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A review by richardrbecker
Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazny
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.