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Albion! Albion!
1982. Two coach-loads of Spurs supporters are burned alive by Villa fans. Football is banned. One man comes to fight the fascist terror of the omnipotent fans.
- GenresScience Fiction
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 16, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 5, 2021
'Albion! Albion!' is an excellent example of SF reflecting the anxieties of the time it was written. Published in 1974, when Britain was the 'sick man of Europe', and England had a global reputation for 'the English Disease' - violent football hooliganism - the novel asks, 'How much worse could this get?'
England in the 90s, a dark and desolate place. Football Hooligans have overthrown the government and divided England into four territories controlled by the Four Clubs. The economy has continued to decline, 'slum clearance has given way to slum creation', and violence is everywhere.
The story itself is a fairly uninspiring journey through this dystopian/post-apocalyptic England.
The characters are so bland that it was easy to forget who they were. When a character from early on shows up in a later chapter, in a way that was supposed to be a dramatic reveal, I genuinely couldn't remember who he was.
The plot veers from simplistic journey to wildly overcomplicated political drama over the course of a single chapter halfway through. The character explaining everything even remarks, "It is over-complex, isn't it?"
The book is primarily enjoyable as an interesting historical piece which has some resonance to today, with its reflections on political tribalism and isolationism. Published in 1974, between Britain joining the EEC in 1973 and the first membership referendum in 1975, anxieties about Britain's post-imperial future and its relationship with Europe hang in the background throughout the novel.
Can a country accustomed to beating up other nations abroad work together as part of Europe? If not, who can it turned to? America, also an international pariah, is England's only friend - and America is far from trustworthy.
England in the 90s, a dark and desolate place. Football Hooligans have overthrown the government and divided England into four territories controlled by the Four Clubs. The economy has continued to decline, 'slum clearance has given way to slum creation', and violence is everywhere.
The story itself is a fairly uninspiring journey through this dystopian/post-apocalyptic England.
The characters are so bland that it was easy to forget who they were. When a character from early on shows up in a later chapter, in a way that was supposed to be a dramatic reveal, I genuinely couldn't remember who he was.
The plot veers from simplistic journey to wildly overcomplicated political drama over the course of a single chapter halfway through. The character explaining everything even remarks, "It is over-complex, isn't it?"
The book is primarily enjoyable as an interesting historical piece which has some resonance to today, with its reflections on political tribalism and isolationism. Published in 1974, between Britain joining the EEC in 1973 and the first membership referendum in 1975, anxieties about Britain's post-imperial future and its relationship with Europe hang in the background throughout the novel.
Can a country accustomed to beating up other nations abroad work together as part of Europe? If not, who can it turned to? America, also an international pariah, is England's only friend - and America is far from trustworthy.
June 28, 2018
It is a love story of better days gone by. A nostalgic lament towards present day England and a future fable of a nightmare nation disowned by Europe and tolerated by America. An England it's parliament dissolved, divided into territories, run by the four clubs United, City, Wanderers and Athletic. Hooliganism and fascism the status quo and democracy no more. The club management system as oppressive as any behind the iron curtain and the track suited enforcers of the first team reminiscent of the activities of any non first world secret police force. Expatriate Whitey Singleton finds himself in the last place he wants to be - home! Journalists aren't treated well the best at the best of times and this story is no different he is assaulted, tortured, kidnapped and manipulated from pillar to post by the management, the US consulate and the mysterious Jays. Albion! Albion! A cautionary 80s tale of unrequited love and misplaced xenophobia or patriotism.
December 12, 2020
Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...
"Reginald Hill (1936-2012), best known for his crime and mystery novels, wrote two science fiction works under the name Dick Morland. Albion! Albion! (1974) charts the rise of fascism in the UK. The twist to the standard formula? The four main football clubs (Athletic, Wanderers, United and City) depose the government. The football games are long disbanded. Instead, their [..]
"Reginald Hill (1936-2012), best known for his crime and mystery novels, wrote two science fiction works under the name Dick Morland. Albion! Albion! (1974) charts the rise of fascism in the UK. The twist to the standard formula? The four main football clubs (Athletic, Wanderers, United and City) depose the government. The football games are long disbanded. Instead, their [..]
October 29, 2018
It's the near future, the year 1994. England has become a fascist state split into 4 areas, each managed by a club (Athletic, Wanderers, United and City). Journalist Whitey Singleton is returned from abroad against his will to his home town, and ends up on the run in a dystopian England.
It's a bleak read. Especially as some of the observations are just as valid now. The club management using tribalism to unite their population. The government has been over thrown and replaced by popular footballing figureheads as it was out of touch with the people. So now a disapproving Europe looks on, while England becomes more isolationist, and acts out in ever more brutal ways. I thought the world building depressing but believable. But I never really believed in the main characters, Hydrangea (the lead female character) being particularly poorly drawn, and the casual violence of the lead cast becomes too commonplace towards the end.
I think it is worth revisting, but a little too much of its time.
It's a bleak read. Especially as some of the observations are just as valid now. The club management using tribalism to unite their population. The government has been over thrown and replaced by popular footballing figureheads as it was out of touch with the people. So now a disapproving Europe looks on, while England becomes more isolationist, and acts out in ever more brutal ways. I thought the world building depressing but believable. But I never really believed in the main characters, Hydrangea (the lead female character) being particularly poorly drawn, and the casual violence of the lead cast becomes too commonplace towards the end.
I think it is worth revisting, but a little too much of its time.
December 28, 2014
Written by the British crime writer Reginald Hill under a pseudonym, this novel was surprisingly good and creative, and is a somewhat humorous thriller about a renowned journalist who is kidnapped on a flight and trapped in a dystopian near-future England split amongst three competing football clubs—the book is filled with lingo based on football terms, and ties football hooliganism to fascism.
September 28, 2007
Dick Morland - aka Reginald Hill
This is a dystopian novel set in a world now overun by football (soccer).
This is a dystopian novel set in a world now overun by football (soccer).
Want to Read
May 26, 2008A hard to find Reginald Hill book
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews