Web Site Story

by Robert Rankin

They wrote it off as a scare story. The Millennium Bug, the non-event of the twentieth century. But they were wrong, because the Bug was real. Is real. It's a computer virus and it's about to make the deadly species crossover from machine to mankind. The Black Death was spread by rats. But this plague will be spread by a mouse. The computer mouse. And do you know how many different kinds of computer viruses there are? And just what they do? And just what they might do to you if you become infected? No? Then read this book and learn the terrible truth.
Or perhaps you'd rather take a holiady in Brentfordland? Formerly known as Brentford, this Thamesside Shrangri-La is now London's first-ever suburban theme park and holiday village. A world of excitment, relaxation and fabulous fun, waiting for you. To find out more, log on the Brentfordland web site. Just give your computer mouse a wiggle.
Go on.
What harm can it do?

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Comedy, Science Fiction, Comic Fantasy, British Literature

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

"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.

Reviews

[Grim Tidings · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first Robert Rankin. A bit of a disappointment. Authors in this genre of fantastical comedy have generally written works that age well but Rankin hasn't - even at the time it was written I'm sure the chauvinism was a little outdated. It feels like most jokes in the book come at women's' expense. Constant references to bum pats, ogling breasts, and the protagonist Kelly being treated like a slab of meat. This last point in particular got boring quick. I think Rankin may have been doing something that rhymes with his surname while he was writing her...

It is a book for blokes basically, which I wish I'd known before buying it. If the chauvinism doesn't bother you then the comedy is pretty decent. It was a bit too zany for me at the beginning (like Big Bob speaking in Old Testament - cringeworthy) but Rankin clearly has funny bones and it comes across. His prose basically reads like the unedited work of your dad who decided to give writing a go, funny at times and totally missing the beat at others. When it hits though, it's good. I should think there is a big drift between Rankin's best and worst works. Where this one sits I don't know.

The story is interesting. Unlike some comedy books the plot stands up by itself as the mystery unravels. Rankin's prediction of life in 2022 reads like some Star Trek inspired porn film, all spandex suits, massive heels and the like. That said the themes on technology, microchips, gaming etc. are cool. I sort of liked the ending, though I was totally fed up of the book by then and its nuances were lost on me.

Overall, I wish I hadn't read this, but I am not the target demographic. I can see the appeal of it for those who are. A bit of fun

[Chris Amies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apart from destroying the universe yet again, this is the one in which Robert Rankin basically invents the Toki Pona language. Separately. Toki Pona is a conlang (constructed language) devised by Sonja Lang in 2001, which contains 120 or so words and is supposed to aid in positive and peaceful thought. And in the same year RR publishes this:

"Runese. The Universal Tongue. This was a language invented by Hugo Rune, in one of his
many (and sadly abortive) attempts to bring about world peace.
Runese was, as might be said, and kindly said too, a 'basic language'. Consisting, as it did,
of just forty words. But, as Rune had explained to those who were prepared to listen, 'No man
needs any more than forty words to express an opinion, as long as he keeps it simple.' And, 'If a
language consists of only nice words, then those who speak it are unlikely to say anything nasty,
are they?"

Maybe Rankin knew about Sonja Lang's project. Maybe it's just coincidence. I really don't know.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read somewhere that this was Robert Rankin's least favourite of his own work and yet of the small amount of his work I have read so far I found this the most enjoyable and accessible.
The absurdity found in others is still present and correct but personally I found the plotting much better in this one making it more of a AI tale much relevant to today.
Yes it has the running gags , the sprout references and general bizarre characterisation but this also felt like a complete tale with beginning middle and end.
That isn't to say I haven't enjoy the previous books just that sometimes the flights of nonsense within have for me hampered the read a tad

[Jon Clynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having recently read Mr Rankin's autobiography, where he describes this book as his least favourite, I was apprehensive when I launched into it. He was in a particularly bad place (obviously not Brentford!) when he wrote it and I think this shows in certain aspects of the story. However, I enjoyed it and though I missed John, Jim and many of the other usual suspects, the story held enough of Mr Rankin's mind-bending plot twists, bizarre characters and completely surreal dialogue (as well as his trademark running gags) to keep me hooked to the end. Good stuff.

[Rose Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Robert Rankin is a real blast from the past - I remember reading Snuff Fiction in secondary school and absolutely loving it (hmmm, might be time for another reread???).

As you'd expect, this is surreal, dark, and has more running jokes and fourth-wall-breaking than you can shake a stout stick at. I zipped through it in a single evening and, while it's no Snuff Fiction, I had a good time. Plus that ending guarantees I'll be rereading it, so, well played.

PS: Big Bob is the real MVP

[Rokkan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5

Daft as a brush, as ever. The bits from previous books returned in all their usually glory; the plot was utterly ridiculous but the general humour still hit as expected. None of the characters seemed particularly sympathetic and the ending was more than a little bit strained; may return to the original Brentford series but it's unlikely that I'll be re-reading this one any time soon.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really didn't know what was going on with this book... I still don't, not really.

The writing was light and fun and I did enjoy that, but it just lacked a good narrative and kinda just felt like someone trying to make a story funny, with some effect. There was, however, less effect in actually making the story.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Rankin book. This felt like the 15th in a series of books, and maybe there were a few too many in-jokes that went over my head. I enjoy the British sci-fi comedy genre, but it is hard to not just go read Hitchhiker's again.

[Calum Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Brentford fayre

Rankin's usual style and prose gets another tour around everyone's favourite borough, after all, it is a tradition or old charter or something.

Not a stone cold classic, but entertaining all the way through.

[Sean Keefe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Endearingly daft, this is great fun. A good Rankin rather than a great one, but I’d still recommend ok Rankin to anybody.

