John Christopher is really Sam Youd (1922-2012), a British writer. He wrote several SF novels for adolescents that I might seek out, a few of which made it into film or TV, along with BBC radio versions. He also wrote under many other names.
NO BLADE OF GRASS
Cover art by Michael Presley
John Christopher (1922-2012) was the working name of Sam Youd, a UK writer who began publishing SF in 1949 ("Christmas Tree," in Astounding Magazine).
From 1956 comes The Death of Grass, the original name of the present book; the title was changed for American publication. At 190 pages, it is a very easy book to read and hard to put down once begun. The outstanding cover art sums up the plot: without crops everything dies. When a virus strikes all of the grass family, civilization quickly unravels and it's back to the good old days of starvation and anarchy.
From 1956 comes The Death of Grass, the original name of the present book; the title was changed for American publication. At 190 pages, it is a very easy book to read and hard to put down once begun. The outstanding cover art sums up the plot: without crops everything dies. When a virus strikes all of the grass family, civilization quickly unravels and it's back to the good old days of starvation and anarchy.
John Custance tries to get his wife and two kids from London to the north country, where his brother David has a defensible position with the farm he owns. Though this makes for a nice plot convenience, a good story needs something on which to hang a hat. Without that farm there would be no story--the family would have remained in London, got caught up in the riots, and then starved to death. So by choosing a family with a goal to reach, a goal that will mean their survival (David is growing potatoes up there, which are not affected), we have a story with a beginning, a middle, and an ending. And I certainly won't spoil the ending.
The novel easily falls into the "horror" genre. Though the main events occur over only three or four days, humankind's fall from grace is even more rapid than that. There are many brutal moments in the novel, enough to make a skeptical reader wonder "if that would really happen." Yes, Virginia, it would. Much worse in the USA than Britain. In fact, this is the kind of novel that would likely inspire many private militias and the entire spectrum of "Survivalists" that dot the American landscape. Civilization is merely a very thin coating that overlays the lives of so many people on this planet, though not everyone. There is very little civilization right now in countries like Syria, or in many neighbourhoods of cities like Chicago or Detroit.
With our own current problems concerning the death of the bumble bee (which would have much the same effect as Christopher's grass virus), it wouldn't take long for society to crumble. Then cut off the power and communication grids and see what happens. This novel pairs well with Budrys' False Night/Some Will Not Die. Too many scary questions are raised by both stories. Not just questions about killing and surviving, but about leadership and exactly what it means. These stories frighten me. I have led a sheltered life, and though I continue to work hard and do my best to enjoy life, having everything suddenly taken away from me would be the worst thing that could happen. I am ill-suited to a life of wandering and killing to survive, and would likely be one of the first to go down to defeat. Unless I could make it from southern Ontario to northern Ontario during the crises, where my brother lives. Then my wife and I might have a chance at surviving. We might have to eat snow, however, as he is not a potato farmer.
This book has lost none of its punch since it was first published, more than 60 years ago now. I have seen the movie version from the 1970s, and will track it down again. Highly recommended reading.
**** stars. Reviewed April 12th/17
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This book has lost none of its punch since it was first published, more than 60 years ago now. I have seen the movie version from the 1970s, and will track it down again. Highly recommended reading.
**** stars. Reviewed April 12th/17
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PLANET IN PERIL
Published in 1959, though written in 1954.
Sometimes the book covers are as good as or even better than the books themselves. This is one of those amazing covers that somehow grabs the reader of early SF paperbacks. The novel isn't so great, but I enjoyed reading it and put it away (about 160 pages) in 2 days. It's alternate title was "Year of the Comet"(published 1955). Both are sensationalist, as is the cover. The story isn't. In fact, the story could easily pass itself off as a decent cold war tale. It also reminded me a bit of some of the plots in "Man From Uncle."
No doubt this was a story that the author had been working on for some time, perhaps deciding later to reform it into a SF tale. I really like the character of Dinkuhl, an anarchist who keeps the plot moving along for us and for the main character, Charles Grayner. They keep getting kidnapped and escaping, in an almost comic pattern of intrigue and suspense. The "girl" is a pretty interesting character, too, especially for the 1950s. Sara Koupal is a refreshing face and personality in a mostly all-male genre. Unfortunately, my copy had an inside blurb about the story that turned into a major spoiler. I don't usually read these blurbs, but for some reason I did this time.
The writing is quite good, and the story is enjoyable. It is fast-paced in a talky sense. I enjoyed the dialogue and found it refreshing from all the space opera I read and review here. It certainly isn't a must-read, though Christopher is a pretty interesting writer. I am looking forward to reading more by him.
I received my copy from a London friend who is a big SF fan, when I was visiting there a short time ago. She gave me two books by Christopher and I gave her two by Farmer. So far she has the better deal, but we'll see what the next story brings.
*** stars. Reviewed May 7th/17
THE CAVES OF NIGHT
Cover art by Don Crowley. First published in 1958.
One of the advantages of reading an author's complete works (or as complete as I can acquire) is that one can briefly get away from SF and see what else the writer can do. This happens with Farmer a lot, as he does write fantasy, and sometimes strictly adventure. I've also enjoyed some pure fiction in this series by Sladek, among others. Christopher's 3rd published novel is adult adventure. I say adult, as the first half of the book is mostly about relationships. We don't get lost in the caves until more than halfway through the 160 page novel. Up till then it is hardly a page-turner, but more of an outdoor soap opera.
There are five main characters, including Cynthia and her cave-crazy husband Henry; Albrecht, the Austrian Graf, owner of the Schloss Frohnberg and surrounding countryside (his lands include a cave complex); and a newly married couple, Heather and Peter, staying at the same inn as the older couple, and enjoying their honeymoon. The main question that arises in the first half of the book is whether Cynthia, who has never been unfaithful to her husband, nor wishes to be, will fall for Albrecht. The relationships in the story are simple but complex, and as Cynthia slowly falls for the Count and withdraws her feelings from Henry, the writing style is honest and believable.
The more interesting part of the book (in my opinion) is when the five of them get stuck in the caves and have to search for a different route of escape. The adventure becomes claustrophobic and dark, grim and tense. No better description of exploring caves likely exists in the literature. I have been in at least half a dozen impressive caves, including Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. It's an eerie feeling to be underneath so much rock, in spaces both large and small. It doesn't take much for a normal person to be a bit overcome by it all. Our heroes struggle through every moment.
Christopher puts all the pressure on Cynthia at the very end, as she has to make a Sophie's Choice as to who will live, her husband or Albrecht. Christopher doesn't tell until the final sentence, so block it out as you turn to the final page. I found that part of the book to be annoying, and also the fact that there is no wrap up chapter. One thing Tolkien taught us all (and some other writers, too) is that a final chapter will reveal how the characters have changed and developed as a result of their adventure. We saw the four Hobbits return to the Shire and clean out the bullies that had taken over, including Sauruman and Wormtongue. This proved to them and to us (and the citizens of the Shire) how great a change had happened to the four adventuring lads. Christopher denies us a final conversation between Cynthia and her choice of men. But there is nothing for us, as if we are supposed to fill in all the rest ourselves. I call it lazy writing.
This is a good story, with excellent characters and dialogue. The cave adventure is a complete marvel. However, I didn't like the fact that Cynthia has to choose at the end, and I really don't care for the fact that Christopher simply ends the story here, rather than show us a bit of the afterward. Sudden endings usually do not impress me, especially when the opening half is so long and involved. The cave bits are highly recommended.
