Rude Mechanicals [Hardcover]

Kage Baker (Author), J. K. Potter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2007

The year is 1934, the scene is a Wood Near Athens -- temporarily relocated to the environs of the Hollywood Bowl, as German theater impresario Max Reinhardt attempts to stage his famous production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Fortunately for Reinhardt, he has immortal assistance in the person of Literature Specialist Lewis, a cyborg working undercover for Dr. Zeus Incorporated, masters of time travel. Lewis is tasked with preserving Reinhardt's promptbooks for future Company profits at auction. Unfortunately for Reinhardt, there are complications... For Joseph, Lewis's fellow cyborg, is on the case as well, attempting to salvage a botched mission of his own. It involves the lost treasure of the Cahuenga Pass, a missing diamond, a third-century pope, burglary, disguises, car chases, and a legendary Hollywood party spot. All of which interact, more or less disastrously, with Lewis's mission and Reinhardt's Shakespearean extravaganza. Will the show go on?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Subterranean Press; Limited edition (April 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596060875
• ISBN-13: 978-1596060876
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #651,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comedic Company novella, with Shakespeare., May 13, 2007

By 

Jeff T. Myers "Seed of an idea" (Yucaipa, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rude Mechanicals (Hardcover)

Set in 1934 Hollywood, this short novel pairs two old Company characters - Joseph and Lewis - to recover the "lost" Tavernier Violet diamond, which has been hidden in the hills above the Hollywood Bowl since the 19th century. The diamond is accidentally found by mortals during a major renovation of the Bowl stage for the production of Max Reinhardt's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Too big and gaudy to be considered anything but fake, the diamond nevertheless keeps getting handed off or stolen by various mortals whom Joseph and Lewis are at wits' end trying to chase down while trying to maintain their mortal covers as helpers in Reinhardt's production, wherein the comedy ensues.

The story uses anecdotal sub-plots from the early Hollywood era (think wild Prohibition parties and Harold Lloyd directing a porn film) as foils for the central plot of recovering the Tavernier diamond. "Oh what fools these mortals be . . ."

This story might be an interesting read to fans of Baker's other Company stories, and reminds me of the vintage comedy "Road to . . ." films made by the odd-couple team of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. But the well-worn premise sometimes drags a bit.

In Baker's other Company stories, the characters of Joseph and Lewis tend shine as standalones, or while interacting with Mendoza - another immortal Company operative with a tortured past - who is not included in this novel. Both Joseph and Lewis are smitten by Mendoza; Joseph as a father-figure, Lewis with unrequited puppy-love. It would be interesting, before the Company series finally winds down, to see if Baker would throw all three - Mendoza, Joseph and Lewis - into a story together just to see what kind of chemistry might ensue.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riotous Hollywood history with lots of humor!, September 8, 2007

By 

Candice "anthropologist" (REDMOND, WA, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rude Mechanicals (Hardcover)

I was born in Hollywood, worked at Paramount Pictures, and came from a film producing family. This book is beautifully researched and really gets the Hollywood scene of the 1930s. I was taken back to the Hollywood I know, with the added taste of an earlier Hollywood. I loved the scenes at the Hollywood Bowl -- been there dozens of times and I could just picture everything. Plus, this book is an absolute riot. The chase scenes had me laughing out loud! It's almost slapstick.

But you've got to have a sense of humor to appreciate this book. It's not hard-core science fiction. It's a chapbook. It's Hollywood history. And it's signed and numbered. I read it in one sitting, couldn't put it down.

On a personal note, she mentions Immaculate Heart High School. I went to Immaculate Heart College, right next door, at the foothills of Griffith Park. Her details are so great, so well researched. She writes like a real insider. If you really want to know what Hollywood was like, you have to read this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lewis and Joseph - on the road again, August 5, 2007

By 

Mattie "Mattie" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rude Mechanicals (Hardcover)

This novella is a treat for Company fans. Lewis is alive, well and at his suave best in 1930s Hollywood. And Joseph is, at times, hilarious. (The Mr. Peanut costume section is worth the price of the book.) My friends and I think that Leslie Howard would have been the perfect Lewis, and I'm holding out for a younger version of Al Pacino for Joseph. When will the movies be coming out?