Burton Wohl - Death Ride (aka Rollercoaster)

[dem bones]

Burton Wohl - Death Ride (Granada 1980: originally 1977 as Rollercoaster)

Photo: John Knights

Based on the screenplay by Richard Levinson & William Link

Blurb:
KILLER AT THE CARNIVAL
High, high above the crowded amusement park, the rollercoaster climbs towards its summit. Soon the cars will begin their gut-wrenching sixty-mile-an-hour plunge.

And down below a pleasant-looking young man presses the button on a remote-control detonator.

Seconds later, the revellers' squeals of excitement turn to screams of terror as the ‘coaster hurtles off into a void where death and mutilation wait . ..

Stage one of Eddie Parnassus' master-plan is complete. Unless someone can stop him, he will soon be the richest mass killer in history ....

"Funny how much blood there is inside a human being. You'd think we'd slosh when we walk."

We first meet Eddie Parnassus - sane MAD BOMBER, master of disguises, etc - on a Californian beach feeding cyanide sandwiches to seagulls. Inspired by a recent tragedy (AMUSEMENT PARK DISASTER: TOTS DIE IN ROLLER CRASH!), Eddie devises a get-rich-quick scheme. Exploit current industry jitters to extort a million bucks. To this end, he detonates a bomb on the tracks of the 'Sky Rocket' at Ocean View Park. Fourteen fatalities, multiple injuries, blood and bits of limb everywhere. Ten days later, an arson attack on Wonderland, Pittsburgh. No casualties, but a tape recorded message outlining his demands warns that next time he'll not be merciful.

Chicago. Hotel room. A hastily convened, top secret meeting of the presidents of America's five major Amusement Park corporations. Eddie, masquerading as room service, plants an electronic bug under a table. Harry Calder, maverick safety inspector, likewise evades security to warn the money men that the extortionist is eminently capable of delivering on his threat. He advises they consult the FBI. Eddie, listening in, warms to Harry. Yes, he decides. It will be Harry who delivers his $1 million pay off. In a novelty hat with a propeller on top; and a bomb in his hand.

Harry is uncomfortable with Hoyt's admission that the Feds have bugged his home. Hoyt solemnly reassures him they've no interest in snooping on his bedroom activities. Pretend we're not here. Just carry on as normal.

Girlfriend Fran calls around.

'Oh - and Harry -'
'Yes?'
'Be careful.'
He Laughed. 'Up yours.'
'Yes, please.' she said.
'Deal. The moment I get off the plane.'

Plenty of time for the boys in the viewing room to order beers and pizza.

Kings Dominion Park, Virginia. Eddie runs rings around the authorities to make off with his $1 million, but they've not played fair. Marked bills! They - or rather, thousands of innocent fairgoers - will pay dearly for the insult!

Independence day. The grand opening of the 35, 000 capacity of the Grand Mountain Amusement Park, South California, showcasing 'The Great American Revolution!,' a state of the art, stainless steel rollercoaster designed by Mercedes Benz. To open the event, a rock concert headlined by techno-glamsters Sparks in the movie/ uncredited in novel. Author not a fan.

"At the bandstand, this week's semi-spectacular rock queen was communing with her subjects and the atmosphere was pandemonium - controlled and highly profitable pandemonium. The entire crowd seemed to be in motion, jumping, swaying, vibing to the sound of this pigeon-breasted woman with the voice of a maniacal, over-amplified chipmunk."

Harry persuades Hoyt that, from a wealth of potential candidates countrywide, this will be the bomber's next target. The sheer magnitude of the occasion will prove irresistible to a man of his gargantuan ego. Meanwhile, the lucky first ticket holders board the ' Revolution, all set to scream. We can be sure they'll get their money's worth.

Unlike the first edition, little indication that this is a novelization of 1977 disaster movie Rollercoaster - it is almost as though the publisher found it expedient to play down the book's origins (film tie-ins rarely generate a favourable press). Wohl gets the job done in a brisk 144 pages, making the best of the tricky hand he's been dealt, but the clichés come so thick and fast it reads like Airplane! relocated to Disneyland.

Fil under: Looks like Harry picked the wrong week to give up smoking.

[sadako]

That’s weird. This 1962 novel is also called Death Ride, and also centred around an amusement park, a rollercoaster prominent on the cover.