Pandemonium

by Armando Iannucci

Tell, Mighty Wit, how the highest in forethought and,
That tremendous plus, The Science,
Saw off our panic and Globed vexation
Until a drape of calmness furled around the earth
And beckoned a new and greater normal into each life
For which we give plenty gratitude and pay
Willingly for the vict'ry triumph
Merited by these wisest gods.

Pandemonium is an epic mock-heroic poem, written in response to the pandemic with all the anger and wit that Armando Iannucci brings to his vision of contemporary events. It tells the story of how Orbis Rex, Young Matt and his Circle of Friends, Queen Dido and the blind Dom'nic did battle with 'a wet and withered bat' from Wuhan.

Genres: Poetry, Humor, Comedy, Satire

80 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2021

About the author

Armando Giovanni Iannucci, OBE ( born 28 November 1963) is a Scottish comedian, satirist, writer, television director and radio producer. Born in Glasgow, he studied at Oxford University and left graduate work on a PhD about John Milton to pursue a career in comedy.
Rising quickly through BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4, his early work with Chris Morris on the radio series On the Hour was transferred to television as The Day Today. A character from this series, Alan Partridge, went on to feature in a number of Iannucci's television and radio programmes including Knowing Me, Knowing You and I'm Alan Partridge. In the meantime, Iannucci also fronted the satirical Armistice review shows and in 2001 created his most personal work, The Armando Iannucci Shows for Channel 4.[2]
Moving back to the BBC in 2005, Iannucci created the political sitcom The Thick of It as well as the spoof documentary Time Trumpet in 2006. Winning funding from the UK Film Council, he directed a critically acclaimed feature film In the Loop featuring characters from The Thick of It in 2009. As a result of these works, he has been described by The Daily Telegraph as "the hardman of political satire". Other works during this period include an operetta libretto, Skin Deep and his radio series Charm Offensive.
Iannucci's latest television project is the HBO political satire Veep. In March 2012 it was announced that he is working on his first novel, Tongue International, described as 'a satirical fantasy about a privatised language'.

Reviews

[David Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.1/10. An excellent satirical piece, but this arrived at around 11AM this morning and I had it finished by 11:20, so it would have been far better if Iannucci had developed it further

[Mickey Dubs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfair hit-piece on our glorious leader Boris. They hate to see a blonde winning!

[Caleb Barron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps it's being a couple years out (and as many clearly out of date) but this really didn't hit for me. I think Iannucci is a genius but this is the sort of thing that should have been on a personal blog or something rather than a published book. It's fine, it's a bit of an interesting exercise, kept him busy I'm sure. It's just sort of toothless, too on the nose, a little confused, a bit smug and the form doesn't really offer the story all that much in terms of satire. Shelve it as one of his lesser works.

[Graham Sillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this darkly hilarious mock epic?… Read it immediately. It is so close to the bone and is a joy from start to finish! A book I’m happy to add to my library.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“Next to Orbis stood twin magnificent angels,
Strong in wisdoms and wide in facts,
Sweetness and Light were their names
And from them shone unreflective sense and caution too”

A great way of summarising a bonkers pandemic period with lots of familiar moments, fantastic illustrations and expected comedy readings… plus a great way to confuse print book historians in 2532!

Plus honoured to be the first Goodreads review on this one! Long time fan

[John Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iannucci is the best British satirist of his generation. His writing is never glib, never misses its mark, always relevant and always more insightful than the anodyne BBC HIGNFY borefests. I just wish it was longer - and also put into full play production. It's a worthy little read.

[Simon Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published this month, this is Iannucci’s parody of an epic poem telling the story of the UK Government’s response to the covid-19 pandemic. It is brief, and yet by turns silly, quotable, depressing and very funny. Andy Riley’s illustrations are quite brilliant, fitting the tone and content of the book while also adding their own dimension.

However, I think the fact that every day at work Is still dominated by the pandemic means that I don’t have the psychological distance from recent events to enjoy this to the full.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to this being performed by Armando himself to fulfil it potential.

[Agnes Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly amusing in parts. I liked the illustrations.

[Joel Sodzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this on the day of the confidence vote in Boris Johnson while sitting on the beach and drinking beer with friends is an experience I will treasure for a long time. This is a brilliant, witty novella written in verse that is a fantastic satire of one of the worst periods in living memory. Iannucci is a master of dry cynicism and that shines here. It’s the kind of book you can read in about an hour but you can go back to over and over to appreciate the brilliant use of meter and the hilarious ways the Johnson cabinet is mocked in the style of an epic poem. Accompanying illustrations that add to the absurdity make it a delight to read. Definitely recommend, a very quick read but it’s one that I’m likely to return to.

