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K'Barthan #1
Few Are Chosen
Charming outlaw with own transport and limited social skills seeks lucrative, employment at minimal risk.
When you're running from a murderous government and work for an equally murderous gangster, accidentally torching his apartment is a bad move.
The Pan of Hamgee just wants a quiet life but destiny has other plans.
The correct genres for this book are: Comedy/fantasy/sci-fi
When you're running from a murderous government and work for an equally murderous gangster, accidentally torching his apartment is a bad move.
The Pan of Hamgee just wants a quiet life but destiny has other plans.
The correct genres for this book are: Comedy/fantasy/sci-fi
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2010
40 people are currently reading
795 people want to read
About the author
M.T. McGuire
21 books135 followersM T McGuire enjoys the real world but wouldn't want to live here full time. That's why she writes books. She grew up, or at least, got bigger, half way up a windy down in Sussex. Her home was also the first location choice for Hogwarts, in the Harry Potter films, so maybe it's not so strange that she's ended up writing spec-fic. Perhaps there's something in the water up there, apart from chalk. She used to do stand up but sat down and started to write books when she got married. She now lives in Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk, with a McOther, a McMini and a selection of very silly cars. She hasn't found a way to make any of the cars fly, and none of them is fitted with ordnance like the ones in her books, but she and her team of evil scientists are working on that.
Despite the fact she's pushing fifty now, and supposedly, an adult, M T checks all unfamiliar wardrobes for a gateway to Narnia. She hasn't found one so far but she lives in hope.
Despite the fact she's pushing fifty now, and supposedly, an adult, M T checks all unfamiliar wardrobes for a gateway to Narnia. She hasn't found one so far but she lives in hope.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
February 24, 2017
Just a tiny review for this one as I quit reading at the 31% mark of the story. I just lost interest and had been avoiding picking up the book again for so long that I eventually decided just to admit to myself that I was never going to return and finish it!
This was supposed to be light and fun adventure sci-fi. In fairness it did live up to some of that billing. The world seemed and interesting one and there was plenty of humour. The problem was it was all absurdist humour and for me that is the worst sort of humour. It is just to stupid for me to find it amusing! When a book is too ridiculous I find I can never get invested in the actual plot or characters.
All in all I think this one was just not for me due to the style and nature of the humour. That said, authors like Pratchett and Gaiman are also not for me for the very same reason so take that into account while considering my view on this one!
Rating: 2 stars.
This had no audio version. Which only made it easier to DNF. I read so few actual books per year that they really have to be worth the eye strain!
This was supposed to be light and fun adventure sci-fi. In fairness it did live up to some of that billing. The world seemed and interesting one and there was plenty of humour. The problem was it was all absurdist humour and for me that is the worst sort of humour. It is just to stupid for me to find it amusing! When a book is too ridiculous I find I can never get invested in the actual plot or characters.
All in all I think this one was just not for me due to the style and nature of the humour. That said, authors like Pratchett and Gaiman are also not for me for the very same reason so take that into account while considering my view on this one!
Rating: 2 stars.
This had no audio version. Which only made it easier to DNF. I read so few actual books per year that they really have to be worth the eye strain!
July 28, 2021
First, I would say that I don't generally take to humorous novels per se - I like some humour in books as light relief, but don't often find 'funny' books that funny. Also the story is a little slow to get going so I got stuck on the first few chapters for quite a while and it languished on my Kindle. However, after reading some deadly serious stories which were rather a downer, I needed an uplifting, light-hearted tale as an antidote and this was it.
The story is set in a parallel world where various alien beings co-exist, though not always happily - the Grongles, who are thoroughly unpleasant, have invaded K'Barth and put to death anyone who might resist, including religious leaders and the hero's own family. The Pan is a young man who has been forced into a life of crime because he has been blacklisted by the Grongle state and if caught is likely to be shot. However, The Pan (it's never explained why he's called that) has various gifts, most of which he manages to keep secret and which, despite his cowardice, have enabled him to survive for far longer than any other blacklisted person. He literally has eyes in the back of his head, and he is the best getaway driver ever, a skill that helps him survive when he gets on the wrong side of crime boss, Big Merv. And so he is drafted into Big Merv's bank robbing gang, something that will bring him into far too close contact with the evil Lord Vernon, head of the Grongles in K'Barth.
There is a lot more to the story and the worldbuilding - there are lots of twists and turns and many strange and eccentric characters, plus a set up concerning a character in our world that seems ready to pay off in a sequel - but I would just say that even I could manage a chuckle or two at the sequence near the end where The Pan suffers the effects of Truth Serum. I did feel that some points were a bit laboured and the writing could be a bit 'tighter' in places, but having read chapter 1 of the sequel (included at the back), it seems that the writer has already addressed this. Anyway, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the sequel, so it receives a well-deserved 4 star rating from me.
The story is set in a parallel world where various alien beings co-exist, though not always happily - the Grongles, who are thoroughly unpleasant, have invaded K'Barth and put to death anyone who might resist, including religious leaders and the hero's own family. The Pan is a young man who has been forced into a life of crime because he has been blacklisted by the Grongle state and if caught is likely to be shot. However, The Pan (it's never explained why he's called that) has various gifts, most of which he manages to keep secret and which, despite his cowardice, have enabled him to survive for far longer than any other blacklisted person. He literally has eyes in the back of his head, and he is the best getaway driver ever, a skill that helps him survive when he gets on the wrong side of crime boss, Big Merv. And so he is drafted into Big Merv's bank robbing gang, something that will bring him into far too close contact with the evil Lord Vernon, head of the Grongles in K'Barth.
There is a lot more to the story and the worldbuilding - there are lots of twists and turns and many strange and eccentric characters, plus a set up concerning a character in our world that seems ready to pay off in a sequel - but I would just say that even I could manage a chuckle or two at the sequence near the end where The Pan suffers the effects of Truth Serum. I did feel that some points were a bit laboured and the writing could be a bit 'tighter' in places, but having read chapter 1 of the sequel (included at the back), it seems that the writer has already addressed this. Anyway, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the sequel, so it receives a well-deserved 4 star rating from me.
April 23, 2013
Oh no! What an ending. . . can't believe I’ve been left hanging like this. So i don't spoiler this to hell on the very first paragraph, I’ll shut up now.
Ok, so this was 'Few are chosen' by M.T. McGuire. An amazing little gem i might not have ever gotten round to reading without a slight push in the right direction. I did read the blurb, however, it sounded soooo strange? I wasn't convinced it was something i would enjoy.
