I started reading out of a mild curiosity about the man who wrote "Monstrous Regiment of Women". By the end I was fascinated and appalled...Ridley has a lot of respect for the reader's intelligence, and doesn't stint on the ghastly details that made some people (at last) revolt against theocracy in Elizabethan England. Tends to remind Americans just how much we are "missing" , the cure for nostalgia over those days.

Palmerston, he evoked an era of gunboat diplomacy. WHy? Because he understood the British empire rested on its ability to deter aggression and his gutsy vindictive nature of sending the royal navy anywhere it took to protect the honor of England. With the exception of churchill, Palmerston was a great defender of empire, uniquly british. THis is a must read for anyone wanting to understand how America should be acting in the face of terror. Palmerston was the ultimate pre-emptionist.

John Ridley's A Conversation with the Mann is almost too engaging and readable for its own good. Ridley tells a disturbing, yet still completely compelling story that is so good, you can almost get caught up in enjoying it and forget he's got quite a strong message in there too. The novel (and it is a novel) tells the story of Jackie Mann--a comedian from Harlem, born in the late 30s--who overcomes tremendous racism to become a "success" at least as he thinks it is. So many times in the novel, Jackie is forced to swallow his pride, to sell out, to give in, all for what he believes is the right thing, his way to the top. Jackie's story is juxtaposed against the civil rights movement of the sixties. Jackie is at the height of his fame when that movement reached its crescendo. He tries to ignore the messages of that movement, but ultimately, he cannot. He makes a choice--the end results of which are a departure for him--it's a depressing, but uplifting at the same time. Jackie's story is amazing and the early years are especially upsetting--but that's what makes the novel so important. Read it, enjoy it, think about it.

Jackie Mann isn't real, but by the end of "A Conversation with the Mann," I felt like he was. I could imagine him doing stand-up the Copa, hanging out with Frank, Sammy and Dean during the filming of "Ocean's Eleven," and running afoul of studio boss Harry Cohn.

I had only read one other novel by the multi-talented John Ridley, who has also written for television ("Third Watch"), the movies ("Three Kings") and the internet ("Undercover Brother"). That book, "Love is a Racket," was entertaining but vaguely upsetting, because the main character and the world in which he moved was so bleak and filthy.

"A Conversation with the Mann" isn't exactly full of uplift, but the grimness isn't as unrelenting and the characters are given more depth. Jackie Mann isn't a happy guy -- his obsession with becoming famous is fueled by rage over a lifetime of mistreatment from the rest of the world -- but Ridley details his almost-rise to the top with such grace and honesty that I found myself genuinely caring whether Jackie made it onto "The Ed Sullivan Show" or not. I couldn't put it down, reading most of the book in a single evening (and going to bed really, really late).

If you care about Rat Pack-era show business, the civil rights movement, or just great, lean writing, you really have to get this book. It's terrific.

I had never heard of Jackie Mann. I didn't feel so badly about not knowing him after John Ridley admitted in his introduction that he had not heard of him either before eventually meeting him when he was long past his glory days. Reading the Jacket cover I discovered he was one of the premiere black club Comedians in the 1950's, early 60's who made a living "telling America what it wanted to hear", but in reality Jackie Mann's life is like an "Aesop Fable", the moral of the story cannot be missed.

All Jackie Mann ever wanted was to be famous, to be somebody and he was willing to do whatever was necessary to get there. Mr. Ridley tells his story with such eloquence and compassion and the story itself is so compelling I couldn't put the book down. I also understood his decisions. How he had arrived at every point where he made what could be considered fatal missteps. I can not honestly say that in that time and space, without a doubt, hand on a stack of bibles; I would have done things so differently. A fact I'm not proud of, but as a black woman who can't make a decision to stop perming her hair (it may be too political) I can hardly sit in judgment of him. I liked Jackie Mann. I was with him all the way. Wanted him to have his glory without paying too dearly for it. In retrospect people may point to his life as an example of what happens when you will not stand up and be a man, but Jackie Mann lived in an era where speaking your mind could not only kill your career but end your life. To be righteous and noble in those situations is to be admired, the stuff martys are made of, but it really takes more guts than most of us have.

