The Da Da De Da Da Code [Paperback]

Robert Rankin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 19, 2010

All Jonny Hooker has to do to claim a big prize is to solve the Da-Da-De-Da-Da Code. Jonny knows that beat: it is scattered throughout popular music and it has something to do with the Devil's Chord, as well as the great blues musician Robert Johnson; Elvis Presley—who is of course still alive—and with the Secret Parliament of Five, who dictate world affairs. When he solves the Code, Jonny will discover why all the most famous rock musicians die at 27, the truth about raising an ancient god, and all about the destruction of the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although the American fondness for British humor is well-documented, this demented musical conspiracy thriller from U.K. comic fantasist Rankin (The Toyminator) doesn't quite make the leap. Jonny Hooker, a 27-year-old musician tormented by hallucinations, wins a competition and is told to collect his prize at da-da-de-da-da. Now he must solve the Da-da-de-da-da Code, helped only by his imaginary friend, Mr. Giggles the Monkey Boy. Jonny soon winds up in a mental hospital, but that doesn't stop him from pursuing the puzzle. En route he encounters the secret cabal that rules the world and learns why all the best rock musicians die at age 27. Despite some truly inspired bits scattered throughout, Rankin comes across as more condescending than ironic and more disorganized than surrealist. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"One of the rare guys who can always make me laugh."  —Terry Pratchett, author, Discworld series

"Attention-deficit SF humor: like Douglas Adams on a sugar high.”  —Kirkus Reviews on The Witches of Chiswick

"Rankin's whimsically dense sing-song patter reads like Douglas Adams crossed with Aaron Sorkin by way of Mother Goose."  —Entertainment Weekly on The Witches of Chiswick

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz; paperback / softback edition (March 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575085487
• ISBN-13: 978-0575085480
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,279,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Rankin manic humor., May 22, 2010

By 

Eamonn T. Smyth - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Da Da De Da Da Code (GollanczF.) (Hardcover)

I have been for some time a fan of Robert Rankin and he never fails to entertain,and he does it again with off beat manic homour and a sense of the absurb.His characters are beliveable as sometime in our lives we have met them or know of them. I cant wait till the next manic installment.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Read This, April 3, 2008

By 

D. S. Wellhauser (Republic of Korea) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Da Da De Da Da Code (GollanczF.) (Hardcover)

Horrible. I'm a big Rankin fan but this was the worst of his book that I have read. The best I've read is Brightonomicon...far, far superior.

DA DA was flat, stale jokes, boring characters, too long, too zany without tying it all together in the end. It had its moments but they were few and far between.

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to be unprepared, July 16, 2011

By 

JT (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Da Da De Da Da Code (Paperback)

I was fortunate enough to run across this book in my local library (and since I live in the US, this is not necessarily a given). What rock was I living under before I found Robert Rankin? You definitely need to be prepared to let go of reality and just enjoy the ride with this book. If you are uncomfortable with time-jumping, lots of characters, anachronisms, humorous asides, and self-referential jokes, then this probably isn't for you.

However, if you loved Douglas Adams' books, appreciate general silliness that is backed by intelligence, and could use a good laugh (not to mention a fun story), then you'll probably enjoy this book as much as I did (and plan to again).