The Wind in the Snottygobble Tree by Jack Trevor Story

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John
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The Wind in the Snottygobble Tree by Jack Trevor Story

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First published by Allison & Busby, 1971. Serialised in New Worlds

This short (134pp) novel is a parody on real life events inasmuch as JTS lost his licence and became a pedestrian. The hero of this novel, Marchmont, also lost his licence and between doing that and regaining it ("You can't touch people in cars") the events of this fantasy spy thriller occur.

Marchmont works at Trade Winds Travel, pretening to be Peter Lorre and weaving tales of espionage into his daily humdrum life. He gives travellers small packages to take out to other travellers, full of cryptic messages. All great fun until the day when he realises he has just had his picture and fingerprints taken.....then he wants to be normal, but it's Too Late and the plot begins to unfold.

Add in Patsy, his co-worker, Molly Ryan the over-sexed Irish girl, a cricket team with guns in the stocks of their bats, mysterious police who want to kill him and some very strange dustmen, oh, yes, and a plot to replace the Pope, and you have quite a mix.

And what does this have to do with a jazz band and Rapollo the Master Spy?

JTS is a highly intelligent and funny writer and this little fantasy is a superb example of the off-beat novel that surprises and delights.

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