The Asphalt Warrior

Asphalt Warrior #1

by Gary Reilly

In The Asphalt Warrior, a customer offers Murph a free haircut at Gino’s Barbershop and soon Murph is tangled in a web of distrust between a gambler and his wife. The Asphalt Warrior introduces readers to Murph’s world—his crow’s nest apartment, his nemesis Rollo (the “man in the cage” at Rocky Mountain Taxi Company), and the rules of the road as a cabbie. Murph is Brendan Murphy, a.k.a. "The Asphalt Warrior."

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Humor

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2012

About the author

Gary Reilly was a writer.

Simply stated, that was the essence of the man.

Born in Arkansas City, Kansas he spent his early years in Kansas and Colorado in a large Irish-Catholic family–seven brothers and sisters. The family moved to Denver where Gary attended parochial high school, graduating in 1967.

He served two years in the army, including a tour in Vietnam as a military policeman.

After discharge, Gary majored in English at Colorado State University and continued studies at the Denver campus of the University of Colorado.

All along, his overarching ambition was to write fiction. And he did, prodigiously. His first published short story, The Biography Man, was included in the Pushcart Prize Award anthology in 1979.

Later he turned to novels, several based on his army experiences. While he wrote both serious and genre fiction, his greatest invention was the character, Murph, a likable, bohemian Denver cab driver. Starting with The Asphalt Warrior, Gary cranked out eleven Murph novels.

His dedication to writing did not include self promotion. Instead of seeking agents and publishers, he focussed on his craft, writing and rewriting, polishing to perfection. He wrote well over twenty novels before he thought he was ready make his work public.

Unfortunately, he passed away in March, 2011, before he could realize that dream.

Friends and family remember Gary as a fun-loving, generous soul who always had time for other writers, helping them shape their work, getting it ready for print.

Now, through Running Meter Press and Big Earth Publishing in Boulder, Colorado, Gary Reilly’s fiction is finally coming to bookstores in Colorado and across the nation.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Info: Genre: Humorous mystery
Reading Level: Any that can read it
Recommended for: Those who enjoy a fun story that will make you laugh.

My Thoughts: “Money can't buy happiness—but it can buy beer.” That quote sort of encapsulates Murph. I was just tickled to receive this copy of the first book in the Asphalt Warrior series, so I could read Murph's first adventure.

Gary Reilly had a real gift. He could combine things in such a way as to create a humorous dichotomy. I think the following quote will give you the idea.

“There was a little optometrist shop on south Broadway tucked in between a pizza joint and what amounted to a head shop where you could buy glow-in-the-dark posters, bongs, and whatever else the hippies began marketing after they went commercial in the '70s... I had never visited the optometrist shop. The entrance had a 1930s look that I liked—art deco molded-tin awning over the doorway, and Bakelite tiles on the foyer walls. It looked like the kind of business that would be owned by an elderly optometrist who had serviced families for generations and personally ground lenses in his back room. I liked the look of the shop, but I drove right past it on my way to Sight City!!! where you could buy Two Pair for the Price of One!!! according to the billboards plastered all over Denver blocking every decent view of the Rocky Mountains.”

See what I mean? So, if you like a laugh, you should definitely check out these books. The world lost a real gem when Gary Reilly died in 2011, but we have ten of these books, and possibly ten other books, to look forward to thanks to his friends, who are bringing out these terrific tales. Highly recommended.

Series Information: Asphalt Warrior is the first book in the Asphalt Warrior series (out of a proposed total of 10).
Book 2: Ticket to Hollywood, review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 3: The Heart of Darkness Club, review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 4: Home for the Holidays, release TBA.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. No review was requested, but I'm happy to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Murph has two main goals in life. First, to earn no more from driving his cab than it takes to keep his bohemian lifestyle afloat. Second, never and under any circumstance get involved in the lives of his fares. He's not very good at the first and spectacularly bad at the second.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a ten book comic novel series based on the life of Murph, a Denver taxi driver who has two goals--to earn no more than what he needs to keep his lifestyle up and running (this includes at least one week of "Spring Break" every month, spent on a beach towel in his living room with a book or 3) AND to never, ever, ever get involved in the lives of any of his "fares". While he does a hand-to-mouth version of keeping the first goal, the second has been causing some difficulty as of late. I don't want to tell you anymore because following along with Murph as he goes down the slippery slope of caring about one of his fares is part of the fun of this book. That and the witty, colorful commentary about Denver and people in general that only a long time taxi driver, or a very observant writer, could have.

