What do you think?
Rate this book
Batman
Батман: В плен на моторите
And the streets of Gotham City run red with human blood. The maimed but lucky survivors tell tales too bizarre to be believed: a story of murderous machines that are more than mere hunks of metal, four-wheeled marauders aimed at depopulating the city in the quickest, most vicious way they can.
Only one man can stop them. But an ancient magic seeking its grim, timeless vengeance may be too much of a match for even the awesome, earthly powers of the Caped Crusader they call Batman...
Only one man can stop them. But an ancient magic seeking its grim, timeless vengeance may be too much of a match for even the awesome, earthly powers of the Caped Crusader they call Batman...
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
4 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Joe R. Lansdale
819 books3,895 followersChampion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over forty novels and numerous short stories. His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, as well as numerous foreign publications. He has written for comics, television, film, newspapers, and Internet sites. His work has been collected in more than two dozen short-story collections, and he has edited or co-edited over a dozen anthologies. He has received the Edgar Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and many others. His novella Bubba Ho-Tep was adapted to film by Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. His story "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted to film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror," and he adapted his short story "Christmas with the Dead" to film hisownself. The film adaptation of his novel Cold in July was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Channel has adapted his Hap & Leonard novels for television.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 4, 2023
This was a very disappointing book and barely even a Batman book. The Pale Boy parts were very heavy-handed, clunky, and very predictable. The Alfred parts were unnecessary and only mildly amusing and his interactions with Batman were tiresome. Finally, the few Batman scene were the highlights but he is a minor character in this.
2.25/5
2.25/5
April 5, 2020
This was a fairly good novel in a number of ways, but not a great Batman book. It's a detective story more than a comics story, and Batman was absent in too many of the scenes. Lansdale's writing is very evocative, but I thought the gore was a bit much considering the context and genre. I also tend to be most critical of supernatural trappings in superhero fiction, but that's a personal hang-up. It's a good book for Lansdale fans and Batman completests, but not for casual wear.
February 12, 2025
This was really better than it should have been. The concept itself was a little silly. However, it worked. There was some things that worked against the story. Batman doesn't play much of part until about halfway through the novel. But the set up without Batman gave needed background info that came into play later, and made things that much better. There's also a big twist at the end I didn't see coming.
This was one of those novels that exceed expectations, even though I am a Lansdale fan.
This was one of those novels that exceed expectations, even though I am a Lansdale fan.
October 9, 2024
Вдъхновен от прекрасната графична новела Батман: Година първа, реших да си припомня една книжка за Човека-прилеп, четена преди тридесет и кусур години. Авторът Джо Р. Лансдейл е печелил куп награди в хорър и крими жанровете, но за родната читателска публика е все така почти непознат...
Фабулата в се завърта около няколко убийства в Готъм и съседното му градче, Колд Шепърд - прегазвания, извършени с черен Тъндърбърд, модел '57, а следите лека-полека ни отвеждат до автоморга в резервата на индианското племе Маноуак, разположен между двата града. Стилът на Лансдейл е перфектен - с чудесни сравнения и метафори и доста прилично изграждане на персонажите, в макар и краткия обем на четивото; като контрапункт - има бая сцени с графично насилие, на които би завидял всеки уважаващ себе си сплетърпънк; и накрая, преводът на Йосиф Леви е доволно сносен, като за начално-деветдесетарски.
