ONE IN EVERY THREE PEOPLE LIVING IS ACTUALLY DEAD! It is a matter of historical record that during the latter part of World War II, England's top-secret Ministry of Serendipity enlisted the services of arch-magician Aleister Crowley to create a Homunculus. Why? Well that's a long story, spanning almost seven decades as it follows the life and career of Tyler, rock star, private eye - and notable for the fact that he almost saved Mankind. The cast of millions also includes ukulele maestro George Formby, Mick Jagger, Mama Cass, Elvis Presley and Lazlo Woodbine. And Tyler's brother, Andy, who impersonates animals (and who single-handedly brought about the Swinging Sixties). And a lady named Clara from Croydon, who unlocked the meta-phenomena of the Multiverse. And a corner shopkeeper from Brentford, who created a sitting room for God. And a great many living dead. Oh yes, and it also involves a monster in human form whose intention it is to turn the Earth into a Necrosphere, a planet totally devoid of life . . .
Necrophenia (Gollancz)
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"Rankin is so bloody good... you can't help but laugh along with him. Rankin pulls it off with impish glee. Congratulations on the big Three-Oh to the self-proclaimed father of far-fetched fiction. He's still on top form." (Phil Kelly DEATHRAY )
"Necrophenia is epic, laugh-out-loud funny. There's also some very clever writing. After all these years, Rankin is still as fresh and inventive as ever." (Martyn Casserly SCI FI NOW )
"For all the comedy, Necrophenia is a dark book. Fans will love it anyway." (David Langford SFX )
"Rankin [has a] gift for surreal dialogue. His back-and-forth, off-kilter banter attains a truly Marx Brothers level of wit and intensity at times. You won't be able to put down this rambunctious, giddy tale of supernatural musicology. If Mike Mignola and Terry Gilliam had scripted and filmed the Beatles in Help! (1965), the results might have resembled this book." (SCi-FI WEEKLY )
"Robert Rankin is the Frank Zappa of the SF and Fantasy World: an undoubted genius, if something of an accquired taste." (FORTEAN TIMES )
"Rankin's legion of fans will be delighted by this gallimaufry of silliness, told with the author's hallmark fragmented, rapid-fire prose." (Eric Brown THE GUARDIAN )
"Necrophenia is epic, laugh-out-loud funny. There's also some very clever writing. After all these years, Rankin is still as fresh and inventive as ever." (Martyn Casserly SCI FI NOW )
"For all the comedy, Necrophenia is a dark book. Fans will love it anyway." (David Langford SFX )
"Rankin [has a] gift for surreal dialogue. His back-and-forth, off-kilter banter attains a truly Marx Brothers level of wit and intensity at times. You won't be able to put down this rambunctious, giddy tale of supernatural musicology. If Mike Mignola and Terry Gilliam had scripted and filmed the Beatles in Help! (1965), the results might have resembled this book." (SCi-FI WEEKLY )
"Robert Rankin is the Frank Zappa of the SF and Fantasy World: an undoubted genius, if something of an accquired taste." (FORTEAN TIMES )
"Rankin's legion of fans will be delighted by this gallimaufry of silliness, told with the author's hallmark fragmented, rapid-fire prose." (Eric Brown THE GUARDIAN )
About the Author
Robert Rankin is an unrepentant Luddite who writes his bestselling novels by hand in exercise books.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another novel from Robert Rankin, writer of what they call 'far fetched fiction.' If you've never encountered his work before then that basically means rather tall tales with modern settings that can throw in all sorts of wild elements.
And if you're new to his work then you're probably better off starting with The Antipope (Brentford Trilogy) although this one, despite containing - as is common in his novels - recurring themes and characters and references - might be something you could get into anyhow.
This is the tale of Tyler. And how he almost saved mankind. In a long novel running 392 pages and 75 chapters we follow him through a variety of situations from would be rock star to private eye, all the time there being plot strands which hint he has a greater destiny.
And things get wilder as they go on. As ever comic footnotes, some very interesting trivia, and the occasional bit of damage to the fourth wall can also be found.
This is a long book but it never quite feels stretched out. But it's never quite as laugh out loud funny as it could be. Although there are the occasional moments which do spark that reaction, not least a fair amount of the finale.
Not the writer's best work but a solid enough piece of writing from him all in all, just not nearly his funniest. But it's pretty entertaining anyhow so I rate a little above average.
And if you're new to his work then you're probably better off starting with The Antipope (Brentford Trilogy) although this one, despite containing - as is common in his novels - recurring themes and characters and references - might be something you could get into anyhow.