Ok, the first thing that put me off was the whole gangster thing. I’m not a big gangster fan. I don't like Scarface, the godfather, blah de blah, just isn’t my thing. But this is the most unconventional gangster story that has ever been written!!! (but this IS the first one i've ever read, so no basis of comparison really).
The Pan. The funniest hero ever with the strangest name. I’m still non the wiser as to why he’s called The Pan but you will be surprised at how fast you actually get used the strangeness of things. That’s one of the main things i really liked about this book, nothing was predictable, including any of the names of people, places & snurds. The Pan is a yellow bellied outcast of society, never up on his luck but always just gets on with it anyway. He lives on the run in K-Barth (yep, that’s what i said) and is a member of the gangster group, the Mervinettes. The Pan is a GBI - Government Blacklisted Individual and therefore completely socially unacceptable. His role within the Mervinettes is the get away driver; he's completely disrespected and receives regular beatings as payment. Even the violence soon becomes hilarious as you read on…. And I realise that sounds quite sick ha-ha.
I think my favourite character has to be Big Merv, leader (obviously) of the said gangster group. I don’t know why, but no matter the situation he always comes out with a witty retort & he’s mostly always angry (Swamp thing after my own heart).
I love this world the author has created, so many similarities to our own, yet they are worlds apart. The book is full of wit, humour and lashings of sarcasm, a perfect recipe for a great read. Seriously though, you can't really go wrong when you have a character called 'Sir Robin Get' HAH!!
Ok, before i sign off, there is one more then i have to mention... the snurds!! Oh my god, I WANT ONE!!!! Basically, snurds are the preferred mode of transport in K'Barth. The Pan's for example is modelled on a Lotus Elan. These bad boys not only act as general road transport, but they fly and have submarine mode as well! Also they are packing some serious artillery, which could come in extremely handy when your in a mile long tailback. Anyway, I’ve attached the authors concept on a piccy below. I must mention as well this is some seriously good artwork, you can really appreciate it a whole lot more as well while your reading the book.
I recommend this book to anyone of any age, but it helps if you have a sense of humour and your not too stiff around the edges (aka a boring codger).
My blog & reviews can also be found here: http://lilythenovelnerd.wordpress.com/
Ok, so this was 'Few are chosen' by M.T. McGuire. An amazing little gem i might not have ever gotten round to reading without a slight push in the right direction. I did read the blurb, however, it sounded soooo strange? I wasn't convinced it was something i would enjoy.
Ok, the first thing that put me off was the whole gangster thing. I’m not a big gangster fan. I don't like Scarface, the godfather, blah de blah, just isn’t my thing. But this is the most unconventional gangster story that has ever been written!!! (but this IS the first one i've ever read, so no basis of comparison really).
The Pan. The funniest hero ever with the strangest name. I’m still non the wiser as to why he’s called The Pan but you will be surprised at how fast you actually get used the strangeness of things. That’s one of the main things i really liked about this book, nothing was predictable, including any of the names of people, places & snurds. The Pan is a yellow bellied outcast of society, never up on his luck but always just gets on with it anyway. He lives on the run in K-Barth (yep, that’s what i said) and is a member of the gangster group, the Mervinettes. The Pan is a GBI - Government Blacklisted Individual and therefore completely socially unacceptable. His role within the Mervinettes is the get away driver; he's completely disrespected and receives regular beatings as payment. Even the violence soon becomes hilarious as you read on…. And I realise that sounds quite sick ha-ha.
I think my favourite character has to be Big Merv, leader (obviously) of the said gangster group. I don’t know why, but no matter the situation he always comes out with a witty retort & he’s mostly always angry (Swamp thing after my own heart).
I love this world the author has created, so many similarities to our own, yet they are worlds apart. The book is full of wit, humour and lashings of sarcasm, a perfect recipe for a great read. Seriously though, you can't really go wrong when you have a character called 'Sir Robin Get' HAH!!
Ok, before i sign off, there is one more then i have to mention... the snurds!! Oh my god, I WANT ONE!!!! Basically, snurds are the preferred mode of transport in K'Barth. The Pan's for example is modelled on a Lotus Elan. These bad boys not only act as general road transport, but they fly and have submarine mode as well! Also they are packing some serious artillery, which could come in extremely handy when your in a mile long tailback. Anyway, I’ve attached the authors concept on a piccy below. I must mention as well this is some seriously good artwork, you can really appreciate it a whole lot more as well while your reading the book.
I recommend this book to anyone of any age, but it helps if you have a sense of humour and your not too stiff around the edges (aka a boring codger).
My blog & reviews can also be found here: http://lilythenovelnerd.wordpress.com/
February 5, 2017
And just like that, the Pan of Hamgee shot straight to the top of my favourite antiheroes list! I love his quirky personality, and the disconnect between his brain and his mouth is priceless.
It took me a while to get into the story, but once it started making sense I had a hard time putting it down. The secondary characters are quite memorable; I wasn't fond of Big Merv at first, but he is an acquired taste. The humour is a zany as other reviewers have mentioned, and I could definitely feel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy vibes. As another plus, I have now a much improved slang vocabulary - British slang, to be precise:)
The editing is surprisingly good for a self-published book, with the exception of the commas. They should be trimmed down mercilessly!
It took me a while to get into the story, but once it started making sense I had a hard time putting it down. The secondary characters are quite memorable; I wasn't fond of Big Merv at first, but he is an acquired taste. The humour is a zany as other reviewers have mentioned, and I could definitely feel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy vibes. As another plus, I have now a much improved slang vocabulary - British slang, to be precise:)
The editing is surprisingly good for a self-published book, with the exception of the commas. They should be trimmed down mercilessly!
May 16, 2013
"Small actions can have consequences which spread out, like ripples in a pool."
"What would you say if I told you that for each time we make a choice, we create another universe where another version of ourselves, in another dimension of time and space, is making a different decision?"
I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review. Thanks, M.T.!
When The Pan of Hamgee accidently sets fire to a crime bosses apartment, he realizes that he is worth more alive than dead. He has no family, he's blacklisted by the government, and now the head of the gangster gang, The Mervinettes, personally wants him dead because of the unintentional destruction he caused to his home. What's a poor guy to do? Well, the one thing The Pan is good at is getting away from the law. He's been blacklisted for five years, which is almost unheard of. So he becomes the getaway driver for The Mervinettes. Pretty sweet deal indeed. However when he illegally comes into possession of a golden thimble with magical properties that is actually owned by the cruel leader of K'Barth, The Pan finds himself in the middle of an epic struggle that will take a miracle to get out of!
