It is ok

It passed the time, story was alright but nothing special, good to have on in the background

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Red dwarf humour in 1950s England

I got this because I've always loved Quatermass stories (boffins save the world), Quatermass and the Pit is the greatest story ever told, and this is a zany irreverent, joke a minute retelling of all the 'scientist as hero' tales from early cinema. It's enjoyable, light and brilliantly narrated. It's in clear episodes, as if it was intended for serialisation. Like the Red Dwarf series, not all the humour makes it off the page, but there's enough going on to allow you to forgive. The 1950s settings means that there is buckets of xenophobia, misogyny, casual swearing, ageism, sexism, broad stereotypes everything you can imagine, so you have to leave your modem sensibilities at the door, but once you're in the flow it works as quick fire ear candy .... Mild spoiler.... Surprising, sad downbeat ending.

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1 person found this helpful

A keeper!

I can certainly see myself listening to this many times. It has got a great comedy rhyme and a very amusing way of viewing the story from each of the characters view points.
I agree the ending does kind of fizz out, but this doesnt detract from the overall experience

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Congratulations for Quanderhorn!

Rob Grant and Andrew Marshall have created a hysterical universe in this adventure. Much like Rob Grant's other major comedy success, Red Dwarf, the characters are absolutely hilarious when they play off each other. Brian Nylon seems like a perfect point of view character. Weedy, whimpy, nervous, never able to assert himself. Plus you've got Gurk the Martian, holder of a number of Martian awards - at various levels - the 'brave hero and warrior' of Mars who seems oddly unwilling to return home and Dr Janason and her scientific journal who is a perfect example of how to take the hard working scientific woman of the 1950s and use it for comedy. And there are so many others!

This entire tale is a perfect piss take of the 1950s Quatermass serials. I don't want to spoil anything too major. All I will say is you are sure to laugh yourself senseless! And I truly hope there are more adventures for Derius Quanderhorn and his scientific assistants. I absolutely loved the audiobook and I can hardly wait for more. Give this series a chance. I certainly didn't regret it!

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1 person found this helpful

a very good British comedy that trys

i enjoyed this story being a fan of this comedic style in the 90's. this book has the sci-fi, self aware self parodying brittish/english humour.
"I have a sudden urge to stand behind someone and wait for something."

I do enjoy Scotsman scene a fillthy steriotype but when taken in the 1950s ere and mix it with the scenario in this, i have not enjoyed a comedic representational parody of my kin since the nakmackfeegle by Terry Pratchett.

other authers simmilar in style and tone have been Tom Holt, and of course Douglas Adams.

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Messy Ending

Having seen who the writers of this book were, I was really looking forward to it. I enjoyed the way each chapter was narrated by the individual characters. Unfortunately the confusion started with this meaning that the chapters were numbered as per character. The story itself seemed to be built on individual events that were connected by thin threads that were poorly explained at the close. As for the actual ending of the book, I was really disappointed. It seemed to be building to something..... but no, it just kind of died confusingly in on itself. I did enjoy parts of this but overall I felt let down.

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I really wanted to enjoy this...but..

I loved quatermass and those early films. I tried multiple times to get into this but it just didn't work for me. I forced myself to finish it in the end. the narration of the characters was good but the plot seemed as obvious as the invisible shield. sorry.

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