 Book
Review:
Speed Demon
Written by Jim Bosworth
Copyright 1958, Ace Books
Price on cover 35 cents
Price we paid: 15 dollars
A Harlequin romance for a
racerchick.
I haven't read a romance novel
since high school and didn't want to start
now. It took all my energy to get past the
front page of Speed Demon and begin to read.
From the look of the front cover I wished it
to be more racing than romance and thankfully
it was.
Martin Janis is a young racing
star in America. Racing for a wealthy man's
team, driving his car and sleeping with the
team owner's young Italian wife - you would
think he had achieved the ultimate racers
dream. Throw in some conflict by introducing a
young fresh American girl and a chance to race
for an Italian factory team and all of a
sudden his life is taking a different course.
Racing for the famous Corsetti
team proves a struggle for Martin. Corsetti
the owner himself refuses to talk to the young
American because of the pain he still feels
over his son's tragic racing accident. Martin
who wants to get behind the wheel right away
is even more frustrated at the fact before he
can fulfill his dreams he must study the car
from the bolt up. This frustration trickles to
his relationship with the young Charlotte who
has followed him to Italy. Their scandalous
liaison (this is 1958) ends when the Italian
beauty Anna returns into the picture - finally
divorced and wanting to fund a [future]
champion and his racing.
Leaving both Charlotte and
Corsetti, Martin finally has his chance to
show his talent on the race track but his fear
of racing with the front running Mercedes
drivers destroys his confidence and Anna's
funding. Anna wants a champion not a "coward"
as she thinks he is now. Tail between his legs
and without Anna's money, cars or
companionship Martin goes back to Corsetti and
Charlotte.
Does he prove he is a great
racer. No. He drives without
remorse, teamwork and talent. Does his
reckless racing give him the win - yes
unfortunately, but he is injured enough
to never race again. Is it poetic justice?
Speed Demon is surprisingly
easy to read and follow. The author's obvious
experience with the sport allows the majority
of the story to be valid. Yet certain chapter
on the races themselves have a somewhat
"Driven" (the movie) quality. An occasional
1958 era idea or thought is thrown in for the
2003 reader's amusement. But what makes up for
the fluff is Martin Janis' character answering
such question such as..
"Why did a man have to go
fast, and faster and never be satisfied with
fast enough?"
My answer was simple - to catch
up to the racerchick ahead of him.
Nika
Rated: simple read for a rainy
day when no racing is on TV and the garage is
clean, car washed, tools put away, closet
organized etc.
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