Wednesday 18 February 2015

Inkker Hauser Part 1: Rum Hijack by Phil Conquest

If you like stories told in the tradition of Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, then you will love Inkker Hauser Part 1: Rum Hijack. We get to know Phil Conquest’s nameless protagonist through a first person stream of consciousness and his random collisions with other characters. Essentially, our hapless narrator is a literary legend in his own mind, despite the fact that he hasn’t actually written anything and is crippled by writer’s block.

This story is so much more than that though. Conquest hooks us in by giving his protagonist just enough harmless quirks and vulnerability that we might identify with him. He is a man of routine, eating the same food every day and appearing to be a regular at the handful of places he frequents. Like many of us, he has a somewhat schizophrenic relationship with Joe Public and the inevitable social media, displaying a healthy dose of misanthropy coupled with a desperate neediness. Once we’re hooked in, however, Conquest reveals to us that our anti-hero is probably on the wrong side of nutty as a fruit cake.

His flat is a metaphor for his mind with its chaotic jumble of smashed up furniture and numerous television sets. He seems unable to discern between what’s useful and what’s just clutter. His obsession with dead birds and submarine disasters quickly cements the idea that this character is not quite right and his heavy drinking exacerbates his mental fragility.

There is a touching poignancy about him that is almost heart breaking. He has inherited his granddad’s flat and is surrounded by older people with whom he has little in common. He is obviously influenced by his granddad, another frustrated writer, who is still very much a presence in his life despite being dead. Probably the most telling indicator of his inner loneliness is when he talks about playing dress up and his longing for a playmate.

The heart and power of this novel is its humour and I guarantee you will find an abundance of episodes that will tickle your funny bone. My laugh out loud moments included the image of our anti-hero changing into a sailor top to watch submarine videos and the way, after an evening spent trying to drunkenly connect with his granddad’s spirit, he has an exorcism style vomiting session. Best of all though is the fact that he has adopted Crocket’s theme by Jan Hammer as the soundtrack to his life.


I loved this story and can’t recommend it highly enough. Conquest is an assured, talented writer, who takes us on a hilarious journey into the mind of his wonderfully unique character. 

15 comments:

  1. This is a terrific review, Workshy! I love how you really 'got' the story in the same way I did, and love that you love Inkker - I have been nagging at Phil to publish something for so long and was so pleased when this was it!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ps, if you think this is good, you have to read the 'date from hell' sequel!!! It's a bit shorter and mostly takes place on one night, sooooo funny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hold both you and Phil totally responsible for the fact that today I'm going to be depending on caffeine to keep me going. I finished reading the book in bed and loved it so much I had to get up and review it there and then. I consequently spent the rest of the night tossing and turning with all of the points I could have made because it's such a rich read it would be impossible to comment on everything. I'm, going to be like Miss Jones from Rising Damp today when she used to have to put on her sun glasses because the world had become too much.

      I wouldn't have found Phil's wonderful book without your championing of his talent so well spotted Terry. You discovered a gem and I'm definitley going to be getting the sequel.

      Delete
    2. "Workshy Jones" ;)

      I still find being read strange, especially as Inkker is how it is: You never know how it will be read or mis-read. Thanks so much for the nice remarks, appreciated.
      I owe you a coffee.

      Delete
  3. How E totally 'got it' is what gets me too, Terry!
    Thank you both.
    Ps: Am sorry about the workshy monikor. 😂🍸

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the workshy moniker, Phil, almost as much as I love your book. :D

      Delete
    2. Also I'd forgotten all about Crockett's Theme and for that reminder alone I thank you. I seriously almost had a stroke from laughing :D

      Delete
    3. An 80s angst classic!
      Apart from you liking it one of the important things for me is that you got a laugh out of it. Obviously I'm serious about the actual writing but if it put a smile on your face then I'm glad. Thanks again.

      Delete
    4. That's what makes you such a good writer - your book is really funny bit achingly sad at the same time. The bit where his coat blows over his head almost made me cry and laugh at the same time (if that's even possible). The descrepancy between how he sees himself and how others see him is agonising. What you have accomplished though is getting us to identify with someone who may not be the norm in such a way it's the other 'normal' people who seem out of place.

      Delete
    5. I LOVE the coat in the wind bit ~ how many people would be able to write such a simple thing so well???!!

      Delete
  4. Ohh I'm so pleased you've read this Workshy (love that!!) it is such an excellent book and just reading your review and the comments has made me want to go and read it again. 'There is a touching poignancy about him that is almost heart breaking' this is so true and Phil is such a good writer there is just a joy at soaking up the words he writes. I look forward to seeing what you say about Part 2... Buckle up...you'll need to for the ride that's ahead of you :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait to read the sequel, Georgia. As for Rum Hijack, I think it's the kind of book you could read umpteen times and still find something new to talk about :D

      Delete
    2. I've read it three times, Workshy, and some bits more than that!!

      Delete
  5. I must get round to this soon...great review :)

    ReplyDelete