First published 1902. Penguin, paperback, 1980, pp 111, c.40,000 words. Is this the best novel ever written? At least a contender in my book. A small ship is anchored in the Thames estuary, stemming the flood, awaiting the ebb, so its journey can continue out to sea. As evening falls, the crew gather, and one, […]
Heart of Darkness — Joseph Conrad Read More »
First published 1946. Fontana paperback, 1975, pp158, c.50,000 words. This is the first post-war Innes and marks something of a transition work from his pre-war cheap shockers and his war novels, to his mature thrillers. Here, there is much excellent description of the natural world, especially the sea, the coast and the weather. There are
Dead and Alive — Hammond Innes Read More »
First published 1991. Picador paperback, 1992, pp431, c.140,000 words. For once, a quote on the back cover of this edition, from a review in Time Out, is a rather good summary: ‘Imagine Neighbours being taken over by the writing team of John Steinbeck and Gabriel Garcia Marquez and you’ll be close to the heart of
Cloudstreet — Tim Winton Read More »
First published 1979. Fontana paperback, 1989, pp282, c.94,000 words. This is a classic 1970s’ thriller and one of Kyle’s best. The hero, Jack Tunnicliffe, is typical of his type: an ex-soldier, who would rather not be ‘ex’. He fought in the Korean war, learned the ways of the army and was effective at it. Now
Green River High — Duncan Kyle Read More »
First published 1973. New English Library paperback, 1979, pp204, c.75,000 words. This book follows the same formular and is set in the same universe as Morressy’s Starbrat. Indeed the main protagonists from the two books meet and travel together briefly in one episode of this story, although there is no overt recognition; just one of
Nail Down the Stars — John Morressy Read More »
The War Against the Rull by A. E. van Vogt First published 1959. Panther paperback, 1973, pp156, c.64,000 words. Surprisingly, there is very little shooting in this book, despite “war” being part of its title and the cover featuring spaceships shooting; although covers of SF books of the time this was printed very rarely reflected
War Against the Rull, The — A E van Vogt Read More »
First published 1940. Pan paperback, 1962, pp240, c.72,000 words. This book was written in the early days of the second world war, and its story is contemporary. The course and outcome of that war was unknown and there is a surprising air of confidence in British power and technical prowess. Nevertheless there is a great
Landfall — Nevil Shute Read More »
First published 1966. Grafton paperback, 1986, pp191, c.53,000 words. The story starts with an interesting SF premiss (and one occasionally explored by Hollywood) that one could swap minds with someone else. Each person’s body would keep functioning as normal. It would be a cheap way to travel. So thinks Marvin Flynn, a moderately successful drone
Mindswap — Robert Sheckley Read More »
First published 1972. New English Library paperback, 1979, pp190, c.69,000 words. This is a picaresque tale of someone growing up while travelling around the galaxy which has been peopled with humans and aliens. It could just as easily have been a time-traveller on Earth visiting different periods of history: Romans, Vikings, the Slave Trade, the
Starbrat — John Morressy Read More »
First published 1873. Macmillan paperback, 1976, pp429, c.152,000 words (main text). Apparently this was the book of his that Hardy was most concerned with – he continued to revise it, not just after its transition from magazine to book, but long after as each new edition was produced. It was closest of his novels to
Pair of Blue Eyes, A — Thomas Hardy Read More »