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Brentford #1
The Antipope
'Outside the sun shines. Buses rumble towards Ealing Broadway and I'm expected to do battle with the powers of darkness. It all seems a little unfair...'
You could say it all started with the red-eyed tramp with the slimy fingers who put the wind up Neville, the part-time barman, something rotten. Or when Archroy's wife swapped his trusty Morris Minor for five magic beans while he was out at the rubber factory.
On the other hand, you could say it all started a lot earlier. Like 450 years ago, when Borgias walked the earth.
Pooley and Omally, stars of the Brentford Laboiur Exchange and the Flying Swan, want nothing to do with it, especially if there's a Yankee and a pint of Large in the offing. Pope Alexander VI, last of the Borgias, has other ideas...
You could say it all started with the red-eyed tramp with the slimy fingers who put the wind up Neville, the part-time barman, something rotten. Or when Archroy's wife swapped his trusty Morris Minor for five magic beans while he was out at the rubber factory.
On the other hand, you could say it all started a lot earlier. Like 450 years ago, when Borgias walked the earth.
Pooley and Omally, stars of the Brentford Laboiur Exchange and the Flying Swan, want nothing to do with it, especially if there's a Yankee and a pint of Large in the offing. Pope Alexander VI, last of the Borgias, has other ideas...
283 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Robert Rankin
53 books876 followers"When Robert Rankin embarked upon his writing career in the late 1970s, his ambition was to create an entirely new literary genre, which he named Far-Fetched Fiction. He reasoned that by doing this he could avoid competing with any other living author in any known genre and would be given his own special section in WH Smith."
(from Web Site Story)
Robert Rankin describes himself as a teller of tall tales, a fitting description, assuming that he isn't lying about it. From his early beginnings as a baby in 1949, Robert Rankin has grown into a tall man of some stature. Somewhere along the way he experimented in the writing of books, and found that he could do it rather well. Not being one to light his hide under a bushel, Mister Rankin continues to write fine novels of a humorous science-fictional nature.
(from Web Site Story)
Robert Rankin describes himself as a teller of tall tales, a fitting description, assuming that he isn't lying about it. From his early beginnings as a baby in 1949, Robert Rankin has grown into a tall man of some stature. Somewhere along the way he experimented in the writing of books, and found that he could do it rather well. Not being one to light his hide under a bushel, Mister Rankin continues to write fine novels of a humorous science-fictional nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
April 8, 2012
Ah, Rankin... you weird bastard. Up there with Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, Robert Rankin scribbles out stories from a bizarre universe set in his semi-drunk, surrealist imagination. Some of his tales are placed in quite separate realms, like the hysterical "Hollow Chocolate Bunnies Of The Apocalypse," but a good deal of them circle around Brentford, England.
This particular tale is the first book in the Brentford Series - a loose collection of stories surrounding the rogues, madmen, shysters, and others average citizens who frequent the local pub known as The Swan. We have a neurotic barkeep, a womanizing Irishman with a sentient bicycle named "Marchant," his best friend with a horrible gambling problem and too many get-rich-quick schemes, a scientific genius who runs the local tobacco shop, a martial arts master down the lane, a elderly professor who just might be immortal, and... oh, you get the idea.
The humor is very straight-faced, except for when you have the screaming and the crying. Almost Monty Python-esque in its absurdity, the plot meanders around a bit, more interested in showcasing the utter silliness of Brentford in general. Eventually the bad guy is defeated, and everyone goes back to drinking in vast quantities once more.
If you can warp your skull around the sheer nonsense presented in this book and enjoy it, you love the next few in the series. I believe I'm on the 5th one.
This particular tale is the first book in the Brentford Series - a loose collection of stories surrounding the rogues, madmen, shysters, and others average citizens who frequent the local pub known as The Swan. We have a neurotic barkeep, a womanizing Irishman with a sentient bicycle named "Marchant," his best friend with a horrible gambling problem and too many get-rich-quick schemes, a scientific genius who runs the local tobacco shop, a martial arts master down the lane, a elderly professor who just might be immortal, and... oh, you get the idea.
The humor is very straight-faced, except for when you have the screaming and the crying. Almost Monty Python-esque in its absurdity, the plot meanders around a bit, more interested in showcasing the utter silliness of Brentford in general. Eventually the bad guy is defeated, and everyone goes back to drinking in vast quantities once more.
