- Hardcover: 289 pages
- Publisher: Doubleday (3 Dec 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385409435
- ISBN-13: 978-0385409438
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 870,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Robert Rankin's comic fantasies have a laddish good humour which rely heavily, if not excessively, on teasing, class and beer. His protagonists are always forced to compete in a world in which someone else has a silver spoon in their mouth; they muddle their way through his amiably Heath-Robinsonish plots by a mixture of chutzpah, bluster and endurance. Porrig, hero of Apocalypso has a bad attitude that makes even his parents dislike him, but he inherits a shop from a conjuror uncle--a shop which serves as a gateway to other worlds. Not only has he to redeem his uncle from damnation, he also has to save the world from an unpleasant alien vegetable with the power to cloud human minds. Amid all this, we find out what Nelson's Column is for, why railway ticket clerks take so long to sell tickets and the secret that lurks under Mornington Crescent Underground Station. Rankin's humour is a scatter-shot that misses targets as often as it hits, but his unabashed preparedness to use old jokes and the crudest of slapstick is part of a shaggy-dog enthusiasm that is more endearing than otherwise. --Roz Kaveney
Book Description
Oscar Wilde meets Kurt Vonnegut in the genetics lab of classic fantasy humour’ SFX
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Apocalypso, Robert Rankin's 18th novel, struggles a little during it's first half, with two seemingly unconnected tales; one concerning a young lad called Porrig who inherits a magical bookshop, and the other telling the tale of a god-like alien vegetable's awakening from cryogenic suspension and it's plan to enslave humanity - this being Robert Rankin the alien bears a liking not dissimilar to that of a giant sprout. The tale of the alien also features that trio of investigators Sir John Rimmer, Dr Harney, and Danbury Collins, the psychic youth and masturbator, who appeared in The Garden of Unearthly Delights and Sprout Mask Replica, although as they had previously only really appeared in cameos this book is well suited for the first time Rankin reader.
The first half of the novel ambles along in a reasonably pleasant fashion, but it's nothing we haven't had from Rankin before, and with his typically Rankin-ish mysterious family inheritance, and his foot in mouth habit not quite working as a running gag, hero Porrig fails to really engage with the reader.
It's only when the two story strands combine in a tale taking in alternate realities vibrating on different harmonic frequencies, a stage magician called Apocalypso caught in his own version of hell, and an 18inch tall imp called Rippington (that's him on the cover) who is obsessed with his own genitalia (or 'rubbing parts' as he calls them), that Apocalypso clicks into top gear, and the novels second half is as good as anything Rankin has ever written, with some laugh out loud jokes and terrific set-pieces.
While I wouldn't say Apocalypso was consistent enough to rank as one of Rankin's very best books, its still a damn fine comedy - an inventive satire on Hollywood action film cliché with even more bum jokes and knob gags than normal. Apocalypso is a marvellous example of good toilet humour, so come on in, the water's lovely!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While reading this book you are never drawn away,on almost every page there is a reason to pee your pants while laughing. This book is beyond hillerious. You'll be intrigued all the way through. Robert Rankin is a brilliant writer and always maneges to make you laugh. THis book is a perfect example of his work. So read and laugh
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read Rankin books previously, but this book was the one of his I have most enjoyed.
The humour throughout is fantastic and Rankin, so often the master of the running gag, is in inspired form.
The plot is a parody of a standard alien invasion type scenario, but Rankin manages to put his own unique twist on events.
Some Rankin books can be a bit too fantasy based. This book is not like that, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys humourous books.
Overall this is an excellent, light-hearted book that combines some very funny characters with some fantastic gags throughout.
Well worth reading and worth 5 stars.
The humour throughout is fantastic and Rankin, so often the master of the running gag, is in inspired form.
The plot is a parody of a standard alien invasion type scenario, but Rankin manages to put his own unique twist on events.
Some Rankin books can be a bit too fantasy based. This book is not like that, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys humourous books.
Overall this is an excellent, light-hearted book that combines some very funny characters with some fantastic gags throughout.
Well worth reading and worth 5 stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Serendipity
A fantastic installment from Rankin that fits neatly into his recognised style. Once again we dip into some of his common themes but probably, in this instance, less than any other... Read more
Published 22 months ago by aceadrian
Laugh out loud funny...
I picked this book up when I was much younger and haven't read it since but the plot has never left me. Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2007 by Abi-Murnu
Over- kill on the jokes!
I did find this book very funny in places, but in my opinion the author was quite heavy handed and almost relentless with the jokes at times; they just keep on coming, one after... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2006 by Julie
Not one of his best
Having enjoyed 'The Garden of Unearthly Delights' I found this book a bit of a disappointment. It's been some time since I read it but I seem to remember it lacked the briliant,... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2001
Its not big and its not clever
I'm amazed Rankin sells books. This must be the worst I have ever read. I found the toilet humour tedious after the 3rd page and by the end of the book, absolutely unbearable. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2001
Another fine outing by Rankin
I have had the pleasure of reding most of his books, and while I have enjoyed them all, I have enjoyed this one in particular. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2000
Rankin does it again, and again, and yes..... again!
The thing about Rankin is that you know what you are going to get. He's almost the Status Quo of comic litereature. That is his strength. It is also his weakness but who cares. Read more
Published on 15 May 1999
Good Dam Brilliant
This is the funniest book I have ever read. Robert Rankin is a wacko. The bloke is funnier then terry prachett in a warped way.
Published on 5 May 1999
A Running gag too far...
Mr Rankin entertains once again with a confused plot regarding the true controllers of the planet and the great Apocalypso. Read more
Published on 19 Jan 1999
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