---
Библиографска справка с издаваните у нас неща на Лансдейл
📌Романи
Батман: В плен на моторите (ЕТ „Одисей-В“, 1992)
Бряг край мътни води („Изток-Запад“, 2014)
📌 Разкази и новели
"Лятото на бясното куче" в 999 нови истории на ужаса и съспенса („Прометей И.Л.“, 2001)
„Пукната чаша“ в Разбойници („Сиела, 2015)
„Приключението на Кинг“ в Старият Марс („Сиела, 2015)
„Прожекционистът“ в Нощни птици („Бард“, 2017)
"Място за още един" в Непознат в града ("Бард, 2022)
Фабулата в се завърта около няколко убийства в Готъм и съседното му градче, Колд Шепърд - прегазвания, извършени с черен Тъндърбърд, модел '57, а следите лека-полека ни отвеждат до автоморга в резервата на индианското племе Маноуак, разположен между двата града. Стилът на Лансдейл е перфектен - с чудесни сравнения и метафори и доста прилично изграждане на персонажите, в макар и краткия обем на четивото; като контрапункт - има бая сцени с графично насилие, на които би завидял всеки уважаващ себе си сплетърпънк; и накрая, преводът на Йосиф Леви е доволно сносен, като за начално-деветдесетарски.
---
Библиографска справка с издаваните у нас неща на Лансдейл
📌Романи
Батман: В плен на моторите (ЕТ „Одисей-В“, 1992)
Бряг край мътни води („Изток-Запад“, 2014)
📌 Разкази и новели
"Лятото на бясното куче" в 999 нови истории на ужаса и съспенса („Прометей И.Л.“, 2001)
„Пукната чаша“ в Разбойници („Сиела, 2015)
„Приключението на Кинг“ в Старият Марс („Сиела, 2015)
„Прожекционистът“ в Нощни птици („Бард“, 2017)
"Място за още един" в Непознат в града ("Бард, 2022)
April 27, 2013
Awesome. I was lucky to find this novel among some old forgotten books and read it with great pleasure. It is very well-written and has a captivating and original story. The villain is more tragic than vile and Batman is described very well. The book resembles a detective story, an aspect, which is kind of forgotten in some Bat stories and manages to surprise you. It is quite gory, but in the same time there are some touching moments. In conclusion, an excellent Batman adventure!
September 17, 2012
Fanfiction d'autore.
"Solo lì, avvolto nelle tenebre, lui era veramente Batman".
Tre stelle e mezzo. Grazioso, ma nulla di più.
Vivido il ritratto di Batman, geniali i dialoghi tra lui e Alfred.
Interessante la storia del villain, ma la macchina assassina fa troppo King. E c'è troppa roba indiana e americocentrica, e troppo poca Gotham City. Nella spirale di violenza senza senso Lansdale c'è (il ragazzino che picchia un uomo morente con la sua stessa gamba tranciata, lo deruba e poi lo lascia lì a morire dice davvero tutto), ma dal punto di vista scenografico (e in Batman la scenografia di Gotham City non è poca cosa) ha toppato.
"Solo lì, avvolto nelle tenebre, lui era veramente Batman".
Tre stelle e mezzo. Grazioso, ma nulla di più.
Vivido il ritratto di Batman, geniali i dialoghi tra lui e Alfred.
Interessante la storia del villain, ma la macchina assassina fa troppo King. E c'è troppa roba indiana e americocentrica, e troppo poca Gotham City. Nella spirale di violenza senza senso Lansdale c'è (il ragazzino che picchia un uomo morente con la sua stessa gamba tranciata, lo deruba e poi lo lascia lì a morire dice davvero tutto), ma dal punto di vista scenografico (e in Batman la scenografia di Gotham City non è poca cosa) ha toppato.
July 22, 2009
hey, it's by Lansdale.
August 21, 2022
In Captured By The Engines Joe Lansdale creates a villain that is cartoonish on the surface, but with a level of violence to add a hint of realism. In human form the villain (like Dr Jekyll) has no knowledge of his crimes, and Lansdale explores the theme of a vanishing Manowack tribe's Native American identity.
There are three main divisions: the traditional Batman city beat where the adventure begins (along with a side story), a few linking sections focus on Bruce Wayne's background and current crisis searching for something redeeming in a life battling unending crime, and a small New Jersey suburb where the main adventure leads. It's no surprise that Lansdale directs the story to a small town: it's the most common setting for most of his other works. At times it adds an odd rustic quality to Batman's speech, teetering between colloquial and clipped.
