Product Description

Continuing the theme of "Armageddon: the Musical", this book chronicles the further adventures of characters such as Rambo Bloodaxe, Deathblade Eric and Hugo Rune, caught up in events beyond their control.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26827 in Books
• Published on: 1992-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

From the Back Cover
QUIVER AT! Horrible demonic stuff oozing out of computer screens!

SHOCK HORROR! Elvis Presley pulling his face off!

GASP AT! a talking brussels sprout!

SEE! Cannibals on the rampage!

HEAR! Fido the Dog do Frankie Howerd impressions!

SEE! Rex Mundi, Rambo Bloodaxe, Deathblade Eric, Hugo Rune and a cast of millions caught up in Events Beyond Their Control!

THRILL TO! all the loose ends from Armageddon the Musical magically tied up!

WATCH! A comic genius doing the business!

SEE?

About the Author
Robert Rankin
Robert Rankin is the author of Web Site Story, Waiting for Godalming, Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls, Snuff Fiction, Apocalypso, The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag, Sprout Mask Replica, Nostradamus Ate My Hamster, A Dog Called Demolition, The Garden of Unearthly Delights, The Most Amazing Man Who Ever Lived, The Greatest Show Off Earth, Raiders of the Lost Car Park, The Book of Ultimate Truths, the Armageddon quartet (three books), and the Brentford trilogy (five books) which are all published by Corgi Books. Robert Rankin's latest novel, The Fandom of the Operator, is now available as a Doubleday hardback.

Customer Reviews

The Best Rankin book?
...however, the book is the second part of a trilogy, so it is definitely not the place to start, and a lot of the running gags are from the original.

You love or loathe Rankin. For Rankin, the plot doesn't really matter, it is there just as a vehicle to transport his gags. Rankin is the God of his created world, he is in charge of everything, and it doens't have to obey any rules.

It is hard to complain about something not making sense, when one of the main stars of the book is Elvis Presley with a time travelling sprout called Barry in his head.

This installment of the 'Armageddon' trilogy is, for me, the best and funniest of the three, and is some of Rankin's best work. The Armageddon trilogy is not to be missed for lovers of the anarchic and nonsensical comedic literature that Rankin crafts.

Let�s do Armageddon again!
A sequel to Armageddon the Musical seems like a difficult proposition, as the first novel seemingly tied up most of it's loose ends by the climax, with evil vanquished and Earth in a new post-apocalyptic paradise - so Rankin manages to keep the story going by winding the clock back and sending heroes Rex Mundi (husband of Jesus Christ's twin sister) and Elvis Presley (complete with brain-embedded talking time-sprout called Barry) back in time to destroy the Anti-Christ and prevent the nuclear holocaust event established in the first novel from ever occurring. Yes - it really is that mad.

Bringing the characters of the first novel into a more recognisable setting leads to some good opportunities for humour, with this being a more amusing read than Armageddon the Musical. This novel also features the first (I think) appearance of the amazing Hugo Rune, and though confined to chapter headings only this future start of Rankin's novels makes quite an impact. The inevitable build-up to the nuclear holocaust is well handled, with an additional subplot involving the bureaucratic breakdown of the maintenance of the machine that keeps the world turning (I told you it was mad) adding some interest. Unfortunately the ending is a bit disappointing, as time fractures result in characters and plotlines popping into and out of existence and arguing with the author - even Jim Pooley and John Omally from the Brentford novels pop in to comment on the climax ("And is that how it ends?" "Most unsatisfactory").

Still it's a bold experimental end to a gloriously daft novel, and Rankin does have one more Armageddon book to provide a more satisfying ending. In short if you liked the first Armageddon novel you'll find this just as enjoyable, though with the series complex time-travelling continuity I recommend you read them back to back to avoid getting hopelessly confused.

The Middle Bit
The second in the trilogy where once again our hero seeks to defy the attempts of the antichrist to take over the world.

If you liked the first book - buy this one. If you didnt like the frst book, I think you should stop there!

I found this one funny, but I did fins it hard going in places. The running gags are all good, but they just dragged a tiny bit too long.

Having said that i love meeting new characters, which this book has a few of, but then I also like the way Rankin brings back the same characters, just they look or sound slightly different. maybe wearing a new hat.

Its good.