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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book for a literary gamesman..Verne would approve.
Review: Farmer is one of the premier literary gamesmen of the day, as his two "biographies" of Tarzan and Doc Savage showed. Here, he turns his attention to Verne...explaining discrepencies in Verne's AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, involving the more famous Captain Nemo in the process (who is revealed not to be an Indian Prince, but Professor Moriarity). Infuriating to the literalist, but excellent fun for anyone with imagination. A little too dry in areas, and the dialogue is forced sometimes...which may be more Verne's defect than Farmer's, since he had to work with other author's concepts and characterizations. Still, quite excellent
Rating:
Summary: Complete fun from page one!
Review: I think I was 19 when I first read this novel. It was my first encounter with Farmer's brand of 'behind-the-scenes' stories and i have very fond memories of the book since I loved "Around The World In 80 Days" as a kid. Now I've really got to turn my mother's basement inside out and find the damn thing and re-read it.
Rating:
Summary: Complete fun from page one!
Review: I think I was 19 when I first read this novel. It was my first encounter with Farmer's brand of 'behind-the-scenes' stories and i have very fond memories of the book since I loved "Around The World In 80 Days" as a kid. Now I've really got to turn my mother's basement inside out and find the damn thing and re-read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Intergalactic conspiracy!
Review: This book is a must for those who have read Farmer's biographies of Tarzan and Doc Savage. Farmer, a pioneer in uncovering the secrets behind literary characters, dares to reveal the intergalactic conspiracy behind Verne's classic AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS!
Rating: 
Summary: Clarifies many odd points in Verne's story!
Review: This book isn't quite a parallel novel to "80 Days;" it is more like a double take of that book. Farmer extends his "World Newton Family" in Verne's classic, and makes Fogg's mission an intergalactic battle against Captain Nemo, who Farmer believes is Professor James Moriarty of the Sherlock stories.Farmer, one of the greatest student of "Pop Pulp" culture manages to combine the heroes of the popular literary world in to a coherent world system. In Farmer's world, Tarzan is related to Sherlock Holmes, and Doc Savage is the grandson of Jack London's Wolf Larsen. In a certain sense, we all do this on our own. For example, what would have happened in "A Tale of Two Cities" if the Scarlet Pimpernel had saved Sydney Carton from the guillotine? Farmer's "World Newton Family" functions along these lines. He has even made two rough genealogical charts showing who is related to whom. As Ir ead this book, two things struck me. First, the approach of this book reminds me of Crispin H. Glover's attempts to read new stories into old classics. Secondly, Farmer clarifies many of the odd things about "80 days." How does Fogg know everything about all of the odd lands. How does he know all the schedules of every boat and train everywhere in the world. Why would a man who lived such a controlled and regimented life on a sudden take a trip around the world just to win a bet? I recommend that you read Verne's book first, and Farmer's second. I didn't do this, and am still regretting it. I kept on reading Farmer's book into Verne's story, and couldn't enjoy Verne's spell.
Rating:
Summary: Clarifies many odd points in Verne's story!
Review: This book isn't quite a parallel novel to "80 Days;" it is more like a double take of that book. Farmer extends his "World Newton Family" in Verne's classic, and makes Fogg's mission an intergalactic battle against Captain Nemo, who Farmer believes is Professor James Moriarty of the Sherlock stories. Farmer, one of the greatest student of "Pop Pulp" culture manages to combine the heroes of the popular literary world in to a coherent world system. In Farmer's world, Tarzan is related to Sherlock Holmes, and Doc Savage is the grandson of Jack London's Wolf Larsen. In a certain sense, we all do this on our own. For example, what would have happened in "A Tale of Two Cities" if the Scarlet Pimpernel had saved Sydney Carton from the guillotine? Farmer's "World Newton Family" functions along these lines. He has even made two rough genealogical charts showing who is related to whom. As Ir ead this book, two things struck me. First, the approach of this book reminds me of Crispin H. Glover's attempts to read new stories into old classics. Secondly, Farmer clarifies many of the odd things about "80 days." How does Fogg know everything about all of the odd lands. How does he know all the schedules of every boat and train everywhere in the world. Why would a man who lived such a controlled and regimented life on a sudden take a trip around the world just to win a bet? I recommend that you read Verne's book first, and Farmer's second. I didn't do this, and am still regretting it. I kept on reading Farmer's book into Verne's story, and couldn't enjoy Verne's spell.
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