Clubland [Paperback]

This voice has continued into Clubland. The topics dealt with are ambitious, as is the multi-protagonist 1st person style. Yet he writes with a flowing confidence and a growing maturity. The speech patterns and thoughts of the different characters are more or less clearly defined enough for there to be little confusion. Ged in particular is a superb, totally believable character and the vernacular helps transport the reader into the scouse world, in the same way Irvine Welsh and Roddy Doyle used their own regional vernacular for their chosen home towns.

What is clear is that Sampson is a smart cookie whose own mind-set, interests and values are changing. His insight into queer politics and gender issues are very well-researched and credible.

The only place for me where the book fell down was that it almost seemed as though he was trying to prove how smart he has become and this detracted from the story. I felt the ending to be particulrly unsatisfactory. Also the multi-protagonist style made it sometimes difficult to work out where ones sympathies should lie.

Novels can entertain, inform and educate. With Clubland, some of the entertainment value has been sacrificed so that the latter two qualities can prevail.

Yet Kevin Sampspon has come of age as a writer. He has a broad range of reference, from the street, to the dance floor to the local council offices. For me, he no longer needs to prove how clever he is - we can now all take that as read. Next time, I'd like just a little more entertainment value and for the dark and bubbling humour to once more shine through.

We need more urban writers like Kevin Sampson.

Either Kevin Sampson spends the bulk of his life researching his subjects or he has lived through these experiences himself. This book was not just convincing but frighteningly real. He writes each of his characters in the first person, and you come away, confident, that they actually exist! I urge anyone studying sociology, gender studies, postfeminism or queer theory to read this book immediately. It is more insightful, viable and ultimately entertaining than any academic book you will ever read. He takes conventional truths surrounding gender, sex and sexuality and dismantles them with a seamless finesse.

The story centres around a city council's proposal to transform a run down area into 'The Loin' a permissive zone for sex tourists and drug users. From mysogynist gangsters, to butch lesbian councillors and self labelled 'foo' sex workers, everyone wants a say, and everyone has their own agenda, whether it be political or personal to pursue. The result is a gritty, twisted, sad and often funny page turner that disects the whole spectrum of modern inner city life, in a way that is fresh and authentic.

Without a doubt, the best book ever written on this subject. Kevin Sampson is a genius.