This series is being published posthumously (Reilly passed away in 2011 after a long battle with cancer) via Running Meter Press, a partnership of author Mark Stevens and Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Mike Keefe, both friends of Reilly.

[Kathy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Asphalt Warrior is one of those rare books that a reader really should savor, line by line, taking time to enjoy the intelligence, sarcasm and dry wit of the main character, Murph.

I found Murph to be laugh-out-loud and consistently funny, yet life-smart and grudgingly loveable. The book left me anxious to get my hands on the next in the Murph series.

[Coleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author: Gary Reilly

Length: 200 pages

Genre: Fiction

Where did it come from? Amazon

Why do I have it? I heard about this book from Scott Simon on NPR. It's set in Denver and I love books set in my home town.

Summary: Murphy "Murph" is a cab driver in Denver who happens to also be an aspiring writer. He is practical, funny and dependable.

Review: I really thought I would love this book. It's set in Denver, the main character is a good "Irish Catholic" boy and he drives a cab. I didn't dislike the book but I think I may have set it up to fail as it rang so many of my bells just by the setting and main character alone. I found the main character to be very likable and I appreciated his sense of humor. I loved reading about places I know and can picture because I've either been there or driven past hundreds of times. I guess the thing I didn't quite get is that nothing really seemed to happen. I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing did. It may be that the point of the book was to appreciate the characters and I did like them, but it felt as though something was missing. I may go back to the series at some point, but I'm not rushing to it. I think if I do go back, it will be one of my "down" time books, a book that doesn't required much concentration and isn't too emotionally draining - when I'm not in the mood for a romance novel to get me by.

Recommendation:
Denverites

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to note that, while I loved the writing and humor in this book, I had a hard time finishing it because there was no narrative drive. What ultimately pushed me through the book was not the writing so much as the fact that it was due back at the library.

I thought the author did a great job of characterizing--both the people and the city.

[Peggy Fegler · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an easy relaxing read. The main character, Murph, drives a cab in Denver. It is good story for telling you about different sections of Denver. The story is about one of his rides. The ending is contrived. The style is unique. He jumps a round when he tells a story. I think Murph has attention defecit disorder.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Self delusion is cheaper than valium."
The first in a series of books in which Murph, a Denver taxi driver and unpublished author, delights and surprises with his (first person) stream of consciousness ramblings about fares, tips and tipping, incidents from his past, his love of burgers - there is a deliciously funny section on the differences between home made versus preformed meat patties - people, friends (he doesn't like them), money, literature, places in Denver, his trunk of unpublished novels, TV shows, life in general and his in particular: in fact, almost anything and everything. There is a basic story line but that is really unimportant. It is the comudgenly character himself who is all important. With so many one liners and throw aways, the book had this reader laughing out loud throughout, something very rarely achieved.
Murphy is interpreted by narrator, Michael Goldsmith, whose gruff sounding voice is the perfect foil. Perhaps not a narrator for many publications but for the Asphalt Warrior he is superb, really feeling his way into Murph's quirky character to bring him alive and travelling through his life with the reader as accidental passenger. Marvellous.

Until recently, I had never heard of Gary Reilly. His books are being published posthumously by friends. A great talent - and he must have been quite a personality. The second book in this series has also been published in audio. I have, of course, purchased this also and hope that the others will soon appear: the print books are good but with Mr.Goldsmith becoming Murph, the Audio version is simply superb.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found out about this one in a social media reading group I’m in. A fan of the series referred to it as “slacker-noir”, in the vein of The Big Lebowski and Inherent Vice. While it has no tonal similarities to those, I appreciated the reference.