When I first read the description of this book I'll admit I was pretty intrigued. A science fiction thriller about gangsters? Hell yeah! Where do I sign up? Science fiction, in many cases, ends up being about serious stuff. Very rarely have I read a science fiction book and laughed my ass off. So it was a great experience to find myself doing so with this book! The Pan is a hilarious, lovable misfit that anyone can identify with. Sure he lives in K'Barth and drives a snurd as a getaway car for Big Merv. Sure he has eyes on the back of his head (literally). But at the heart of it, The Pan is a guy who just can't seem to get anything right, messes up quite often, and is basically looked down on by his peers and the rest of society. I think we can all relate to that at one point of our lives, right? Even though this is a fantastical setting, the author really brings it down to a relatable level for the reading audience, which is great for this genre of story. And he is so funny! I was laughing so hard right from the first chapter at The Pan's antics! I couldn't wait to see what he got into next!
I really loved how everything was so...unique! You literally had no idea what was coming on the next page. Like I mentioned before, The Pan has eyes on the back of his head! Snurds are these amazing flying cars! There are magic golden thimbles! In an age where many books follow tired old tropes and clichés, this book was like a breath of fresh air! I really enjoyed reading it.
My favorite aspect of the book however, is the idea that the author incorporated into the story about parallel dimensions and how every action we take causes ripples in those other dimensions. This is something so very fascinating to me! It's something we studied for a bit in a philosophy class I've taken, and also mentioned in lots of other science fiction and fantasy series (The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman are a few examples) I love how the author took this idea and really made it her own, and incorporated it into her story. It was so fun!
I would definitely recommend this book to people who love science fiction books and have a good sense of humor.
This review can also be found on my blog:
http://ayanami023.wordpress.com
"What would you say if I told you that for each time we make a choice, we create another universe where another version of ourselves, in another dimension of time and space, is making a different decision?"
I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review. Thanks, M.T.!
When The Pan of Hamgee accidently sets fire to a crime bosses apartment, he realizes that he is worth more alive than dead. He has no family, he's blacklisted by the government, and now the head of the gangster gang, The Mervinettes, personally wants him dead because of the unintentional destruction he caused to his home. What's a poor guy to do? Well, the one thing The Pan is good at is getting away from the law. He's been blacklisted for five years, which is almost unheard of. So he becomes the getaway driver for The Mervinettes. Pretty sweet deal indeed. However when he illegally comes into possession of a golden thimble with magical properties that is actually owned by the cruel leader of K'Barth, The Pan finds himself in the middle of an epic struggle that will take a miracle to get out of!
When I first read the description of this book I'll admit I was pretty intrigued. A science fiction thriller about gangsters? Hell yeah! Where do I sign up? Science fiction, in many cases, ends up being about serious stuff. Very rarely have I read a science fiction book and laughed my ass off. So it was a great experience to find myself doing so with this book! The Pan is a hilarious, lovable misfit that anyone can identify with. Sure he lives in K'Barth and drives a snurd as a getaway car for Big Merv. Sure he has eyes on the back of his head (literally). But at the heart of it, The Pan is a guy who just can't seem to get anything right, messes up quite often, and is basically looked down on by his peers and the rest of society. I think we can all relate to that at one point of our lives, right? Even though this is a fantastical setting, the author really brings it down to a relatable level for the reading audience, which is great for this genre of story. And he is so funny! I was laughing so hard right from the first chapter at The Pan's antics! I couldn't wait to see what he got into next!
I really loved how everything was so...unique! You literally had no idea what was coming on the next page. Like I mentioned before, The Pan has eyes on the back of his head! Snurds are these amazing flying cars! There are magic golden thimbles! In an age where many books follow tired old tropes and clichés, this book was like a breath of fresh air! I really enjoyed reading it.
My favorite aspect of the book however, is the idea that the author incorporated into the story about parallel dimensions and how every action we take causes ripples in those other dimensions. This is something so very fascinating to me! It's something we studied for a bit in a philosophy class I've taken, and also mentioned in lots of other science fiction and fantasy series (The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman are a few examples) I love how the author took this idea and really made it her own, and incorporated it into her story. It was so fun!
I would definitely recommend this book to people who love science fiction books and have a good sense of humor.
This review can also be found on my blog:
http://ayanami023.wordpress.com
June 28, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and other zany British comedy
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder (implied)
My Thoughts: Do you like Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and the like? You do! *gasp* So do I! That's awesome, call me, let's do lunch.
Now, as to this book. It's quite a crazy quilt. You have parallel universes, gangster Swamp Things, a Hamgeean with eyes on the back of his head, snurds (like flying cars), and all other sorts of things.
Speaking of, have you ever wondered what a snurd chase would look like? Wonder no longer.
Anyway, the book is completely full of absolutely ludicrous nonsense, like this: “He'd told her his name was Robin Get, 'like Stan, only without the z'.” And of course you have to love Ada and Gladys, the Grongles, and the K'Barthans idea of religion, which is basically “Be decent to each other.” (Now that's a religion I can get down with...)
At any rate, if you like absolutely ludicrous nonsense all tied up in a most interesting story of alternate worlds, parallel dimensions, fight for freedom, and a hero that would much rather just live in peace with a nice ale and hot supper, then you really need to read these stories. Really fun stuff!
Series Information:
Prequel: Unlucky Dip. I thought I had this, but it turns out the version I downloaded actually contained the wrong file. I have the corrected version and will read it next!
Book 1: Few are Chosen
Book 2: The Wrong Stuff
Book 3: One Man: No Plan, tentatively scheduled for release around Christmas 2013
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: The Pan of Hamgee isn't paranoid. There must be some people in K Barth who aren't out to get him; it 's just that, right now, he's not sure where they are. His family are dead, his existence is treason and he does the only thing he can to survive: getaway driving. As if being on the run isn't bad enough, when he finds a magic thimble and decides to keep it, he unwittingly sets himself on a collision course with Lord Vernon, K Barth's despot ruler. Unwillingly, The Pan is forced to make choices and stand up for his beliefs; beliefs he never knew he had until they were challenged. But faced with a stark moral dilemma, will his new-found integrity stick? Can he stop running?
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and other zany British comedy
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder (implied)
My Thoughts: Do you like Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and the like? You do! *gasp* So do I! That's awesome, call me, let's do lunch.
Now, as to this book. It's quite a crazy quilt. You have parallel universes, gangster Swamp Things, a Hamgeean with eyes on the back of his head, snurds (like flying cars), and all other sorts of things.
Speaking of, have you ever wondered what a snurd chase would look like? Wonder no longer.
Anyway, the book is completely full of absolutely ludicrous nonsense, like this: “He'd told her his name was Robin Get, 'like Stan, only without the z'.” And of course you have to love Ada and Gladys, the Grongles, and the K'Barthans idea of religion, which is basically “Be decent to each other.” (Now that's a religion I can get down with...)
