Roadwork Art
Works / Bachman Novels

Roadwork

Roadwork Art

Released

1981

Available Format(s)

Paperback / Audio

Publisher

New American Library (NAL)

Barton Dawes’ unremarkable but comfortable existence suddenly takes a turn for the worst. Highway construction puts him out of work and simultaneously forces him out of his home. Dawes isn’t the sort of man who will take an insult of this magnitude lying down. His single-minded determination to fight the inevitable course of progress drives his wife and friends away while he tries to face down the uncaring bureaucracy that has destroyed his once comfortable life.

From the Flap

THEY TARGETED HIS LIFE FOR DEMOLITION

That's how George Bart Dawes saw it when a conglomerate bought the company he worked for and made him feel like a number . . .

When the government told him to move out of the home he had put a lifetime of living into to make way for a highway project . . .

It seemed to George that his whole world had been invaded by acquisitive demons who expected him to surrender to their will. Calmly. Politely. Step aside. No waves please.

But some very incorruptible voice in George's mind kept reassuring him that, sooner or later, the Irresistible Force of progress would come face to face with an Immovable Object--the will of George Bart Dawes. The impact, he suspected, would be shattering . . .

Characters

Hide List Show List
Name
Description
Andrea
Mr. Piazzi's dog
?, Alan
Sold Barton the explosives. Worked for Sal Magliore
?, Andy
Nephew of Barton Dawes. Son of Bea.
?, Bea
Mother of Andy
?, Belly
On a TV show seen by Barton Dawes in Duncan's bar
?, Bill
Nephew of Barton Dawes
?, Cindy
Niece of Barton Dawes
?, Duncan
Owned Duncan's bar
?, Gayle
Worked at Nicky's Diner
?, Hank
On a TV show seen by Barton Dawes in Duncan's bar
?, Jeff
Lover of Olivia Brenner and drug user.
?, Phyllis
Barton Dawes secretary in the Blue Ribbon Laundry
?, Ray
Sold Barton the explosives. Worked for Sal Magliore
?, Rhonda
Worked in the Blue Ribbon Laundry
?, Sharon
On a TV show seen by Barton Dawes in Duncan's bar
?, Sharon
While the traveling salesman was making love with Olivia Brenner he kept saying this name.
?, Sylvia
Niece of Barton Dawes.
?, Tina
Niece of Barton Dawes
Adams, Nicholas
Made-up psychiatrist name that Barton Dawes gave to his wife
Adams, Nicholas Frederick
Made-up "cousin" of Barton Dawes
Agar, John
Actor Mentioned in passing
Albert, ?
Wife of Hank Albert.
Albert, Dave
Reporter
Albert, Hank
Ex-Neighbor of Barton Dawes.
Albertson, Ralph
Boss of laundry operations at the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Alexander, Ben
Actor mentioned in passing
Arlin, ?
Neighbors of Barton Hughes
Barry, Jack
Actor mentioned in passing
Ben-Gurion, David
Mentioned in passing
Bogart, Humphrey
Actor mentioned in passing
Boone, Richard
Character in "I Bury the Living"
Boyd, Malcolm
Mentioned in passing
Brenner, Olivia
Hitchhiker that Barton Dawes picked up
Brolin, James
Actor Mentioned in passing
Bronticelli, Luigi
Bitten by Andrea. Runs a barbershop.
Cagney, Jimmy
Actor mentioned in passing
Calloway, Jean
Mary Calloway's mother and wife of Lester
Calloway, Lester
Mary Calloway's father and husband of Jean.
Calloway, Mary
Daughter of Lester and Jean. Maiden name of Mary Dawes
Carlisle, Kitty
On TV show "To Tell the Truth"
Carter, Meg
Friend of Mary Dawes
Cavett, Dick
Mentioned in passing
Chalmers, Henry
Was plant foreman
Chamberlain, Wilt
Mentioned in passing
Chancellor, John
Mentioned in passing
Child, Julia
Actor Mentioned in passing
Cocker, Andy
Chargers player
Cosell, Howard
Mentioned in passing
Crawford, Broderick
Actor Mentioned in passing
Cronkite, Walter
TV personality mentioned in passing
Cullen, Bill
On TV show "To tell the truth"
Dahl, Arlene
On TV show "To tell the truth"
Dankman, ?
Neighbors of Barton Dawes
Darby, ?
Neighbors of Barton Dawes
Davis, Gary
Blues singer mentioned in passing
Dawes, Barton George (Bart)
Husband of Mary Dawes who runs the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Dawes, Charles Frederick
Son of Barton.
Dawes, Fred
Barton Dawes second personality that has "conversations" with him at times.
Dawes, Mary
Wife of Barton Dawes. Married name of Mary Calloway.
Dawes, Ralph
Barton's father.
De Haviland, Olivia
Actress mentioned in passing
Devine, Andy
Actor mentioned in passing
Diment, Ethel
Worked at the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Drake, Phil
A street priest from Russell that helps street kids.
Eastwood, Clint
Actor mentioned in passing
Elliot, T.S.
Author mentioned in passing
Fednach, Hugh
Mustang player
Fenner, Phillip T.
Lawyer for the city council.
Floyd, Gracie
Worked at the Blue Ribbon laundry and a cousin of Maureen.
Floyd, Maureen
Worked at the Blue Ribbon laundry and a cousin of Gracie.
Fontain, Dr.
Doctor mentioned in passing
Fort, Charles
Author
Gibbs, Ethel
Worked in the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Gordon, Jack
Friends of the Dawes
Granger, Tom
Worked in the Blue Ribbon Laundry. Husband of Verna Granger.
Granger, Verna
Tom Granger's wife.
Griffin, Merv
TV personality mentioned in passing
Haggard, H. Rider
Wrote "She"
Hamner, Walter
Friend of Barton Dawes
Harvey, Paul
Mentioned in passing
Hobart, Ellen
Wife of Jack Hobart.
Hobart, Jack
Friend of Barton Dawes and husband of Ellen Hobart.
Hobart, Linda
Daughter of Jack and Ellen.
Holt, Victoria
Author mentioned in passing
Homer, Winslow
Painter.
Hope, Bob
Mentioned in passing
Howard, Tina
Maiden name of Tina Wallace.
Jackson, ?
Red headed wife of Dick.
Jackson, Dick
At Wally Hamner's party.
Jagger, Mick
Singer
Janssen, David
Actor mentioned in passing
John, Elton
Singer mentioned in passing
Jones, Harry
Worked at the Blue Ribbon Laundry
Keeson, Betty
Broke her arm in the Blue Ribbon Laundry in an accident.
Keller, Dick
Neighbor of Barton Dawes
Kennedy, Robert
Mentioned in passing
King, Henry
Police Lieutenant
King, Martin Luther
Mentioned in passing
Knauer, Virginia
On television advertisement to save energy
Koerner, Spider John
Blues singer mentioned in passing
Lane, Francis
Owned construction company
Lang, Alicia
Ex-Neighbor of Barton Hughes and wife of Tony Lang.
Lang, Tony
Ex-Neighbor of Barton Hughes. Husband of Alicia
Linkletter, Art
TV personality
Lombardo, Guy
Band leader mentioned in passing
Lovecraft, H.P.
Author mentioned in passing
MacKenzie, Gisele
Actor mentioned in passing
Maddox, Lester
Mentioned in passing
Madison, Guy
Actor mentioned in passing
Magliore, Salvatore (Sally one-eye)
Crook who sells cars.
Mahoney, Jock
Actor mentioned in passing
Mansey, Pete
Worked at Magliore's Used Cars
March, Hal
Actor mentioned in passing
Mason, Roberta (Bobby)
Daughter of Sharon and Vinnie
Mason, Sharon
Vinnie Mason's wife and mother of Roberta
Mason, Vincent (Vinnie)
Worked in the Blue Ribbon Laundry. Husband of Sharon and father of Roberta.
Millard, Ray
Actor mentioned in passing
Milner, Marty
Actor mentioned in passing
Monohan, Patrick J.
Real estate agent
Moore, Garry
On TV show "To tell the truth"
Naish, Donald P.
Democratic candidate who died
Narz, Jack
Actor mentioned in passing
Newman, Paul
Actor mentioned in passing
Nixon, Richard
Politician mentioned in passing
Ordner, Carla
Wife of Stephan
Ordner, Stephan (Steve)
Manager of Amroco, the company that owned the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Passos, Dos
The "Original Gonzo" journalist according to Jeff, Olivia Brenner's lover.
Paxton, Tom
Blues singer mentioned in passing
Petty, Richard
Mentioned in passing
Piazzi, Mr.
Acquaintance of Salvatore Magliore as a child. He owned the dog Andrea.
Pollack, Steve
Worked in the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Powers, Francis Gary
Shot down in a U2 fighter. Mentioned in passing
Preston, Bob
Friends of Mary Dawes
Preston, Janet
Friends of Mary Dawes
Pym, Gordon
Author mentioned in passing
Queen, Ellery
Mystery writer.
Quinn, ?
Neighbor of Barton Dawes.
Radner, Dave
Ran the washroom in the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Rennie, Michael
Actor mentioned in passing
Reston, Muriel
State representative who was mentioned in passing
Ricker, Mrs.
Charlie Dawes nursery school teacher
Ridpath, ?
Friends of Barton Dawes
Ronk, Van
Blues singer mentioned in passing
Rucker, Hank
Mustang Boss
Rush, Tom
Blues singer mentioned in passing
Sales, Soupy
On TV show "To tell the truth"
St. Clare, Joanna
Jean Calloway's cousin in Minnesota.
Stauffer, Bill
Neighbor of Barton Dawes.
Stone, Ron (Stoneballs)
Foreman at the Blue Ribbon Laundry
Swinnerton, Harold (Harry)
Owner of Harvey's Gun Shop since his brother Harvey died.
Swinnerton, Harvey
Was the owner of Harvey's Gun shop. Brother of Harold.
Tarkington, Don
Father of Ray. Owned the Blue Ribbon Laundry.
Tarkington, Ray
Son of Ray. Owned the Blue Ribbon
Tremont, Ralph
Barton worked for him to get money for a TV
Truman, Walter
Mentioned in passing
Tucker, Forest
Character on the TV show "F-Troop"
Upshaw, Donna
Friend of Mary Dawes
Upslinger, Don
Father of Kenny Upslinger.
Upslinger, Kenny
Delivered papers to the Dawes' area.
Upslinger, Wilbur
Neighbor of Barton Dawes
Von Sydow, Max
Actor mentioned in passing
Vonnegut, Kurt
Wrote "Slaughterhouse Fire".
Walker, Arnie
Corey's brother
Walker, Corey Everett (Johnny)
Driver of laundry van for the Blue Ribbon Laundry since 1946.
Wallace, Tina
Married name of Tina Howard
Wasserman, Peter
In charge of deliveries at the Blue Ribbon Laundry
Welby, Marcus
Character on TV show
Wicker, Tom
Wrote "Facing the Lions"
Widmark, Richard
Actor mentioned in passing
Wilkenson, Bud
On energy saving commercial on TV for Exxon.
Winterburger, Victor
Democratic candidate
Young, Mrs.
Teacher at the nursery school that Charlie Dawes attended.
Younger, Dr.
Charlie Dawes' Neurologist
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