Because I really like and relate to the lead character, a Denver taxi driver who thumbed his nose at “real world” corporate and academic jobs in order to do as little work as possible. Nowadays, I’ve got a job and people to support so I don’t have this freedom but back in the day, as a grad student, all I wanted to do was slack off, read, watch TV, not be bothered. My last year was the life.

Gary Reilly has a cult following with these books and I can see why. They’re fun. Not a noir at all, there may not even be a real mystery (you have to read to find out!), this is probably more akin to a humanist cozy with a different setting. Can’t stress enough: you’re not reading this one for the whodunnit. You’re reading it because you like the writer’s voice.

I really enjoyed Reilly’s voice. He can be a little too cute with some of the verbal tics but otherwise, the easygoing manner of his protagonist was both relatable and entertaining. I wanted to spend time with Murph. Probably not in his cab but maybe getting a beer with him and letting him regale me with stories.

When researching for this review, I learned that Gary Reilly died before his books could be published. What a shame. It would’ve been nice for him to have seen the fruits of his labor.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for the 2018 Read Harder Challenge - a novel published posthumously. I picked it because it sounded quirky and if I liked it, there were more in the series. So.....here's what I thought.

First, the advent of Uber and Lyft, etc. has made this book/series an anachronism. Not in a bad way - but in a sad way - Uber has devastated the taxi industry and reading this book is practically nostalgic now because of it.

I loved Murph - the prototypical slacker. And normally I don't like slackers. But this character was so self-aware and so funny about it, you just had to like him. Well, I did. The author had a distinctive humor style and I really enjoyed it...giggled out loud several times.

But the book is entirely character driven. To me, the plot was totally implausible. Not action book ridiculous but schlocky and I just didn't buy it. But I still really liked it just because "listening" to Murph think and process things was so much fun.

I'm not sure if I will read the rest of the books in the series given my HUGE reading list but it certainly wasn't a waste of time to read this one.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father recommended this book to me. I was sort of hesitant to read it but I’m glad I did. This is one of those books where the journey is just as important if not more important than the destination. The authors writing style and humor are extremely interesting and quite enjoyable. The plot isn’t what I would call “high-stakes“ in that no one is dead or no one has been robbed the traditional sense. I’m going to continue in the series just because I think I’m going to like main character he seems quite interesting and more unusual compared to the subject of books I have read before. Access in the forward to the book, he either has since passed and it’s kind of a bummer to because all of his work has been published posthumously and will forever be to some in total of his contribution to the world of literature. But meters are fortunate to have the opportunity to read what has been published.

[Chris Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author. Murph, Gary Reilly's protagonist , is quirky, hilarious and smart. I have laughed my way through all of his books. As much as I love this series, I recognize it may not be for everyone. It is really all about the voice. You have to fall in love with the wanderings of Murph's eclectic mind. If you are looking for a straight plot driven novel this may not be for you. But if you can imagine a concatenation of The Big Lebowski, the TV series Taxi and a Robin Williams monologue you would just about hit on the sensibilities of this series. Great stuff.

[George Seaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished the Private Palmer trilogy, and went directly to this, the first of the "Murph" books. Enjoy Reilly's writing--the humor, the self-discovery, the easy but literary flow of the narrative about his cab driving adventures in Denver. I was bothered by the verbatim recapitulation of scenes that I'd already read in "The Discharge," the last of the Private Palmer trilogy. Whether this was the 'fault' of posthumous editing/publishing, I don't know. Good read, however.

[Victoria Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome! Really fun, entertaining listen, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Great story, well written, and narration was awesome!

I'd definitely recommend this one, I had a blast listening!
Check it out :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, rounded up

Good, clever, a little sad. There's a peculiar loneliness in Murph. It's not existential, protective, or anything obvious. He's not angry, maybe just a little jaded. I'm definitely curious about his Vietnam novels now, and I'll read the rest of these odd little taxi gems.

