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Oddjobs #1
Oddjobs
Unstoppable horrors from beyond are poised to invade and literally create Hell on Earth.
It’s the end of the world as we know it, but someone still needs to do the paperwork.
Morag Murray works for the secret government organisation responsible for making sure the apocalypse goes as smoothly and as quietly as possible.
Trouble is, Morag’s got a temper problem and, after angering the wrong alien god, she’s been sent to another city where she won’t cause so much trouble.
But Morag’s got her work cut out for her. She has to deal with a man-eating starfish, solve a supernatural murder and, if she’s got time, prevent her own inevitable death.
If you like The Laundry Files, The Chronicles of St Mary’s or Men in Black, you’ll love the Oddjobs series."If Jodi Taylor wrote a Laundry Files novel set it in Birmingham…
It’s the end of the world as we know it, but someone still needs to do the paperwork.
Morag Murray works for the secret government organisation responsible for making sure the apocalypse goes as smoothly and as quietly as possible.
Trouble is, Morag’s got a temper problem and, after angering the wrong alien god, she’s been sent to another city where she won’t cause so much trouble.
But Morag’s got her work cut out for her. She has to deal with a man-eating starfish, solve a supernatural murder and, if she’s got time, prevent her own inevitable death.
If you like The Laundry Files, The Chronicles of St Mary’s or Men in Black, you’ll love the Oddjobs series."If Jodi Taylor wrote a Laundry Files novel set it in Birmingham…
296 pages, ebook
First published August 11, 2016
925 people are currently reading
2713 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
May 3, 2020
A fabulously fun read that has laugh out loud moments as you follow the often life threatening escapades of an English "Men In Black" type clandestine government group. Mashed with a Lovecraftian theme, British humour abounds along with a choice selection of Venislarn swear words. (and the odd human one too!)
I must warn you though ...... two words ...... FISH PORN!! 😱 There is not enough alcohol in the world to wipe that particular mental image. (Where's my vomit emoticon?)
A series that is definitely assigned to my TBR mountain.
I must warn you though ...... two words ...... FISH PORN!! 😱 There is not enough alcohol in the world to wipe that particular mental image. (Where's my vomit emoticon?)
A series that is definitely assigned to my TBR mountain.
August 23, 2017
Oddjobs is a brilliant bit of humorous dystopian sci-fi. If Lovecraft and Men in Black had a baby it would be Odd Jobs.
The world is going to be destroyed by the old gods and it will not end with a bang nor a whimper but will instead devolve into a nameless, dread filled hell where we are consumed tortuously by these elder 'gods'. But until then a government agency has to keep the general public rather in the dark. As well as keep a weird balance between these indescribable evils and the people of the world.
When Morag Murray is transferred to Birmingham library from Scotland she has no idea what she is walking into. Amid the 1/2 breed fish aliens who live in the canals, the mysterious tattoos and the unusual cabbies there are department of people whose job it is to sell the end of the world as we know it to the masses. Imagine elder god plushies and a plan to encourage suicide... all with a smile and biscuits.
The utter insanity and witty writing make this a really enjoyable book and I can't wait for the next in the series.
The world is going to be destroyed by the old gods and it will not end with a bang nor a whimper but will instead devolve into a nameless, dread filled hell where we are consumed tortuously by these elder 'gods'. But until then a government agency has to keep the general public rather in the dark. As well as keep a weird balance between these indescribable evils and the people of the world.
When Morag Murray is transferred to Birmingham library from Scotland she has no idea what she is walking into. Amid the 1/2 breed fish aliens who live in the canals, the mysterious tattoos and the unusual cabbies there are department of people whose job it is to sell the end of the world as we know it to the masses. Imagine elder god plushies and a plan to encourage suicide... all with a smile and biscuits.
The utter insanity and witty writing make this a really enjoyable book and I can't wait for the next in the series.
March 18, 2022
This book is just plain fun. A lot of fun! Think Scalzi writing MiB in a lovecraftian universe.
