Zeppelins West

Rating:
Summary: One of the funniest books I've ever read...
Review: Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hickock, Sitting Bull, Frankenstein's Monster, the Tin Man, and Buffalo Bill Cody's head in a jar. Add in a midget-powered automaton, the island of Dr. Momo, and the age-old debate of whether men should eat meat. Oh, and don't forget the biplane-flying samurai. It's hysterical stuff, to say the least.

Though the book had me laughing out loud over and over, there's no sacrifice of story -- just like his more serious "The Bottoms," "Zeppelins West" is driven by character passions, conflicts, and needs. It's much more than a series of slapstick scenes; "Zeppelins" is a truly fine piece of storytelling which just happens to be one of the funniest books you'll ever read.

Rating:
Summary: One of the funniest books I've ever read...
Review: Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hickock, Sitting Bull, Frankenstein's Monster, the Tin Man, and Buffalo Bill Cody's head in a jar. Add in a midget-powered automaton, the island of Dr. Momo, and the age-old debate of whether men should eat meat. Oh, and don't forget the biplane-flying samurai. It's hysterical stuff, to say the least.

Though the book had me laughing out loud over and over, there's no sacrifice of story -- just like his more serious "The Bottoms," "Zeppelins West" is driven by character passions, conflicts, and needs. It's much more than a series of slapstick scenes; "Zeppelins" is a truly fine piece of storytelling which just happens to be one of the funniest books you'll ever read.

Rating:
Summary: AN OUTRAGEOUS FARCE THAT'S FILLED WITH DARK HUMOR!!!
Review: Joe R. Lansdale's newest novel, ZEPPELINS WEST, published in a signed, limited edition by Subterranean Press, gives the reader a glimpse into the outrageous and humorous side of this fantastic author's personality. Be warned that this is a novel that will probably appeal to only Lansdale's diehard fans; but, then again, maybe not. Written in the classic tradition of H.G. Wells, Julies Verne, and Frank Baum (add a lot of sex, dark humor and violence), Mr. Lansdale has created an adventure story that combines actual historical characters with fictional characters from the novels of the above writers. You might say ZEPPELINS WEST takes place in a parallel universe, or that it could even be an alternate history of things that might have happened in our own world. However you choose to view it, the one aspect that stands out for me is that the story had me laughing from beginning to end. It starts out with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show heading to Japan on board a flying zeppelin. Accompanied by Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, Wild Bill Hickok, Ned Buntline, and the show's other employees, Buffalo Bill is definitely not his usual self. It seems as though his wife caught him cheating on her and shot a rather big hole in him. To save the famous entertainer's life, Dr. Samuel Morse and Professor Maxxon, who happened to be visiting with the Codys at the time, removed Bill's head and stuck it in a mason jar filled with pig urine and whisky. A motorized crank was then attached to the jar so that electrical charges could be sent to Bill's head in order to keep his mind activated. Now, the true purpose behind the Wild West Show's visit to the Land of the Rising Sun isn't to entertain the Japanese, but rather to steal the body of the Frankenstein monster that is being held prisoner by Sokaku Takeda, Shogun of Japan. Morse and Maxxon think that if they can get hold of the monster's body, it'll help them to figure out how to successfully re-attach Buffalo Bill's head to the rest of his torso. Takeda, however, is using parts of the monster's body as an aphrodisiac so that he can satisfy his many concubines. He therefore has no intention of letting anyone take the monster away from him. One event leads to another and before you know it, Buffalo Bill and his crew have rescued the monster and are trying to escape in the slow zeppelin. Japanese biplanes eventually shoot the dirigible down over the Pacific, and that's when the real adventure begins. Before the story is over with, the whole gang will encounter a submarine that's operated by Captain Bemo and Ned, the reading seal, which then leads to the island of Doctor Momo and the strange creatures that inhabit it. What really hooked me with ZEPPELINS WEST was the author's sense of off-the-wall humor. He had the Frankenstein monster develop a gay relationship with the Tin Man, who was still experiencing feelings of guilt over what the Cowardly Lion and Straw Man did to young, innocent Dot and her dog, BoBo, in the Emerald City. Annie Oakley and Hickok can't keep their hands off of each other. They're constantly doing the two-bear mambo every time they're left alone for longer than two minutes. Ned the Seal is the smartest of the bunch, but has an obsession with dime-store novels and his hero, Buffalo Bill. All of this, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. There are guest appearances by Vlad Tepes (Dracula), William Rickenbacher, Manfred Von Richthoften, Charles Darwin, and Victor Frankenstein. ZEPPELINS WEST certainly isn't meant to be a serious piece of literature. It's an audacious experiment of fiction that allows the author to let loose with his zany imagination and to see where it takes him. This is certainly one of the funniest novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading, and it clearly displays the versatile range of Joe R. Lansdale's talent as a writer. Still, this isn't for everyone. Illustrated by Mark A. Nelson, ZEPPELINS WEST is a novel meant for those who have a wicked sense of humor and who love to laugh out loud, not caring who hears them.

