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Dory's Avengers
In a stifled and oppressed United Kingdom, nothing can be achieved without the approval of the dictatorial Sponsors, at whose head is the malevolent and cruel Lord William St Benedict. In Britain’s cities the Sponsored live narrow, if privileged, lives, while the Unsponsored are confined to menial roles and to the ‘less desirable’ districts. Among the Sponsors’ many victims is Lord William’s own son, the forthright and charismatic Theodore – ‘Dory’ – held captive by his father since he was a boy.
In the unassuming town of Applethwaite, in the depths of the Cumbrian countryside, however, an unlikely revolution is brewing. Albino gymnast Louis Trevelyan and his motley group of friends are fiercely proud of their Unsponsored status and gradually forge a plan not only to liberate the beleaguered Theodore but the whole of the United Kingdom.
Alison Jack has turned her attention to writing after a long career in book publishing and distribution. She is a keen Wakeboarder, a supporter of Cambridge United and lives in Fen Ditton in Cambridgeshire.
In the unassuming town of Applethwaite, in the depths of the Cumbrian countryside, however, an unlikely revolution is brewing. Albino gymnast Louis Trevelyan and his motley group of friends are fiercely proud of their Unsponsored status and gradually forge a plan not only to liberate the beleaguered Theodore but the whole of the United Kingdom.
Alison Jack has turned her attention to writing after a long career in book publishing and distribution. She is a keen Wakeboarder, a supporter of Cambridge United and lives in Fen Ditton in Cambridgeshire.
570 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2013
11 people want to read
About the author
Alison Jack
1 book24 followersAlison has lived most of her life in and around the beautiful University city of Cambridge. Her début novel, DORY'S AVENGERS, viewBook.at/Dory, was originally published by Book Guild on 29 August 2013. It has since undergone an extensive re-edit and was re-released in September 2016. Alison describes writing as her passion, and she is delighted to earn her living working with independent authors as a freelance editor.
When she's not writing, Alison loves playing guitar and piano, both with more enthusiasm than skill. She keeps herself fit by wakeboarding, and also hiking ridiculously long distances. Overnight from London to Brighton is her longest walk to date, but there will be more to come. Other sports she enjoys are football, gymnastics and golf, but strictly as a spectator rather than a participant.
Alison lives just outside Cambridge with her partner Andy and two cats.
When she's not writing, Alison loves playing guitar and piano, both with more enthusiasm than skill. She keeps herself fit by wakeboarding, and also hiking ridiculously long distances. Overnight from London to Brighton is her longest walk to date, but there will be more to come. Other sports she enjoys are football, gymnastics and golf, but strictly as a spectator rather than a participant.
Alison lives just outside Cambridge with her partner Andy and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 10, 2014
First I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
The Sponsorship Scheme, exactly what it sounds like, a total scheme. The rich get richer and those that aren’t sponsored find roadblocks at every turn. To not be sponsored is considered a total shun of those that matter in the financial world. You might as well kiss your endeavors goodbye.
This book center on two men, Louis and Theodore aka Dory, once childhood friends and now one is confined by his genetics and the other by his evil father. Set in present time, but considerable a different UK than what we know, we are given insight to the ways of the Sponsorship and those that refuse to be conformed to it.
The book is written well, if not sometimes too well. There is a bit of repetitiveness in the beginning which may turn a potential reader off to it that has not been forewarned. Sponsorship this, sponsorship that, but in a ways it’s to get the point across just how much the Sponsorship has changed the world we knew and made it into something that serves a few but isn’t seen as such.
Dory manages to get through to Louis that he needs help; in turn we have Dory’s Avengers. A group that has had enough and will do what they can to help. A sight from the past that beyond all odds comes to fruition in the future. Mixed in with the Olympic Games, the unsponsored put up a fight and the ending is known upon you reading this book.
As I stated before, this book is well written. You will find yourself digging in and going for the long haul to not miss a beat in the story. You will find yourself cheering, jeering, and being flustered along with the characters and the story. I recommend this to anyone 16+ who enjoys a good thriller.