The writing is good, the rhythm is excellent and the cast is quite diverse and entertaining.
I’m so glad there’s a whole series with at least 4 other books already available.
The writing is good, the rhythm is excellent and the cast is quite diverse and entertaining.
I’m so glad there’s a whole series with at least 4 other books already available.
September 28, 2019
Oddjobs promises Lovecraftian horrors adapted to modern urban fantasy and packaged with British humour - so of course I jumped right on it.
What to Expect
Expect an excellent delivery on the above promise. The story takes place over a week, from the arrival of a new employee to the Birmingham branch of a special, secret government agency on Monday, to the grand finale, crisis-narrowly-averted on the weekend.
The whole novel has a Warehouse 13 vibe (or Men In Black, for those unfamiliar with the SyFy series) mixed in with a judicial amount of Lovecraft-style ancient horrors from beyond. All this, of course, with the best of British wit on a background of a modern industrial city.
As one of the characters say: “Yes, it is the end of the world. Yes, we are all going to die. But we are British. These things still need doing in an orderly manner and there is certainly no excuse to get all emotional about it.”
What I liked
Loved the wit, the vibe, the plot. It's an excellent urban-fantasy satire, making for a very enjoyable read.
I've never been to Birmingham, but the authors' use of real life settings as the basis for occult locations is brilliant. Makes you suspect any bit of modern architecture for having a sinister, paranormal reason behind it.
Also, the scene with the marketing department on how to sell the apocalypse was positively brilliant!
What to be aware of
Don't expect deep emotions or a complex character arc. This is primarily a satire.
Also, without giving too much of a spoiler, though the beginning has the nihilistic, fatalistic tones of Lovecraft this is still a modern work, and the protagonist do save the day (at least temporarily).
Summary
If you loved Warehouse 13 / Men In Black and appreciate elder gods from beyond, this is definitely a book for you.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
Expect an excellent delivery on the above promise. The story takes place over a week, from the arrival of a new employee to the Birmingham branch of a special, secret government agency on Monday, to the grand finale, crisis-narrowly-averted on the weekend.
The whole novel has a Warehouse 13 vibe (or Men In Black, for those unfamiliar with the SyFy series) mixed in with a judicial amount of Lovecraft-style ancient horrors from beyond. All this, of course, with the best of British wit on a background of a modern industrial city.
As one of the characters say: “Yes, it is the end of the world. Yes, we are all going to die. But we are British. These things still need doing in an orderly manner and there is certainly no excuse to get all emotional about it.”
What I liked
Loved the wit, the vibe, the plot. It's an excellent urban-fantasy satire, making for a very enjoyable read.
I've never been to Birmingham, but the authors' use of real life settings as the basis for occult locations is brilliant. Makes you suspect any bit of modern architecture for having a sinister, paranormal reason behind it.
Also, the scene with the marketing department on how to sell the apocalypse was positively brilliant!
What to be aware of
Don't expect deep emotions or a complex character arc. This is primarily a satire.
Also, without giving too much of a spoiler, though the beginning has the nihilistic, fatalistic tones of Lovecraft this is still a modern work, and the protagonist do save the day (at least temporarily).
Summary
If you loved Warehouse 13 / Men In Black and appreciate elder gods from beyond, this is definitely a book for you.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
July 13, 2020
DNF at about 50%. By writing quality and execution this is probably a 3.5 or 4, by subject matter it ought to be a 1, so we'll compromise and call it 2.
It's sort of like a more openly comedic Laundry Files, and for a bit I was really quite pleased since Stross has gotten increasingly Grumpy Old Man in recent books. But as the book went on, it was impossible to escape the fact that a lot of the humor in Oddjobs works out to, basically "laugh at the funny stereotypes."
"Laugh at the funny camp gay man, look how camp he is." "Laugh at the fish people pretending to be yardies." "Laugh at the gingers."
I was willing to let the first instance or so pass by, but by the second or third I was getting markedly uncomfortable, and by the fifth... yeah. Moving right on along.
It's sort of like a more openly comedic Laundry Files, and for a bit I was really quite pleased since Stross has gotten increasingly Grumpy Old Man in recent books. But as the book went on, it was impossible to escape the fact that a lot of the humor in Oddjobs works out to, basically "laugh at the funny stereotypes."
"Laugh at the funny camp gay man, look how camp he is." "Laugh at the fish people pretending to be yardies." "Laugh at the gingers."
I was willing to let the first instance or so pass by, but by the second or third I was getting markedly uncomfortable, and by the fifth... yeah. Moving right on along.
July 27, 2016
Iain and Heide have done here what they always seem to do so brilliantly: created a world within the world we know, an utterly insane world with its own laws of physics and society and justice. In this case, the world we know is Birmingham, complete with its Jewellery Quarter and magnificent library and famous Balti Triangle. The world we don't know is the world of the Venislarn.
The Venislarn are here. They have always been here. They will destroy us and condemn us to eternal torment. All we can do is make sure things run smoothly until then.
As with the extraordinary Clovenhoof series, the joy of the world-we-don't-know is the figures who inhabit it, and here the writers have given us a host of truly memorable individuals, human, Venislarn, and (most enjoyable) part-human, part-Venislarn. From Morag and Nina, through the curiously-tentacled Kevin, to the Waters Crew, via a Venislarn god or two, they're alternately fascinating, repulsive, terrifying and hilarious, in all their three (or more) dimensional glory.
On its own, this is a great book. As the beginning of a series, it's even more, because what gives this whole idea legs (and its got more legs than an August Handmaiden of Prein) is the loving detail with which the Venislarn world has been drawn. There's a language and a logic and a general feeling of the writers arguing amongst themselves as to whether Kaxeos would really react like that when being fed a severed finger, or how long it would take to wake The Nadirian and what would happen when you did. There's a consistency that belongs to the best of fantasy or sci-fi, coupled with the humour of a Douglas Adams or a Jasper Fforde.
And all that in Birmingham.
The Venislarn are here. They have always been here. They will destroy us and condemn us to eternal torment. All we can do is make sure things run smoothly until then.
As with the extraordinary Clovenhoof series, the joy of the world-we-don't-know is the figures who inhabit it, and here the writers have given us a host of truly memorable individuals, human, Venislarn, and (most enjoyable) part-human, part-Venislarn. From Morag and Nina, through the curiously-tentacled Kevin, to the Waters Crew, via a Venislarn god or two, they're alternately fascinating, repulsive, terrifying and hilarious, in all their three (or more) dimensional glory.
On its own, this is a great book. As the beginning of a series, it's even more, because what gives this whole idea legs (and its got more legs than an August Handmaiden of Prein) is the loving detail with which the Venislarn world has been drawn. There's a language and a logic and a general feeling of the writers arguing amongst themselves as to whether Kaxeos would really react like that when being fed a severed finger, or how long it would take to wake The Nadirian and what would happen when you did. There's a consistency that belongs to the best of fantasy or sci-fi, coupled with the humour of a Douglas Adams or a Jasper Fforde.
And all that in Birmingham.
May 11, 2025
This was fun. It was quite like the Laundry files in concept, but completely different in execution and less Lovecraftian. The characters were wonderful, I can easily live with the idea of spending another five books with them, and it’s full of witty banter, weird monsters, and then some. The fish porn was beyond weird. But don’t worry it’s no hotter than most books, just stranger, and very funny.
Here’s an unconnected photo of a fish, do read the sign.
Here’s an unconnected photo of a fish, do read the sign.
July 10, 2016
The Apocalypse, the end of the world as we know it, is coming............
It will happen this Friday.........
