Soon to be a major motion picture starring John Cusack ! Mr. Quark is a down-on-his luck pot-smuggler hiding out in the mountains of Colombia with his dog, High Pockets, and a small band of banditos led by the irascible Jose. Only months before, these three and their fearless associates were rolling in millions in cash and high-grade marijuana, eluding prosecution on "ridiculously false" drug and terrorism charges. But times have quickly grown lean, and to liven up their exile, Jose decides to mug a family of American tourists. Among the spoils are physics texts, which launch Mr. Quark on a side-splitting, boisterous adventure north to California, where he confronts the owner of the books with his own theories on relativity, the nature of the universe, and looking for the meaning of life in all the wrong places....
I first read this book in 1986, when as a student, I acquired an advance copy of it, complete with typo's and spelling errors. Since then, Cosmic Bandito's has taken on the status of a Gutenberg Bible with me.This tells a relatively straight forward story (hah, hah) of a Dope Smuggler's quest for cosmic philosophic enlightenment thru quantum mechanics, massive quantities of tequila, gratuitous use of high explosives, and a dog. Thus setting Weisbecker up to be my spiritual mentor.Don't laugh, the author somehow makes it all work. Weisbecker managed to get me thru a philosophy degree, several physics classes and 10 years in the military with the power of his admittedly distorted vision.To illustrate how this works, lets use the Uncertainty Principle, typically taught with the use of Schrodinger's Cat. Weisbecker uses the Bandito Uncertainty principle, with the Observer only being able to see the outside of the Bandito filled tavern, when energy is applied (in the form of Tequila, and Dope) you can see the results visibly as Banditos are launched thru the tavern windows, or out the tavern doors. If, however, the Observer was to enter the Tavern, he or she would immediately impede the progress of the experiment as they would be in the way of flying Banditos.This may not be for everyone, but I can assure you that once you read this book, you will never ever forget it.In closing, I must make note of how Weisbecker has pioneered the footnote into a whole new form of literary genre. His use of the Time Traveling Footnote (TTF) has guaranteed him a place in the hall of literary heroes.
"Aaahhhh!"
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This book is currently my Favorite Book of All Time. It has everything--Tequila, Doggy Sneese Attacks, Nymphomaniacs and Albert Einstein (just to mention a few). It's laugh-out-loud funny, but is also deep and personally reflective at times. I think anyone who reads this book will have their Worldview shaken up. If you know someone who takes themself a little too seriously, this book could be therapy for them. It makes me wonder what my life would've been like if I had never bought this book. Maybe somewhere in another dinension I am wandering around without "Cosmic Banditos." That would be a shame.I definitely recommend getting your hands on this book...... Good luck banditos.
CONTRABANDANISTA FANTASTICA!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
GREAT BOOK, READ IT YEARS AGO. I THINK I LENT IT TO JAMES WHO WAS ASKING WHERE I WAS! THE ONLY WAY THAT I WOULD EVER HAVE GOT MY THICK HEAD AROUND QUANTUM THEORY!
This book will change your life--kind of!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
When a friend of mine approached me with an old book of his a few years ago named "Cosmic Banditos" all I could do was laugh. However, the last laugh was difinitely on me. Never had I read such a hilarious, nonsensical, and metaphysical book. If only more people had heard of "cosmic Banditos," I truly think it would have become a genuine cult classic. If you haven't read this tale of drugs, corruption, fate, and Mexican spoofs, now is the time to BUY
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