Batman gets knocked around quite a bit, and doesn't use many gizmos. The focus is putting the clues together and a final showdown in the Bat mobile, mano a mano... but between cars.
Lansdale establishes his distinctive voice and style in the Batman's framework with no effort to curb the violence...
... nor the humor:
It's worth reading for the oddity, but not particularly strong for a Lansdale fan (and probably the same for a Batman fan).
The animals of olden days were the prime examples of power, speed, strength. They were the magical representatives of their time; totems and spirits were viewed in their images. But the white man had destroyed their powers and had replaced them with engines named after them, engines that ran faster and stronger than their namesakes and were worshipped and respected more mightily than any animal ever had been.
There are three main divisions: the traditional Batman city beat where the adventure begins (along with a side story), a few linking sections focus on Bruce Wayne's background and current crisis searching for something redeeming in a life battling unending crime, and a small New Jersey suburb where the main adventure leads. It's no surprise that Lansdale directs the story to a small town: it's the most common setting for most of his other works. At times it adds an odd rustic quality to Batman's speech, teetering between colloquial and clipped.
Batman gets knocked around quite a bit, and doesn't use many gizmos. The focus is putting the clues together and a final showdown in the Bat mobile, mano a mano... but between cars.
Lansdale establishes his distinctive voice and style in the Batman's framework with no effort to curb the violence...
Then she thought no more as skull shrapnel, brains, flesh and blood, and escaping dreams mushroomed into a wet bomb that splattered in all directions...
... nor the humor:
Those volunteer bozos are about as competent as knit prophylactics.
... a speed that would have embarrassed an amputee turtle.
It's worth reading for the oddity, but not particularly strong for a Lansdale fan (and probably the same for a Batman fan).
January 27, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Batman: Captured by the Engines is a novel written by Joe R. Lansdale and released in 1991.
A series of brutal hit and run murders are occurring in and around Gotham City. Police are baffled by the cases when crime scene samples come back as human tissue instead rubber and paint and eye witnesses report a muscle car that moves in a way that defies physics.
This is a tough book to review. There are parts I really enjoyed and other parts that felt trodding and over written. To start with, this doesn’t feel like a Batman book. He is largely a secondary character and doesn’t make a significant appearance until halfway through the book. Instead, it focuses on Pale Boy, a Native American sheriff who has left behind the traditions of his tribe to live in the white world. I do wonder if this book was created to be something completely independent of Batman but then reimagined and forced into that world when the contract was granted. The title also contains a pun on a word that is widely regarded as a slur now, so there is that as well.
The book is more of a detective story, but one that is not necessarily a mystery. The story very early on picks a direction and steadily continues until the story is resolved. It attempts to throw a red herring, but it is very predictable with all of the foreshadowing. My favorite parts were Alfred and Bruce throwing subtle jabs at each other, reminiscent of Batman The Animated Series, but it’s really only one short chapter in the book.
This is the weakest of the early 90s Batman novels, but I still enjoyed reading all of them. They are a unique piece of Batman’s lasting impact on the superhero genre that transcends multiple storytelling formats.
Batman: Captured by the Engines is a novel written by Joe R. Lansdale and released in 1991.
A series of brutal hit and run murders are occurring in and around Gotham City. Police are baffled by the cases when crime scene samples come back as human tissue instead rubber and paint and eye witnesses report a muscle car that moves in a way that defies physics.
This is a tough book to review. There are parts I really enjoyed and other parts that felt trodding and over written. To start with, this doesn’t feel like a Batman book. He is largely a secondary character and doesn’t make a significant appearance until halfway through the book. Instead, it focuses on Pale Boy, a Native American sheriff who has left behind the traditions of his tribe to live in the white world. I do wonder if this book was created to be something completely independent of Batman but then reimagined and forced into that world when the contract was granted. The title also contains a pun on a word that is widely regarded as a slur now, so there is that as well.
