IT IS PURELY MY OPINION
Reviews by L. J. Roberts


SIMON R. GREEN – The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny. Ace, hardcover, January 2010. Reprint paperback: December 2010.

Genre:   Paranormal/Mystery. Leading character:   John Taylor; 10th in series. Setting:   Nightside/Contemporary London.

SIMON GREEN Good Bad and Uncanny

First Sentence:   This is the Nightside.

    Things are changing in Nightside, a hidden inner city section of London where elements of fantasy, science fiction and the supernatural merge and collide — a place “where dreams come true and nightmares come alive.”

    An elf — never trust an elf — hires PI John Taylor as an escort across Nightside. Then Larry Oblivion, the Dead Detective, asks to help him find his brother who disappeared during the Lilith War. But the biggest concern is Walker, who runs Nightside on behalf of the Authorities. He wants to retire and have PI John Taylor assume his position.

    A book with a compelling opening is a joy, and Green writes great openings. I am always staggered by imagination and his ability to make the unreal seem real, unpleasant as that sometimes is.

    This book blends humans — sometimes loosely defined as such — monsters and mythical characters, such as Puck; but not Shakespeare’s Puck. To balance the graphic nature of the tale, Green employs a delightful humor and includes references to contemporary culture and the occasional nod to Shakespeare. In fact, the book itself has a rather Shakespearean feel to it.

   The books in this series are not pure fantasy books; there is some real substance and insightful observations and truth tucked in amongst the action, including a rather sad but honest observation on drugs. When John asks Walker whether the power ever goes to his head, Walker responds “…There isn’t one of them that really likes or even respect me. It’s the position, and the power that comes with it.”

    Isn’t that true for most people who are famous or powerful— people agree with them and laugh at their jokes not because of who they are but because of the power they hold.

    At one point, Taylor talks about the value of the less important… “Is their pain any less? Their deaths any less final”…leading me to think of Shylock’s speech about the Jews “…If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?…”

    Green is an excellent writer and this is clearly a transitional book. I cannot help but look forward to my next visit to the Nightside.

Rating:   Very Good.