Monster Maker [Paperback]

Nicholas Fisk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 1999

When 14 year-old Matt lands a job with his hero - famous monster maker, Chancey Balogh - he can't believe his luck. Chancey has made lifesize mechanical monsters for Hollywood blockbusters. But as soon as he starts work, Matt is plagued by bad luck.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Fisk leaves the sci-fi space scene of previous stories for the barnlike, British studios of one Chantey Balogh, who makes monsters for films and is thus idolized by mechanical-minded 12-year-old Matt. Matt is delighted when his persistence wins him entry to the studios, and ecstatic when his talent wins him an unpaid summer job (Chancey just doesn't think about money) actually working on the fantasy creatures. The only sour note is struck by a gang of hoodlums who throw rocks at the studio, harass Matt on his way home, and finally give him a brutal beating. (Why? They are simply baddies - who, like many baddies of British fiction, speak in substandard English which seems to be considered explanation enough.) Matt's run-in with the mob makes a strong fight scene, and the beating leaves Matt with a bad concussion - which in turn makes all the more garishly surreal the climactic chaos in the studios: The hoodlums break in; Chancey's high-voltage "security" system zaps into action; enormous Ultragorgan shoots flame and bellows; and to Matt, delirious now after a day with pain and ringing and a lit-up London subway map flashing inside his head, it seems that the monsters come to life. On Matt's recovery, Chancey clears things up, and thrills him further with the promise of a real job in the future. Sheer wish fulfillment, bolstered with some spectacular effects at the monster-movie level. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Childrens (October 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034074992X
• ISBN-13: 978-0340749920
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,059,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Monster Maker, August 1, 2008

By 

A.V.L "Zero" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Monster Maker (Paperback)

Boring. Jim Henson's t.v version was way better and more interesting. The kid in this book is such a whiny little brat you can't wait to get to the end of the book so you wont have to put up with him anymore. Basically nothing happens in the whole book except in the kids overactive imagination. Please smack him on the head with a reality stick!