Customer Reviews

Wrack and Roll

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

 

 

If you're the type that thought 1980s heavy metal had the power to change the world, here's a fun and trashy novel for you. I agree with the previous reviewer who said that this book's basic theme is pretty hokey - the idea that rock n' roll can inspire worldwide class conflict and revolution, and can save humanity through the power of music. Also, the supernatural elements of the story are poorly defined, there are some issues with plot holes and character relations, and the nuclear war backdrop is pure 1986 paranoia. But with those flaws aside, Bradley Denton created a rollicking story in a fun rock setting with great dialogue, along with (usually) well-crafted characters with complex personalities. I especially liked the Lieza character - the rockstar protagonist who knows she has the power to save the world but is held back both by her painful past and her celebrity persona; and the guy known as Pissant - a washed up professor who barely manages to claw his way up from an alcoholic abyss and make his contribution to rock n' roll salvation. And while the conclusion of the story fizzles out a little after an extensive build up, Lieza and her wild band really do teach the world to respect the rock. [~doomsdayer520~]

Taking in consideration that this book was probably unique in 1986, I found the whole idea of Rock and Roll, in this case: Wrack and Roll, playing a key role in world politics, nuclear war, etc, a little much....but...the characters and dialogue move along at a rocking pace, that's for sure! Part cyberpunk, part alternate history and very humourous...I devoured this book. I particularly loved the antics of the cynical, alcoholic physicist who is a pawn for both sides: the Wrackers - the rebellious, anti-establishment types and the Straights - the established followers of order. There is plenty of conflict between the two sides even when the lines become blurred but the book becomes bogged down in it's idealistic view of the power of Rock and Roll.

Brighter than a thousand Butane Lighters - Or more than a nuclear SUN - Is the book "Wrack and Roll" by Bradley Denton.

This is of an Alternate Future, where Patton was NOT ordered to stop at the Rhine, where he continued on into Berlin. And so Post WW-II, the Cold war was not The US vs Russia, it was the US and Russia vs England and China - Aka the "Lemon Limeys".

In this twisted recount of events that could have happened around the turn of 1980, we have The Wrackers - A Punk Rock Movement that took hold during WW-II, and continued on through all the decades after. Is it a Music Movement? Is it a Political Movement? Is it Both? Is it Neither... And the Leaders of the Movement, Bitch Alice and her daughter "The Bastard Child" Lieza Galilee, faced off with "Straights" "Whigs" and "Jacks" and other skags and scrodsuckers through the 50's 60's 70's and the present day of the book.

When Bitch Alice is murdered by Straights while she is singing her hit "Race ya to Hell" on the Moon:

http://iacmusic.com/songs.aspx?SongID=87881&ArtistID=11981

(A Modest Example of Bitch Alice's Lyrics) - She entreats the Wrackers of the United States to TRASH the US Space Program. This gives the "Lemon Limey" the Edge in the Space Program - And they build Churchill-Chiang Station, an Armed Nuclear Space Station which hover over US Soil. Not much to be done about that... And as the Limeys invade a neutral territory, the band Blunt Instrument headed by The Bastard Child is tricked into participating in a US "Rescue Operation" - Which ultimately causes tensions between the US/Russia and The UK/China. And all the while, the UK Orbiting Space Station is arming for WAR up above - Can Lieza Galilee and her band of Rag Tag Individualists save the world?

If you read this book I PROMISE you will see a Mirror Universe unlike any Fringe or Star Trek story of Alternate Universes. The Universe of the Wrackers is a Universe where cars have been using Ethanol as Fuel since the 50's - And so all the Entertainments of the time, "Rebel without a Cause" and such - Is all Ethanol Based. Patton was not accidentally Killed by a car, he became President several times... And the WHIG Party, is the big Political Party of the time. And this all climaxes in a Royal Albert Hall concert that will Wrack your Block off, Explosively.

Lovers of Alternate Music will love this story and how a whole new slang was created and used by Author Bradley Denton. And there are examples of Lyrics of Wrack and Roll songs throughout the book, and these are what makes the book accessible. When I read this 15 years ago, it literally changed the way I think. And it will do it to you, too!

I received my copy from the seller not too long ago... Incredibly, it is an original, British First Edition. The Mass Paperback Edition was handled by Warner Brothers' "Questar" books back in the mid-80's and sported a cover by Roger Corbin.