*** stars. Reviewed June 3rd/17
Page proofread April 7th, 2019
Mapman Mike
There are five main characters, including Cynthia and her cave-crazy husband Henry; Albrecht, the Austrian Graf, owner of the Schloss Frohnberg and surrounding countryside (his lands include a cave complex); and a newly married couple, Heather and Peter, staying at the same inn as the older couple, and enjoying their honeymoon. The main question that arises in the first half of the book is whether Cynthia, who has never been unfaithful to her husband, nor wishes to be, will fall for Albrecht. The relationships in the story are simple but complex, and as Cynthia slowly falls for the Count and withdraws her feelings from Henry, the writing style is honest and believable.
The more interesting part of the book (in my opinion) is when the five of them get stuck in the caves and have to search for a different route of escape. The adventure becomes claustrophobic and dark, grim and tense. No better description of exploring caves likely exists in the literature. I have been in at least half a dozen impressive caves, including Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. It's an eerie feeling to be underneath so much rock, in spaces both large and small. It doesn't take much for a normal person to be a bit overcome by it all. Our heroes struggle through every moment.
Christopher puts all the pressure on Cynthia at the very end, as she has to make a Sophie's Choice as to who will live, her husband or Albrecht. Christopher doesn't tell until the final sentence, so block it out as you turn to the final page. I found that part of the book to be annoying, and also the fact that there is no wrap up chapter. One thing Tolkien taught us all (and some other writers, too) is that a final chapter will reveal how the characters have changed and developed as a result of their adventure. We saw the four Hobbits return to the Shire and clean out the bullies that had taken over, including Sauruman and Wormtongue. This proved to them and to us (and the citizens of the Shire) how great a change had happened to the four adventuring lads. Christopher denies us a final conversation between Cynthia and her choice of men. But there is nothing for us, as if we are supposed to fill in all the rest ourselves. I call it lazy writing.
This is a good story, with excellent characters and dialogue. The cave adventure is a complete marvel. However, I didn't like the fact that Cynthia has to choose at the end, and I really don't care for the fact that Christopher simply ends the story here, rather than show us a bit of the afterward. Sudden endings usually do not impress me, especially when the opening half is so long and involved. The cave bits are highly recommended.
*** stars. Reviewed June 3rd/17
THE WHITE VOYAGE
Cover art not credited.
Published in 1960, this work immediately followed The Caves of Night, which came just after No Blade of Grass. John Christopher seems to have an obsession for a certain type of novel. Take a small group of people, put them in as much danger as possible, have everything go wrong that could go wrong, kill several of them, have the remainder almost die and give up hope, then save whoever is left.
This version of that theme takes place aboard a ship, lost at sea, that eventually drifts into the high Arctic in late autumn. The characters are interesting, though not too much so. My favourite characters are Annabel and Katerina. Captain Olsen is an okay chap, and a pretty good leader. The character we first meet, Carling, doesn't last long. The beginning is odd in another way, too, as Carling visits a medium to make contact with his wife, who mysteriously disappeared on him over a year ago. Instead, the medium predicts disaster on his next sea voyage, predicting three tragic events that will occur. As these predictions begin to happen, he goes batty. His mystery (wife) is never solved.
One of the strongest characters in the novel turns out to be a woman, an impressive feat for a 1960 novel. Nadya is traveling with her parents and brother, along with Katerina, a trained bear. They are a circus act, and Nadya is a trapeze artist. Not only is she strong of character, but she is the physical equal to any man on the expedition. Along with Nadya, the main character of the story is First Mate Mouritzen. He is essentially a good man, but has a weak character. On a previous voyage transporting Nadya (his ship is a cargo vessel with some passenger capability) he had an affair with her. This time, however, he falls for Mary, while transporting her and her young daughter, Annabel, to an arranged marriage in Amsterdam.
The story is quite good, the character development is good, and the description of life aboard ship, and later upon the ice, is first rate. My main complaint is just how many things go wrong. Everything. And then some. Christopher stretches our credulity time and again as bad things continually happen to (mostly) good people. And when he finally does cut them a break, it is only after nearly all hope and strength has been abandoned. My secondary complaint is the same as in Caves of Night: the ending is very abrupt. I would like a final chapter, seeing some of the characters again back in Denmark, remembering those days.
The book is recommended and is a good read. I read it during the hot days of early July, but I did turn up the air conditioner.
*** stars. Reviewed July 8th/17
THE LONG WINTER
From March, 1962. Cover artist uncredited.
Six years after Britain is hit with a virus that kills all the grass, Christopher whacks his favourite homeland with another disaster; a new ice age. This is a cracking good yarn, one may say, though it reeks of racism and colonialism. Of course this is to be expected from a British writer from 1962, though I'm guessing Christopher thought himself well above that sort of thing. He wasn't.
The book is divided into three sections. In the first section, we slide back to when the ice age first hit (all at once--no gradual cooling down), and we get to experience again (see No Blade of Grass, above) the descent of humankind, especially in London. Of course it is all fairly accurate; it would be difficult to say things would actually go more positively.
The second section was, for me, the most interesting, as we get to see roles reversed. White people are flocking, penniless, to Africa, and are not treated well at all by the African people. No surprise there! Why should they? For me, the very best part of the book is when Madelaine and Leedon have to live in a slum shanty for several weeks. She has to work at a hospital emptying bedpans! Of course they are soon rescued from this ignoble lifestyle, and are happily ensconced in a comfortable penthouse in no time. At least we get to see what those Africans really think of us white folks. And there's no damn way we're giving up Britain to them! They would ruin the country!
The third part deals with an adventurous expedition from Nigeria to London, ostensibly to plant the flag of Nigeria in central London. Since London is completely frozen over, and has virtually no assests left, one wonders what the point really is? Is Christopher stretching things here just a tad? Most equatorial people have never shown much interest in conquering northern countries, especially with so many of their own local political problems. But for whatever reason, it's time to conquer England! Fortunately for England, Andrew Leedon comes through for the good of country and all that, tricks the Nigerians, and they are unable to conquer any London real estate. And it might get sunny again in a few years. Meanwhile, we eat tin rations and murder our own people so that a handful of scavengers can survive. Scurvy? Vitamin C? Please, we're British. We don't need that sort of thing.
This would have been a much better story with the ending favouring Africans. That would have been poetic justice, if nothing else. Imagine the howling of British critics, and the thumping that would have gone on in Parliament if Christopher had done that. Instead, the Africans are sent home with their tails between their legs, and told to come back again later to trade. And what do the frozen Londoners want? Coffee and cigarettes. Ah, so much to live for! Right. A good story that could have been so much better.
**1/2 stars. Reviewed August 13th/17
THE POSSESSORS
A SF horror novel from 1964. Cover artist uncredited.
John Christopher is heavily into writing about natural disasters. This time we are in the Swiss Alps, stranded at a guest lodge with several visitors (nine, I think?) and four staff after an avalanche isolates the place. There is also a dense fog, just to make certain that help cannot arrive. And so our group of people have to survive several days with no power (though the furnace boiler mysteriously still works), and no connection of any kind to the outside world. It couldn't be a better time for aliens to attempt a takeover!
A long-sleeping spore from a distant planet has made its way to Earth, surviving here for a very long time before being uncovered in the snow by an 8 year old boy out playing with his older brother. In no time the boy is possessed, and one by one the guests and staff begin to succumb to alien domination. The story is taut and well told, and Christopher does his usual excellent job of detailing his characters and developing them as time goes along.
