I've reviewed Sam's books (No Mad and The Book of Eli) before, so I was quite happy to review his latest endeavor, unfortunately, it had to go into the line up, as I had so many book reviews pending, that I just now got to it!
Synopsis: It was the 1950's. The white-hot Cold War was raging between The USA and The USSR. And, in Joseph Stalin's mind, nothing would be quite as hot as assassinating the ultimate symbol of Western machismo culture—the actor John Wayne. Thus, the elite Russian spy squad of Zavert, Boris Gila, Alexei Aleksandra and Ivan Viznapu start on a dangerous and hysterical mission that brings them into contact with the gangsters Mickey Cohen and Johnny Stompanato, the billionaire Howard Hughes, the producer/director Dick Powell, the actress Susan Hayward, countless others, and of course the big man himself—John Wayne.
What transpires is as zany as John Wayne playing a role that was written for Marlon Brando... whoops! That really happened, and the result was “The Conqueror,” which plays a prominent role in To Kill the Duke, Moffie's fifth novel. Brilliantly satiric, the book also captures political duplicity and amorality, which makes it all too relevant to today’s world. The Cold War, more than ready for prime time satire, lets Moffie keep the heat on the establishment and, most of all, those in authority.
Read an Excerpt HERE.
Review: Wow, Sam just writes better and better! I adored The Book of Eli, and really thought he had reached a pinnacle with that book, so I am thrilled to be able to report that with this book, Sam has reached a new level!
Sam came up for the idea for this movie while researching for Nomad, his third book, he came across a Communist commune in New Mexico, and found out about the plans of the assassination plot by Stalin. According to additional research (by another book reviewer, per Moffie), Stalin actually DID send 2 assassins to the US, and that the FBI told Wayne about it, and he had a crew locate them, kidnap them and 'convince' them to return home! Who knew?
He also found out about the nuclear tests in the New Mexico/Utah terrority, and about the filming of "The Conqueror", in the area. I've seen the movie- it's pretty bad (you can see for yourself HERE) , but had no idea about the facts behind it. The St George area was downwind from the nuclear testing grounds, and pretty much in the 'we want to know what happens" zone. In fact, Howard Hughes bought the land in Utah from the U.S. government for $1, to film the movie on. The old adage of 'if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" comes to mind...
91 of the 220 cast members (behind and in front of the cameras) developed cancer after the filming. That's over 40%. That included Wayne himself, Susan Hayward, Agnes Morehead (of later Bewitched fame) and Dick Powell (the director). Think about that for a second! Now think about this: Howard Hughes had 60 tons (that's multiple truckloads) of the uniquely colored sand taken back to RKO (his movie studio) for post-production shots, and to this day no one knows exactly what happened to it. Scary, huh?
Sam has taken the actual facts and fleshed them out with fiction, of how he thinks may have played out. I kept picking up my smart phone and checking the web as I was reading the book, as I just could NOT believe that there was so my much REAL FACTS in the book
I am thrilled to find out that the book has already been optioned for a movie! I can't wait to see who they will pick to play John Wayne or Howard Hughes!
And now before we get to the giveaway, I want to share a recipe that is a key point in the book (but Sam never divulges all the way)- it's perfect for a Summer cool down, and can be made into an alcoholic drink, by mixing Vodka to the mix!
Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge, from the author himself, for review purposes. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.
Synopsis: It was the 1950's. The white-hot Cold War was raging between The USA and The USSR. And, in Joseph Stalin's mind, nothing would be quite as hot as assassinating the ultimate symbol of Western machismo culture—the actor John Wayne. Thus, the elite Russian spy squad of Zavert, Boris Gila, Alexei Aleksandra and Ivan Viznapu start on a dangerous and hysterical mission that brings them into contact with the gangsters Mickey Cohen and Johnny Stompanato, the billionaire Howard Hughes, the producer/director Dick Powell, the actress Susan Hayward, countless others, and of course the big man himself—John Wayne.
What transpires is as zany as John Wayne playing a role that was written for Marlon Brando... whoops! That really happened, and the result was “The Conqueror,” which plays a prominent role in To Kill the Duke, Moffie's fifth novel. Brilliantly satiric, the book also captures political duplicity and amorality, which makes it all too relevant to today’s world. The Cold War, more than ready for prime time satire, lets Moffie keep the heat on the establishment and, most of all, those in authority.
