Little Spilling by John Guthrie

  Fascinating, Captivating, Intriguing

Genres: Science Fiction/Humour/Satire

Little Spilling by John Guthrie, Author

In a small, unextraordinary village, three women of varying sizes tussle whilst attempting to extricate a large, elderly butler from a kitchen lino, upon which, he has ungainly landed for the third time. His (the butler's) initial suspected assailant sits nearby making impertinent, random and futile enquiries. Tea and biscuits all forgotten and meringues left discarded. Meanwhile and elsewhere, an occurrence has occurred. Hierarchy restructured during the pursuit of social niceties and determined by apparel, giving way to concern, order being the back bone of Little Spilling

The underlings (that were) were now the superiors (that had been) and oppositely. All that was then is lost, and all that remains now was, quite literally alien to us....

When I read the words 'alien invasion', I was somewhat reluctant to entertain reading 'Little Spilling', as anything akin to science fiction in literature, has never been my thing. However, the novel also being described as 'humorous" and 'mildly satirical', went someway to persuading me. From the first few pages, the quirkiness and eccentric nature of the narrator and her fellow tea party par-takers appealed to me. This is the second novel that I have read from this Author in which the writing not only demands to be read, but really thought about and challenges the reader. The logical and resigned approach adopted by Dimity and Scallion to the arrival of the foreign life forms, made them a suitable double act and helped me to warm to this oddly entertaining tale. Told in the first person (Dimity), re-telling the experience as she saw it, gave the narrative an easy comprehension. It is my favourite 'point of view' in which to read. This was required as the dialogue and writing, I think it's fair to say, was, possibly quite deliberately, comprised of much circumlocution.. I did not however find this to be a negative element as it gave the characters a certain peculiarity, which added to the stories compelling charm. Very reminiscent of the fabulous Lemony Snicket.

Now for a quick disection of some of the cast......Mrs Natalia Proudcake, put me in mind of a certain Hyacinth Bucket with her haughtiness, her complete disregard for others, (except briefly for Scallion but only so he could wait on her, and even then not really), and her utter refusal to comply with the new brought about regime, and Rachel Moneyspoon, as her neighbour (Hyacinth's not Natalia's), bringing the cakes, or in this case very reluctantly relinquished meringues. Mr Bill Pobble also made me think of a farmer that Hyacinth once encountered.......but enough of this comparing Literary characters (who are obviously far superior) to those on television. It makes me squirm to consider the possibility, that this may not have been the Author's intention at all.

The aliens: I, as is frequent, imagined these interplanetary creatures as I thought they should be, rather than as described; the Pripitoli as little 'Mr Tickles' dressed as Italian waiters with antennae (essential obviously!). How can you have a title such as ' Pripitoli' and not have Italian blood or whatever the alien equivalent is. The Croblocks, I saw as much larger, Sully from Monsters Inc? (again antennae), and Attars as the more friendly, endearing typical 'Little green men', with antennae. The introduction of the three groups was a little confusing initially and I wonder why the Author felt that so many were required?!

My final word on this matter is that John Guthrie has produced a novel that is indeed humorous and mildly satirical; but also a workout for the mind, a quality that not all books possess, and which some people, myself included, require from time to time. I devoured his wonderfully whimsical work in less than 24 hours. Never judge a book by it's blurb!