We follow the complete disintegration of Mandy, wife of George, as she drinks herself into oblivion, literally. Some characters grow stronger, some grow together, and others merely exist. Finding a way to fight and defeat the alien presence becomes the main story, once the humans figure out what is happening. Still, they make some very costly mistakes, and soon are outnumbered by the people who have been taken over. The ending is pretty frightening, and the climax is suitably tense, exciting, and well handled.
Aside from all the plot conveniences of having everyone stranded and without outside aide, my main complaint is a small one. (Spoiler alert--skip this paragraph if you have not read the book yet). As in other novels by Christopher, I feel that an epilogue would have been a nice touch, checking in with the survivors again after a year or two has passed. Instead, the story reaches its climax, and ends on the same page. There is not enough thought given to how the few survivors are coping with what happened to them. Still, the book is quite good, and reminiscent of 1957's Midwich Cuckoos, in a very off-hand way. I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend it, especially if you enjoy watching those 1950s black and white SF movies. This would have made a great little film.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed October 8th/17
A long-sleeping spore from a distant planet has made its way to Earth, surviving here for a very long time before being uncovered in the snow by an 8 year old boy out playing with his older brother. In no time the boy is possessed, and one by one the guests and staff begin to succumb to alien domination. The story is taut and well told, and Christopher does his usual excellent job of detailing his characters and developing them as time goes along.
We follow the complete disintegration of Mandy, wife of George, as she drinks herself into oblivion, literally. Some characters grow stronger, some grow together, and others merely exist. Finding a way to fight and defeat the alien presence becomes the main story, once the humans figure out what is happening. Still, they make some very costly mistakes, and soon are outnumbered by the people who have been taken over. The ending is pretty frightening, and the climax is suitably tense, exciting, and well handled.
Aside from all the plot conveniences of having everyone stranded and without outside aide, my main complaint is a small one. (Spoiler alert--skip this paragraph if you have not read the book yet). As in other novels by Christopher, I feel that an epilogue would have been a nice touch, checking in with the survivors again after a year or two has passed. Instead, the story reaches its climax, and ends on the same page. There is not enough thought given to how the few survivors are coping with what happened to them. Still, the book is quite good, and reminiscent of 1957's Midwich Cuckoos, in a very off-hand way. I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend it, especially if you enjoy watching those 1950s black and white SF movies. This would have made a great little film.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed October 8th/17
A WRINKLE IN THE SKIN
Cover design by Juha Lindroos
From 1965 comes Christopher's next disaster epic. My copy is 254 pages long. Matthew Cotter lives alone on Guernsey, raising tomatoes. He has left a failed marriage back in England, and a grown-up daughter. A barking dog awakens him in the middle of the night, and he goes outside thinking his hens are in danger. The big one strikes, the biggest earthquake to ever hit the planet. From here on in it is a matter of survival, and the rest of the story deals with the aftermath of total natural destruction.
In many ways this is the same story as No Blade of Grass, only taking place further south. In other ways it is the same story as The Long Winter, only it is currently summertime. And in many ways it is a completely different story. Matthew's first instinct is to try and rescue any trapped survivors, but the earthquake was so bad that virtually every building is collapsed totally. He does rescue a young boy, and Billy and he become companions for the rest of the story. After a short time on Guernsey, spent with a small group of survivors, he strikes out for the mainland, with Billy following him willingly, not wishing to remain behind. His goal is to find Jane, his daughter, and be with her.
How do they get to the mainland? They walk across the empty seabed. In one of the best examples of imagery from any story I have ever read, the sea has been drained of its water. It's a long walk, and they have some adventures along the way, including one with a hospitable captain still aboard his tanker, its deck standing high above the seabed. Once on the mainland we run full tilt into the few survivors. There are good people, but very few of them. As in his other disaster books, Christopher is non too optimistic that people will help one another in a time of total social breakdown. I am reminded of P. J. Farmer's Riverworld series, where a similar situation arose. There were some bad people soon taking over things.
The story could be sub-titled "There and Back Again," giving perhaps too much of a hint as to how the book ends. But who makes it back? How changed are they by their long walking journey? What does the future hold for the survivors? Will they make it through a winter?
This is an excellent book, one of the finest I have ever read. In its small way it deals with every disaster that has ever happened or ever will happen, and also deals with how people will probably respond. Some genuine research from the time is cited at one point, regarding how people will deal with a situation if faced with social and civil meltdown, and it isn't pretty. Like No Blade of Grass, this one really makes a reader think about daily comforts, civilization, society, and what really matters in life. On the other hand, once these have been removed, then dealing with the struggles of day to day primitive life, even if done within a very small social circle, can be just as pleasing and satisfying. Finding meaning in what you do seems to be what intelligent and decent people will strive for, no matter the situation. There will always be predators, for without them social groups would never likely have been started. There is strength in forming a society, but not just from physical dangers. At stressful times emotional support is at least as important.
Christopher seems to have gotten the disaster formula correct yet again (see my review, above, for No Blade of Grass), and, like that novel, this is a book everyone should attempt to read. Highly recommended.
**** stars. Reviewed Nov. 20th/17
From 1968 comes this 312 page book, which I read on Kindle (cover art, above, taken from Google Images). The book is easy to dislike, but difficult to put down. It's like the literary equivalent of watching a train wreck, or a multi-vehicle collision on an expressway. You don't want to watch, but you have to. There are so many things wrong with the logic of the situations, but I'm guessing that in the 1960s, with riots, especially in American cities, it was easier to believe that chaos would ensue sooner rather than later.
Sadly, the book makes an excellent case for a country like America to allow anyone and everyone easy access to firearms. Such scenarios as the reader comes across in Pendulum would never occur in a country where everyone had firearms. However, it is England we are discussing here, and English society certainly comes out looking like a bunch of ragged sheep. The plot is simple--the economy is so bad, and everyone is asking for the moon, that the country collapses economically. Suddenly the south of England is overrun by young hoodlums (yobs, in England), and they assume control of everything. Rather easily, since the police aren't armed and somehow the yobs are. This is one of the book's major flaws--if the kids could get guns so readily, why not the general populace? And how in the world did they get hold of so many white leather jackets?
Most of the book is taken up with the yobs terrorizing one particular family. Then comes, literally out of nowhere, a fanatical religious Christian group, and incites the populace to violence against the yobs. From there on in society falls into pure medievalism. Yet somehow the economy booms again. I guess America and other allies don't mind the fact that England is medieval once again, with laws and leaders to match. All a bit silly, really. Christopher has made his point so much better in other stories (No Blade of Grass, for one), that society rests on very thin ice, and it won't take much to completely destroy it. I think modern terrorists hope this is the case, and are doing their best, for whatever their reasons really are, to bring this about. In fact, the final society in the book seems to fit rather well with the misguided and juvenile beliefs of groups such as ISIS. Apparently they are not finding it so easy to do in reality. So perhaps there is still some hope that we can cling to our civilized ways for a bit longer.
Coincidentally, the movie Wild In The Streets also came out in 1968. I saw it when it came out, when I was a young teen. It is just as silly as this book, but also fun to watch, at the same time one is scorning it. Though Christopher was just a bit too wild in his assumptions for Pendulum, it does make one wish to fortify his home somewhat, and stock up with guns and ammo. Which a lot of people do, apparently. A cautionary tale to read with suitable caution.