The book is more of a detective story, but one that is not necessarily a mystery. The story very early on picks a direction and steadily continues until the story is resolved. It attempts to throw a red herring, but it is very predictable with all of the foreshadowing. My favorite parts were Alfred and Bruce throwing subtle jabs at each other, reminiscent of Batman The Animated Series, but it’s really only one short chapter in the book.
This is the weakest of the early 90s Batman novels, but I still enjoyed reading all of them. They are a unique piece of Batman’s lasting impact on the superhero genre that transcends multiple storytelling formats.
August 27, 2025
"La lunga strada della vendetta" è un romanzo che porta con sé tutti i tratti tipici di Lansdale: tanto pulp, molto splatter e un’atmosfera noir che non lascia spazio a salvezza o redenzione. Si legge scorrevolmente e riesce a tenere viva l’attenzione, anche grazie ai personaggi secondari, spesso segnati da storie dolorose e disperate.
Il cuore della vicenda è costruito attorno a Batman, che qui appare con sfumature più umane rispetto ad altre opere: un protagonista che regge l’impianto narrativo e rende meno monocorde la sequenza di violenza e oscurità.
Non mancano derive pulp al limite del trash e qualche forzatura, ma rientrano nello stile esagerato e senza freni dell’autore. Ne esce un libro che colpisce per durezza e crudezza, ma che lascia anche la sensazione di un intrattenimento sopra le righe, più che di un’opera memorabile.
In sintesi: una lettura forte e avvincente, ma non un capolavoro — “carino, con i suoi limiti”, come spesso accade con Lansdale quando spinge l’acceleratore sul grottesco.
Il cuore della vicenda è costruito attorno a Batman, che qui appare con sfumature più umane rispetto ad altre opere: un protagonista che regge l’impianto narrativo e rende meno monocorde la sequenza di violenza e oscurità.
Non mancano derive pulp al limite del trash e qualche forzatura, ma rientrano nello stile esagerato e senza freni dell’autore. Ne esce un libro che colpisce per durezza e crudezza, ma che lascia anche la sensazione di un intrattenimento sopra le righe, più che di un’opera memorabile.
In sintesi: una lettura forte e avvincente, ma non un capolavoro — “carino, con i suoi limiti”, come spesso accade con Lansdale quando spinge l’acceleratore sul grottesco.
July 26, 2024
Lansdale writes a Batman story like no one else has. Batman leaves a detailed diary of each nights events for Alfred to read that includes his inner thoughts. Learning of Alfred’s inner thoughts and morning routine is not exactly something readers have read before which makes your heart grow for Bruce, Alfred, and Gotham city. the banter between Gordon and Batman makes them seem like close friends who can even joke around. You read that right, Batman can be funny.
Lansdale writes the antagonist so we can understand how and why he is doing what he does before his epic battle with Batman. To say even a little would spoil the fun in getting there and it is one hell of a ride to the final battle. Plus Joe even slips in the model of the car that the Batmobile might be.
It wouldn’t be a Lansdale book without a little tug on the ol heart strings as we learn that Bruce is human and is very sentimental as he is glad to know that he has made a difference.
Lansdale writes the antagonist so we can understand how and why he is doing what he does before his epic battle with Batman. To say even a little would spoil the fun in getting there and it is one hell of a ride to the final battle. Plus Joe even slips in the model of the car that the Batmobile might be.
It wouldn’t be a Lansdale book without a little tug on the ol heart strings as we learn that Bruce is human and is very sentimental as he is glad to know that he has made a difference.