In Birmingham (UK)
(unless new girl Morag Murray and colleagues can prevent it)
That is the general premise in this latest comedy horror/crime novel, the first in a new series, from Clovenhoof creators Goody and Grant. There is a secret government agency whose job is keeping the general populace unaware of the threat by the other-worldly Venislarn and Morag is starting her first day with them having been transferred from the Edinburgh branch after an 'incident'
As with the Clovenhoof books (of which I am a big fan) there is a lot going on in this book - wannabe amphibian gangster chavs, telepathic curry, an upstairs neighbour with way too many cats, fish porn, Ancient Gods and that aforementioned Apocalypse (due Friday) but it 'doesn't feel like a busy book. Considering all that is happening the story is well paced and holds together really well. The Venislarn are all kinds and varieties of grotesque, Morag and her colleagues range from cute and slightly ditzy to super serious and the side characters are a comedic delight. Also, as a setting, the city of Birmingham works really well
How would I describe the style of the book? Let's just say that if Tom Holt and Robert Rankin sat down to discuss writing a book with H P Lovecraft I think they would be more than happy to come up with something half as good as this. I hope Oddjobs brings Goody and Grant the success they deserve and look forward to more in this series.
Oddjobs was an absolute delight - 10/10
It will happen this Friday.........
In Birmingham (UK)
(unless new girl Morag Murray and colleagues can prevent it)
That is the general premise in this latest comedy horror/crime novel, the first in a new series, from Clovenhoof creators Goody and Grant. There is a secret government agency whose job is keeping the general populace unaware of the threat by the other-worldly Venislarn and Morag is starting her first day with them having been transferred from the Edinburgh branch after an 'incident'
As with the Clovenhoof books (of which I am a big fan) there is a lot going on in this book - wannabe amphibian gangster chavs, telepathic curry, an upstairs neighbour with way too many cats, fish porn, Ancient Gods and that aforementioned Apocalypse (due Friday) but it 'doesn't feel like a busy book. Considering all that is happening the story is well paced and holds together really well. The Venislarn are all kinds and varieties of grotesque, Morag and her colleagues range from cute and slightly ditzy to super serious and the side characters are a comedic delight. Also, as a setting, the city of Birmingham works really well
How would I describe the style of the book? Let's just say that if Tom Holt and Robert Rankin sat down to discuss writing a book with H P Lovecraft I think they would be more than happy to come up with something half as good as this. I hope Oddjobs brings Goody and Grant the success they deserve and look forward to more in this series.
Oddjobs was an absolute delight - 10/10
December 25, 2020
RE-READ #1.
Just the kind of madcap escapism I need right now. Tentacular, Lovecraftian gods in Birmingham with a good snifter of British humour.
📚📚📚
4 ⭐.
I've been struggling to find books that I'm in the mood to read right now but this ticked the box pretty well. Plus, free kindle books can be more miss than hit, but this is a well-written book that's actually a complete story.
The humour is British, so my kind, but the kind that's delivered dry with a straight face rather than someone pelting fish at you. There were plenty of jokes that put a smile on my face and a good cast of oddball characters to carry the story.
Just the kind of madcap escapism I need right now. Tentacular, Lovecraftian gods in Birmingham with a good snifter of British humour.
📚📚📚
4 ⭐.
I've been struggling to find books that I'm in the mood to read right now but this ticked the box pretty well. Plus, free kindle books can be more miss than hit, but this is a well-written book that's actually a complete story.
The humour is British, so my kind, but the kind that's delivered dry with a straight face rather than someone pelting fish at you. There were plenty of jokes that put a smile on my face and a good cast of oddball characters to carry the story.
July 29, 2019
AUDIOBOOK
What an interesting and different book. This was not overly my cup of tea but if you enjoy sci fi and Terry Prachett novels this book will be for you. It’s clever and exciting and very different. Worth a listen if you fancy something different from the norm.
What an interesting and different book. This was not overly my cup of tea but if you enjoy sci fi and Terry Prachett novels this book will be for you. It’s clever and exciting and very different. Worth a listen if you fancy something different from the norm.
