For Two Nights Only: Omnibus 4 - Overtime and Grailblazers

Tom Holt Omnibus #4

by Tom Holt

Two of Tom Holt's best-loved tales are brought together in this omnibus edition. In Overtime, it all started for Guy Goodlet somewhere over Caen. One moment he was heading for the relative safety of the coast, aware that fuel was low and that the Mosquito had more than a few bullet holes in it. The next, his co-pilot was asking to be dropped off. This would have been odd if Peter had still been alive. Since he was dead, it was downright worrying. In Grailblazers, 1,500 years have passed and the Grail is still missing, presumed ineffable; the Knights have dumped the Quest and now deliver pizzas; the sinister financial services industry of the lost kingdom of Atlantis threatens the universe with fiscal Armageddon; while in the background lurks the dark, brooding, red-caped presence of Father Christmas.

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Comedy, Fiction

690 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2004

About the author

Tom Holt (Thomas Charles Louis Holt) is a British novelist.
He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
Holt's works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of "straight" historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker.

Reviews

[Deb]

I'll probably go back and finish this, but I'm not in the mood at the moment. There are two novels in this volume -- I read the first Overtime was was entertained, but I stopped before starting the second.

[Kate Millin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved both of the books - and am blown away by the off the wall links he makes in the books which make sense in a wacky kind of way. Overtime is about time travel including the search for King Richard the Lionheart and Grailblazers looking for the grail

[Tove · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of references and tangents went over my head in this one, even though I liked the chaotic "never let the reader know your next move"-energy these stories had.

Both stories were good, but this book may not be as fun of a read for the easily distracted (like me) or for the person struggling to remember briefly mentioned details and so on. The flipping between POVs/parallell storylines confused me a lot and I struggled a lot to keep up with the pace of the flips and all the different characters...

Good book over all but I don't think Tom Holt's style of writing is for me, sadly. Might give it another go some other day for a silly, good time tho!

[Boulder Boulderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Holt's later work, particularly under the K J Parker persona, but these early comic novels are only ok, to be honest. I think the way that they've been package - in a "theme" of two similar ones together - is a real own-goal also, as it makes them feel same-y and unoriginal. Worth reading if you've nothing better but would not highly recommend.

[Rachel Havrilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two quirky tales hidden on my bookshelf. If you are a fan of Douglas Adams but lack the time to read him highly recommend checking these stories out.

[Rpaul Tho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reads as always. Overtime was by far my favourite of the two.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not appreciate "Overtime." The humor was certainly there, but I am not a student of Medieval history, and the legend of Blondel was a complete unknown to me. As a character he was tolerable enough, but not particularly interesting. His sidekick, a classic "permanently confused disinterested bystander" of the "Arthur Dent" genus was simply annoying. Unable to emotionally connect with any of the characters, and finding the plot circuitous at best, I had a lot of trouble wanting to finish the book - although I eventually did. Two stars for this story.

"Grailblazers" is considerably better, IMHO. Somehow tying together everything from Atlantis to Santa Claus in with the (not very interesting) grail, it did so in a consistently humorous manner. The main characters, especially Bedevere, Boamund, and Toenail, were actually endearing at some level. Nothing in the least profound about it, but enjoyable from start to finish. Three stars for Grailblazers.

[Richard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overtime: Tedious, ridiculous, trying very hard to be funny through a sort of slapstick humour. Throws in references to classical events, works and legends, but that doesn't make it amusing. The first joke I actually laughed at (a single 'Ha') was on the last page.
I couldn't bear to start the second novel, so left it in a holiday villa in Cyprus, never to darken my bookshelf again. That's a month of bathtimes I'll never get back.

[Jim Sewastynowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed a some lighter after reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" and this was just totally fit the bill. The only downside was I chose to read it on the train on my way to work. Laughing out loud when you're by yourself makes people look at you like you're crazy. A small price to pay for such an enjoyable read.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred Grailblazers to Overtime, but both good holiday reads