Just another Nightside book
Posted by Q on February 13, 2009
Being John Taylor...you're doin it wrong
Simon R. Green’s losing his touch, which shows clearly in his new Nightside book; Just Another Judgement Day, with yet another successful impossible adventure in the area formerly & currently known as Nightside. But first, let’s get there
The protagonist John Taylor is like a fantasy Chuck Norris; a lone ranger who brings justice to all those who ask for it, from him, personally. There’s plenty of available back-story in the 8 previous Nightside books which roundly establishes the fact. Usually he gets to tackle one really really tough Boss character in every book, the one here is called “the Walking Man” who, to paraphrase the author, is God’s wrath on evil-doers. But his definition of evil is rather straight-jacketed, which means that when this dude walks into Nightside, the ouroboros of good & evil, there’s gonna be literally hell to pay. And since this robot is powered by God’s wrath, there ain’t nobody who can turn it off.
The best thing about Nightside books is their often neatly wrapped conclusion. Plus action. Loads of action. And memorable characters, preferably with an adjectivized [yeah, sic] first name – Shotgun Suzie, Punk God of the Straight Razor, Walker…they’re all pigeon-holed characters who play their parts perfectly. They work like crocs, you see one and you know rightaway that its gonna fit well and you’ll be comfortable. All of SRG is like that, comfortable (and actionable) screen after screen, till it cuts to wrap. Which is usually neat, satisfying and everything
But this is rather wishy-washy. Although the bad side does have a usual invincible protagonist, the story ends with a bare whimper. And not even a believable one at that (whatever precious little there is to believe in fantasy anyway). Plus, the usual characters take a back-seat as a Nemo-like character makes his appearance as Johnny sidekick to Mr. Taylor. Which means few funny situations and fewer laconic humor. The overall novel suffers.
My rating 5/10. Readable if you’re a SRG fan, bilge if you’re a fantasy fan
