Ben Elton -- The first causalty

[jack]

I've read a few Ben Elton books. Some have been enjoyable, and some haven't grabbed me -- like many authors I feel they orbit one book which shows off all the best aspects and is a classic, which may or may not have been or ever be written.

The First Casualty is about inspector Kingsley of the metropolitan police, who refuses to fight in WWI, but is then chosen to investigate the murder of an officer in Ypres.

I love Kingsley, he has the arrogant intellectualism and bastardry that appeals to me. Of course I like a book about someone being arrested for a point of logic, who is later shown to be as brave and effective and patriotic as anyone who wasn't when he ends up in the war anyway, and just happens to save two attacks.

However, the morality of things, and Kingsley's opinions, all seem to be dispensed with an exceptionally heavy hand. Be it his thoughts, or his defense at trial, whatever he's thinking is belaboured. That the average German soldier hasn't done anything worth being killed for (other than, perhaps, killing average British soldiers) is a reaosnable position, but "it isn't logical" is repeated over and over, as if this will make it into some sort of insight.

The plot is decent, enjoyable, but nothing special. The ending is fairly sweet.

Comments

[mair_in_grenderich]

ooh! I read that recently!