Title : The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse
Author : Robert Rankin
Date of Publication : 2002
ISBN : 0-575-07401-9
"Once upon a time Jack set out to seek his fortune in the big city - but when Jack finally gets there, it is Toy City, formerly known as Toy Town. And there is a serial killer loose upon the streets.
One by one, the old, rich nursery rhyme charachters are being brutally slaughtered. The Toy City police are getting nowhere; Bill Winkie, Private Eye, has also mysteriously vanished, leaving only his sidekick, Eddie Bear to take care of business.
But Eddie's ready, and when he teams up with Jack, the two set out on an epic adventure. Not to mention a lot of heavy drinking, bad behaviour, fast car chases, gratuitous sex and violence, bizarre toy fetishism and all-round grossness. Of a type not normally associated with Toy Town."
Writing style.
I have never read Robert Rankin before, but his writing came reccomended to me by various people. On the back of one of his books, it says that 'He is the only person I have read, who can make me laugh' - Terry Pratchett.
The story is funny, first and foremost. From time to time, there are just little lines thrown in to make you rofl. The writing about the crimes makes you think, but there are a lot of red herrings to keep you guessing as to the true nature of the criminal.
Would I reccomend it?
An excellent introduction into Rankin. Very funny, but it makes me think he is more than a little disturbed. Buy it, read it and see what I mean.
Best bit (Non-Spoiler) [Little Boy Blue has just been murdered, Chief inspector Bellis is informing an undercover Jack of how the deceased became deceased.]
"You might recognise the murder weapon. It's his crook. His original crook, from the days when he was a humble shepherd. It was kept in the showcase by the door. It would appear that he was bending over, tying his shoelace. We think someone took the crook, then ran at him, using the bottom end as a spear. It entered his own bottom end and left by his mouth. Much in the manner one might spit a pig for a barbecue."
My Rating : 9/10
I can only describe this as different. I thought I was wierd, but Rankin has definately convinced me to part with a little more of my cash and buy some of his books. (They come in a variety of lurid and psychadelic colour schemes and are all supposedly as hilarious as this.)
Happy reading. My next book shall be 'Legend' by David Gemmell.