Customer Reviews

Smoke

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

 

 

When Freddie Noon is caught in the act of burgling a research laboratory by a couple of the doctors who work there, he is persuaded to act as guinea pig to test the experimental drug they are working on, rather than get sent to prison. The drug was supposed to help combat skin cancer by eliminating skin pigment, unfortunately when given to Freddie it not only eliminated Freddie's skin, but also the rest of him, rendering him invisible. An invisible burglar, the possibilities are endless. But so are the problems. Freddie and his girlfriend, Peg, are chased by various people who all have the same idea, harnessing his invisibility for their own evil plans.

Thanks to Westlake's great ability with putting together great caper stories, the subplots are amusing and quite entertaining, but when you get to the end you get the feeling that the potential has not been reached. Although not an uproariously funny book, its tone is light and the humour is constant, at times subtle and usually quite clever.

If it's light reading you're after and prefer entertainment over finding a deeper meaning of life, I think you'll enjoy this book. A good example of the humour of Donald Westlake can be found in a surgeon general's warning on the inside front flap stating that "Reading Donald E. Westlake may lead to shortness of breath, prolonged chortles, outbreaks of hysterical laughter, and sudden, drop-dead surprises."

Westlake as usual has created another sensational novel but this time tackled a subject not many authors have really delved into, a novel about an invisible man. Even though Freddie Noon the main character in Smoke is a career villain like with Westlake's Parker novels (written under the pen name Richard Stark) you can't help but wish the guy all the success in the world.

Freddie breaks into the research labs of an American tobacco company to steal some easily liquidated equipment. Unfortunately he is caught by two scientists who can't be bothered waiting the lengthy time process required by the government to get human volunteers so see Freddie as an excellent test subject. They convince him to take an injection showing him something they say is the antidote so there's no risk to him and its better than going to jail isn't it? Only Freddie escapes, steals the antidote and of course takes it. The problem is it is not an antidote and Freddie is now invisible. Being invisible comes with a lot of challenges but also has its unique opportunities. Only problem is there are now powerful people after him including a corrupt police officer, they all have their own uses for him wanting him to perform more violent and serious crimes on their behalf which don't follow under his code of ethics. His girlfriend Peg is also finding his condition hard to cope with and wants him visible again, only thing is there's no way back to his former self.

This sensational novel is more similar in storyline (with its own uniqueness as well) to H F Saint's classic novel Memoirs of an Invisible Man than it is to H.G. Wells' 1897 story The Invisible Man. Smoke also acknowledges the problems such as food eaten not being immediately invisible like Saint's masterpiece did, although Westlake does not go to the same depth (I don't understand previous reviewers who criticise Westlake for having this factor in here as it an obvious thing that would be a problem if you were invisible, put it this way should an author writing a book about someone going swimming not have them wearing a swimming costume because another character in another book by another author included this exact same obvious thing, of course they should it would be ludicrous and absurd not to).

Smoke was published in 1995 and has not dated at all today. All three of invisible man novels mentioned are must read can't put down forget about work and what is on TV until the final page thrillers. If you like one of these stories you'll love them all.

Donald Westlake has never written a book, that I know of, about an honest person doing an honest days work. Freddy Noon, the protagonist of this story is unusual in that life is pretty good for him. He dosn't suffer the kind of perpetual disaster of the Sort visited on Dortmunder and Co, but when things go wrong for Fredy, they go very badly wrong. Freddy is a thief that one day makes the mistake of trying to rip off a research establishement. He is captured and turned into a scientific subject. The results of this experiment toss his life upside down and threaten to cost him his girlfriend and launch several threats on his life. This experiment also makes Freddy's career take off.

This book is typical Westlake, which is to say it is very well written, the story moves like an express train, you have a lot of fun reading it and there is no gain to doing so.

Westlake does not have a menagerie of freeks, despite what happens to Freddy he is not a freek, nor does he populate his universe with cardboard cutouts. Freddy is as real and vital. The people in Westlake's books interact in so honest a fashion it startles one to realize what has happend to your sympathies.

This book can also be viewed as an allagory of what life is like in the modern world. All there are is compromises, and you have to give up a great deal for succuess, which might cost you more than the gain is worth. This loss is permenant.

Even the Freddy's name is alegorical. His life is very much the "Urban Noon"

This book entertains even the most devout Donald Westlake fans. I have never read a book by him that I have not enjoyed but this one was really awesome. The idea of an invisible man has always intrigued readers (especially an invisible thief, lol). Definitely a chuckle out loud (if not roarishly laugh) book. I highly recommend this book.

Donald Westlake is among two authors that can make me laugh out loud. the other being lawerence block. This book however un-original some people think it is is awesome. I loved it. Good Work Donald!

A hilarious romp reminiscent of a Dortmunder caper. Westlake once again leads us through a plot that twists and turns to a surprise ending that only Westlake can conjure. Should Freddie Noon appear in a future Westlake effort, I'll be sure to be the first in line at my local bookstore.

Westlake proves that he can write a witty and interesting farce outside of the Dortmunder series. True, his comic capers outside the Dortmunder series are hit and miss, but this one is a good one. The characters are well-done and humurous on several levels. Good read.

Freddie Urban Noone, contrary to his initials, is not having fun. During a normal business day, which for Freddie is robbery/burglary, he runs afoul of two young research doctors. They capture Freddie, and decide he will be their human volunteer for an experiment they are conducting for a tobacco research institute. The experiment inadvertently succeeds beyond any expectation, and Freddie is invisible-and escapes. Everyone: doctors, tobacco industry, and crooked cops want Freddie for all the wrong reasons.

The author has given careful thought to all aspects of being invisible and uses them well. In a nutshell, invisibility has few advantages and many woes for the hapless victim. Freddie must either be naked (including shoeless) or done up like a scarecrow with a fright mask, gloves, and every inch of him covered. He must modestly distance himself from the public for at least two hours after dining while his food travels down his intestinal track. Freddy fortunately has a sunny disposition and a great deal of patience. He also is blessed with a cheery, beautiful, slightly skewed girlfriend who reminded me of Elaine in Seinfeld without the neuroses.

The book has many humorous moments and some excellent insights, but it seems erratically paced. There are slow moments and repetitious action. I felt the author got a little weary of his own edifice. The ending was so abrupt; I actually looked for a few more pages. I don't know if it was Mr. Westlake's intent, but the last scene seems melancholy and wistful. The farce turned into a melodrama without a connecting passage. I was left vaguely unsatisfied.

"Smoke" is about a criminal who is invisible. Does that mean that he can get away with ANY crime? No way. As you read this, you will find out that being invisible and a criminal don't work well together. Absolutely hilarious. I read it in three days!

Donald, Donald, Donald. I picked this book up with a giddiness only experienced when I pick up a Westlake or Lawerence Block book. I was sadly disappointed. The story was long and dragged out and the plot, if you can call it a plot, was without a sense of reality. I only finished this book because of the Westlake name. Thank you but I'll stick to rereading my Dortmunder novels