Captains Outrageous

Captain Outrageous is fifth in the hilarious and off-beat Hap and Leonard series by Joe R Lansdale. If you’ve caught the recent TV series you’ll know the set-up: Hap is a working class white man living in East Texas; Leonard is his gay, psychotic, African American best friend. Together they wind up raising merry hell, righting wrongs, taking names, and kicking ass all kinds of ass.

To a degree all of the Hap and Leonard stories can be seen as part of one long picaresque novel. Events are references throughout the series, and each subsequent novel picks up pretty closely from the one that went before, while also remaining relatively standalone. This one sees the twain in holiday mood after Hap saves the daughter of his chicken plant show more boss from a murderous attack and is rewarded with time off and a healthy bonus as a result. They decide to blow their winnings on an ocean cruise of the Caribbean, only to wind up stuck in the middle of Mexico after getting a mix up with a crew member leads to them abandoned during a stopover. Run-ins with corrupt cops and a machete-wielding fisherman are only the start of their worries.

I found this novel an absolute blast. While Lansdale’s prose never rises above the merely readable, he’s a great pure storyteller, able to draw you in from the first few sentences and hold your attention throughout. He does this in a number of ways: a brisk, fast moving plot, colourful characters, and a sharp, no-nonsense narrative voice, shot through with a dry black humour that at times had me laughing out loud.

>>I made a last round and met Leonard in the break room. He had his security guard cap cocked at a jaunty angle and was standing in front of the soda machine, counting out change.
>>When I came in he said, without looking up, “You got a quarter?”
>>I gave him a quarter.
>>“Any chickens try to break out?” I asked.
>>“Nope. None tried to break in either. How about on your side? Any trouble?”

While there are moments of pathos and reflection, these come as natural pauses in the plot rather than shoehorned in for the sake of it, and serve to add an extra layer of meaning to the story that helps to keep the events resonating with the reader long after the close of the book. An important lesson for any writer. Action without meaning is hollow and forgettable. Reflection without action is groundless.

Speaking of action, Lansdale’s a master at describing physical altercations. Case in point: the epic fight scene near the start of the novel, impressive both for its realism, and for its clarity. Fights tend to be difficult to describe. They’re either overly descriptive (and unrealistic as a result), or a confused blur of actions and emotions. Lansdale gets around this by having his protagonist remain relatively cool throughout the encounter, while conveying a growing sense of panic as the opponent begins to get the upper hand. This is in keeping with how I’d imagine a man like Hap would relate a fight. Obviously a less physically capable protagonist would experience things differently. show less

Un buon amico

Lansdale è come il buon amico che tutti sogniamo: serio, malinconico, esilarante, dissacrante, autoironico, pragmatico, protettivo, fedele, sboccato... e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Ogni vicenda della più improbabile coppia di investigatori sembra inevitabilmente destinata a procurar loro guai. Anche quando compiono buone azioni, come quella che dà inizio a questa avventura, ne vien fuori un ingarbugliamento tale che solo grazie alla collaudata partnership riesce a risolversi per il meglio. Ma è sempre un "meglio" relativo: consapevolezze, perdite, ritrovamenti interiori e sbandamenti morali fanno sì che niente sia più come prima. Con qualche ammaccatura in più, si sopravvive per poterla raccontare e per seguitare show more nuove avventure ritrovandosi come buoni vecchi amici. show less

Captain Outrageous is fifth in the hilarious and off-beat Hap and Leonard series by Joe R Lansdale. If you’ve caught the recent TV series you’ll know the set-up: Hap is a working class white man living in East Texas; Leonard is his gay, psychotic, African American best friend. Together they wind up raising merry hell, righting wrongs, taking names, and kicking ass all kinds of ass.

To a degree all of the Hap and Leonard stories can be seen as part of one long picaresque novel. Events are references throughout the series, and each subsequent novel picks up pretty closely from the one that went before, while also remaining relatively standalone. This one sees the twain in holiday mood after Hap saves the daughter of his chicken plant show more boss from a murderous attack and is rewarded with time off and a healthy bonus as a result. They decide to blow their winnings on an ocean cruise of the Caribbean, only to wind up stuck in the middle of Mexico after getting a mix up with a crew member leads to them abandoned during a stopover. Run-ins with corrupt cops and a machete-wielding fisherman are only the start of their worries.

I found this novel an absolute blast. While Lansdale’s prose never rises above the merely readable, he’s a great pure storyteller, able to draw you in from the first few sentences and hold your attention throughout. He does this in a number of ways: a brisk, fast moving plot, colourful characters, and a sharp, no-nonsense narrative voice, shot through with a dry black humour that at times had me laughing out loud.

>>I made a last round and met Leonard in the break room. He had his security guard cap cocked at a jaunty angle and was standing in front of the soda machine, counting out change.
>>When I came in he said, without looking up, “You got a quarter?”
>>I gave him a quarter.
>>“Any chickens try to break out?” I asked.
>>“Nope. None tried to break in either. How about on your side? Any trouble?”

While there are moments of pathos and reflection, these come as natural pauses in the plot rather than shoehorned in for the sake of it, and serve to add an extra layer of meaning to the story that helps to keep the events resonating with the reader long after the close of the book. An important lesson for any writer. Action without meaning is hollow and forgettable. Reflection without action is groundless.

Speaking of action, Lansdale’s a master at describing physical altercations. Case in point: the epic fight scene near the start of the novel, impressive both for its realism, and for its clarity. Fights tend to be difficult to describe. They’re either overly descriptive (and unrealistic as a result), or a confused blur of actions and emotions. Lansdale gets around this by having his protagonist remain relatively cool throughout the encounter, while conveying a growing sense of panic as the opponent begins to get the upper hand. This is in keeping with how I’d imagine a man like Hap would relate a fight. Obviously a less physically capable protagonist would experience things differently. show less

I just love the way Lansdale writes, especially the way his characters interact with one another. It comes off as very conversational, even if it is a bit crude at times, but then again, so are the characters.

This was my second book by Lansdale, and my first Hap and Leonard. I got this particular book when I unexpectedly met Mr. Lansdale at a horror convention a few years ago (it was 2009 or 2010, can't remember exactly which). I had first come across him as a writer when I found a Tarzan story he had written, The Lost Adventure. I have yet to read that, but I bought it on the spot. I then got to meet him at Horrorfind, where I bought this one (at the time, the most recent book he had released) and had him sign it (which is always show more great, but unfortunate if you've changed your name since). Since then, I have only had the chance to read one other Lansdale book, a one-off called Freezer Burn that is a fun, but dark read.

I would put this, and probably most of the Hap and Leonard series, in the same category as Freezer Burn, fun but dark. Hap Collins and Leonard Pine are two of the unluckiest fellows you're likely to meet, if their past adventures are any indication. Just reading Hap's summary of the previous stories makes you feel like buying the poor guy a drink, and maybe something stronger to put him out of his misery. As this one opens, Hap and Leonard are working night security at a chicken plant. Things are going fine until Hap leaves work one night only to come across a wild-man absolutely destroying an innocent girl. Fortunately for the girl, Hap steps in.

From those humble beginnings, we are lead down the path of the lives of Hap and Leonard, two best friends with some of the worst luck. Not even a vacation can be simple for these two, as they are unfortunate enough to find out.

If I had to describe this book to someone, I think the phrase "quintessential Texas" might come up. I mean, having grown up in the South, even as far north as I am from Texas, I've known plenty of people like Hap, Leonard, Brett, Jim Bob, and Charlie. Maybe it's because of that, and the natural way Lansdale has of picking up Hap's narrative from the previous books, I feel like I'm just catching up with old friends. Even without reading any of the previous five Hap and Leonard novels, I understand these two and the world they are coming from as if I was there from the start. Which I will be, as soon as I can read the other books in this series. Hap gives just enough detail of those previous adventures to spark interest without ruining them for someone who came in mid-read like I did. show less

Hap and Leonard on a cruise? And without Bob the armadillo? C’mon...
But Jim Bob Luke does show up ‘bout half way in, so that made my heart pitter patter!

Lots of stuff going on in Mexico in this one. Lots of messy killings. But what sets these books apart is the dialogue and the witty banter, often full of foul, graphic language. I just love it! Hap and Leonard books just hit the right spot in me, and this one is no exception! Thanks Mr. Lansdale!

Another barnstorming adventure featuring Hap and Leonard, Joe R. Lansdale's blue collar couling of white liberal anti-Vietnam war protester and black gay conservative Vietnam vet. Getting into more scrapes than strictly necessary, the ultra violence mixed with the sparkling dialogue make a great addition to any crime library.

In this entry, Hap stops a brutal bashing and is awarded a cruise for two as thanks. He takes Leonard but things soon go pearshaped as they are wont to do with these two. Lots of fun.

Slightly unusually for a Hap and Leonard novel, though not uncharacteristic of Lansdale's style, this is a rambling yarn that encompasses a savage fight at a chicken plant, a cruise, a stranding in Mexico, a beach fight with machetes, a fishing trip with assholes, brutal murders, and a vengeance trail. All that and still a tight plot that has our put-upon duo wondering what, exactly, they've done to deserve all this.