Comedy — The Blank Page

Backwards by Rob Grant

This is it then, my friends. The end of the road. We’ve reached the last of the Red Dwarf novels – Rob Grant’s Backwards. A second, alternative version of events that follow on from the reality bending rollercoaster that is Better Than Life.

Which, I guess, kind of makes this the Superman Returns of the Red Dwarf universe. No, hang on, that’s far too cruel a way to start this review. This is not Superman Returns, and it’s not Superman 3 either. Or, sadly, the first Superman. Very much few things out there are the first Superman movie. A lot of things might think they are, but they’re more sort of Superman 2, if you know what I mean.

In fact, let’s just steer clear of the Superman references from now on. You’re not going to find as many winners there as you’d like to think. Whereas, so far, these Red Dwarf novels have all worked for me, three out of three.

Book review, Books, Comedy, ReviewChristopher Long4 March 2023Red Dwarf, Backwards, BBC, Rob Grant, QuanderhornComment

Last Human by Doug Naylor

Dear Doug Naylor,

Hi, we’ve not met before, although I’ve given you some money over the years. Not a lot. I won’t have funded any house moves or helped you build an extension to your office, but you might’ve bought the occasional takeaway thanks to me enjoying some your licensed merchandise. The reason I’m writing to you is that I’ve recently realised I owe you an apology.

The Grant Naylor Red Dwarf Novels

I first heard about Red Dwarf in the place where you learnt about most of what was destined to become your favourite flavour of escapism – the playground. I’m pretty sure I actually started watching it when series IV came out. That was definitely my first proper series. Laughing with my friends at the thought of Lister morphing into a ridiculous mini Robocop clone, long before any of us had ever seen the regular sized Robocop. Hattie Hayridge as Holly. Kryten’s first attempts at lying and insulting people and purposefully mis-naming fruit. The Cat revealing his ultimate crush was himself. The ironic injuries of the justice field. Ace Rimmer smoking kippers. And let’s not forget the dreaded space mumps.

Book review, Books, Comedy, ReviewChristopher Long16 February 2023Red Dwarf, Better Than life, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Discworld, BBC, Doctor Who, RobocopComment

Best Medicine

As I got older, my comedy compass shifted. Sometimes through the influence of friends, sometimes through late night TV surfing. I got into the uncomfortable pleasure of watching Alan Partridge fail and fail again. I saw Chris Morris skewer the world around him whilst he kept a sharp, straight face. Seinfeld and Sanders showed me how America was warping the formula its past masters had perfected. Whilst here Father Ted, Darkplace and Spaced were all merrily making up their own rules, breaking ground for an incoming flood of new comedy.

Comedy, Nostalgia, HeroesChristopher Long19 January 2018Groucho Marx, Charlie Chaplin, Bill Hicks, Andy Kaufman, Netflix, Jim CarreyComment