The Suburban Book of the Dead - Armageddon III: The Remake

Armageddon #3

by Robert Rankin

THE SEQUEL TO THE SEQUEL OF THE BOOK THAT PROMPTED SIR TERRY PRATCHETT TO SAY:
“Robert Rankin is a deep-down humourist, one of those rare guys who can always make me laugh”

The final novel in the Armageddon Quartet and arguably the best of the three. Fast, frantic and furiously paced and introducing the now legendary Lazlo Woodbine, 1950’s genre private eye. The host of stars include Harpo/Chico the two headed lovechild, Barry the time-travelling Brussels Sprout, Elvis Presley in his greatest role ever and Rex Mundi, who still bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Harrison Ford.
The action takes place in Presley City, the world’s single surviving metropolis where Rex finds himself trapped only days away from nuclear destruction. The world is not as it should be. The Bible prominently features Elvis. Lazlo Woodbine is convinced that he is the hero of the book and Barry knows for certain that he is! Rex keeps getting mistaken for the Antichrist and this is seriously spoiling his chances of getting his end away with the gorgeous Laura Lynch (played apparently by Lady GaGa!). If you had any questions to ask after reading the first two books in this series, all will be answered in this one. Or if not exactly answered, then not answered.
The Suburban Book of the Dead is a study in controlled chaos and a masterpiece in the genre of Rankin’s own creation, Far-Fetched Fiction, and it is strongly recommended that you read the other two books first to have the remotest chance of understanding what is going on.
The Armageddon Quartet:

Armageddon: The Musical

They Came and Ate Us
Armageddon II: The B-Movie

The Suburban Book of the Dead
Armageddon III: The Remake

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Science Fiction, Comedy, Audiobook, Ebooks

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

"When Robert Rankin embarked upon his writing career in the late 1970s, his ambition was to create an entirely new literary genre, which he named Far-Fetched Fiction. He reasoned that by doing this he could avoid competing with any other living author in any known genre and would be given his own special section in WH Smith."
(from Web Site Story)

Robert Rankin describes himself as a teller of tall tales, a fitting description, assuming that he isn't lying about it. From his early beginnings as a baby in 1949, Robert Rankin has grown into a tall man of some stature. Somewhere along the way he experimented in the writing of books, and found that he could do it rather well. Not being one to light his hide under a bushel, Mister Rankin continues to write fine novels of a humorous science-fictional nature.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the Armageddon trilogy is just like the first two but moreso. If you've read the first two, you know what I mean. If you haven't, why are you starting with the third book of the trilogy? Are you some kind of idiot?

The situations are just as zany, the running gags are even runnier, a lot of familiar faces show up... in fact, the main differences in this volume is that (a) there's not as much Elvis, but still enough that you don't really miss him, and (b) the vast majority of the characters by this point are fully aware they're characters in a book and talk about it in a very meta fashion.

Oh, just read it already.

But start with the first one.

Obviously.

You muppet.

My next book: Flower Fairies of the Summer

[Gillian Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire trilogy within a month, the running gags alone made me want to keep laughing.
Probably not to everyones taste, but if you find him in the least bit funny then all of his books offer you a chance to escape total reality and giggle like a two year old.

[[ J o ] · Rating 4 out of 5]

[to review at a later date - maybe even re-read at a later date as well, though not urgent]

[Simon Bostock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex is once more pulled into the story to save the world, when all he needs to do is setup a septic tank. After ending up in a world where Elvis is literally god, Rex works with Barry the time travelling sprout and Lazlo Woodbine, a private eye, who only works four locations.

This one takes all the running gags, forth wall breaks, and references to film, and throws in double entendres, references to Rankin's women characters never being characters in their own right, and first person perspective, and ramps up the silliness to 10. As Laz only works 4 locations as per his contract, he gets round it by the following.

‘Do you see a sixty-fifth floor, chief?’ ‘Not with my eyes closed I don’t.’

Or when characters like the barkeep changing his appearance as that's what the fans want.

This is the best of the trilogy, and the most film like of the three books. Though Elvis only features in the abstract.

I met Robert Rankin in a pub after a book signing, and he mentioned that Joe Dante had wanted to make the first book into a film, but they couldn't get the sign off from the Presley estate, but they could use Buddy Holly instead, though it could be one of those tall tales that he writes.

Overall, definitely worth a read.

[Dave Holwill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been 20 years since I read They Came and Ate Us, and I didn't bother doing a re-read of the previous two instalments. But this immediately worked better than part 2.
Classic Rankin, breaking all the walls, and all the rules and yet pulling the anarchy into a plausible (inside its own particular universe) workable plot with no loose ends.
Loved it.

[Robert J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about one of the strangest books I've ever read. Rankin writes deeply flawed, incredibly clever and just plain strange storylines and characters. I find myself wanting to track down everything he's done. I find his unique voice almost addictive. I'm not sure exactly why.

[Andrew Lawston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure for Rex Mundi, Barry (the Time Sprout), et al.

[Nen Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is often found in Robert Rankin books, you get the impression that he didn't so much think up a plot and pad it out, but made it up as he went along and hoped for the best. The trademark self-referencing denouement does account for most things though, so the technique was quite successful this time. And as always, very very funny.

[Josh Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's got freakin Elvis, a Private Eye with a time travelling sprout named Barry in his ear. Good lord, just make sure you read these in order I'm sure, I still need to find the first books from the series and read them.

[Tim Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is billed as the third of the Armageddon trilogy. Maybe it is...but I've learned not to trust Rankin's ability with mathematics. I'd probably give this one closer to 3 1/2 rather than four stars. It's good. But the joke is running down a bit.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

utterly bizarre

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trilogy just got better and better. Laz outdid himself with this one.

[Nancy Raines]

Armageddon III: The Remake