The Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road: Tales of Life on the Move (Mammoth Books) [Paperback]

John Steinbeck (Author), Jack Kerouac (Author), Hunter S. Thompson (Author), J. G. Ballard (Author), Maxim Jakubowski (Editor), M. Christian (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2003 | Series: Mammoth Books

Combining classic stories with never-before-published work, The Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road travels along exotic as well as familiar pathways, covering territory from the erotic and romantic, to the chilling, adventurous, and humorous. From trails carved through dense jungle to six-lane superhighways, these travelers’ tales comprise cops and robbers barrelling down mean streets, summer roadtrip vacations gone wildly wrong, sentimental journeys made in hope and despair, wandering wise men, and post-apocalyptic road warriors. Created by master anthologist Maxim Jakubowski, this Mammoth collection features a mixture of legendary road stories plus a selection of brand-new, especially commissioned pieces. Includes excerpts from classics such as Kerouac’s On the Road, Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, and James Ellroy’s Killer on the Road. There are also complete reprints of favorite stories such as John Hughes’s “Vacation ‘58” and hidden gems by the likes of Ed McBain, Hunter S. Thompson, William S. Burroughs, Brian W. Aldiss, J. G. Ballard, Lee Child, and Michael Dibden. The Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road also picks up new works from contemporary authors such as Alex Garland, Thomas S. Roche, Matt Thorne, Stella Duffy, and many others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 499 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers; 1st Carroll & Graf Ed edition (November 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786710691
• ISBN-13: 978-0786710690
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,366,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good!, January 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road: Tales of Life on the Move (Mammoth Books) (Paperback)

I'm not much of a road book fan but while staying with a friend who *is*, I picked up this book from his coffee table and started reading. The writing was good and after a couple of stories, I really began to appreciate the theme of the book and the way the editors combined old, classic road stories (Kerouac, etc.) with new tales that speak of the same movement, wanderlust and basic curiosity. I couldn't help but notice an earlier reviewer who referred to this book as "travel writing," which it clearly is not. It's pure fiction but with all the elements of realism that travel entails. I'm still making my way through it but so far, I think it's quite entertaining.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ride Hard, Read Free, January 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road: Tales of Life on the Move (Mammoth Books) (Paperback)

Lots of edgy writing focusing on the journey, not the destination. Not meant to be a travel writing collection at all, but rather a collection of new and classic road tales from well-known writers and newcomers.

I found it interesting to see the theme of road tales interpreted by so many different kinds of writers. If you love the road and have a sense of awe, admiration, and fear for the darkened highways, check it out. If you want travel writing like Retread, yeah, you'll do better with Sunset Magazine.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eat This Book, May 2, 2004

By 

P. B. Ryter (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road: Tales of Life on the Move (Mammoth Books) (Paperback)

What a great read! The stories vary from the classic (Steinbeck's Migrant People brought tears to my eyes) to edgy noir to humor to speculative fiction, encompassing film parody, inspiration from 9/11, and more. I found it to be a very diverse read, with more flavors than Baskin-Robbins. Dig in as your cold scoop melts on steaming asphalt.