Priest, Christopher Books

The Prestige

Christopher Priest

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 91 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Okay, just okay 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book based on its review and was extremely disappointed.

The basic idea and plot of The Prestige was good enough, but I'm not fond of diary-style writing at all, and was unaware that most of the book would consist of this. Priest just droned on and on about details that proved to be quite mundane in the end. The ending would have been satisfying if it was not for the extra 100 pages or so of nothing.

Editorial Review:

The Washington Post called this "a dizzying magic show of a novel, chock-a-block with all the props of Victorian sensation fiction: seances, multiple narrators, a family curse, doubles, a lost notebook, wraiths, and disembodied spirits; a haunted house, awesome mad-doctor machinery, a mausoleum, and ghoulish horrors; a misunderstood scientist, impossible disappearances; the sins of the fathers visited upon their descendants." Winner of the 1996 World Fantasy Award, The Prestige is even better than that, because unlike many Victorians, Priest writes crisp, unencumbered prose. And anyone who's ever thrilled to the arcing electricity in the "It's alive!" scene in Frankenstein will relish the "special effects" by none other than Nikola Tesla.

Inverted World (New York Review Books Classics)

Christopher Priest

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The city is winched along tracks through a devastated land full of hostile tribes. Rails must be freshly laid ahead of the city and carefully removed in its wake. Rivers and mountains present nearly insurmountable challenges to the ingenuity of the city’s engineers. But if the city does not move, it will fall farther and farther behind the “optimum” into the crushing gravitational field that has transformed life on Earth. The only alternative to progress is death.
The secret directorate that governs the city makes sure that its inhabitants know nothing of this. Raised in common in crèches, nurtured on synthetic food, prevented above all from venturing outside the closed circuit of the city, they are carefully sheltered from the dire necessities that have come to define human existence. And yet the city is in crisis. The people are growing restive, the population is dwindling, and the rulers know that, for all their efforts, slowly but surely the city is slipping ever farther behind the optimum.
Helward Mann is a member of the city’s elite. Better than anyone, he knows how tenuous is the city’s continued existence. But the world—he is about to discover—is infinitely stranger than the strange world he believes he knows so well.

The Invisible Man (Penguin Classics)

H.G. Wells

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

vivid, suspenseful, and good sci-fi 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This is a absolutely wonderful book that can be read quickly, maybe even in one sitting. It is told in the first person by an observer who knows the invisible man and is appalled by the transformation that is taking place as both drugs and power corrupt his acquaintence's mind.

What is so fun about this book is the pace: you really feel like you are there. It is all realistically imagined, down to the slowness of the undigested food that can still be seen in the invisible's man stomach. This makes the book far better sci-fi than the films, with the possible exception of the one with Claude Rains, which is the best one and the closest to the original novel by far.

In addition to Mary SHelley and Jules Verne, Wells helped to set the standard for all hard sci-fi that followed. Thus, if you like sci-fi as literature, this is a MUST read. But if you want a really fun read, this is also good for that.

Warmly recommended.

Editorial Review:

With his face swaddled in bandages, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses, and his hands covered even indoors, Griffin—the new guest at the Coach and Horses—is at first assumed to be a shy accident victim. But the true reason for his disguise is far more chilling: he has developed a process that has made him invisible and is locked in a struggle to discover the antidote. Forced from the village and driven to murder, he seeks the aid of an old friend, Kemp. The horror of his fate has affected his mind, however, and when Kemp refuses to help, he resolves to wreak his revenge.

-First time in Penguin Classics
-Includes a newly established text, a full biographical essay on Wells, suggestions for further reading, and detailed notes

The Separation

Christopher Priest

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A little demanding, but that's a good thing 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The Separation is an alternate history novel by a good writer. Those who wallow in shallow examples of this sub-genre -- the books of Harry Turtledove, for instance -- will not care for this at all. What we have in this work is at least two (maybe more?) different histories presented in such a way that we weave back and forth from one to the other. Pieces fit together locally, but not globally, as in some of the art of M.C. Escher. The most extreme example would be the characters of Stuart Gratton and Angela Chipperton, who, if I'm reading the book correctly, could not exist together in the same place and yet do, briefly. There is some repetition, particularly at the beginning, but as I see it that is important to the manner in which the story is presented, as a tale told and retold, not always in the same way. One could argue that the book is a little too long in the middle, but I am normally a slow reader and yet finished the novel rather quickly. This is intelligent, challenging alternate history. Its one flaw, which is perhaps inherent, is that it really is a parallel universe novel, with the relationship between the worlds unclear -- "it was just a dream" is one way to interpret the story, an aspect I find just a little unsatisfying, and the reason for four stars rather than five. Highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

THE SEPARATION is the story of twin brothers, rowers in the 1936 Olympics (where they met Hess, Hitler's deputy); one joins the RAF, and captains a Wellington; he is shot down after a bombing raid on Hamburg and becomes Churchill's aide-de-camp; his twin brother, a pacifist, works with the Red Cross, rescuing bombing victims in London. But this is not a straightforward story of the Second World War: this is an alternate history: the two brothers - both called J.L. Sawyer - live their lives in alternate versions of reality. In one, the Second World War ends as we imagine it did; in the other, thanks to efforts of an eminent team of negotiators headed by Hess, the war ends in 1941. THE SEPARATION is an emotionally riveting story of how the small man can make a difference; it's a savage critique of Winston Churchill, the man credited as the saviour of Britain and the Western World, and it's a story of how one perceives and shapes the past.

