Saturn Over The Water

by J.B. Priestley

The woman was dying- what could Bedford do but give his promise to find her husband, a distinguished scientist, suddenly missing from his laboratory. The clues were pitifully few - some scribbled names on a slip of paper. And the trail seemed endless - it led Bedford from England to New York and on to South America and Australia. But all along the way he found hints of something bigger and more sinister than mere kidnapping, hints of a fantastic world conspiracy that, if successful, would destroy all mankind!

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Classics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

John Boynton Priestley was an English writer. He was the son of a schoolmaster, and after schooling he worked for a time in the local wool trade. Following the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Priestley joined the British Army, and was sent to France - in 1915 taking part in the Battle of Loos. After being wounded in 1917 Priestley returned to England for six months; then, after going back to the Western Front he suffered the consequences of a German gas attack, and, treated at Rouen, he was declared unfit for active service and was transferred to the Entertainers Section of the British Army.

When Priestley left the army he studied at Cambridge University, where he completed a degree in Modern History and Political Science. Subsequently he found work as theatre reviewer with the Daily News, and also contributed to the Spectator, the Challenge and Nineteenth Century. His earliest books included The English Comic Characters (1925), The English Novel (1927), and English Humour (1928). His breakthrough came with the immensely popular novel The Good Companions, published in 1929, and Angel Pavement followed in 1930. He emerged, too, as a successful dramatist with such plays as Dangerous Corner (1932), Time and the Conways (1937), When We Are Married (1938) and An Inspector Calls (1947).
The publication of English Journey in 1934 emphasised Priestley's concern for social problems and the welfare of ordinary people.
During the Second World War Priestley became a popular and influential broadcaster with his famous Postscripts that followed the nine o'clock news BBC Radio on Sunday evenings. Starting on 5th June 1940, Priestley built up such a following that after a few months it was estimated that around 40 per cent of the adult population in Britain was listening to the programme.
Some members of the Conservative Party, including Winston Churchill, expressed concern that Priestley might be expressing left-wing views on the programme, and, to his dismay, Priestley was dropped after his talk on 20th October 1940.
After the war Priestley continued his writing, and his work invariably provoked thought, and his views were always expressed in his blunt Yorkshire style.
His prolific output continued right up to his final years, and to the end he remained the great literary all-rounder. His favourite among his books was for many years the novel Bright Day, though he later said he had come to prefer The Image Men.
It should not be overlooked that Priestley was an outstanding essayist, and many of his short pieces best capture his passions and his great talent and his mastery of the English language. He set a fine example for any would-be author.

Reviews

[Thomas Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was an interesting read. It’s a bit more adventurous that the last couple of Priestley’s I’ve read. Previous books have had little in the way of real conflict or danger, but this is more of a thriller and while I wouldn’t call the story edgy the protagonist is as at least in danger a large amount of the time.

But then it’s a very English kind of danger. There are various points where the characters are on the run and seemingly desperate to get somewhere before the antagonists catch up with them, but they still find time to stop at a nice hotel lunch and a relaxing smoke before carrying on.

Literally one of the plot points revolves around the fact that despite being on a strict time limit, and despite knowing their enemies are in the same town as them, two characters get separated because of of them wants to go out and buy tobacco before they have their coffee after dinner.

But the story is well put together and the writing excellent. It gets a little weird at the end. In the last few chapters the story, which until now was very much traditional spy thriller, suddenly takes on supernatural and spiritual elements. This is a weird shift in tone, and you quickly realise that Priestley’s using the story as a parable for the social politics in his age and his own politics. It’s not a bad ending. In fact I think it rather works. It’s just... slightly odd.

After the unfortunate ending on ‘Lost Empires’ I was wary of ‘Saturn Over The Water’, but while there are a few scenes with an unfortunate misogynistic tint this time we escape anything overtly offensive. Just be prepared for the fact that Priestley was a man of his time.

[Wayne Craske · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is probably becoming obvious that I quite enjoy the work of J B Priestley, even if I don't agree with many of his ideas.
This is, so far, the book I have enjoyed least. As the introduction, by David Collard, states: "Saturn over the water is admirably unbelievable..." (Adding, though, that: "...this is no bad thing"), and this ruins what could be a much more powerful story for me. The main character, facing down a terrible and ruthless organisation, just cannot fail- even when he's failing. It stretched my credulity just a little bit too far. I need a little more threat of failure.
However, negatives aside, this book is characteristically well written, with strong characters and interesting ideas. I wouldn't recommend it as the first book by Priestley to read, and it may have ended my affair with him, but it's good as part of an on-going reading of his oeuvre. Others may well enjoy it much more than I did- and I'll respect them and their opinions, recognizing merely a temperamental difference.

One final note: Priestley, as always, shows some deep insights into character. It's worth reading for those alone.

[Gareth Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serviceable thriller from Preistley. No great depth, a bit like one of Greene’s entertainments, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Michael Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery thriller somewhat in the mould of a book like The 39 Steps. A man goes chasing something, never quite sure of what it is he's after.
Priestly has a surer hand on the tiller at the start of the book than he does in the middle and towards the end, when the plot unravels a bit and any internal logic goes by the wayside. By the last section we are firmly in cuckooland.
Despite that I enjoyed the book even if it was a piece of nonsense. Priestly certainly writes well, it was just some of the plotting that had me frowning a bit. I read it in a day and a half so it must have been quite good.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golly, this book is a delight. It was my first Priestley novel and it is quintessential Priestley with sharp writing, great characters and solid reflections on the world/life.

The artist finding himself in the role of bumbling international private eye is very satisfying. It’s also interesting to see the world depicted through the eye of an artist.

The only down side is the weird supernatural twist at the end which doesn’t fit with anything else along the way.

[Peter Kirsop]

I grabbed this book from the shelf where it had laid for about a year since I bought it at the city library clearance on Wednesday when my daughter was taken to hospital after one of her epileptic seizures. The book kept me sane while Sophie recovered (she was discharged after about 20 hours in hospital) and I finished it on the weekend. A cracking yarn one of Priestleys better ones with a lot of his social comment included. I particularly liked his description of the Queensland Gold Coast. So true

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising book from Priestley, a thriller about a conspiracy for world domination. Typically Priestley peppers it with interesting characters, the end is to say the least unusual we are left to make up much ourselves.