While Jackie Mann never became a household name, most of the people who were in and around his life we know extremely well. At times this book gave us new glimpses at stories we've heard about some of Hollywood's Icons and a new look at some of our hero's. There were also several people in Jackie's life that kept pushing him to be the man they knew he could be, who were succeeding on their own terms. As faith would have it they all became the one thing Jackie really wanted to be Famous.

A Must Read!!!!

Reviewed by Ruby
APOOO Bookclub

I remember ordering this book,about a year ago,through the mail and just couldn't wait until it arrived. I've proudly made "Gladiator" a part of my DVD collection and have seen it many times since. Once I got this book I was not in the least disappointed with it. In it was absolutely everything and more I ever wanted to know about this spectacular movie. This book has it all! MANY photos, some history, costume design, about the cast, some drawings by Sylvain Despretz(storyboard artist), the making of "Gladiator", and more. I just couldn't get enough of this book. If you're crazy about the movie as I am then buying this book is highly recommended! "Gladiator" has a great book, great soundtrack, and SPECTACULAR film! ~Did You Know all the armor was made out of foam covered with leather?

A visually stunning book, which portrays the movie 'Gladiator' in detail. Lots of photo's from the movie that were not part of the media blitz that promoted the movie in magazines and other publications. The book is well written using interviews from the filmmakers as well as actors. The best aspect of this book are the full page color photographs, production drawings as well as costume sketches and architectural drawings of the sets used. Overall a great book for the 'Gladiator' fan.

Presuming that prospective buyers of this book probably saw the movie, this book will not disappoint you. The movie was epic in scope, and although some historical inaccuracies existed, they did not detract at all from the movie, nor the performances of Russell Crowe, Connie Nielsen, Joachim Phoenix, and Richard Harris.

If you like to know the 'nuts and bolts' behind the making of a movie such as this, this is your book. If you are curious how they managed to 'reconstruct' the Coliseum complete with gladiator 'fans', this is your book.

A great gift for Gladiator and Russell Crowe fans alike.

Commodus was in fact Marcus Aurelius' son and the downfall of Rome, while already in progress, hastened when Commodus was made Caesar.

Enjoy! And watch the movie again.

The Drift had very little to do with the rails and everything to do with the directions we take in life and the fingerprints we leave behind. It is said that some of us are a paycheck away from being homeless. After reading, John Ridley's latest book I conclude insanity is one issue away from humanity with a little political help.

Riding the rails of life, I gather is a metaphor for the government we live in. That same government/life Charlie wanted to escape. The bureaucracy that [attacked] and tormented him until he found a protector; he affectionately named George Plimpton which he kept close.

Born as Charles Harmon he incarnated himself as Brain Nigger Charlie. Brain Nigger feels indebted to Chocolate Walt, when he asks Brain to find his niece. Without a second thought, Brain leaves for his journey. A journey in which he finds more then he bargains for.

John Ridley did a superb job of impregnating us with a different theory regarding the government and riding the rails. This book is truly a must read by all.

THE DRIFT is another stellar effort from John Ridley. With "Conversation with the Mann" just coming out a few months ago, I was suprised to see THE DRIFT so soon. The pleasant suprise continued with the first pages of THE DRIFT -- John Ridley is among the best and is getting better! From the book description one gets an idea of what the story is about so a synopsis is not needed here, but accolades are. The journey is fast paced, thought provoking, and very dark. So dark in fact that it may turn off some more mainstream readers, however, it is worth every discomfort and upon further thought, the book's darkness and violence does inflict a deeper mental impact (the imagery stays with you) and thankfully, there are moments of humor to lift us out of the mire. I hope John Ridley remains this prolific and we'll be reading him for years to come. A must read.

John Ridley has range. He wrote the story for the movie Three Kings [the George Clooney role was originally written as a black man], wrote the movie Undercover Brother, and writes for the NBC show Third Watch.

When it comes to his novels, Ridley describes himself as a follower of Dashiell Hammett and Damon Runyan. He is a credit to his masters. This action-packed book evokes the edgy bleak spirit of all the great black-and-white film noir movies, but without a single cliche and with a fresh take. Its dark humor, absolutely modern characters, and visceral violence reminded me of Pulp Fiction.

Beneath its ironically comic, beat-inspired narrative tone, The Drift manages to trace a fallen man's shot at personal redemption. This is a powerful, streamlined tale that hits you like one of the locomotives it describes. You'll read it in as few sittings as you possibly can.

