Mr. Pizza's Hardy Boys Forum

Other Hardy Boys Series Discussion => Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers => Topic started by: Sam Spade on July 23, 2007, 12:33:36 AM

Title: #18 Pushed
Post by: Sam Spade on July 23, 2007, 12:33:36 AM
In case you're interested, this is the plot for the new Undercover Brothers book #18 Pushed from the S&S website. ;D

ATAC BRIEFING FOR AGENTS FRANK AND JOE HARDY

MISSION:

Investigate the murder of Evan Davis, a runaway teen who was pushed off a subway platform.

LOCATION:

New York City.

POTENTIAL VICTIM:

Other teens living at the Haven, a shelter for runaways in the city.

SUSPECTS:

Everyone from another resident of the shelter who ended up with Evan's jacket to Evan's own dad, a politician who wanted to keep his son a secret.

THIS MISSION REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THIS MESSAGE WILL BE ERASED IN FIVE SECONDS.

By the way, Pushed is comeing out on, or around September 25th
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on July 23, 2007, 01:42:55 PM
Quote from: Sam Spade on July 23, 2007, 12:33:36 AM
LOCATION:

New York City.

This will be only the second time in the UB series that the Hardy?s have visited New York City, NY?s first appearance was at the being of Mission #8 so this will be the first whole story to take place in NY.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Centrion on August 04, 2007, 11:42:20 AM
Looks good, a subway? Hmm, not bad. 1 month away till realese. In NYC? should be good.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: tomswift2002 on October 15, 2007, 06:44:34 PM
I've just started to read Pushed, and, already, I'm placing this book in the same category as UB #5 Rocky Road, since the continuity with the rest of the series --- infact, what continuity does this book have?

I'm finding that the Hardy's are doing stuff for no apparent reason, the guy on the video from ATAC is named as a contact, whereas, in the previous volumes of UB and the Graphic Novels, they've introduced the announcer (since #6) as "Q".  Plus, why are the Hardy's getting a video cassette that blows up to tell them what their mission is?  What happened to the VideoCD reformat into an Audio CD security feature?

Also, the story is not as interesting in this book.  The entire concept of the story reminds me of Blood Relations mixed with Cult Of Crime to a very disappointing degree.  Both of those books are far, far better than Pushed.

Rating on Pushed, so far: F-
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: White Eagle on October 18, 2007, 01:21:09 PM
Definitely.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Centrion on December 01, 2007, 05:10:43 PM
Hopefully S&S will pull the UBs out of this death spiral.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: tomswift2002 on December 02, 2007, 01:59:52 PM
I made that last post on October 15, and I'm still on pg. 50 of Pushed, and yet, in that time I've managed to read two of the older Digests, William Shatner's new Star Trek Academy book, Keith R.A. Decandido's Q&A and Peter David's Before Dishonor, plus A Hardy Day's Night by Scott Lobdell, and I still have not picked up Pushed to see what happens in it.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Olivia on December 02, 2007, 02:25:54 PM
I like the overall concept of the plot, but I'm not sure about the writing. I think some parts were interesting enough - I liked how some of their ordinary life was shown (as it is in a lot of books, but it was different in a way).

There was a lot of humour/teasing too, I noticed.

But for one thing, I felt like some parts were either over-developed or not developed enough.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Olivia on December 02, 2007, 06:47:19 PM
Forgot to add: I noticed on p.36 they have Lily Fowler from Bayport, New Jersey. So Frank and Joe live in NJ?

I thought that they would live in New York. I think the ATAC database makes the same assumption, right?

I'm trying to remember past UB books that mention their location. Like Kidnapped at the Casino? Did it say that they stay in-state or something?

Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Centrion on December 02, 2007, 07:34:09 PM
I'm almost positive this is the first time their actual state was mentioned, because I always wondered that. In the digest The Castle Conundrum, it said the lived in New York.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Sam Spade on December 02, 2007, 10:37:43 PM
Quote from: tomswift2002 on December 02, 2007, 01:59:52 PM
I made that last post on October 15, and I'm still on pg. 50 of Pushed, and yet, in that time I've managed to read two of the older Digests, William Shatner's new Star Trek Academy book, Keith R.A. Decandido's Q&A and Peter David's Before Dishonor, plus A Hardy Day's Night by Scott Lobdell, and I still have not picked up Pushed to see what happens in it.

Wow!
You must really hate that book, Tom!
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: White Eagle on December 03, 2007, 10:18:35 AM
Found it at the library. It isn't terrible, but not all that.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Sam Spade on December 03, 2007, 01:40:59 PM
Quote from: oliviatocali on December 02, 2007, 06:47:19 PM
Forgot to add: I noticed on p.36 they have Lily Fowler from Bayport, New Jersey. So Frank and Joe live in NJ?

