Ian Martin (1)

A modern, and sometimes post-modern, South African retelling of Hamlet. Delightful in its unwillingness to cast characters in a sympathetic light. The characters themselves seem to be as much a product of a corrupt society as they are a reflection on the darker side of human nature: selfish, violent and vengeful. Definitely now on the lookout for Ian Martin novels.

Post apocalyptic, near future vision - not for the faint hearted.

The story is set in a future where even the environment has turned against man, forcing each person to fend for him or herself. There may be safety in numbers, clans coming together to protect what few resources remain, and eek out a living, but even within the clans there is cruelty, hardship and depravity. Nothing and no one is safe, and that especially goes for Mike and his some-time friends and hangers on, and his woman, show more Lady, characters each with their own flaws and vulnerabilities, through whose eyes we see the story unfold.

The language used in the book is appallingly blunt - four letter words abound - but it is entirely appropriate in the context of the story, the setting and the hardships faced by the characters. In fact the only time I found myself wincing over the language were the odd occasions where tamer words were substituted for stronger ones - the use of the word 'bum' for example. The harsh language helps to set everything more deeply in context, and where we're treated to everything from graphic violence, murder, rape and even cannibalism, anything less would have been ludicrous. In spite of the language choices, or perhaps because of them, the book is incredibly well written, holding the reader as a in a state of macabre fascination, compelled to find out how the story ends - just how bad could it get?

The answer to that is 'very,' and while I enjoyed the quality of the story, the content still leaves me a little queasy, and I cannot stress enough that while well written and captivating, in a very dark sort of way, this story shouldn't be read by anyone that is easily offended. show less

IAN MARTIN'S "POP-SPLAT" (A REVIEW)
Ian Martin has coined the market on tongue-in-cheek humor. "Pop-Splat" is a hilarious parallel with a modern twist to Shakespeare's "Hamlet". The entire time reading this book it was hard to stop laughing even when some of the parts were sad.

This books was an ingenious farce and delightful to read. If you need enjoy dark comedy and interesting remakes of classic characters you will love this book.

Ian Martin portrays ours nations eponymous rainbow as comprising the toxic colours of gangrene, and the once beloved country as a festering cesspool.

Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this is a horrible story about horrible people, but it is also horribly readable – even enjoyable in the same way as pornographically sadistic horror films like Hostel and Saw can be enjoyable.

Set in Cape Town, but with detours to Jo’Burg and grimy, ghastly Grahamstown, this is an equal opportunity show more book designed to give gratuitous offence to simply everyone.

Too nasty and extreme to be funny, the story might stimulate some sick sniggers from juvenile boys, but the shallow, callow tone is generally insulting, not amusing.

Master Martin writes well with a good command of English and a zippy style: he needs to grow up and get over himself and, in time, I have every confidence he will produce a good book. Pop-Splat is not it. show less