April 28, 2021
Almost anything becomes edible, but not readable, when you coat it in chocolate.
Since Douglas Adams wrote his Hitchhiker's series, many authors have been inspired by him or tried to emulate him; For me, Goody and Grant come closest. Their humour is dark, and quite funny in places. In many other places, it just...isn't. Unfortunately for the authors, I just don't like mysteries (murder or otherwise). I'd rather have an angry tasmanian devil shoved down my daks than read a Sherlock Holmes story. So really...that's what Oddjobs is...a whodunnit...ugh.
It's imaginatively divided into seven chapters or so, each labelled a day of the week. By "Wednesday", I just wanted to shove that book in the insinkerator. I persevered, since it wasn't a book; it was my Kindle. What I'm trying to say is... it started out okay, but then the plot meandered too much in the middle 60%. Too many scene-swaps. Swapping before the reader gets a chance to really grasp what happened. I found myself thinking, "Oh fuck, authors; just finish this scene off will you?" (Such violent thoughts hey.) The ending is okay, with the multiple story threads converging nicely, but the swaps between threads became more frequent (some less than a page), and so annoying that I just wished for a swift end to the whole thing. By the way, some scenes were stolen from Predator (the movie) and Ghostbusters, and the authors must have been paid by Cadbury, LOL.
Overall, good idea with some laugh-out-loud moments, but choppy writing.
Since Douglas Adams wrote his Hitchhiker's series, many authors have been inspired by him or tried to emulate him; For me, Goody and Grant come closest. Their humour is dark, and quite funny in places. In many other places, it just...isn't. Unfortunately for the authors, I just don't like mysteries (murder or otherwise). I'd rather have an angry tasmanian devil shoved down my daks than read a Sherlock Holmes story. So really...that's what Oddjobs is...a whodunnit...ugh.
It's imaginatively divided into seven chapters or so, each labelled a day of the week. By "Wednesday", I just wanted to shove that book in the insinkerator. I persevered, since it wasn't a book; it was my Kindle. What I'm trying to say is... it started out okay, but then the plot meandered too much in the middle 60%. Too many scene-swaps. Swapping before the reader gets a chance to really grasp what happened. I found myself thinking, "Oh fuck, authors; just finish this scene off will you?" (Such violent thoughts hey.) The ending is okay, with the multiple story threads converging nicely, but the swaps between threads became more frequent (some less than a page), and so annoying that I just wished for a swift end to the whole thing. By the way, some scenes were stolen from Predator (the movie) and Ghostbusters, and the authors must have been paid by Cadbury, LOL.
Overall, good idea with some laugh-out-loud moments, but choppy writing.
April 1, 2024
This was a total gamble for me - stumbling across an online advert that promised the end of the world, government agencies and a lot of black humour - what is there is resist with such a combination.
The whole premise is ludicrous that it could well be possible - and with the rather black and bleak humour it makes for a very funny ride. What is more I know Birmingham reasonably well so of course a lot of the locations AND events they refer to I know and for a few, actually experienced.
So what you have is the first book in a series (I believe there are 5 of them) which chart the impending end of the world at the hands of other dimensional gods eager to consume the world and plunge its population in to hell - or so it would seem. Having read the first book in the series I am very sure pretty much anything can happen and probably will.
The whole premise is ludicrous that it could well be possible - and with the rather black and bleak humour it makes for a very funny ride. What is more I know Birmingham reasonably well so of course a lot of the locations AND events they refer to I know and for a few, actually experienced.
So what you have is the first book in a series (I believe there are 5 of them) which chart the impending end of the world at the hands of other dimensional gods eager to consume the world and plunge its population in to hell - or so it would seem. Having read the first book in the series I am very sure pretty much anything can happen and probably will.
July 30, 2016
odd jobs by Heidi goody and Iain Grant is a funny and uplifting read.
here are beings, the venislarn. they are invading our world-wide all ready invaded our world.
Absolutely fantastic read.
