The Brightonomicon

Robert Rankin is the man who has taken the telling of the tall tale and turned it into novels. BBC Radio 7 turned his novel into a thirteen part radio series, in which the man himself cameos, and it is wonderfully funny.

The story centers on Hugo Rune, the Guru's Guru, played by David Warner. Warner is well cast, oscillating between grandiose arrogance, mysterious pronouncements and sleaze with effortless charisma and charm. As a bit of a Rankin fanboy, I have to say that he sounds much as I had imagined Rune would. Rune himself is based on the likes of Aleister Crowley, so if you know Big Al's reputation, you know what to expect from Rune.

In this instance, Rune has set himself twelve tasks based on the Brighton street zodiac which forms the Brightonomicon itself. Further than that, explanations of the plot are pointless since Rankin's works often seem to meander from bizarre situation to surreal circumstance until the author sees fit to bring everything together in one mystifying finale. All of this, all of the running jokes, the asides, the digressions into so-odd-it-could-only-be-real forteana, the sometimes chilling conspiracies, all of these things are present in the radio series. Including the continuing gag about the General Electrics minigun, which is a personal favourite.

In the Brightonomicon you will find weeping statues of Queen Victoria, Morris Minors forever cursed to wander a one way system, the terrible truth about the National Health System, the multifold dangers of Spaniels and many more things besides.

You will also find Andy Serkis as Count Otto Black, the most evil man in the world and the nemesis of Hugo Rune, and Mark Wing Davey (better known to fandom as the original (and best) Zaphod Beeblebrox) as the literally ubiquitous barman Fangio.

Characters from other Rankin books pop up - Danbury Collins (psychic youth and world pocket billiards champion) and Lazlo Woodbine both show their faces.

It's worth finding, if you can, and listening to. Also, it speaks rather highly of BBC 7 that they would include this as part of their science fiction and fantasy hour. 13 thirty minute installments allow you to gasp with awe and shock at the powers of the legendary Rune and his apprentice Rizla, and gasp you will as the Guru's Guru, the Lad Himself, the Hocus Bloke does his stuff.

Highly recommended, as are Robert Rankin's books.