At any rate, if you like absolutely ludicrous nonsense all tied up in a most interesting story of alternate worlds, parallel dimensions, fight for freedom, and a hero that would much rather just live in peace with a nice ale and hot supper, then you really need to read these stories. Really fun stuff!
Series Information:
Prequel: Unlucky Dip. I thought I had this, but it turns out the version I downloaded actually contained the wrong file. I have the corrected version and will read it next!
Book 1: Few are Chosen
Book 2: The Wrong Stuff
Book 3: One Man: No Plan, tentatively scheduled for release around Christmas 2013
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: The Pan of Hamgee isn't paranoid. There must be some people in K Barth who aren't out to get him; it 's just that, right now, he's not sure where they are. His family are dead, his existence is treason and he does the only thing he can to survive: getaway driving. As if being on the run isn't bad enough, when he finds a magic thimble and decides to keep it, he unwittingly sets himself on a collision course with Lord Vernon, K Barth's despot ruler. Unwillingly, The Pan is forced to make choices and stand up for his beliefs; beliefs he never knew he had until they were challenged. But faced with a stark moral dilemma, will his new-found integrity stick? Can he stop running?
June 19, 2013
Few are chosen is an endearing fantasy in another world. It grabs you from the very first scene, a comedic one reminiscent of the slapstick Three Stooges brand of humor (with The Pan being the only "Stooge," of course). The Pan of Hamgee is accident-prone (which made him easy for me to relate too as I'm a bit of a klutz myself!) but loveable. He finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place several times throughout the book--after all, even his existence is illegal. Since he legally cannot work, he resorts to thievery and being the getaway driver for Big Merv the crime lord. When he accidentally thwarts Big Merv's plans, hilarity ensues :) The Pan soon finds himself in possession of a magical golden thimble that belongs to the evil leader of K'Barth, which complicates his life even further.
I don't want to give away too much about the book, but the quirky characters make it such a fun read that it was hard to put down. I currently only read while at the gym, so I'll have to thank MT McGuire for the extra long workouts I've been getting lately just to read a few more chapters! The story is so fast-paced, the plot never dragging, and you literally never know what's going to happen next!
I don't want to give away too much about the book, but the quirky characters make it such a fun read that it was hard to put down. I currently only read while at the gym, so I'll have to thank MT McGuire for the extra long workouts I've been getting lately just to read a few more chapters! The story is so fast-paced, the plot never dragging, and you literally never know what's going to happen next!
July 15, 2013
Few Are Chosen was awarded a Silver Medal in last year's Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Our readers enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.
August 13, 2013
I found it curious that this book should be classified as fantasy, because really it's not. There's no magic for one thing, despite the blurb (everything is explained scientifically as 'quantum'). Sure it's got "creatures of colour" to be politically correct, with wiggly antennae, but so what? It's sci-fi straight down the middle. Well, comic sci-fi really, much like The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but with a plot.
The Pan of Hamgee is a coward, and very good at it. He's been on the run from Lord Vernon for 5 years, longer than anyone else, ever, and is still alive (staying alive is not something that Lord Vernon likes to encourage in fugitives). This strange longevity brings him to the attention of Big Merv, a gangster. Big Merv is looking for a getaway driver for a string of bank robberies that he "isn't" going to commit, and figures that someone who has evaded Lord Vernon for so long is just the ticket.
When Big Merv's bank heists start accruing some strange objects, the Pan find it even harder to stay hidden. Not only are Lord Vernon's dogs hot on his heels, but the Resistance too, and who is that strange old man that seems to know so much about him?
The book seemed a little slow to get going, but after a while it settled down to a good fast pace. The characters on the whole are well written, although I found Big Merv to be the least convincing - for a gangland boss he seemed far too chummy.
But really got me excited were the snurds. A snurd is a kind of car. But it's not just any old car, it's every James Bond car there has ever been rolled into one. Including the flying car. And the submarine car. And the car with the machine gun headlights, and armour, and chaff launchers, and... I want one!
The Pan of Hamgee is a coward, and very good at it. He's been on the run from Lord Vernon for 5 years, longer than anyone else, ever, and is still alive (staying alive is not something that Lord Vernon likes to encourage in fugitives). This strange longevity brings him to the attention of Big Merv, a gangster. Big Merv is looking for a getaway driver for a string of bank robberies that he "isn't" going to commit, and figures that someone who has evaded Lord Vernon for so long is just the ticket.
When Big Merv's bank heists start accruing some strange objects, the Pan find it even harder to stay hidden. Not only are Lord Vernon's dogs hot on his heels, but the Resistance too, and who is that strange old man that seems to know so much about him?
The book seemed a little slow to get going, but after a while it settled down to a good fast pace. The characters on the whole are well written, although I found Big Merv to be the least convincing - for a gangland boss he seemed far too chummy.
But really got me excited were the snurds. A snurd is a kind of car. But it's not just any old car, it's every James Bond car there has ever been rolled into one. Including the flying car. And the submarine car. And the car with the machine gun headlights, and armour, and chaff launchers, and... I want one!
April 11, 2015
Not since Keith Laumer’s Retief of the CDT stories have I read science fiction that was truly funny. Now, along comes M.T. McGuire’s Few are Chosen, the first in a planned series of four books, and I can again read science fiction that’s full of ludicrousness and laughter.
Pan of Hamgee is on the run. He’s a person whose very existence is treason, and moreover, he’s personally run afoul of the despotic ruler of K’Barth, Lord Vernon. Not a person known for strong beliefs, the Pan finds that he must make choices and stand up for his beliefs—whether or not he really believes in them.
McGuire has created a world that is totally unbelievable, populated by characters that are all too believable. Sound like a contradiction? Maybe, but it’s what makes this book so funny. Extremely well written, it will have you laughing so hard you’re likely to wet your pants.
My hat’s off to a new star in the constellation of humorous sci-fi writers.
Pan of Hamgee is on the run. He’s a person whose very existence is treason, and moreover, he’s personally run afoul of the despotic ruler of K’Barth, Lord Vernon. Not a person known for strong beliefs, the Pan finds that he must make choices and stand up for his beliefs—whether or not he really believes in them.
McGuire has created a world that is totally unbelievable, populated by characters that are all too believable. Sound like a contradiction? Maybe, but it’s what makes this book so funny. Extremely well written, it will have you laughing so hard you’re likely to wet your pants.
My hat’s off to a new star in the constellation of humorous sci-fi writers.