This was the first Ridley novel I've tried, and definitely will NOT be the last. I've never found a book so wildly entertaining while dealing with a host of serious societal issues. Ridley is a major talent, and The Drift is a brutal, cold gem.

I read John Ridley's first novel, 'Stray Dogs' and was pleased. Beyond that, however, it didn't blow me away. It was nasty, compact and smartly written, but in the end I deemed it merely servicable. Thank God I picked up his sophmore effort to show me exactly how much Ridley has grown as a writer. Love is a Racket is smarter, funnier, edgier, more densely plotted and filled with a cast of deeply written characters. Plus, the ending was brilliant; both unexpected, and, if you think about it, the only way the whole thing could have ended up. All great writers get better with age; it's part of the evolution of their craft. With a second book this good, I can't wait for the release of Mr. Ridley's next book, 'We All Smoke in Hell.'

John Ridley's new novel put's him right up there in the company of America's greatest crime writers. His first novel, "Stray Dogs", was a smart, nasty little noir, all full of twists and turns that kept Ridley and his book at least one step ahead of the reader, but in "Love is a Racket" he tells a great story and he creates some of the most memorable characters you'll meet in any recent fiction. He's also got a wonderfully sly sense of humor . This is a novel where someone's always the brunt of a con or a good joke, the reader included. (Yep, and when you've been fooled by a master -- and Ridley is a master -- it's surprising how good it feels.) Read "Love is a Racket" and you'll be reminded that Elmore Leonard's just a pit stop on the way to better stuff.

John Ridley gets better with every book I read. I look forward to his novels with baited breath. I read Stray dogs (it became the movie Uturn, I believe) anyway The book was soo much better than the movie and then Love is a racket blew me away with the action and the things that can happen when you least expect it and then Everyone smokes in hell came out and I liked that even more, if he keeps it up he will be the only author I like enough to buy hardcover! if you like Quentin Tarantino movies you will like John Ridley's books even more. He is one of the best thriller/action fiction writers of his time.

What a great book! It is a very funny, twisted, scary book to find yourself in it. Like the crazy people in the town said, "you should be more careful". This is the book that the characters will never be forgotton. I love the movie based on this book "U-Turn" which Oliver Stone made. All of Oliver Stone's films are about "American Society". In "Stray Dogs", American Society is living in one hot hell hole. A MUST READ!!!

Stray Dogs is a quick read with interesting characters and crisp, funny dialogue. Can't wait to see the movie

This is an absolutely excellent debut for Mr. Ridley! I'm surprised people didn't like this book. Sure, it's quite profane and vulgar--and personally I'm not a fan of profanity--but you can't help but notice how it flowed with the feel of the book. Ridley's profound descriptions forced you into experiencing every rotten, painful, annoying, surreal misadventure that John Stewart (the protagonist) had to endure! Sure, the hero was a sleaze, a lowdown swindling loser--but we still got his sympathy, simply because of all the crap he had to go through! We don't want anyone to endure that! I particularly liked the hero--I'd rather have Ridley do more with this character, but then again I've yet to read "Love Is A Racket." But Stray Dogs' hapless antihero Stewart was a loser whose near lack of conscience made him likeable--a luckless hustling gambler who uses people--but doesn't kill. It was like he was some kind of Jerry Springer, the only "normal" guy in the book! I could go on and on about this book--and later probably will, but I highly recommend this seamy little noir yarn! I can't say I didn't like the ending, though, since it worked so well with the story, but still. You'll see once you read it. GET THE BOOK (unless you're highly offended by profanity; the language is beyond coarse!)

This is a pretty good history of the Hanovers and their two immediate descendants. There are alot of pictures, and fairly short biographies of each of them. The book is very informative and a very quick read. I just wish that these biographers would realize that not all of us speak French, there are never any translations. Latin I can read, but French is beyond me, and I would guess, alot of other people.