The Sponsorship Scheme, exactly what it sounds like, a total scheme. The rich get richer and those that aren’t sponsored find roadblocks at every turn. To not be sponsored is considered a total shun of those that matter in the financial world. You might as well kiss your endeavors goodbye.
This book center on two men, Louis and Theodore aka Dory, once childhood friends and now one is confined by his genetics and the other by his evil father. Set in present time, but considerable a different UK than what we know, we are given insight to the ways of the Sponsorship and those that refuse to be conformed to it.
The book is written well, if not sometimes too well. There is a bit of repetitiveness in the beginning which may turn a potential reader off to it that has not been forewarned. Sponsorship this, sponsorship that, but in a ways it’s to get the point across just how much the Sponsorship has changed the world we knew and made it into something that serves a few but isn’t seen as such.
Dory manages to get through to Louis that he needs help; in turn we have Dory’s Avengers. A group that has had enough and will do what they can to help. A sight from the past that beyond all odds comes to fruition in the future. Mixed in with the Olympic Games, the unsponsored put up a fight and the ending is known upon you reading this book.
As I stated before, this book is well written. You will find yourself digging in and going for the long haul to not miss a beat in the story. You will find yourself cheering, jeering, and being flustered along with the characters and the story. I recommend this to anyone 16+ who enjoys a good thriller.
March 3, 2017
Having enjoyed the original version, I was hugely interested in reading this revised edition of Dory's Avengers.
And it surpasses the original in so many ways! The editing is much cleaner and the story delivers more of a punch. I felt the original was let down by lengthy areas of 'free writing' that didn't really benefit the plot. Here though you really feel for Louis.
And this is a very different kind of dystopian novel than we're used to. This isn't the end of the world dystopia, this is sponsored government, political, economical disaster type of dystopia which is in fact very current in countries such as America and the U.K.
I'm so glad I reread this as it reconfirmed to me that Alison Jack is a phenomenal storyteller that brings us Machiavellian themes in contemporary writing.
And it surpasses the original in so many ways! The editing is much cleaner and the story delivers more of a punch. I felt the original was let down by lengthy areas of 'free writing' that didn't really benefit the plot. Here though you really feel for Louis.
And this is a very different kind of dystopian novel than we're used to. This isn't the end of the world dystopia, this is sponsored government, political, economical disaster type of dystopia which is in fact very current in countries such as America and the U.K.
I'm so glad I reread this as it reconfirmed to me that Alison Jack is a phenomenal storyteller that brings us Machiavellian themes in contemporary writing.
May 7, 2017
I do not fit into the target audience for this novel, not being YA (a young adult) nor male, however I still enjoyed Dory’s Avengers which just goes to show that you should always be willing to try new things.
This is an original and interesting read with the main character, Louis, being an albino gymnast trained by the bad-tempered past champion, Gideon, who is now in a wheelchair. They live among a colourful cast in the fictional village of Blenthwaite in the Lake District.
There are some mentions early on about Sponsorship but we soon learn that term is not to be taken in the way it usually would be in sports because it actually refers to there being very much a class divide between the Sponsored and Unsponsored. People sign up to be Sponsored because of the privileges it affords but it also means that their life is controlled, ultimately by Lord Bassenford who’s in charge of the Sponsorship Scheme. The Unsponsored are, of course, the rebels who will not sign their lives away and therefore pay the consequences of not doing so.
Louis is contacted, in a somewhat unusual manner, by a childhood friend and travels to London to help the friend, his eyes being opened to the problems of the Unsponsored along the way.
I had a little difficulty with Lord Bassenford who at times was hideously cruel, particularly to his son Theodore and then at others behaved rather out of character, I thought, for example by dancing at an unsponsored wedding. So I wasn’t entirely convinced by his supposedly evil persona.
Some things also felt a little glossed over. The changes of heart by a few of the characters, for example, and Nicola, I’ll say no more on that as I don’t want to give anything away. However, I did love many of the cast and in particular Lysander, eventually, after all the stuff happens which I won’t tell you for fear of spoilers, again.
