Nostradamus Ate My Hamster - Robert Rankin

This book is clever. Way way way too clever. The story is a tangled mess of intricate twists and turns, with no clear plot appearing until after the half way point. And even then it's hard to tell which bits part of the plot and which are part of an ever increasing pile of superfluous confusion. As far as I can surmise, the author has gone out and decided on a string of, what he considers, funny 'sketches', and only then considered a way to string them together. This book more closely resembles an episode of Monty Python (debateably, with the humourous element removed) than a story. Centring around ...  Read the complete review

The plot is very simple: Russell works for Fudgepacker's Emporium, a movie prop warehouse. One lunch time, his fellow work mate, Morgan, tells him the story about the missing Flying Swan pub - famous for featuring in the many adventures of John O'Mally and Jim Pooley, and who along with the other occupants of the pub, appeared to have been atomised on Christmas Eve thanks to the Ark of Covenent. What follows is his adventure to discover the truth behind the story, only to stumble across a time-travelling plot that puts him in charge of a massive film production called Nostradamous Ate My Hamster which would effect the whole world in ways that would make ...  Read the complete review

This is possibly the most surreal book that I have ever read, using the bizairity of wit that is unique to rankin he has created yet another comical masterpiece. Our usual Hero's John and Jim are cast aside by "the thing" leaving Russell to save the day, however Russel is not your usual hero in fact his just a nice bloke, who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whilst some criticise Rankins continued use of the same character's, this book shaws that his work is still as fresh as ever and that Rankin is prepared to take on new characters. ...  Read the complete review