The Road to Perdition

by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner

Book Overview

The basis for the major motion picture, ROAD TO PERDITION is an enthralling crime noir story of revenge, morality and family loyalty. Michael OSullivan is a deeply religious family man who works as an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743442245
• ISBN13: 9780743442244
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

It’s a comic book.

It’s not a Novel which I was expecting it’s a comic book. A little disappointed.

You must choose a road for yourself.

This is a great black and white "noir" graphic novel. There was a Road to Perdition based on it, which you may have seen. The book is better, in my opinion. It is masterfully written, and the art is great. It's almost 300 pages long, but it just flies by. Highly recommended.

The novelization is better than the movie

My first comment about Max Allan Collins' Road to Perdition novelization is that I admire him for sticking to the changes of David Self's screenplay, despite his being the author of the original graphic novel Road to Perdition. The second thing, and probably more important, is that I enjoyed Collins' novelization more than the movie Road to Perdition as directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty). Collins' tight prose is a very different approach than Mendes' inherently visual style that often focuses on cinematographic set pieces in lieu of powerful storytelling. However, one cannot help picturing Tom Hanks and Paul Newman in their respective roles, especially given Collins' knack for describing the characters as seen on the screen. For example, this description of John Rooney describes Newman far better than the original John Looney: "The lanky, almost-tall, white-haired, white-mustached paterfamilias had been a rakishly handsome young man. And even now, in his seventies, his powder-blue eyes, prominent cheekbones, and strong chin gave him the sort of distinctive good looks many a lady ... still sighed over." I've long admired Collins from afar, having not read any of his work prior to Two for the Money. His prolificity astonished me, particularly one I began seeing his name appearing frequently on CSI tie-in novels. I had seen the movie Road to Perdition, as I mentioned, but, not being particularly impressed by the film, had not pursued any further work by the author until Two for the Money was published by Hard Case Crime (a new publisher I greatly admire) and I actually was immersed into the author's literary world. That changed my mind and I decided to give Collins a chance to tell his own version when I found the Road to Perdition novelization at a library sale. "Angel of Death" Michael Sullivan is the chief enforcer for crime boss John Rooney and they share a father and son-type relationship. When Sullivan's own son Michael, Jr., witnesses a hit done by Sullivan and Rooney's jealous (and possibly crazy) son Connor, Connor decides to protect his interests by having the boy killed. A mistaken identity leaves only the two Michaels alive and Sullivan sets out for revenge, with son in tow, by hitting them where it will hurt the most. A combination crime thriller, period piece, revenge treatise, and coming-of-age novel, Road to Perdition satisfies on all levels. As young Michael becomes aware of his father's work, he learns the skills needed to do it properly, becoming a man and tightening their relationship in the process. Through this, the reader learns that even a hired killer loves his family. Collins' sensitivity towards family within these lurid surroundings exhibit his incomparable skill at hiding his literary (and historical) sensibility within familiar genre trappings. Max Allan Collins is one author whose works are both fun and good for you.

So good you can read it twice.

The graphic novel "Road to Perdition," the basis for the movie of the same name, is a grim, bloody work about the grim, bloody world of an assassin for the Chicago mob whose family gets pulled into the violent fray of his business.Michael O'Sullivan is a man conscious of morality, though he is not a good man. His "business," which he does because he's expert with a rifle and because his boss raised him like a son, is kept separate from his normal life, in which he's a loving, churchgoing husband and father of two boys. The boys are curious about his life outside of home, so one day the oldest son tags along on a mob hit - and endangers the family.The book, based upon the Japanese "Lone Wolf and Cub" series, is gorgeous to look at - the art really looks like old newspaper photos of actual crime scenes. This gives the work an authentic feel that evokes the period and is incredibly haunting. The book's plot goes differently in some ways from the film's, and the book is actually better than the film. Michael is never portrayed as a soft man - even as he saves his son. The son is soon drawn into the world of killing people, unlike the son in the film, and has to save his father many times.The ending of the book, which is different from the movie's ending and which I won't give away here, is a nice, ironic touch.This is one thought-provoking, consistently interesting piece of art.

A hard road for Michael O'Sullivan and Son

In the Christian vernacular, Perdition is the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment. It can also mean the utter loss of the soul, or of final happiness in a future state. Here, Perdition is the name of a small town where sanctuary and salvation lie for a young boy and his father.This comic is part tragedy/part action-flick/part morality play, with each part blending into a complex whole. Historical figures, such as Frank Nitty, Al Capone and Eliot Ness hold the stage with the semi-fictional O'Sullivan family. It is Chicago in the 1930's, a time as operatic as the English middle ages with Knights and Castles, or the Tokugawa era of Japan where "Road to Perdition's" ancestor "Lone Wolf and Cub" is set. Trench coats and Tommy-guns play the part of swords and armor, with equal splendor and symbolism. The art is splendidly realistic and well-crafted. The realism of the art allows for non-comic readers to instantly enter the story. The comic is black and white, like the characters within. The format is pocket-book sized and is easily portable. The author includes a nice forward, explaining the stories origins and historical setting."Road to Perdition" is a great read. I am not generally a huge fan of historical fiction, or of crime fiction, but this one won me over.

"one great ride" is an understatement.

I love this book! I don't usually read comics but, This thing blew me away! from the cinematic action sequences , the great story , even up to some cliches that still blended well with the theme. If you've never bought a comicbook in your life, Buy this book. If you're tired of the repeatative comic book themes you usually get in the mainstream comics, GET THIS BOOK , and experience something different ,yet feels right at home. Mr. Mickey Spillane's review "one great ride" is an understatement.