Elvisin Print

First fictional work of actor and author of actors' guides, Carlson. What would have happened if Elvis's twin, Jesse, had not died at birth? Carlson offers an almost plausible and highly entertaining tale, offering humour and pathos. Good stuff.

Three Elvis impersonators, representing three "ages" of Elvis, entertain American sailors and local bar girls near a US navy base in the Philippines. The relationships between the impersonators, and the girls and the latters' plight when the bar closes, form the basis of a good story, though the ending is overly melodramatic. The author seems to have done his Elvis resarch quite well, though, and Elvis plays an important role throughout. Pity he refers to "All My Trials" as "All My Sorrows". Oh yes, the bar is called "Graceland" and the manager is Colonel Parker!

Second in Klein's "Murder Mystery featuring Elvis Presley" series (the first was "Kill Me Tender") and an excellent follow-up. Elvis sets out to clear an old army colleague of murder, meets some colourful characters along the way, and, with the help of cutting-edge science, finally solves the mystery and unmasks the real culprit. Sounds contrived, but author Klein manages all this whilst maintaining a sense of reality and merging the fiction into the fact of the time. Brilliant!

Elvis fiction can be good, very good. Sadly, this title doesn't match up. A good basis for a story is marred by poor narrative and printing -- far too many coincidences to make the tale believable and far too many errors (mis-spelling, misprints, poor story following) to make its reading enjoyable.

Elvis kidnapped! But the kidnappers, a group of medical students, have only his best interests in mind and manage to persuade him to go along with their plan to save him from self-destruction.

Strange Twilight Zone type tale of a lost traveller, a strange diner, and a waitress who explains the meaning of life as we know it in terms of Elvis, based on biblical prophesy and passages, the quatrains of Nostradamus, Egyptology, numerology... A good satirical jibe at much of the "serious" nonsense that is written along these lines. And what is really good, is that the author actually knows what he's talking about!

Fictional, though with plenty of pseudo-fact thrown in, account of the lives and careers of Elvis and Orson Killere, his fan and friend. Both rebels to start off with, but both eventually tamed, one fully, one fatally. Well written, but you need to take it at more than its face value.

Join hard-talking but softhearted Eddie, a fifty-five year-old ex-Teddyboy, on his nostalgic journey to Scotland in his recently purchased scarlet Cadillac. Some wonderful moments, but few surpassing the traffic-stopping performance of Trilogy which Eddie persuades a squeegee merchant to perform. Elvis is everywhere and a few other rockers get a mention too. Pity about the profanity.

Collection of stories inspired by Elvis. Some good, others not so, but all different!

Fantasy, sci-fi, crime...? Certainly one of the better pieces of fiction featuring Elvis -- or is it Elvis? Presleymania grips much of the US (though, strangely, a state trooper doesn't even recognise the man...) as Elvis is apparently resurrected and heads towards a comeback performance. Strange ending to add to the confusion!

"Elvis Saves" was first published several years ago by the online publisher Xlibris (see above). Promotion was non-existant and the book did not receive the attention it probably deserved. This new publication is a slightly amended version (the change of the name of the company that owns Graceland being the biggest modification) of an intriguing story of a company that manipulates public interest in Elvis and his possible "resurrection" in order to benefit its shareholders, most of whom seem to be on the company's board. And if that sounds a tad familiar, how about a non-existant Elvis being driven in a limousine before a large crowd? Author Yancey might be closer to the truth than even he is aware in this unusual tale. Somehow, I don't think you'll find this book across the street from Graceland! If you have problems finding the book, try the publisher. (Please note that the review deals with the original publication.)

One reviewer said, "Funny, fast-moving and full of mad one-liners." There's no arguing with that, but the link with Elvis is only very tenuous. Call it an interesting curiosity.

At last, a book about Elvis in my own language! This paperback has an unusual cover, mixing It Happened At The World's Fair with Charro! The tale itself describes the imaginary trial of Elvis Presley in the Court of Time where the reader is the Jury. Incidentally, "Diwrnod i'r Brenin" is a Welsh expression, meaning literally, "A Day For The King," but signifying "A Memorable Day" or "A Day to Remember."

"A novel of Elvis Past and Elvis future." Written in a sort of pseudo-newspeak, so not the easiest book in the world to read! Parallel worlds: bad Elvis hoisted from early fifties of one world into some time in future of other, where a religion has developed, for promotional purposes.

Welfare case, Joyce, gains inspiration from Elvis to overcome her own problems and to win against all odds!

