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Amazon.co.uk Review
What kind of a writer is Christopher Brookmyre? He’s markedly – and bloody-mindedly -- unlike any other current purveyor of crime fiction. A darkly comic writer, perhaps? Yes, the work is fiercely, bitingly funny – but that term doesn't really sum him up. Perhaps a kind of strange venturer into the realms of the supra-normal, then? His new book, Pandaemonium, certainly suggests the latter, with its eye-opening use of elements of the fantastic and SF. But none of these terms really does him justice – and perhaps it’s a good thing that he can’t be pinned down to any one genre.
Pandaemonium bids fair to be Brookmyre’s most extreme entertainment yet – and (as usual with this author) it’s not for the faint-hearted. St Peter’s High School has a problem with its senior pupils – how to help them deal with death of a fellow pupil? The answer (it’s decided) is to be a cloistered retreat at an outdoor activity centre – it will be there, through the aid of programmes of counselling, discussion groups and (of course) prayer – St Peter is a religious school -- that the pupils will be able to adjust. Needless to say, the pupils themselves have other ideas – sex and general misbehaviour being their primary aims. But near the retreat, a highly secret military operations is in train -- one, unusually, that has the services of a religious adviser (and an eccentric one at that). Appropriate, as the experiment involves nothing less than the untrammelling of the forces of the netherworld. The pupils will find themselves fighting for their lives.
Does all of this sound outrageous? For many readers, perhaps – but Brookmyre fans will be rubbing their hands. The bloody chaos on offer is not, perhaps, vintage Brookmyre, but aficionados have no need to hesitate. Satisfyingly (as usual), the forces of the establishment (the Military, The Church) are given an enthusiastic going-over. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
** 'A perfect example of the bathos that the Glaswegian satirist uses so effectively, and an indication of the two worlds that are about to collide' ESQUIRE ** 'The Scottish author sticks to anti-Establishment finger-pointing and satire that is becoming his trademark' SHORTLIST ** 'It's the busload of teenagers who steal the show in a series of quite brilliant and very funny scenes ... Very well-written, intelligent and daring' Harry Ritchie, DAILY MAIL ** '(An) imaginative tale' Henry Sutton, DAILY MIRROR ** 'This 13th bone-rattling ride of a novel...provide[s] all the thrills and spills Brookmyre's fans have come to expect, while also delivering a thought-provoking comment on the science versus religion debate' SCOTSMAN ** 'In its oddball Tom Stoppard-meets-World of Warcraft way, this is richly subversive fun' TELEGRAPH ** 'Brookmyre is entertaining and intelligent company...Pandaemonium is smart, funny, big-hearted and blood-splattered. What's not to love?' GUARDIAN ** 'Edgy, sardonic fiction with its finger on the pulse of modern society is the calling card of the taboo-busting Brookmyre and Pandaemonium is characteristically outrageous stuff' DAILY EXPRESS ** 'A great ear for teenage dialogue in its maddening, superficial, hormone-addled glory' WORD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I love Brookmyre's books in general; his mix of wild, often comic-book action, dazzling Glaswegian wit and ever-increasing doses of satire make his works both fun and intelligent. In many respects he reminds me of Pratchett.
Therefore I am sad to report that this one is, in the end, a clunker. For two thirds of the book we are treated to some vintage Brookmyre; the terrifying kids of St Peter's High are on the rampage, and the results are both hilarious and touchingly accurate in their observations of teenage angst. Simultaneously to this, we have something weird going down at the local top secret underground MOD facility. The coming together of the two threads is obvious from the start.
And at this coming together point it all goes horribly wrong. The book them abruptly turns into a deeply dull zombie-style gore-fest, decorated by a cliched we-all-stand-together fightback, before we reach the sci-fi finale. Unfortunately said finale is achingly plodding and predictable and would be something of an embarrassment to a fifties B-movie.
I was hoping that something cunning and witty would appear to explain everything rationally, but as the gore fest picked up speed it became worryingly apparent that the conclusion would be every bit as obvious as it appeared. The liberally sprinkled contemplations of faith and its counterpoints failed to hide the overwhelming daftness of the underlying premise, and the undeniably breathless pace (he's not lost his technical skills) unfortunately lead headlong to grave disappointment.
All Brookmyre's books require suspension of belief to some extent, but there are limits, and this barrelled past them by a distance.
This is a real shame, because some of the writing in the early part of the book is great - the coach trip that moves from Christian singalong to conflagration to "Volvo and venison interface" is a comic classic. Unfortunately on this occasion that doesn't make up for a fundamentally flawed concept and a torrent of cliches once the action starts. In addition, there are quite a lot of retreads from previous books here: the outward-bound school, the school trip/reunion type theme, the seige and consequent A-Team style resistance, and so on. Overall it feels like Brookmyre has struggled for his usual originality here, and has compounded the problem by deciding to take the plunge outright into the sci-fi/horror genre.
