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The Sid Tillsley Chronicles #1
The Great Right Hope
"Even the best vampires need a good smack..."
In north-east England, a monster has arisen. A vampire beast is stalking the Yorkshire moors, mutilating and destroying everything in its path. The vampire elders realise that the Firmamentum has cast its shadow on the world once more-a phenomenon which happens every few millennia, where a human and a vampire are born ultimately powerful and destined to oppose each other...
Sid Tillsley is a forty-six year old benefit-fraudster from Middlesbrough. He's an overweight alcoholic, and also sexist, homophobic and a lazy git. But one thing sets him apart from his northern brethren; he can kill vampires with a single punch.
Now, as you can imagine, killing a vampire with a big haymaker is pretty amazing. After all, they are big hard bastards who can regenerate and stuff, and if anyone could kill them, Dracula would never have lived up to his tough-guy persona. So, when Sid inadvertently kills a vampire, the whole vampire world is thrown into a state of shock. Suddenly, and very reluctantly, Sid finds himself the centre of human and vampire attention. Some want to kill him, but others believe him to be the Bellator; the one to fight the vampire beast.
That's all well and good, but Sid just wants to get pissed down the pub with his mates, and, maybe, just maybe, end his two year drought with the ladies. Besides, Sid has more important things to worry about. The benefit office are on to him, and, if they see him scrapping, they'll know that his bad back and dodgy heart are all a load of bollocks!
Forget "Twilight", "The Great Right Hope" is the vampire release for 2009!
In north-east England, a monster has arisen. A vampire beast is stalking the Yorkshire moors, mutilating and destroying everything in its path. The vampire elders realise that the Firmamentum has cast its shadow on the world once more-a phenomenon which happens every few millennia, where a human and a vampire are born ultimately powerful and destined to oppose each other...
Sid Tillsley is a forty-six year old benefit-fraudster from Middlesbrough. He's an overweight alcoholic, and also sexist, homophobic and a lazy git. But one thing sets him apart from his northern brethren; he can kill vampires with a single punch.
Now, as you can imagine, killing a vampire with a big haymaker is pretty amazing. After all, they are big hard bastards who can regenerate and stuff, and if anyone could kill them, Dracula would never have lived up to his tough-guy persona. So, when Sid inadvertently kills a vampire, the whole vampire world is thrown into a state of shock. Suddenly, and very reluctantly, Sid finds himself the centre of human and vampire attention. Some want to kill him, but others believe him to be the Bellator; the one to fight the vampire beast.
That's all well and good, but Sid just wants to get pissed down the pub with his mates, and, maybe, just maybe, end his two year drought with the ladies. Besides, Sid has more important things to worry about. The benefit office are on to him, and, if they see him scrapping, they'll know that his bad back and dodgy heart are all a load of bollocks!
Forget "Twilight", "The Great Right Hope" is the vampire release for 2009!
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2014
27 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Mark Jackman
10 books13 followersaka M.J. Jackman
The Sid Tillsley Chronicles were originally written under the pen name Mark Jackman, but in 2014 the Chronicles were revised and released under the pen name M.J. Jackman
The Sid Tillsley Chronicles were originally written under the pen name Mark Jackman, but in 2014 the Chronicles were revised and released under the pen name M.J. Jackman
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 21, 2018
Flipping mental!
This book is truly flipping mental! If you want to know what northerners are really like then this is the book for you, though I've yet to meet a vampire so that bit might be fictional.
This book is truly flipping mental! If you want to know what northerners are really like then this is the book for you, though I've yet to meet a vampire so that bit might be fictional.
March 5, 2018
Sid the buffy slayer
I know there is an oversupply of homophobic, drunken vampire killer -novels but this is definitely the best in it's class.
I know there is an oversupply of homophobic, drunken vampire killer -novels but this is definitely the best in it's class.
June 17, 2020
Hilarious - not recommended for Twilight fans.
