Stuff to set the mood for Car Wars.
Some of this is my personal opinion, some of it is stuff I've heard other talk about.
Car Wars Novels:
Square Deal – David Drake
Double Jeopardy – Aaron Allston
Back From Hell – Mick Farren
Short Stories about Car Combat (or with a similar atmosphere):
The Racer – Ib Melchior – 1952 – [
This is the source idea for Roger Corman’s Deathrace 2000]
Passion Play – Roger Zelazny – 1962 (
pub in Last Defender of Camelot) [
robots recreate historic racing crashes]
Auto-da-fe – Roger Zelazny – 1967 (
pub in Last Defender of Camelot) [
Bullfighting vs cars]
Damnation Alley – Roger Zelazny – 1967 (
pub in Last Defender of Camelot) [
rides the line between armed cars and tanks]
Devil Car – Roger Zelazny – 1965 [
haven’t read this – supposedly a man and his car hunting another car]
Last of the Wild Ones (Devil Car Part 2) - Roger Zelazny - 1987 [pub in Unicorn Variations]
[Thanks to OwenMP for the reminder]
Along the Scenic Route {AKA Dogfight on 101} – 1969 – Harlan Ellison [
have now read this – similar to Why Johnny Can’t Speed]
Why Johnny Can’t Speed – Alan Dean Foster – 1971 (
pub in With Friends Like These) [
a prototype Car Wars short story]
The Last Run – Alan Dean Foster – 1982 [
Another great short from Foster. Be careful who you call out for a race.]
Story Collections that contain Car Combat (or that have a similar atmosphere):
Death on Wheels
I recently Finished reading Death on Wheels. Much of which was stuff I had read before. I'm still not sure If I had ever read the Harlan Ellison story "Along the Scenic Route". BUT I can now recommend this book as collection that gathers a lot of great short stories in one easy to grasp collection.
Car Sinister
I'm in the process of reading "Market Forces" by Richard K. Morgan. Not so sure I like the characters, but the Duels have been great so far.
Movies:
Deathrace 2000, the modern Deathrace movies, Deathrace 2050, all the Mad Max movies,
Damnation Alley [also a great book], Duel [by Steven Spielberg – The Ultimate Car vs Big Rig Movie]
10th Victim [also a great book]
Rollerball, Blood of Heroes, Deathsport, Quintet, A Boy and His Dog, Tank Girl, 5th Element, Finale Programme
the original The Fast and the Furious [by Roger Corman], the modern The Fast and The Furious
the Transporter movies, the James Bond movies, DRIVE
Riding Bean [anime OVA based on Bean bandit from Gunsmith Cats]
Music:
Ride On - AC/DC
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
Hell's Bells - AC/DC
Highway Star - Deep Purple
Fuel - Metallica
Low Rider - War
I'm Bad - ZZ Top
Feel free to post and discuss your favorite stuff for setting a Car Wars mood.
I'll probably add to this list over time.