Pages

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Simon R. Green: GHOST FINDERS

Author: Simon R. Green
Series: GHOST FINDERS (UF)
Ratings: V5, S1, H4
Publisher and Titles: Ace: Ghost of a Chance (2010)




     This nonsensical series is set in London, where two groups of supernaturally talented humans are rivals for control of the power of magic. The Carnacki Institute "exists to investigate, interpret, and hopefully Do Something About all the many mysteries and strange supernatural events that flare up every year" (p. 3). Their rival, the Crowley Project, wants to use magic to control the world (their current leader is named Vivienne MacAbre).

     The good-guy team consists of JC Chance (arrogant team leader), Melody Chambers (techno geek), and Happy Jack Palmer (pill-popping telepath). The bad-guy team members are Natasha Chang (vicious, ghost-eating telepath), and Erik Grossman (sociopathic mad scientist).

     Book 1 finds both teams in a London subway (tube) station that has been commandeered by an ancient evil spirit. The humor comes from the flippant dialogue among the shallow and foolish characters. The story is quite violent, both in the encounters of the rival groups and in their battles with various magical elements. The plot (big, unknown evil thing threatens civilization as we know it) seems constructed mainly as a structure on which to drape the characters' attempts at witty repartee, many of which are painfully childish.

No comments:

Post a Comment