December 1, 2022
Premettendo che per il sottoscritto Batman non è solo un supereroe da intrattenimento facile ma un personaggio interessante, stratificato e complesso che meriterebbe molto più approfondimento psicologico di quanto non gli venga solitamente riservato, devo dire che ho approcciato il libro di Lansdale con una sorta di timorosa speranza. Il timore era quello di vedere sprecata l'ennesima occasione per tirare fuori l'anima di questo bambino mai veramente cresciuto in favore di becere scazzottate e gadget luccicanti. La speranza risiedeva più che altro nella fama di Lansdale, del quale, pur non avendo letto nient'altro, avevo sentito parlare molto bene.
Volendo essere concisi si può dire che questo "La lunga strada della vendetta" non è un brutto libro in sé, ma è comunque abbastanza deludente.
La trama procede seguendo una specie di indagine che però viene portata avanti con un'asciuttezza che rende il tutto un po' piatto, all'apparenza secondario, quasi che ci fosse qualcosa di molto più importante in procinto di esplodere per poi svilupparsi chissà come. Solo che non c'è nient'altro che deve succedere.
Batman è un cavaliere oscuro bidimensionale e privo di sfaccettature, un protagonista scialbo attorno al quale non si sviluppano reali tenebre ma solo una narrazione che va dal punto A al punto B senza emozioni particolari. Il suo nemico, poi, dovrebbe essere spaventoso e inquietante, mentre si rivelerà poco più di una comparsa della quale dimenticarsi in fretta.
Non ci sono veri rapporti in questo libro, non ci sono legami che possano creare empatia con il lettore, non c'è un gancio per trascinarti mentalmente tra le pagine, nelle atmosfere notturne e pericolose di Gotham, o magari seduto di fianco all'uomo pipistrello in persona nella sua mirabolante Batmobile.
Quello che c'è, a mio parere, è lo sfruttamento del nome di un'icona, una trovata forse di marketing o magari figlia di una reale passione dell'autore, ma che, per quanto mi riguarda, non ha colpito nel segno.
E dire che io sarei solo contento di vedere il caro vecchio Bruce acquisire finalmente lo spessore che merita e venire rappresentato in una trasposizione letteraria o cinematografica degna, ma in tempi recenti stanno arrivando più che altro delusioni.
Tocca aspettare.
Volendo essere concisi si può dire che questo "La lunga strada della vendetta" non è un brutto libro in sé, ma è comunque abbastanza deludente.
La trama procede seguendo una specie di indagine che però viene portata avanti con un'asciuttezza che rende il tutto un po' piatto, all'apparenza secondario, quasi che ci fosse qualcosa di molto più importante in procinto di esplodere per poi svilupparsi chissà come. Solo che non c'è nient'altro che deve succedere.
Batman è un cavaliere oscuro bidimensionale e privo di sfaccettature, un protagonista scialbo attorno al quale non si sviluppano reali tenebre ma solo una narrazione che va dal punto A al punto B senza emozioni particolari. Il suo nemico, poi, dovrebbe essere spaventoso e inquietante, mentre si rivelerà poco più di una comparsa della quale dimenticarsi in fretta.
Non ci sono veri rapporti in questo libro, non ci sono legami che possano creare empatia con il lettore, non c'è un gancio per trascinarti mentalmente tra le pagine, nelle atmosfere notturne e pericolose di Gotham, o magari seduto di fianco all'uomo pipistrello in persona nella sua mirabolante Batmobile.
Quello che c'è, a mio parere, è lo sfruttamento del nome di un'icona, una trovata forse di marketing o magari figlia di una reale passione dell'autore, ma che, per quanto mi riguarda, non ha colpito nel segno.
E dire che io sarei solo contento di vedere il caro vecchio Bruce acquisire finalmente lo spessore che merita e venire rappresentato in una trasposizione letteraria o cinematografica degna, ma in tempi recenti stanno arrivando più che altro delusioni.
Tocca aspettare.
