With Monty Python's Flying Circus, Eric Idle proved he was one of the funniest people in the world. And with The Road to Mars he reaf...
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Jul 02, 2007
Love Monty Python? Searching for a new outlet of hilarity and amusement? Conveniently forgetting that Eric Idle’s urine drinking skit was so bad even John Cleese canned it? The Road to Mars heartily reminds you that even the greatest of comedians can write absolute trash.
This book has got to be one of the worst books ever printed. Touted as a comedy, the book slowly but surely develops into a snowball of murder, death and mayhem.
Fun right? No, not in the least. Every More...
This book has got to be one of the worst books ever printed. Touted as a comedy, the book slowly but surely develops into a snowball of murder, death and mayhem.
Fun right? No, not in the least. Every More...
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Jan 02, 2012
Matthew
rated it: 
I really liked this book because it was fun and also a good science fiction novel. Most sci-fi novels seem to use the framework to examine some deep philosophical subject like humanity or love or freedom. This is the first one that I've read that used that framework to examine humor. There are a lot of interesting insights from someone who can legitimately be called an expert on the subject, which is probably more than most sci-fi authors can say. This book unraveled at the end though. The
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May 14, 2007
Josh
rated it: 
Great book! Bought it without it's cover jacket at Goodwill guessing it was a satirical look at the politics of Mars Exploration. Ended up loving it for an entirely different reason. This book does it's best to define comedy and what makes us laugh, while at the same time telling a pillow-hugging story about a futuristic space adventure.
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Sep 23, 2010
Amy
rated it: 
The robot's name is Carlton. I had to pick it up.
Actual review (9/23/10): Just...no. I was expecting Douglas Adams-style light sci-fi and humor, but Idle's tone is all over the place here. There's a robot writing a dissertation on comedy, and a bunch of sub-Catskills comedians, and Idle's own theories about comedy (which seem borrowed and not terribly insightful), and Idle's theories about women (which are kind of appalling*), but then also murders, conspiracies, and dog defenestrat More...
Actual review (9/23/10): Just...no. I was expecting Douglas Adams-style light sci-fi and humor, but Idle's tone is all over the place here. There's a robot writing a dissertation on comedy, and a bunch of sub-Catskills comedians, and Idle's own theories about comedy (which seem borrowed and not terribly insightful), and Idle's theories about women (which are kind of appalling*), but then also murders, conspiracies, and dog defenestrat More...
Aug 05, 2011
i bought this book years ago when i saw it on sale at a reject type shop. seeing it was written by eric idle i just had to purchase it. over they years i have tried a couple of times to get through it, but have always stopped halfway through the fault of other distractions. so i forced myself to finally finish it this time, and discovered it is a pretty interesting book, and while the main plot of the sci-fi future of robots, spaceships, travelling comedians and terrorist plots was fun enough, i
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Nov 06, 2007
Shayna
rated it:
This is just a funny book. Anyone who likes that dry Brit homour should pick it up.
Plus Eric Idle signed my copy, so it's even better.
Plus Eric Idle signed my copy, so it's even better.
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Dec 16, 2009
Andrew
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This is a great sci-fi novel written by Monty Pythons Eric Idle. It's very well written.
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Jan 09, 2012
Peter
rated it:
Oh... I seem to be rating a lot of books five stars, but this one really deserves it, especially as it is underrated by so many others.
If you like Monty Python, or if you've ever watched an episode of Red Dwarf, then you'll be in stitches of laughter with this book. It doesn't poll that well on the Amazon reviews, but I think it's because the dry British humour doesn't come across as well on the printed page. If you can vocalise the cast of Monty Python in your head or Lister, Rimmer a More...
If you like Monty Python, or if you've ever watched an episode of Red Dwarf, then you'll be in stitches of laughter with this book. It doesn't poll that well on the Amazon reviews, but I think it's because the dry British humour doesn't come across as well on the printed page. If you can vocalise the cast of Monty Python in your head or Lister, Rimmer a More...
