The Good, The Bad, and The Mad

The Good, the Bad, and the Mad by E. Randall Floyd offers a new look at some old characters. The book is a collection of short stories that often serve as mini biographies; however, they are often shallow and hit on only the most noteworthy events in one’s life.

Floyd is no historian, and that shows through his selected vignettes. As an American history major, I’ve come into contact with many of the people mentioned in this book, but Floyd shows his affinity for those that made their money on Science Fiction and Atlantis. This could either be the result of an author being desperate to publish a book, or one who is keen on those topics… For the record it feels like both. I’m not saying that I wasn’t entertained, I just feel as though he ran short of 4 page biographies and fell back on these topics.

While I respect many of his choices, I didn’t enjoy the layout of the book. It was ordered in alphebetical order, so it created a very disjointed feel. I think it would have been a better read if it were organized by occupation or noteworthiness. (ie Pillow and Jackson should have been grouped together since they were Civil War commanders.) There were no shortage of mystics and authors listed, so put them together in groups rather than sprinkle them through the others.

I was won over by the story of Joshua Norton. It was one of the few sections I wish were longer! Norton went bankrupt on a speculation deal, and named himself EMPEROR of San Francisco. The funny thing is…the citizens went with it, and loved the eccentric old man! It was a bright spot in the read, and I’m glad Floyd included it.

Overall I would give this a 3.5/5. This book is perfect for a vacation, or periods where you have a brief time to read. The sections are short enough to get through quickly, but offer enough substance to feel satisfied. Find at a library or a used bookstore.