World Famous Comics: The Plutonium Blonde (Daw Book Collectors)
The Plutonium Blonde (Daw Book Collectors)
By: John Zakour, Lawrence Ganem Publisher: DAW Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DAW Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 352 Publication Date: September 01, 2001 Release Date: September 05, 2001
Product Description: "My name is Zachary Nixion Johnson. I am the last private detective on Earth...not exactly one hundred percent true, but it sounds good."
"The year is 2057 and, after a handful of species-altering upheavals, earth-shatteringc cataclysms, history changing extra-terrestrial contacts, and pop-culture disasters, the world is now a pretty safe place..."
"But every once in a while some crazy thing happens that threatens all of society, all of humanity, or the entire space-time continuum."
"And for some reason it always happens on my watch."
So begins the first installment of this all-new, all-hilarious trilogy that pokes fun at the pulps, and skewers sci-fi, as a private dick of the future goes after the most dangerous prey of all...The Plutonium Blonde.
Amazon.com Review: Zachary Nixon Johnson, the last private detective on Earth, is hired by the beautiful B.B. Starr, CEO of ExShell (and ex-exotic dancer), to find her missing robot double. The plutonium-powered android is far smarter and stronger than humans, doesn't want to be found, and is a homicidal maniac. As if that's not trouble enough, an unknown enemy keeps trying to assassinate Zach. And HARV, the intelligent computer implanted in Zach's brain, will not shut up.
Yes, The Plutonium Blonde is a parody of science fiction and hardboiled detective fiction. It is also an affectionate homage to the pulps. Perhaps unsurprisingly, its prose inclines to a pulp clunkiness. But the authors, John Zakour and Lawrence Ganem, are deeply knowledgeable of both genres, and they create some new twists in both the science fiction and the mystery. The plot is breathtakingly paced, and the jokes and wisecracks fly thick and fast (and, like the creators of the Airplane and Naked Gun movies, the authors have no fear of a bad joke). The Plutonium Blonde is recommended to fans of science fiction and of hard-boiled mystery. --Cynthia Ward
The Last Detective on Earth Zachary Nixon Johnson is the last licensed private detective on earth, lives in New Frisco, and is evidently pretty well known. Earth is now heavily run by the entertainment industry. Johnson's people include HARV (the world's smartest computer), Dr Gevada (Zach's long time love), Randy (his gadget scientist), and his psi secretary. Zach is hired by reknown stripper turned millionaire mogul BB Star to find an illegally constructed humanesque android of herself. Zach's biggest problem is that there seems to be an awful lot of people who want him dead.
Okay think 1950s detective stories set in the 1950s version of the future (year 2057), throw in some sometimes annoying slang and you get Zach Johnson stories. Instead of "just a second" you say "just a nano". DOS is the major swear word, everything is renamed New [insert name here] and Bill Gates is deified and used as an exclamation as if you were saying "God, that was amazing" (Gates, that was amazing). You get ray guns, robots, hovercars, and people with psi abilities. Biggest problem.. for HARV being the 'smartest computer in the world', he's rather dumb when it comes to figuring things out. At least there is little techno-babble ala Star Trek. Well worth the read and you may actually laugh in some areas.
Abbott & Costello meet Futuristic Sam Spade First, this book is not exactly HARD Science Fiction. It is closer to Science Fiction parody. The authors take time to poke fun at fads and society while at the same time creating a comcial farce of a mystery that just happens to be set in a Science Fiction Realm. Our hero, Zach, the last Private Investigator on earth, has a knack for smartaleck remarks (usually at the wrong time) comical quips, etc. Meanwhile, his computer sidekick, Harv is trying to comprehend humor. The book is full of bad puns and silly sayings, but that is indeed its charm. If you were looking for solid Science Fiction adventure, the title should have told you it was supposed to be fun.
Also, it was clean. Very limited in regards to profanity, vulgarity, without being prudish.
I highly recommend it to folks who enjoy parody literature.
David "the preacher" Wilson
Absolutely Hilarious If you love noir fantasy, ala Steven Brust, Simon Green, and others, you will love this series. First, it is well written; second, the stories hang together. Looking back, at the end of the book, you can see that the clues were all there to figure out "whodunnit." I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last, and as you might guess it has to do with a beautiful woman . . . but don't they all. Just ask his girlfriend.
Super Reader "Hypothetically," I said, "if a superpowered android were to escape, where would it go?"
This is the problem for Zachary Nixion Johnson, the last private investigator on earth. A medium boiled PI, he has a lightly boiled supercomputer assistant named HARV, luckily for him. Imagine Orac with a personality, and Zach is a cross between something out of 2000AD and DC's Star Hawkins.
Given that the android double of the femme fatale he has to track down has 200 times the physical abilities of a normal human, and is nuclear powered, having help is good. He also has a genius scientist friend that has fitted him up with some nifty body armour.
Zach's girlfriend could probably enjoy drinks with the Stainless Steel Rat's wife, too.
Light, fast, and diverting.
Sci-fi/PI cross genre dark comedy noir - you'll laugh your plasma pack off In the year 2057 the world is brand new - everything is New - New New York, New New Mexico (the state) as well as New Mexico (the country). Zachary Nixon Johnson is the last licensed private investigator - the licensed bit is the important thing here. There are other private investigators (for example - the employees of DickCo) but none are licensed like Zachary! Gates is God and DOS is hell and news is down to the nano.
When Zachary receives a call from BB Starr - an ex-exotic dancer who is now CEO of the largest corporation of the planet - he is naturally concerned. She is one of the richest and most powerful people on the planet - why does she need him? It turns out she requires his discretion and - unique - skills. So, with the help of HARV - his holographic assistant (who is the most intelligent computer in the world - and is, during the course of this adventure, implanted directly into his brain) - Carol, his psionic receptionist and potential future niece-in-law and Dr. Electra Gevada, his fiance, he sets out to track down BB-2. Of course, things aren't always as they seem. . .
Always funny, constantly exciting and eminently readable, I cannot recommend this book enough. Zakour and Ganem play with the English language with all the virtuosity of a savant while keeping the story readable and the pace swift. Do yourself a favor and get this book!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
