Stark [Import] [Paperback]

Ben Elton (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sphere; First edition & printing edition (1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747403902
• ISBN-13: 978-0747403906
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,943,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh out Loud funny, February 27, 2002

By 

Tom Munro "tomfrombrunswick" (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stark (Mass Market Paperback)

Ben Elton is probably England's most talented comedian. Not only does he do stand up comedy he has written scripts for Black Adder and the Young ones. This was his first novel.

The finding out the plot is part of the enjoyment and point of the novel so that it would be unfair to reveal it. However there are two tiers of characters. At one end is a financially succussesful businessman who seems to be slightly based on Rupert Murdock. He is gradually drawn into a conspiracy which is the basis of the book. At the other end are a number of classic comedy figures who discover the conspiracy and try to prevent it.

The book is a passionate defence of the enviroment movement and raises a number of issues which have since been more widely accepted. However it is more than a political tract. It is simply laugh out loud funny. Elton writes the book as a series of gags which are totally effective. It was a comedy classic in its time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and seriously scary., July 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stark (Hardcover)

I love the way Ben Elton uses characters so real you believe you know them. Then he dumps them in the middle of the type of serious drama where you would expect only hollywood superheros would have a chance. But then things just dont happen quite like they do in the movies in reality or in this story. 90% of the book is hilarious but due to the realism he presents the 10% that is frightning is pretty scary.

Dave Reid

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frighteningly (and depressingly) possible..., July 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Stark (Hardcover)

Ben Elton is truly into morality plays. Each of his books has a lesson to teach the world about the way humanity is truly screwing things up. "Stark" is no exception.

In "Stark", the richest of the rich have come up with a hideous plan to survive the end of the world which they expect to occur in, oh say, about eight days. Now it's up to a rag tag team of not-quite-together "greenies" (and a pair of Aboriginals) to save the planet. Can they do it? And if they do, is that such a great thing?

Ben Elton has a wonderful knack for taking society's faults and playing them out to the nth degree. After reading "Stark", you'll never take the ozone layer or the greenhouse effect lightly again