'Elvis vs Hitler'
Elvis Is Alive IV
By Mickey Maughon
Book Review by Nigel Patterson, May 2023
|
Book Review
Elvis vs Hitler: Elvis Is Alive IV
by Robert Mickey Maughon
Reviewed by Nigel Patterson , May 2023 |
|
Book description: Fictional account that speculates how a world-famous music and entertainment icon is called upon to help his country, the United States of America, by exposing a dictator wanna-be mad scientist who has his mind set on world dominance via nuclear weaponry. Ironically, this dictator bears a striking resemblance to the world renown entertainer, even to the point of being indistinguishable from the icon, including his musical and performance skills, and is using that skill set to put his evil plan into action.
Mickey Maughon's series of Elvis Is Alive books has grown to four, with the recent publication of Elvis vs Hitler: Elvis Is Alive IV .
While the title may be off-putting for some readers, as with the previous three books in the series, the latest volume is a neatly written and interesting story, one which takes place circa the year 2000. For those who remember it, the book has nothing to do with the cult psycho-billy band from the late 1980s, Elvis Hitler (most noted for its album, Disgraceland).
Maughon's series of novels are premised on the idea that Elvis did not die in 1977. The first volume, Elvis Is Alive, had Elvis living in Paris in the mid-late 1990s, Elvis Returns: Elvis Is Alive II had him living in the red Australian outback, and Elvis Forever: Elvis Is Alive III was supposed to be the concluding chapter. However, Robert Mickey Maughon obviously had a change of heart, and his Elvis Presley is back.
The Hitler in the story is not Adolf, but his "mirror image" son, Ivan, who also happens to be an Elvis tragic.
Apart from Elvis and Ivan, the principal characters include Adrianna (Ivan's partner), Katarina (Elvis' beauty queen partner who also plays a critical role in relation to Ivan), Nikita Khrushchev, and Dick and Pat Nixon (aka the President and First Lady). A nightclub operated by Ivan is called Red Elvis and the narrative also has President Nixon eating a McDonald's cheeseburger!
Ivan also has access to technology which makes him a threat to the survival and security of the world. In this context, Elvis is summoned to the White House…..
The author's prose is evocative and flows effortlessly:
Between sobs, Ivan looked up and grabbed Hilda's long blonde hair and buried his tortured face into her long golden locks. Nursemaid Hilda tightly held the 'sobbing load' and headed into the back seat of the silver Mercedes.
Nikita looked again at the gyrating Ivan in the middle of the apartment and simply shook his head in confusion...Nikita threw his hand out, pointing to the human dynamo attempting to mimic the Western World's Rock music icon, Elvis Presley.
While Ivan may be a passionate fan of Elvis, he is also a sworn enemy of the democratic-capitalist west and seeking retribution for the loss of his father and mother. He also has grand aspirations:
When Ivan released the smiling and giggling Adrianna, he looked skyward and gave a 'Heil Hitler' salute again and declared, "ALL I need is SIX ICBMs...ONE FOR EACH CONTINENT... and with the Hitler Nuclear Bomb for each missile the....I... Ivan Hitler, will CONQUER THE WORLD ...AND..... I.... Ivan Hitler.... WILL RULE THE WORLD!!!
Elvis vs Hitler essentially establishes the back story for the principal characters and sets the scene for what may well be a cataclysmic fifth volume in the series as the book closes with:
The End?
The answer can soon be found in: Elvis vs Hitler 2 (Elvis Is Alive 5)
The book occupies 222 pages (6 x 9 inches), although it could have been less as there is excessive use of white space on each page. Elvis vs Hitler is available in softcover and Kindle formats.
Verdict: Elvis vs Hitler: Elvis Is Alive IV is another solid novel from Mickey Maughon. The characters and plot maintain interest with some neat twists and turns, and the final section indicates there is a tense concluding volume yet to come.
Click to comment on this Review
Book Review by Nigel Patterson.
-Copyright EIN May 2023
EIN Website content © Copyright the Elvis Information Network.
Book Review: 8mm Elvis - The Story of Elvis on 8mm': Long before the days of Bluray, DVD and VHS people watched home movies on 8mm film.
'8mm Elvis The Forgotten Format' is a glossy, colour, hardback book cataloguing the history of Elvis on 8mm film.
Author Vince Wright has been collecting all the Elvis 8mm he could find since the 80s.
He explained.. “I was cataloguing all these films hoping someone would write a book about it – I waited, they didn’t, so I did.”
So in 2023, and after many years of searching and researching, the author has released his comprehensive narrative and visual record of Elvis on 8mm.
This book is unique in its narrative and visual content and is an important inclusion in the complex jigsaw puzzle that forms a complete record of the multi-varied story of Elvis Presley.
Go here to read Nigel Patterson's review
(Book Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork) |
 |
'The Airplanes & The King' In-depth review: The original spanish book 'Los Aviones Y El Rey' by Carlos Varrenti was republished as an expanded English version 'The Airplanes & The King' towards the end of 2022.
Not only that but it was expanded from its original 197 pages to an amazing 400 pages with a lot of unreleased material and stunning photos from the 'Elvis Files' vaults!
The English version was unfortunately delayed by supply issues due to the worldwide Covid pandemic - but has now been published as a High quality Hardback book.
As an Aeronautical engineer and Elvis fan, Varrenti is well qualified to write a book which details Elvis’ history with his aircraft and his link to aeronautics in general. With photos and stories from 1955 through to 1977 - and beyond - the book is also an interesting historical look at Elvis’ life "on tour" but this time with an delightfully original theme.
EIN's Nigel Patterson takes a very detailed look at this impressive publication and discovers a trove of delights...
(Book Reviews, Source:ElvisInformationNetwork) |
 |
(Book Review) Elvis Live At The International 50th Anniversary Edition (Kieran Davis): In 2011, Kieran Davis released the highly praised book, Elvis Live At The International. In 2022, he has published an expanded 50th Anniversary edition…and what an expansion it is!
The latest edition dwarfs the original with 432 pages compared to 172 in the original release.
And the added 250+ pages of additional material is stunning, making the 50th Anniversary release one of the best Elvis books published in 2022.
As its title reflects, the book covers Elvis' appearances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas between 1969 and 1971 (it was renamed the Las Vegas Hilton in July 1971). The narrative element is significantly based around fan, Peggy Elzea’s copious diaries, and a bumper array of archival material. Peggy’s experience seeing Elvis in Las Vegas is one every fan will envy.
There is so much fascinating information and so many striking images in the book that it is hard to know where to start in describing it...
Read Nigel Patterson’s detailed 2,700 words review
(Book Review, Source:ElvisInformationNetwork) |
 |
(Book Review) 'The Sonic Swagger of Elvis Presley: A Critical History of the Early Recordings' (Gary Parker):. ‘For Elvis Presley, stardom was the promise, and he made the trip, but at an extraordinarily high cost’. This is one of the thought provoking themes in Gary Parker’s latest book which critically examines in thoroughly researched detail, Elvis’ seminal recordings in the 1950s (as well as more briefly discussing Elvis’ post Army recordings).
Noting that... "Elvis' clever manipulation of his numerous interests remains one of the music world's great marvels. Presley, with one foot in delta mud and the other in a country hoedown, teamed with Scotty Moore and Bill Black to fuse two distinctly American musical forms -- country and blues -- to form what would come to be known as 'rockabilly'". This is a book with plenty to discuss.
In their 2,100 words collaboration, EIN’s Nigel Patterson and Piers Beagley, review what they have found to be one of the best, and most important, Elvis book releases of 2022.
Read the full review here
(Book Review, Source: ElvisInformationNetwork) |
|
Book Review - Elvis: The Quest For An Oscar (James Turiello): Many will find it surprising that someone could write more than 500 pages detailing the case why Elvis deserves to receive an Honorary Academy Award, but author James Turiello has achieved this with his latest book.
EIN's Nigel Patterson spent a weekend exploring the author's argument.
Can someone who appeared in Kissin' Cousins, Harum Scarum and Clambake really be Oscar worthy?
In a detailed review, Nigel discusses what the book has to offer and provides his assessment of whether or not the author successfully makes his case that Elvis is deserving of an Honorary Oscar.
Go here to read Nigel's insightful review
(Book Review, Source:ElvisInformationNetwork) |
.
|
EIN Website content © Copyright the Elvis Information Network.
Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club.
. |