I loved the story and the characters.
morag was my favourite character.
how she was made me laugh.
I loved her personality.
very enjoyable read.
this book really perked me up.
an absolute delightful read.
Can't wait for next part.
highly recommended.
Definitely worth more than 5* from me.
thanks to tbc on fb for the arc.
#tbconfb.
here are beings, the venislarn. they are invading our world-wide all ready invaded our world.
Absolutely fantastic read.
I loved the story and the characters.
morag was my favourite character.
how she was made me laugh.
I loved her personality.
very enjoyable read.
this book really perked me up.
an absolute delightful read.
Can't wait for next part.
highly recommended.
Definitely worth more than 5* from me.
thanks to tbc on fb for the arc.
#tbconfb.
December 27, 2016
just total rubbish. I am sorry nothing connected properly too difficult to follow a waste of a day
May 8, 2021
I didn’t get the humour, couldn’t get past the wtf and wondering what I’d picked up. Because the blurb only mentions Morag, I was confused when it started with Rod. Morag is one of a few stuck working at the crazy place. It’s a bit of a weird bunch. Rod, Nina, Vivian and Morag as the newbie.
This has to be one of the strangest stories I have ever read. The alien gods are ready for the apocalypse. It’s kinda hard to say whether they’re the good guys, bad guys or just trying to do their jobs. Felt sorry for Rod, as he seems to get the worst of it. Morag’s situation was predictable, although I did like Richard. The fish porn and possessed cabbies were a bit out there. Now that I know the characters and the plot, I’d give the next one a go.
This has to be one of the strangest stories I have ever read. The alien gods are ready for the apocalypse. It’s kinda hard to say whether they’re the good guys, bad guys or just trying to do their jobs. Felt sorry for Rod, as he seems to get the worst of it. Morag’s situation was predictable, although I did like Richard. The fish porn and possessed cabbies were a bit out there. Now that I know the characters and the plot, I’d give the next one a go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2022
Well if you like Rivers of London by Aaronovich, this takes place in Birmingham not London, and instead of fairly benign River Goddesses we have some rather nasty elder Gods and their children and servants. The basic premise is that the gigantic and odd Birmingham library is actually a facility for hosting an embassy and storing artifacts and hibernating offspring from the elder Ones ( who will at some point devour the earth.) There is an agency to handle this and keep it secret. So there is an investigation of a mysterious break-in and this is followed by some criminal activities ending with kidnaping, poisonings, murders and, guess what, a conspiracy. This is quite funny in a post Pratchett way (i.e. if you've had too much Pratchett like too much heavy cream in your hot chocolate.) I found it a lot bloodier and more R rated than their previous books but really enjoyable and, of course, free.
Thank You!
Thank You!
September 30, 2016
I genuinely love this book. I have read one of Heide and Iain's previous novels - Clovenhoof - which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think that was written about 5 years ago and I can confidently say the way they've matured as writers has been exceptional.
Oddjobs' pacing, humour and cleverness are excellent, while the silliness is outrageous and wonderful. Characters are well-realised and the plot is well thought out. It's Monty Python meets Sir Terry Pratchett, and I can think of no higher praise but to liken it to those two excellent staples of British comedy.
I laughed very loudly while travelling on various different types of public transport while I was reading this. It's so refreshing to read a novel that's set in Birmingham instead of London, and us proud Brummies can see our city come to life, and then be almost destroyed by monsters from beyond. Even better is that they've clearly done a LOT of research into lots of different topics, so while this is fantasy, it is very, very firmly based in fact and history. This gives it a real depth on which the silliness hangs perfectly.
Heide and Iain have, in my opinion, come up with a winning formula in this new comic fantasy series and I cannot wait for the next book to come out.
I honestly can't gush about this book enough - in fact I'm writing this approximately four and half seconds after reading the last page. That's how good it is.
So do yourselves a favour and buy it, read it. Because, you know, YOLO. (That'll make sense when you do read it.)
