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thomasroche's review against another edition
3.0
The novella this novel is based on is one of the best action-adventure stories ever written. I had always resisted reading the book because expanding on that virtually perfect work of pulp art always seemed kind of like bullsh*t. Well... sad to say, it is. The novel still works pretty well, but it doesn't have the tightly plotted forward momentum of the original. It feels like Zelazny just sort of added some irrelevant stuff to bulk it out. It just doesn't feel right.
The original, which is in [b:The Last Defender of Camelot|13822|Last Defender of Camelot (Fantasy Classics)|Roger Zelazny|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166573587s/13822.jpg|1105534], is one of the greatest pieces of action ever. This version has one thing going for it: it got Zelazny a movie deal; to my knowledge it is the only movie that's ever been made from a Zelazny book. It's an outrageously crappy and bizarre movie, but if the cashola he gained from that allowed him to write some of the amazing stuff he did in the next few years following this book, then rock on, yo.
Since [b:The Last Defender of Camelot|13822|Last Defender of Camelot (Fantasy Classics)|Roger Zelazny|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166573587s/13822.jpg|1105534] is so good on so many other levels, I recommend picking that up and reading the short version of this story, which retains the best of the characterizations and the crazy forward momentum.
The original, which is in [b:The Last Defender of Camelot|13822|Last Defender of Camelot (Fantasy Classics)|Roger Zelazny|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166573587s/13822.jpg|1105534], is one of the greatest pieces of action ever. This version has one thing going for it: it got Zelazny a movie deal; to my knowledge it is the only movie that's ever been made from a Zelazny book. It's an outrageously crappy and bizarre movie, but if the cashola he gained from that allowed him to write some of the amazing stuff he did in the next few years following this book, then rock on, yo.
Since [b:The Last Defender of Camelot|13822|Last Defender of Camelot (Fantasy Classics)|Roger Zelazny|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166573587s/13822.jpg|1105534] is so good on so many other levels, I recommend picking that up and reading the short version of this story, which retains the best of the characterizations and the crazy forward momentum.
richardrbecker's review against another edition
4.0
While many people first think of the post-apocalyptic 70s film directed by Jack Smight, the name Damnation Alley truly belongs to the 60s sci-fi pulpish novella by Roger Zelazny. Sure, the former is loosely based on the book, but so loosely that the novel stands miles apart from the adaption Alan Sharp wrote (and Zelazny disliked).
From a strictly literary perspective, the book doesn't hold much merit beyond being an action-adventure procedural set in a post-apocalyptic world. Even Zelazny himself admitted that he only elongated the novella to make it more viable for a movie deal. But then you have to consider some of the influences — both stated and unstated — that Damnation Alley left its wake.
You cannot read this book without seeing Bob "Snake" Plisskin from Escape from New York on every page. There's little question Kurt Russel channeled Zelazny's anti-hero, Hell Tanner, for the film. There are also traces of what later became associated within the Mad Max franchise tucked within it — relentless and marauding motorcycle clubs looting travelers at every turn. And there are plenty of others with clearer connections — Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams, 2000AD story The Cursed Earth by Kevin O'Neill, and even the Longsome Road add-on of cpu game Fallout: New Vegas. The book even inspired a 9-minute song of the same name by the rock band Hawkwind (the studio version is better).
Therein lies the genius of Zelazny. He conjured up a world for a novella with an interestingly conflicted anti-hero so vexing that elements of his work continue to pop up in odd and unexpected places. It happens so often, in fact, that it becomes easier to forgive some of his lazier elements — giant bats, Gila monsters, and a spider large enough to web a road — round up some of his odder ideas, especially when they are compared to the more brutally cast motorcycle gangs, crazies, massive tornados, and nuclear hot areas.
All in all, this short novel is exactly what it meant to be. It is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi pulp action story with one of science fiction's best anti-heroes — Hell Tanner, an aging biker/criminal who saves the day.
From a strictly literary perspective, the book doesn't hold much merit beyond being an action-adventure procedural set in a post-apocalyptic world. Even Zelazny himself admitted that he only elongated the novella to make it more viable for a movie deal. But then you have to consider some of the influences — both stated and unstated — that Damnation Alley left its wake.
You cannot read this book without seeing Bob "Snake" Plisskin from Escape from New York on every page. There's little question Kurt Russel channeled Zelazny's anti-hero, Hell Tanner, for the film. There are also traces of what later became associated within the Mad Max franchise tucked within it — relentless and marauding motorcycle clubs looting travelers at every turn. And there are plenty of others with clearer connections — Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams, 2000AD story The Cursed Earth by Kevin O'Neill, and even the Longsome Road add-on of cpu game Fallout: New Vegas. The book even inspired a 9-minute song of the same name by the rock band Hawkwind (the studio version is better).
