Book Review | Numan Versus Numan by @itsnickyblue #darkcomedy #britishfiction #bookreview
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  • N. N. Light
    • Mar 3, 2020
    • 4 min read

Book Review | Numan Versus Numan by @itsnickyblue #darkcomedy #britishfiction #bookreview



Title: Numan Versus Numan

Author: Nicky Blue

Genre: Dark Comedy, British Fiction


Book Blurb:


Two tribute bands. One ultimate prize. Zero room for failure. Having been blown away by seeing Gary Numan perform 'Bombers' on TV in 1978, Five went out the very next day and put an ad in the paper to form a tribute band. He named it 'The Romford Bombers'. They soon went on to dominate the Numan tribute band circuit. Until last year that is, when 'The Storm Troopers' came out of nowhere and stole their crown. The Bombers’ 56-year-old lead singer will do whatever it takes to win it back. He also has reason to believe The Storm Troopers are pursuing a hidden agenda, and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it. As Five wrestles with his suspicions, the Romford and Dagenham Gary Numan Fan Club organise one final battle of the bands. The winner will become the all-time ultimate Numan tribute act. The stakes have never been higher. Five enlists the help of his best mate, Pete - wild card and hacker extraordinaire - and the two dive into the dark web in search of answers to the following questions: - Why is there no trace of The Storm Troopers before last year? - Why does Ross, the Troopers’ singer and Five’s nemesis, have suspicious gaps in his knowledge of Numanology? - Why does he work at the local undertaker’s and what are those weird neon lights coming from the backyard? And what would the real Gary Numan think about all this? Five has been writing to Gary, perhaps one day he will receive a reply. Read the book to find out what Five discovers about the mysterious Storm Troopers, the damnable, girlfriend-stealing Ross and his sinister deeds! PLEASE NOTE This book is not just for Gary Numan fans, but please be warned it does contain middle-aged men wearing eyeliner. Most of the characters come from Essex. If you are not familiar with that part of the United Kingdom, you may come away with rich cultural insights that change the way you perceive human existence. No lobsters or geography teachers were harmed in the writing of this book. If bad language offends you, It's probably best you read something from the cosy mystery section instead. This is book one in the Alternative 80s series.


My Review:


I have probably in all seriousness read well over 1000 books and maybe even more than 2000 books in my life. I have never read a book like this one. This book is 100% an original take on writing as I have never seen. The author describes the book as a Dark Comedy. It certainly hits that area with the take on the subject matter.


The focus of the book, the deep, deep concentration on a certain unique group of individuals trying to win a music contest is proof of the genre. The author could have gone for many more cheap laughs by keying on the main character's full name but rarely did that apple fall from the tree. The main man, of course, is Five Watts - a rather dim personality in my view (see the laughs are easily attainable).


The best thing I can say is this book is for every fan of the TV show, Seinfeld. This is a book about nothing. That the entire book can be based around one event is remarkable in the Seinfeld-esque nothingness. There is, of course, a finale but I will leave that out on the ledge. The strength of the book is in the nonsensical nature of it.


If there is one issue, it is that to fully get the nuances, you really have to be from a certain part of Essex. If you aren't, then you miss some of the cleverly written subtleties.


A compelling tale of people going nowhere, doing not much in a place you probably don't want to live.


My Rating: 4.5 stars


Buy it Now:


Free to read on Kindle Unlimited!








Author Biography:


Hi, I’m Nicky, I am from Brighton in England. I grew up fascinated by books like Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected and t.v. shows like The Twilight Zone. For years I played and wrote songs in an alternative rock band before going back to university and studying English Literature and Philosophy. I now have a passion for writing fantasy and dark comedy fiction. I love stories that dig beneath the surface of everyday life and play in the shadow worlds that we all have. Outside of my writing, I recently worked as a translator on the planet KELT 2Ab in the Andromeda Galaxy. That didn’t last very long though as the commute was killing me. I also write dark fiction and dystopias under the pen name Mr. Blue. Find me here: www.amazon.com/author/mrblue If you would like to keep updated on my writing please subscribe to my reader’s list at: www.nickyblue.com/freebie


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Reviewed by: Mr. N


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