The Taking of Pelham 123 » (Reprint)

John Godey is the pen name of Morton Freedgood, who achieved commercial success with the books A Thrill a Minute With Jack Albany, Never Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Can Kill Today, and The Three Worlds of Johnny Handsome. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, his novel about the hijacking of a New York City subway train, was a bestseller in 1973 and was made into a hit movie starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw in 1974. A remake starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta is scheduled to be released in summer 2009.

“You will all remain seated. Anyone who tries to get up, or even moves, will be shot.
There will be no further warning. If you move you will be killed…”

Four men seize a New York City subway train, and hold its passengers hostage. The identities of the hijackers are unknown. Their demands seem impossible. Their threats are real. Their escape would seem inconceivable. Only one thing is certain: they aren’t stopping for anything.

“Chillingly real.”–Newsweek

“A cliff-hanger.”–The New Yorker

“Harrowing, terrifying, and so, so good.”–Business Week



From the Compact Disc edition.