Rating:
Summary: Cody Ho-Tep this ain't!
Review: Joe R. Lansdale, Zeppelins West (Subterranean Press, 2001)

The word very quickly became aware of, and enamored with, Joe R. Lansdale's particular subgenre of "take famous personages and put them into very strange situations" almost overnight thanks to Don Coscarelli's film version of Lansdale's story "Bubba Ho-Tep" a couple of years ago. Well, folks, let me tell you, "Bubba Ho-Tep" was only the tip of the iceberg. Zeppelins West plumbs the depths, and what marvelous depths they be.

Okay, imagine the following. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is going to Japan (via zeppelin, naturally) to perform. Among the cast are Wild Bill Hickok, Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, and Bill biographer Ned Buntline. All well and good, except that Bill is a head in a jar of pig urine. His body is being kept alive by scientists, and it is Bill's greatest dream to one day be reunited with his body. During their adventures, thanks to a series of odd missteps, they meet up with Captain Nemo, Frankenstein's Monster, the Tin Man (from the Wizard of Oz), and Dracula, and it all takes place on the Island of Dr. Moreau. Weird enough for you yet? If not, or even if it is, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. (The book's most interesting feature: the notable lack of the standard "all persons are fictional" disclaimer. I'm waiting for the lawsuits.)

The book, like most of Lansdale's recent work, slips back and forth between the hysterically funny and the oddly touching, but unlike most of his recent work, there's no real mystery to be found here, aside from the surface question of how everyone's going to get off the island when Moreau (known here as Dr. Momo) doesn't want them to leave. The mystery's not the thing, though. Lansdale is too busy delighting in the complete and utter demystification (and remystification) of various legendary and mythological personages of our acquaintance, and gleefully drawing us along for the ride. The result is less disjointed than one might expect; this is probably because there are no chapter breaks or the like. The whole thing is told in one sweeping motion (rather like Doris' Lessing's Canopus in Argos books, but this isn't nearly as deep or meaningful).

Fantastic beach reading. Highly recommended. ****

Rating:
Summary: AN OUTRAGEOUS FARCE THAT'S FILLED WITH DARK HUMOR!!!
Review: Joe R. Lansdale�s newest novel, ZEPPELINS WEST, published in a signed, limited edition by Subterranean Press, gives the reader a glimpse into the outrageous and humorous side of this fantastic author�s personality. Be warned that this is a novel that will probably appeal to only Lansdale�s diehard fans; but, then again, maybe not. Written in the classic tradition of H.G. Wells, Julies Verne, and Frank Baum (add a lot of sex, dark humor and violence), Mr. Lansdale has created an adventure story that combines actual historical characters with fictional characters from the novels of the above writers. You might say ZEPPELINS WEST takes place in a parallel universe, or that it could even be an alternate history of things that might have happened in our own world. However you choose to view it, the one aspect that stands out for me is that the story had me laughing from beginning to end. It starts out with Buffalo Bill Cody�s Wild West Show heading to Japan on board a flying zeppelin. Accompanied by Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, Wild Bill Hickok, Ned Buntline, and the show�s other employees, Buffalo Bill is definitely not his usual self. It seems as though his wife caught him cheating on her and shot a rather big hole in him. To save the famous entertainer�s life, Dr. Samuel Morse and Professor Maxxon, who happened to be visiting with the Codys at the time, removed Bill�s head and stuck it in a mason jar filled with pig urine and whisky. A motorized crank was then attached to the jar so that electrical charges could be sent to Bill�s head in order to keep his mind activated. Now, the true purpose behind the Wild West Show�s visit to the Land of the Rising Sun isn�t to entertain the Japanese, but rather to steal the body of the Frankenstein monster that is being held prisoner by Sokaku Takeda, Shogun of Japan. Morse and Maxxon think that if they can get hold of the monster�s body, it�ll help them to figure out how to successfully re-attach Buffalo Bill�s head to the rest of his torso. Takeda, however, is using parts of the monster�s body as an aphrodisiac so that he can satisfy his many concubines. He therefore has no intention of letting anyone take the monster away from him. One event leads to another and before you know it, Buffalo Bill and his crew have rescued the monster and are trying to escape in the slow zeppelin. Japanese biplanes eventually shoot the dirigible down over the Pacific, and that�s when the real adventure begins. Before the story is over with, the whole gang will encounter a submarine that�s operated by Captain Bemo and Ned, the reading seal, which then leads to the island of Doctor Momo and the strange creatures that inhabit it. What really hooked me with ZEPPELINS WEST was the author�s sense of off-the-wall humor. He had the Frankenstein monster develop a gay relationship with the Tin Man, who was still experiencing feelings of guilt over what the Cowardly Lion and Straw Man did to young, innocent Dot and her dog, BoBo, in the Emerald City. Annie Oakley and Hickok can�t keep their hands off of each other. They�re constantly doing the two-bear mambo every time they�re left alone for longer than two minutes. Ned the Seal is the smartest of the bunch, but has an obsession with dime-store novels and his hero, Buffalo Bill. All of this, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. There are guest appearances by Vlad Tepes (Dracula), William Rickenbacher, Manfred Von Richthoften, Charles Darwin, and Victor Frankenstein. ZEPPELINS WEST certainly isn�t meant to be a serious piece of literature. It�s an audacious experiment of fiction that allows the author to let loose with his zany imagination and to see where it takes him. This is certainly one of the funniest novels I�ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and it clearly displays the versatile range of Joe R. Lansdale�s talent as a writer. Still, this isn�t for everyone. Illustrated by Mark A. Nelson, ZEPPELINS WEST is a novel meant for those who have a wicked sense of humor and who love to laugh out loud, not caring who hears them.