Oddjobs' pacing, humour and cleverness are excellent, while the silliness is outrageous and wonderful. Characters are well-realised and the plot is well thought out. It's Monty Python meets Sir Terry Pratchett, and I can think of no higher praise but to liken it to those two excellent staples of British comedy.
I laughed very loudly while travelling on various different types of public transport while I was reading this. It's so refreshing to read a novel that's set in Birmingham instead of London, and us proud Brummies can see our city come to life, and then be almost destroyed by monsters from beyond. Even better is that they've clearly done a LOT of research into lots of different topics, so while this is fantasy, it is very, very firmly based in fact and history. This gives it a real depth on which the silliness hangs perfectly.
Heide and Iain have, in my opinion, come up with a winning formula in this new comic fantasy series and I cannot wait for the next book to come out.
I honestly can't gush about this book enough - in fact I'm writing this approximately four and half seconds after reading the last page. That's how good it is.
So do yourselves a favour and buy it, read it. Because, you know, YOLO. (That'll make sense when you do read it.)
July 26, 2016
It’s the end of the world as we know it, but someone still needs to do the paperwork.
Incomprehensible horrors from beyond are going to devour our world but that’s no excuse to get all emotional about it. Morag Murray works for the secret government organisation responsible for making sure the apocalypse goes as smoothly and as quietly as possible.
In her first week on the job, Morag has to hunt down a man-eating starfish, solve a supernatural murder and, if she’s got time, prevent her own inevitable death.
Oddjobs is a sideswipe at the world of work and a fantastical adventure featuring amphibian wannabe gangstas, mad old cat ladies, ancient gods, apocalyptic scrabble, fish porn, telepathic curry and, possibly, the end of the world before the weekend.
I read this book in one sitting and far from being the boring read I thought it would be, it was hilarious. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. I want to read more books by Heide Goody and Iain Grant as soon as I can
Incomprehensible horrors from beyond are going to devour our world but that’s no excuse to get all emotional about it. Morag Murray works for the secret government organisation responsible for making sure the apocalypse goes as smoothly and as quietly as possible.
In her first week on the job, Morag has to hunt down a man-eating starfish, solve a supernatural murder and, if she’s got time, prevent her own inevitable death.
Oddjobs is a sideswipe at the world of work and a fantastical adventure featuring amphibian wannabe gangstas, mad old cat ladies, ancient gods, apocalyptic scrabble, fish porn, telepathic curry and, possibly, the end of the world before the weekend.
I read this book in one sitting and far from being the boring read I thought it would be, it was hilarious. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. I want to read more books by Heide Goody and Iain Grant as soon as I can
February 27, 2020
I very rarely laugh out loud at a book. No, really. I did at this one. Oddjobs is a brilliantly realised world of Giger-like horrors lurking in the backstreets of Birmingham, waiting for their day to consume the world. The Venislarn are ancient, alien gods against whom the human race stands no chance - the best they can hope for is to put off the apocalypse for as long as possible. And of course, someone has to do the admin. It really is hard to overstate the depth of mythology and world-building that has gone into this book. It's a bit like Warehouse-13 meets Aliens. But bigger. And funnier. And just when you think you've got a handle on the story, it twists and turns and leaves you grinning at how cleverly it's all come together. Would be a brilliant TV series (Netflix, I'm looking at you.) If you're a fan of Tom Holt, get on this, you'll love it.
August 3, 2019
Audiobook review
The end is nigh & all the mayhem that goes with it. The Venislarn are ready the humans....not so much. I laughed out loud more than once at this book.
These authors honestly need more recognition for the zany mayhem they write about. From Clovenhoof to this. How their heads must click clack with this stuff. Hilariously crazy stuff!
If you like Hitch hikers Guide & Red Dwarf this is for you.
The narrator needs a medal for the pronunciations alone. Excellent stuff all round.
The end is nigh & all the mayhem that goes with it. The Venislarn are ready the humans....not so much. I laughed out loud more than once at this book.