*** stars. Reviewed Jan. 22nd/18
THE LITTLE PEOPLE
Cover design by Juha Lindross
Christopher's next amazing novel comes from 1966. My edition is from 2000, and is 224 pages long. By now I am quite familiar with his formula . Several people are gathered in an isolated part of Ireland, and the weather is gloomy. Along with the story about the Little People, we get deeply into the lives of virtually every other character, even if their lives aren't deep. Most of the main characters are forever changed after their experiences at the old house, and so they should be.
While Christopher does his usual neat job, I don't think he spends nearly enough time on the Little People. We hear way too much of the German couple, the American family, Mat and Daniel, and even Bridget. They all have interesting stories to relate, and the narrator frequently takes the perspective of one of these characters. However, not once do we get to see out through the Little People's eyes.
As a horror novel, that element does not go nearly far enough. Much more could have been done with things, in my opinion. It seems that the novel really just gets to become interesting, and then gets bogged down in everyone's personal problems and background. Somehow, the Little People have telepathically been able to create drama in the lives of the normal sized humans. Much more believable would have been the addition of mushrooms or some other drug to the stew by the Little People. The experiences everyone undergoes seems to fit the profile of a drug-induced episode. There is a very delicate balance between true horror and an over-the-top variety that movies seem to emulate. I feel we need just a bit more true horror.
On the strong side, only Christopher could have brought together a 17 year old nymphomaniac and a 27 year old alcoholic Puritan Catholic, and made them the stars of the whole event. He has a way with dialogue and character development that goes way beyond any other SF or horror writer that I know. I only wish he could have somehow brought the Little People more into the foreground. Even so, this is a remarkable book, and the story will stay with the reader for a very long time. Recommended.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed Dec. 23rd/17
PENDULUM
From 1968 comes this 312 page book, which I read on Kindle (cover art, above, taken from Google Images). The book is easy to dislike, but difficult to put down. It's like the literary equivalent of watching a train wreck, or a multi-vehicle collision on an expressway. You don't want to watch, but you have to. There are so many things wrong with the logic of the situations, but I'm guessing that in the 1960s, with riots, especially in American cities, it was easier to believe that chaos would ensue sooner rather than later.
Sadly, the book makes an excellent case for a country like America to allow anyone and everyone easy access to firearms. Such scenarios as the reader comes across in Pendulum would never occur in a country where everyone had firearms. However, it is England we are discussing here, and English society certainly comes out looking like a bunch of ragged sheep. The plot is simple--the economy is so bad, and everyone is asking for the moon, that the country collapses economically. Suddenly the south of England is overrun by young hoodlums (yobs, in England), and they assume control of everything. Rather easily, since the police aren't armed and somehow the yobs are. This is one of the book's major flaws--if the kids could get guns so readily, why not the general populace? And how in the world did they get hold of so many white leather jackets?
Most of the book is taken up with the yobs terrorizing one particular family. Then comes, literally out of nowhere, a fanatical religious Christian group, and incites the populace to violence against the yobs. From there on in society falls into pure medievalism. Yet somehow the economy booms again. I guess America and other allies don't mind the fact that England is medieval once again, with laws and leaders to match. All a bit silly, really. Christopher has made his point so much better in other stories (No Blade of Grass, for one), that society rests on very thin ice, and it won't take much to completely destroy it. I think modern terrorists hope this is the case, and are doing their best, for whatever their reasons really are, to bring this about. In fact, the final society in the book seems to fit rather well with the misguided and juvenile beliefs of groups such as ISIS. Apparently they are not finding it so easy to do in reality. So perhaps there is still some hope that we can cling to our civilized ways for a bit longer.
Coincidentally, the movie Wild In The Streets also came out in 1968. I saw it when it came out, when I was a young teen. It is just as silly as this book, but also fun to watch, at the same time one is scorning it. Though Christopher was just a bit too wild in his assumptions for Pendulum, it does make one wish to fortify his home somewhat, and stock up with guns and ammo. Which a lot of people do, apparently. A cautionary tale to read with suitable caution.
*** stars. Reviewed Jan. 22nd/18
CLOUD ON SILVER
Cover of my Kindle edition.
From 1964 comes this strange novel, even by John Christopher standards, also called Sweeney's Island. My Kindle version is 250 pages. This is like an adult Lord of The Flies, or what really would have happened on Gilligan's Island. A rich and bored millionaire takes a group of London misfits on a cruise of the South Pacific, finding it a passably good idea to strand everyone on a small tropical island. After the four Hawaiian boys row off with the cook on the only boat available, the others manage to survive until they are eventually rescued.
There are two married couples, four single men, and two single women. Two of the men and one of the women prove to be bad eggs, forcing the others to live under their cruel dictates. Billy has the gun, but Lydia soon dominates Billy, and then adds Tony to her collection. Tony, despite being with his wife, desires Susan, leading to some ugly complications. More crimes are committed by these three villains than one can keep track of. Only Sasha, the white Russian, attempts to stand up to the bullies. As I said, Billy has a gun. Without the gun, things might have been very different.
There is enough sadism and plenty of occasions to despair of human behaviour, especially when no one is looking. This is a lawless land, but soon becomes Lydia's and Billy's lawless land. The others quickly learn to cower to those in power, even as their evil deeds grow more and more wicked. Sweeney, the man responsible for the mess, abdicates and moves off to live alone. By the time he does come back to settle things down a bit, it is much too late. As a result, we never learn just what he was up to originally. We do learn that the island has been affected by radiation experiments, and the two pregnant women fear for their unborn children. People begin to get ill. A monsoon strikes. It's all very exciting, but as indicated earlier, very sadistic.
While we never do learn Sweeney's motive for doing what he did, neither do we learn the author's. Just what was he trying to do? Why was he trying to do it? All it proves, in the end, is that the guy with the gun has all the power. Especially if no one really tries to take it away (such as hitting him on the head, really hard, when he is drunk and sleeping). And Susan, the single girl whom Tony lusts after, and tries to rape several times--could she not learn to carry a rock around with her, or a sharpened stick? Really? In the end we learn that there are bad people, and there are useless people. Sasha, who at least tries to help, pays dearly for it. Is that a message for us? Should we all cower to bullies, or run away? Apparently that is what the author believes would happen.
In the end, this very well-written book is disappointing. It is the author's right to manipulate events any way he sees fit. But then it is the reader's right to reject it all as nonsense. Most people would soon realize that working together is the only proper way to survive in such a situation. No doubt there would be upsets, and someone might have to be chosen as leader. Perhaps Christopher thinks that those with psychopathic tendencies would soon dominate your average group. It might, but not a group I would be in. Or hopefully you.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed March 12th/18
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THE TRIPODS
BOOK 1: THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
Cover art by Anton Petrov.
Republished in 2014, this was actually written in 1967, and began the author's period of writing for children. There is a 10 page preface by Christopher, detailing his initial experience with publishing and writing such a book. The new edition is 227 pages of wide spacing, and easy to read, not counting the preface.
This story seems to set the tone for most of the other children's book the author wrote. Some boys (three in this case) run away and go on a long journey, in an attempt to escape some type of servitude. They meet allies along the way, are always in danger, never eat properly, and manage to escape just in the nick of time. Kids should like it.