April 2, 2017
I think I have man crush on the character of "Big Merv."
This is a very entertaining book and puts the author amongst the fine company of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett of SF/Fantasy comedy authors.
This is a very entertaining book and puts the author amongst the fine company of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett of SF/Fantasy comedy authors.
June 29, 2013
Many giggles and laugh out loud moments but also great dollops of thought provoking interactions amongst the characters. Great fun but the deeper themes make this fantasy novel stand out.
January 17, 2012
I discovered this author when reading some Amazon threads. The name M T McGuire sounded swish to me and I thought MT’s contributions witty and entertaining. The discovery was fortuitous as I was really struggling with a Discworld book, “Unseen Academicals”. Every other book by Terry Pratchett I have read was good fun and gave me something curious to think about, but this one seemed tedious. I turned instead to “Few Are Chosen” and enjoyed it.
The book begins with a bang, which is always welcome in writing in this genre. The lead character is called The Pan. The Pan’s lack of commonsense and his tendency to talk his way into trouble provokes that kind of, “Oh no, don’t do that!” response to the comic anti-hero. There are several other well-developed characters, each with a recognisable voice, such as Lord Vernon — who through vile scheming has become K’barth’s ruler — and Big Merv, a gangster who is either a psychopathic killer or a softie who lets his victims redeem themselves by working for him.
The parallel fantasy world in the book has sufficient physical laws and features in common with our everyday, big-body existence to allow M T McGuire to introduce new quantum laws and technologies into this alternative world with a measure of consistency. This is important, since stories that allow characters to escape from every tricky situation through the sudden introduction of new abilities or physics cannot generate tension. Indeed, in the Pan’s job as a getaway car driver he is possessed of an unusual skill and flair which derives from his cowardice, and this familiar trait drives his usual means of escape. One of his more unusual features, having eyes in the back of his head, is perhaps underplayed in this first volume, but I would expect ideas such as this to be developed later in the trilogy.
For me, a characteristic of a good story is that when I have finished the book there remains a feeling that an interesting or compelling character has left the building. (I don’t say “likeable” since it is not at all important to me that characters should seem “likeable”.) Luckily the reader will not feel any long-term loss in this case, or regret that too many threads have been left hanging, since the three volumes are clearly going to be very tightly linked together as a whole. It is worth cautioning that the reader should think in terms of a continuous tale in three volumes, since otherwise this first instalment will seem to end abruptly and to be unresolved. I'm not really saying it was "amazing" (what book is?), nevertheless, since on this occasion I enjoyed this story more than a particular book by the great Terry Pratchett, I must give it five stars.
The book begins with a bang, which is always welcome in writing in this genre. The lead character is called The Pan. The Pan’s lack of commonsense and his tendency to talk his way into trouble provokes that kind of, “Oh no, don’t do that!” response to the comic anti-hero. There are several other well-developed characters, each with a recognisable voice, such as Lord Vernon — who through vile scheming has become K’barth’s ruler — and Big Merv, a gangster who is either a psychopathic killer or a softie who lets his victims redeem themselves by working for him.
The parallel fantasy world in the book has sufficient physical laws and features in common with our everyday, big-body existence to allow M T McGuire to introduce new quantum laws and technologies into this alternative world with a measure of consistency. This is important, since stories that allow characters to escape from every tricky situation through the sudden introduction of new abilities or physics cannot generate tension. Indeed, in the Pan’s job as a getaway car driver he is possessed of an unusual skill and flair which derives from his cowardice, and this familiar trait drives his usual means of escape. One of his more unusual features, having eyes in the back of his head, is perhaps underplayed in this first volume, but I would expect ideas such as this to be developed later in the trilogy.
For me, a characteristic of a good story is that when I have finished the book there remains a feeling that an interesting or compelling character has left the building. (I don’t say “likeable” since it is not at all important to me that characters should seem “likeable”.) Luckily the reader will not feel any long-term loss in this case, or regret that too many threads have been left hanging, since the three volumes are clearly going to be very tightly linked together as a whole. It is worth cautioning that the reader should think in terms of a continuous tale in three volumes, since otherwise this first instalment will seem to end abruptly and to be unresolved. I'm not really saying it was "amazing" (what book is?), nevertheless, since on this occasion I enjoyed this story more than a particular book by the great Terry Pratchett, I must give it five stars.
February 1, 2015
FEW ARE CHOSEN by M.T. McGuire.
There’s a theory that anyone who wants to write good comedy should spend a little time doing stand up. Learn timing, comedic attitude, and all the rest. MT McGuire, the author of Few Are Chosen, tells us that she's been a stand up comedian, and her timing and comedy are spot on in this book... even though she’s writing fantasy.
Our hero is The Pan of Hamgee, kind of an anti-hero really, who lives in a parallel universe where the normal every day land of K’Barth has been taken over by bad guys called Grongles. They run the place waiting for someone to pass a series of tests and be CHOSEN as the legitimate long-term ruler. Of course the current ruler, a GRONGLE called Lord Vernon is working ruthlessly to take control of the tools of identification and get the job for himself. If you cross him you get blacklisted, which almost always assures a short and unpleasant life. The Pan on the other hand has been blacklisted for 5 years for some very petty offense, and yet he’s still around, hiding out in an upper room in a pub called the Parrot and Screwdriver, being cared for by two sweet, elderly women who may have more important connections than they are willing to admit.
One night, The Pan is captured by a group of thieves headed by a green swamp thing called Big Merv. The Pan is about to be dumped into the river in cement shoes, when he convinces his captors that they need him. His argument? Anyone who has been blacklisted for 5 years knows something about escape or at least running away, and so he will make a great driver for their get-away car (actually their get away Snerd... a car that can fly and is overloaded with features from weapons to artificially intelligence). So, Big Merv spares The Pan and makes him his get away driver.
From there on it’s a series of deadly encounters: confrontations with the Grongolian police, an epoch heist from the Bank of Grongolia, a face to face confrontation with Lord Vernon, meetings with secret messengers, philosophical reflection on the wisdom of the K’Barthian prophet, Arnold, and the eventual identification and saving of the true Chosen one.
Through it all, The cowardly - but somehow heroic - Pan manages to talk his way out of far more trouble than he can run away from, giving us a really enjoyable read in the process. I can’t wait to dive into the other books in the series and find out how it all works out.
There’s a theory that anyone who wants to write good comedy should spend a little time doing stand up. Learn timing, comedic attitude, and all the rest. MT McGuire, the author of Few Are Chosen, tells us that she's been a stand up comedian, and her timing and comedy are spot on in this book... even though she’s writing fantasy.
