- Paperback: 190 pages
- Publisher: Citadel Press (July 1989)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0806511125
- ISBN-13: 978-0806511122
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 14.7 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,575,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Paul Darrow is the actor who played Kerr Avon in the BBC Blakes 7series. He wrote this to give his interpretation of the background to the story of Avon, the cold-hearted computer genius who ended up heading to a penal colony after being convicted of computer fraud.
The story begins with a first person account from his mother, Rowena on her brief encounter with Avon's father and her distress as his leaving.
The narrative then jumps to follow the precarious journey of Rogue Avon. Formally a Killer-man of the Federation he arouses suspicion and malicious, corrupt underworld stalks his every move. He has a talent for staying alive and clearly understands the world of bluff and double-bluff through which he travels.
Meanwhile life changed for Rowena and her son Kerguelen. They had travelled to Saturn Major in the increasingly turbulent times. Unfortunately Rowena was a bitter woman who became intent on destroying anyone who may have been involved in Rogue Avon's life. However she was not as subtle as she thought and suspicions were aroused by her behaviour and her son's life was to be moulded by her misguided sense of righteousness.
This is a short book of less than 200 pages. Paul Darrow obviously gave a lot of thought to the nature of his character. Avon always appeared very cold-hearted in the series but there were several episodes where people from his past made an appearance and affected him profoundly. The author has used these instances and tied them into the story well. Avon's acute skill for self-preservation was obviously a trait that he inherited from his father but his inability to behave emotionally like others was due to his mother's warped sense of love and loyalty.
The writing style was better than I expected. This is not a literary masterpiece, however it is very readable and I was impressed at the feeling of desolation and fear that the author managed to convey. Sometimes the narrative was little hard to follow as the names were unusual and the devious nature of the characters meant that there was a lot of double-crossing going on so I found I had to concentrate hard to remember who was a friend or enemy of someone else
It is a fast-moving story with lots of action which was easy to read. If you have never seen Blakes 7 then I doubt if it would appeal at all as it would be a wholly unsatisfactory ending as it ends where the TV series begins.
The story begins with a first person account from his mother, Rowena on her brief encounter with Avon's father and her distress as his leaving.
The narrative then jumps to follow the precarious journey of Rogue Avon. Formally a Killer-man of the Federation he arouses suspicion and malicious, corrupt underworld stalks his every move. He has a talent for staying alive and clearly understands the world of bluff and double-bluff through which he travels.
Meanwhile life changed for Rowena and her son Kerguelen. They had travelled to Saturn Major in the increasingly turbulent times. Unfortunately Rowena was a bitter woman who became intent on destroying anyone who may have been involved in Rogue Avon's life. However she was not as subtle as she thought and suspicions were aroused by her behaviour and her son's life was to be moulded by her misguided sense of righteousness.
This is a short book of less than 200 pages. Paul Darrow obviously gave a lot of thought to the nature of his character. Avon always appeared very cold-hearted in the series but there were several episodes where people from his past made an appearance and affected him profoundly. The author has used these instances and tied them into the story well. Avon's acute skill for self-preservation was obviously a trait that he inherited from his father but his inability to behave emotionally like others was due to his mother's warped sense of love and loyalty.
The writing style was better than I expected. This is not a literary masterpiece, however it is very readable and I was impressed at the feeling of desolation and fear that the author managed to convey. Sometimes the narrative was little hard to follow as the names were unusual and the devious nature of the characters meant that there was a lot of double-crossing going on so I found I had to concentrate hard to remember who was a friend or enemy of someone else
It is a fast-moving story with lots of action which was easy to read. If you have never seen Blakes 7 then I doubt if it would appeal at all as it would be a wholly unsatisfactory ending as it ends where the TV series begins.
Format:Paperback
I love Avon. I love Paul Darrow. I love Blakes 7.
So when I give this two stars I think you can guess what I feel about this book. Alas it is neither well written nor well plotted and its a damn shame.
Never judge a book by its cover, but in this case you can. The content, like the cover leaves a lot to be desired (beware of Rogue Avons seed).
If you want new Blakes 7, skip this book (unless you are a completest like me) and head over to the Liberator Chronicles by Big Finish - now these are good :)
So when I give this two stars I think you can guess what I feel about this book. Alas it is neither well written nor well plotted and its a damn shame.
Never judge a book by its cover, but in this case you can. The content, like the cover leaves a lot to be desired (beware of Rogue Avons seed).
