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Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas Paperback – October 1, 2007

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 256 ratings

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The catacombs of ancient Rome served as houses of worship for Christians. When surveyed in the early 1800s, the sewers of Paris yielded gold, jewels, and relics of the revolution. And thousands of people lived in the subway and train tunnels of New York City in the 1980s and '90s.

What secrets do the Las Vegas storm drains keep? What discoveries wait in the dark? What's beneath the neon?

Armed with a flashlight, tape recorder, and expandable baton, Las Vegas CityLife writer-editor Matthew O'Brien explored the Las Vegas flood-control system for more than four years.

Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas chronicles O'Brien's adventures in subterranean Vegas. He follows the footsteps of a psycho killer. He braces against a flood. He parties with naked crack-heads. He learns how to make meth, that art is most beautiful where it's least expected, and that there are no pots of gold under the neon rainbow.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 2002, as managing editor of the alternative weekly, Las Vegas CityLife, O'Brien was intrigued when a murderer eluded police by vanishing into the Vegas flood-control system. After O'Brien and CityLife contributor Josh Ellis explored half a dozen storm drains, their adventures attracted such attention on the Internet that the publication's Web site scored a million hits in a day. By then, O'Brien was convinced "there were secrets to be discovered beneath the neon." His first discovery was that, despite the dangers, homeless men and women were living in the tunnels. How did they wind up there? Returning with a tape recorder and flashlight, he interviewed the storm-drain denizens, finding one sleeping in an elevated bed suspended above the watery floor, another residing in a plywood hut and some in the cool tunnels just to escape the heat. The photos capture the inhabitants of these bleak encampments. Continually contrasting the sparkling casinos above with the dank, cobwebbed catacombs below, the observant O'Brien writes with a noirish flair, but his compassion is also evident as he illuminates the lives of these shadowy subterranean dwellers. (June 1)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

While Beneath the Neon is an often saddening and sometimes disturbing book, it's also an incredibly important one. O'Brien gives those who have been circumscribed, silenced, and removed from the brightly lit streets of Las Vegas a voice, something that few authors in the city have ever attempted before, and the result is breathtaking...it's the most important, incredible, and moving title to be published on the city to date. It almost goes without saying that Beneath the Neon should not be missed. --CasinoOnline.co.uk

[O'Brien] takes you on a dizzying trip through the various drains to meet the people that live, party, and sometimes die in the tunnels. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever broken into an abandoned building, explored dirty sewers, hopped freights across the country, or enjoys a late night stroll into the unknown. More than just a documentation of one's experience in the storm drains, Beneath the Neon is equal parts Las Vegas history book, drunken biography, and psychological thriller where your worst enemy may just be your imagination. --Beautiful Decay Blog

From retracing a murder's escape route and learning how to make meth from a tunnel dweller to partying naked with crackheads and dancing under the MGM Grand, this photo-filled account proves that the only place more surreal than the Vegas Strip is beneath it. --Wired Magazine

[O'Brien] takes you on a dizzying trip through the various drains to meet the people that live, party, and sometimes die in the tunnels. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever broken into an abandoned building, explored dirty sewers, hopped freights across the country, or enjoys a late night stroll into the unknown. More than just a documentation of one's experience in the storm drains, Beneath the Neon is equal parts Las Vegas history book, drunken biography, and psychological thriller where your worst enemy may just be your imagination. --Beautiful Decay Blog

From retracing a murder's escape route and learning how to make meth from a tunnel dweller to partying naked with crackheads and dancing under the MGM Grand, this photo-filled account proves that the only place more surreal than the Vegas Strip is beneath it. --Wired Magazine

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0929712390
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Huntington Press; Illustrated edition (October 1, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 292 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780929712390
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0929712390
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.24 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.75 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 256 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
256 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book captivating and informative. They describe the stories as real and raw, with gripping pacing. However, opinions differ on the writing quality - some find it well-written and sincere, while others dislike the repetitive prose. There are mixed reviews regarding the photography - some find it good and paints a picture of the scenes, while others consider it too impressionist or arty.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

30 customers mention "Readability"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's portrayal of a different side to Las Vegas. Readers also mention that the book is fun to read about places they can imagine. The author does an excellent job of taking readers into the subterranean Las Vegas.