Our hero is The Pan of Hamgee, kind of an anti-hero really, who lives in a parallel universe where the normal every day land of K’Barth has been taken over by bad guys called Grongles. They run the place waiting for someone to pass a series of tests and be CHOSEN as the legitimate long-term ruler. Of course the current ruler, a GRONGLE called Lord Vernon is working ruthlessly to take control of the tools of identification and get the job for himself. If you cross him you get blacklisted, which almost always assures a short and unpleasant life. The Pan on the other hand has been blacklisted for 5 years for some very petty offense, and yet he’s still around, hiding out in an upper room in a pub called the Parrot and Screwdriver, being cared for by two sweet, elderly women who may have more important connections than they are willing to admit.
One night, The Pan is captured by a group of thieves headed by a green swamp thing called Big Merv. The Pan is about to be dumped into the river in cement shoes, when he convinces his captors that they need him. His argument? Anyone who has been blacklisted for 5 years knows something about escape or at least running away, and so he will make a great driver for their get-away car (actually their get away Snerd... a car that can fly and is overloaded with features from weapons to artificially intelligence). So, Big Merv spares The Pan and makes him his get away driver.
From there on it’s a series of deadly encounters: confrontations with the Grongolian police, an epoch heist from the Bank of Grongolia, a face to face confrontation with Lord Vernon, meetings with secret messengers, philosophical reflection on the wisdom of the K’Barthian prophet, Arnold, and the eventual identification and saving of the true Chosen one.
Through it all, The cowardly - but somehow heroic - Pan manages to talk his way out of far more trouble than he can run away from, giving us a really enjoyable read in the process. I can’t wait to dive into the other books in the series and find out how it all works out.
February 28, 2011
I was offered this book for review and although YA fantasy isn't something I'd usually consider my thing I took a look at the reviews and seeing mentions of Harry Potter and Hitchhikers Guide, which I have read and seriously enjoyed, thought maybe I should give it a go.
The Pan of Hamgee has been blacklisted and on the run for years, quite a feat as others only manage it for a matter of months under the oppressive regime in K'Barth. Having eyes in the back of your head probably helps keep you out of the clutches of ruler Lord Vernon and the equally ruthless Resistance - that and a massive yellow streak. Without much choice in the matter he ends up as getaway driver for a criminal gang, a job he excels at. While life hasn't been comfortable for The Pan for a long time it starts to become more and more curious when his landladies and an old man start making oblique references to another resistance movement and he lays his hands on a mysterious thimble. The first part of the book sets up The Pan's life and current position, and the second part really introduces the mystery and magic.
This book creates a whole new universe with a range of species all of its own, those species having their own appearances and characteristics, all well described by the author. I'm always slightly concerned about fantasy novels, with whether I'll remember lots of strange names or lose the plot. In this case K'barth is about as close as it gets to a name with lots of Xs and Zs and no vowels, and some of the names are brilliantly comic so no problems on that count. It is well edited and I only spotted a couple of typos I'll pass on to the author.
The Pan is a lovely character, he is abundantly clear that he is a coward and has no grand illusions about himself, but people around him (and gradually the reader) see something special in him. Being so down on himself makes him all the more likeable. I really enjoyed the way his relationship with his scary Swamp Thing boss developed and the change in The Pan after he starts questioning things.
I would say this book is probably most suitable for tweens and younger teens but even in my early 30s I still really enjoyed the read. It is left on a real cliff-hanger and I definitely want to carry on reading the series.
The Pan of Hamgee has been blacklisted and on the run for years, quite a feat as others only manage it for a matter of months under the oppressive regime in K'Barth. Having eyes in the back of your head probably helps keep you out of the clutches of ruler Lord Vernon and the equally ruthless Resistance - that and a massive yellow streak. Without much choice in the matter he ends up as getaway driver for a criminal gang, a job he excels at. While life hasn't been comfortable for The Pan for a long time it starts to become more and more curious when his landladies and an old man start making oblique references to another resistance movement and he lays his hands on a mysterious thimble. The first part of the book sets up The Pan's life and current position, and the second part really introduces the mystery and magic.
This book creates a whole new universe with a range of species all of its own, those species having their own appearances and characteristics, all well described by the author. I'm always slightly concerned about fantasy novels, with whether I'll remember lots of strange names or lose the plot. In this case K'barth is about as close as it gets to a name with lots of Xs and Zs and no vowels, and some of the names are brilliantly comic so no problems on that count. It is well edited and I only spotted a couple of typos I'll pass on to the author.
The Pan is a lovely character, he is abundantly clear that he is a coward and has no grand illusions about himself, but people around him (and gradually the reader) see something special in him. Being so down on himself makes him all the more likeable. I really enjoyed the way his relationship with his scary Swamp Thing boss developed and the change in The Pan after he starts questioning things.
I would say this book is probably most suitable for tweens and younger teens but even in my early 30s I still really enjoyed the read. It is left on a real cliff-hanger and I definitely want to carry on reading the series.
January 11, 2014
Few Are Chosen by M.T.McGuire: what a strange book. I knew nothing of it going into this, yet I really enjoyed it. The amount of imagination that went into creating these characters is amazing. Reading Few Are Chosen you follow along with The Pan, Big Merv, and the old man as this story and parallel universe unfolds in front of your eyes. There was so much humor, action and mystery in this book... it kept me very entertained.
At about 44% through the Pan, a very interesting and complex character, says "I'm a coward. Brave people get clobberd because they go sticking their necks out, looking for trouble. I'm not lucky or alive because I'm brave and clever, I'm alive because I'm too scared to end up dead." He says this to the Lieutenant Deirdre Arbuthnot after being detained. The Pan's personality is so unique... he says he's this big coward, that he's not worthy... yet he does either some of the most stupid things or the bravest.
Big Merv, the Swamp Thing, I love that and him. He's probably my favorite character out of them all... well, tied with Humbert the parrot. Big Merv is a gangland boss with this big scary front and thugs all around. He's also got this other side and by the end he can really take a joke.
Totally would suggest this book. Although, its not for everyone, I still feel that there is something everyone would like.
At about 44% through the Pan, a very interesting and complex character, says "I'm a coward. Brave people get clobberd because they go sticking their necks out, looking for trouble. I'm not lucky or alive because I'm brave and clever, I'm alive because I'm too scared to end up dead." He says this to the Lieutenant Deirdre Arbuthnot after being detained. The Pan's personality is so unique... he says he's this big coward, that he's not worthy... yet he does either some of the most stupid things or the bravest.