I only get to read books in fits and starts and it can be tricky keeping the relationships characters have with each other clear. In this book the cast is quite large and at times I got confused with names. Lord Bassenford was also known as Your Lordship, Your Lordshit (unsurprisingly, given his behaviour!) and William St Benedict. But this was not all, most of the characters (and there were quite a few) had nicknames or shortened forms of their own names or were occasionally called by their surnames, but like I say that was no doubt something to do with the way I read this book.
There was a lot of story packed into this book with many things happening which kept it fresh and interesting. I liked the setting and always love it when a plan comes together to try to thwart whatever it is that is going on. There was humour throughout, a certain amount of friskiness among the cast which was entertaining and all in all this was an enjoyable read.
This is an original and interesting read with the main character, Louis, being an albino gymnast trained by the bad-tempered past champion, Gideon, who is now in a wheelchair. They live among a colourful cast in the fictional village of Blenthwaite in the Lake District.
There are some mentions early on about Sponsorship but we soon learn that term is not to be taken in the way it usually would be in sports because it actually refers to there being very much a class divide between the Sponsored and Unsponsored. People sign up to be Sponsored because of the privileges it affords but it also means that their life is controlled, ultimately by Lord Bassenford who’s in charge of the Sponsorship Scheme. The Unsponsored are, of course, the rebels who will not sign their lives away and therefore pay the consequences of not doing so.
Louis is contacted, in a somewhat unusual manner, by a childhood friend and travels to London to help the friend, his eyes being opened to the problems of the Unsponsored along the way.
I had a little difficulty with Lord Bassenford who at times was hideously cruel, particularly to his son Theodore and then at others behaved rather out of character, I thought, for example by dancing at an unsponsored wedding. So I wasn’t entirely convinced by his supposedly evil persona.
Some things also felt a little glossed over. The changes of heart by a few of the characters, for example, and Nicola, I’ll say no more on that as I don’t want to give anything away. However, I did love many of the cast and in particular Lysander, eventually, after all the stuff happens which I won’t tell you for fear of spoilers, again.
I only get to read books in fits and starts and it can be tricky keeping the relationships characters have with each other clear. In this book the cast is quite large and at times I got confused with names. Lord Bassenford was also known as Your Lordship, Your Lordshit (unsurprisingly, given his behaviour!) and William St Benedict. But this was not all, most of the characters (and there were quite a few) had nicknames or shortened forms of their own names or were occasionally called by their surnames, but like I say that was no doubt something to do with the way I read this book.
There was a lot of story packed into this book with many things happening which kept it fresh and interesting. I liked the setting and always love it when a plan comes together to try to thwart whatever it is that is going on. There was humour throughout, a certain amount of friskiness among the cast which was entertaining and all in all this was an enjoyable read.
July 21, 2014
An interesting alternative history book that kicks off with a great preface, setting the scene of a present-day Britain in which not long before the 2012 Olympics, society has become dominated by commercial sponsorship, which has now become so powerful that the country has been split between the Sponsored (wealthy, high-achieving but with little freedom) and the Unsponsored (impoverished, badly used and oppressed). The preface is particularly well-written, reminding me a little of the class-focused novels of Evelyn Waugh and Aldous Huxley.
The cast of the story is enormous, and mostly related to each other in some way, across the Sponsored/Unsponsored divide. While there is a certain black-and-whiteness about them, in that they are either Sponsored or not, there is some crossing over that goes on to provide character development, and all of the characters are interesting and the good guys at least are very likeable and very easy to root for.
Another interesting aspect of the story is that although it's about a scheme affecting the whole country (though it hasn't been emulated abroad), the conflicts take place between members of families who are split on either side of the divide. That makes it a much more personal and engaging story. I particularly liked Louis, the gifted (Unsponsored) gymnast and his trainer Gideon, who together strive to train Louis for greatness. I also liked the unifying Olympic theme, in which it's clear that sport is the winner rather than individuals or nations, and this is a neat parallel to the story of social division.
The action is set mainly in two places - the fictitious village of Applethwaite in the Lake District and central London. There is a good sense of place and contrast between the two. The places become symbolic for the two opposing forces of good and evil, respectively.
