The Cannonball Run

by Michael Avallone

It's Reckless!
It's Illegal!
...and it really happened!

The Cannonball Run

206 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1981

About the author

Also wrote Nick Carter: Killmaster series under Nick Carter alias with others

Michael Angelo Avallone was a prolific American author of mystery and secret agent fiction, and novelizations based on TV and films. He claimed a lifetime output over 1,000 works, including novels, short stories, articles, published under his own name or 17+ pseudonyms.
His first novel, The Tall Dolores 1953 introduced Ed Noon PI. After three dozen more, the most recent was 1989. The final volume, "Since Noon Yesterday" is, as of 2005, unpublished.
Tie-ins included Man from U.N.C.L.E., Hawaii Five-0, Mannix, Friday the 13th Part III, Beneath the Planet of the Apes and even The Partridge Family. In late 1960s novellas featured U.N.C.L.E.-like INTREX. He is sometimes cited incorrectly as the creator of Man from U.N.C.L.E. (as in the January 1967 issue of The Saint Magazine), or having died March 1.
As Troy Conway, Rod Damon: The Coxeman novel series 1967-73, parodied Man from UNCLE. An unusual entry was the novelization of the 1982 TV mini-series, A Woman Called Golda, the life of Golda Meir.
Among the many pseudonyms that Michael Avallone used (male and female) were: Mile Avalione, Mike Avalone, Nick Carter, Troy Conway, Priscilla Dalton, Mark Dane, Jeanne-Anne dePre, Dora Highland, Stuart Jason, Steve Michaels, Dorothea Nile, Edwina Noone, John Patrick, Vance Stanton, Sidney Stuart, Max Walker, and Lee Davis Willoughby.
From 1962-5, Avallone edited the Mystery Writers of America newsletter. Personal Life:
He married 1949 Lucille Asero (one son; marriage dissolved), 1960 Fran Weinstein (one son, one daughter); died Los Angeles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_...
http://www.thrillingdetective.com/tri...

Reviews

[Kryptonian Fletch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novelization seems to have been written based on an early shooting script.

You can see where several scripted scenes were altered for logistic purposes (the scene is great on paper... but too expense to shoot)... And you can see where the actors adlibbed on-set and improved their lines ... if the film had been produced as scripted, it would have been far less funny.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once in awhile, a film comes along that sets new standards in film entertainment....and sadly Cannonball Run was it.
Not a bad film, mind you, but...
We'll put it this way, it had stars like Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin, Jackie Chan and Jack Elam. Other than that, it was a great film! (LoL)
And yes I love Roger Moore, 007 or otherwise. So haters beware!
And who better to craft the novelization of TCR than Michael Avallone, who back in the day was one of the go to guys for translating corny TV shows and movies into literary gems... somewhat.
With the passing recently of Burt Reynolds, the movie is rarely seen anymore, even on streaming services, which can be a blessing for some in this day and age. But back in 81, it was wildly popular, like a lot of Burt's movies. It shares the same director as Burt's Smokey and the Bandit, Hal Needham, and shares similarities in humor and the passion for cars, and the many way you can get em to flip, crash, explode, you name it.
In this one, JJ McClure is a race legend, and a hit with the ladies (Burt to a T!) His best buddy/biggest headache is Victor, big good hearted Victor with no last name, who often goes into a mentally ill state and becomes his alter ego, Captain Chaos, a hero he made up when teased as a child. His genius at fixing engines and love of adventure is what binds Vic to JJ, and the two are a perfect team, like Abbott and Costello With a Vengeance! They take part in the ultimate automotive showdown, The Cannonball Run, which will cross several states to get from Connecticut to Redondo Beach California, no speed limitations, no brakes, any type of vehicle can be used, and the one who makes it first in the least amount of time is the winner. The odds against JJ are not that great: other contestants include two hot girls in a Lamborghini, an Englishman Jewish actor who's the spitting image of THE Roger Moore, a total drunk and his black sidekick dressed like Catholic priests, a tree obsessive blonde, two Japanese guys in a Subaru, and they have everyone from the Fuzz to Polish drivers to even Hell's Angels trying to stop em from even racing, and legendary Jimmy the Greek Snyder himself betting against pretty much all of em, including especially the so called Reverend's.
It's enough to make for a mad mad mad mad world, only that much madder! It'll make Around the World in 80 Days seem like a short trip! And those Daring Men in their Flying Machines.... WHAT FLYING MACHINES???
Hopefully you'll see where I'm going with the above references to other epic race movies.
Even the one about the Chariots of Fire...a mere foot race compared to The Cannonball Run, and the cannonballs are loaded with a lotta saltpeter.
Yeah. We know. That's what SHE SAID!
Anyway, it's a fun novel to a fun film and not to be taken too seriously. Since no one takes Burt Reynolds seriously as an actor anyway!!! Boom!
Three stars
The Cannonball "Runs Smooth!!!"

[Bryson McCheeseburger · Rating 1 out of 5]

Other than making you want to watch the movie, this novelization was more like a book report by a 5th grader recapping the movie they just saw. It's missing the humor, the characters and the beef of the actual race, just centering on the actions and speeches of the characters. It's almost like the race barely happens. I've read novelizations of movies before, but this one is pretty much bottom of the barrel writing. Just watch the movie.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

I'm finally going through my physical tv, film etc. tie in library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per series (etc.) and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)


First time read the author's work?: N/A

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Eric Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent novelization, if only for those that enjoy the film. Book is more dialogue heavy, which detracts from the action and racing.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of caricatures race across the United States to win a race. fun, includes B/W photos from the movie.

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written from the script of a not-very-good movie.