The Radioactive Redhead

It's the not-too-distant future, but the world is a very different place. Reality TV is the preferred entertainment of the masses. Entertainment moguls will go to whatever lengths necessary to procure their next "big" star. Teen pop sensations rise to meteoric heights on their looks and dancing ability - singing talent need not apply. Teen slang is impenetrable to adults . . . wait, that's not so very different, is it? Well, they have hover-cars. Blasters. Laser knives. How cool is that? Not to mention maid-bots, Kabuki androids and interactive computers that are intelligent enough to be your personal assistant. Zachary Nixon Johnson is the last practicing private eye in the world and he loves his job - most days. Today, he's not so sure. He accepted an anonymous meet at a Kabuki theatre, only to be attacked upon arrival by the entire Kabuki android cast. In the process, he stops to save a luscious redhead, who we learn is named Sexy Sprockets, a teen pop super star. The next day she contacts him and announces that she needs a bodyguard, that she has received death threats. He agrees to take the case. To make matters worse, HARV - his computerized personal assistant, the most powerful computer in the world - has decided that he wants to "experience" life as a woman. As a long, lean, gorgeous red-head woman who calls herself HARA. Throw in Sexy's three back-up dancers - Missy, Sissy and Lusty, all themselves redheads - and Zach's niece Carol and he is surrounded by redheads. To make matters worse, the Faux network has decided that their new reality TV show will be called "Let's Kill Zach!" and they keep sending assassins after him. Between protecting his client and himself and trying to make peace with his increasingly wrathful girlfriend, Electra Gevada, Zach can't seem to win for losing. Zakour and Ganem are geniuses with the English language and playfully flex and pull at it as much as possible to create some truly awe-inspiring puns and word by-play. This is definitely a book for those who love pulp sci-fi, detective noir or just a fun, well-written novel.

A fun bit of fiction. I've read their previous two Zach books and they were also good, but this one tops the previous stories. Lots of great ideas in here, but it's sadly over too soon. I see there's another newer book out by Zakour and I'm very much looking forward to reading it. If the new one is anything like this book, then I'll be very satisfied.

Again, at the suggestion of a co-worker, I picked these up to pass some time at work. I have enjoyed the ups and downs of these crazy characters, and look forward to the next installment. If you like pulp fiction, mysteries, humor, and science fiction, you will enjoy these three books.

Zach is at it again, and what an opener.. I am re-reading the book and it gets better and better. HARV is at his best, and the laughs never-end. What a compliment to the cross-genre of pulp mysteries and Science Fiction. This series is a must have... I love it and can not wait for the nest one to come out.

In 2060 feeling at times extinct especially when he is on a case, Zachary Nixon Johnson is the last private eye on Earth. His assistant Artificial Intelligence HARV has been downloaded into his brain. Though helpful HARV seems to find ways to irritate Zach especially when he experiments on himself without warning the sleuth. However, this time his partner goes to far when HARV decides to find his feminine side and undergoes a sex change operation so that he is now the she HARA. Zach goes to the Oakland Kabuki Palace Theater and Dinette to meet with a potential client. Kabuki Droid Assassins try to kill him as part of the production The Revenge of the Forty-Seven Samurai. He survives the onslaught and manages to save the life of teen superstar Sexy Sprockets, who the People Against Talentless Acts (PATA) want dead. Things turn worse when the beleagured sleuth learns he is also the star of a new reality show Let's kill Zach so he asks his psi "niece" Carol to help him before realizing that she dyed her hair red same as Sexy and HARA; three redheads cannot be good for anyone's health let alone the world's last private detective. As always in a Zachary tale, zaniness rules as the last living private eye struggles with three lethal scenarios. The network's reality show stars him in a death role; PATA efforts to kill Sexy though he somewhat agrees with their cause; and finally dealing with three volatile redheads at the same time that could lead any male into suicide just to escape. The amusing science fiction mystery story line is lighthearted fun as the escapades keeping coming at Zach. Harriet Klausner