To me, more used to reading books of 200-300 pages since leaving my studies of the classics behind, this felt like a very long book (maybe more so because I was reading the heavy hardback rather than on my Kindle), and I suppose that is one reason why it's priced quite high (£18 for the hardback and £5.49 for the ebook at the time of writing this review). It would be a shame if the price limits is discovery by other readers.
Disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of the hardback by the author who I first met when she came to hear me speak at the Cambridge Literary Festival. I have since used her editing service, but that business relationship does not affect my reading habits or my review of this book.
The cast of the story is enormous, and mostly related to each other in some way, across the Sponsored/Unsponsored divide. While there is a certain black-and-whiteness about them, in that they are either Sponsored or not, there is some crossing over that goes on to provide character development, and all of the characters are interesting and the good guys at least are very likeable and very easy to root for.
Another interesting aspect of the story is that although it's about a scheme affecting the whole country (though it hasn't been emulated abroad), the conflicts take place between members of families who are split on either side of the divide. That makes it a much more personal and engaging story. I particularly liked Louis, the gifted (Unsponsored) gymnast and his trainer Gideon, who together strive to train Louis for greatness. I also liked the unifying Olympic theme, in which it's clear that sport is the winner rather than individuals or nations, and this is a neat parallel to the story of social division.
The action is set mainly in two places - the fictitious village of Applethwaite in the Lake District and central London. There is a good sense of place and contrast between the two. The places become symbolic for the two opposing forces of good and evil, respectively.
To me, more used to reading books of 200-300 pages since leaving my studies of the classics behind, this felt like a very long book (maybe more so because I was reading the heavy hardback rather than on my Kindle), and I suppose that is one reason why it's priced quite high (£18 for the hardback and £5.49 for the ebook at the time of writing this review). It would be a shame if the price limits is discovery by other readers.
Disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of the hardback by the author who I first met when she came to hear me speak at the Cambridge Literary Festival. I have since used her editing service, but that business relationship does not affect my reading habits or my review of this book.
March 5, 2015
Dory's Avengers is a novel unlike anything I've ever read before. Part Machiavellian, it is set in an alternate United Kingdom where the whole country is ran by the Sponsorship Scheme. If you are Unsponsored then you are considered the lowest of society, unable to have a career and take part in what society has to offer. And yet if you are Sponsored, you are expected to abide by the rules and etiquette the scheme sets out. Its an interesting concept and intelligently thought out too.
It's a mammoth of a book and it took me a while to get through it, although I'm not really sure why. It is certainly an adult novel and I guess I wanted to make sure I absolutely understood all the political and sociological implication of the world this is set in.
At the forefront of the book is albino teenager and gymnast, Louis. A loveable and heart-warming character that is readable too. Dory is kept locked up by his abusive father, who just so happens to be the creator of the Sponsorship Scheme - a very powerful man indeed, and Louis makes sure that freeing his childhood friend is the priority.
And yet it is the characterisation and chemistry among the Unsponsored that captures your heart in this original novel. An eclectic bunch that can appeal to any type of reader: an albino teenager, a naive journalist, a gay couple who run the local pub, an absent father, a manic-depressive mother ... the list goes on. I particularly loved Gideon, Louis's gymnast teacher who curses and shouts colloquialisms left, right and centre, which is just what is needed among the often formal Louis and Sarah and Lysander.
Alison Jack does a wonderful job at creating such a powerful cause within the story and her faultless voice and writing will have you laughing aloud, spitting at the sometimes graphic violent abuse of Dory and even clenching your fists and punching the air in delight as you rally behind the Avengers group you feel very much a part of. Sometimes it struggles with pace, but Dory's Avengers is an intelligent, moving and satisfying novel. A great début from a writer that we'll see more of I have no doubt.
It's a mammoth of a book and it took me a while to get through it, although I'm not really sure why. It is certainly an adult novel and I guess I wanted to make sure I absolutely understood all the political and sociological implication of the world this is set in.
At the forefront of the book is albino teenager and gymnast, Louis. A loveable and heart-warming character that is readable too. Dory is kept locked up by his abusive father, who just so happens to be the creator of the Sponsorship Scheme - a very powerful man indeed, and Louis makes sure that freeing his childhood friend is the priority.
