Knees Up Mother Earth

Brentford #7

by Robert Rankin

Developers are planning to destroy Brentford's beloved football grounds. Something must be done, and the lads of The Flying Swan, Brentford’s celebrated drinking house, take up the challenge. Norman has recently discovered a Victorian computer that holds the secrets of the super-technology of a bygone age, and Archroy, Brentford’s lone explorer, has just returned from his seventh voyage, bringing with him the fabled Golden Fleece. Surely, with these stalwarts working for the cause, the field is as good as saved. But this is Brentford, and the ancient forces of evil—Old Testament horrors, beasties from the bottomless pit, that sort of evil—are stirring.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Comedy, Science Fiction, Comic Fantasy, Novels

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

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

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 3 out of 5]

A farcical underdog sporting novel with time travellers, demons and assorted mystical fantasy elements. Have you ever read such a beast? I just finished Knees Up Mother Earth, and whilst I appreciated the craft of the author and the novelty of the concept, including footnoting which I've never seen in a work of fiction before, this book did not really do it for me.

Of the main characters, Jim the gambler and Neville the barmen were sympathetic, caught as they were in circumstances way beyond their imaginations, and way beyond their control.There were times of suspense, and once the basic complication was established by the author, Rankin, there was no question of me being anything other than seriously intent on finding out how it would ultimately be resolved.

At times the narrative drifted and my interest waned but never for too long. I only ever smiled at the ubiquitous one liners and slapstick action, and at times I was irritated by the repetition of words and phrases even though I knew it was deliberately designed for comedic effect. It was a fun read reminiscent of Craske's 'Above His Station' which I liked better.

A very offbeat and probably funny story with an unlikely yet appealing premise. Not a serious read, but a little bit of fun for everyone.

[Joseph Teller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine book, 7th in the Brentford Trilogy. Hard to explain, but in the simplest of terms:

A Great and Ancient Evil lurks beneath the turf of the Brentford football pitch... and someone wants to let it out. But before they can they must face the lads of Brentford on and off the field in battle.

This tale borders on the epic, and features most of the cast of the other books in the trilogy plus some of the stars of the books that are fictional in the universe of the trilogy. An apocalypse brings out the best of the reluctant heroes of Brentford against unspeakable darkness and tentacle waving horror.

If it sounds interesting, read the rest of the series first, or many of the references may confuse the unprepared.

[John Defrog: global citizen, local gadfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in Rankin's Brentford Trilogy, as well as the second book of his Witches Of Chiswick Trilogy. Like all of Rankin’s books, it’s good silly fun, though for once the title seems quite forced. But is that really any good reason to criticize a book? It is not. And did I mention it pokes fun at football, David Beckham and Manchester United a little? It does.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pooley and O'Malley, of The Flying Swan Pub, must do all they can to save Brentford's football grounds from being demolished. And that may just mean coaching the local team into winning it all. That is, unless the ancient evil which hides in Brentford decides to have some fun too.

[Noel G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top quality toot!

Fans of the author will love and those unaccustomed to Rankin's drawl may be confused and slightly scared by his style. But so worth it!

I would rec Rankin to anyone.

[James Tucker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first four books in Ian Rankin's Brentford Trilogy ( yes I know! ) as the books came out in the nineteen eighties and thought them an absolute riot. Such an unique brand of comic Science Fiction and Fantasy full of invention, clever ideas and satirical comment on celebrities, technology and everyday life. And then there is the witty repartee and funny wordplay which make me question, does this author live in the real world or some similar but slightly skewed reality? I remember that there was nothing quite like it that I had ever come across before based in the real world here in a London suburb of all places, one that was so familiar and yet ever so slightly twisted. Time moves on and I found this the seventh novel in the Brentford Trilogy ( yes I know! ) in a local charity shop and immediately bought it without any cause for consideration, as what was there to think about? I knew I enjoyed the stories, I knew what I was buying and this novel, 'Knees Up Mother Earth' is the same style and with the same principle characters but with a brand new quest that our heroes must complete despite the ridiculous odds stacked against them. And in spite of everything I was sadly left unmoved and humoured only a little. That is not to say that this novel isn't just as inventive and clever but perhaps after so many years it is just that I have moved on, changed, or just expect a bit more. It wasn't a struggle to read but I remained unmoved and even though I knew what the outcome would be it was of course the journey travelled that was the important thing. Eventually all I can say is that this journey simply felt a little flat even though I wanted it to be more. Perhaps it is just me and meant for a younger version of me as I really can't find any other criticism to post.