"...Worth the read." Read more

"...Great writing. There are passages that are poetic and inspirational. Very good photography...." Read more

"...It was fun to read about places I could imagine, and Matthew wrote with such honesty and integrity and knowledge that it was an instant favorite I..." Read more

"I enjoyed reading this book. Quite interesting about those tunnels beneath Las Vegas...." Read more

26 customers mention "Insight"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and informative. They appreciate the good research and emotional stories. The book provides a perspective few have ever experienced. The author gives the emphasis to her subjects, not herself.

"This book does a great job of discussing the part of Las Vegas few people know about but is the reality for thousands of people everyday...." Read more

"...of New York City alone as a college-aged woman, she gives the emphasis to her subjects, not herself...." Read more

"...But what really makes the book a worthwhile read is the painstaking research. The author plumbed the flood tunnel depths for years...." Read more

"...This is a spellbinding character study of some extraordinary and innovative people who can't get out of the way of their personal demons...." Read more

24 customers mention "Story quality"21 positive3 negative

Customers find the stories engaging. They describe the narrative as gripping and a true depiction of the lives of those not living the life of luxury. The book is described as an adventure, suspenseful, and moving.

"...idea of it is heartbreaking and mind boggling. This book was shocking, disturbing, and beautiful in some sort of twisted way...." Read more

"...with the narration of the present time and especially enjoyed the historical facts about the use of tunnels, caves and their explorers throughout..." Read more

"...author's attitude and writing style, there really is some interesting stuff in here." Read more

"...Suspenseful, well-written, and moving, this first-person account gave me an entirely new perspective on the culture of Las Vegas." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing interesting, though some found it melodramatic at times.

"...It was raw, genuine, vulnerable, vulgar at times, and eye opening...." Read more

"The narrative is gripping, even if it is melodramatic." Read more

"cliched, melodramatic, semi-interesting..." Read more

24 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed views on the writing quality of the book. Some find it well-researched and interesting, with poetic and inspirational passages. Others dislike the author's melodramatic and repetitive prose, as well as unnecessary descriptions.

"...Very good photography. But what really makes the book a worthwhile read is the painstaking research...." Read more

"...Its tough to read...the author jumps around and it very poorly written. I usually finish reading a book even if its not great...." Read more

"...above set the stage for this insightful and well researched and written book...." Read more

"...My major issue with this book, though, was the author's troubling insensitivity toward the individuals living in the tunnels...." Read more

9 customers mention "Photography"6 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the photography. Some find it good and paints a picture of the scenes, while others feel it's too impressionist and arty for casual viewers.

"...and mind boggling. This book was shocking, disturbing, and beautiful in some sort of twisted way...." Read more

"...There are passages that are poetic and inspirational. Very good photography...." Read more

"...The tunnels themselves are not very interesting, since they are modern, plain, very near the surface, and not interconnected...." Read more

"...A lot of descriptive words are used that paint a picture of the scenes...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2019
    If I didn't know any better I would have assumed it to be fiction based solely on the absurdity, tragedy, and colorful stories held in the pages. His writing made me feel like I was actually there and seeing and crawling through the drains with him. Every time he mentioned a cockroach I physically cringed. It was raw, genuine, vulnerable, vulgar at times, and eye opening. He wasn't an expert; just a guy with questions who journaled his finding of answers.
    One part that really spoke to me was when he crawled out of the storm drain, and the man gave him a dirty look as a potential drain on his property value. The homeless epidemic is a nuisance and bother to many, while veterans and the mentally ill are forced to retreat underground. The very idea of it is heartbreaking and mind boggling.
    This book was shocking, disturbing, and beautiful in some sort of twisted way. Somebody had to get those people voices out there; he was that voice. The majority of the people I read about are probably dead now, just based on the time lapse, so it is "too late" for them in a sense. But he gave them a voice and wrote it down and made it permanent so people like me could read about it 10 years later. Worth the read.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2013
    Matthew O'Brien obviously went Gonzo on the tunnels Beneath the Neon of Las Vegas. He spent months interviewing the homeless who live beneath Las Vegas and walking deep into the tunnels, often pioneering parts of the vast network. The stories enclosed are heartbreaking and reflect some of the major issues facing society: drugs, mental disabilities, lack of care for veterans. What makes the stories that much more incredible is that it is all happening beneath a city where people squander millions of dollars each day.