I'm trying to remember past UB books that mention their location. Like Kidnapped at the Casino? Did it say that they stay in-state or something?

The location of Kidnapped at the Casino, is in Atlantic City, NJ. Also, on the back of UB #9, Martial Law, it said: "LOCATION: Holtsville. Just south of Bayport.", and you find out in the book that Holtsville is in New Jersey. Also, the location in UB #3, Boardwalk Bust , is Ocean Grove, NJ.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Centrion on December 03, 2007, 03:28:50 PM
Hmm, wonder why S&S changed it. Maybe to liven the new series up?
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Olivia on December 03, 2007, 05:38:46 PM
I find it hard to picture them in NJ, I'm so used to NY!
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: tomswift2002 on December 03, 2007, 07:49:54 PM
In Wanted on pg. 50 there is a news story, and the news story describes the thefts of a couple of motorcycles and a dunebuggy from the "Jersey Shore". 


Of course, in "Rocky Road", it says that for the Hardy's to get from Bayport to Niagra Falls, New York, it is 9 hours from Bayport (pg. 26 Aunt Gertrude), and that the Hardy's would be on the New York State Thruway, then on pg. 42 it says that they rode through the heart of New York State, and on pg. 61 it says that Canton, Ohio is almost 600 miles away. 

Maybe Bayport is one of those cities where it is on the border of a state/province-country, like Niagra Falls (Ontario-Canada, New York-United States) and Kansas City (Kansas, Missouri), so it is Bayport (New York, New Jersey) that the boys live in.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Olivia on December 04, 2007, 09:51:55 PM
Quote from: tomswift2002 on December 03, 2007, 07:49:54 PM
In Wanted on pg. 50 there is a news story, and the news story describes the thefts of a couple of motorcycles and a dunebuggy from the "Jersey Shore". 


Of course, in "Rocky Road", it says that for the Hardy's to get from Bayport to Niagra Falls, New York, it is 9 hours from Bayport (pg. 26 Aunt Gertrude), and that the Hardy's would be on the New York State Thruway, then on pg. 42 it says that they rode through the heart of New York State, and on pg. 61 it says that Canton, Ohio is almost 600 miles away. 

Maybe Bayport is one of those cities where it is on the border of a state/province-country, like Niagra Falls (Ontario-Canada, New York-United States) and Kansas City (Kansas, Missouri), so it is Bayport (New York, New Jersey) that the boys live in.

Yeah, good point! It seems likely.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on May 25, 2009, 03:56:29 PM
If you check the website for The Hidden Theft, somewhere it says that there is a Bayport in Long Island, New York.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on May 26, 2009, 03:17:24 PM
Yeah, that's where the real-world Bayport is.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on May 28, 2009, 04:49:12 PM
So, maybe that's where the HBs live.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: JoeHardyRocks on May 28, 2009, 06:33:54 PM
The HBs live in Bayport.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on May 30, 2009, 09:50:38 AM
But it always seems like the Bayport city changes. In the 1970s TV series, they lived in Massachusetts. And from what I've read in the hardback series, it sounded like they lived in New York.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: tomswift2002 on May 30, 2009, 10:03:24 AM
I know that in the Original series Bayport seems to be in either New York or the states above and below New York. 

In the Casefiles and Digests Bayport seems to be in New York state for sure.

With the Undercover Brothers books some people believe that Bayport is like Niagra Falls.  There is a Niagra Falls in Ontario, Canada, and right across from that Niagra, in the US there is Niagra Falls, New York, US.  And then there is also Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.  So could there be a Bayport, New York, US, and a Bayport, New Jersey, US?

Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on May 30, 2009, 12:08:35 PM
Maybe. Question is which one?
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on May 30, 2009, 03:17:08 PM
I most of the books (Originals, Digests, and Casefiles) it seems Bayport is in New York. I always go the must common version, when there's a continuity problem.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: FrankJoeATAC on May 30, 2009, 09:33:47 PM
I always thought Bayport was in New York.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: JoeHardyRocks on May 31, 2009, 07:44:39 PM
Because it is.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on June 01, 2009, 02:05:13 AM
...in your humble opinion.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: JoeHardyRocks on June 01, 2009, 04:34:20 PM
Where do you think it is then? ::)
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on June 01, 2009, 07:47:45 PM
Well, it depends what book you read, but I always had it in my mind that Bayport was in NJ.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: tomswift2002 on June 01, 2009, 08:19:56 PM
Quote from: SDLagent on June 01, 2009, 07:47:45 PM
Well, it depends what book you read, but I always had it in my mind that Bayport was in NJ.