Tripods seem to be (we never learn for certain) some type of huge alien robot that controls all of human civilization, escape for a very few who can escape them. Humans are "capped" at 14, and become docile and lose their appetite for adventure and innovation. They become people who merely exist, for no apparent reason. Hm. Seems to describe a lot of the population today. Once a metal cap is placed on your head, you lose any urge to fight back, and meekly accept your fate.
Our three boys are having none of it, and make a run for it, using a map given to one of the boys by Ozymandias. They are heading south, to the White Mountains, where an enclave of resistance fighters dwell. They leave England by ship, walk past and through the ruins of Paris, and eventual end up in the mountains, likely the Pyrenees.
In past experience (I read his other children's books ahead of this one), the first book is usually the best of the series, and then the author seems to lose interest and the writing becomes weaker and weaker. This is a 4-volume series, and I'm only reading one book about every 6 weeks. so time will tell. But I liked this story, and I think we are off to a great start.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed November 28th/19
The second book finally teaches us just about all we need to know about the alien invaders, and why they are here. And no one can deny that they must be defeated now. They are not really civilized at all, in the same sense that people who do not treat animals well aren't either. Yes, they are very intelligent and technically advanced, but morally they are rather bankrupt. The story is aimed at juveniles, specifically boys. Girls will not be impressed with their role in the alien civilization, and neither was I. In fact, it's one of the most outrageous ways of keeping girls out of a story that I have ever come across, even though boys of a certain would probably accept it gleefully.
The concept of the city and the aliens is managed quite well, as well as the language issue. Will understands very little of what he sees, because it is all truly alien. It's not like Star Trek, where aliens have funny noses or ears, but are otherwise "just like us." These are alien aliens, and I like that. Except for the lack of females in the story, this is a good sequel. Now we are left wondering just how the aliens can ever be defeated.
*** stars. Reviewed January 12th/20
THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD
Cover art by Anton Petrov
From 1967 comes part two of the series, more or less leaving off from where the first book stopped, though jumping ahead several months. The boys are living with others like them in an old tunnel through the White Mountains, and have been receiving training. The master plan involves sending in a few boys to the city of the tripods. So we are back to a games competition once again. Will wins his boxing one, and three boys (one of them is different this time) head off to the games. The winner of the games gets brought into the alien city, to directly serve the Masters.
There is lots of travelling by river in the first part, as the three boys travel towards the games. Then we have the various competitions, and two of the three boys from the tunnel wins, and are taken to the city. The rest of the book's events lie within the city's walls, and we learn more about the aliens now. Will's Master is kind, but still very creepy, and treats Will like his pet. Fritz, his newer companion from the tunnel, is beaten daily by his master, but learns a lot about the city. Once the boys have learned enough, they decide to leave the city, especially after Will kills his alien Master. They hope to report back to Julius, their leader, on all they have learned. Will becomes the first person to ever escape the city.
The second book finally teaches us just about all we need to know about the alien invaders, and why they are here. And no one can deny that they must be defeated now. They are not really civilized at all, in the same sense that people who do not treat animals well aren't either. Yes, they are very intelligent and technically advanced, but morally they are rather bankrupt. The story is aimed at juveniles, specifically boys. Girls will not be impressed with their role in the alien civilization, and neither was I. In fact, it's one of the most outrageous ways of keeping girls out of a story that I have ever come across, even though boys of a certain would probably accept it gleefully.
The concept of the city and the aliens is managed quite well, as well as the language issue. Will understands very little of what he sees, because it is all truly alien. It's not like Star Trek, where aliens have funny noses or ears, but are otherwise "just like us." These are alien aliens, and I like that. Except for the lack of females in the story, this is a good sequel. Now we are left wondering just how the aliens can ever be defeated.
*** stars. Reviewed January 12th/20
THE POOL OF FIRE
Cover art by Anton Petrov. Not a favourite image for me.
From 1968 comes the conclusion to the original trilogy. The story itself is 246 easy read pages, with a six page Preface by the author from 2003. The title is a very poor choice for this book and, as a result, the cover art. Of all the wonderful images that could have been used from the text, we get this one, of the secret power source of the Tripods. A big fire. This is the least effective of all the wonderful cover art done for the reissue of Christopher's kids books.
Though the book does come to a satisfactory and non-idealistic conclusion, we are brought through too many details of exactly how it is done. The back cover says the book is aimed at children aged 9-13. If this were true, I hardly think that every little detail of the expedition to destroy the city would be needed. Kids do ask questions, but they don't need to have every one of them answered in full. In short, the story gets bogged down too often with things that could be skimmed over much quicker (to name just one example, all of the rigmarole surrounding the making of alcohol).
I like how the author sticks to his theme throughout the three books, namely the over-throwing of the evil Tripods. However, despite capturing one of them, and finding an easy way to kill them with one blow, I am surprised that some reconciliation could not be found between the two species. This is not an optimistic book by any means, and only teaches kids how to fight back, not to search for a peaceful solution. It might have been more satisfying, rather than destroying and killing all of the aliens, if some type of peaceful co-existence could have come about. The aliens were made to be unrelenting in their feeling of superiority, and never considered accepting humans as their equals. this could have been handled differently, after a few battles won by the humans,through their cunning and ingenuity. It is a bit much to swallow that the aliens could have been defeated so quickly, and by such a force.
Still, overall it is a series worth reading, and handing on to a younger generation. I'm not so sure that I would ever reread it, but would be happy to pass it along.
*** stars. Reviewed February 25th/20
Though the book does come to a satisfactory and non-idealistic conclusion, we are brought through too many details of exactly how it is done. The back cover says the book is aimed at children aged 9-13. If this were true, I hardly think that every little detail of the expedition to destroy the city would be needed. Kids do ask questions, but they don't need to have every one of them answered in full. In short, the story gets bogged down too often with things that could be skimmed over much quicker (to name just one example, all of the rigmarole surrounding the making of alcohol).
I like how the author sticks to his theme throughout the three books, namely the over-throwing of the evil Tripods. However, despite capturing one of them, and finding an easy way to kill them with one blow, I am surprised that some reconciliation could not be found between the two species. This is not an optimistic book by any means, and only teaches kids how to fight back, not to search for a peaceful solution. It might have been more satisfying, rather than destroying and killing all of the aliens, if some type of peaceful co-existence could have come about. The aliens were made to be unrelenting in their feeling of superiority, and never considered accepting humans as their equals. this could have been handled differently, after a few battles won by the humans,through their cunning and ingenuity. It is a bit much to swallow that the aliens could have been defeated so quickly, and by such a force.
Still, overall it is a series worth reading, and handing on to a younger generation. I'm not so sure that I would ever reread it, but would be happy to pass it along.
*** stars. Reviewed February 25th/20
WHEN THE TRIPODS CAME
Cover art by Anton Petrov.
From 1984 comes this 197 page prequel to the main trilogy. There is also a 7 page Preface by the author. The book is very well written, and is easily the best of the series. Christopher has created a plausible way for aliens to take over our planet without resorting to a major war. Having read the series, the reader is already well aware of who the Tripods are, what it is they are up to, and how it is being achieved. But it is fun watching how a planet crumbles, when you already know that it is coming.
The characters are believable, and even likeable, and there are girls! The main one is only 7, but she plays a pretty big role considering it is a book by John Christopher. I recommend reading the series first, and then this prequel (which is the correct order of being written). The mysteriousness of the first book of the main series will be somewhat spoiled if this one is read first. Somewhere out there is a BBC two-season series based on the trilogy. It would be fun to find this and see it. If I do, I will report here.