[Rodneyreadspages · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Pandemonium' gauges legitimising itself as a historical artefact, crookedly surviving its own will to lambast the UK's Covid-19 crisis under Tory government. The book acknowledges its topical sensitivity - Iannucci's motif cleverly disguises his aims, commanding an audience's maturity. He lends uplifting delivery to his poem, either side of documenting the pandemic's negative impacts upon British society; abstract illustrations decorate alongside. The book is tonally a distance from such unhinged commentary that is found across other media outlets (à la early works - see 'On the Hour', 'The Day Today' etc.), whilst Iannucci displays his clout for traditional satire.

3.5/5 (** Goodreads must introduce fractional star ratings!! **)

[Kash Renton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished this mediocre block of gibberish in one sitting. This book isn't necessarily boring, but that's because it falls under seventy pages and the satisfaction of finishing a short chapter keeps you engaged.

I am not into politics, and I was too engrossed in the TikTok alt scene to have any idea what was going on during the pandemic, but Boris Johnson (or as he is crudely named here, Orbis Rex) could have done nothing so bad as to have a whole seventy pages dedicated to attacking him.

And this attack consists of puny punches. It just makes Iannucci look dumb. It's not cool to be a hater.

Read it if it's free somewhere I guess, it's satisfying to finish a book.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about the mock heroic. More Pope than Milton, and an amusing diversion into the poetic, it is good entertainment but re-treads a story that is already too familiar. It excels in imagery and a fantastical imagination. The counterpoint of a dark serious tone agains the comedy works well too.

[Odd Ball · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. A witty look at the pandemic, in verse form. It's a short book, easily digestible in an hour or less. Its biggest problem is that it's arrived while the pandemic is still consuming us, so feels a bit unresolved. Maybe he'll write a follow up in 2022.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a joke Christmas present, this was surprisingly enjoyable. It was genuinely funny (which I wasn't sure it would be, as some of these kinds of things can be more contrived and annoying than amusing). It had some great lines and imagery, and the illustrations enhanced that.

[Gabz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but magnificent piece of work. I have long loved Iannucci's The Thick of it, so I grabbed this on its account. I was pleasantly surprised by the writing, including the occasional deep segment closer to real poetry. Overall, it's very enjoyable and highly recommended.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of 2020 through epic verse, with biting satire and a powerful message: if you believe something to be true, in spite of empirical evidence, then it is true. Cameos from Hancock, Harding and Cummings, but mostly about Johnson.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mock-heroic poem written about Boris Johnson's incompetent handling of the Covid pandemic. Captures the language and cadences of the press conferences perfectly. Makes you remember so many of the pathetic details of the past 2 years, that it just made me sad that we are still ruled by this mob.

[Jonathan Paxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Iannucci's best work, this is incredibly witty and clever but also withering and heartbreaking at the same time.

[Daniel Tebb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satirical look at the Covid pandemic in the style of an epic poem. Great characters. I was lucky enough to hear excerpts read by the author which added to my enjoyment.

[Maisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a clever and funny way of memorialising the pandemic. Armando Iannucci has a genius mind.

[DaN McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrifying and wonderful in equal measure. I didn’t think I’d bother reading it all. Assumed the joke would fall flat fairly soon and the conceit tire. It didn’t.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-executed version of the novelty gift book genre. Johnson himself has published at least one book in the same format, so it's good to see him getting skewered here by a better writer.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read. Enjoyed reading this out loud with the flow of the words, even if my voice didn't enjoy it (due to a respiratory ailment)

[Michael Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

At once brutal and heartfelt. A darkly comic wander through the whole sorry tale of all our lives that gives space to suffering and pain, whilst lancing the policies that swayed us.

[Debra Ramage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Jakub Dovcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious take on the first stages of Covid in the UK through an epic poem. I chuckled frequently.

Got to it through a play this has been adapted to and that one is even better.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and funny, as expected.

[Jack Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what was needed: a super quick satirical reminder (sometimes laugh out loud) of the Boris & chums sideline of nonsense suffered during covid. Thankfully it's a distant memory!

[Christopher Vowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diverting pandemic summary in verse.