You can't win them all.
Therefore I am sad to report that this one is, in the end, a clunker. For two thirds of the book we are treated to some vintage Brookmyre; the terrifying kids of St Peter's High are on the rampage, and the results are both hilarious and touchingly accurate in their observations of teenage angst. Simultaneously to this, we have something weird going down at the local top secret underground MOD facility. The coming together of the two threads is obvious from the start.
And at this coming together point it all goes horribly wrong. The book them abruptly turns into a deeply dull zombie-style gore-fest, decorated by a cliched we-all-stand-together fightback, before we reach the sci-fi finale. Unfortunately said finale is achingly plodding and predictable and would be something of an embarrassment to a fifties B-movie.
I was hoping that something cunning and witty would appear to explain everything rationally, but as the gore fest picked up speed it became worryingly apparent that the conclusion would be every bit as obvious as it appeared. The liberally sprinkled contemplations of faith and its counterpoints failed to hide the overwhelming daftness of the underlying premise, and the undeniably breathless pace (he's not lost his technical skills) unfortunately lead headlong to grave disappointment.
All Brookmyre's books require suspension of belief to some extent, but there are limits, and this barrelled past them by a distance.
This is a real shame, because some of the writing in the early part of the book is great - the coach trip that moves from Christian singalong to conflagration to "Volvo and venison interface" is a comic classic. Unfortunately on this occasion that doesn't make up for a fundamentally flawed concept and a torrent of cliches once the action starts. In addition, there are quite a lot of retreads from previous books here: the outward-bound school, the school trip/reunion type theme, the seige and consequent A-Team style resistance, and so on. Overall it feels like Brookmyre has struggled for his usual originality here, and has compounded the problem by deciding to take the plunge outright into the sci-fi/horror genre.
You can't win them all.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love Christopher Brookmyre's books. They have lasted longer with me than the Scottish boyfriend I was visiting when I picked up my first at Glasgow airport. 7 years on and I have had my Christopher Brookmyres longer than both my husband and daughter.
So, I really, *really* wanted to like Pandaemonium. Like Brookmyre himself I expect, I have tired a little of Jack Parlabane and Angel X (lovely to have a Girl Power heroine written by a man tho). I loved AFAG and hoped we were going to have yet another book of similar quality. I really didn't think that Christopher Brookmyre, with all respect, had a rubbish novel in him.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. The theme of rebellious school kids is not an unusual one - and is probably over-wrought (although it may bring in a younger generation of readers). The theme of religion being the baddie also isn't unusual in his work but is always relevant. But pseudo-demons? Sci fi? Oh puh-lease. Leave Doctor Who and Star Trek to other writers Mr Brookmyre - I have respect for your work because it is of this world and takes the mickey out of the fantastical.
Christopher Brookmyre's work is always violent - but in a kind of ironic, trainspotting-esque kind of way. But the violence in Pandaemonium is of the 'Brookmyre does B movie horror' variety and isn't any good. Indeed, Pandaemonium could be described as Brookmyre's take on Scream or any other *ironic* teen horror movie circa 2000.
Maybe I'm missing something but compared to his other work, this is pants. Mr Brookmyre, you set your own bar high and this falls a long way short. Sorry.
So, I really, *really* wanted to like Pandaemonium. Like Brookmyre himself I expect, I have tired a little of Jack Parlabane and Angel X (lovely to have a Girl Power heroine written by a man tho). I loved AFAG and hoped we were going to have yet another book of similar quality. I really didn't think that Christopher Brookmyre, with all respect, had a rubbish novel in him.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. The theme of rebellious school kids is not an unusual one - and is probably over-wrought (although it may bring in a younger generation of readers). The theme of religion being the baddie also isn't unusual in his work but is always relevant. But pseudo-demons? Sci fi? Oh puh-lease. Leave Doctor Who and Star Trek to other writers Mr Brookmyre - I have respect for your work because it is of this world and takes the mickey out of the fantastical.
Christopher Brookmyre's work is always violent - but in a kind of ironic, trainspotting-esque kind of way. But the violence in Pandaemonium is of the 'Brookmyre does B movie horror' variety and isn't any good. Indeed, Pandaemonium could be described as Brookmyre's take on Scream or any other *ironic* teen horror movie circa 2000.
Maybe I'm missing something but compared to his other work, this is pants. Mr Brookmyre, you set your own bar high and this falls a long way short. Sorry.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is certainly the strangest book ever written by Christopher Brookmyre, and given what has gone before that is really saying something.
Best known as a comic crime writer he extends his range here into science fantasy and horror.
The story to some extent touches on areas he has explored before; a bunch of townie kids in a rural setting where really bizarre things start happening. Having said that he does as ever come up with original and ingenious new twists. All of the usual Brookmyre hallmarks are here; bizarre events resulting from a perfectly logical set of steps, very funny wit and the most amusing foul language you'll find this side of the number 9 bus to Linwood.