John Ridley's Those Who Walk In Darkness is a futuristic, sci-fi thriller filled with superheroes and super cops in a battle between good and evil. Soledad O'Roark is a tough, no-nonsense rookie on an elite team of police officers whose sole mission is to capture and deport metanormals. Metanormals are humans who have altered genetic traits which enable them to perform extraordinary feats, like fly, manipulate elements (metal, fire, water), become intangible (move through solid objects), etc. However, the most feared and deadly of the metanormals is the telepath who can enter the mind and take total control of one's actions, emotions, and thoughts with little to no warning. If you are picking up a strong "X-Men" vibe, then you are right on point.

In this novel, San Francisco and its half million "normal" humans were obliterated from the face of the earth when the good superheroes failed to stop an evil superhero's doomsday device. Thus in a knee-jerk decision, the President issues an Executive Order to deport the metanormals. Europe openly accepts those who are deported, while others hide their capabilities and try to live peacefully incognito in the U.S. However, the "normal" humans (especially the cops) spew so much malice toward any metanormal whether good/helpful or destructive/evil that there is usually conflict in every meeting that ends in a lot of cops dead when trying to capture one metanormal.

Most of the story centers on the heroine Soledad; her life and motivation. We learn that she is the typical hard-nosed, loner, idealist cop who believes in "the system" until a series of events leads her to love, threatens her career, and changes her life. The plot's formula is familiar and so are the supporting characters - there is a "lover boy," a dedicated family man, and a "Rambo" type to round out Soledad's four-person crew. At times, I felt like I was reading a screenplay for a new cop show - there were plenty of "shoot 'em up" action passages, characters with misguided anger, and the resonating "woe is me" lament of misunderstood policemen. The story works reasonably well because I kept reading to find out what was going to happen next.

True to Ridley fashion, this novel has plenty of comedic scenes and a darker side. It raises issues of human rights and challenges the reader to examine social injustices of the past and potentially the future. I enjoyed all aspects of the book and I am looking forward to his next release.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
July 9, 2003

In a fantasyland USA of tomorrow, mutant human beings stalk the land. Some are heroes who save "normal" human beings from disasters such as bank robberies or giant sinkholes that open in busy streets. However, others are bad, just like some regular human beings, and cause distress and pain. John Ridley's heroine, Soledad "Bullet" O'Roark, doesn't care to make a distinction between the good freaks and the bad freaks; she wants them all dead.

Keeping her emotional distance from everyone, she becomes involved in a car accident, and subsequently with the driver of the other vehicle, Ian, who is very similar to Soledad in temperament. They never discuss their past lives, they almost never discuss even the present. They seem, as a couple, to be perfectly happy sharing living space, having sex and not doing much else. Questions cause them to clam up, especially with each other. For a long time, Ian doesn't even know that Soledad is on the M-Tac squad, which was formed specifically to hunt down mutant human beings. When he does learn, he is uneasy, but accepts his new love's job as part of the package. It could be his undoing.

Soledad, while on duty, kills a "good" super human - one who can prevent disasters or reverse the damages from calamities that should have killed people. While Soledad O'Roark feels justified in the killing, the husband of the super freak is angry beyond reason. His specialty is mind control and he can make a regular human being kill him/herself by entering that person's thoughts and controlling his/her actions. He begins stalking the M-Tac squad. He wants Soledad dead. In turn, Soledad wants him badly enough to endanger herself and the entire squad. The battle is on.

THOSE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS is a quick read and an interesting one. I do tend to like heroines that have some redeeming values and I found Soledad a little hard to take, yet I couldn't stop reading the book. I knew, at some point, that this woman would have to have some small spark of decency in her. John Ridley has come up with a surprise ending that makes an already fantastic book even more so.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

At first I only lightly read the jacket of this book and thought it to be a new vampire novel. I was very wrong and very pleased at what it was instead.

This book explores a story line that seems to be so obvious you would think that more than a few authors would have already written something along this line, and that's what makes it so unique. The book is a fast paced, action ride for anyone who has ever watched a cartoon or read a Superman comic. It brings a million "what if"s to mind as you read it. The main character is one you hate to love, but can't help it. You continue to read hoping for redemption. I can't wait for this author to put out another book along this story line.

Has there been a filmmaker who has been more imitated in the last decade than Quentin Tarantino? His use of language, his gift for plotting, and his knack for memorable characters (in the movies PULP FICTION, RESERVOIR DOGS and JACKIE BROWN) have inspired more bad movies and novels since George Lucas unleashed STAR WARS on the world.