[Chip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hamburgers, Twinkies and a life-long goal of driving a cab.... which he's already attained. The character gets sidetracked (on purpose) during his mental ramblings and may begin to tell you that story (or not) at a later time. Stream of consciousness writing (at times). Denver based.

[Joe Susnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a weird book.

[Stan Pedzick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book for anyone that lived in Denver during the 80s and 90s and enjoys lite mystery slice of life stories.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Asphalt Warrior gives the reader a glimpse into the daily grind that is the life of Murph, would be writer turned cab driver. When he isn't driving his cab around the Denver area, Murph is watching Gilligan's Island, drinking beer or chasing his next buck. In episodic fashion, throughout Asphalt Warrior, new patrons hops into Murph's cab. Each one a new character, who has the potential of creating for Murph a new mini-adventure, opportunity or dilemma. This is always to Murph's dismay, as he really just wants to keep to himself and avoid getting involved in the lives of his clientele. At its best the writing calls to mind Kurt Vonnegut and the delivery of some of the lines and phrases turned are humorous but at other times it is tedious and repetitious, perhaps by design. It is after all a book about someone driving a cab and much like driving a cab, you never know what street you will head down next while often taking familiar routes more than once. Because of how likeable I found Murph, and despite how long it took me to read this one, I am giving this a solid 4/5

[Sarahj33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fun to read about a world that had always existed in parallel to yours, but that you never would have noticed on your own. In this case, it is the world of cab drivers and their riders in the city of Denver, Colorado, which is where I grew up. In all those 18 years, I think I rode in a cab exactly 1 time. So it's interesting to see the city and the people with a cab driver's perspective. In this case, the cab driver happens to be a uniquely perceptive and entertaining man, which sure doesn't hurt!

This book is a fun, quick read. I gobbled it up over the course of a couple of subway rides into Manhattan. As you may imagine, it made me terribly homesick for Denver, while making me feel connected to my home at the same time. This book is also funny enough to make you smile to yourself and occasionally giggle softly, which makes people give you strange looks if you are reading in public, so be warned.

Based on the reviews I have seen on this site, most people who read this book have some sort of tangential connection to the author, and I am no exception. My parents live a few blocks away from, and are good friends with, one of Gary Reilly's friends who was instrumental in getting these books published. But it's not just personal bias that makes me say that this book is truly wonderful, and I hope lots and lots of people get to enjoy it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel opens at the cab line at the Hilton, which immediately made me feel hip and "in the know." I know that cab line! I once saw a basketball player fold himself to half his size in order to fit into a cab there! (I would never have pegged a basketball player with that sort of flexibility, but how else would you get a tall frame like that into a small car?)

The novel follows Murph, an unpublished novelist, who picks up just enough fares to make ends meet. He loves Gilligan's Island and hamburgers and 7-11 coffee. He avoids relationships, is happy to make up personas that fit what the customers in his cab want to hear, and can't seem to stop himself from getting a bit too involved on occasion -- a student contemplating leaving school, a poet on his way to his parole officer, a barber suspicious of his wife's loyalty. . .

The writing had a nice off-hand humor, the larger story arch as well as the more colorful side stories worked (though I worry that the one about the old guy on crutches may be a bit too based on a true story), and Murph's voice really brings the whole thing together.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started with the 2nd book in the series, then came back to this one, they are very similar. Both books is witty, irreverent, and they make you think. In my less than expert opinion, Gary Reilly was a darn good writer, perhaps with a lack of discipline. I say that because to me it seems the plotting is insufficient. That's my biggest beef with this book, pages go by in this rather slim book and little or no progress or events happen in the story. We hear about Murph's former incidents and adventures and they are interesting, but the actual story moves slowly.