    O'Brien should be lauded for telling these stories. The homeless are treated with disdain, as if all of them somehow chose their lot in life. By going into the tunnels and talking with the people--not simply asking questions, but exploring the tunnels and practically living among the "residents"--O'Brien sheds light on these people that would otherwise remain ostracized and forgotten. In doing so, we see these people as they are: perhaps not that different from us. Hard luck, addiction, undiagnosed mental disabilities have sent many of these people below the city. O'Brien reveals them and their stories with genuine honesty.

    More books like this should be written. It is further proof that what we see on the surface, what the world would want you to believe about a person or place, may not actually be what is actually there. If you are going to Las Vegas or simply want to read stories that are full of truth and grit, this book is for you.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2024
    This book does a great job of discussing the part of Las Vegas few people know about but is the reality for thousands of people everyday. The author's privilege does show from time to time throughout the book, but overall a good job of providing a perspective few have ever experienced.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2011
    I have been interested in the underground homeless for quite some time and have read a number of books about this social issue. While in some ways I found O'Brian's text compelling (I did read it in one setting), his tone was unrelentingly arrogant and self-centered. The book seemed less about the people he encountered than his own melodramatic processing of events. He focused a lot on himself-- his fear, emphasizing himself as some great, brave explorer, his physical pain as he navigated the sometimes small tunnels, his (often stereotypical)judgements of people, his over-inflated sense of self, and his regrets.

    It is also worth noting that he interviewed the people in this book for as little as 5-10 minutes. It is not as though he got to know them over a period of days and weeks. His chapters are formulated based on people he did not bother to really get to know-- mostly superficial responses that you'd have with someone passing through-- "small-talk" type of responses that don't really provide much insight into these storm drain dwellers.

    If you are looking for a book that really delves into the lives of the homeless who live underground, read The Mole People by Jennifer Toth. Although her experience was undoubtedly terrifying, navigating the subway tunnels of New York City alone as a college-aged woman, she gives the emphasis to her subjects, not herself. She got to know people over a series of months and provides real insight to their lives. Unlike O-Brien, Toth masterfully includes references to tunnel-dwellers throughout history, whereas O-Brien seems to pepper them in randomly and without much authority.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2010
    I stumbled across "Beneath the Neon" quite by accident on Amazon.com's website. As someone intrigued on the subject matter of homelessness and survival, the book turned out to be a lucky find. Matt's writing style invited me along for his adventures in the exploration of life beneath Las Vegas. There I was able to glimpse through his eyes at the sights, smells, and desperation that others endure. I had actually visited a few of the worldly locations Matt writes about in comparing the drains to the underground tunnels of Cappadocia, in Turkey and could relate more closely with the conditions of living under Las Vegas.
    In researching the book online, I read about a website ([...]), Matt founded in an attempt to assist those lost people dwelling under the city. Luckily for the readers, he keeps this updated so you can sort-of follow the "What's happening now?" question.

    I feel for those people that have become disjointed from society and find solace under the drains, in the city and am thankful that I don't count myself in their numbers. I recommend you buy the book so, 1) You can be thankful about what you are missing and 2) So you can have a greater understanding of the lives of those living literally under the feet of Glamorous Vegas, and 3) To help you look into the Abyss of Life beneath the neon.

    Dave Nelson
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Krystal Flatt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
    Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2018
    Great read. Highly recommend!
  • Poppy
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2016
    Super interesting read.
    I took this on holiday with me to Cape verde, not the best book to take regarding luggage allowances as it's quite heavy. But I really enjoyed reading about the people living in the last Vegas tunnel systems.
  • Gerd Behnke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beneath the neon
    Reviewed in Germany on May 26, 2010
    The book is most interesting, with personal portraits of the homeless who live in the tunnels under Las Vegas. The description of the personal emotions which the author had when he was walking in the drain-prevent system makes it difficult to stop reading.
  • Betty G. Alton
    4.0 out of 5 stars To think that there are that many homeless people in a supposed rich town is disgusting. I admired some of those people at how ...
    Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2017
    I found the book very interesting and very disturbing. To think that there are that many homeless people in a supposed rich town is disgusting. I admired some of those people at how they made their money to live and look after themselves. It cannot be easy at all, what with them never knowing when the water will destroy everything they own.
  • Amanda
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone interested to learn the plight ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2014
    A must read for anyone interested to learn the plight of the hidden world beneath Las Vegas. I couldn't put this book down and read it with 2 days