Customer Reviews

Dangerous Dames

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

 

 

I picked this up during a deployment with the US Army a few weeks ago, and already the book has gone through a lot. It's a great page-turning read that combines a lot of 1960s private detective story trope with science fiction elements and a dash of humor (inlcuding plenty of pop culture references - one example, heavily edited so as to not give away the story, is when one character tells another "You're mistaken. I am your father," to which the other character simply, and inevitably, replies, "That's not true. That's impossible!" and does it so smoothly it took me a second to recognize it). My only (minor!) nitpick is that I was able to figure out both of the mysteries about the same time as Our Intrepid Hero, (one Zachary Nixon Johnson, the "last private detective on Earth"), but to my mind that's not that much of a bad thing - it allows the reader to let out their own inner mid-21st century private detective.

Even just from a value standpoint, "Dangerous Dames" is also a great pick. It combines two stories seperately available, The Doomsday Brunette and The Plutonium Blonde, into one book that weighs in about as much as a Tom Clancy novel. (For the record, it does indeed fit in an Army Combat Uniform pants cargo pocket.) And at $8.99 USD, it's a great bargain. If you're a fan of sci-fi or pulp fiction, I'd highly recommend picking this one up. If you're looking for a good read that doesn't take itself too seriously, I'd highly recommend picking this up.

The Zack Johnson books have been described as part parody, part homage to the old pulp detective novels. It's fifty years in the future. Zach Johnson is the last licensed P.I. on Earth. He's a bit of a celebrity, which means he gets some interesting cases. In book one, Zack and his partner HARV (supercomputer extraordinaire) must track down a homocidal plutonium-powered android superbabe. Book two sets Zach and HARV out to learn who murdered a genetically enhanced superbabe. (There's a bit of a superbabe theme to these books, if you haven't noticed...)

I'll admit that the first few chapters worried me. I really wanted to enjoy the books, having heard good things about them. But the first chapters felt like they were trying too hard to be funny, giving backstory and shooting off jokes without really starting the story.

Fortunately, the chapters are short, and the book soon drew me in. The stories are a lot of fun to read, and kept me turning the pages long after I meant to put the book down. Some jokes worked better than others -- I couldn't quite buy everyone swearing by "Gates" and "DOS", for example -- but then, that's going to be the case whenever you write humor. The story is good enough to draw you along regardless of whether you appreciate every last joke.

I thought the second story was stronger than the first, and I've been told the series continues to improve. The silliness sometimes threatens to cross the line, but it never felt over-the-top enough to throw me out of the story. Not even the attack toaster or the pixie/nymphs.

Will you like the book? That depends a lot on your taste and sense of humor. Personally, I think the world needs more humorous SF/F. So if you're looking for a fun, light read, I'd give it a try.

The 2 books, The Plutonium Blond and The Doomsday Brunette, are so much fun to read. Both are such humorous scifi adventures, that I had a hard time putting down. Zach gets himself into all kinds of trouble, and Harv performs well as his "sidekick". I highly recommend John Zakour's series of books.

It's not often you find something that can be both an homage and at the same time almost a spoof of its source material but they pull it off here fantastically.

Equal parts pulp detective and sci-fi comedy, these books would make a perfect summer blockbuster...probably starring Will Smith. They read quick and are a lot of fun. Sometimes it gets a little crazy like a Vegas hotel fountain-buffet but that's what makes it a good time. There wasn't any point where I thought the jokes were being overdone or the exposition was too much, it was all part of Zach's world.

If you want to check out the series, definately start with this two for one. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the very entertaining series!

This volume combines the first two novels of the adventures of Zachary Nixon Johnson, the last private eye on Earth. If you're a fan of Harry Harrison's THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT, this series is for you. Fabulous Futuristic Fun!

I have enjoyed books by John Zakour and wanted to get ones I did not have. Suprise, this book is his first 2 books (Plutonium Blond and Doomsday Brunette) about the last Privet Eye on earth (Zachary Nixon Johnson) combined into one printing. This has many of the elements from the old pulp detective novels, with a futuristic twist. If you like SciFi, and the old pulp novels, then you should really love this book.

Holy commode! This was pure, unadulterated, page turning, laugh-out-loud fun. Both books included in this volume were way over the top ridiculous. Noir mystery, science fiction, fantasy, farce at its best. It's a parody of the pulps but in a good way.

Here's the setup: Zach Johnson is the world's last private eye. His compadres are the world's greatest computer, a secretary with psi abilities, a poster-child nerd Mr. Wizard, a cop and a to-die-for girlfriend. His task - simple - save the world. This isn't the world we see around us, however. It is the world a few years down the road with the normal group of fantasy/sci-fi characters.

If you want literature, go elsewhere. If you just want to sit back, relax and enjoy a book - GRAB THIS ONE NOW!

I've ordered the others in the series - these are perfect for a down day - you won't stay blue for long.

If Blade Runner was cross-pollinated with Airplane, this is what you'd get. Plutonium Blonde is a detective story set in the not-too-far future, and it features wise-cracks galore, sexual dames, and lots of action. You'll breeze right through this romp and want to get to the next book in the series. This is as much fun as the Garrett series!

Luckily, the next book in the series comes right after the first book in the series when you buy this omnibus edition. There's no waiting to get to the next noir sci-fi detective story; just turn the page. I love this series and will soon be ordering the 2nd omnibus edition.

Do you like old fashion thrillers, with the strong, smart Private Investigator, with his fast gun, quick wit, wise guy puns, and computer butlers? No? How about underwear that protects you from bullets? Oh, wait, this isn't old fashion. Welcome to the FUTURE! Two in one book, of the adventures of Zackary Nixon Johnson in the 21st Century. Robots, hover cars, super-humans, androids, killer toasters, doomsday devices and sisters who hate each other. Well, not much has changed but the action is fast, the puns are corny, the humor is funny and the sci-fi references are as thick as flies on potato salad.

I'm a Science Fiction fan. I'm not big on humorous books. I either don't laugh or it just misses. This pair of books however had me laughing and wondering what was going to happen next. Very good light fun. If you enjoyed those 90s syndicated shows like Herc or Xena, you'll prolly like these.