For all those who begged... that SFX review in full
Hinterland
It's the end of the world as we know it. Especially if you've read The Invisibles
Hinterland should be perfect for SFX readers. It contains references to Star Trek, the X-Files and comic books. Blending transvestites, the number 23 and hallucinogenic trips with tramps and Sherlock Holmes quotes, David Barnett's book has many parallels with Grant Morrison's Invisibles series.
The plot is intriguing enough. When journo Dave and his dodgy mates stumble upon another world, reality starts to fall apart. Can Dave solve the mystery of the flame-proof painting or the guttural prostitute twins? Is the weirdness that's invading suburbia down to his drug use? Or is there something more sinister afoot?
Despite the decent premise, Hinterland is hard to enjoy. Barnett uses everything that made the Invisibles great - literary references, nods to British kitsch, fetishism, modern magic - but fails to find the same spark. Any interesting ideas are smothered under the weight of a sense of humour that is, at best, "wacky", at worst, desperate. At times you'll find yourself checking the cover to make sure the author isn't another David: Brent.
If you can stand lines like "Then the effluent punches the wind-making machine", you might want to give Hinterland a try. But if lines like "I treat relationships like butterflies, knowing that no matter how good or beautiful they are, they're never going to last" make you want to gouge out your eyes with a copy of Stephen King's On Writing, then this is one Hint you shouldn't take.
Sam Ashurst.
Two stars (out of five)
***
Actually, that was quite cathartic, typing that out. And they've got a very good point with the last par - those quotes really are cringeworthy and I can't believe I wrote lines so bad. I just wish they hadn't picked on the two worst examples from the book... |