Therein lies the genius of Zelazny. He conjured up a world for a novella with an interestingly conflicted anti-hero so vexing that elements of his work continue to pop up in odd and unexpected places. It happens so often, in fact, that it becomes easier to forgive some of his lazier elements — giant bats, Gila monsters, and a spider large enough to web a road — round up some of his odder ideas, especially when they are compared to the more brutally cast motorcycle gangs, crazies, massive tornados, and nuclear hot areas.
All in all, this short novel is exactly what it meant to be. It is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi pulp action story with one of science fiction's best anti-heroes — Hell Tanner, an aging biker/criminal who saves the day.
bruc79's review against another edition
5.0
Um livro pós-apocalíptico com um pensamento presente de Mad Max em toda a viagem. O personagem tem direito a um "Get out of Jail Free Card" por todos os crimes passados e futuros, se fizer uma viagem de LA a Boston num cenário de verdadeiro pesadelo, para tentar salvar uma população à beira da extinção. Mas o seu "egoísmo selectivo" de sobrevivente, mais ao estilo de Riddick que de Max vai-nos surpreendendo ao longo da viagem construíndo uma leitura muito agradável.
arquero's review against another edition
2.0
Zelazny's Mad Max. Yet he can do better.
Saved the day as I rested postsurgery.
Saved the day as I rested postsurgery.
aphrael's review against another edition
3.0
pretty good toadtrip kind of story. I normally don't care much for post-apocalyptic stuff but this was nice and character driven. pretty brutal at some points but still has some of the dreamy prose you find in Amber as well.
stal1n's review against another edition
5.0
Ця повість як дід Фоллаута чи Безумного Макса. Не зважаючи на не самі кращі відгуки моїх друзів, мені дуже сподобалось.
mburnamfink's review against another edition
2.0
Damnation Alley is pure post-apocalyptic cheese, decorated with some ideas of genuine weirdness that uplift an otherwise mediocre by-the-book thriller. Roughly 25 years after a nuclear war, America is a blasted wasteland, with California and Boston the only two nations of any importance left. Boston is afflicted by a deadly plague, and California has the cure. The problem is the 3000 miles of howling atomic desolation between the two. Only one man is bad enough to make the journey; Hell Turner, last of the Hell's Angels and vicious killer. And to do it, he has a customized, armor-plated, rocket-packing, flame-throwing, all-terrain driving machine.
This book is at it's best when Zelazny is describing the deadly landscape. The sky is full of howling winds carrying the rubble of civilization, which rains down like artillery. Giant rabid bats and mutated Gila lizards rule the desert. The rest of it just feels very obligatory. Here's places where it's still 1970, before The Bomb. Here's some rustic farmers who are innocent and helpful. Here's an attack by a motorcycle gang. Good post-apocalyptic fiction uses the end of the world as an acid to etch away the cruft of civilization, revealing what is essential about human nature. Here, Zelazny uses it as a canvas to airbrush thunderstorms and giant bugs.
This book is at it's best when Zelazny is describing the deadly landscape. The sky is full of howling winds carrying the rubble of civilization, which rains down like artillery. Giant rabid bats and mutated Gila lizards rule the desert. The rest of it just feels very obligatory. Here's places where it's still 1970, before The Bomb. Here's some rustic farmers who are innocent and helpful. Here's an attack by a motorcycle gang. Good post-apocalyptic fiction uses the end of the world as an acid to etch away the cruft of civilization, revealing what is essential about human nature. Here, Zelazny uses it as a canvas to airbrush thunderstorms and giant bugs.
markhodderauthor's review against another edition
3.0
This novel sat on my shelves throughout my teens and early twenties and never got read. I'm happy I've finally got around to it, as I've come to much admire Zelazny. Also, this tale was the inspiration for one of my favourite Hawkwind songs, so I was vaguely embarrassed by my unfamiliarity with the source material. However, as it turns out, it feels like it could have been written by someone else. It’s good, but lacks much of what makes Zelazny special, and my interest wasn’t properly hooked until past the halfway mark. I liked the protagonist and I liked the deadly, contaminated environment, but the story itself is a slight one that, I'm afraid, has to be counted among his lesser works.
dlwchico's review against another edition
2.0
Fairly dated post-apocalypse book. The last Hells Angel is drafted to drive from L.A., across the nuclear wasteland that is middle America, to Boston to deliver drugs needed to stave off an epidemic that is killing everybody.
Not one of Zelazny’s better books. But probably better than the movie they made of it, which starred Jan-Michael Vincent and George Peppard.
If you’re really into post-apoc books, check it out. Or a real Zelazny nut. Otherwise, it’s pretty skippable.
Not one of Zelazny’s better books. But probably better than the movie they made of it, which starred Jan-Michael Vincent and George Peppard.
If you’re really into post-apoc books, check it out. Or a real Zelazny nut. Otherwise, it’s pretty skippable.