Reviews in A Nutshell
Tre Hellman
I don't intend to give anything away in these reviews.... but I can't
guarantee that I won't.
So...
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Spoiler space - Just in case....
The Novelization (what novelization you ask? why *the* novelization!)
Gary Russell has taken it on the chin a number of times... but he
certainly doesn't deserve to do so for this.
For a start, he was working from a script that had some definite
differences from the final product. Secondly, he was working from a script
: the problems with this book are directly related to the script that he
had to follow and the way the book was marketed. It's primary interest is
as a document of what we *didn't* see. Nevertheless, Gary manages to
provide an engaging tale and some really lovely continuity bits that fans
should appreciate - although many might argue that his writing hand has
problems no one can deny that his heart(s) is in the right place! The only
real argument I have with him is his absolute misunderstanding of Bay
Area geography - if only his problems with radw hadn't kept him from
consulting some of the Bay Area fans here who would have gladly helped
him! Nevertheless, the problems won't affect the majority of readers.
It's a workmanlike job (and that is *not* intended to denote mediocrity -
he did the best he could with what he was given and it really doesn't fall
down in any important respect.) Gary took the material he had and did the
best job anyone could have done - I doubt Terrance could have manged
better than Gary did.
The NAs
GodEngine:
Well it ain't really bad. But that's the best I can say. I disagree with
many of the negative reviews I've read, but I have a hard time saying
anything really nice about it. My biggest question is "why?" I had a hard
time figuring out the point of this book. Nothing of any real import
happens and it's just a run around. My vote: mediocre.
Christmas On A Rational Planet:
Very good! I look forward to anything else Mr. Miles might write. Nothing
in this book is to be taken for granted and his writing style is easy and
pleasant to follow. Some of his inventions are quite exciting and the
setting is so pointless that it's refreshing. The only quibbles I have are
1) my age old problem with the NAs that their length is problematic and
most writers manage to tell their tales quite well before the required
word count and are forced to add a bunch of pointless drivel in order to
get their paycheck and 2) is surrealism any better than the cyberspace
stuff we've all grown so tired of? In spite of those minor quibbles (which
I'd apply to most NAs!) this is an original and exciting novel.
Return Of The Living Dad:
Kate does No Future and Happy Endings in one volume. There's nothing
really to complain about: it's well thought out and well written.
Nevertheless, Kate tackles some important issues - the relationship
between Chris and Roz, Benny's reunion with her Dad - in what is basically
a frivolous story. There's not a lot of meat here - which from Kate is a
disappointment. Nevertheless, she's obviously having a lot of fun and is
inviting her readers to join in that fun. Think of this as Kate's Happy
Endings and you'll have a great time.... but I can't help feeling that the
actual issues she deals with would be better suited to a more serious and
grimmer book. (The biggest problem with this book and a problem I'd hoped
Kate had overcome is that occassionally some characters are too hard too
identify - if a character has one identity for X many pages and is then
identified as someone else that's fine, so long as there is only one of
them! Too many and it's difficult to tell who is doing what: a throw away
explanation on page 87 doesn't do much good when you are on page 187 and
engrossed in the plot!) Nevertheless, whatever problems this book might
have it's *fun*! There are jokes, crap villains, unbelievable plot twists
and revelations that what you thought was wrong - it's either more
ridiculous or more serious than you had been led to believe. A sort of
polite Bog Off in novel form.
Damaged Goods:
I seriously liked this one. His writing style is very easy and engaging,
almost engaging enough to make one pass over the really awkward bits
(ocassionally his characters are muddled enough about what's Really
Important that it manages to muddle the reader - or at least me).
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. His handling of Mrs Jericho
was brilliant: we see her as she sees herself through almost the entire
book, only brief glimpses expose her true and pathetic madness, and Davies
has the skill to make her own view of herself more chilling, more pathetic
and more true than the reality. It's a brilliant piece of work and makes
Mrs. Jericho one of the best DW villains to date. This is also bound to be
one of the most controversial novels since Transit - I'm almost surprised
that Virgin published it. On the down side... well, Bob Holmes ransacked
every cultural icon he could get his hands on and made classic television
and Gareth Roberts ransacked EF Benson for his latest MA (which makes me
hate him because he did it before I could) so Davies takes Clive Barker as
his template. Not a bad idea really, a cross between Barker and the NA
Doctor could be very productive. He rips off "The Forbidden" very
masterfully - it's not so much as a ripoff as an homage. Unfortunately,
his second ripoff is Hellraiser:Hellbound - it was a crap story and he
manages to include it's most crap elements : however, where those elements
undercut Barker's imagery, here they manage to work. In other words - if
you are familiar with Barker, then you'll already be familiar with Damaged
Goods. If you aren't, then much of it will appear original. Nevertheless,
he manages to make it work in a DW context and in a very engrossing
manner. If you can get past the occassional points where he's so busy
obscuring the issue that he obscures the plot, then this is the best book
of those I've reviewed - compassionate with a hard, scary edge; monsters
that are both objects of pity and of fear; elements that are both totally
alien to DW and somehow "right". If you read one NA this year, this is it.
So ... in the end... If you want fun, I recommend Kate's book: fun galore
- she's having such a good time that her readers can't help but join in
and there are endless in-jokes - if you get them it will only increase
your enjoyment and if you don't it won't matter at all. If you want
something harder and edgier and more difficult, then it's Damaged Goods.
Virgin's done good by us in their last year, running the gamut from just
plain fun to solid, reliable stories to edgy, difficult interpretations of
DW.
Next time I'll review the MAs - there are some definite surprises there!
Tre.
some well I read 'em guy.