As some of his books have had in the past, this book has an underlying polemic, although it does take some time to discern what this actually is (I won't be more explicit as this might be a plot spoiler). The book does take a long time to get going with the first third or so essentially devoted to explaining the science and theology on which the story appears to depend. Some of this is pretty hard going. At times it seemed a bit like "The Da Vinci Code" meets "A Beginner's Guide to Stephen Hawking". There is no doubt that Brookmyre is a very clever man and that his eclectic intellect informs his writing. A reasonably good knowledge of the history of science (particularly quantum mechanics) and the Church (especially the Inquisition) would do no harm to the reader, although it's not essential. Certainly I found myself having to read certain passages more than once, and I'm not sure I "got" it all in the end. He does appear to wear that intellect on his sleeve a bit too much in this book and it could have done with a bit of judicious editing.
Having made this criticism I should emphasise that this is an excellent book nonetheless. As well as his trademark comedy this is a great rip-roaring adventure which engages the reader as well. It is almost like a "Boy's Own" (Although to be fair much of the adventure is down to the distaff side of the cast) adventure, with added gore, sex, violence, bad language, particle physics and ecclesiastical history. A bit like a night out in Paisley.
I would advise anyone new to Brookmyre to start elsewhere. For fans of old, I'd say persist with this coz it is definitely worth it.
Best known as a comic crime writer he extends his range here into science fantasy and horror.
The story to some extent touches on areas he has explored before; a bunch of townie kids in a rural setting where really bizarre things start happening. Having said that he does as ever come up with original and ingenious new twists. All of the usual Brookmyre hallmarks are here; bizarre events resulting from a perfectly logical set of steps, very funny wit and the most amusing foul language you'll find this side of the number 9 bus to Linwood.
As some of his books have had in the past, this book has an underlying polemic, although it does take some time to discern what this actually is (I won't be more explicit as this might be a plot spoiler). The book does take a long time to get going with the first third or so essentially devoted to explaining the science and theology on which the story appears to depend. Some of this is pretty hard going. At times it seemed a bit like "The Da Vinci Code" meets "A Beginner's Guide to Stephen Hawking". There is no doubt that Brookmyre is a very clever man and that his eclectic intellect informs his writing. A reasonably good knowledge of the history of science (particularly quantum mechanics) and the Church (especially the Inquisition) would do no harm to the reader, although it's not essential. Certainly I found myself having to read certain passages more than once, and I'm not sure I "got" it all in the end. He does appear to wear that intellect on his sleeve a bit too much in this book and it could have done with a bit of judicious editing.
Having made this criticism I should emphasise that this is an excellent book nonetheless. As well as his trademark comedy this is a great rip-roaring adventure which engages the reader as well. It is almost like a "Boy's Own" (Although to be fair much of the adventure is down to the distaff side of the cast) adventure, with added gore, sex, violence, bad language, particle physics and ecclesiastical history. A bit like a night out in Paisley.
I would advise anyone new to Brookmyre to start elsewhere. For fans of old, I'd say persist with this coz it is definitely worth it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gory, violent & funny as hell!
I've been a fan of Mr Brookmyre fan for a long time, because so much of what he writes tickles my subconscious funny bones. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Gareth Dormon
A smashing romp that pulls together some of the best bits of...
Christopher Brookmyre's final comic novel before his switch to more serious crime writing. The plot is a combination of the best bits from some of his previous books, including... Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
Massive diappointment
I can only concur with most of the negative reviews on here. This was ridiculously overwrought fare without Brookmyre's trademark wit and satire in evidence - I gave up about half... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jdean1967
For those who remember playing DOOM as a teen...
I came across Mr Brookmyre via the local library a few years ago and have been working my way through their collection (and buying a few meself). Read more
Published 5 months ago by N. Rowe
Give it a chance
Whilst not as familiar or instantly satirical as some of Brookmyre's novels this book is as laugh out loud funny as any. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Big Franko
A letdown
This book is not up to Brookmyre's usual excellent standard: it seems like he's trying to write like Clive Barker, with the focus on sex and gore rather than on plot and humour. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Scarlett
pandaemonium
Another Brookmyre tale of two diverse worlds colliding...I read this book on holiday....maybe that's why I found it a struggle to begin with?? Read more
Published 8 months ago by Issy
It hurts to admit it, but this book is terrible.
I love Brookmyre. I've been reading him since I picked up a copy of Quite Ugly One Morning from the New Authors section in Books Etc years ago. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Tabby
Pandaemonium-a fantastic read
This book is impossible to put down. The characters are very realistic and the plot twists and turns right to the end. A great read!
Published 10 months ago by Katbar
Not what I've come to expect from Mr Brookmyre
I've read all his books, some are better than others, the good ones are superb. But this one definitely let me down, it's a stinker. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Beam Me Up Scottie
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