A cult in his own lunch time (Robert Rankin in general)

Member Name: Flufkin

Product:	Robert Rankin in general
Date:	03/12/01 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wit, Style, Fun

Disadvantages: Too short

Robert Rankin is described by Time Out as "A born writer with a taste for the occult".

This is to undersell his talent. He is on my "See the book, must buy it" list.

A Robert Rankin book, on a skim will read like a bizarre stream of conciousness. The titles of his books are classic in their own right, in the same way that the Sun newspaper headlines do. Examples are "Nostradamus ate my hamster", and "The dance of the voodoo handbag."

If you are going to get into his books you really need to start with the Brentford Triangle trilogy. You get introduced to a number of characters who turn up at one time or another in most of his books. You will learn about Poole and O'Malley, and allotment golf. You will encounter a time travelling guardian sprout, and flying camels. And much more.

As you progress through his books you will become knowledgeable about the ancient martial art of Dimac, the mythical Hugo Rune. He answers all of the great questions at one time or another, including the fact that Jesus had a sister (Christine).

Every book has its own internal logic, that makes perfect sense as you read the book, but very little outside it. The more you read the better it gets, and who could ask for more than that.

He flips between talking directly to the reader, and constantly treats the characters he creates as 'actors', to the extent that they occasionally object to the plot, or lines they have been given.

If it all sounds rather slap dash, it isn't. Every book ends "as it should(tm)". There are hardly ever any loose ends, and you regret having read it so quick.

If I was to write a book, I'd want it to be like a Robert Rankin book.

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