December 14, 2020
Voglio bene a Joe Lansdale quasi come un secondo papà, ma devo confessare che questo libro non mi ha catturato come al solito. L'idea è buona, partorita dalla sua mente geniale. Una storia di quel supereroe che conosciamo tutti, che è Batman, molto interiorizzato, con la sua vita, i suoi dubbi, le sue preoccupazioni, il suo pessimismo che alla fine viene forse temporaneamente sconfitto perché il Bene vince sul Male, grazie a lui.
La storia ha quella dose di splatter-surrealtà che piace tanto a Joe; in questo caso non l'ho apprezzata particolarmente, ma non significa che sia stato un brutto libro. Leggere Lansdale è come giocare una partita di calcio partendo avanti 2-0. Voto: 6.
La storia ha quella dose di splatter-surrealtà che piace tanto a Joe; in questo caso non l'ho apprezzata particolarmente, ma non significa che sia stato un brutto libro. Leggere Lansdale è come giocare una partita di calcio partendo avanti 2-0. Voto: 6.
May 19, 2022
The best book you'll ever read about a man dressed as a bat fighting a Were-car.
A story that could ONLY work under the pen of Joe R. Lansdale.
A book that teeters upon a tightrope of bleakness and hope. Whilst adding a perfect dash of humour. The kills are suitably gnarly and many are incredibly mean spirited (the book opens with a dude being beaten by his own severed leg) but I still somehow left this book feeling hopeful?
The Native American Mysticism elements DO not age particularly well but Lansdale is TOO good a writer to let it delve into being too offensive.
I don't know what I expected picking up this book, but I'm glad I did.
A story that could ONLY work under the pen of Joe R. Lansdale.
A book that teeters upon a tightrope of bleakness and hope. Whilst adding a perfect dash of humour. The kills are suitably gnarly and many are incredibly mean spirited (the book opens with a dude being beaten by his own severed leg) but I still somehow left this book feeling hopeful?
The Native American Mysticism elements DO not age particularly well but Lansdale is TOO good a writer to let it delve into being too offensive.
I don't know what I expected picking up this book, but I'm glad I did.
January 9, 2021
Very interesting crime novel. Great details and characters. Never really felt like a Batman story however.
Besides the crimes taking place the beginning is a little slow, however, the background and story points/relevance makes more sense towards the end. Story picks up pace as Batman becomes more involved with the story.
Wasnt completely sold on the supernatural/magical elements of the story. Would have rather had a non magical explanation for why/how things were happening.
All is all was still a fun read.
Besides the crimes taking place the beginning is a little slow, however, the background and story points/relevance makes more sense towards the end. Story picks up pace as Batman becomes more involved with the story.
Wasnt completely sold on the supernatural/magical elements of the story. Would have rather had a non magical explanation for why/how things were happening.
All is all was still a fun read.
July 14, 2024
Lansdale questa volta inserisce Batman come protagonista e ancora una volta fa centro.
Un Batman un po' tormentato e molto dark, si trova alle prese con i misteri delle tradizioni indiane e strane auto che paiono prendere vita.
Fumettistico e cinematografico assieme, si legge con grande piacere (grazie Davide!).
Un Batman un po' tormentato e molto dark, si trova alle prese con i misteri delle tradizioni indiane e strane auto che paiono prendere vita.
Fumettistico e cinematografico assieme, si legge con grande piacere (grazie Davide!).
July 16, 2021
Huh. Well, it's certainly a Joe R. Lansdale story. Not much of a Batman one, though. And, actually, the most interesting parts are the ones without him, so take that as you will. Weird. So, if you want to read it, read it as a Lansdale book that occasionally has a Batman-like character show up.
February 21, 2025
Pretty weak considering it's by Lansdale.
