Rating: 
Summary: Get over "Hitchhiker's"... please!
Review: I love Douglas Adams. His work was remarkable, his death tragic, his place in history safe and secure. That said, I often wonder why readers and critics always pull out comparisons to Adams' Hitchhiker series whenever another author offers a work of sci-fi mixed with parody? Eric Idle's The Road to Mars is not a Hitchhiker book, nor is it intended to be. What it is, without a doubt, is its own fantastic inclusion to the long list of sci-fi comedy -- and it is, even more without a doubt, one of the best on that same long list.Idle, from the very beginning to the last page, shines with his marvelous (and well thought out) thesis on comedy. The fact that it is in the guise of a funny (very funny) and intelligent sci-fi comedy makes the whole 309-page ride that much better. I laughed throughout, yes, but I was struck silly by the intricate (and suprisingly complicated) detail Mr. Idle included in his discussions about the origins of comedy, not to mention its purpose and its importance to humankind (heck, its importance to androids, for that matter). I can honestly say my appreciation of the comedic arts has increased by leaps and bounds (gravity-free leaps and bounds, that is) after finishing The Road to Mars. Don't be swayed by these other reviewers; they are on a narrow-minded, Douglas Adams kick, refusing to see this book in its own special light. Like I said: I love Mr. Adams, and I love Hitchhiker. But, darnit all, I love Mr. Idle's great novel, too, and for so many different reasons. Read it folks!
Rating: 
Summary: A novel I desperately wanted to enjoy
Review: It's a depressing experience; reading a novel that you want to enjoy, yet it never fully engages you. You try and try to give the novel the benefit of a doubt, and when it does intermitently succeed, your hopes are raised. And when it inevitably crashes back down to the mundane, you weep. So it is with THE ROAD TO MARS, written by Eric Idle. Idle, as many people know, was a member of MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS, the legendary British comedy troupe that remains, to my mind, one of the funniest troupes ever conceived. I cannot watch one of their programs or movies without launching into convulsions of laughter. When Idle published ROAD, my heart soared with the prospect of new avenues of merriment. No such luck. The plot concerns two comedians of the future, Alex and Lewis, as they travel throughout space searching for their next gig. Along with them is Carlton, a robot resembling David Bowie, who is trying to decipher the genetics of comedy. All three get caught up in a confusing plot involving terrorists, love interests, missing fathers, and bizarre entertainment personalities. One can quibble and argue over the merits of the writing. Is it brilliant? No. Is it art? Unlikely? But the real question is, is it FUNNY? On the whole, lamentably no. The comparisons to THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY quintet of novels are inevitable. After all, how many science-fiction comedies are out there? And perhaps the comparison is unfair. Douglas Adams' GUIDE was a true original, paving the way with its brilliant use of language, low puns, and ridiculous science. GUIDE's chief strength is its writing, how the gags and puns stack one on top of another with breakneck speed, forcing the reader to return to the novels again and again, to catch every nuance. But Idle's concept lends itself to the comparison. He sets up, as his main theme, the genesis of comedy itself. And I do like the initial framework of the novel, narrated by a micropaleontologist (the study of the last ten minutes) who has found in Carlton's dissertaion on comedy a chance to win the Nobel Prize. But in the end, it is simply not all that funny, or even mildly humourous. There are glimpses of true wit (I particularly loved the throwaway explanation of the extiction of the Yeti), but surprisingly, considering the protagonists are comedians, they just aren't funny on the page. Perhaps that's the problem. Have you ever tried to describe the antics of a comedian, or re-enact a sketch that made you laugh, and in the process, completely destroyed whatever was initially funny? THE ROAD TO MARS is like that. It describes funny scenes that occurred, deciding that since the people involved were funny, then the retelling must be funny as well. THE ROAD TO MARS is lacking in that one vital element both Alex and Lewis are crucially aware of. As the joke goes (and is quoted in ROAD): "Ask me the secret of comedy." "What is the secret of..." "Timing"
Rating:
Summary: The Road to Oblvion for Eric Idle if He Keeps This Up
Review: Eric Idle tries very hard here to be funny while offering deep insights into the meaning and function of comedy, but unfortunately doesn't succeed at being either funny or meaningful. This is really more of Idle's excuse for why comics are so f***ed up and why we should really feel sorry for them. The first part of the story reads like bad Douglas Adams, but then Idle just starts trying too hard and the book gets worse. Ironically, the mystery of what is going on with the cruise ship Keppler on which Idle's fictional comedy team of Lewis and Muscroft gets stuck is more interesting than his musings on comedy. I should have realized the book was going to be weak when I read Steve Martin's front cover testimonial, which says "I laugh. I cried. Then I read the book." Funny, but not exactly a testimonial, more like the thing your friend says when he wants to give you a good quote but doesn't really like the book. If you're jonesing for good science fiction comedy and have run out of Douglas Adams' books, try the British sci fi comedy series "Red Dwarf," or buy Sharyn McCrumb's "Bimbos of the Death Sun," which is dated but nevertheless excellent. But skip this book unless you really have nothing better to fall back on. It's readable, and it's moderately enjoyable, but it's not really very good. A disappointing effort from a genuine hero of the comedy world.
