Among Equals is, if you can believe it, even weirder. Basically, Faust escapes from Hell, hooks back up with Helen of Troy, wreaks hilariously warped revenge on his captors. And it all comes to a close in a themepark in Hell designed by Hieronymous Bosch...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
sniperpumpkin's review
2.0
I wasn't really a fan of this book. It is a collection of two comedies published in the UK in the late 80's, erly 90's. This is, I think the core of my dissatisfaction with the text. He is clearly drawing on elements of UK life and culture, like class issues, that are much less prevelent on this side of the Atlantic. An issue that bugged me in particular is that all of the minor characters sound exactly the same, like a slightly thick working class man circa 1985.
Anyway, I didn't like it but your milage may vary depending on your cultural background.
Anyway, I didn't like it but your milage may vary depending on your cultural background.
sarah42783's review
4.0
Flying Dutch:
This book is clever clever clever and extremely funny! As usual, Tom Holt creates wacky characters and hilarious situations. Contrary to popular belief, it turns out that Captain Vanderdecker, the Flying Dutchman, did not make a deal with the Devil which left him cast away for centuries. The truth is indeed very different. Who would have thought that he and his crew were forced to roam the seas because... of the awful smell caused by their immortally? Also unveiled in this book is the origin of insurance and what the world economy really depends upon in order not to collapse. Throw in a bored accountant, a few environmental activists, a tv reporter and a nuclear power station and you're in for a crazy ride!
Faust Among Equals:
Who but Tom Holt could make the following characters interact in one single book: Faust, Helen of Troy, Hamlet, Leonardo Da Vinci, The Flying Dutchman, Martin Luther, Nick Machiavelli, Don Quijote, Hieronymus (Ronnie) Bosch and Chris Columbus... The various cameos by these supporting characters are definitely one of this book's strengths! Even though the book is pretty funny and holds the usual "Holtian wackines", I didn't enjoy it quite as much as previous Holt books I read. Still, the originality and absolute lack of sense are there, that's why I like Tom Holt so much:) And now the question remains: "How much trouble can one get in if he's already condemned to everlasting damnation?"
This book is clever clever clever and extremely funny! As usual, Tom Holt creates wacky characters and hilarious situations. Contrary to popular belief, it turns out that Captain Vanderdecker, the Flying Dutchman, did not make a deal with the Devil which left him cast away for centuries. The truth is indeed very different. Who would have thought that he and his crew were forced to roam the seas because... of the awful smell caused by their immortally? Also unveiled in this book is the origin of insurance and what the world economy really depends upon in order not to collapse. Throw in a bored accountant, a few environmental activists, a tv reporter and a nuclear power station and you're in for a crazy ride!
Faust Among Equals:
Who but Tom Holt could make the following characters interact in one single book: Faust, Helen of Troy, Hamlet, Leonardo Da Vinci, The Flying Dutchman, Martin Luther, Nick Machiavelli, Don Quijote, Hieronymus (Ronnie) Bosch and Chris Columbus... The various cameos by these supporting characters are definitely one of this book's strengths! Even though the book is pretty funny and holds the usual "Holtian wackines", I didn't enjoy it quite as much as previous Holt books I read. Still, the originality and absolute lack of sense are there, that's why I like Tom Holt so much:) And now the question remains: "How much trouble can one get in if he's already condemned to everlasting damnation?"
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