Customer Reviews

Armageddon The Musical

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All I can say is that this is one of the funniest books I have ever read! Not only that it is also possessed of a plot so complex that it only makes any kind of sense at all when you reach the grand finale but it also has so many running gags concerning "that amazing rotary machine gun that Blaine used in Predator" that every time you watch said film you will have a smile on your face. I have read many humourous sci-fi books in my time but this one had me laughing out loud whilst sitting on a train getting some very odd looks from fellow passangers. If only the Elvis Appreciation Society had not blocked moves to make the film...... Be that as it may, if you are just dicovering the sprout miester for the first time, this is the perfect place to start and get hooked. BEWARE however reading in public can cause very embarrassing hesterical laughter fits!

Rankin has been compared to Pratchett and Adams.. this is unfair. Rankin is Rankin in the same way as Pratchett is Pratchett, they shouldn't be compared because although both are brilliant they are brilliant in quite astoundingly different ways. All of Rankin's books have a different feel to them, and if you didn't know, you could swear that some were written by different authors.. but despite that there are always those rankin touches.. the Running Gag.. oh how we love the running gag.. not just running through chapters but running through every book. Armageddon the musical is a start of a trilogy of books all concerned with... yup, the end of the world. The good guys include Rex Mundi (King of the world, although only by name) Elvis Aron (or Aaron, no one is really sure) Presley.. Barry the loqacious sprout, what better could you ask for. The plot twists and weaves and is quite complex but it all makes sense and it all adds up to the really and tottaly unexpected trick ending (no, don't skip forward, you'll spoil it) I have heard it said that it's not as Rankin-esque as "The book of Ultimate Truths" but that's one of Rankin's Strengths, There's always something new. Buy this.. buy all his others too. You'll be happy.

For all fans of comic literature, Robert Rankin does the goods. This is an extremely funny and weird book, which is also quite intelligently construed. I think some of Rankin's other works are even more funny, but all in all this book is miles ahead of most other works in the genre. If you like Terry Pratchett, you will definitely enjoy all of Rankin's books, and maybe even prefer the self-consciousness of his works over others. Very much recommended.

Any author who names his protagonist "King of the World" in Latin is headed in the right direction. Throw in alien vegetables, a time travelling Brussels sprout named Barry, Daili Dan's Bhuddavision, Elvis Aaron Presley (yes, him!), and one those really amazing rotary machine guns like Blaine had in Predator, and you have REALLY got something.

Despite the fact that Armageddon is disjointed, confusing, inconsistent at times (and downright ludicrous in others) this is, for a first novel, an exercise in comic brilliance. Rankin is demanding of his readers in a way that many authors of humor are not. His writing demands the reader to sit up and pay attention - if not, you will miss something important (or at least very silly). A gift for the surreal and a penchant for the running gag are simply two indications that Robert Rankin is an author to be reckoned with, and God help the soul who meets him unprepared.

Armageddon: The Musical missed a score of ten because of its inconsistency and somewhat confusing plot twists, but it did score an eight for its sheer entertainment value and masterful subtlety. And of course, it's titled Armageddon: The Musical - that has to count for SOMETHING, right?

--W. Seth Hanisek

It is hard to find a book, whereby you can say to people that it has made you laugh out loud, well this one plus Armagedon 2: They Came and Ate Us, probably the pre-curser to Truman,take the preverbial biscuit and without doubt a must read for anyone. Falls in with the other great talent of Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett.

LOOK, CHEEZMOS--READ MY BOOK! READ IT!! READ IT NOW!! DO IT!

Being written by Robert Rankin, "Armageddon: The Musical" is a tale of utter mayhem. Readers should expect nothing less from the author. With Elvis, aliens, and a talking time sprout, this book makes the absurd seem normal.

Since its conception, Earth has served as a reality tv show for an alien race. Though the Earthers has been entertaining for a long time, ratings are down. Another world war would not be novel, so the alien directors decide to meddle with the plot. Time travel to alter the past of Earth would put a new angle on shows from the past. The year to start would be 1958, and the target would be to change Elvis Presley.

But differing motives and some level of incompetence cause things to go horribly wrong. The Earth has already divided into thelogical warfare. The Buddhists, Jesuits, and Fundamentalists have an accord, but television ratings are important to each sect of religion for different reasons. Dalai Dan, the 153rd reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, is the ultimate media giant and a megalomaniac. In trying to increase his flock, he crosses pathes with Elvis and hero Rex Mundi. Though it is a ratings boost, it also has the potential to start armageddon in the truest sense.

Because there is so much going on in Rankin's books, they may be hard to follow at times. Readers may wonder if they missed anything or even choose to read the book a second time. Even if a reader only reads the book once, he or she is certain to laugh out loud and enjoy the book tremendously.

I think this book has it right, Elvis will be a future religion.

The reason that I believe this is the many religious aspects of the Elvis story.

* born in humble circumstances and poverty.
* sole survivor of a twin birth that his father later claimed to recalling a strange light in the sky on the night of his birth
* escaped death again at age 5 from a tornado that ripped through Tupelo.
* He lived in Memphis along a mighty river and became known as The King, giving Pharoh assocations.
* He recorded his first music on Sun Records - and most religions have sun gods, gods of light
* He ushered in a great cultural change - broke racial barriers while heightening the generational gap and put overert sex at the cultural forefront
* His personal image was one of racial tolerance, generosity/charity
* The kisses, scarves and other items given out to the crowds during concerts is like having a blessing bestowed upon you
* He was surrounded by a core group of disciples (memphis mafia) who have split into camps and written conflicting books after Elvis' death
* there are stories of him having visions, laying on hands healing,
* there's been after death sightings of him in person, or just his image appearing as do Jesus, Virgin Mary, etc.
* Elvis' image is reproduced in religious type paintings
* Impersonators or Tribute Artists are priests
* people make pilgrimages to Graceland - especially for the winter holiday (Jan 8) and the end of summer (Aug 16) holidays - which is already a weeklong festival
* people have special areas in their homes of their Elvis collections, serving as altar areas or even rooms in their homes which act as temples.


[...]