Eric Idle

The road to Mars

Sorting things out in the years after the Second World War led to a great increase in travel, and this can be seen as an influence on much of the science fiction of the 1950's, as well as forming the basis of the 'Road to ..' series of films starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. The Road to Mars by Eric Idle is a science fiction story inspired by these films. It's the story of two comedians plying their trade around the solar system. Somehow havoc seems to follow them wherever they go. They meet an interesting woman - but is there more to her than there seems?

I have to say that I found the book a bit of a disappointment - billed as a 'post-modem novel', and written by one of the creators of the revolutionary Monty Python, I had expected something a lot more modern than its 1950's genre. There's quite a lot of the robot Carlton's theory of comedy, but it's hard to see why, since a theory of comedy isn't particularly funny. Possibly the humour in the book would work better on screen, but I don't think that it will make it that far. If you like the 1950's style then you might want to give this a try, but if you want modern science fiction then you should look elsewhere.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 309 pages
ISBN: 0330481800
Salesrank: 3496303
Weight:0.35 lbs

Published: 2000 Pan Books

Marketplace:New from $29.18:Used from $1.69

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 309 pages
ISBN: 0330481800
Salesrank: 107442
Weight:0.35 lbs

Published: 2000 Pan Books

Marketplace:New from £2.99:Used from £0.01

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 309 pages
ISBN: 0330481800
Salesrank: 401214
Weight:0.35 lbs

Published: 2000 Pan

Amazon price CDN$ 11.69

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 11.69:Used from CDN$ 0.04

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Synopsis
Carlton is an android working for Alex and Lewis, two comedians from the twenty-second century who travel the outer vaudeville circuit of the solar system known ironically as the "Road to Mars". Being a computer he can't understand irony, but is nevertheless attempting to write a thesis about comedy, its place in evolution, and whether it can ever be cured. He is studying the comedians of the late twentieth century (including obscure and esoteric comedy acts such as "Monty Python's Flying Circus") in his search for the comedy gene. Meanwhile, during an audition for a gig on the Princess Di (a solar cruise ship), his two employers inadvertently become involved in a terriorist plot against Mars, the planet of showbiz. Can Carlton prevent Alex and Lewis from losing their gigs, overcome the love thing and finally understand the meaning of comedy in the universe? From one of the original members of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

Synopsis

Carlton is an android working for Alex and Lewis, two comedians from the twenty-second century who travel the outer vaudeville circuit of the solar system known ironically as the "Road to Mars". Being a computer he can't understand irony, but is nevertheless attempting to write a thesis about comedy, its place in evolution, and whether it can ever be cured. He is studying the comedians of the late twentieth century (including obscure and esoteric comedy acts such as "Monty Python's Flying Circus") in his search for the comedy gene. Meanwhile, during an audition for a gig on the Princess Di (a solar cruise ship), his two employers inadvertently become involved in a terriorist plot against Mars, the planet of showbiz. Can Carlton prevent Alex and Lewis from losing their gigs, overcome the love thing and finally understand the meaning of comedy in the universe? From one of the original members of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

Not Free SF Reader **
Not very interesting sf, and mostly not at all funny comedy. Therefore, this book is a waste of time. Unless it is aiming to be something else entirely, and I completely missed that in the middle of Red Dwarf ultra-lite, and other elements like that, to notice. For something like that though, you would be much better turning to Ben Elton and books like Stark.

Not Free SF Reader **

Not very interesting sf, and mostly not at all funny comedy. Therefore, this book is a waste of time. Unless it is aiming to be something else entirely, and I completely missed that in the middle of Red Dwarf ultra-lite, and other elements like that, to notice. For something like that though, you would be much better turning to Ben Elton and books like Stark.

thesis on comedy coupled with terrorist plot *****
This book is excellent. The beginning was a bit tough to get into, as it started out like a university lecture, which I didn't expect at first. But the action-story soon starts and it's really a good plot with lots of funny characters. In-between, the narrator, a university professor, sometimes interrupts the flow of the story, to explain his theories and motivations for writing all this down. But that's not a bad thing, in fact it makes the story more complex, and the idea, to make a thesis on comedy, is really an excellent one. It reminded me of my old university days, and I really enjoyed the book. Eric Idle is a gifted writer, as well as comedian, and I hope he is inclined to write another book soon.

thesis on comedy coupled with terrorist plot *****

This book is excellent. The beginning was a bit tough to get into, as it started out like a university lecture, which I didn't expect at first. But the action-story soon starts and it's really a good plot with lots of funny characters. In-between, the narrator, a university professor, sometimes interrupts the flow of the story, to explain his theories and motivations for writing all this down. But that's not a bad thing, in fact it makes the story more complex, and the idea, to make a thesis on comedy, is really an excellent one. It reminded me of my old university days, and I really enjoyed the book.

Eric Idle is a gifted writer, as well as comedian, and I hope he is inclined to write another book soon.

Definitely Idle *****
"The Road to Mars"--a play on words derived from the "Road to..." movies of Bing Crosby fame--is a brilliant novel, and for one who hasn't had the fortuity to read Michael Palin's "Hemmingway's Chair" or Idle's previous novel "Hello Sailor" this was pleasantly surprising. Everyone seemed to be under the pretense that "The Raod to Mars" was too akin to Ben Elton, or much too Carl Hiassen, but it is one of the most original novels to come out of the mind of an actor, let alone an esteemed Python member. Besides, Eric Idle was always the funniest... Carlton reminds me somewhat of Red Dwarf's Kryten, although I presume all androids are ultimately similar. The plot culminates into a head near the end, and apart from the section that overemphasizes sexual intercourse--over and over--"The Rad to Mars" is an affable delight, especially the bits digressing upon "Monty Python" itself from Idle's point-of-view, and the satire continued from "Hello Sailor" published twenty-five years ago to "The Road to Mars", Eric Idle's second novel. It is ineffably brilliant.

Definitely Idle *****

"The Road to Mars"--a play on words derived from the "Road to..." movies of Bing Crosby fame--is a brilliant novel, and for one who hasn't had the fortuity to read Michael Palin's "Hemmingway's Chair" or Idle's previous novel "Hello Sailor" this was pleasantly surprising. Everyone seemed to be under the pretense that "The Raod to Mars" was too akin to Ben Elton, or much too Carl Hiassen, but it is one of the most original novels to come out of the mind of an actor, let alone an esteemed Python member. Besides, Eric Idle was always the funniest... Carlton reminds me somewhat of Red Dwarf's Kryten, although I presume all androids are ultimately similar. The plot culminates into a head near the end, and apart from the section that overemphasizes sexual intercourse--over and over--"The Rad to Mars" is an affable delight, especially the bits digressing upon "Monty Python" itself from Idle's point-of-view, and the satire continued from "Hello Sailor" published twenty-five years ago to "The Road to Mars", Eric Idle's second novel. It is ineffably brilliant.

Very Python... Very good read... a must *****
I didnt know what to make of this book when I brought it but after reading the first page, I was hooked. Look out for the bits of Python..

Very Python... Very good read... a must *****

I didnt know what to make of this book when I brought it but after reading the first page, I was hooked. Look out for the bits of Python..