April 16, 2020
book 17
May 3, 2016
Premessa: di solito non amo i supereroi, troppo tormentati e autoreferenziali per piacermi. Ho scelto questo libro per l’obiettivo di una challenge, e perché di Lansdale leggerei anche la lista della spesa, e sono felicissima di averlo fatto. Lansdale ha scritto un romanzo su Batman (anche se il vero protagonista, a mio parere, è Viso Pallido) con la maestria che lo contraddistingue, dando sì all’uomo pipistrello una connotazione di personaggio irrisolto e oscuro, ma dotandolo anche di quel pizzico di ironia che nei fumetti e nei film purtroppo (a mio parere) manca. Lo scrittore texano ha come sempre uno stile eccezionale, ricco e denso come la melassa ma per nulla stucchevole, ed è proprio bravo a raccontare storie. Le parti horror in questo libro non hanno nulla da invidiare al grande Stephen King, le descrizioni della Thunderbird sono impareggiabili e anche il personaggio del maggiordomo Alfred acquista uno spessore solo accennato nelle altre produzioni che hanno Batman come protagonista.
Verso la fine, nonostante Batman sia pur sempre “il cavaliere oscuro”, c’è anche un po’ di spazio per la speranza:
“ma forse non importa che fine faremo. Quel che conta è come ci arriviamo e cosa facciamo per rendere il viaggio migliore per noi e per gli altri”.
Grandissimo Lansdale, anche questa volta un romanzo che mi rimarrà nel cuore.
Verso la fine, nonostante Batman sia pur sempre “il cavaliere oscuro”, c’è anche un po’ di spazio per la speranza:
“ma forse non importa che fine faremo. Quel che conta è come ci arriviamo e cosa facciamo per rendere il viaggio migliore per noi e per gli altri”.
Grandissimo Lansdale, anche questa volta un romanzo che mi rimarrà nel cuore.
September 29, 2016
First...what's first. Oh yes, the title. Completely inappropriate for the story as Batman is never captured in this book at all. Even metaphorically it's weak as Batman gets pulled into the case by Gordon not by his own intrigue.
This 240 page book has a lot of blank pages and filler pages where he divides the book into sections. 35 of them to be exact (yes, I counted). That makes this book actually 205 pages and a fairly quick read.
I didn't enjoy reading the introspection, especially of Bruce Wayne/Batman. It seemed too forced. Information that the author wanted the reader to have, but didn't have a good way of delivering. Then the author tended to go on and on, especially about the thought process of people who were about to die. It was semi-irrelevant to the story and seemed mostly there to try and add depths to what is ultimately a piece of fluff fiction. Maybe it was also there to add length.
Mostly, I had trouble suspending my disbelief and the classic Batman characters never felt authentic to me. Plus, Batman is barely in the book. The car metaphors and section titles didn't really add anything for me. Maybe that's because I'm not a car person. Not the quick batman novel I was hoping for.
This 240 page book has a lot of blank pages and filler pages where he divides the book into sections. 35 of them to be exact (yes, I counted). That makes this book actually 205 pages and a fairly quick read.
I didn't enjoy reading the introspection, especially of Bruce Wayne/Batman. It seemed too forced. Information that the author wanted the reader to have, but didn't have a good way of delivering. Then the author tended to go on and on, especially about the thought process of people who were about to die. It was semi-irrelevant to the story and seemed mostly there to try and add depths to what is ultimately a piece of fluff fiction. Maybe it was also there to add length.
Mostly, I had trouble suspending my disbelief and the classic Batman characters never felt authentic to me. Plus, Batman is barely in the book. The car metaphors and section titles didn't really add anything for me. Maybe that's because I'm not a car person. Not the quick batman novel I was hoping for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2017
Divertissement alla Lansdale
Da bambino Batman mi pareva un simpatico ometto con la panzetta e con un amico dal costume buffo. I due, per loro buona sorte, dovevano combattere dei cattivi che non erano più che semplici buontemponi.
L'origine di questa visione farsesca di colui che oggi viene conosciuto come il "Cavaliere Oscuro" (no, non quello che "...mi consenta") è stata data senz'altro dal telefilm degli anni sessanta con Adam West.
Ecco, se la sceneggiatura di quei telefilm fosse stata curata da Big Joe avrei passato molte notti insonni e Batman sarebbe diventato il difensore dei miei incubi.