If you can warp your skull around the sheer nonsense presented in this book and enjoy it, you love the next few in the series. I believe I'm on the 5th one.
July 28, 2014
At one point I got a little frustrated with this book. It wasn't quite what I expected. I picked this up because I was told it was similar to Good Omens (Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman) or Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently books.
It's like those, sure. Rankin's writing reminds me of Adams' beautifully constructed sentences and the (overarching) plot involves some end of the world Revelations good vs evil stuff. But more than anything else it reminded me of The News from Lake Wobegon (if Garrison Keillor had grown up in Brentford, England and had a heavy interest in eschatology). Neville at The Flying Swan is the equivalent of Wally at the Sidetrack Tap. Several of the chapters (more vignettes, really) could easily be told in a 10-20 minute monologue.
Yes, the book meanders a bit. I think it's about halfway through that the main plot gets going. Once I realized that this wasn't going to be as fast-paced as I was hoping (I also picked this up because I just finished the latest entries in both the Dresden Files and the Laundry Files and was trying to fill a snarky urban fantasy hole) and I slowed down to the pace of life with Jim Pooley, John Omally, and the other regulars in The Flying Swan I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to read more.
EDIT: Also, what is it with British humourists (I had to put the 'u' in because they're British) and their inability to write a trilogy with only three books?
It's like those, sure. Rankin's writing reminds me of Adams' beautifully constructed sentences and the (overarching) plot involves some end of the world Revelations good vs evil stuff. But more than anything else it reminded me of The News from Lake Wobegon (if Garrison Keillor had grown up in Brentford, England and had a heavy interest in eschatology). Neville at The Flying Swan is the equivalent of Wally at the Sidetrack Tap. Several of the chapters (more vignettes, really) could easily be told in a 10-20 minute monologue.
Yes, the book meanders a bit. I think it's about halfway through that the main plot gets going. Once I realized that this wasn't going to be as fast-paced as I was hoping (I also picked this up because I just finished the latest entries in both the Dresden Files and the Laundry Files and was trying to fill a snarky urban fantasy hole) and I slowed down to the pace of life with Jim Pooley, John Omally, and the other regulars in The Flying Swan I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to read more.
EDIT: Also, what is it with British humourists (I had to put the 'u' in because they're British) and their inability to write a trilogy with only three books?
July 10, 2018
This was a re-read. I had fond memories and was in the mood for something comfortable and vaguely familiar.
Rarely in this situation does anything live up to first impressions and this is no exception. Maybe I’m being unfair, I did enjoy it (again) and enough to download another of Mr Rankin’s tales. All I have read are written well enough and the humour – whilst sometimes a little strained – allows you to journey through with a fairly constant smile on your mug.
Worth the effort!
Holiday read ‘23 (it’s complicated) 😁
Rarely in this situation does anything live up to first impressions and this is no exception. Maybe I’m being unfair, I did enjoy it (again) and enough to download another of Mr Rankin’s tales. All I have read are written well enough and the humour – whilst sometimes a little strained – allows you to journey through with a fairly constant smile on your mug.
Worth the effort!
Holiday read ‘23 (it’s complicated) 😁
August 2, 2014
I read and liked a Robert Rankin book when I was a kid. For the life of me I can't remember which one it was, but that memory was enough for me to seek out this, his first book. Sadly it turns out to be a hopeless mess of a story, one that feels amateurish throughout with stilted dialogue and non-existent characters. I can only surmise that Rankin's talent would increase with the amount of books he wrote.
The storyline is centred around a centuries-dead Pope coming back to Earth and a bunch of oddball characters teaming up to fight him. Unfortunately the emphasis is on humour throughout, and none of it is remotely funny. In my book there's nothing worse than an unfunny comedy and this is the epitome of that. It's not a patch on Pratchett, for example. Another annoyance is that the dialogue is very poorly written, with characters speaking like nobody has ever spoken. I was reduced to skimming this to finish it because I ended up hating it so much.