February 22, 2013
This sounded like it would be totally awesome, like Shaun of the Dead, so much so, that I actually bought this off Amazon when I didn't win a copy. Although Sid and his mates are great character studies, very funny with good insights into the area and people, the vampire part was so stilted and awful that I had to quit reading the book, and I am totally good with the combination of hard-boiled manly dudes and fantasy, being a big Harry Dresden fan. I give it two stars instead of one because the characterization of Northern England and its natives was really compelling, just not enough to make me endure the rest. would be better if the author peeled off the fantasy and did the whole novel without it.
May 4, 2018
Keep Sid and dump the vampires
Sid Tillsley is a wonderful character and if the story had been purely about him and his battles with the benefits agency then I would have awarded it four or even five stars.
The vampire factor was a distraction and weakened the overall story. I would love to read about Sid's further adventures but please cut out the vampire crap.
Sid Tillsley is a wonderful character and if the story had been purely about him and his battles with the benefits agency then I would have awarded it four or even five stars.
The vampire factor was a distraction and weakened the overall story. I would love to read about Sid's further adventures but please cut out the vampire crap.
September 3, 2017
Stunning first instalment in the epic Sid Tillsley Chronicles Trilogy. From the outset its obvious this is fresh stuff: there is no one in literature quite like Sid and his compadres. In a superficial way this is reminiscent of Robert Rankin's seminal Brentford Trilogy (a bunch of mates meet down the pub, drink quality ale and head off on adventures) but Jackman is to Rankin what Hendrix was to Bo Diddley - Sid 'jacks this car and with pints of Bolton's in both hands, wheel between his knees and stereo pumping is doing 90 through the housing estate whilst Rankin's mob are still fiddling with his keys trying to find the ignition. So to speak. Unless you are of faint heart and limited imagination (I mean you, Dan Brown lover) then this comes highly recommended.
October 25, 2017
An unexpected delight. I love a good comedy but was put off by the vampire plot. Thank goodness I decided to give it a try. Best pound I've ever spent on Amazon. I'm from the north east of England myself and I swear that all the characters really do exist. Warning: if you are easily offended by politically incorrect observations and characters, then you should not read this. If on the other hand you are a normal human being, then buy this and you will kill yourself laughing.
Just a final observation. The narrative gets better and better as it goes on. I laughed twice as much in the last half of the book.
Thank you Mark Jackman, I`d love to meet you next time I`m in Newcastle.
Just a final observation. The narrative gets better and better as it goes on. I laughed twice as much in the last half of the book.
Thank you Mark Jackman, I`d love to meet you next time I`m in Newcastle.
January 4, 2018
The reading equivalent of 4 or 5 pints of pokey ale. Don't drag it out, best done in a quick hit which will leave you groaning and giggling. Sid is entertaining at the pub but you wouldn't want him anywhere near you in real life. But I'm definitely up for more. Not every day, perhaps not even every month, but, yeah, I'm up for more. Off to watch some TED talks on YouTube for a bit...
November 20, 2018
Well worth a read for the humour
This book twists the recent infatuation with vampires on its head and delivers a man of the people hero which any reader will feel like they know personally. I read this whilst on board ship and loved it, the other two in the trilogy are ordered and looking forward to more.
This book twists the recent infatuation with vampires on its head and delivers a man of the people hero which any reader will feel like they know personally. I read this whilst on board ship and loved it, the other two in the trilogy are ordered and looking forward to more.
January 24, 2011
Won this through the Goodreads Giveaways.
Well, what can I say about Sid Tillsley? He is a lazy, benefit scrouging, homophobic, alcoholic who I know I should hate but for some strange bizarre reason I found him hysterical and strangely (and I mean strangely) charming, in his own unique Sid way. He is THE definition of an anti-hero, all he cares about is his drink, his pub, his mates and making sure his benefits keep coming. So while the vampire and human councils are in a panic about the monster that is stalking the Moors and killing anything with a pulse, Sid is happily sipping his pint of Bolton Bitter, smoking one of his manys tabs whiling away the hours until a couple of vampires jump him in a deserted car park. As he thumps one, he explodes into dust, the other flees and so Sid is chucked into a world he doesn't know, nor does he care about, much to the disgust of vampires, vampire hunters and humans alike.