These authors honestly need more recognition for the zany mayhem they write about. From Clovenhoof to this. How their heads must click clack with this stuff. Hilariously crazy stuff!
If you like Hitch hikers Guide & Red Dwarf this is for you.
The narrator needs a medal for the pronunciations alone. Excellent stuff all round.
January 31, 2018
OMG
Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. I really want to read more of their books. I'm about to start Oddjob 2. Funny stuff
Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. I really want to read more of their books. I'm about to start Oddjob 2. Funny stuff
October 30, 2020
DNFed at 50%
Okay. So the beginning of the book, like the first third of it was quite fun and interesting and I was willing to let all those non humerus jokes pass by. Even the redundant and too heavy, ill mannered, foul-mouthed remarks that were piling up and too densely concentrated. Or are just way too many.
Then it all went downhill, it's just a bunch of nonsense, jibber jabber. No connection. Just sentence upon sentence of incoherent mess that is not even remotely funny or interesting.
Too much vulgar and repugnant language. Shame. Yak.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind, some indecent jock here and there. But when it is the only thing that is going on in the book. It is just way too much.
Final thought, should have DNFed earlier.
Okay. So the beginning of the book, like the first third of it was quite fun and interesting and I was willing to let all those non humerus jokes pass by. Even the redundant and too heavy, ill mannered, foul-mouthed remarks that were piling up and too densely concentrated. Or are just way too many.
Then it all went downhill, it's just a bunch of nonsense, jibber jabber. No connection. Just sentence upon sentence of incoherent mess that is not even remotely funny or interesting.
Too much vulgar and repugnant language. Shame. Yak.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind, some indecent jock here and there. But when it is the only thing that is going on in the book. It is just way too much.
Final thought, should have DNFed earlier.
July 29, 2019
This is a clever, well thought out book. The plot is unique and quirky. Having not read the book I can't begin to imagine what the language looks like written down, it was very hard on the ears! The characters are well thought out and engaging and I did feel invested in the outcome. The whole thing was completely surreal and enjoyable and although I didn't laugh out loud it was amusing.
April 15, 2021
I liked the humour and the plot and most of the characters (sorry Morag, you annoyed me) but honestly, this book felt about four billion pages long. The banter between characters, the moments that really showed they were a team (especially the sibling banter between Rod and Nina) were some of my favourite bits but again, this book felt LONG.
And I still read the next one.
And I still read the next one.
December 1, 2024
I enjoyed this overall. It took me a little while to get into the story and understand what was going on. I enjoyed the second half a lot more after I better understood what was going on. I enjoyed the Birmingham setting and enjoyed the humour, it was more amusing than laugh out loud funny but I enjoy that as it's a more serious plot. The characters are good as well
June 20, 2021
The first half of the book is disjointed and hard to read, but stick with it. The plot is worth it, and the characters eventually do start to develop toward the end of the book. Hopefully the better writing and character development from the second half will continue as the series progresses.
February 13, 2018
3.5/5 voor de verwijzingen naar Firefly en the British bake off
June 23, 2018
Some interesting ideas but had a hard time distinguishing between the characters. The humor was ...dark. Much too dark. Not funny.
February 11, 2020
This was a quirky and fun read with quite a few quotable one liners. I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook as I wouldn't have been able to imagine the pronunciation of some of the names and words. This was a very refreshing take on the end of the world.
April 16, 2020
3.5 stars
Absurd, punny sci fi comedy. Was really interesting. But my SO told me all the LOL jokes as he was reading so it didn’t have the same zing. Might be his fault. I didn’t quite get as in depth into it as I would have wished.
Looking forward to trying book 2 :)
Absurd, punny sci fi comedy. Was really interesting. But my SO told me all the LOL jokes as he was reading so it didn’t have the same zing. Might be his fault. I didn’t quite get as in depth into it as I would have wished.
Looking forward to trying book 2 :)
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