Elvis enlists the help of Tom Parker to fake his death, arrange for a new identity and the adventures begin! One way or another, Elvis's dream of becoming a law-enforcement officer is fulfilled, but not all is as it seems. Stretches credibility somewhat, but it's fiction after all.

Elvis becomes a sleuth in the early sixties in order to solve the riddle of the sudden deaths of a number of his fan club presidents. Most of Elvis's entourage get different names, but Tom Parker's his usual obnoxious self. Segregation and white supremacy get well knocked, too -- good stuff! The author has clearly looked carefully at Elvis's character and has put more of the real Elvis into this fictional tale than can be found in many "factual" accounts. If only Elvis could have starred in the film of this book!

Good crime novel. Story based in Germany during Elvis's army service. Is someone trying to kill Elvis -- are the Communists involved? The CIA certainly is and the German police! If you understand German, you'll enjoy this book. If you don't understand German, here's a good excuse to follow lessons!

Summer 1960. Elvis is back from the army and a group of teenagers, living close to Graceland, confront the problems faced by all of their age-group. Elvis helps them now and then with some wise words, but their personal struggles continue until at least some of them come to terms with life after the out-of-control party, known as Lamar's Rebellion.

A time-traveller returns to 1970 and tries to persuade Elvis to change his ways. He does this whilst accompanying Elvis on a flight from the police, taking the two of them to the site of some pyramids in Mexico. Interesting concept.

Subtitled "Confessions of an Accidental Terrorist," which makes a lot more sense than "Shooting Elvis," but would probably have sold less! Elvis is even on the dust-jacket, though his appearance in the story (a modern urban adventure, bombs, car chases and torture, included) is secondary to say the most: in some paintings and singing "Heartbreak Hotel." He does get shot, however -- in more ways than one...

The fourth and perhaps last of Daniel Klein's wonderful "Elvis sleuth" series, following "Kill Me Tender," "Blue Suede Clues" and "Viva Las Vengeance." Another great escapist, pleasant-to-read mystery adventure, filled with colourful characters and unlikely, yet somehow believable situations.

Unusual tale, a mixture of the fiction of Tarzan and the real-life odyssey of Elvis, cleverly moulded into a fantasy biography of Tarzan Presley, discovered in the jungles of New Zealand (honestly!) and brought to the USA to develop into the world-famous entertainer. Uses very recognisable elements from "Tarzan of the Apes" by Edgar Rice Burroughs and the career of Elvis.

Elvis's life (more or less) used as the basis of a story of the life of a fictional singer (Leroy Kirby).

Oh dear. I've done my best to try to read this book, but really can't manage any more. It's a sort of parody on a New Testament gospel and contains references that might make sense to the American (US) reader, but mean little to a European. Written in a sort of pseudo-biblical prose, difficult to read, difficult to comprehend, at least for me, it attempts to tell the story of Elvis in a "biblical" manner, chapter and verse included.

Tupelo, with a barbecue contest, a gathering of Elvis impersonators, a meeting of the Bikers For Jesus, an Elvis lookalike who doesn't think he's Elvis (you'll understand if you read the book...), a murder and a lot of references to Elvis, including some basic flawed biography. Best read with a Southern accent (try Scarlett o'Hara).

Collection of short stories inspired by Elvis. Good stuff!

This book, written by a WWII RAF pilot, scientist, inventor and philosopher, "Is dedicated to the living memory of Elvis Presley...the greatest minstrel of all time." A fairy-tale for young and old, a lovely book.

Even for fiction, this beggars belief, especially when an impersonator appears who supposedly took Elvis's place in the Aloha From Hawaii concerts... This edition is particularly poorly printed, from the badly reproduced cover to the many, many setting and spelling errors in the text itself. For a book about which so much hoo-hah is made, a big disappointment.

Daniel Klein meets Bram Stoker! Elvis meets Dracula! Almost thirty years after his "death", Elvis turns up on the Hawaiian islands, looking fit and healthy and much younger than his almost 70 years. He helps the locals rid the place of some unseemly elements, with a full-blown concert (totally unrehearsed) in the process, as well as drives around the Big Island, with great scenery, lovely girls, fights, car chases... Hang on, this could be another Elvis film!

Third in a series of "Elvis Sleuth" novels and yet another winner from author Klein. Again he cleverly works fiction into Elvis's real-life schedule and interests to produce a story based around a series of crimes in Las Vegas and a bunch of strange and even stranger characters. Can't wait for the next in the series!

Suppose Elvis had been revived after his collapse on 16 August 1977 -- what would have become of him? Profanity spoils the first half of this unlikely tale and excessive syrup, sentiment, and Christian fervour, the second. Best left on the shelf.