Who Censored Roger Rabbit - Softcover

Gary K. Wolf

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345303253 ISBN 13: 9780345303257

Publisher: Ballantine Books, 1988

Synopsis

In a spoof of hard-boiled detective novels, private eye Eddie Valiant seeks the killer of Roger Rabbit, the famous cartoon character, and finds his chief suspects are Roger's wife and her lover Rocco De Greasy

About this title

About the Author:

It was watching Saturday morning cartoons "for research purposes" that inspired Wolf's idea for Roger Rabbit.

"It was during the commercials," says Wolf. "I saw Tony the Tiger and the Trix Rabbit, and Cap'n Crunch, cartoon characters, talking to real people. And nobody seemed to think that was odd. I thought, 'What a great idea for a novel. A place where Toons lived side by side with humans.' I wove that into a mystery, and bingo, I had my book."

His innovative concept was the basis for the novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit? Wolf found his idea hard to sell -- this time to publishers. Even with three well reviewed science fiction novels to his credit, it took Wolf two years and 110 rejections to find a publisher for his unusual book. "Publishers told me it was too esoteric. Too weird. Nobody would understand it," Wolf explains. Finally, a small publisher took a chance and brought it out. Soon after, Walt Disney Pictures came calling. Disney and Steven Spielberg teamed up to make Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The film became the most critically acclaimed and highest-grossing film of 1988, bringing in more than $750 million at the box office as well as four Academy Awards.
 
Wolf has written ten novels. 
 
He currently lives in Boston.

Review:

This antic mystery, in a tradition -- and on a terrain -- familiar to fans of Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald, amuses as it intrigues.
                        The New York Times

An impressively sustained, original mix of fairy tale and burlesque ... Wacky!
                        Publishers Weekly

A decidedly different and thoroughly enjoyable piece of fiction.  Highly recommended.
                        Roanoke Times and World News

It's fun.  And crazy. And it works.  Gary K. Wolf has created a fast-moving send up of the classic trench coat thriller, turned the world 90 degrees to the left and then stirred in the barnyard beasties of the comic pages.  The action stays frantic.  Wolf creates a world wacky and real enough to keep you turning the page.
                        Long Beach Independent Press Telegram

The style is a well-oiled version of Raymond Chandler, and the characters are about what one would expect if Daffy Duck were to become the producer of "Wild Kingdom".  Hilarious.
                        Kansas City Star

About this edition

• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0345303253
• ISBN 13: 9780345303257
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 218