This is the tale of Tyler. And how he almost saved mankind. In a long novel running 392 pages and 75 chapters we follow him through a variety of situations from would be rock star to private eye, all the time there being plot strands which hint he has a greater destiny.
And things get wilder as they go on. As ever comic footnotes, some very interesting trivia, and the occasional bit of damage to the fourth wall can also be found.
This is a long book but it never quite feels stretched out. But it's never quite as laugh out loud funny as it could be. Although there are the occasional moments which do spark that reaction, not least a fair amount of the finale.
Not the writer's best work but a solid enough piece of writing from him all in all, just not nearly his funniest. But it's pretty entertaining anyhow so I rate a little above average.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A. Miles
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read all of Mr Rankins books, and for me the last 5 have become progressively worse, with this representing some sort of nadir: It's like that quote about Kerouac, 'That's not writing, it's typing', with Rankin managing to put out a fairly hefty novel despite having almost nothing in the way of plot, characters, ideas or jokes to hold it together. It's just hundreds of pages of the usual stuff about rock music and magic and conspiracy theories and strange men in Edwardian outfits and whatnot cobbled together into a series of nonevents. Maybe these days he justs writes continuously,and every time he gets to 500 pages sends it off to the publishers. That's what it reads like, anyway.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Robert Rankin has for a long time been one of my favourite authors with his eccentric style tickling my funny bone. Over the years he has had moments of genius, but also moments that have fallen flat. Unfortunately, it seems that Rankin is currently in a rut as book after book is below par or average at best. It is with a heavy heart that I add `Necrophenia' to this list. Once again Rankin follows the seemingly same storyline as in countless books. No longer is this charming, but samey and a little patronising. Although the book clocks in at over 400 pages it needn't do as there is little in terms of actual story and it reads like more unchecked flow from Rankin's brain to the page.
There are moments of greatness in the book; a trip to Woodstock and the discovery of a golden city stand out. However, there is no central hook that grabs you like with the best of his work such as `Apocalypso', or `Snuff Fiction'. The reuse of old jokes and similar storylines is no longer acceptable to me and I am a fan of the author. The `Toy Town' books prove that he still has it when he tries. I urge him to write more varied styles of book away from Brentford and hopefully receive a new lease of life.
There are moments of greatness in the book; a trip to Woodstock and the discovery of a golden city stand out. However, there is no central hook that grabs you like with the best of his work such as `Apocalypso', or `Snuff Fiction'. The reuse of old jokes and similar storylines is no longer acceptable to me and I am a fan of the author. The `Toy Town' books prove that he still has it when he tries. I urge him to write more varied styles of book away from Brentford and hopefully receive a new lease of life.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barking mad
Yet another work of genius from the man from Planet XYZ (surely no earthling). This is the stuff that gets you wondering - just what was in that last cuppa? Read more
Published on 21 April 2011 by little/big sis
1.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Dear
This is the only Robert Rankin book that i have not finished...having read just about all the others i think that tells its own story.
Published on 4 April 2011 by J. MacPhee
4.0 out of 5 stars
My annual fix
I have all of his books.
Some are good, some are not.
But, like Prachett, it a portrait of a wierd and wonderfull universe I like to dip into. Read more
Some are good, some are not.
But, like Prachett, it a portrait of a wierd and wonderfull universe I like to dip into. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2010 by Bear Brain
4.0 out of 5 stars
Blast of form again
Nicely written alternative take on the weird and wacky take on the frivolities of the fifties and sixties...
Wonderfully done on the kindle of course.
Wonderfully done on the kindle of course.
Published on 27 Nov 2010 by T. Lane
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not like his others
I have to admit that I've only read a couple of chapters of this book, but I'm done with it. I've liked Rankins other books that I've read but I don't like the voice of this one,... Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2010 by HK Phooey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mad Humour
Robert Rankin continues to supply crazy fiction for the Python generation.
Only buy if you already like his work as this book references earlier tomes - otherwise you'd... Read more
Only buy if you already like his work as this book references earlier tomes - otherwise you'd... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2009 by Tracey Shellito
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read.
Well I really liked this one, don't quite know what all the negative reviews are about as it seems like normal Rankin fare to me. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2009 by A. R. Capon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
Just to put this into context, I've read all Robert Rankin's previous books... some are amazing and some are not so... my personal view is that this one is great. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2009 by effortless
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best...
I have to disagree with the previous 1* review. Whilst this is far from Rankin's best work and rather similar to 'Snuff Fiction' in its alternate history narrative, its still... Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2009 by L. White
1.0 out of 5 stars
VERY SAD
I feel so sad that this book is boring me. I am three quarters of the way through and am not even sure I will bother to finish it. Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2009 by M. Bindley
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