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Robert Rankin
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Book
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Publisher | Gollancz | ||
ISBN | 978-057508500 | ||
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Reviewer
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Steve
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Synopsis
There is big and evil magic abroad upon the face of the Earth. History has been changed. The Germans have won WWII. America is a nuclear wasteland. And worst of all, the breakfast menu at The Wife's Legs Cafe in Brentford is serving Bratwurst rather than the proper big boys' British banger. Something is Not Right. And when the world's all wrong and it needs setting right, who're you gonna call? Hugo Rune, that's who. A man who offers the world his genius, and asks only, in return, that the world cover his expenses. And so, with the aid of his faithful acolyte and companion Rizla, the guru's guru, also known as the hokus bloke, the Lad Himself and the Retromancer*, sets out to rewrite history the way it should be. Together they return to war-torn London, to solve the twelve cosmic conundra based on Hugo Rune's personal tarot deck, each one leading them closer to a final terrifying confrontation. They must match their wits against beautiful spies, advanced alien technology, killer robots and death rays, do battle with an ancient god, and come face to face once more with Hugo Rune's arch-enemy, the sinister Count Otto Black, all the while finding time to drink ale, talk the toot and dine out in some of London's swankiest eateries. Without ever paying the bill.
Review
After the events of the Brightonomnicon, the teenage Jim O'Malley/Rizla is back in his native Brentford. But all is not well: it seems that Germany won the 2nd world war and now his favourite café serves Bratwurst rather than ‘a full English' for breakfast. Hugo Rune reappears to take Rizla back in time to the ‘40s to help restore history and again defeat Count Otto Black. Again a series of mysteries and who-dunnits need to be solved, this time following the theme of a pack of Tarot cards. There are a few close calls before a showdown in the skies of New York and then a final end back in Brentford.
As other writers have produced more serious novels set in alternative histories, it was almost inevitable that Rankin would have a go in his own style. Similar running gags reappear as before; this time beers are named after obscure typeface fonts. We also learn more about Rune's past identity and his relationship to Otto Black. There is also the classic science fiction dilemma where Rizla encounters his father. If you enjoyed the Brightonomnicon, then you'll want to read this too. The Tarot cards theme was not always convincing, but I still found the pace sufficient to keep me turning the pages to find out what happened next. For me it felt a bit like watching an old black and white film (e.g. Casablanca), but with sporadic switches to surreal colour like in that classic version of Wizard of Oz.
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