Four men seize a New York City subway train and hold its passengers hostage. Their escape would seem inconceivable. Only one thing is certain: they aren't stopping for anything.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Hurtles along like a runaway express train. Harrowing, terrifying, and so, so good."
-BUSINESS WEEK
"This one rates all the adjectives... grippingly suspenseful, chillingly real."
-NEWSWEEK
"A cliff-hanger...fast-moving and believable."
-NEW YORKER
"Enthralling."
-LIBRARY JOURNAL
-BUSINESS WEEK
"This one rates all the adjectives... grippingly suspenseful, chillingly real."
-NEWSWEEK
"A cliff-hanger...fast-moving and believable."
-NEW YORKER
"Enthralling."
-LIBRARY JOURNAL
About the Author
John Godey is the pen name of Morton Freedgood, who achieved commercial success with the books A Thrill a Minute With Jack Albany, Never Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Can Kill Today, and The Three Worlds of Johnny Handsome. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, his novel about the hijacking of a New York City subway train, was a bestseller in 1973 and was made into a hit movie starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw in 1974. A remake starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta is scheduled to be released in summer 2009.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By jojo mahoney
Format:Hardcover
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, although it has a confusing and long title is one of the best books I've ever read. The plot is simple: Four desperate men hijack a subway train and hold sixteen people hostage for $1 million. If they do not have their money by the designated time they will beging to kill hostages. This book reads fast with short sections that describe the thoughts and actions of individual characters. The highly detailed novel points out the flaws of the individuals hijacking the train, and how this is a very desperate but well planned attempt to get money. Tension builds as the hijackers have quarrels amongst themselves, and with the passengers. One may ask, How do they expect to get off of a subway train and get away? Well they do, at least some of them. The ending is kind of a letdown since I found myself cheering the hijackers on in a way, but it still fits the book and the character very nicely. If you are looking for a good hostage/terrorist story, this is the best of the bunch
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By lazza
Format:Mass Market Paperback
'The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3' is the fictitious story of the hijacking of a NYC subway train. A motley group comes up with credible plan to use the hijacking and the kidnapping of several passengers as a means of securing $1 million in ransom. Although some of dialog is dated (the book was written in the early 1970s), with heavy use of racial slurs, the plot is quite believable. Overall I found it to be well written.
For those who've seen the excellent original film adaptation (starring Walter Matthau) you will be pleased to learn the film was a rather faithful adaptation. But even if you've seen the film version I do recommend reading the book. It's that good.
Bottom line: probably one of the best action novels in a generation. Recommended.
For those who've seen the excellent original film adaptation (starring Walter Matthau) you will be pleased to learn the film was a rather faithful adaptation. But even if you've seen the film version I do recommend reading the book. It's that good.
Bottom line: probably one of the best action novels in a generation. Recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By JammyBRight
Format:Mass Market Paperback
i loved reading this book when I was younger. Thought I'd read it again since the movie came out. I think there was a movie made of this some time ago but I never watched. Absolutely love the suspense in this book. It definitely has you on edge through most of it. It's a pretty quick read. I definitely suggest you give it a try.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
a fair quality tale, but of dated perspective
A novel of only fair quality that is dated in its awkward handling of characters of different ethnicities. Read more
Published 4 months ago by danielx
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very entertaining
It's funny how we watch movies without always knowing there is a novel behind the plot, that the story was not just the product of some screenwriter's imagination. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Possibility
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the right edition
The description said it was not the movie edition and that is was an older edition, that is why I specifically picked this item. I did not want the movie edition. Read more
Published 14 months ago by rocknrollgangsta578
4.0 out of 5 stars
We are serious, desperate men...
I'll admit it, I didn't know this was a book.
I figured the recent movie starring Denzel was a remake of an earlier movie - it was, but I didn't know that movie was... Read more
I figured the recent movie starring Denzel was a remake of an earlier movie - it was, but I didn't know that movie was... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jamil Bhatti
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still Excellent 30 Years Later
One of the great books that translated into a great movie (the original, not John Travolta's). Too much racism though. Read more
Published on June 29, 2010 by nurwho
4.0 out of 5 stars
Diverting and suspenseful urban thriller
This story of an underground hostage and ransom plot is quite popular, having been filmed twice and doing quite well with book and movie critics. Read more
Published on June 14, 2010 by New England Pat
3.0 out of 5 stars
A train can be a scary place for a hijacking
IMAGINE: You are on a train to work one day, you know, just your usual, typical day. All of a sudden, three men who would not look like terrorsts take over, stop the train, and... Read more
Published on September 28, 2009 by Renfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Check it out!
See how both movie versions compare to the original story-a few surprises here-would have to say that 1974 version is a bit closer.
Published on August 26, 2009 by S. Crozzoli
5.0 out of 5 stars
Taking of pelham 123
I thought the stare at the end of the 70's movie was priceless--the ending of the book is more so!
Published on July 15, 2009 by Lee A. Boudreaus
4.0 out of 5 stars
Suspenseful thriller
I picked up this book because of the publicity from the movie. A thriller about 4 men who hijack a New York City subway train for $1 million, it is interesting and exciting. Read more
Published on July 8, 2009 by rry007
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