The only series that has ever stated that Bayport was in New Jersey was the Undercover Brothers series.  The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries, in the episode Acapulco Spies, has Fenton Hardy stating that Bayport is in Massachussets, while the Casefiles have Bayport in New York.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on June 01, 2009, 11:53:40 PM
Yeah, I know that, but in my mind, for whatever reason, it's been Bayport, NJ.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on June 10, 2009, 09:58:49 AM
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. We can call it whatever we want (right?).
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on June 11, 2009, 12:31:09 AM
No you can't! My word is law.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: FrankJoeATAC on June 11, 2009, 08:42:21 PM
Quote from: SDLagent on June 11, 2009, 12:31:09 AM


Not if I can erase it!
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: NZone on June 11, 2009, 08:43:44 PM
It's in New York
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: FrankJoeATAC on June 11, 2009, 08:45:15 PM
Agreed.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: JoeHardyRocks on June 11, 2009, 09:05:04 PM
Totally.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on June 11, 2009, 10:15:46 PM
Don't repeat each other.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on June 12, 2009, 03:26:01 PM
Quote from: SDLagent on June 11, 2009, 12:31:09 AM
No you can't! My word is law.

Riiiiiiiight.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: JoeHardyRocks on June 12, 2009, 06:19:43 PM
Quote from: SDLagent on June 11, 2009, 10:15:46 PM
Don't repeat each other.

I didn't. She said "Agreed" and I said "Totally". :P
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on June 13, 2009, 12:22:54 AM
Good girls. You didn't do it again.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: JoeHardyRocks on June 13, 2009, 10:30:20 PM
:P
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on June 14, 2009, 02:44:57 PM
LOL! :D   
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Bigfootman on June 22, 2009, 07:21:51 AM
LOL! :D
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: FrankJoeATAC on June 22, 2009, 07:35:20 PM
Why aren't you getting on those guys for repeating each other? And they both said the exact same things.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: SDLagent on June 23, 2009, 06:35:41 PM
Don't copy each other. My word is law.

Happy, now? ;D
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: FrankJoeATAC on June 23, 2009, 06:37:07 PM
Yeah, real authoritative ::)
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on June 28, 2009, 03:47:10 PM
(Not!) :D
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: 4567TME on August 08, 2009, 07:44:15 PM
I've a;ways thought of Bayport being in NY.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: ronnydice on August 08, 2009, 08:31:41 PM
its in NY, the Hardys arent jersey trash
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Olivia on August 11, 2009, 08:44:27 PM
Shows how much you know. They?ve actually cleaned up Atlantic City, and I have a 25-50% chance of going there in Sept. :P

Or Indiana. Or San Fran. Depends on circumstances, but my guess is that I won't end up going anywhere.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: HB@1718 on August 12, 2009, 01:32:19 AM
Are you moving or something?
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Olivia on August 12, 2009, 07:32:05 PM
Just might go on vacation is all.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: 4567TME on September 09, 2009, 06:38:03 PM
Quote from: ronnydice on August 08, 2009, 08:31:41 PM
its in NY, the Hardys arent jersey trash
Hey, I live in NJ! >:(
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: 4567TME on September 10, 2009, 07:49:37 PM
But still, the series seems. . .better with the Hardy Boys in New York.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Olivia on September 11, 2009, 12:25:11 AM
Quote from: ken10 on September 09, 2009, 06:38:03 PM
Hey, I live in NJ! >:(

LOL! Well, ronnydice has been out of commission, but he should have recovered by now.

Anyways, I agree - I think the HBs fit best with NY.

BTW, I think it's cool you live in NJ.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: 4567TME on September 22, 2009, 07:14:09 PM
Why, thank you!
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: 4567TME on October 31, 2009, 02:16:54 PM
Pushed gets
57%
Medium (High End)
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: tomswift2002 on October 31, 2009, 04:05:52 PM
I still have to give Pushed a 0%.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Hardy Man on November 22, 2009, 04:44:24 PM
Pushed was an okay book, but it could have definitely used some improvement.
1. An opening about stopping a bad guy who tries mind control (Saturday morning cartoon anyone?)
2. They should have gone with a better plot line than an "evil" child facility manager who (obviously) steals the money and kills anyone that tries to stop her or confronts her.
3. Perhaps there should have been a longer ending and a better explanation of the whole Lilly Fowler back-story.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: 4567TME on January 30, 2010, 06:46:49 PM
I agree equally with those opinions.
Title: Re: #18 Pushed
Post by: Hardy Man on February 04, 2010, 09:28:30 PM
Hold it. You said that the election was on the 21st. That was days ago and I haven't gotten an email or anything saying who the new VP is.