The storyline is centred around a centuries-dead Pope coming back to Earth and a bunch of oddball characters teaming up to fight him. Unfortunately the emphasis is on humour throughout, and none of it is remotely funny. In my book there's nothing worse than an unfunny comedy and this is the epitome of that. It's not a patch on Pratchett, for example. Another annoyance is that the dialogue is very poorly written, with characters speaking like nobody has ever spoken. I was reduced to skimming this to finish it because I ended up hating it so much.
August 10, 2012
"Outside the sun shines. Buses rumble towards Ealing Broadway and I'm expected to do battle with the powers of darkness. It all seems a little unfair..."
This was my second reading of Rankin's first novel, and it only went and got bloody ten times better! Rankin kicks off his splendid career with probably his two best loved characters - Pooley & Omally (Three, if you include Neville the part-time barman!) This is an excellent tale of high adventure, intricately woven together, building to an epic climax between the forces of good, evil, and the deadly martial art of Dimac! This is a must read, and should occupy every 'To Read' list in the world :0)
This was my second reading of Rankin's first novel, and it only went and got bloody ten times better! Rankin kicks off his splendid career with probably his two best loved characters - Pooley & Omally (Three, if you include Neville the part-time barman!) This is an excellent tale of high adventure, intricately woven together, building to an epic climax between the forces of good, evil, and the deadly martial art of Dimac! This is a must read, and should occupy every 'To Read' list in the world :0)
March 13, 2012
Pope Alexander VI is back (He was real) and wants his papal throne back, and only Jim Pooley and John Omally can stop him. Robert Rankin calls his work "Far Fetched Fiction" in the hopes of gaining his own section in book stores. I say give him it, or at least space on your shelf.
Besides his Armageddon Series, and perhaps the Cornelius Murphy books I don't think I have read any of Robert Rankin's books in order, and honestly, it doesn't matter. Sure there are some events from previous books that are referred to often in a comical manner, but the events from one book do not have a huge bearing on the event in the others. Read them in order if you can, if you can't then just read them.
Besides his Armageddon Series, and perhaps the Cornelius Murphy books I don't think I have read any of Robert Rankin's books in order, and honestly, it doesn't matter. Sure there are some events from previous books that are referred to often in a comical manner, but the events from one book do not have a huge bearing on the event in the others. Read them in order if you can, if you can't then just read them.
July 25, 2011
The Antipope is the first of the 7 books which make up the Brentford Trilogy (quite) and introduces us to Pooley and Omally, the part time barman Neville, Norman the shopkeeper, the mystical Soap Distant and Professor Slocombe, master of the deadliest art of Dimac. Hilarious, original and spawn to many sequals. Brilliant!
May 23, 2011
This is maybe my fifth Rankin book, and I'm pleased to see that I needn't have worried about continuity when reading the books out of order. He's been accused of writing the same book over and over, but it's a damn good book.
November 24, 2011
The first of the Brentford trilogy and it is very good. The book focuses on each of the characters well and keeps them consistent. There are an ensemble cast of interesting and weird other characters which intrigue and beguile and in the whole is an enormously good romp. This is a re-read and I think I will work my way through the rest of the “trilogy” (at least 4 books) over the next few weeks but I am unlikely to read any of his latest works as I feel he lost his way and likes to concentrate on the persecution of the central character in almost all of his later book with very little of the intrigue and mystery that were in his earlier books.
December 9, 2011
'Outside the sun shines. Buses rumble towards Ealing Broadway and I'm expected to do battle with the powers of darkness. It all seems a little unfair ...'
The first novel in the now legendary Brentford Trilogy, in which we first encounter Pooley, O'Malley, Neville the part-time barman, the Professor and the other regulars of the Flying Swan. Comedy fantasy at its best, with added sprouty goodness!
The first novel in the now legendary Brentford Trilogy, in which we first encounter Pooley, O'Malley, Neville the part-time barman, the Professor and the other regulars of the Flying Swan. Comedy fantasy at its best, with added sprouty goodness!
July 10, 2012
Hilarious!
You can save the world if you:
a) Imbibe libation in copious amounts
b) Master an ancient and little known martial art and
c) Invest in old arcane tomes with the ultimate secret to defeating the nemesis.
Throw in some oddball characters, a sentient bicycle and the most improbable dialogue...and there you have it. A rollicking good time.
You can save the world if you:
a) Imbibe libation in copious amounts
b) Master an ancient and little known martial art and
c) Invest in old arcane tomes with the ultimate secret to defeating the nemesis.