Big Merv, the Swamp Thing, I love that and him. He's probably my favorite character out of them all... well, tied with Humbert the parrot. Big Merv is a gangland boss with this big scary front and thugs all around. He's also got this other side and by the end he can really take a joke.
Totally would suggest this book. Although, its not for everyone, I still feel that there is something everyone would like.
September 16, 2014
If you like Douglas Adams you’ll love this book.
Because M T McGuire is a member of the Gumbee Fantasy Writers' Guild I knew that her books would be of a high standard, and other reviewers’ comments were all very complimentary, however, I was surprised and delighted at how quickly I was drawn into this book.
Set in a parallel earth turning every page was a real treat. From the start the main character, The Pan, leapt out of the book. He is a self-deprecating, ordinary Joe who’s only skill is self-preservation. Living outside the law through no fault of his own and wanting nothing more than to be left alone, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the underworld of society in his quest to simply survive.
In style the book is very reminiscent of Douglas Adams’s Long Dark Teatime of the Soul with a touch of Hitchhikers thrown in for good measure. This Si-Fi fantasy is written in a very amusing way but at the same time the plot is interesting and intricately woven.
I can give it no greater praise other than to say as soon as I had finished reading it I was compelled to buy The Wrong Stuff, K'Barthan Trilogy: Part 2 and start reading it.
Because M T McGuire is a member of the Gumbee Fantasy Writers' Guild I knew that her books would be of a high standard, and other reviewers’ comments were all very complimentary, however, I was surprised and delighted at how quickly I was drawn into this book.
Set in a parallel earth turning every page was a real treat. From the start the main character, The Pan, leapt out of the book. He is a self-deprecating, ordinary Joe who’s only skill is self-preservation. Living outside the law through no fault of his own and wanting nothing more than to be left alone, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the underworld of society in his quest to simply survive.
In style the book is very reminiscent of Douglas Adams’s Long Dark Teatime of the Soul with a touch of Hitchhikers thrown in for good measure. This Si-Fi fantasy is written in a very amusing way but at the same time the plot is interesting and intricately woven.
I can give it no greater praise other than to say as soon as I had finished reading it I was compelled to buy The Wrong Stuff, K'Barthan Trilogy: Part 2 and start reading it.
March 21, 2012
This fantasy book, the first in a trilogy, introduces us to an unlikely hero, The Pan of Hamgee. The Pan is a young person living under a despotic regime, who has managed to remain uncaptured for 5 years (the average is a month or so) by dint of being a devout coward. His specialism is running away. We meet many other memorable characters, Big Merv (a Swamp Thing and The Pan's employer) and the wonderful elderly lady keepers of the local tavern (and Their Trev). There is a fabulous section towards the end where The Pan is fighting off a strong dose of Truth Drug which had me laughing aloud at times.
The writing was clever, witty, wickedly good in places and the story kept me turning (clicking?) page after page when I should have gone to bed! The Pan is a wonderful character and one I look forward to reading more about. He is destined for higher things (if he can keep his tongue under control!) An excellent story, well told.
The writing was clever, witty, wickedly good in places and the story kept me turning (clicking?) page after page when I should have gone to bed! The Pan is a wonderful character and one I look forward to reading more about. He is destined for higher things (if he can keep his tongue under control!) An excellent story, well told.
May 27, 2013
I found “Few are chosen” a thoroughly entertaining read from the start, and loved the introduction to the accident prone Pan of Hamgee. I like a book to have a fast pace, and in this respect, the book did not disappoint at all. There were points where I would have liked a little more description and a deeper delve into the characters’ personalities, but this was not a major thing. In this respect Big Merv, the gangland leader, was my favourite: a very believable, well fleshed out character with a complex personality (Just the type I like to write and read).
MTM cleverly ties up a the action in such a way that it feels like a complete story but also leaves a cliff-hanger where you want to carry on reading. If you enjoy a book where fantasy meets sci-fi, with a good spattering of humour and flash car chases you should read this book. Be prepared to read the sequel though, as, like me, you’ll need to know what comes next.
MTM cleverly ties up a the action in such a way that it feels like a complete story but also leaves a cliff-hanger where you want to carry on reading. If you enjoy a book where fantasy meets sci-fi, with a good spattering of humour and flash car chases you should read this book. Be prepared to read the sequel though, as, like me, you’ll need to know what comes next.
July 12, 2017
I loved this book and stayed up until almost 5 am to finish it. It is full of humor (dry humor, perhaps?) and action. It is well-written (always a plus for an indie author) and does much to build the world of the K'Barthians and other species that populate this alternate-Earth dimension. The story continues in the next book, which in some ways can be annoying, since this story was not complete in itself. However, in the case of this book, I did not find this a problem, as I would like to read more. The one problem I noted was a lot of information about places and people was included in large chunks (info dumps). This is hard to avoid in this type of novel in order to build the world a little more, but if it was important, it could have been worked into the story a little better. But I enjoyed reading this and would highly recommend it to others.
October 23, 2014
This is a good comic fantasy title off the same sort of humorous planet as writers like Tom Holt, Ben Elton, and Terry Pratchett. There is satire and certainly parody, and as with those listed she has the gift of dramatic timing. In other words, MT McGuire is in great, Great British, comic company. The fact that she used to do stand-up comedy doesn't surprise me a bit.
I'm sure it helps to be a Brit to catch all the clever turns of phrase in this book, but those from once were distant outposts of Britannia will get just as much out of this read; even The US should be able to catch the crest of her comic wave.
Of course, if you are not into Peter Cook, John Cleese, Jennifer Saunders, Sandi Toksvig, or MT McGuire Authorholic then you probably won't like K'Barthan books either. Get a life!
I'm sure it helps to be a Brit to catch all the clever turns of phrase in this book, but those from once were distant outposts of Britannia will get just as much out of this read; even The US should be able to catch the crest of her comic wave.
Of course, if you are not into Peter Cook, John Cleese, Jennifer Saunders, Sandi Toksvig, or MT McGuire Authorholic then you probably won't like K'Barthan books either. Get a life!
January 31, 2016
Disclaimer: I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review
This is a comedy science fiction which follows a slightly bumbling and hapless criminal as he tries to navigate the underworld of an oppressed people. I really grew to like The Pan, and the friends he picks up along the way, and I loved the progression of Big Merv.
I can't wait to get started on the next one and find out what happens next, to both The Pan and his friends and the girl from the world a lot like ours!
This is a comedy science fiction which follows a slightly bumbling and hapless criminal as he tries to navigate the underworld of an oppressed people. I really grew to like The Pan, and the friends he picks up along the way, and I loved the progression of Big Merv.
I can't wait to get started on the next one and find out what happens next, to both The Pan and his friends and the girl from the world a lot like ours!
