The Main Experiment

by Christopher Hodder-Williams, Robert Foster (Illustrator)

Book Club hardcover with dustjacket, 1965. Novel of supernatural events, a mad scientist, an English lord and his beautiful daughter, a love affair, a mystery and lots of local color.

Genres: Science Fiction

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Christopher Hodder-Williams was an English writer, mainly of science fiction, but he wrote novels about aviation and espionage as well. Before his career in writing, Hodder-Williams joined the army in 1944, and served in the Middle East and lived in Kenya and New York, later settling in the UK. Many of his books are early examples of what would later be called techno-thrillers. He also worked as a composer and lyricist, and wrote numerous plays for television.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe this book was "awesome" when it was written in the '60's but I doubt it. I have never finished a book which plodded along so slowly, and with characters with whom I felt so little attachment. The book was suspensful (at least enough to keep me reading) but truly unsatisfying overall. If you see this in a bargain bin, like I did...don't bother.

[MR CHRISTOPHER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable

Not the type of book I would usually go for, but very readable and very well written novel.
I am working my through Christopher's books, and while not my favourite it still kept my interest.

[Charlotte Larsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was probably pretty thrilling in the sixties...

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure this was a deadpan comedy, and in that lens it's pretty fun.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty tedious until about 75% of the way through, then I went a-ha for a short while as he explained the Big Mystery. Then the rest was disappointing. It would make a pretty good radio drama, though, and some of the descriptions of 1960s S0merset made me feel nostalgic.