[Sean Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

With enough charm to keep me enjoying it but not much else, this made me chuckle a little in spots, but didn't really work on any other level. Fun, whimsical and weird.

[Andy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing special…But also…Weird, that's all I can really say about it.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tim Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Legend has it that this is Rankin's least favorite of his books. If that's true, it's probably understandable. This is very weak Rankin. It's still readable and it occasionally has that Rankin feel, but it's just not up to snuff and even the running gags feel like they've run on too long. Maybe I'm just missing Pooley & O'Malley & company. None of the characters in this work, or the last couple by Rankin, seem to be particularly interesting to me.

This is set in a future where the debugging of the Y2K bug was a ruse that allowed the insertion of computer chips that have now gained sentience and are playing with humans. And now strange things are afoot in Brentford as people are disappearing, Brentford is in danger of being turned into a large tourist attraction, and the teachings of Hugo Rune are in danger.

All in all it's okay. But it's weak enough that I'm going to take a break from Rankin again for a while and see if I can recharge my batteries.

[Dave Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of Mr Rankin's books are better than others. This was a good one. I was going to say "The Matrix in Brentford", but one of the previous reviewers has already said that. The running gags are funny and don't outstay their welcome; not to mention the plot twists.

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read any Rankin, and this 2001 book is pretty typical of his work in many ways. It has an evil force threatening Brentford, conspiracy theories, a dorky guy hooking up with an attractive woman, a lot of running gags, and a convoluted ending where it's not entirely clear what's actually true. The plot plays on Y2K hysteria, positing that the debugging was a front for installing sentient computer chips that cause the machines to play games with humanity. A few familiar Brentonians, including Old Pete and Rastafarian used-car dealer Leo Felix, make appearances. And while Hugo Rune is apparently no longer alive in this vision of the future, his absurd ideas about language and footwear have been adopted by much of society. There are a fair number of inside jokes, like how the Brentford Poets who play a role in the story were apparently founded in real life by Rankin himself, but it's funny even if you don't get all of them. I think I've read most of Rankin's output by now, and I know some of his others are available as eBooks. Some of his most recent works, however, look to only be sold through mail order, and I can't really justify the shipping charges from England. Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on them someday, as they sound funny.

[Nen Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good Mr Rankin kindly gave away a kindle version of this for free, in celebration of his 65th birthday. I couldn't remember whether I had already read it, and it wasn't until about 1/4 of the way through that I realised I had - there is something about his books that seem to mess with your memory. In short, a very fine example of far-fetched fiction. A must for fans. For newcomers, I would recommend starting with The Anti-pope, as there are quite a lot of in-jokes, and references to previous books in this one. They do not spoil the story, but I think you will find it funnier if you know what they mean.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fun fun! Rankin's very British humor and absurd situations are at their best. As far as the story.... you think Inception made it hard to know what level you were on? Nothing compared to Go Mango. You don't even know if you are living or are simply a simulation in a computer game. But the One who rules them all has made a mistake when it decided to mess with Brentford. You can rule neither Brentford, nor Ellie, the super-smart silver-haired Fantasy Female with three degrees, 12th Dan Master of the deadly art of Dimac, an expert in most fields of computer technology, and a top-notch video game player. Add in Big Bob and thou hast thyself a Jolly Buggaroo!

[Graham Tapper]

Welcome to the surreal world of Robert Rankin. Once again the setting is that outpost of "normality" in London, Brentford. But things are far from normal. People are disappearing before our very eyes. Why and where have they gone and what has the mega computer corporation, Mute Corp, got, if anything, to do with it. Will Golden Girl, Kelly Ann Sirjan uncover the truth before she too succumbs to its devious plans to turn Brentford into a theme park?



Once again, Rankin at his very best.

[Sephie · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to the Daily Express; 'Everybody should read at least one Robert Rankin in their life'. So I can now tick that box.
Another tale of the citizens of Rankin's bizarre version of Brentford, this time affected by a computer virus.
Reading like a cross between Lewis Carroll and Terry Pratchett, I can understand why some people get enthusiastic about this genre. I will read another, but not the whole series.

[Dave Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy of my Launchpad review from 2001:
I have been to Brentford and this is not it; but then I am a reality deviant.
Imagine the Matrix set in a London suburb.
Now imagine it was written by a person who loathes computers.
Now imagine it is so funny you cannot stop laughing long enough to realise how accurate it is.
I have only one more thing to say about this book; it deserves to be on a plinth.

[Cubik10 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 than a 3. I hadn't read any of Mr.Rankin's books for at least a couple of years and I didn't enjoy this one as much as many of those read previously. I don't know if this is down to this particular book or just a change in my tastes. It's not awful by any means but at the same time it never left me desperate to turn the next page.

[Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Web Site Story is packed with word-play, puns and funny one-liners. Unfortunately all this hilarity gets the overhand of the story, which seems to be second in line to humor. I like a good laugh and I certainly got several (in public) reading this book, but I would like a little more story-line to keep me interested as well.

[Jyv · Rating 2 out of 5]

The over-flowery language just annoyed me.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say: Robert Rankins often surreal sense of humour takes some getting used to!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another surrealist joyride with Robert Rankin. Packed full of dark humour only ever witnessed within the confines of Brentford. Excruciatingly hard to put down.

[Jakub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Illuminating. Depressing as fucking hell.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Rankin book. Maybe I need more time with him. But while this book was a fun read in many ways, it was really just average in terms of build up, story person, character development, climax... You know, all the pieces of the typical story arc.

As a game designer, I appreciate the sentiment involved, but most of the execution felt a little flat for me.

I'm also a little sick of books with an overly chauvinistic bent, even if it was meant to be humorous.