July 8, 2014
Give him a chance, and the Pan of Hamgee will grow on you. The singular protagonist of this quirky indie novel doesn’t have much going for him in the way of looks, money, power, or influence, but he’s determined to survive in a rough world dominated by aliens who don’t like his kind. The Pan is full of snarky humor that doesn’t get old because it is self-deprecating and sardonic, not juvenile and moronic. The novel even has an appropriate villain and a love interest for the Pan leading into the next installment in the series. A fun and absorbing read if you like the genre, which I do.
December 20, 2015
Let me start by saying, I almost never read this type of fiction. I was obviously having a very strange day, and it was free. Anyway, I took a peek at the sample on Amazon and 'bought' it. And I'm glad I did. It was great fun. Utterly ridiculous but written with a light but sure touch, it drew me right in. I may - if I have another funny five minutes - even read the sequel.
THE NEXT DAY
Er...I didn't realise the first chapter of the sequel was at the end of this book. Well, I've done it, haven't I? Bought the next book. This author is strangely compelling. You'd better go buy a copy.
THE NEXT DAY
Er...I didn't realise the first chapter of the sequel was at the end of this book. Well, I've done it, haven't I? Bought the next book. This author is strangely compelling. You'd better go buy a copy.
October 26, 2016
I actually downloaded this book on a promotion in 2015, yet it wasn't until I encountered the writer in a facebook group recently, and tried to download the book again, that I realised it was already on my (quite long) to read list. If you like Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, you'll probably like the K'Barthan series. It has a similar vibe of realworld from a slightly skewed angle and also a slight 2000 AD comic book feel to some characters. No outright Sci-Fi but somewhere in between. There's humour aplenty and a decent plot, so lots to keep you interested.
July 14, 2014
It took me a chapter or two to get into this book: there's a lot of information to take in to begin with. But soon I was on the roller coaster ride of The Pan's journey. Some intriguing, three-dimensional characters, some great world building and some very cool cars. Combine with a story that keeps you guessing and a touch of romance and you have the perfect recipe for a romping tale. Off to buy book two!
August 3, 2013
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This book hooked me into the story immediately and I really didn't want to put it down. The world created here was fantastic and felt very real and detailed without bogging the story down with too much description.
The action was fast paced which is just the way I like it and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
This book hooked me into the story immediately and I really didn't want to put it down. The world created here was fantastic and felt very real and detailed without bogging the story down with too much description.
The action was fast paced which is just the way I like it and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
January 12, 2015
Surprise surprise I enjoyed this book. Not usually a fan of fantasy/sci-fi genres but the excellent characters and pace of the motivated narrative persuaded me to enjoy the ride, in some places literally, through this novel.
April 29, 2018
I personally Loved this book. I can't wait to read another book by this author. awesome book.
July 3, 2020
There are not enough words to describe how much I enjoyed this book, but I’ll try. I hadn’t realised how much comedic sci-fi was missing from my life until I found this funny and quirky tale that is Douglas Adams reincarnated, mixed with the lighter side of Neil Gaiman, and even containing elements of the “Stainless Steel Rat” books by Harry Harrison that I enjoyed so much in my teens.
The book’s anti-hero, the Pan of Hamgee, is a fugitive on the run from the bureaucratic and dictatorial race who have conquered his planet, the Grongles. Somehow managing to evade their capture for five long years – a feat never achieved by anyone else – he has recently been employed as a getaway driver for a gang of lowlife bank robbers run by Merv. But life has a habit of kicking you up the backside just when you most expect it to, and The Pan ends up in even deeper hot water than he thought was possible.
Add to the mix a resistance movement run by egotistical maniacs, a strange mentor who appears at the most inconvenient moments and will insist on dropping The Pan into one mess after another, and a strange device that allows The Pan to view an alternative universe where he spies on a girl who may – or may not – be the love of his life if The Pan only smartened himself up a bit and put on a clean shirt, and you are in for a rollercoaster of a read that just gets better and better.
The writer has created a wonderful alternative world which is as far from the gleaming, high tech worlds most authors dream of as you can get, but instead is a grungy, dankly depressing place, where the smell of boiling cabbage permeates everything, there’s always a traffic jam, and the bins are never emptied.
The writing itself is fun and crisply efficient and would be perfect for reluctant younger readers who’ve exhausted Harry Potter and are looking for something new. The plot bounces along energetically, taking the reader along with it, and I consumed this book in three days. Unusually for me, I then plunged straight into the second book as soon as I had finished the first because the author had left The Pan of Hamgee in a very sticky situation and I just had to know what happened next!
The characters are so real – even the red furry ones – that you feel you have argued with that jobs-worth clerk and know those two mad old bats who run the local pub. Their very humanness transcends the location and their physical attributes, and the reader simply accepts that the way of things from the very first page.
All in all, a fantastic madcap blast of a read and I now have to collect all the books in the series.
The book’s anti-hero, the Pan of Hamgee, is a fugitive on the run from the bureaucratic and dictatorial race who have conquered his planet, the Grongles. Somehow managing to evade their capture for five long years – a feat never achieved by anyone else – he has recently been employed as a getaway driver for a gang of lowlife bank robbers run by Merv. But life has a habit of kicking you up the backside just when you most expect it to, and The Pan ends up in even deeper hot water than he thought was possible.
Add to the mix a resistance movement run by egotistical maniacs, a strange mentor who appears at the most inconvenient moments and will insist on dropping The Pan into one mess after another, and a strange device that allows The Pan to view an alternative universe where he spies on a girl who may – or may not – be the love of his life if The Pan only smartened himself up a bit and put on a clean shirt, and you are in for a rollercoaster of a read that just gets better and better.
The writer has created a wonderful alternative world which is as far from the gleaming, high tech worlds most authors dream of as you can get, but instead is a grungy, dankly depressing place, where the smell of boiling cabbage permeates everything, there’s always a traffic jam, and the bins are never emptied.
The writing itself is fun and crisply efficient and would be perfect for reluctant younger readers who’ve exhausted Harry Potter and are looking for something new. The plot bounces along energetically, taking the reader along with it, and I consumed this book in three days. Unusually for me, I then plunged straight into the second book as soon as I had finished the first because the author had left The Pan of Hamgee in a very sticky situation and I just had to know what happened next!
The characters are so real – even the red furry ones – that you feel you have argued with that jobs-worth clerk and know those two mad old bats who run the local pub. Their very humanness transcends the location and their physical attributes, and the reader simply accepts that the way of things from the very first page.
All in all, a fantastic madcap blast of a read and I now have to collect all the books in the series.
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