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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny at first...,
By A Customer
This review is from: Gridlock (Paperback)
Don't get me wrong, I found this book funny the whole way through, but by the time I had reached the end I was beginning to become aware of a handful of serious issues that Elton raises. For example, having a protagonist who is a c.p sufferer to demonstrate the way cars are beginning to disable us all; 'Gridlock is when a city dies'. He comments on various aspects of society, usually taking a small chapter away from the plot to do so. The film-like rapid change of scenes with the 'goodies' and the 'baddies' makes you wonder how long it'll be until someone buys the rights, yet at the same time, there is no way they could possibly show the deep analysis of humanity that Elton displays. This novel is a brilliant dip-in dip-out tale that can be read on two levels. The humour is perceptive and effective to the story. Please read it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Short and not so satisfying.,
By
This review is from: Gridlock (Paperback)
I thought that I'd really like this book because private car ownership is something I despise. I don't drive a car because I think that the world would be so much more pleasant if there simply weren't as many as there are and I'm not one to say 'if you cant beat em, join em'. But cars can't be beaten as Elton's character Geoffrey Spasmo finds out.Elton seems to be on my plain of thinking when he opens the book with a short story about the 'Brainian' aliens who study other planets as part of a TV show every week. They could understand every aspect of human activity except one "You're trying to tell me that they're all going in the same direction, travelling to much the same destinations yet deliberately impeding each others progress by occupying their own completely empty tin box?" Elton's Branian producer remarks in disbelief "you're drunk!" Although Elton's political theme was one I'm personally interested in, I think this book suffers from a lack of strong characters and entertaining 'social' subplots; it is almost totally devoted to the world of politics and business. Elton's political rants are agreeable (if you swing toward the left) and are written to tickle the funny bone but I think he finds greater humour in the social scenario. This is why I believe the humor didn't match up to Elton's usual standard, it lacked his hilarious remarks on social do's and dont's. If you're just starting on Ben Elton, I'd recommend his first novel 'Stark' which centres around environmental degradation. Stark was hilarious and keeps you guessing. Dead Famous is another good Elton novel investigating the sleazeball ethics behind exploiting people for reality TV. Gridlock wasn't bad but if I don't think it's Elton's best effort. I do think he's a great political satirist.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Free SF Reader,
By Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gridlock (Paperback)
A dead city doesn't move.
This book is certainly not in the class of Stark, unfortunately. Maybe due to the somewhat narrower focus, and some similarities to the previous effort. Again, industrial pollution is an element as a city that becomes full of cars as has no functional transport methods dies. Those doing well out of this of course want to keep the status quo and bump off people trying to do something about it.
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