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Product Description
Book Description
Rock Music joins the Devil in a fantastic fandango.
Product Description
He becomes funnier the more you read him.' Independent
It has always been John Omally's secret ambition to become a rock star. In his youth he mastered air guitar and wardrobe-mirror posing, but he lacked that certain something. Talent. But at last an opportunity has arisen for John to get into 'The Industry'. A band called Gandhi's Hairdryer are looking for a manager, so all John has to do is persuade them that he is the new Brian Epstein. It should be a piece of cake. But - and there's always a but - there is something rather odd about this band. Something other-worldly. It might be the lead singer, whose voice has the power to heal. Might she be an angel, perhaps? Or could she be the Devil in disguise? Because, after all, the Devil does have all the best tunes. And this is Brentford.
In this, his final offering of the twentieth century, Robert Rankin returns to the town of his birth, the friends of his youth and one of the loves of his life: Rock Music.
'Everybody should read at least one Robert Rankin in their life.' Daily Express
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls is Robert Rankins 20th novel and, true to form, there is no mention of sex, drugs or sausage rolls to be found anywhere within. For those familiar with Rankins' oeuvre this novel slots firmly into his `Brentford' series, and stars all the old favourites - Pooley & Omally, Soap Distant, Neville the part-time barman, Norman Hartnell (not to be confused with the other Normal Hartnell) & co - so why it isn't blatantly labelled as one of the series is a mystery. Perhaps Rankin didn't want to put off potential new readers this time round, but while it is perfectly possible to read this as a stand-alone novel, to fully appreciate the characters and running gags it would be best if the readers were familiar with the previous `Brentford' novels (namely The Antipope, The Brentford Triangle, East of Ealing, The Sprouts of Wrath & The Brentford Chainstore Massacre), and with the additional appearance of Inspectre Hovis and oblique references to Rankins Armageddon trilogy this is a real `greatest hits collection'.
Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls starts off so strongly I initially thought this was going to turn out to be one of the authors best works - any novel that can make you collapse with laughter on only the second line is off to a flying start - but while the initial pages contain great hilarity the longer the novel goes on the more the complex plot starts to crowd out the laughs. What makes this novel ultimately a frustrating experience is that ultimately the plot doesn't go anywhere: thanks to time travel shenanigans this is complicated stuff, yet rather than build to a climax the book just suddenly stops with numerous gaping plot holes and unresolved threads (why didn't Wingarde recognise his father, and who exactly was the voice in his head?) almost as though Rankin reached his allotted page count or publication deadline and just stopped where he was. I know this is Robert Rankin, and it's not always to be expected that everything will tie up neatly, but unlike his more obviously fractured novels the fact that Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls appears so plot heavy makes the lack of resolution a real anti-climax.
There's still plenty here for long-time fans to enjoy, and the central concept of mankind's evolution being halted by their tool using status is a great one, but it's ultimately a rather bitty novel, and having already had Rankin's take on time-travel (Nostradamus Ate My Hamster) and rock festivals (Raiders of the Lost Carpark, to name but one) Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls ultimately doesn't have enough original ideas to stand out. Some great laughs, but not one of Rankin's better novels.
Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls starts off so strongly I initially thought this was going to turn out to be one of the authors best works - any novel that can make you collapse with laughter on only the second line is off to a flying start - but while the initial pages contain great hilarity the longer the novel goes on the more the complex plot starts to crowd out the laughs. What makes this novel ultimately a frustrating experience is that ultimately the plot doesn't go anywhere: thanks to time travel shenanigans this is complicated stuff, yet rather than build to a climax the book just suddenly stops with numerous gaping plot holes and unresolved threads (why didn't Wingarde recognise his father, and who exactly was the voice in his head?) almost as though Rankin reached his allotted page count or publication deadline and just stopped where he was. I know this is Robert Rankin, and it's not always to be expected that everything will tie up neatly, but unlike his more obviously fractured novels the fact that Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls appears so plot heavy makes the lack of resolution a real anti-climax.
There's still plenty here for long-time fans to enjoy, and the central concept of mankind's evolution being halted by their tool using status is a great one, but it's ultimately a rather bitty novel, and having already had Rankin's take on time-travel (Nostradamus Ate My Hamster) and rock festivals (Raiders of the Lost Carpark, to name but one) Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls ultimately doesn't have enough original ideas to stand out. Some great laughs, but not one of Rankin's better novels.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first book I had read by Robert Rankin, someone recommended him and as I looked though his book titles I just loved the sound of this and bought it.
I am glad I did because it is an amazing book. Great plot line, great characters and a laugh a minute book.
It made me laugh non stop for the entire book and when I did manage to put the book down to do something I was always wanting to get back to the book as soon as I could so that I could find out what was going to happen next. It is entertaining to say the least, it had me in laughter rolling around on the floor.
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!
I am glad I did because it is an amazing book. Great plot line, great characters and a laugh a minute book.
It made me laugh non stop for the entire book and when I did manage to put the book down to do something I was always wanting to get back to the book as soon as I could so that I could find out what was going to happen next. It is entertaining to say the least, it had me in laughter rolling around on the floor.
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Here they are again - the dynamic duo (not to be confused with the other dynamic duo), the handsome heroes, the bold Brentonians - John O'Malley and Jim Pooley. Life hasn't been the same without them. Together with Soap Distant they take a wild ride on the strings of a Strat, meet the Beatles, Hendrix, Richard Branson and The Voice That Heals and show us what our future could be like if ... well, find your most comfortable armchair, have some beer close at hand, take the phone off the hook and see for yourself. Two pints of Large, Neville, please, and have one yourself.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another classic
John, Jim and the Music Biz... what's not to like!? This is one of Robert Rankin's finest efforts, ignore any other reviews to the contary, some people are just SO plain "picky". Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2009 by N. Harpur
FIVE STAR RANKIN!!
STOP READING THIS AND ORDER THE BOOK NOW!!!!
Honestly,you'll be glad that you did.
If you don't , I'll take a stout stick to you!!!!!!
Honestly,you'll be glad that you did.
If you don't , I'll take a stout stick to you!!!!!!
Published on 7 Mar 2007 by Davey B
Funny and clever
Theres plenty of good news about Sex, Drugs and Sausage Rolls. It has a clever plotline. It is genuinely funny at times. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2006 by Mr. G. Battle
Who's dead and who's alive?
This is an amusing book that is supposed to be read for pure enjoyment. I liked it and I was comprehensive because I started to read another book by Rankin a few years ago and... Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2001
You mean the Queen wasn't assassinated?
What world have I been living in then? This was the first Rankin book I read and, like the so many which came after - and before - it, it would give Terry Pratchett a good run... Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2000
The Gig to end all Gigs
Welcome back Pooley and O'Malley - Brentford hasn't been the same without you. If you're a fan of the famous Brentford heroes, you'll love this. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 1999
Omally and Pooley are back! Standard (excellent) Rankin fare
Another run-of-the-mill complex and humourous Rankin novel, involving John Lennon, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Richard Branson, and the legendary Pooley, Omally and Soap Distant. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 1999
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