**** stars. Reviewed April 10th/20
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THE LOTUS CAVES
Cover art by Joel.
From 1969 comes this 214 page juvenile SF novel. The copyright is 1969, meaning that Christopher wrote this the same year as the first manned Apollo Moon landing. Interest in all things lunar was at a fever pitch, and no one really knew what the astronauts would see or find when they got there (well, they had a pretty good idea, but not down to the last detail).
Cut to 2068, with a small family colony living beneath "The Bubble" on the Moon, complete with schools, recreation facilities, and many of the comforts of home. Except that the area beneath the protective dome is small, and after a while, quite boring. It is especially boring for two 14 year old boys. The boys are allowed outside the dome in a crawler, but crawlers are set to move only so far from the dome. A special key is needed to go any further, and the boys are not allowed. Only the mining company is allowed further access. However, one day a key is accidentally left in a crawler, and the boys are off on a major exploring expedition to the very first lunar base, a much smaller one that was used over 70 years ago. It is now shuttered, distant, but accessible.
The boys get themselves involved in an adventure, and the next part reads something like "The Hardy Boys on the Moon." They track the trail of an astronaut missing for 70 years, fall through a crevice into a large cave, and find themselves facing an alien life form that only wishes them well and wants to care for them. Forever.
It is a good story and easily readable, and even though the Moon has been explored, who knows what lies beneath some of those mountains or craters? I would still recommend the book for young readers of today, who likely know next to nothing about the Moon. And by the way, where is our own Moon colony?
*** stars. Reviewed May 15th/18
THE GUARDIANS
Cover art by Anton Petrov
From 1970 comes the second juvenile story from Christopher, this one being 240 pages of wide spacing and easy type to read. A young teenage boy (13) grows up in an overcrowded London. Beyond the city wall lies the County, with wide-open spaces, greenery, and, for some, a privileged life. Rob is tormented at his boarding school, where he is sent after becoming orphaned. He escapes the city, crosses the wall, and begins his existence in the County.
The publisher recommends the book for ages 9-13. I beg to differ. I would say 11-14, due to the political plot theme. The book is aimed at boys, though girls might also like to read it. The opening is typically Dickensian, as everything bad happens to Rob all at once. Things improve for Rob once he crosses the wall, but afterwards he has an important decision to make. Rob is a likable character, but perhaps too mature to be believed for his big decision at the age of 14. I liked the book, though it is disheartening to see the traditional role of women upheld in the story. And no explanation is ever given as to why the servants are so happy with their lot in life, and do not take part in the rebellion. We never really meet one.
An easy read, and not a bad one.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 27th/18
Cover art by Anton Petrov
IN THE BEGINNING (Dom and Va)
Cover art by Anton Petrov
From 1973 comes this juvenile tale of prehistoric tribes. It is 215 page long, with large type and double spacing. I am not a fan of prehistoric fiction, although it seems to come up a lot with writers in the Avon/Equinox series. Chad Oliver uses it as one of his favourite themes, and he also wrote a juvenile tale about it, Mists Of Dawn. His story is superior to Christopher's, though I wasn't crazy about either of them. Philip Jose Farmer wrote one of the best, called Time's Last Gift.
The present story has a bit too much wife beating in it, and I would be unwilling to recommend this story to impressionable readers. It is also too simplistic in its portrayal of the two tribes, one full of violent hunters who are stronger, and the other filled with weaker farmers, who don't seem to have much in the way of weapons. And rather than raid the village and steal food and women, which would be more believable, the hunters go in and kill everyone, sparing some of the women. If a protected village such as this (they were surrounded by thorns, which at first could not be penetrated by the hunters) can fall to bullies, then how did Dom and Va survive, living alone by their lake? How did their small village survive afterwards? Did roving bands of hunters not come to the lake?
At least I am thankful that the story title was changed, as "Dom and Va" is a ridiculous title for a book. I am doubtful that many girls would be interested in reading this story.
As a bonus, there is a simplified short story version of In the Beginning at the very end. It is so basic that its only purpose would be to read it to a very young child. Most of the violence is greatly subdued, and Dom only hits Va once. This version is 34 pages long.
** stars. Reviewed August 14th/18
The present story has a bit too much wife beating in it, and I would be unwilling to recommend this story to impressionable readers. It is also too simplistic in its portrayal of the two tribes, one full of violent hunters who are stronger, and the other filled with weaker farmers, who don't seem to have much in the way of weapons. And rather than raid the village and steal food and women, which would be more believable, the hunters go in and kill everyone, sparing some of the women. If a protected village such as this (they were surrounded by thorns, which at first could not be penetrated by the hunters) can fall to bullies, then how did Dom and Va survive, living alone by their lake? How did their small village survive afterwards? Did roving bands of hunters not come to the lake?
At least I am thankful that the story title was changed, as "Dom and Va" is a ridiculous title for a book. I am doubtful that many girls would be interested in reading this story.
As a bonus, there is a simplified short story version of In the Beginning at the very end. It is so basic that its only purpose would be to read it to a very young child. Most of the violence is greatly subdued, and Dom only hits Va once. This version is 34 pages long.
** stars. Reviewed August 14th/18
WILD JACK
Cover art by Brad Teare.
This 1974 story is very similar to The Guardians (see above), and is another in the long line of juvenile SF that Christopher wrote after his final adult novel (see above). It is 224 pages long. This one flows much better than The Guardians, though there are some serious plot loopholes. The main character, Clive, is likable but spoiled. He is framed for uttering anti-social words and is sent, without trial or consultation with his parents, to a cruel prison island for wayward youth. I'm sure kids who have been sent to their room or have had privileges taken from them "for no reason" can easily identify with Clive's plight.
Wild Jack is a bogey man that parents tell their misbehaving children will come for them from the wilderness outside the city if they don't straighten up (or, as Christians are fond of telling their children, they will burn in hell if they are bad). After escaping the sadistic island prison with two friends, they soon encounter the mean and mysterious Jack in person. Only he's not such a bad guy! For me, the cover art spoiled the whole encounter, as I knew that things were going to be fine. I would have chosen a more dramatic scene to depict. There are many in the story.
This is light reading for an adult. Recommended for children 11-14. There are two girls in the story, one of whom is a traitor. Read and find out which is the bad girl. Though I found the whole police and justice thing a tad too chewy, I'm sure kids will have no trouble believing in the story of a future London.
*** stars. Reviewed Oct. 2nd/18
THE EMPTY WORLD
Cover art by Anton Petrov.
From 1977 comes this 225 page juvenile end of the world story, by a writer who is obviously obsessed with such tales. Even though nearly every book of Christopher's is similar in theme, there are enough differences to make them seem reasonably different from one another. In this story Neil, a young teenager, finds himself all alone after a plague devastates the planet. There are some incredibly hard hitting death scenes that might disturb some adults, let alone young readers. I would recommend this novel for 13+ years. Once the plague has settled in there are no adults in the story. Only a few young teens seem to have survived, and we become acquainted with five of them over the course of the story.
One thing I really liked about the book is that I kept expecting the inevitable "bad guys" to show up and ruin things, or at least make life intolerable for readers and the main characters. But they don't! Incredible, and praiseworthy. Neil eventually gets to London, where his adventures continue. Without spoiling the story, he does find some companions, only one of which wants him dead.
