Celebrity Werewolf

Andrew Wallace

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

Suave, sophisticated, erudite and charming, Gig Danvers seems too good to be true. He appears from nowhere and sets about revolutionising science and promoting humanitarian causes, using his growing influence for the benefit of all humankind. But where did he come from, and are his critics right to be cautious? Is there a darker side to this enigmatic benefactor – one that's more in keeping with his persona as Celebrity Werewolf?

Andrew Wallace masterfully blends horror with high concept science fiction, in a short novel of first contact that is both moving and funny, yet plumbs the darkness of the human soul. The result is a story of surprises, wonder, and of hope.

'Fang-sharp science fiction: witty, readable and simply bristling with lupine splendour.'

Review by Nigel (280219) Rating (8/10)

Review by Nigel
Book Source: Publisher
Rating 8/10
This was an interesting one. I must admit the cover threw me into thinking of trash TV and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here*, however, I’m a huge fan of Adam Roberts (whose endorsement adorns the book) so I was nevertheless optimistic.

The book is set in a nationalistic post Brexit Kingdom of England, now separated from the wealthy Northern Republic (formerly Scotland and United Ireland) and the Welsh Protectorate following a series of calamitous trade wars and embargoes that crippled the British economy – prophetic?

Gig Danvers wakes up in a field with no memory of how he got there or who he is; the one thing he does know is that he is a werewolf… permanently. He soon comes to the attention of the authorities, as well as the public, by performing various selfless acts of heroism. As Gig becomes more and more famous a number of factions are out to get him, not least the ironically named Saxon Jihad.

This start is very tongue in cheek with some nice laugh-out-loud moments, such as when Gig is subjected to various tests; “There is nothing in the subject’s saliva to suggest that his condition is transferable by biting. Injection of subject’s body fluids into test animals and human volunteers had no effect. Subject was requested to bite a volunteer, upon which the volunteer gained prolonged orgasm and then passed out.” This sets the scene for the first half of the story but then the book becomes much more serious and dark, dipping its toe, if not its whole leg, into hard science fiction territory.

While not a long book (178 pages) Celebrity Werewolf was a real joy to read and much like Gig himself, suave, sophisticated, erudite and charming.
Nigel (28th February 2019)
*No offence to fans but seriously?