THIS OTHER EDEN A Comedy Novel By Ben Elton, Price œ5.99 Paperback Read and Reviewed by JAMES JILLIANS This Other Eden is Ben Elton's latest book - it hit the shelves of your local bookshop in late September. I've decided to write this review for the hundreds (?!?) of comedy devotees who took my advice from last issue and read his other novels. The book is about the Earth a few generations into the future (or sooner), when man has polluted his environment to such an extent that he is expecting the end of the world at any moment. The oceans have turned into a soup of rubbish, oil, sewage and dangerous chemicals, with about as much water in them as a dead flea's bladder. People are afraid to go out into the sunshine without their UV-protection umbrellas, for fear of fatal radiation. Great Britain (in a vain attempt to revive the economy) has become the paid dumping ground for the world's waste ... and the human race can't organise themselves well enough to do anything about it! A group of environmentalists, led by the Danish "demi-god", Jugen Thor, have formed a terrorist organisation to scare people into doing something about the deteriorating situation. Plastic Tolstoy, the incredibly successful and often immoral businessman, has started marketing the "claustropheres", self- supporting, back-garden pollution shelters, safe havens for mankind to use when the Earth finally becomes uninhabitable. People have bought them by the million, being more concerned about escaping the end of the world than trying to prevent it! The novel deals with the escapades of Nathan Hoddy (a love-sick British writer), Max Maximus (latest Hollywood teen-idol), Rosalie (Irish environmental activist cum terrorist) and Judy Schwarz (textbook nerd and CIA secret agent) as they try to postpone complete ecological breakdown long enough to expose an evil plot hatched by some of the most influential men in society. A sobering storyline, maybe, but one with plenty of scope for a few satirical jokes about the stupidity of the human race! The author's intention is clearly to amuse us, whilst pressing home important "green" issues and convincing us of the ignorance and absurdity of mankind. He manages this marvellously. Your perspective on the world and mankind may be irreversibly changed after reading this - any delusions that everything will be okay in the end and that the human race knows what it is doing, will be shattered! As usual, Ben Elton's sarcastic sense of humour, is all pervading, taking the mickey out of anything that has the misfortune to be even slightly ridiculous (thank heavens Ben Elton doesn't know James Judge!). The Earth in the future is a place where everything that is stupid or frustrating has been exaggerated. For example, television has ceased to be based on programmes, having given way to "advertainment", entertainment through non-stop advertising! A critical eye is cast over the life-styles of the mega-rich and famous. Other little things, like the plastic toys you find in cereal boxes and the massive number of useless appliances on a pocket penknife are also ridiculed. Different sorts of people, of different status and mentality, have their faults identified and unceremoniously scoffed at. The shocking thing is, everything that Ben Elton says makes sense! You can't help but believe in his image of absurdity and farce. There are a LOT of sexual jokes, and much lewd description and comment. This is the other major characteristic of Ben Elton's style of humour, so if this is isn't your cup of tea, or you can't put up with it then you won't enjoy reading this book. Personally, I think Ben Elton goes a little far, but it is hard not to laugh at his sheer rudeness! There are also many swear words. If you are willing to persevere with this sort of humour, which you may not have previously encountered, then you'll be laughing all the way through. The plot of the novel is excellent and original. It is full of twists and surprises which will intrigue you from cover to cover. There are plenty of mini-stories, where Ben Elton goes off at a tangent to include more jokes, but these never seem forced and don't impede your progress along the main storyline. There is a really good cheerful ending, which makes a nice contrast to the rest of the novel. T.O.E. is exciting - it has you on the very edge of your comfy armchair at times. You can really identify with the characters, hoping desperately that they will survive and triumph over the "big baddies" in the end stages of the story. The book has everything - excitement, intrigue, romance, well defined characters, philosophical comments about the world and ... most importantly, humour. The text is divided into chapters, which in turn are divided into mini-chapters - a format which works well and makes reading a pleasure. J.J. ROUND-UP This Other Eden is thoroughly recommended to all who don't mind a the sexual humour and swear words. The satirical jokes about the mentality of mankind and his actions have you laughing continually because they ring true! The plot is intriguing and original, and extremely funny, but there is also a thought provoking "serious" side to the book. The novel is almost (but not quite) as good as "Gridlock", one of Ben Elton's other novels. If you haven't read a novel by Ben Elton before I suggest you try reading "This Other Eden" or "Gridlock" just for the experience! J.J. RATINGS FUN-FACTOR : 9 out of 10 JILLI-READ RATING : 9 out of 10 Coming soon: "The Last Man" The third Red Dwarf Novel by Grant Naylor.