thriller@localhost ~ :) failed=0                        
thriller@localhost ~ :) false || failed=1               
thriller@localhost ~ :) [ "$failed" = "1" ] && echo fail
fail

thriller@localhost ~ :) failed=0                        
thriller@localhost ~ :) { false || failed=1; } | less   
thriller@localhost ~ :) [ "$failed" = "1" ] && echo fail
thriller@localhost ~ :(