Magnus Mills: The Restraint of Beasts

[Wintergreen]

I remember all the fuss about this book when it first came out, but somehow never got round to reading it until now. I loved the otherwordly atmosphere and the way Mills turned the mundane existence of the fencers into something sinister. It was all building up very nicely until the end, which was a real disappointment. As the final pages approached I began to wonder how the story was all going to tie together in such a short space of time, and the answer was it didn't. It just stopped, with a half-hearted twist. Did anyone else feel the same way about the ending?

 

[Proofreader]

No, I loved every moment of this - one of those rare books that made me laugh out loud - and of all his subsequent work. He has such a unique way of writing, and such a surreal view. He's a bit like J.L. Carr in that he is recognised as a writer to be reckoned with, but somehow he doesn't catch the general interest.