Customer Reviews

Phaid The Gambler

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Song of Phaid the Gambler, is one of the finest detailed imagination written on Paper. It is totally immersing and takes you to height of fantasitic journey.

A punter's journey.


Phaid, as the title suggests, is a punter. Not a singer though, and the book begins with him broke and absolutely nowhere near where he wants to be.

In an indeterminate grimy world that is in bad condition due to failed weather technology among other things, Phaid and his luck set out to try and get back to where he works out he should be.

A bit seedy, a bit baroque throughout his wanderings, lusts and adventures.


3 out of 5

There are many different views upon the validity of science fiction being placed within the literature "halls of fame". However, this book and many others written by Mick Farren place a great deal of extra weight behind the punches that sci fi is throwing. Either way. personally I couldn't give a damn, so long as it keeps coming .

The world is interesting, but the character might be more interesting. Unfortunately he travels across the world and among several different elements of society somewhat passively. We start with him gambling, see a few of his observational insights, and we end with him leaving a gambling table (though not as interesting as the first scene), but the rest of the time our hero is more of a reluctant fighter and sexual opportunist than a gambler. His travels become the excuse to put the world on display. Tension between the classes of society are built up but unresolved. In what passes for adventure our hero keeps pulling off snap shots and escaping, traveling once again to another part of the world until some crisis moves him on. The conclusion of this book must be in the sequel because it was not in this one... but I don't care to finish it.