100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels (Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide S.)

Stephen E Andrews, Nick Rennison

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

so little time.., 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is a huge help to SF novice readers who are otherwise well read. Mr Andrews' introduction is wise and whip smart and links the reviewed books to their historical and literary contexts as well their cultural cousins in music and film. I've been encouraged to explore books I would not have known about,or known where to start with, many thanks for that. I cannot comment on how Sf purists recieve this book but I strongly recommend it to the general reader.

Editorial Review:

This book is arranged by author and includes some thematic entries and special categories, such as science fiction film adaptations, science fiction in rock music, and Philip K. Dick in the mass media. It also includes a history of science fiction and a new definition of the genre, plus lists of award-winners and book club recommendations. Includes a foreword by Christopher Priest, the multiple-award-winning science fiction author (with a major film adaptation of his book, The Prestige, launching at the time of publication).

Black Panther: The Client

Christopher Priest

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Amazingly Excellent..... 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Black Panther never got the respect he deserved back in the day. Always a very underrated title, both when under the 'Jungle Adventures' title, and his own title. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby both did an amazing job with the book, but peolpe didn't buy it. Bummer. When I first began collecting comics in 96' - I was always looking for #1's being the young, naive collector I was. When I got my paw's on Panther #1, I knew I had something special. Black Panther died out then, but he came back. The Reanimation (so to speak) of T'Challa is not only better art and story wise than the original series (nothing against the original), but also selling better. Priest and Tex are a perfect team. The art here is simply amazing. Every frame, every splash could be a portrait. Beautiful. Awesome fast pace, kick a** fight scene's are in abudance, featuring the Panther kicking some major city-goon a**. Awesome impact pannels as well, you can almost feel the pain. Tex did a great job. And then the other awesome factor - The far out writing. Christopher Priest is a truley awesome writer, and man he makes the Panther bad (in a good way, not a villanous way.). He makes both fighting and character development/story development interesting. A awesome read, real enjoyable, a fast paced action ride from beggining to end. I have both the graphic novel and all the comics within it, and they are great additions to my 4000+ comic collection. You gotta get this!

Editorial Review:

T'Challa, chieftain of Africa's Wakanda nation, is known to most of the Marvel Universe as the Black Panther and sometime Avenger. Being the Panther is more than just being a super hero, it also represents something sacred to the Wakandan people. The demands on T'Challa are great but despite his best efforts, Wakanda and its mineral wealth are dragged more and more into the public spotlight.

When T'Challa comes to America, government agent Everett K. Ross is assigned as an escort. He figured it would be easy work and just tailed along with the King's entourage. However, when the bullets start flying and the super-villains come calling, and political intrigue is discovered back home, Ross is in for the adventure of a lifetime. The Client, Ross's description of the Panther, befriends the befuddled agent but that may not be such a good thing.

Captain America & The Falcon Vol. 2: Brothers And Keepers

Christopher Priest, Joe Bennett

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

One of the best ever 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 9 people found this review helpful.

You can't go wrong with this book. If you don't like this book you're weird.

Editorial Review:

Haunted by his personal failures, Captain America comes to suspect that he has been under psychological attack from the rogue Navy Intelligence unit that created the so-called "Anti-Cap" Super Sailor when he discovers a direct link between this shadow group and the deadly killing machine M.O.D.O.K. But are they running M.O.D.O.K., or is M.O.D.O.K. running them? To find out, Cap has no choice but to turn to the only person who actually knows: the Anti-Cap himself! Meanwhile, the Falcon has gone on the offensive, shutting down the Rivas drug cartel. But there's a line between heroism and vigilantism, and Robbie Robertson fears the Falcon has crossed it and may never find his way back. Collects Captain America & The Falcon #8-14.

Black Panther: Enemy Of The State TPB

Christopher Priest

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Graphic thrill ride 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Black Panther: Enemy of the State continues the story that began in the Black Panther: The Client TPB and collects issue #6-12 of the monthly series by Marvel Comics.

The Panther (a.k.a., T'Challa, king of the African nation of Wakanda) has discovered that while he was away from his homeland, he has become the victim of a coup. The madman, Achebe, has taken over, apparently with the help of the Panther's own stepmother. In the meantime, T'Challa must deal with assassination attempts, dirty CIA deals and the interference of his former teammates, the superpowered Avengers.

Christopher Priest's Black Panther is always one step ahead of his enemies. He's acutely aware of his opponents' motives and always seems to be prepared for any contingency. With the continuing (and often hilarious) narration of State Department liaison and Panther-friend, Everett Ross, we're taken on a wild ride as the Panther faces down his enemies one by one and battles to reclaim his lost throne.

