Review of Bad Form
-
CDBeck
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 31
- Joined: 04 May 2022, 15:29
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 17
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-cdbeck.html
- Latest Review: The Impossible Mock Orange Trial by Thad G. Long
Review of Bad Form
[Following is a volunteer review of "Bad Form" by Joe Taylor.]
So what happens when you play hooky from work and wander into the misty woods behind your rented farmhouse? You might end up in a magical world complete with a multidimensional house. And that's just what happens to University of Alabama computer guy Billy Wise in Bad Form by Joe Taylor.
The guard is changing at “The House” when it’s Mrs. Snelling's turn to rule. The first order of business is to put her house in order by getting rid of troublemaker Lady Sophia, also known as “Soapy.” Friends of Soapy and Soapy herself lure Billy into their world to oppose Mrs. Snelling's plan. Billy takes the bait and follows the beautiful Soapy, Bogus the rattlesnake, and Alexandra the shape-shifting unicorn, ending up in a magical land complete with what looks like his dream house. That dream house turns out to be more of a nightmare house where dangers aplenty lurk in odd passageways, portals, and rooms arranged in an impossible floor plan. With his companions, and sometimes without, Billy learns the house rules and stays one step ahead of Mrs. Snelling as he tries to rescue Soapy. Can he beat the house and whisk Soapy to the safety of Tuscaloosa to live happily ever after?
The lighthearted tone is a welcome break from the seriousness of most fantasy quest novels. Tongue-in-cheek humor packs this sci-fi/ fantasy novel, and numerous allusions encompass history, literature, and culture. The characters are well-drawn and complement each other well: Soapy is kind and sensible, and Alexandra is a sweetie. Billy and Bogus tie for my choice of favorite character. Billy has a dry wit and an even-keeled personality. He takes the revelation of his shortcomings in stride, and dealing with them is all part of the quest. Bogus, a talking snake, is unusually long-lived and claims to have been personally acquainted with famous people from history. But his humor is so tongue-in-cheek that you don't know how much to take seriously. I like how the Nightmare House brings together science fiction and fantasy. The science fiction part is that it's multidimensional, with big and small rooms and holding entire landscapes. Magical things found in fantasy stories fill these rooms. Finally, I liked the rebellious nature of Soapy, Bogus, and friends – the house rebels fighting against the house tyranny, as in all good quest stories.
The only thing I don’t like about this book is that the plot feels unbalanced. The beginning drags on too long. The cycle of Billy resolving house problems only to have The House throw more problems at him repeats more than necessary. At some point, I wondered when Billy would stop reacting and start taking action. The long beginning makes the part where Billy finally acts to resolve the conflict feel rushed.
I give Bad Form 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the plot and greatly appreciated the humor. The long beginning didn’t annoy me enough to deduct a star. The book was well edited, with fewer than ten errors that distracted from the story. I recommend this book to science fiction and fantasy fans, especially those who like dry and witty humor.
******
Bad Form
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
So what happens when you play hooky from work and wander into the misty woods behind your rented farmhouse? You might end up in a magical world complete with a multidimensional house. And that's just what happens to University of Alabama computer guy Billy Wise in Bad Form by Joe Taylor.
The guard is changing at “The House” when it’s Mrs. Snelling's turn to rule. The first order of business is to put her house in order by getting rid of troublemaker Lady Sophia, also known as “Soapy.” Friends of Soapy and Soapy herself lure Billy into their world to oppose Mrs. Snelling's plan. Billy takes the bait and follows the beautiful Soapy, Bogus the rattlesnake, and Alexandra the shape-shifting unicorn, ending up in a magical land complete with what looks like his dream house. That dream house turns out to be more of a nightmare house where dangers aplenty lurk in odd passageways, portals, and rooms arranged in an impossible floor plan. With his companions, and sometimes without, Billy learns the house rules and stays one step ahead of Mrs. Snelling as he tries to rescue Soapy. Can he beat the house and whisk Soapy to the safety of Tuscaloosa to live happily ever after?
The lighthearted tone is a welcome break from the seriousness of most fantasy quest novels. Tongue-in-cheek humor packs this sci-fi/ fantasy novel, and numerous allusions encompass history, literature, and culture. The characters are well-drawn and complement each other well: Soapy is kind and sensible, and Alexandra is a sweetie. Billy and Bogus tie for my choice of favorite character. Billy has a dry wit and an even-keeled personality. He takes the revelation of his shortcomings in stride, and dealing with them is all part of the quest. Bogus, a talking snake, is unusually long-lived and claims to have been personally acquainted with famous people from history. But his humor is so tongue-in-cheek that you don't know how much to take seriously. I like how the Nightmare House brings together science fiction and fantasy. The science fiction part is that it's multidimensional, with big and small rooms and holding entire landscapes. Magical things found in fantasy stories fill these rooms. Finally, I liked the rebellious nature of Soapy, Bogus, and friends – the house rebels fighting against the house tyranny, as in all good quest stories.
The only thing I don’t like about this book is that the plot feels unbalanced. The beginning drags on too long. The cycle of Billy resolving house problems only to have The House throw more problems at him repeats more than necessary. At some point, I wondered when Billy would stop reacting and start taking action. The long beginning makes the part where Billy finally acts to resolve the conflict feel rushed.
I give Bad Form 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the plot and greatly appreciated the humor. The long beginning didn’t annoy me enough to deduct a star. The book was well edited, with fewer than ten errors that distracted from the story. I recommend this book to science fiction and fantasy fans, especially those who like dry and witty humor.
******
Bad Form
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Impossible Mock Orange Trial by Thad G. Long