Read an Excerpt HERE.
Review: Wow, Sam just writes better and better! I adored The Book of Eli, and really thought he had reached a pinnacle with that book, so I am thrilled to be able to report that with this book, Sam has reached a new level!
Sam came up for the idea for this movie while researching for Nomad, his third book, he came across a Communist commune in New Mexico, and found out about the plans of the assassination plot by Stalin. According to additional research (by another book reviewer, per Moffie), Stalin actually DID send 2 assassins to the US, and that the FBI told Wayne about it, and he had a crew locate them, kidnap them and 'convince' them to return home! Who knew?
He also found out about the nuclear tests in the New Mexico/Utah terrority, and about the filming of "The Conqueror", in the area. I've seen the movie- it's pretty bad (you can see for yourself HERE) , but had no idea about the facts behind it. The St George area was downwind from the nuclear testing grounds, and pretty much in the 'we want to know what happens" zone. In fact, Howard Hughes bought the land in Utah from the U.S. government for $1, to film the movie on. The old adage of 'if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" comes to mind...
91 of the 220 cast members (behind and in front of the cameras) developed cancer after the filming. That's over 40%. That included Wayne himself, Susan Hayward, Agnes Morehead (of later Bewitched fame) and Dick Powell (the director). Think about that for a second! Now think about this: Howard Hughes had 60 tons (that's multiple truckloads) of the uniquely colored sand taken back to RKO (his movie studio) for post-production shots, and to this day no one knows exactly what happened to it. Scary, huh?
Sam has taken the actual facts and fleshed them out with fiction, of how he thinks may have played out. I kept picking up my smart phone and checking the web as I was reading the book, as I just could NOT believe that there was so my much REAL FACTS in the book
I am thrilled to find out that the book has already been optioned for a movie! I can't wait to see who they will pick to play John Wayne or Howard Hughes!
And now before we get to the giveaway, I want to share a recipe that is a key point in the book (but Sam never divulges all the way)- it's perfect for a Summer cool down, and can be made into an alcoholic drink, by mixing Vodka to the mix!
- Raspberry Lime Rickeys
- Ingredients:
- 12 oz raspberry syrup (such as Torani brand)
- Juice of 8 large limes
- 32 oz chilled club soda
- Lime wedges
- Vodka or Gin- for alcoholic adult version
- Instructions:
- 1. Fill a large pitcher or 8 highball glasses with ice.
- 2. Pour 12 oz. raspberry syrup (such as Torani brand) and juice of 8 large limes over ice, then top with 32 oz. chilled club soda.
- 3. Stir to mix, and garnish with lime wedges. For the adult version, add 1 oz. gin or vodka to each glass. Serves 8.
- About the Author: Sam Moffie was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in 2006 (and sustained 12 broken bones!). But Sam isn’t one to wallow in self pity (having worked around being deaf in one ear since childhood). As he recuperated, his long-held dream of becoming a fiction writer started percolating in his brain. Not having much to do, he decided to test the publishing waters by sending out the first 20 pages of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Breakfast of Champions” to a variety of the top houses around. Every single publisher rejected it, and only Vonnegut’s own publisher recognized it
- Realizing that his personal brand of social satire, humor and quirkiness would also land in the slush pile, he decided to self publish, and he hasn’t looked back as every single book he’s written has won awards, and he has garnered thousands of fans. He has 5 kids and 3 grandkids, between his and his wife's!
Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge, from the author himself, for review purposes. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.
Leslie Loves Veggies has an Indulge in Summer Beauty at Sephora! post
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
I loved the book. You have no idea how much truth he mixed with fiction. I know cause I worked on that movie. My only regret is that we never performed sand skiing. If we had only known. He was so "right on" many things regarding the movie and the people I call it a "fun ride" and I'm glad you reviewed it.
ReplyDeleteJack Young
Thanks for the great comment Jack!
DeleteIt is a huge honor to have you stop in today and read our review! You are a legend and I can imagine you guys would have had a BLAST doing the sand skiing!
On Make Ahead Meals / Culinary Do Over: Tiramisu.
ReplyDelete