Detto ciò, "La lunga strada della vendetta" è per stessa ammissione di Lansdale un divertissement. Lui s'è divertito a scriverlo, io a leggerlo.
Da bambino Batman mi pareva un simpatico ometto con la panzetta e con un amico dal costume buffo. I due, per loro buona sorte, dovevano combattere dei cattivi che non erano più che semplici buontemponi.
L'origine di questa visione farsesca di colui che oggi viene conosciuto come il "Cavaliere Oscuro" (no, non quello che "...mi consenta") è stata data senz'altro dal telefilm degli anni sessanta con Adam West.
Ecco, se la sceneggiatura di quei telefilm fosse stata curata da Big Joe avrei passato molte notti insonni e Batman sarebbe diventato il difensore dei miei incubi.
Detto ciò, "La lunga strada della vendetta" è per stessa ammissione di Lansdale un divertissement. Lui s'è divertito a scriverlo, io a leggerlo.
January 22, 2014
Una Thunderbird nera come il peccato - che sembra uscita dritta dall'inferno semina morte, distruzione e terrore. Una piccola riserva indiana e una grande metropoli si ritrovano unite in uno stesso incubo, scaturito da un passato di sopraffazione e violenza. Un cavaliere oscuro vaga nella notte in cerca di giustizia e, forse, di redenzione. Un romanzo di culto, in cui Joe R. Lansdale manifesta tutto il proprio amore per i pulp-magazine, i comics, i cartoni animati di Tex Avery e l'horror da drive in.
February 2, 2020
What happens when Joe R. Lansdale writes a Batman novel? You get a solid noir tale with a mix of crime and horror fiction. Lansdale's descriptions of the murders as well as the aftermath are extremely graphic and disturbing -- as one can expect from Lansdale. Crime and Horror are the two genres that Batman fits into perfectly. This is exactly why Lansdale is the ideal author to pen this kind of tale. If you're looking for a gritty, intense (and even sorta weird) Batman story, this is the book for you.
April 10, 2011
I was excited to read this, being from one of my fav authors, but I did not like it. The villian was stupid, and it needed way more Batman.
Yeah, we get it, Batman is upset about his parents, it haunts him. We don't need our faces rubbed in it everytime we look at something with Batman in it.
Yeah, we get it, Batman is upset about his parents, it haunts him. We don't need our faces rubbed in it everytime we look at something with Batman in it.
February 19, 2013
Uff, avevo letto un po' di recensioni sfavorevoli ma speravo in un abbaglio collettivo :P
Il libro non è decisamente ai livelli soliti di Lansdale... e sinceramente è troooooppo lungo. E poi Batman mi sembra poco acuto (lo so, ho il complesso dell'eroe senza macchia e senza paura).
Il libro non è decisamente ai livelli soliti di Lansdale... e sinceramente è troooooppo lungo. E poi Batman mi sembra poco acuto (lo so, ho il complesso dell'eroe senza macchia e senza paura).
July 10, 2012
Batman+Lansdale=Meraviglia
Se ti dicono che la fanfiction è affare da ragazzine in calore, sogghigna e goditi Joe il Magnifico filare le ombre di Gotham City.
Un grande tributo all'uomo pipistrello e al cuore di fan.
Se ti dicono che la fanfiction è affare da ragazzine in calore, sogghigna e goditi Joe il Magnifico filare le ombre di Gotham City.
Un grande tributo all'uomo pipistrello e al cuore di fan.
June 24, 2009
Batman vs. Guy-that-Transforms-into-a-Car
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2011
landsdale incontra batman ... una leggenda indiana ... un thriller soprannaturale e ovviamente lui l'uomo pipistrello e la sua crociata per salvare l'anima nera di gotham ...
wow ...
wow ...
February 18, 2012
A beautiful perspective of the character's inner lives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews