Customer Reviews

The Plutonium Blonde (Daw Book Collectors)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By 2057, technology enables people to drive hovercrafts and teleport to different places. The last private detective in the world Zachary Nixon Johnson, knows that HARV is a computer projection. However, that does not stop him from playing backgammon with it, talking with it or listening to it.

When HARV informs Zach that they need an infusion of capital to pay the rent, he reluctantly takes on the case of BB Star, ex stripper and now the CEO of ExShell, one of the most powerful conglomerates in the world. BB has a doppelganger named BB-2 an artificially intelligent android that is angry, psychotic and dangerous. She has a plutonium core, which makes her a powerful weapon that must be deactivated if BB is to survive. Even knowing that the press will hounded him, thugs will beat him, and he will look like a fool, Zach takes on the case rather than face living on the street.

Abbott and Costello meet a futuristic crime noir is the context underlying the amusing THE PLUTONIUM BLONDE. When HARV and Zach are talking to each other, especially during their numerous crisis, readers will laugh until they cry. It is impossible to believe HARV, the real star of the book, is only a hologram projected by Zachs computer because he seems so human. The mystery is fun too, but the entertainment and uniqueness of this tale are the relationship between the two stars (that is Zach and HARV not BB and BB-2).

Harriet Klausner

I've been jaded towards most of the genre sci-fi books lately. So many books are copies of LOTR, Star Wars, Foundation, et al, that I almost gave up sci-fi in general. Then I found this unusually titled book, The Plutonium Blonde. Catchy title, great content!

After reading the back cover, my interest was sufficiently piqued. So I plunked down my $6.99, opened the book when I got home, and a few days later, was very happy that I bought this book.
The book is a great blend of science fiction and pulp detective novel. I can actually hear(my actor choice for a movie role) Harry Connick Jr utter the main character, Zach Johnson, line, "And for some reason it always happens on my watch."
You'll feel for Zach when he gets pummeled by the bad guys, say "Ouch!" or "Oooh, that's gotta hurt" when HARV pumps up Zach's Kirlian Aura to save his life, and fall for his sexy Doctor/kickboxing champ girlfriend, Electra Gevada (shades of Salma Hayek!).

What are reading this review for? Go out and buy this book!!

I picked this up as a extra book to read while on vacation. Once I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down. The dialog and interactions between the characters, and amazingly enough the computers, were hilarious. And the action in the sci fi setting kept me reading to discover what happened next. I will definitely be purchasing the next book, which seems to be "The Radioactive Redhead".

The Plutonium Blonde is an enjoyable story mixing science fiction in the form of Issac Azimov's I Robot with the old style humor of a Sam Spade Character. At times the humor appears to be a bit too much, but some where within the middle of the story, the humor fits the characters within the story. There are some twists and turns within the storyline that keep the reader involved in the story. The banter between the main character his robot is similar to a couple married for many years. They like to poke fun at each other's infalibilities while at the same time admiring each other's abilities.

Although some of the storylines and banter are standard formulas, they work this time in the interesting mix of science fiction and humor.

This story is much better than a holodeck adventure from Star Trek. In this retro future the last private detective on earth bumbles his way across a case he can't solve.

This book is like reading an updated version of a pulp novel. If you like the old Doc Savage and adventure stories with a twist; this one is for you. As the first reviewer said, the computer and the detective are just like the famous team of Abbott and Costello.

Lots of pop culture references. Fun to read and hopefully there will be a sequel.

This book is not a typical detective fiction. ...This book is a detective fiction essentially designed to pick on every aspect of the whole detective fiction genera. So it's a book with ridiculous action, jokes on top of corny junks, and crazy idiotic characters all played up to be probably one of the world's funniest bashes on detective fiction. It's great fun and non-stop laughs.... Buy this if your looking for a joke book with a story-line.

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!

An avid reader, though not necessarily a fan of either the sci-fi or private-eye genres, I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an enjoyable romp through the future. A future which includes the great lawyer purge (Are the authors visionaries??? Hey, wait, I'm a lawyer!), android exotic dancers, and supercomputers implanted in your brain. Sounds scary, but this book is funny, intelligent, and chock-full of action scenes that left me wondering how the heck one man can take so much punishment and keep up the good fight. Pick it up!

A very funny and well written story. I recomend this book to anyone who likes their detective stories with a lead who makes you laugh, and very well fleshed out set of characters. The first book in this series is a good read, and the later ones are even better.

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!