Gary Reilly in this book comments that Murph says he has plotting problems. I think that Gary was letting us know that Murph mirrors his own plot insufficiency. Reilly is also informing us that he doesn't really care, just like Murph. For some reason I get that, respect that, and am okay with that. I'm so okay that I plan on reading the other eight books. The problem is that I just can't give it 5 stars. That's because, there are authors out there that can do the plotting and infuse it with the sidebars, stories and thought themes. So I give it 4 stars and I'd bet Murph and Reilly are satisfied with that.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denverites probably know this story, other people probably don't. Gary Reilly was a Denver writer, a friend of one of my friends. When he passed away a few years ago, he left behind some unpublished novels telling the funny stories of Murph the Denver cab driver. My friend Mark, also a published author, has been actively promoting these books as they get published. I read this first one out of curiosity and loyalty to my friend. Happily I can report that this one is truly funny, a clever little tale of a slacker driver/writer who gets involved in a family's story pretty much against his will. I will read more of these books--they're short, they're funny--as palate cleansers between longer larger novels and I will look forward to the new situations Murph gets himself into. Denverites--added plus--lots of Denver location references that are fun to experience.

[Saytchyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book breaks my heart, not because it's a tear-jerker, but because it's one of eleven novels being published posthumously by a writer who should have gone on book tours and been interviewed on late-night TV.

Murph is a cabbie who doesn't want to care about people but can't help himself. He's lazy, brilliant, sardonic, heroic, and hilarious. His wisdom comes from left-of-center but vibrates with truth. His voice is addictive.

This is a short book, which I read in two sittings over a weekend. I was sorry when it was over. The good news? There are ten more Murph novels and at least one stand-alone. The bad news? After Gary Reilly's existing novels are published, we'll be gifted with no more.

[Dave Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a first person noir crime novel, without the noir or the crime. Great pacing and very funny. Our wisecracking hero and wanna-be writer Murph just drives a cab and lives a simple life full angst. His primary anchor in the real world is the cab and his interaction with his customers, mostly playing roles to stay safe and uninvolved, until it goes wrong. Too bad this author never lived to see his books published. You should read them while you still can.
A bonus here, graduate level insight into Gilligan's Island as the author plumbs the depths of the old shows to reveal the utter genius of it as entertainment and philosophy. Castaway trivia (Ida Lupino directed both Wrongway Feldman episodes) of immense value also included.

[Maureen Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first in Gary Reilly's amateur detective series, Asphalt Warrior, published by friends after Reilly's death in March of 2011, begins with this fictionalized autobiographical tale of a Denver taxi driver sleuth. The tale is not so engaging as the writing, particularly the descriptions of Denver from the point of view of the taxi driver (asphalt warrior) and the pithy opinions expressed by the driver, such as "If cab drivers were interested in conformity, they would be bus drivers" (p. 140) and "Concentrating on t.v. is about as hard as concentrating on self-pity." (p.143)

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel of intrigue introducing Denverite Brendan Murphy, or "Murph" as he's known to the rest of the world. He is a radical minimalist and strives to earn no more money as a driver for Rocky Mountain Taxi Company than his needs require. He is determined to stay out of the lives of those he transports. Amusing and entertaining, especially for Denverites.

[Bree Ervin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Murph's wry observations on life, the universe and everything.
Denver through the eyes of a disillusioned cab driver never looked so hopeful.

I especially recommend this book to aspiring writers, you could learn a lot from both Gary Reilly and his alter-ego Murph!
The longer review lives here - http://thinkbannedthoughts.wordpress....

[Jaide · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the savvy wit and offbeat humor of Gary Reilly in his book, The Asphalt Warrior. Told from the point of view of a cab driver named Murph, the story depicts a man whose goal in life is to do absolutely as little as possible. It was relaxing and quite amusing. I will definitely continue reading the remaining books he wrote before his death!

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a light and entertaining read. Gary Reilly as Denver cabbie-philosopher Murph gives us entre into the world of taxi drivers and Murph's chosen life of not doing "too much" while observing everything around him.

[Barry Wightman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denver cabbie with a heart of cynical gold. Truly funny books are rare. Here's a good one. Think Schopenhauer meets Maynard G Krebbs. http://bmwvcfa.wordpress.com/2012/07/...