Now, I am not trying to knock the credible talent that John Ridley has. And perhaps it's unfair to complain of imitation. After all, it is a form of flattery. Tarantino himself admits the variety of sources and inspirations for his movies, including the novels of Elmore Leonard and Jim Thompson. But that said, EVERYBODY SMOKES IN HELL is a novel that cries out for Tarantino to adapt it for the screen. It is a movie of desperate people doing desperate things, of thugs and molls, gangsters and hitmen, and generally unpleasant people. In fact, Tarantino might not attempt an adaptation purely for the reason that it is too similar to his earlier works (I found the tone and plot of EVERYBODY SMOKES to be remarkably similar to Tarantino's script for TRUE ROMANCE).

The plot is thus: Paris Scott, a convenience store clerk in L.A., happens across the only recorded copy of a recently deceased rock star's magnum opus (shades of Kurt Cobain?). He decides to cash in on this windfall, but due to a bizarre set of coincidences, combined with his own ineptitude, finds himself running away to Vegas, with a pile of corpses in his wake.

This is a well-written piece of modern pulp. Ridley has created some memorable characters, each of whom is given just enough of a history for the reader to empathize with their plights. And, truth be told, in the space of three pages, Ridley creates the most grotesquely funny suicide scene I can remember reading. While some may deride the cinematic feel to the presentation (short chapters, quick cuts between scenes, vivid use of imagery), it works to the narrative's strength. Ridley presents us with characters raised on exactly the type of pop culture EVERYBODY SMOKES is itself a part of. Why shouldn't the writing style have the same goal?

But EVERYBODY SMOKES, as enjoyable as it is, can't hold its head up all the way to the end. There are too many intertwining threads to be wrapped up in a neat little package. The ending feels rushed, and while it may work on the movie screen, a novel is supposed to be capable of more depth than is on view here. The final outcome is, if not disappointing, than disjointed. I don't mean to imply that happy endings are better. But EVERYBODY SMOKES, after setting up Paris so well, gives the reader a resolution that feels unsatisfying, incomplete. There is the introduction of several new characters towards the end that seem to exist for no useful purpose. And Paris' actions at the end are completely at odds with what happened before, and not believeable after all we've been told.

EVERYBODY SMOKES IN HELL is definitely worth reading. It holds your attention from the first page to the last. It is often so good, you wish it were better as a whole.

Everyday some new piece of crime fiction comes out that's almost indistinguishable from novels already sitting on bookstore shelves. It seems like a lot of the time, mysteries and suspense are written for the lowest common denominator - easy language, a plot that's just engaging enough to keep a reader moving, a few stereotypical characters that readers feel comfortable with, etc. Ridley's Everybody Smokes In Hell, however, provides a refreshing voice in crime fiction.

The plot isn't much to write home about. Down and out youth in L.A. stumbles into a bad situation and finds himself on the run from all kinds of nasty folks. The way this plot is executed is amazing. The characters Ridley comes up with are unique and colorful, each with unique motivations subtly sketched by the author. Dialogue is fresh and crisp, presented the way people talk, not just an author's bland translation. Action is quick and descriptions show no restraint. Often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, the story is an exceptional one. Fiction's lucky to have an author like Ridley. It's a reminder that there's more than cookie-cutter mysteries out there.

I am a big fan of crime novels and this is by far one of the best I've read in recent years. Ridley takes a character that was briefly in one of his previous novels, "Love Is A Racket", and builds a compelling story around him. His description of LA is dead-on accurate and, as a resident of the area myself, you can tell by his frank discourse of the good and the bad that he has spent a lot of time here.

The most amazing part of the book though is his dialog and his characterizations. His dialog is spot-on, using modern slang as well as anyone out there. Think a Tarantino film in written form, nothing seems forced and everything is used for the purpose of advancing plot or giving us insight into the minds of the main characters. His characters also feel very three dimensional, not just some cookie cutter cutouts of real people. Ridley also balances the humor in the book with the violence and the suspense quite well.

The only complaint I would have with the book is its brevity, but that doesn't diminish from the book's brilliance nor its enjoyableness. Actually, its short length encouraged me to re-read the book again a couple months after I finished it initially. This book will suck you in and you'll be sorry when you're spit out again at the end. I give it my highest recommendation. A great summer read.