Rating: 
Summary: A Refreshing Look at Comedy
Review: Originally, I bought this book simply for the namesake of the author, Eric Idle. I thought that even if I never read it, the book would be a good piece of Monty Python-esqe memorabilia (I'm a big Python fan!). I laughed, I cried, and then I read the book. It was better than I had expected, combining the act of the witty Muscroft and Ashby, the inquisitive (and somewhat crazy) robot Carlton, and the ambition of the micro-paleontologist narrator. The book explored the background and roots of comedy while setting up the characters in the story to experience the effects of irony, tragedy, and the dumb luck of comedians. It also combined comedy with a zany futuristic setting, making anything and everything possible. The book was truly worth reading and I highly reccommend it to anyone who likes irony, wit, and is searching for their own meaning of life or, more importantly, comedy.
Rating:
Summary: Unique, insightful and entertaining.
Review: I must admit that I adore Eric Idle, so I am biased, but truly this is a fantastic piece of fiction. Idle weaves the story of two comedians, Alex and Lewis, who are trying to make it in a futuristic world of greed and sexuality. The human race is corrupt and Idle makes sure we realize it. Along their struggle for fame, Alex and Lewis meet up with a mega-diva Brenda Wolley (who represents the evils of fame) a mysterious, seductive young woman (isn't that always the case?) and various, notorious individuals. All of this is watched by Carlton, their curious android who has taken to studying comedy. Carlton provides many insights into why comedians do what they do, and the theories he creates are brilliant. One almost feels it's a pity Eric didn't just publish his theories so they'd be taken seriously. Narrating all of this is the most dynamic character of the book- William Reynolds. Reynolds takes an active narrator roles in telling of his own problems with his girlfriend. Reynolds eventual spiral into corruption provides the most compelling story of the novel. At the end, all of the story lines come together for a fantastic, albeit shattering, conclusion. Idle inserts several hilarious in-jokes, plenty of one-liners, and enough comedy to keep it from over-drama. Still, the book is dramatic and, in several places, can be quite shocking. Inserting a heart-breaking passage about himself (a forgotten comic from the 21st century) Idle creates a self-aware, and touching, commentary on comedians. Read this book. Twice. I didn't fully understand everything the first time, but I truly appreciate it on a re-reading. Anyone who wants to be a comedian should read this. In fact, you should just read this book when you get a chance. It's not flawless, but it is nearly so.
Rating:
Summary: Great book.. Road to Mars is phenomenal
Review: sorry about the misspelt words, but as you can see I am not very good at spelling... I do not read much at all, in fact Road to Mars has been on of the only two books I've read in the last year. It was an inspiration to read more. I enjoyed it and found the adventures of Idle in his own little world discovering that his conversations with billy connoly could make a good book, well duh, I thought it very funny and realised that most comedians are prety ... smart.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow beginning with great payoff
Review: Two comedians in the late 2300's find themselves involved in an adventure with murder, terrorists, androids, and divas. If you can get through the first 80 pages the intrigue and humor really kick in and it ends up being a pretty interesting story. Some very quotable lines as well, some of which I can't repeat in front of children, but fun nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Eric proves he is not only a master of stage, but also page
Review: Okay, now I've officially forgiven Eric for Splitting Heirs. Eric Idle is a God. That's all I will say. The man is a genius. This novel was deep, insightful, funny, and above all, brutally honest. Eric has not has a perfect life, in fact he had a pretty awful life, and some pain shows through. But it's not a weepy pain, it's an ironic pain. And Eric doesn't want us to cry, he wants us to laugh (I think, who am I to interpret the Great Eric's meaning?) and this book delivers laughs. All I can say to you is that you must read it. I read it because I was a huge Monty Python fan; I love it because it's some of the best writing I've come across in years. No matter if you like Monty Python or Eric Idle, no matter if you like Science-Fiction, no matter if you even like reading, you must read this book.
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed it
Review: and I hope they make a film of it before David Bowie gets too old. No really, some great stuff here. Not boffo zany funny, more of a quiet thoughtful funny. Good Stuff this.
Rating:
Summary: Levity is the Soul of Wit
Review: If you read one book this year about a robot trying to solve the mathematical equation of comedy, whilst two stand-up comedians careen about the universe on a solar cruise ship, with a lover, a diva, and kooky terrorists trailing behind, read Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment." However, if the copy has been taken out of the library, then read Eric Idle's "The Road to Mars." Idle show both a self-reflexive humor as his futuristic characters reflect upon the early days of comedy (Idle's days), and a genuinely prophetic vision of the future that these characters struggle to make a living in. Upon finishing this book, vibrant images will spin through your head, as images are wont to do, especially when they posses vibrancy. You see Carlton, the David Bowie (circa Ziggy Stardust)-esque android, as he attempts to understand the perplexing profession of his stand-up comedian masters Alex and Lewis. You see Alex, the Red Nosed Clown and Lewis, the White Faced Clown, as they play their opposing personalities off each other both on and off stage. You see Katy, Alex's lover with the proverbial checkered past. You see the joys of zero-gravity sex. (I like any book that describes zero-G sex, although I've been known to dabble outside of this glorious field on occasion.) You see the gloriously random and uproariously funny excerpts of Carlton's masterpiece "De Rerum Comoedeia." You see the rivalry between Alex and Lewis and the Universe's Darling, the diva Brenda Woolley, as they both attempt to foil the plot of the aforementioned kooky terrorists. In short, when you finish this book, you will put it down and say, "Gee, Eric Idle's pretty good for a British dude." And if you're British, you'll say, "My God, I hope the Americans can understand this."
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