Throw in some oddball characters, a sentient bicycle and the most improbable dialogue...and there you have it. A rollicking good time.
February 6, 2014
And back to Brentford am I. Brentford, land of might and magic, mystery and mayhem, the promised land of yore.
This book is a start (or a re-start in my case) of a great adventure with Neville the part time bartender, Jim Pooley and that Irish cad John Omally. It has epic martial art duels. Demonic beans. Demonic popes. Murder most foul. Love and fiery explosions during cowboy night.
This book is a start (or a re-start in my case) of a great adventure with Neville the part time bartender, Jim Pooley and that Irish cad John Omally. It has epic martial art duels. Demonic beans. Demonic popes. Murder most foul. Love and fiery explosions during cowboy night.
April 22, 2013
Read this a number of years ago, while I lived in Brentford. Really loved the author's quirkiness and the entire series is a must read for anyone who has lived in or near Brentford. Certainly made me change my mind about the place!
February 15, 2015
definitely not what most readers claim it is, and that led to a huge disappointment. sadly enough, this is a novel I found so dull and got so bored with that I have no desire reading the last 20 pages. so long Brentford thingy that's not even a trilogy but a massive reading ordeal.
June 16, 2013
More four and a half really. Enjoyed the story enormously, loved all the characters. Looking forward to reading the next one
October 19, 2021
Been stuck on page 147 for months. Just so boring and I had such high hopes for this book. But I’m done.
March 18, 2019
I kept pumping into this book repeatedly. After chatting with someone on Reddit, telling me to give another chance for Robert Rankin that the Brentford series is good, I picked up the book and sat down to read.
The concept of the story is great. I like the idea of the bad pope coming back with sinister plans. But the story itself was messy. I had for over a hundred pages hard to differentiate the characters from each other or even understand how everything fit together. For the first half, I thought Neville, the part-time barman would somehow be the central character as he opened the story and had a more solid narrative, but I was wrong. Farther towards the ending the book got clearer the idea came, and it was easier to follow, but my heart wasn't in it. The characters were interesting, but they never lived up to their full potential and were not given a solid narrative.
I'm not sure if I smiled or smirked once while I read this book, but I think I'm not a target demographic for the wisecracking done. I'm someone who has never hung out in pubs or bars or anywhere near alcohol. And I think that is the problem. This is the side of life I am unfamiliar and couldn't jump straight into.
All that said. There was something interesting about the way Rankin told the story. It was gritty, dark, original, and downright rude, and I'm glad I read it, but I'm not sure if I will read the second for the series.
Thank you for reading!
The concept of the story is great. I like the idea of the bad pope coming back with sinister plans. But the story itself was messy. I had for over a hundred pages hard to differentiate the characters from each other or even understand how everything fit together. For the first half, I thought Neville, the part-time barman would somehow be the central character as he opened the story and had a more solid narrative, but I was wrong. Farther towards the ending the book got clearer the idea came, and it was easier to follow, but my heart wasn't in it. The characters were interesting, but they never lived up to their full potential and were not given a solid narrative.
I'm not sure if I smiled or smirked once while I read this book, but I think I'm not a target demographic for the wisecracking done. I'm someone who has never hung out in pubs or bars or anywhere near alcohol. And I think that is the problem. This is the side of life I am unfamiliar and couldn't jump straight into.
All that said. There was something interesting about the way Rankin told the story. It was gritty, dark, original, and downright rude, and I'm glad I read it, but I'm not sure if I will read the second for the series.
Thank you for reading!
September 29, 2026
Quirky and pretty fun
June 4, 2014
Robert Rankin's writing in "The Antipope" is good in most senses. But, unfortunately, there are three aspects to it which keep me from considering the whole book to be good. First, the story meanders like a river that's trying to make its way through a swamp to the ocean. It takes fully one half of the book before Rankin gets around to letting us know what the story is about. Instead, he focuses on little bits of the lives of several people in a neighborhood. Those slices of life are nicely done and gradually coalesce into a plot, but it's slow. Second, even though the book focuses on the activities of those locals, we get very little of their motivations or inner dialog. Yes, in general, it's better to show us what's happening instead of telling us what's happening. But, it would be nice to know why and how the characters come up with the actions they're taking. And, finally, even though the book is based on supernatural happenings, Rankin gives us no set of rules that allow us to figure out what the driving characters can do. The driving Evil character just springs up from nowhere and seems to be able to do whatever he wants. The background Good character doesn't do much of anything and doesn't seem to be able to do much of anything. The driving Good character doesn't really have the power to do all that much, but what he does have, he just seems to pull out of his hat. Because of this, even though the book is a bit amusing to read, I can only rate it at an OK 3 stars out of 5.
