quasigeostrophy | First of the 5-part "Brentford Trilogy" [x-posted to <user site="livejournal.com" comm="bookwhores

Just finished The Antipope by Robert Rankin, his first novel from 1981 and first of what became a five-part trilogy, set in the London borough of Brentford.

The story concerns several inhabitants of Brentford, five magic beans and the reincarnation of Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia (Lucretia's father). Two regulars at the Flying Swan public house, Jim Pooley and Irishman John Omally become involved, rather against their will or better judgement, with Alexander's bid to relocate the Holy See in Brentford.

I'm glad I read Rankin's The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse before this one. I liked The Antipope, but I don't think it would have sold me on Rankin to the same level of enthusiasm. It is a bizzare and strangely funny novel, with weird, unexpected elements and humourous use of language, but not quite to the same level as the other novel of his that I've read so far.

One of my favorite bits is at the end of a scene in which the character Norman has been present but not really a participant in the action of the scene. Something else needs to be done at the end, and he replies: "I will do it," said Norman, "for I have had little to say or do during this entire chapter."

Another fine quote is reprinted on the back cover of my paperback: "Outside the sun shines. Buses rumble towards Ealing Broadway and I'm expected to do battle with the powers of darkness. It all seems a little unfair..."

Rankin isn't afraid to break walls, distort perspective, or otherwise abuse language for effect. It doesn't detract from the story, either - there is still internal consistency. I look forward to reading the other novels in the Brentford Trilogy, as well as other Rankin works.

For now, though, I'm going to try again to do something I last tried in High School. To date, I've read bits of it, some repeatedly, but never succeeded in reading cover to cover. After seeing the extended versions of the first two films as well as going back to the theatre for the third again, and poking around on a great reference web site, The Encyclopedia of Arda, I'm going to try to read Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Wish me luck. :-)