Book Overview
It's the week leading up to the Bicentennial celebration in Washington, D.C., and King Suckerman is the hot new blaxploitation film that's got everyone talking. Small-time dealer Dimitri Karras and his friend, record-store owner Marcus Clay, are out looking to score some weed when they stumble in on a big deal gone bad -- and pick up some cash that isn't theirs. Pursued by a trigger-happy gangster looking to settle the score, Dimitri and Marcus suddenly find that they're players in a savage game of cross and double-cross....
Brilliantly evoking the retrocool of seventies music, clothes, and movies, King Suckerman is bold, real, and violent -- a supercharged thriller in the hardboiled tradition of Jim Thompson, David Goodis, and Pulp Fiction. Here is George Pelecanos's strongest work to date -- a book that is certain to win him a whole new audience of admirers.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0316695904
ISBN13:9780316695909
Release Date:August 1997
Publisher:Little Brown and Company
Length:288 Pages
Weight:1.12 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.3" x 9.4"
Age Range:13 years and up
Grade Range:Grade 8 and higher
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Below average for author, way above average for the genre
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
I've read most of Pelecanos' work and, in my opinion, King Suckerman would rank as one of his weaker efforts. It's one of the earlier works and is worth reading for background on some characters who will show up in later books. It's also worth reading because it's a slam bam, gritty crime novel. It may not be one of the author's best books, but it's still one of the best crime novels I've read. As usual, Washington, D.C. is both the setting for the story and a living character in the book. There are plenty of tough and weak, cunning and stupid players in the twisting story. If you have a pulse and like crime fiction, I don't see how you can skip this book or anything else Pelecanos writes.
D.C. Noir and Funk
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Alright I am a Pelecanos junkie; I've read most of his novels and this one is still my favorite. While D.C. residents may get more out of his books (we can easily recognize the streets he name drops, and understand a bit of the culture) anyone who is a fan of noir writing would dig Pelecanos. He really paints 1976 beautifully; from the style of clothes, the music, and of course the Blaxploitation movie that the novel revolves around. King Suckerman has that right amount of evil, violence, humor, and still uplifts you at the end. If you are a fan of Tarantino type characters/plot you should consider this book; if you are a DC resident, then this book (and the other Pelecanos novels) are mandatory.
Superbad, Superfine, Super 70s all the time...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I don't have much time here, but I just had to chuck down a quick review of this fantastic book. I began this book at the start of an interstate car journey and by the time we had stopped, I had pretty much read most of it. This book rips along from the very first page, with an amazing attention to detail, interesting and believable (in a way) characters, great cross-cutting, and wonderful evocacation of the 70s. The story has already been cited here already, so I won't recap, but you care for the characters you like and you're in awe or fear of the others. Referencing all kinds of 70s trappings, music, films, Iceberg Slim, muscle cars etc, you feel like you're watching an awesome film and indeed I'd be less than surprised if it was made into one. I only hope it's by the right people, not someone like Sean Puffy Combs, who would probably cast Jennifer Lopez in the role of Virginia. I only hope Pelecanos' other books are as good as this.
Awesome
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This is the first Pelecano book I've read. But now I'm hooked. This is absolutely an unputdownable read -- fast-paced, fun, and brimming with real characters.
Suckerman is pure funk. Oh yeah!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Open this book and you can hear Issac Hayes say: "Shaft's one bad mother - shut your mouth - just talking 'bout Shaft." Excellent characters, and a great soundtrack. This book rocks, no wait a minute it funks. That's what I'm talking 'bout. As James Brown would say, "Make it funky!"
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