And yet it is the characterisation and chemistry among the Unsponsored that captures your heart in this original novel. An eclectic bunch that can appeal to any type of reader: an albino teenager, a naive journalist, a gay couple who run the local pub, an absent father, a manic-depressive mother ... the list goes on. I particularly loved Gideon, Louis's gymnast teacher who curses and shouts colloquialisms left, right and centre, which is just what is needed among the often formal Louis and Sarah and Lysander.
Alison Jack does a wonderful job at creating such a powerful cause within the story and her faultless voice and writing will have you laughing aloud, spitting at the sometimes graphic violent abuse of Dory and even clenching your fists and punching the air in delight as you rally behind the Avengers group you feel very much a part of. Sometimes it struggles with pace, but Dory's Avengers is an intelligent, moving and satisfying novel. A great début from a writer that we'll see more of I have no doubt.
July 1, 2014
“Dory’s Avengers”
Posted on July 1, 2014 by mainemuse
index
The review for today is “Dory’s Avengers” by Alison Jack.
Imagine a place where your choices are few and your freedoms limited by a corporation. A company that makes sure that if you don’t become a sponsor, it won’t bode well for you. The setting is London, England. The company is run by William St. Benedict who has come up with the Sponsorship Scheme. One that people are flocking to be a part off. It makes him and his company millions as people far and wide flock to his presence. It doesn’t hurt he is a charming man.
What people don’t know is upstairs hidden away is his son Theo who is being beaten excessively for defying the scheme. Those who don’t join up are considered second class citizens who get to do the work that the upper-class people don’t do.
But there is discontentment with those who refuse to bow down and get sponsored. And the numbers are growing. Especially in the village of Applethwaite which is home to one of the member of the Sponsor’s scheme. It is a quiet place and they are pretty much left alone until one day Theo makes contact with his best friend who lives in this village. H doesn’t use a computer, telephone, text or letter. He mentally sends out thoughts in hopes his friend will hear and understand.
What happens next is Applethwaite residents plotting to break Theo out and take down the scheme bit by bit until every one is free from sponsorship.
I enjoyed this book very much. It kept my interest. The characters were many, but I didn’t need to list them down to keep track off, so that was big for me. The description was well done. There is a bit of cursing in this book. The two main characters, Theo and Louis, while I liked a lot in the beginning, they started to irk me near the end. But not every character is mean to be liked throughout, regardless if they are a major or minor player. I bonded with some of the characters.
January 30, 2014
When I first started reading this book I want sure I would like it...... Was I wrong I found myself loving Louis and his electic mix of friends, Louis is an easily likeable character who at the beginning of the book it is predicted he would bring down the Sponsership Scheme run by the evil Lord William St Benedict.
The book is set years later and Louis is a promising gymnast trained by the once great gymnast Gideon Wallis, who was injured in a car crash years earlier and retired to the Lake District, as you follow the story you find Gideon's car crash is no accident, Lord Benedict and his minions are behind it, as he opposed their scheme.
The Sponsorship Scheme and those who run this think they are above the law and can do what they like especially the evil Lord Benedict. He's imprisoned his son Theodore (Dory) once Louis's childhood pal, because he didn't agree with him and accused him of makin his mother disappear.
Dory manages to make contact with Louis to ask for his help and here is where Dory's Avengers are formed. They are set up in Louis's local pub The White Lion. The action travels from the sleepy Lake District town on Applethwaite to London, there's a siege at the pub, personally this is where I would love to be in a siege, then there's even action at the Olympics in London thrown in the add to the action, a nice touch after the Olympics here.
I laughed, cried and was glued to this book, the characters were so colourful and likeable. Always wanting the bad guys to be found out and brought to account.
Absolutely brilliant debut from the author, the book ended perfectly and I can't see if there would be a follow up book, but I will be looking out for any others by the author.
The book is set years later and Louis is a promising gymnast trained by the once great gymnast Gideon Wallis, who was injured in a car crash years earlier and retired to the Lake District, as you follow the story you find Gideon's car crash is no accident, Lord Benedict and his minions are behind it, as he opposed their scheme.