The first few chapters are beautifully painted by the famed Joe Jusko and the last amicably illustrated by animation wiz Mike Manley and long-time comics veteran, M.D. Bright.

Black Panther: Enemy of the State is comics with brains, not just brawn. You won't be sorry you picked it up! This is hopefully just the second in a long line of future Panther trade paperbacks.

Editorial Review:

King T'Challa of the African nation of Wakanda, the coolly unflappable and cunning creature of the night also known as Black Panther, takes on global politics and street-level punks. The story reels from intense polictical drama to wild adventure to hilarious social commentary.

Midwich Cuckoos (Penguin Modern Classics)

John Wyndham

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Buyer Beware 3 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I should have looked more closely, but I bought this book because it was the only version available new directly from Amazon. I should have noticed that it is a dumbed-down abridgment. It may be good for Middle School children, but it is a shadow of the original classic work by John Wyndham.

a very british brand of sci-fi: subtle, off-stage action, heavy with implications 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Viewers of the excellent early film version of this may feel disappointed: the pace is slow, there is lots of dialogue, and the characters are hard to grasp. What's more, the children are more of a threatening presence - they cannot even be told apart reliably - than the active individuals of the film. But if the reader sticks with it, there are great rewards to be found.

First, the principal story is about the village, Midwich, which is as normal a place in the English countryside as one can imagine. There is an extraordinary series of events, first a blackout of all residents in a well defined perimeter, and then the realization that all women of child-bearing age are simultaneously pregnant, about 60 women. The full first third of the novel portrays how residents attempt to deal with the pregnancies, how they establish a kind of solidarity between themselves, that will later prove brittle and prone to violence. It is here that the complex characters are estalished in a brilliant way that is imortant later.

Second, there is the enigma of the children, whose attributes are nothing short of extraordinary, in that they appear to have two massminds, one for girls and the other for boys. They are all able to impell the villagers to behave in certain ways, as in disallowing them to leave Midwich in a time of crisis. As they all appear to be clones, no individuals emerge. What is so wonderful is that so little is explained - virtually all of the action takes place off-stage, including what the children are planning beyond their survival. They remain a splendid mystery with cunningly placed details for the reader to piece together; many interpretations are possible, if the reader enjoys that kind of exercise of the imagination. Interestingly, it is never clear whether or not they can read minds, which is only implied obliquely, and there are limits to what they can see.

Third, the reader never gets a clearly defined meaning for it all, beyond the fact that they are alien and constitute a threat, perhaps to humanity as a whole. Instead, the main characters speculate on it and discuss it, with some very unusual ideas floating about. This too can be great fun, but again, it is piecing together hints. I was left with a sense of mystery at the complexity of the universe, which is such a delight to a middle-aged mind!

Finally, there is the action that a village leader decides to take. While there is very little actual violence, it is always a threat of dread to all the villagers. For all appearences out of character, the leader proves decisive and even prescient. But again, unlike the movie, very little of the final struggle is spelled out.

This is a splendid vehicle for the lively imagination. It is also very British, which will put many American readers off, as we explect clear and fast-paced action, unequivocal explanations, and a wrap-up (with the possibiltiy of a sequel). What you get is a large social drama with subtle characters, the recognition of a new "threat of the jungle" that is never defined and whose meaning remains a delicious mystery. Warmly recommended.

Editorial Review:

Cuckoos lay eggs in other birds' nests. The clutch that was fathered on the quiet little village of Midwich, one night in September, proved to possess a monstrous will of its own. Imt promised to make the human race look as dated as the dinosaur.

The Quiet Woman

Christopher Priest

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Strange and compelling 4 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

The Quiet Woman is probably Priest's least known novel, and judging by its rarity and the absence of a paperback edition, his least commercially successful one too. It's certainly not in the same league as The Affirmation or the The Glamour or The Prestige, but it is compelling nonetheless. The story revolves around a woman writer living in rural England, the murder of a friend, and the suppression of her most recent book. Priest touches on many themes here - largely political and literary - and the book is populated by a small cast of characters, each of whom is mysterious in their own way (except the cat, which is delightfully and typically feline!) The ambiguity of the characters, far from being a weakness, adds a certain edge to the story and, in typical Priest style, leaves you wondering about the nature of reality. It's not an 'alternate reality' novel like some of his others (The Affirmation, A Dream of Wessex, The Separation); it's more about different perceptions of reality, and how people create their own realities. The setting is equally mysterious, with hints of a recent nuclear disaster, crop circles and shadowy government cover-ups, none of which are developed to any great extent. Together, they provide rather a dark, disturbing backdrop for this interesting, slightly weird novel. If you like your books to leave you pondering, you should like this one. It's hard to get, but worth tracking down.

Editorial Review:

After a Chernobyl-like accident at a fast breeder reactor on the north coast of France, Britain is shrouded in radioactive fall-out. When her best friend is murdered, a young writer is forced to make sense of the deadly world she now occupies.