There are few enough decent television series these days for us to be able to let a good one slip away.  Unfortunately, the TV version of Maximum Bob, starring Beau Bridges, lasted only a few short weeks.  Unfortunate because in this book Elmore Leonard introduces an interesting cast of characters,  Kathy Baker, one of his rare female leads, is okay, but Bob "Maximum Bob" Gibbs, a notoriously lecherous and racist judge prone to harsh sentences, and Leanne, the judge's wife, former mermaid at the Weeki Wachee aqua bar, who--since a close encounter with an alligator--has developed a psychic link with a twelve year old slave girl, are both terrific.

These characters, and a copious serving of lowlifes, combine with Leonard's trademark dialogue to make for a colorful story.  However, the plot just kind of meanders towards a conclusion and the prodigious final body count seems to reflect the author's desire to end the tale rather than any necessary mechanics of the plot.

Television, which is almost totally character and dialogue driven, and where lack of a coherent plot is to be expected, was an ideal medium for this collection of oddballs.  Alas, the show disappeared quickly and though several folks in this intermittently amusing novel are memorable, it doesn't rank among Elmore Leonard's best efforts.

(Reviewed:11-Dec-00)

Grade: (B-)

Book-related and General Links:
    -Elmore Leonard Home (Random House)
    -FEATURED AUTHOR : Elmore Leonard (NY Times Book Review)
    -ESSAY : Easy on the Hopptedoodle (Elmore Leonard, NY Times)
    -REVIEW : of LINES AND SHADOWS By Joseph Wambaugh (Elmore Leonard, NY Times Book Review)
    -INTERVIEW: Elmore Leonard Cools Off (Amazon.com)
    -INTERVIEW : Novels Are Nice, but Oh, to Be a Rock Star (1999, Fletcher Roberts, NY Times)
    -William Morrow: Elmore Leonard
    -Maximum Dutch: Unofficial Elmore Leonard Web Site
    -Dutch Treat: An Elmore Leonard Tribute
    -Home Arts: Elmore Leonard
    -Books Unbound Profile
    -Getting Elmore (metroActive Books)
    -ON THE ROAD WITH ELMORE LEONARD (AND GROUPIES)(Gregory Baird, APB Online)
    -ARTICLE: NOVELIST DISCOVERED AFTER 23 BOOKS  (HERBERT MITGANG, NY Times)
    -ESSAY: ELMORE LEONARD'S ROGUES' GALLERY  (Ben Yagoda, NY Times Book Review)
    -ARCHIVES : "Elmore Leonard" (booksonline uk)
    -REVIEW : of Maximum Bob by Elmore Leonard (Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, NY Times)
    -REVIEW : of MAXIMUM BOB By Elmore Leonard (Barry Gifford, NY Times Book Review)
    -REVIEW: of Maximum Bob Novelist Elmore Leonard gives us maximum laughs, minimal effort (Liz Doup for The Miami Herald)
    -REVIEW : of Swag (Ryan's Rules) by Elmore Leonard (Newgate Callendar, NY Times Book Review)
    -REVIEW : of STICK. By Elmore Leonard (Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, NY Times)
    -REVIEW : of STICK. By Elmore Leonard (George Stade, NY Times Book Review)
    -REVIEW : of Get Shorty By Elmore Leonard  (CHRISTOPHER LEHMANN-HAUPT, NY Times)
    -REVIEW : of GET SHORTY By Elmore Leonard (Nora Ephron, NY Times Book Review)
    -REVIEW : of BE COOL By Elmore Leonard  (CHRISTOPHER LEHMANN-HAUPT, NY Times)
    -REVIEW : of BE COOL By Elmore Leonard  (Kinky Friedman, NY Times Book Review)
    -REVIEW : of RUM PUNCH By Elmore Leonard (Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, NY Times)
    -REVIEW : of RUM PUNCH By Elmore Leonard (Ann Arensberg, NY Times Book Review)
    -REVIEW : of Pagan Babies by Elmore Leonard (Frederick Zackel, January Magazine)
    -REVIEW : of Cuba Libre by Elmore  Leonard (Grey Gowrie, booksonline uk)

TELEVISION :
    -EPISODE GUIDE : Maximum Bob (Scott Klobas, epguides)
    -INFO : Maximum Bob (1998)(imdb)

FILMS :
    -FILMOGRAPHY : Elmore Leonard (Imdb)
    -INFO : Jackie Brown (1997) (novel Rum Punch) (imdb)
    -INFO : Get Shorty (1995) (imdb)
    -INFO : 52 Pick-Up (1986) (imdb)
    -INFO : Hombre (1967) (imdb)
    -From Hombre to Jackie Brown: at the movies with Elmore Leonard (Pure Fiction)
 

GENERAL :
    -P.I.s, Dicks, and Mystery Men (Jesse Sublett, Weekly Wire)
    -REVIEW: Luc Sante: The Gentrification of Crime, NY Review of Books

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