Rating:
Summary: Bizarre, wacky, and a bit disappointing.
Review: There are many Joe Lansdale's.

There is the award-winning mystery author Lansdale. There is the award-winning horror author Lansdale. There is the western author Lansdale (award-winning?). And there is the simply wacky author Lansdale. 'Zeppelins West' is written by the latter Lansdale.

'Zeppelins West' is difficult to categorize. So much happens throughout the course of the novel. At its core it's an adventure story. But it also contains parts of each different incarnation of Lansdale. There are horrific elements, such as when Dr. Momo's half-human half-animal creations decide to feast on each other. There are humorous moments such as when Frankenstein's monster (who has chosen the name 'Bert') falls in love with the Tin Man of Oz fame.

No matter how you classify this book, it's a fascinating read. Lansdale has thrown together dozens of historical and fictional personages, from Annie Oakley & Wild Bill Hickok, to thinly guised versions of Captain Nemo & Dr. Moreau. My favorite character is Ned the Seal, Captain Bemo's intelligent companion with a passion for Ned Buntline's pulp novels.

Yet, at the end of the novel I felt unfulfilled. The plot was solid. The characters were fascinating. Mark Nelson's illustrations were great. For whatever reason this novel didn't 'do it' for me.

There's only one Lansdale. He's the wackiest, most bizarre writer in America. Each new Lansdale novel is a treat. Don't miss this one. Even though it doesn't make my Best-of-Lansdale list, it very well could top yours.

Rating:
Summary: Bizarre, wacky, and a bit disappointing.
Review: There are many Joe Lansdale's.

There is the award-winning mystery author Lansdale. There is the award-winning horror author Lansdale. There is the western author Lansdale (award-winning?). And there is the simply wacky author Lansdale. 'Zeppelins West' is written by the latter Lansdale.

'Zeppelins West' is difficult to categorize. So much happens throughout the course of the novel. At its core it's an adventure story. But it also contains parts of each different incarnation of Lansdale. There are horrific elements, such as when Dr. Momo's half-human half-animal creations decide to feast on each other. There are humorous moments such as when Frankenstein's monster (who has chosen the name 'Bert') falls in love with the Tin Man of Oz fame.

No matter how you classify this book, it's a fascinating read. Lansdale has thrown together dozens of historical and fictional personages, from Annie Oakley & Wild Bill Hickok, to thinly guised versions of Captain Nemo & Dr. Moreau. My favorite character is Ned the Seal, Captain Bemo's intelligent companion with a passion for Ned Buntline's pulp novels.

Yet, at the end of the novel I felt unfulfilled. The plot was solid. The characters were fascinating. Mark Nelson's illustrations were great. For whatever reason this novel didn't 'do it' for me.

There's only one Lansdale. He's the wackiest, most bizarre writer in America. Each new Lansdale novel is a treat. Don't miss this one. Even though it doesn't make my Best-of-Lansdale list, it very well could top yours.