Jackman has written the antidote for the now stagnant vampire genre that was becoming trapped by its own success. This book is packed with dark and crude humour that slaps you in the face and has absolutely no idea what subtlety means, nor does it really care. Some of the humour is a little over-the-top and not everyone will enjoy the cruder moments but none of it is out of place or mis-timed as Sid battles with his demons, vampires and the benefit office. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second installment of Sid Tillsley!
Well, what can I say about Sid Tillsley? He is a lazy, benefit scrouging, homophobic, alcoholic who I know I should hate but for some strange bizarre reason I found him hysterical and strangely (and I mean strangely) charming, in his own unique Sid way. He is THE definition of an anti-hero, all he cares about is his drink, his pub, his mates and making sure his benefits keep coming. So while the vampire and human councils are in a panic about the monster that is stalking the Moors and killing anything with a pulse, Sid is happily sipping his pint of Bolton Bitter, smoking one of his manys tabs whiling away the hours until a couple of vampires jump him in a deserted car park. As he thumps one, he explodes into dust, the other flees and so Sid is chucked into a world he doesn't know, nor does he care about, much to the disgust of vampires, vampire hunters and humans alike.
Jackman has written the antidote for the now stagnant vampire genre that was becoming trapped by its own success. This book is packed with dark and crude humour that slaps you in the face and has absolutely no idea what subtlety means, nor does it really care. Some of the humour is a little over-the-top and not everyone will enjoy the cruder moments but none of it is out of place or mis-timed as Sid battles with his demons, vampires and the benefit office. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second installment of Sid Tillsley!
February 4, 2011
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads
This book was about Sid Tillsley, who could kill a vampire with one punch. Despite attempts by both vampires and humans alike to recruit Sid for their cause all Sid is interested in is getting drunk at his local pub.
I have to say when I first started reading this book I hated it, however, after the first few pages it became really good and I really enjoyed reading it: I could not put it down.
This book was about Sid Tillsley, who could kill a vampire with one punch. Despite attempts by both vampires and humans alike to recruit Sid for their cause all Sid is interested in is getting drunk at his local pub.
I have to say when I first started reading this book I hated it, however, after the first few pages it became really good and I really enjoyed reading it: I could not put it down.
March 3, 2011
A Local Book for Local People?
As an American living in the area where the book is set I was looking forward to this book and it was funny. Sadly I am sure I probably missed some of the best jokes by not being born and raised here. Still I am looking forward to reading the next one I can't wait to see if vampires claim Child Benefit and how Sid will earn his next case of tabs.
As an American living in the area where the book is set I was looking forward to this book and it was funny. Sadly I am sure I probably missed some of the best jokes by not being born and raised here. Still I am looking forward to reading the next one I can't wait to see if vampires claim Child Benefit and how Sid will earn his next case of tabs.
September 28, 2016
I am not usually keen on vampires books but I heard this was funny and I gave it a try. It is a great read! Fast paced and with some pretty funny moments which makes it super easy to read. I learnt to love and hate the main character, Sid. I particularly loved the difference in the style between the well educated and classy vampires talk and the rough accent of the northerns! 5 stars!
Want to read
December 20, 2010I just won this book on Goodreads giveaways! this book looks quite humorous and i cant wait for it to arrive!
February 14, 2011
Cracking laugh-a-minute book
May 3, 2013
My favourite book ever. Laugh out loud funny
April 23, 2017
Howay!
Absabollockinglutely fantastic! A must read, you will not be disappointed. A real comical story with some excellent characters and vivid, some may say too vivid, descriptions.
Absabollockinglutely fantastic! A must read, you will not be disappointed. A real comical story with some excellent characters and vivid, some may say too vivid, descriptions.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews