Rob Ryder started as a PA on the cult movie classic "The Warriors" and was quickly bumped up to location scout. Then a stuntman busted a knee, and Ryder suddenly found himself in the movie - wearing the full make-up, wig and uniform of a Baseball Fury. A few weeks later, he was a member of the Punks, throwing Warriors into mirrors in the subway bathroom brawl.

From the Coney Island boardwalk to the murky depths of Riverside Park, "Purple Fury" hustles along like a gang on the run. Ryder putting you right inside the action - the screech of the trains, the stink and the grime, the endless inanities, and the shock of a Louisville Slugger to the ribs.

Meanwhile taking a mess of detours along the way - as Ryder recounts his Hollywood escapades as an "oh-so-close" screenwriter, and then as a sports specialist, mixing it up with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Tommy Lee Jones, William Friedkin, Shaquille O'Neal, Steve Martin and many more.

"Purple Fury" - from the bowels of New York City to the glitter of Hollywood - this book is an exhilarating ride. And for true fans of "The Warriors" - this book is a must-read.