The books in Robert Rankin's "The Brentford Trilogy" are:
1. The Antipope (The Brentford Trilogy)
2. The Brentford Triangle (The Brentford Trilogy)
3. East of Ealing (The Brentford Trilogy)
4. The Sprouts of Wrath (The Brentford Trilogy)
5. The Brentford Chainstore Massacre (The Brentford Trilogy)
6. Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls (The Brentford Trilogy)
7. Knees Up Mother Earth: Book 7 of the Brentford Trilogy
8. The Brightonomicon: Book 8 of the Brentford Trilogy
9. Retromancer: Book 9 of the Brentford Trilogy
The books in Robert Rankin's "The Brentford Trilogy" are:
1. The Antipope (The Brentford Trilogy)
2. The Brentford Triangle (The Brentford Trilogy)
3. East of Ealing (The Brentford Trilogy)
4. The Sprouts of Wrath (The Brentford Trilogy)
5. The Brentford Chainstore Massacre (The Brentford Trilogy)
6. Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls (The Brentford Trilogy)
7. Knees Up Mother Earth: Book 7 of the Brentford Trilogy
8. The Brightonomicon: Book 8 of the Brentford Trilogy
9. Retromancer: Book 9 of the Brentford Trilogy
Read
May 18, 2011Excellent. first time of reading any of Robert Rankin's and was a bit dubious to be honest as I am not over keen on Terry Pratchett and was fearful that this would be another of this genre. I have now read the first three books of the trilogy of eight books and am looking forward to all the others. Jim Pooley, John O'Malley and Professor Slocombe have become firm friends that feel like a welcoming pair of comfy slippers at the end of the day.
January 2, 2013
I had no plans to read this book, or Robert Rankin for that matter. I happened to be on vacation, having finished all the fiction on my Kindle and saw this available for free on Amazon. Turns out Robert Rankin has the an absurd and funky mind, and quite a page turned for the ridiculous sounding plot. Quite a fun read in the end.
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December 9, 2010
[Quick review from memory before I re-read and re-review at a later date]
(Again, little memory of it. Years ago I read this... Was this the first? I never start at the beginning so it seems unlikely. Perhaps one or two things gleaned from the title...)
(Again, little memory of it. Years ago I read this... Was this the first? I never start at the beginning so it seems unlikely. Perhaps one or two things gleaned from the title...)
October 29, 2014
enjoyed this book a lot , suggest u read it alone as u will get strange looks, when u start laughing, leaves a lot of unanswered questions .
like
well i'm not saying cus then u wont read it will u!
like
well i'm not saying cus then u wont read it will u!
June 1, 2008
Completely random but very funny. Good aeroplane reading - nice and easy, doesn't require too much concentration
May 18, 2011
Ha ha ha ha, that is all!
Set the pub drunks to defend the world from the forces of darkness? Rankin does the with style, aplomb and surreal humour.
Mine's a large please Neville!
Set the pub drunks to defend the world from the forces of darkness? Rankin does the with style, aplomb and surreal humour.
Mine's a large please Neville!
March 2, 2013
Second time of Reading, still Ecxellent!
April 12, 2014
The characters appear to live in purgatory based on the TV series "Last of the Summer Wine". Surprisingly, the stories are rather dull and boring, undermined by the storytelling technique.
April 11, 2015
Easy to read, filled with cute jokes,comparisons and sarcasm. The characters are great and the adventure itself was thrilling :D
December 29, 2017
Even though it has extremely funny imagery and great characters, the story starts slow and ends abruptly but I will keep reading for sure.
March 12, 2018
Strange and funny. H.P. Lovecraft writes comedy for the BBC? The town drunks have to save the world from unspeakable evil.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews