Customer Reviews
Play the game - By: dogbarkssome, 31 Jul 2006 
Robert Rankin's 22nd novel is set once morein Brentford, only this timein the near future of the 2020's, so while there are some familiar locations & aging supporting characters (including a seemingly immortal Old Pete) the bulk of the main cast are brand new. The story revolves around a deadly computer virus that,in a neat turnaround, enable computers to play games with humans, & Brentford's struggle against being turned into a theme park. Typically unhinged Rankin humour abounds, with plenty of running gags & a wild looping plot that wanders all over the place & includes a nice twist finish. It's perhaps not among Rankin's very best books - the plot is perhaps a bit too unhinged for it's own good, & the hero ends up getting shunted off into something of a subplotin the books last third - but this is still deliciously loopy stuff, & very funny.
Very enjoyable, if a bit shallow in places. - By: , 01 Feb 2002 I'd read two of Rankin's books before getting around to this one - I found 'The Antipope' very difficult to get into, although it got a lot better towards the end & 'Waiting for Godalming' was rather better (and funnier, IMO).
Of the three books I've read so far, Website Story is by far the best, & manages to be both anachronistic (in the case of Brentford & its denizens) & futuristic (asin Mute Corp - I'm sure that any resemblance to another large computer company whose name begins with M is purely coincidental :-) ), & both serious & laugh-out loud funny, something which can't really be said of the other Rankin books I've read.
People seem fond of comparing Rankin to Terry Pratchett, which isn't really fair to either author. Rankin loses outin terms of writing style, which is often annoyingly disjointed, & character development which is often non-existent. The latter opinion may be revised after I read more of his books (as I most certainly will) but 'Website Story' suffersin that apart from the hero & heroine of the book, there seem to be a lot of bit-part roles.
Criticisms aside, this is very good & often very funny book & a good introduction to Rankin's often off-kilter style, but if you're expecting Pratchett-type material then you may well be disappointed.
The Matrix.... Rankin style!!! - By: , 16 Nov 2001 This book is not one of RR's better works but when you consider the competition it's up against it still deserves 4 stars. If you're new to his work start with something else & work your way up to this one.
The new millenium has come & gone without a problem, or has it? Who isin control? What exactly is going on? And why hasn't it affected the good folk of Brentford?
Another Rankin story of good vs evil, man vs machine, Brentonians vs the forces of darkness. As usual, Rankin takes a little while to get going (this one probably moreso than others) but don't let that put you off. There are running gags aplenty, obscure references to 70's console games, a classic Brentonian character or two & all the local pubs, a holographic creature from Griffin Island, not to mention the Rapture!!!
and everything.
This may be the best rankin yet - By: , 24 Oct 2001 
This book is simply robert rankins finest to date. The wonderfully insane story is presented, asin other rankin books,in many splintered sections, all seamingly unconnected until that glorious moment when ten different parts all fit together perfectly. The bulk of the story settles on two opposites, a lonely man & the adventerous lady whose journey through the book together is more human & subtle than the usual rankin characters. oh & it groin grabbingly hilarious as well.
Almost back on form - By: , 26 Jul 2001 The dictionary definition for flawed genius should be "Robert Rankin." His books are nearly always packed with inventive, left of field ideas, & Website Story is no exception. The title (shock, horror!) actually relates to the bookin some way, which is very unusual for Rankin. But, his genius is flawed. Website Story is more focused than the last couple of Rankin books, but you can't help but feel that he needs a good editor just to rein himin a little. Not too much, as that would ruin the appeal of his free-wheeling style, but just enough to add more meat to his characters & a sligtly deeper, more satisfying plot. Just enough to turn an excellent comic writer into a truly brilliant comic writer.