There are heartbreaking moments, as he cares for two very young children and tries to prepare them to carry on without him, as he expects to die soon. And he discovers a note whilst in London that leads him to a human connection in Hampstead, but things do not work out well at all. We do get a vivid sense of a totally empty world, something many teenagers likely fantasize about often (I know I did).
At times chilling and heart-stopping, the novel is easy to read and has large printing, double spaced. The book is hard to put down once begun. I would really have liked to have seen a sequel to this, as well as to others of his disaster novels. A follow-up story here a few years later might have been quite special. Recommended to young adults and adults alike.
*** 1/2 stars. reviewed Nov. 4th/18
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SWORD OF THE SPIRITS TRILOGY
THE PRINCE IN WAITING
Cover art by Thomas Kidd
This first book of a short series is 214 pages long, and was published in 1970. Luke is 13 when the book begins, and can't wait to prove himself as a fighter with a sword at the annual spring games. He lives in a medieval-like world in England, upon the ruins of the civilization that was destroyed eons ago (presumably in the 20th Century), in the walled city of Winchester. The famous cathedral is in ruins, but parts of it can be visited, including underground.
As we learn later on, the world was destroyed by earthquakes and lava, and so this could be considered a much later version of the world we saw destroyed in the author's adult novel A Wrinkle In the Skin, from 1965. When Luke's father, a captain in the city's army, is made Prince, Luke becomes the next in line to lead the people.
With each city independent from one another, and usually preying upon one another, there is no central government, and no alliances to help protect against greater enemies. Luke is a good character, flawed and often very unwise. But he learns from mistakes, and is quick to admit his own errors. He ends up with two male friends his age, and we spend time in the city and out of it as the boys attempt to survive through many types of adversity. I would be giving away too much of the plot if I named any of these adversities, but a lot of people die in this book.
Seers and Spirits are there to guide the people, and especially the leaders. They seem to know things before they happen, and can predict weather with good accuracy. Many people fear and respect the town seer, who makes certain that rules are followed, and especially that no machines are used at all. The seers make predictions concerning Luke, that he will someday unite the cities under one leader, to defend against an unknown foe. In the end Luke has to flee the city for his life, and is taken to seer headquarters, likely beneath Stonehenge or a similar stone circle. Here, at the very end of the story, he learns the secrets that are forbidden to all, except the seers.
The book is an easy read, and a great young person's version of the end of the world books written by authors such as Christopher, Ballard, and Edgar Pangborn. Luke is no Davy, but he is a good solid hero in child form, and kept believable and likable throughout the story. I read it in one day, finding it to be a very good page turner. Very suitable for boys aged 12-15, and I'm certain many girls would also love to read this.
**** stars. Reviewed January 10th/19
BEYOND THE BURNING LANDS
Cover art by Anton Petrov
Volume Two of the series is from 1971, and is 236 pages long. It is easy to read, though the chapters are long for young readers. Luke goes through a lot of adventures, including passing through the burning lands, where volcanoes still roar and spew and sizzle. But they are quieting down somewhat, and when a peddler from the north makes it through and comes to Winchester, Luke knows that he must see what lies beyond. For Luke has been restored to Winchester by his usurper brother, Peter, and the boy is welcomed back to the city of his birth.
The trip north leads Luke and a small band to Wales, where they become guests of King Cymru. Luke and the King's daughter spend a lot of time together, and after Luke proves his worth by killing a hideous, near-mythical beast, the King gives his daughter's hand to Luke. We spend a long time amongst the Welsh folk before heading back home, where further adventures befall Luke. The part where he is taken to the village of the tree dwellers seems to be lifted directly from stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs! He is eventually rescued by his loyal dwarf servant, and the two head back to Winchester.
Luke is promptly arrested and thrown in prison, but I won't give the reason or the outcome, as it would spoil too much of the very active and fun plot. Christopher seems to have a good handle on what it takes to write well for young readers. It seems a shame that my library copy, now withdrawn, is in near-mint condition, meaning that it just wasn't read much, if at all. While the series is aimed directly at young boys, girls will also find this a very exciting discovery. Recommended for young-at-heart adults, too.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed February 14th/19
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRITS
Cover art by Anton Petrov.
I have enjoyed reading this trilogy, written for young people, mostly boys. Until now. I found the third book quite disturbing in the direction it went, and the ending is sadly broken. The author had been doing a really fine job with things, and the third book started out okay. However, without giving away any spoilers, things begin to unravel quickly near the middle of volume 3, and by the end of the series we are left shaking our heads and wondering what Christopher was thinking.
Luke had not been the most human of heroes for a kid's book, but in the end he turns out to be nothing more than a self serving, despicable lout. Well, perhaps he is human after all, but not a great role model for this kind of story. There are so many decent directions that the author could have taken. Instead, he chose to make Luke a villain, and the worst kind of villain. Everything is everyone else's fault kind of villain. Despite having good choices to make time and time again, Luke always makes the worst choice possible. And the final page, when he is still contemplating his revenge, is likely the weakest moment in any Christopher book. It is chilling and horrifying. And we know that Luke will carry out his wishes.
The cover illustration shows the best possible way the series could have ended. When Luke and Hans leave Winchester and return to Klan Gothlen, they encounter numerous winter hardships. At one point they are attacked by wild dogs, and Hans is badly wounded. Along come some very helpful, intelligent, and pleasant men who take them to their village. The village is small but independent, and the people are happy. They heal Hans and look after Luke, too. At one point he is offered a gift from them, one that he flatly refuses. At this point of the book I totally gave up on Luke, and the rest of it was merely watching him self destruct, and take a lot of people and horses down with him.
But then I thought perhaps at the end of the book Luke will finally accept this gift offered him by the village that rescued him and Hans. Nope. It's not even mentioned again. Totally forgotten. Except by the cover artist and me.
I don't always require standard happy endings. However, I think it is important if writing books for children aged 10-14 (recommended on the cover jacket) that some kind of healing and closure occur at the end. Instead, Luke is left festering and feeling sorry for himself. I was very disappointed by the conclusion to an otherwise intelligent and fascinating series of books. I highly recommend the first two in the series, and I know that if you have read them you will go on and read the third. You have to, right? I hope you feel differently about the ending than I do.
** stars. Reviewed April 4th/19
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THE FIREBALL TRILOGY
FIREBALL
Cover art by Karin Paprocki
From 1981 comes this easy read juvenile novel, the first of a three-volume set. My edition (2015) runs to 213 pages. Two boys in their early teens fall through into another dimension, where a version of Earth history has taken a turn different from what actually happened. The boys are able to determine that it is still 1981, but in this new world the Romans are still in charge of Europe, and things haven't progressed at all. There is still slavery and gladiators, but the Christians are no longer persecuted.
It is a neat way to get kids interested in history, as it isn't really history, but an alternate version of it. Simon, the English boy, ends up becoming a gladiator, and then a Christian soldier rebelling against the Emperor. His partner Brad is American, and is the brains of the pair. We get a good look inside the gladiator school, and inside London as ruled by Romans.
I liked the story, though sometimes the author overdoes the competition between the two boys. There is a female interest, too, as well as a look at the life of a rich and free Roman family. How are the Christians going to defeat the Roman legions? Brad has a workable plan, and we get to see it in action. The battles are all short but grim, just about right for young readers.
All in all this is a likable start to a new series. We will eventually see if this one ends a bit better than the last series.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed May 15th/19
NEW FOUND LAND
Cover art by Karin Paprocki. This scene is not in the book.
