Geek Speak – Read This: Drive (the novel by James Sallis)
by Daniel
I am an unapologetic fan of the film Drive.
I own the soundtrack and I will, very soon, own the DVD (it comes out on the 31st)—which says something, because I rarely buy DVDs any more (thanks to Netflix).
I decided I had to read the original novel by James Sallis on which the film is based.
Like most novels which become films, I went into Drive expecting major differences. There are differences, yes, but they are minimal (and in the film’s case, logical)—and the novel is about as brutal and violent as the film (if not more so), which surprised me, as the film’s violence inches close to grindhouse/exploitation levels.
The novel is short—only around 160 pages. Don’t let the length fool you, the novel puts those limited pages to great use. Drive is a good study in, as some of my writer pals like to say, “economy of words.” I am a fan of non-linear storytelling, and Drive makes use of it—although, I will confess to getting lost at times, and I had to go back and reread a few parts.
Like in the film, the main character is never named, save for the title “Driver.” Also like the film, Driver is calm, reserved and quiet—until he is forced to lash out, which he does, plenty of times. Driver makes for an intriguing, sometimes confusing, anti-hero with plenty of layers who echoes the likes of The Man With No Name or pre-Thunderdome Mad Max.
Drive moves with fast, crazy action—and it works. I could not put the book down. If you are a fan of the film, give this one a read.
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Daniel J. Hogan is the geek half of Ginger and the Geek. He is also the host of the Magic of Eyri Podcast. He is also an unapologetic Cabin Boy fan. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.