Nov 16, 2008
Pedro
rated it:
Carlton é um andróide, modelo Bowie 4.5, que vive no futuro e que, talvez por trabalhar para dois comediantes, elegeu como objectivo da sua vida a escrita de um tratado sobre a comédia, senão mesmo sobre o riso, qual Henry Bergson, cujo livro nunca li mas cujo fantasma me assombrou, ano após ano nos escaparates da feira do livro, naquele sítio dos livros baratos que te sentes sempre tentado a comprar para depois nunca mais leres. Mas não é uma imitação daquela máquina andrógina, robot que parodi
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Jun 09, 2009
Kristi
rated it: 
The Road to Mars was truly funny -- well written with an extremely clever premise. There were even occasional moments of absolute brilliance, and I laughed out loud many times. However, what sunk this book were the two extremely graphic sex scenes. We're talking blush-and-cringe-and-look-away-in-embarrassment graphic. Not sexy. Not funny. They didn't in any way enhance the book, and I found it disappointing that Idle engaged in such trashy, self-indulgent writing. It's too bad, because the book
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Jul 27, 2011
Emily
rated it:
It's not a *bad* book and maybe I should give it 3 stars instead of 2, except I had much higher hopes given the author. There are definitely some funny parts, and there are also interesting serious parts, but the book kind of felt as if the author didn't know if he was writing comedy or serious science fiction. It's bits of many things, and no one thing consistently, and therefore ultimately left me mostly unsatisfied on all counts.
Apr 05, 2009
Debbie
rated it:
I really must re-read this book at some point, seeing as the last time I read it I was in college (and I've now been working full-time for 8+ years).
Though I can't remember the storyline at all (though after a certain period of time, I can't remember the storyline to any books, which is a good thing when I ever want to re-read them), but I remember laughing, and laughing, and laughing, and not being able to put this down.
Though I can't remember the storyline at all (though after a certain period of time, I can't remember the storyline to any books, which is a good thing when I ever want to re-read them), but I remember laughing, and laughing, and laughing, and not being able to put this down.
Jun 10, 2011
Greg
rated it: 
As one might expect, Idle's discussion of comedy is significantly better than the sci-fi noir humor novel in which he packages it. Good stuff for anyone who thinks deeply about comedy, though it is also worth noting how quickly fake sci-fi (that is, the genre used as a pastiche rather than a vessel for serious thought and world crafting) can seem dated
Feb 12, 2011
Charley
rated it:
Sure the pacing is uneven and some of the jokes border on the corny, but it is its frequent touches of intergalactic existentialism that makes The Road to Mars worth it...cover to cover: "Is there enough dark matter so that the gnawing effect of gravity will eventually pull the Universe backwards, or is there enough laughing matter for levity to escape the restraining pull of gravity and permit the Universe to go on expanding forever. Take your pick. The optimistic, ever-expanding Universe,
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Sep 06, 2009
Alex
rated it:
One of the Monty Python boys gives Douglas Adams a run for his money in this sci-fi comedy gem. Honest to goodness laughs are in store- this one is funny. Why wasn't this book a best-seller?
P.S. Best blurb ever on the cover:
I laughed. I cried. And then I read the book.
- Steve Martin
P.S. Best blurb ever on the cover:
I laughed. I cried. And then I read the book.
- Steve Martin
Oct 29, 2010
Valissa
rated it:
"Ask me the secret of comedy."
"What is the secret of--"
"Timing."
"In a perfect universe 'T.S. Eliot' would be 'toilets' backwards. But it is an imperfect universe. It is flawed. It has tears and holes and big gaps of nothing, and a strange fungus, called life, which begins to grow wherever there is water. So sadly it's only 'toilest' backwards which is not quite so much fun."
"What is the secret of--"
"Timing."
"In a perfect universe 'T.S. Eliot' would be 'toilets' backwards. But it is an imperfect universe. It is flawed. It has tears and holes and big gaps of nothing, and a strange fungus, called life, which begins to grow wherever there is water. So sadly it's only 'toilest' backwards which is not quite so much fun."
Apr 09, 2009
Christopher
rated it:
This book is a sci-fi treatise on the nature of comedy that does not sacrifice thrills and a love to tell an entertaining story.
Comedy has the universal force of "levity" which is the opposing force to gravity, thereby preventing the universe from colapsing on itself.
Comedy has the universal force of "levity" which is the opposing force to gravity, thereby preventing the universe from colapsing on itself.
Aug 22, 2008
The other John
rated it:
Ah, how can I do a capsule review of this book? On the surface, it's the story about two comedians, Muscroft and Ashby, and their robot, Carlton. The team is playing the Circuit--the dozens of clubs in amongst the asteroids, satellites and mining stations between Mars and Saturn. They're looking to make it to the big time, Mars, and finally a lead opens up. Unfortunately, the road to Mars is complicated by terrorists, a disaster and the biggest diva of the solar system. The tale is written (quit
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Oct 14, 2009
Chris
rated it:
Being an avid Monty Python fan, picking up this book was a no-brainer. While it definitely had some Python-esque moments, overall I think it achieved more than that. Eric Idle's humor certainly permeates through this book, but the strength of the novel was its different approach to the sci-fi genre. I also liked his theories based around comedy. For someone who's been in the business for as long as he has, it was definitely fun to see his thoughts on the matter.
Mar 25, 2011
Kate
rated it:
To sum up this book in one word: meh. It took me three months to finish this, so I guess that's the best way to describe it. It has a few small moments, but in between there's a lot of waffle and generally uninteresting rambling.
Nov 29, 2011
Anna
rated it:
as a Sci-Fi story, its a tad weak (needs more Douglas Adams), but the puns are all about! Plus daaaaaaayum obvious John Cleese bits (Lewis is him, at least how know him from Python sketches) Much bitter sarcasm about and all that
May 26, 2009
Bunxena
rated it:
One of my most favourite books. I may be slightly biased because Eric was my favourite Python, but this book always makes me laugh with the absurd situations, the funny dialogue, and the narrator's sharp observations.
Aug 11, 2011
Benedict
rated it:
Well he said it was first written as a feature script in the early 80s... and it certainly feels like a slightly funny Star Wars knock off. Still. Made me laugh a few times.
Jul 29, 2011
Andrew
rated it:
An entertaining read in an interesting format, but I don't think I'l be singing its praises. I did really enjoy the comic analysis and the terribly witty insights.
Jul 30, 2009
Nicole
rated it:
A very creative and engaging book, combining science fiction with a history and philosophy of comedy. Plus a diva. Great fun!
Jan 29, 2012
Alexandra
rated it:
Naja - jemand der sehr gute Sketche schreibt, dessen Talent ist dadurch noch nicht zwangsläufig dazu befähigt, einen ganzen komischen Roman zu tragen.
Die Reise zum Mars ist eine sehr simple Abenteuer SF-Story gespickt mit ein paar wenigen wirklich guten Ideen wie z.B. ein Android, der eine Dissertation über den menschlichen Humor verfasst, oder der Abschleppdienst für Menschen, die ihre Kunden aus jeder Situation herausholen und am Bestimmungsort abgeben (funktioniert vor allem gut More...
Die Reise zum Mars ist eine sehr simple Abenteuer SF-Story gespickt mit ein paar wenigen wirklich guten Ideen wie z.B. ein Android, der eine Dissertation über den menschlichen Humor verfasst, oder der Abschleppdienst für Menschen, die ihre Kunden aus jeder Situation herausholen und am Bestimmungsort abgeben (funktioniert vor allem gut More...
Mar 23, 2011
Renee
rated it:
I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I hadn't started it comparing Eric Idle to Douglas Adams. It was a good book, but I wanted that timing and pacing of Adams, so I was disappointed. It wasn't fair to Mr Idle or his book, I will have to read it again with a fresh perspective.
Dec 17, 2009
Tracey
rated it:
A comedy duo is touring the seamy underside of interstellar vaudeville, while their android attempts to understand the essence of comedy.
While there's some amusing (and true) stuff about the nature of humour [the micropaleontologist that studies the implications of the past 10 min is also amusing:]; the rest of the story is so-so.. IMHO a pale imitation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. More...
While there's some amusing (and true) stuff about the nature of humour [the micropaleontologist that studies the implications of the past 10 min is also amusing:]; the rest of the story is so-so.. IMHO a pale imitation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. More...
Mar 21, 2011
Marfita
rated it:
Overall, I thought it was shaky, but there are some really good bits in it.