From 1983 comes Christopher's 2nd tale of two boys adventuring in a parallel Earth. This book is 195 pages, wide spaced. This one begins in North America, and other than a quick detour to Mexico City, remains in North America. The boys live with Algonquin Indians for a time, then with a Viking settlement. They move on to the south, and then inland where they encounter Aztec civilization. The adventures are non-stop, and the boys and their adult Roman friends, and now a young Viking girl, do well for themselves as they go.
They escape a harsh winter, and in the best part of the story, live in an Aztec city where they learn to play that version of a ball game. Christopher does a nice variation on the traditional native game by having the players use sticks to hit the ball. The boys improve on this by making a wider racket, and soon find themselves winning games and becoming popular. this whole sequence is handled well and is fun to read.
With the Viking girl kidnapped and about to become a goddess, they head to Tenochtitlan to rescue her. Their adventuresome climb to the top of a very high and well guarded pyramid is also exciting, but in the end, all for nought. Though there isn't much humour in the book, and this part turns out to be a cruel joke, it is still quite amusing. The boys decide to move on, alone, for California, which was their original destination, and the books ends as they arrive there and discover a pagoda, thus setting up the next and last volume in the series.
Informed kids should enjoy reading this alternate history version of what North America might have been like, had not events transpired to make things the way they are now. Lively and fun to read for all.
*** stars. Reviewed July 1st/19
DRAGON DANCE
Cover art by Anton Petrov.
From 1986 comes the author's concluding book in The Fireball Trilogy, the worldwide adventures of two young boys who end up in an alternate Earth. Their adventures began in England, then took them to the New World, and now carries them across the Pacific Ocean, where they arrive in China. The novel lasts for 191 pages, double spaced. The book is an easy read, and we now more or less know what to expect. It's not a very good conclusion to the series, as the boys' adventures take on a mystical turn, and they become involved with a strange mind control religion, as well as a civil war.
One of the boys helps one side invent the tank, while the other boy helps the opposite army invent aeroplanes. A bit of a mind stretch for two young boys, but it is fiction, after all. There are magical dragons, explained. And, most curiously, I have had my second encounter with Dr. Mirabilis, alias Roger Bacon, this month! Earlier in the month I read James Blish's account of the Dr. Bacon, and he is encountered again here, revealed at the end of book 3. A strange reading coincidence.
The book cover suggests readers aged 9-13; I strongly doubt that any 9 year old would care much for this book, or even be able to follow the story, with its pseudo-religious and mystical theme. Probably 12-14 would be a much better age. However, by the 3rd book the adventure seems stale; Christopher seems to have run his course with the material, and seems to be fulfilling a publishing agreement by writing this book. It's not a bad book to read, but neither is it a really good book, either. But it does answer the big question readers have been wondering about all along, namely will the boys ever get back home? You'll have to read this book to find out.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed August 30th/19
A DUSK OF DEMONS
Cover art by Karen Paprocki
From 1994 comes this 236 page juvenile novel by an author obsessed with post-apocalyptic tales. John Christopher is a very good writer, and has written some of the best such stories ever written, including No Blade Of Grass, and A Wrinkle In The Skin. In the late 1960s, the author switched from intense adult novels to stories for kids in their mid-teens, specifically aimed at boys. These have been generally good stories, though uneven in writing quality. It appears that Christopher might have grown tired of writing, and could not keep up the intensity of his top notch works for adults. It had even been 8 years since his last book for kids.
Ben lives in the Western Isles, with the Master, the housekeeper and her two daughters, a grounds keeper and a groom. That's it for the entire island. Ben is 14 and friends with Paddy (Patricia), the younger of the two daughters. She is 15 1/2. Ben lives an ideal life until the Master dies. Then everything changes. If you've never read Christopher before, especially his youth novels, this is a pretty good one to start with. It includes many of the trademark points of interest, including the young boy set adrift by circumstances beyond his control, adults who run the full spectrum from authoritarian to ones that Ben likes and trusts, a journey undertaken through hostile landscapes and towns, and, somewhere off in the distance, a normal life and normal people.
I liked Ben and Paddy, and the story, too. Christopher is careful not to inflict undue cruelty on the two main characters, and I liked his balance of good versus creepy adult characters. The Dark Demon religion is pretty scary, and would certainly keep ignorant folk in its fearful grip. All in all a good novel, and highly recommended to kids 12 and up.
*** stars. Reviewed October 13th/19
Ben lives in the Western Isles, with the Master, the housekeeper and her two daughters, a grounds keeper and a groom. That's it for the entire island. Ben is 14 and friends with Paddy (Patricia), the younger of the two daughters. She is 15 1/2. Ben lives an ideal life until the Master dies. Then everything changes. If you've never read Christopher before, especially his youth novels, this is a pretty good one to start with. It includes many of the trademark points of interest, including the young boy set adrift by circumstances beyond his control, adults who run the full spectrum from authoritarian to ones that Ben likes and trusts, a journey undertaken through hostile landscapes and towns, and, somewhere off in the distance, a normal life and normal people.
I liked Ben and Paddy, and the story, too. Christopher is careful not to inflict undue cruelty on the two main characters, and I liked his balance of good versus creepy adult characters. The Dark Demon religion is pretty scary, and would certainly keep ignorant folk in its fearful grip. All in all a good novel, and highly recommended to kids 12 and up.
*** stars. Reviewed October 13th/19
BAD DREAM
Jacket photo by Corbis.
From 2003 comes the final novel by this truly great writer. It is strictly adult, which comes as a surprise after so many young adult novels from his pen. At 249 pages, it is a not very thinly disguised attack on the European Union, and how terrible it all is for the British to have to persevere under such tyrants. The author can now rest easy, since Britain has pulled out of the Union, without having to go to war for it. And good luck with that.
The novel is a taut and extremely well written political thriller, a family melodrama, and a bit of a murder mystery. I had forgotten how intelligent the author's writing can be, and there are many of his earlier novels that I wish to reread. Michael Frodsham lives in Sheaf, England. When his mother died his father remarried a German woman. In addition to his sister, Anna, he has a half brother and half sister on his German stepmother's side. Family relations are complicated but not too strained, and the novel goes back and forth between Sheaf and Frohsteig. To complicate matters a little further, Michael is in love with Lucy, a black American woman who works for her government.
The time is the near future. Federal troops from Europe are being used to quash rebellions throughout England, rebellions that few people take seriously, at first. In the beginning Michael thinks it madness to want out of the Union, but his mind changes by the end of the book. The story is rich in detail and intrigue, and we gradually learn a lot about the times. For instance, in America the black ghettos are fenced off and patrolled. In England, Britain Awakes is using violence to attack pro-Union leaders. Michael's nephew assassinates a high ranking politician, and is killed himself. Anna, his mother (the boy is Michael's nephew) goes on a downward emotional spiral. She is sent to a treatment centre in Germany, where things go horribly wrong.
I really have only one criticism of the novel, and that is how the author tends to end each chapter with some sudden new disaster or cliff-hanger. No doubt this dates from his many years as a children's author, a tactic that gets kids to read the next chapter. But it does become somewhat annoying in an otherwise nearly perfect story. Highly recommend, and it will mean more if you have ever visited England, especially some of the smaller villages, and Germany or Austria, for the same reasons.
**** stars. Reviewed May 20th/20
Page proofread April 7th, 2019
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