THE PUTT AT THE END OF THE WORLD

by Lee K. Abbott

There's a great tradition of golf fiction, stretching from P.G. Wodehouse's Edwardian follies to John Updike's narrative birdies and chip shots. The Putt at the End of the World is a worthy addition to the canon, in spite of the fact (or because of the fact) that it's a team effort. Nine authors, including such worthies as Dave Barry, Tami Hoag, Tim O'Brien, Lee K. Abbott, and Les Standiford, have contributed chapters to this farcical thriller. The premise, which is less wacky than it initially seems, involves a software tycoon named Phillip Bates, who's built a deluxe golf course north of Edinburgh. To kick things off he convenes a celebrity invitational, and draws not only a clutch of world-class hackers but several terrorists, counterterrorists, and what appear to be counter-counterterrorists. Clearly there's more at stake here than a mere 18 holes. Slapped together by one author after another, the crazy plot is surprisingly consistent. Yet the contributors have made no effort to disguise their individual styles, which range from Barry's potty-mouthed slapstick to Richard Bausch's tonier stuff to James Crumley's pulp fiction. Indeed, this shift in tone is one of the book's great pleasures. So is the sex and satire, if not necessarily in that order. Still, the ultimate reason to read The Putt at the End of the World is for its strange-but-true evocation of the game itself. Here's Tim O'Brien's take on a ball with a mind of its

For the first thirty feet, the old Titlist did not touch the earth, heading for orbit, engines roaring, but then suddenly the rain and wind and fog forced a scrubbed mission. Gravity reasserted itself. By pure chance--a miracle, some would call it--the ball dropped heavily onto the green, not five feet from the cup.... It caught a sidehill slope. It wobbled off line for a second, then straightened out and continued its erratic pilgrimage toward destiny.

Fictionally speaking, at least, that's what we call a hole in one. --William Davies

Genres: Fiction, Sports

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[LaRae · Rating 1 out of 5]

So sorry I wasted the time to read this. (Chosen to fulfill a prompt in a reading challenge.). As a lover of golf and Scotland, I was intrigued to read an author compilation. This book was disjointed, ridiculous and at times completely confusing. One good thing.....it’s over.

[Alvin Huston · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really can't think of a single good thing to say about this book.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating concept. Sad mess. Disappointed

[Vianey Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book came to me inside a box of things (including other books) that a cousin gave to me.
Brand new, with the dust jacket still intact. Didn't look like it had been read before.

Now I know why.

Not all of the book is entirely awful, as some of the author's really pulled their weight and made their chapters interesting even though the story in general couldn't be fixed.
By the time it got to the skilled authors it was already doomed, with insane characters and a ridiculous plot.

There is this chapter, however, and I won't even go back to check on the name of the author, that has to be one of the worst published works I've read so far.
The guy who wrote the chapter with "El Puma" was so annoyingly pretentious that he focused more in adding flamboyant words than in actually making sense.

Never forget this iconic conversation:

"He is Cantinflas."

"And you are Cortes."

This book will go straight to the bin after reading.

[Kelsey Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

The authors jump around too much for most peoples taste in reading as well as use too many unneeded and normally unknown words that take away from the story instead of adding to it. This book is not one that I will be keeping on my book shelf. It will be going back to the thrift shop where I found it and where it honestly belongs.

[Brannon O'Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's correct, I did once read this entire book just so I could read the one chapter written by Dave Barry.

[William Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mélange

Hodgepodge of various authors trying to outdo each other in a single narrative. Results were irregular.

Parts were quite funny. Other parts just odd.

[Janis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very silly and hard too follow.

[Christl R. Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. Very long and not to funny.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if this quite lived up to the reread. There is quite a bit of golf - and thank goodness I had a golf unit in high school PE - and there are an awful lot of characters. But the second half, give or take, is interesting and degenerates into just plain silly. It's a fun read, and I'll forgive the goofiness because c'mon, it was written by nine different authors!

For anyone who liked this - or wanted to like it - I definitely recommend Christopher Brookmyre. Goofy hijinks, fair share of action, twisted sense of humor. Check him out!

[Timothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested in the concept, each chapter written by a different author, but they kept killing off and reviving characters all the time it was nonsense. After the first couple chapters most of the story was thinly veiled sexual innuendo and raunchy jokes.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rousing yarn of a golf story from a dozen top writers. Neat idea and a must for any golfer...although there is a bit of sex to wade through.

[Cwilson466 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, my only disappointment was how long it took to get to the good stuff. I almost stopped reading it at the beginning because of the golf stuff. Glad I stuck with it.

[J.C.]

Read about 100 pages. Too many characters. Not enough story. Should have been funnier.

[W Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, probably because of the multiple authors.