Ben Elton has, in recent years, come under increasing criticism for selling
out and becoming what he mocked as a bright young comedian of the mid-1980s
- a firm member of the establishment. This is not to say, though, that his
comedic wit and knack for precise satire has declined from the time of The
Man From Auntie and yet again Elton has proved himself, in prose, to be in touch with
the pulse of British society while demonstrating exactly what is wrong, or
at least not right, about topical social issues.

Friends Reunited.com celebrated their five year anniversary last week. I
heard this on the news just after taking a break from reading Elton's latest
novel, where the protagonist had just logged on to that very
website. The narrative follows Detective Inspector Newson, a short, ginger
policeman who often has to show his ID to be taken seriously as a PC, let
alone a Detective Inspector. With a worrying self-consciousness about his
appearance, Newson investigates the brutal murder of Adam Bishop, a working
class builder who seems to have bullied everyone into employing him. The
first point of call for Elton's satire seems to be on the nouveau riche from
Bishop's wife, who can buy all she want except for class.

However, the real story begins when Newson, trying to escape the ritualistic
horror of Bishop's death and, more importantly, his increasing infatuation
with colleague Seargant Natasha Wilkie, logs onto the infamous website. As
he debates clicking the 'join' button alone in his apartment, nursing a warm
Guinness, Newson remembers the Christmas disco of 1984 where he managed to
pull the most popular girl in the year despite being, or thinking he is, the
social outcast of the class. Clearly looking for a door into the happier
past and a quick and easy night of fun, Newson is surprised to find out how
popular he ends up being on the site and, looking around his former
classmates, starts to see that he is not the only one who feels that life
won't begin at 40, it already ended at 16.

A wholly readable and engaging text that only has a weakness in the decline
of social satire towards the end. However, the reason behind this is because
the action of the narrative takes priority once it gears up and there would
probably be little point in hammering home Elton's various points as they
are made clear throughout the opening of the book. Published last year this
book is as funny as it is compulsive and would probably be even fonder read
by those who finished schooling in the mid-80s and who can empathise with
the unlikely hero.

Tony2Times

04.08.05 Front Page

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