[Andrew Lawston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now live in Brentford, and Knees Up Mother Earth is the most Brentford book I've ever read, including those written by Robert Rankin, focussing as it does on the Bees, Brentford's cherished football team.

Reading a novel in which the Bees are on the point of bankruptcy hits different today, and I read one chapter while listening to the roar of the crowds in the nearby stadium as contemporary Premier League Brentford were thumping Leicester City 4-1, and without any obvious magical intervention, or demonic opposition.

It's the longest Rankin book I've read yet, but it's always an absolute joy to spend time with Pooley and Omally and Norman Hartnell (not to be confused with the other Norman Hartnell), so fair's fair.

[Geoff Battle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, book seven in the Brentford trilogy eh? What Rankin does with Knees Up is very clever. He uses the same characters, the same plot (Brentonians to stop Armageddon) and a lot of the same gags that are present in many of the previous books. There's certainly a whole load of deja vu... and it's all good. The scenario of football is cleverly woven in to the Brentford mythology and creates a raft of new options for Rankin's masterful use of humour, running gags, insightful use of language and even some suspense. Rankin clearly enjoyed writing this book. Knees up is a slow starter but builds up well to an enjoyable conclusion. It's a tad too long as well, but certainly recommended.

[Ben Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being very disappointed by the previous book, "Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls." I really enjoyed this one much more. Everything is goofy, and weird and nonsensical. The only thing I wished there was more of, I wish the time travel had happened earlier. It was fun, but I was waiting for it to happen for much of the book.

[Jon Clynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Rankin manages, as usual, to conjur the most bizarre ideas and still make them sound plausible! The darkness is balanced well by the comedy provided by human frailty and the whole thing is, well, far-fetched fiction. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Martin Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brentford to save the world...

... By winning the FA Cup. Don't worry if you don't follow football. No novel with Jim Pooley as the charismatic manager and John Omally as his PA can be that true to the game.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Brentford faces the apocalypse. John O’Malley and Jim Pooley, together with the powerful wizard, Professor Slocombe, are the world’s only hope. But will Norman Hartnel’s deal with the devil foil their plans? More ridiculous humor from the Brentford “trilogy.”

[Nishtha Bhasin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brentford United F.C. need to win the FA Cup (they lifted the cup once upon a time, in 1920); in order to save their home ground from the forces of evil trying to awaken the Serpent (the ground was supposedly the site for the Garden of Eden), and ultimately, save Mother Earth.
Yes, it is as insane as it sounds. Effortlessly hilarious and refreshing, this cosmic cracker of a tale with soccer sweet spots is one of the finest works of Rankin. From demonic species to time travelers, all fit into this world. One hell of a ride.

[Sean Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best ones! A great laugh.

[Ian Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just not football

[Sharon Weeks]

Up there with the usual Brentford books, cracking good read

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book returns to Brentford, the London suburb where Rankin grew up, which in his fiction is frequently home to mystical happenings. A local consortium is trying to purchase their football ground, which causes a bit of consternation even though hardly any of the locals have attended a match. It turns out that, as established in an earlier book, Brentford was the site of the Garden of Eden and the Serpent is buried under the ground. The only way to prevent the purchase is for the team to win the FA Cup. Professor Slocombe, Brentford's oldest and most mysterious inhabitant, enlists the aid of Jim Pooley and his bestest friend John Omally to take the team to glory. Fortunately, they have the Professor's magic to aid them. Unfortunately, they have dark forces opposing them. The story ties the long-running Brentford Trilogy (which by now is much more than a trilogy) with The Witches of Chiswick, in which William Starling goes back in time from the twenty-third century to the nineteenth to find that Victorian Britain was much more technologically advanced than anyone realized; but most knowledge of this technology was totally wiped out at the beginning of 1900. He also meets his evil counterpart from an alternate future, who is the main villain in Knees Up. Norman Hartnel, the local shopkeeper who is always working on some bizarre invention or other, somehow gets his hands on a Victorian computer and unwittingly sells the technology he rediscovers to Starling. As usual, the tale is full of parody and running gags. Not being very familiar with soccer didn't hamper my enjoyment of the book, but there were some jokes about British celebrities that went over my head. Overall, though, it's quite funny.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Brentford craziness complements of our favorite layabouts John Vincent Omally and James Arbuthnot Pooley. Once again John and Jim need to battle the darkest forces of evil, whilst attempting to lead the Brentford United soccer team to their first championship since the 1920's. If they win, they save the world. If they lose, there will be apocalyptic consequences. All of the regulars , semi-regulars and quite irregulars are here. This list includes Neville, Old Pete, Small Dave, Norman, Professor Slocombe, Archroy, a lady in a straw hat, a casual observer, HG Wells and Cthulhu. This book starts off a bit slow but once it gets going, it's the stuff of epics. This book is labeled book 7 of the Brentford Trilogy as well as being the sequel to an equally good book: The Witches of Chiswick. Honestly you could probably dive right in with this one and not be any more lost than the rest of us... However if you are a purest, start your journey here The Antipope (Brentford Trilogy) and you will be at the very beginning. If that is your choice- when you finally read this one, be sure to let me know what you think. 4/5

[Alan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Rankin is weird. Robert Rankin is crazy. Robert Rankin is what "The DaVinci Code" would have been like if the Monty Python team had edited it. In short, Robert Rankin is hilarious.

You can pick any of his books - all of which deal with funny, weirdly cosmic goings-on, and how they affect the London suburb of Brentford - and be sure of enjoyable reading. In this one, Pooley and O'Malley, stalwarts of the Flying Swan pub have to find a way to save Brentford football ground from the usual nameless horrors, and I hardly think it's a spoiler to say they succeed, in their usual ridiculous mind-bending way!

Just how Rankin manages to keep coming up with ideas, and how he makes such rib-tickling reading out of the most unlikely premises is a mystery. Probably an old charter, or something! Tasty!

[Isabel (kittiwake) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 7th book in the Brentford Trilogy and the second book in the Witches of Chiswick Trilogy. When Norman Hartnell of the paper shop collects a large amount of computer spare parts and builds himself a strangely Victorian-looking computer, it starts a string of events involving a buried serpent, Pooley becoming manager of Brentford football team (with Omalley as his PA), H.G. Wells and his Time Machine, and yet another evil corporation based in a pitch black building.[

I'm not sure that it made much sense, but it was very enjoyable.

[John Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I am not a football fan but, true to most Rankin books, it is not a rerequesite! I'm still getting lost with the Hugo Rune threads but I suspect (and please fellow Rankin fans tell me if I'm wrong) that there may well be a few missing links or ilogical plot devices here or there in this?!

Enway I still enjoyd it muchly!

[Debumere · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hilarious. Absolutely bonkers and extremely entertaining.

Brentford Football Club is, possibly, the worse football team in the world and they need to win the FA cup to stop the apocalypse.

The Brentford series by Robert Rankin is fantastic. Humorous and wildly imaginative.

Throughly recommend.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this book was a HOOT! Again, I reviewed this on my alternate blog, but really... why not pick it up yourself? It's a lot of fun.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A humorous mixture of sporting underdogs and fantasy battle between good and evil. Great mix of characters and witty dialogue, plus some nods to well-loved sci-fi movies. Very enjoyable read, even if like myself, you've never read any of the other Brentford Trilogy books.

[Stoneme Mayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have read book but will re-read for review.

[Oriana]

Knees Up Mother Earth (Gollancz SF) by Robert Rankin (2004)

[Plato · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some jolly chuckles. Similarities between this footie tale and Jasper Fforde's lacrosse on in 'Something Rotten'?

[Graeme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good reading - as usual!

[Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I doubted between 3 and 4 stars, as again humor tends to get in the way of the story. But all in all, I hugely enjoyed Knees Up, Mother Earth and ended up feeling really good about the whole book.

[Kate Rosanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't even get into this.. Probably because its a bit footbally