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The Big Brain #2
The Beelzebub business
WHAT GOOD IS A BILLION-DOLLAR BRAIN WHEN THERE'S THE DEVIL TO PAY?
It's hell on earth for Colin Garrett-the Big Brain-when an assignment to investigate the President's chief advisor on foreign affairs leads him to the Beelzebub Club. The elite club is a haven of sex and Satanism for Senators and other Washington headliners; it may also be a front for undesirable political activists. Garrett's Big Brain usually functions faster than a computer, allowing him to probe men's minds and read their thoughts. But now a deadly, impenetrable mind shield, wielded by Beelzebub, has Garrett almost helpless in a masterful duel of brain waves. Because if just one circuit shorts, it will blow out the Big Brain forever!
It's hell on earth for Colin Garrett-the Big Brain-when an assignment to investigate the President's chief advisor on foreign affairs leads him to the Beelzebub Club. The elite club is a haven of sex and Satanism for Senators and other Washington headliners; it may also be a front for undesirable political activists. Garrett's Big Brain usually functions faster than a computer, allowing him to probe men's minds and read their thoughts. But now a deadly, impenetrable mind shield, wielded by Beelzebub, has Garrett almost helpless in a masterful duel of brain waves. Because if just one circuit shorts, it will blow out the Big Brain forever!
159 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 1976
28 people want to read
About the author
Gary Brandner
91 books112 followersGary Phil Brandner (May 31, 1930 – September 22, 2013) was an American horror author best known for his werewolf themed trilogy of novels, The Howling. The first book in the series was loosely adapted as a motion picture in 1981. Brandner's second and third Howling novels, published in 1979 and 1985 respectively, have no connection to the film series, though he was involved in writing the screenplay for the second Howling film, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf. The fourth film in the Howling series, Howling IV: The Original Nightmare, is actually the closest adaptation of Brandner's original novel, though this too varies to some degree.
Brandner's novel Walkers was adapted and filmed for television as From The Dead Of Night. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1988 horror film Cameron's Closet.
Born in the Midwest and much traveled during his formative years, Brandner published more than 30 novels, over 100 short stories, and also wrote a handful of screenplays. He attended college at the University of Washington where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. After graduating in 1955, he worked as an amateur boxer, bartender, surveyor, loan company investigator, advertising copywriter, and technical writer before turning to fiction writing. Brandner lived with his wife, Martine Wood Brandner, and several cats in Reno, Nevada.
He died of esophageal cancer in 2013.
Brandner's novel Walkers was adapted and filmed for television as From The Dead Of Night. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1988 horror film Cameron's Closet.
Born in the Midwest and much traveled during his formative years, Brandner published more than 30 novels, over 100 short stories, and also wrote a handful of screenplays. He attended college at the University of Washington where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. After graduating in 1955, he worked as an amateur boxer, bartender, surveyor, loan company investigator, advertising copywriter, and technical writer before turning to fiction writing. Brandner lived with his wife, Martine Wood Brandner, and several cats in Reno, Nevada.
He died of esophageal cancer in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 13, 2017
Book two was much better than book one. Once we find out that The Big Brain's head is not transparent, and we can not see his brain. The back story is done and dusted, we can get on with the action. The Brain takes a job in Washington D.C. to find out why an important man close to the president is acting a bit odd. It centers around The Beelzebub, a private club for politicians and others to let there hair down and go a little wild. Much intrigue follows.
This book from Gary "Howling" Brandner has all the trappings of the 70's camp novel. Sex, action and sketchy characters abound. It's sad to think this series only made it to three books than went away. Worth the effort to track it down.
This book from Gary "Howling" Brandner has all the trappings of the 70's camp novel. Sex, action and sketchy characters abound. It's sad to think this series only made it to three books than went away. Worth the effort to track it down.
June 3, 2019
I ended my review of the first Big Brain novel with these fateful words: "The best thing about it (other than the cover, natch) is that it is blessedly short. Though I assume there is a Big Brain #2, I won't be seeking it out."
Yet, reader, here I am. I, in fact, did seek it out. I cannot control my impulse to finish what I have begun, no matter how little enjoyment I actually get out of it.
This book is very similar to the first entry in the series. It's best features are again the batshit cover and the brevity of the book. As the other reviewer here notes, it's absolutely great the covers of these books depict the main character as having a translucent skull so as to emphasize his large brain, while the actual story has no such thing.
I also enjoyed that there are two separate occasions of characters in the book saying something to the effect of "Let's get to the bottom of this Beelzebub business."
Overall, it's quite a breezy read, and its 1970s origins are certainly shown by the abominable way women characters are treated. Have to say, I could have used a lot more actual Beelzebub business, since we really only get one scene of it right at the start of the novel.
I don't know. I guess I could complain about stuff like how his supposed Big Brain really doesn't help him seem any smarter than the other characters, but somehow does allow him to essentially read minds, or how we again are treated for no apparent reason to a bunch of talk about how his eyes change colors when he thinks hard, but it's sort of missing the point.
This book isn't designed for serious deconstruction; it's designed for 19 year-old boys in 1975. If that sounds like a space you want to put yourself in, then here's your gateway.
Yet, reader, here I am. I, in fact, did seek it out. I cannot control my impulse to finish what I have begun, no matter how little enjoyment I actually get out of it.
This book is very similar to the first entry in the series. It's best features are again the batshit cover and the brevity of the book. As the other reviewer here notes, it's absolutely great the covers of these books depict the main character as having a translucent skull so as to emphasize his large brain, while the actual story has no such thing.
I also enjoyed that there are two separate occasions of characters in the book saying something to the effect of "Let's get to the bottom of this Beelzebub business."
Overall, it's quite a breezy read, and its 1970s origins are certainly shown by the abominable way women characters are treated. Have to say, I could have used a lot more actual Beelzebub business, since we really only get one scene of it right at the start of the novel.
I don't know. I guess I could complain about stuff like how his supposed Big Brain really doesn't help him seem any smarter than the other characters, but somehow does allow him to essentially read minds, or how we again are treated for no apparent reason to a bunch of talk about how his eyes change colors when he thinks hard, but it's sort of missing the point.
This book isn't designed for serious deconstruction; it's designed for 19 year-old boys in 1975. If that sounds like a space you want to put yourself in, then here's your gateway.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews