COMIC THRILLER , One Fine Day In The Middle Of The Night
,7 Christopher Brookmyre (Little, Brown £9.99) t t t *
State of the reunion: Christopher Brookmyre
In his first three novels, Scottish author Christopher Brookmyre upped the
anti-authoritarian bender.
1 ante in the crime fiction genre by continually going off on a bitineg funny,
Conservative party politics, hospital trust boards, the police, and the
American Christian Right have all fallen under his eye. Or perhaps that
1 should be boot, as Brookmyre's satire isn't that of the elegant knife in the back variety; he takes his victims down a dark alley and gives them a right
good leathering.
Such meaningful asides are noticeably absent from his fourth book, but it's
still a rip-roarineg funny thriller with some gross-out violence that would keep Quentin Tarantino chuckling for weeks. Brookmyre's ingredients are inspired - a work-in-progress hotel resort built on a former oil rig in the Cromarty Firth; an Ayrshire school reunion; a team of bloodthirsty mercenaries. Put them together and watch it go bang. One Fine Day In The Middle Of The Night is more Die Hard than The Big Sleep. Brookmyre's post-mod deconstruction of the action movie genre ‘ subverts clichés and embraces conventions in a manner that - if it was Kevin Williamson taking apart horror films - would be hailed as genius. Some might say this book is a movie waiting to happen, but that's not doing justice to the writer's skill at plotting his story and - in place of the political stuff - adding some thoughtful material about looking back to and moving on from schooldays. (Alan Morrison)
ROMANTIC COMEDY
Three Men On A Plane Mavis Cheek (Faber £6.99) * * * The attractive, fortysomething interior designer at the centre of Three Men On A Plane has a dilemma. She is unable to choose between a trio of blokes throwing themselves at her feet. Ex- husband, ex-lover number one, and beautiful, young lover number two are follying freely in an attempt to win her back.
Unfortunately, the heroine’s middle- aged suitors are either anal or pretentious and the younger man is just too young. Frustration drives her to a sports shop to snatch a snippet of hairy thigh before jumping into the sack for one last swing around the block.
Mavis Cheek's eighth novel is a somewhat scattered fiasco which ends in a crushing anti-climax. Filled out with strange, unexplained interludes in the cornershop and a nursing home where the elderly mother is blissed out with
, her ex-tart pal, the reader's lasting 3 impression is one of total confusion.
1 (AH) STAR RATINGS *avttt Outstanding t t i * Recommended “u Worth a try in 50-50 ir Poor
RUSSIAN SATIRE A Werewolf Problem In Central Russia
Victor Pelevin (Harbord Publishing £9.99) * *‘k v:
Hailed as one of Europe’s most brilliant young novelists, this selection of Victor Pelevin's early works is ample enough evidence that he is worthy of the critical acclaim bestowed upon him. The eight short stories contained in A Werewolf Problem In Central Russia were among the collection which won him the Russian 'Little Booker’ prize in
g 1993.
Pelevin combines intellectual ferocity and pure phiIOSOphical thought with
1 fantasy and science fiction, to create
bizarre dream-like landscapes, stamped with biting satire and black humour. Although his voice is very much his own, the influence of writers such as Bulgakov and Dostoyevsky can be clearly recognised, particularly in the way he observes and analyses Russia‘s social and political structures.
This is a beautifully crafted gem of a book, and shows Pelevin to be deserving of the international cult status he has achieved. (KK)
Continued over page
WATE RS’I‘ON
Authors at Sauchiehall Street in June and July
WED NIALL WILLIAMS 3 O “ As It Is In Heaven” Bestselling author of FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE, this is the only Scottish date for the launch of his new novel. [2,11 Irrdcmmblr against pn’cr afrbr [moi-i THU CHRISTOPHER BRO OKMYRE JUL “ One Fine Day In The Middle 7-00 PM or The Night” Hailed by the media as a star of the Scottish Literati, join us for the UK launch of Christopher’s new novel from which he will be reading and signing copies. [-Z/ hrdcrmalzlc againrt pricr Off/It book) SUN SUNDAY SESSION WITH COSTA COFFEE JUL To introduce our first SUNDAY MUSIC SESSION, join us with a cappuccino and the Sunday papers with
the soothing sounds of the incredibly talented flute trio, DOLCE ARGENTO.
SUN
JUN 7.30 PM
ALL BAR ONE, ST VINCENT STREET, GLASGOW 0141 229 6060
THEA NEWCOMB 80’s POP QUIZ
(with an American Influence!)
DURAN DURAN! NE W KIDS ON THE BLOCK! KAJAGOOGOO! DEBBIE GIBSON!
Vivid recollections? Then come and relive those memorable days with when we launch our
“80’8 POP QUIZ”.
Great music, good fun, and plenty of groovy prizes! Entry is free and by special invitation ticket only — these are available from
WATERSTONE’S, SAUCHIEHALL STREET
_' I C
.W A._ U1:
YIPPEE!!! TODAY IS HARRY POTTER DAY!
Join us for the official launch of the new
I. R. ROWLING book HARRY POTTER
AND THE PRISONER OE AZKABAN.
The build up begins at 2pm with face painter, magician, Harry Potter Cake and loads of fun and games. Lift-off is at 3.45pm when the thrilling 3rd instalment goes ofl‘icially on sale. Start queuing early, 8c enjoy the entertainment, for your
very own copy.
FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION 15 3—1 5 7 Sauchiehall Street
0141 332 9105
24 Jun-8 Jul 1999 THE ll8T107