The Sponsorship Scheme and those who run this think they are above the law and can do what they like especially the evil Lord Benedict. He's imprisoned his son Theodore (Dory) once Louis's childhood pal, because he didn't agree with him and accused him of makin his mother disappear.
Dory manages to make contact with Louis to ask for his help and here is where Dory's Avengers are formed. They are set up in Louis's local pub The White Lion. The action travels from the sleepy Lake District town on Applethwaite to London, there's a siege at the pub, personally this is where I would love to be in a siege, then there's even action at the Olympics in London thrown in the add to the action, a nice touch after the Olympics here.
I laughed, cried and was glued to this book, the characters were so colourful and likeable. Always wanting the bad guys to be found out and brought to account.
Absolutely brilliant debut from the author, the book ended perfectly and I can't see if there would be a follow up book, but I will be looking out for any others by the author.
October 5, 2013
In Dory's Avengers Alison Jack reminds us that tyrants don't necessarily need a military coup to come to power. Control can be achieved through something as innocuous as a national sponsorship scheme.
Set in an alternate version of the UK, William St Benedict is the dictatorial head of 'The Sponsors', whose members enjoy the privileges and prestige afforded to the elite. Those individuals who choose not to be sponsored become the underclass; allowed to carry out only menial work, living on the fringes of this new society.
In the Cumbrian village of Applethwaite the son of one of the founding members of the scheme becomes the focal point of opposition to the new order, embarking on a dangerous quest to challenge the status quo.
Dory's Avengers is a highly original piece of work. The characters are sharply defined, the plot engrossing and unpredictable. The story is woven so closely into recent events, such as the London Olympics, that at times the lines between fact and fiction become a little blurred. This is to Alison Jack's credit, and shows just how plausible is this dark mirror image of our society that she has created.
In short Dory's Avengers is an intelligent, thought provoking, cautionary tale from a talented author.
Set in an alternate version of the UK, William St Benedict is the dictatorial head of 'The Sponsors', whose members enjoy the privileges and prestige afforded to the elite. Those individuals who choose not to be sponsored become the underclass; allowed to carry out only menial work, living on the fringes of this new society.
In the Cumbrian village of Applethwaite the son of one of the founding members of the scheme becomes the focal point of opposition to the new order, embarking on a dangerous quest to challenge the status quo.
Dory's Avengers is a highly original piece of work. The characters are sharply defined, the plot engrossing and unpredictable. The story is woven so closely into recent events, such as the London Olympics, that at times the lines between fact and fiction become a little blurred. This is to Alison Jack's credit, and shows just how plausible is this dark mirror image of our society that she has created.
In short Dory's Avengers is an intelligent, thought provoking, cautionary tale from a talented author.
February 7, 2014
I am an avid reader, and enjoy immersing myself in books from differing genres. Having been somewhat disappointed recently in a few publications by some of my favourite writers, I decided to choose a new author, namely Alison Jack and her debut novel "Dory's Avengers".
The story is beautifully crafted and contains a beginning, middle, and an end; a feature so many books lack these days. The central character Louis is the hero of the story, albeit a reluctant one. You want him to succeed and conquer his fears despite his self conscience nature and being afflicted by albinism. Theodore, on the other hand is a strong willed and determined individual, who is segregated from his family and constantly undermined by a brutal Father. The childhood friendship between Louis and Theodore has remained strong through to adulthood, in spite of the efforts of the ruthless regime in which they live.
Add this novel to your 'to read' list and you will not be disappointed! I eagerly await Alison's next publication.
The story is beautifully crafted and contains a beginning, middle, and an end; a feature so many books lack these days. The central character Louis is the hero of the story, albeit a reluctant one. You want him to succeed and conquer his fears despite his self conscience nature and being afflicted by albinism. Theodore, on the other hand is a strong willed and determined individual, who is segregated from his family and constantly undermined by a brutal Father. The childhood friendship between Louis and Theodore has remained strong through to adulthood, in spite of the efforts of the ruthless regime in which they live.
Add this novel to your 'to read' list and you will not be disappointed! I eagerly await Alison's next publication.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews