Monday, September 10, 2007

'Something from the Nightside' by Simon R. Green


ISBN: 0441010652
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 230pp
Publisher: Ace
Price: $6.99

Something from the Nightside is the first in Simon R. Green’s Nightside Series, a group of books based around John Taylor, a private detective that has a gift for finding lost things.

John has been living in London for five years when Joanna Barett, a rich business woman, asks him to find her missing daughter Cathy. She has one clue, Nightside. John left the Nightside, swearing never to go back, but he’s a sucker for someone in need and agrees to find the girl for a hefty price. The one condition Joanna has is that she gets to go along.

The Nightside is a square mile in the middle of London, except that it’s bigger than that, and it’s always three in the morning. All kinds live there: myths, monsters, dreams, and a few seemingly normal people just passing through. It’s where you go to find the things that can only live in the dead of night.

John, who’s name is still spoken of in the Nightside, goes back to one of his old haunts to collect some information on the missing girl. In Strangefellows, a bar that has been open since the beginning of time, John runs into one of his old friends, Razor Eddie, the Punk God of the Straight Razor. Except that in the Nightside things are not always what they seem and friends are not always friends. From there, it’s a wild ride through the dark streets in search of Cathy.

Simon R. Green fills the book with characters that really stand out. From Razor Eddie to Suzie Shooter, better known as Shotgun Suzie, and even John himself; these characters are never quite what they seem, just like the Nightside. John’s past is hinted at, but nothing really solid comes through. I’m hoping in the future books you learn more about his past and why his name is remembered, for one reason or another, by everyone in the Nightside.

Something from the Nightside is a quick horrific novel. From insects exploding out of a man’s body to faceless men with hypodermic needles for fingers, this novel is filled with images straight from your darkest nightmares. Throw in a little noir style and dark rich atmosphere, and you have one heck of a read.

17 comments:

Angela/SciFiChick said...

Each book reveals a little more about him until the ultimate show down in about the 5th or 6th book.

Katie said...

I really like it so far, I'm glad that more about who he is comes out. Does the series keep going after the 5th or 6th book? I haven't looked him up yet, I guess I should.

Angela/SciFiChick said...

Yes, I've read up to book 6. But book 7 came out last January and 8th is in the works...

Katie said...

oh wow, it's bigger than I thought at first, that's great. do you like them all?

Anonymous said...

And now for something completely unrelated!

In response to one of your comments, I recommended that you try Maledicte by Lane Robins. I have not read it myself -- it seems too dark for my taste -- but it might be right up your alley.

Angela/SciFiChick said...

I do.. Though I'm wondering where he could've gone with the 7th book. The series could have easily ended with the 6th. But I love the dark comedy/noir feel. It's definitely a unique series, like none other!

Katie said...

Maledicte is on my list! :) I'm dying to read it but I just haven't found time or the money. Maybe I should contact the publisher? I'll have to try that.

Katie said...

Angela, I really do like the dark humor. I'll have to keep reading them.

T.C. Robson said...

"Quick horrific novel"...you're correct about that! You're so speedy! This sounds like an excellent, creepy book. Very mystifying story.

minijonb said...

well, it's (sorta) set in London, so i'd at least dig that part. being an Anglophile and all...

Katie said...

T.C., it's good and yeah kind of creepy, the bug thing got me... just... yuk!

MiniJonB, you'd like this then. The London thing is there, but since they spend most of the time in the Nightside you lose that a little... but still really great :)

dingobear said...

sounds spooky

Katie said...

It is kind of but still pretty good

Pallav said...

just what i was looking for! men with hypodermic needle fingers! man thats cool :D

ok suggest something since we don't get these books in my part of the world (only best sellers and popular books reach here) and I don't have a credit card to buy it and order it as far as india, what should a person in my place do? :)

N

Pallav said...

http://www.bluemoonrising.nl/nightside.html

you might like this ;)

N

Katie said...

Nothingman, damn. Well... have you tried looking it up under an ebook format? I haven't given too much thought to other formats but I'll look into it. I'll look around and see what I can find.

Katie said...

Nothingman, Good news! Here is a link where you can download it in e-book format.

http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/something-from-the-nightside-green-ebooks.htm

I couldn't find one for free but at least they do have them in this format. I'll have to start including the links from now on.