If you want new Blakes 7, skip this book (unless you are a completest like me) and head over to the Liberator Chronicles by Big Finish - now these are good :)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Avon: A Terrible Aspic, a mold of some gelatinous leftovers
23 Mar 1997
Format:Paperback
This novel (based on the brilliant British SF series Blake's 7) was written by Paul Darrow, the actor who played the role of "Avon" on Blake's 7. Mr Darrow is a complex, subtle actor. He brought to the character many, many levels. Avon clearly possessed kinder and gentler motives than he dared reveal, instead assuming the role of rivingly cynical logical savant, forced by apparent circumstances to be part of Blake's less-than-merry band of criminals-turned-freedom-fighters.
So too Mr Darrow aspires toward better intentions with his novel, but falls utterly into aspic...a melange of suspect lineage, more vegetable matter than meat. It's not "terrible", in the popular sense, but more in the Elizabethan tradition whence the title derives.
The plot is unwieldy, the prose oft times deadly, the character judgments highly suspect, and the astronomical and astrophysical suggestions frequently downright criminal.
Still and all, he's a brilliant actor. I heartly recommend he spend his sparetime in other pursuits.
So too Mr Darrow aspires toward better intentions with his novel, but falls utterly into aspic...a melange of suspect lineage, more vegetable matter than meat. It's not "terrible", in the popular sense, but more in the Elizabethan tradition whence the title derives.
The plot is unwieldy, the prose oft times deadly, the character judgments highly suspect, and the astronomical and astrophysical suggestions frequently downright criminal.
Still and all, he's a brilliant actor. I heartly recommend he spend his sparetime in other pursuits.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
If the category existed, I would rate this book Minus 3.
10 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
Poorly written, stomach-churning potboiler, masquerading as science fiction. The writers of the B7 series would have been appalled, as were many of the faithful fans at this effort. The science is laughably inaccurate, the plot is pure 30's pulp and the characters are disgusting and bear little resemblence to how they appeared in the actual BLAKES 7 TV series. I've read far better fan fiction in this series universe.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A Terrible Book
26 July 2005
Format:Paperback
Prequel book for the character of Kerr Avon in Blake's 7 (BBC scifi from the 80's).
I love Paul Darrow, I love the character Kerr Avon. Blake's 7 is one of my favorite shows of all time, the writing and dialogue were great!
I was dying to read this book when I finally got it.
Now, I would still recommend it to die hard Blake's 7 fans who want the backstory on Avon, but to no one else.
The writing (despite it being Terry Nation & Paul Darrow's creation) is not that great. The portrayal of women is horrifying. They are all one dimensional sexual objects. The book contains the worst (and some of the more sexist) descriptions of sex I've ever read. [Think Robert Heinlein's misogynistic portral of women]. I'm not saying they had to make Rogue Avon seem like a sensitive guy or anything, but his going around 'banging whores' and then killing them is not really what I was looking for in the book. A terrible disappointment.
I finished it just so I could get the full story of Kerr Avon's past.
And now I must geek out and say I was also a little puzzled at the fact that the end didn't quite match what Kerr Avon told Del Grant had happened in the episode "Countdown". Terry Nation wrote that episode and Paul Darrow uttered the dialogue - so why couldn't they keep the stories consistent? Granted I haven't seen a few episodes of season 3, so maybe this is explained later...
I love Paul Darrow, I love the character Kerr Avon. Blake's 7 is one of my favorite shows of all time, the writing and dialogue were great!
I was dying to read this book when I finally got it.
Now, I would still recommend it to die hard Blake's 7 fans who want the backstory on Avon, but to no one else.
The writing (despite it being Terry Nation & Paul Darrow's creation) is not that great. The portrayal of women is horrifying. They are all one dimensional sexual objects. The book contains the worst (and some of the more sexist) descriptions of sex I've ever read. [Think Robert Heinlein's misogynistic portral of women]. I'm not saying they had to make Rogue Avon seem like a sensitive guy or anything, but his going around 'banging whores' and then killing them is not really what I was looking for in the book. A terrible disappointment.
I finished it just so I could get the full story of Kerr Avon's past.
And now I must geek out and say I was also a little puzzled at the fact that the end didn't quite match what Kerr Avon told Del Grant had happened in the episode "Countdown". Terry Nation wrote that episode and Paul Darrow uttered the dialogue - so why couldn't they keep the stories consistent? Granted I haven't seen a few episodes of season 3, so maybe this is explained later...
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