Continuing the concept of the books being like TV series or seasons, Ghost Requiem opens with a "Previously..." page which quickly brings the reader up to speed on the salient points from series one. However, what's different this time is that although we still get six "episodes", they are far more interlinked and dependant on each other - more a series of events that flow to create a cohesive whole storyline rather than distinct individual adventures with seeding of the arc plot as in book one. It's a nice change and shows that the author is not afraid to vary his storytelling techniques. What's also apparent is that as both author and reader are now comfortable with the major characters, it's time to shake things up a bit and delve deeper into their psyche and motivations. So along with more exciting action, adventure and violence we also get more depth. The dynamic of the Talifero family gets some welcome fleshing out too, with a couple of new players who may start out as background dressing but soon become intrinsic to the series ' finale'.
The crew of the appropriated "Slider" ship that Rebecca and Co use to flit around the galaxy in is also filling out nicely (it's a bit like early episodes of 'Blake's 7', only with less room and no Brian Blessed) Their vessel really could do with a proper name though. Like last time there is more fun to be had spotting the names and places that reference the authors favourite TV shows and interests. I'm sure there was a baroque painter in there too. For me, one of the highlights of these books is the way that Mr Martin is able to really create visualisations of his characters and their foes for the reader with just a few short economical lines of descriptive prose. Just read this excerpt from 'A Cold Day In Hell':
"Dressed in black clothes. Black gauze. Including a smooth black balaclava-like head covering and gloves. The uniform was not clean, or new, but rather durable - as if the owner had just that set of clothes for life. On his chest winked lights and neons from a small metal box - red, green, blues. Stains and streaks and smears besmirched the outfit. It looked quite damp. Human eyes gazed out from the eye-holes. Dead, lifeless eyes which rolled in their sockets and wobbled like under-cooked eggs".
See what I mean? If I was a designer for a TV programme, those few sentences would be all I needed to get the creative juices flowing. It's the same for the reader (well this one anyway). I can *see* these creatures - they're called The Shriek - in my mind very clearly. It's an important skill for a writer and Iain has certainly got to grips with it (maybe all those years of reading Terrance Dicks has helped).
The various escapades in this volume range from battling gigantic sea creatures, 'zombies' in a mountain top castle (with two supporting characters who could have stepped out of a "Fast Show" sketch - although come to think of it maybe looking behind the scenes on a certain well known British SF show might lead to a different comparison...), the return of a vanquished villain and more about his race, and a trip to a eerily familiar lugubrious, boggly-eyed psychotherapist. Add in a couple of shocking deaths (no I'm not telling you who) and more twists and turns you don't see coming - plus an answer to the title of book one - and it's another recipe for success.
The central premise of Winterhill's amnesia and the mystery of the Tick Tock Man might not be resolved yet but there are clues along the way and to be honest it's too soon to reveal all. It took Earl Dumarest almost thirty novels to find Earth in the series by E.C. Tubb and ten books for the conspiracy to be truly revealed in the 'Family D'Alembert' saga from E.E. Doc Smith & Stephen Goldin. Just as long as it doesn't turn out like 'Lost'. I'm confident it won't.
All in all it's resounding thumbs up for this second set of six adventures. The stories are going from strength to strength and it will be very interesting to see where Iain Martin takes things next. When it only costs £2.00 it's definitely worth your time and money.
Time for a quick dip in the pool and a siesta. Then it's a short break while I read another anticipated novel saved for my holiday, before moving onto book three!*
*Sorry Mr Martin, Scott Lynch and The Gentleman Bastards are calling me...
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