The Very First Damned Thing
by Jodi Taylor
The Chronicles of St Mary's {Chronological Order} (Short Stories — 0.5), The Chronicles of St Mary's (Short Stories — 06.1 novella)
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Ever wondered how it all began? It's two years since the final victory at the Battersea Barricades. The fighting might be finished, but for Dr Bairstow, just now setting up St Mary's, the struggle is only beginning. How will he assemble his team? From where will his funding come? How can he overcome the massed ranks of the Society for the Protection of Historical Buildings? How do stolen furniture, a practical demonstration at the Stirrup Charge at Waterloo, students' alcohol-ridden urine, a show more widowed urban guerrilla, a young man wearing exciting knitwear, and four naked security guards all combine to become the St Mary's of the future? show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Having just come back from the future and having just discovered, belatedly, that I have, indeed, become a huge damned fanboy, I decided to jump on the short stories with another fangirl (Trish) in order to decidedly *NOT* eat Markham's culinary delights, but rather, to devour Dr. Bairstow's gathering of the troops.
Was this smattering glaze of interesting and horrible characters worth eating? Oh, you better believe it. Was the plot anything more than a roll-call and a delightful introduction to a large cast? Um... perhaps not... but that didn't stop me from enjoying every word and and nodding in satisfaction with the sure knowledge that everyone will get their day in the sun... even more than what we see here!
And while our MC Max only show more has a walk-on roll in two distinct time periods and situations, it was more than enough.
We know the story, after all. Or, if you're one of those weirdos who are reading this in the order implied by the number system, you will at least get the feel of the grounds and understand, right off the cricket bat, that something really fishy *is* going on.
Totally recommend. It was a blast. show less
Was this smattering glaze of interesting and horrible characters worth eating? Oh, you better believe it. Was the plot anything more than a roll-call and a delightful introduction to a large cast? Um... perhaps not... but that didn't stop me from enjoying every word and and nodding in satisfaction with the sure knowledge that everyone will get their day in the sun... even more than what we see here!
And while our MC Max only show more has a walk-on roll in two distinct time periods and situations, it was more than enough.
We know the story, after all. Or, if you're one of those weirdos who are reading this in the order implied by the number system, you will at least get the feel of the grounds and understand, right off the cricket bat, that something really fishy *is* going on.
Totally recommend. It was a blast. show less
Dr Edward Bairstow goes about getting together his team for St Mary's Institute of Historical Research which he is going to found – being from the future, luckily he already knows who's on it.
This short story serves as the prequel to the Chronicles of St Mary's series, giving readers a brief glimpse of characters' back stories. As I'm only just starting out, having picked up Just One Damned Thing after Another from the charity shop a short while ago, I wasn't familiar with any of the names, and found it initially quite difficult to keep track of who's who (26 names are squeezed into about 75 pages); luckily the author has helpfully provided a list of characters at the beginning – readers who come to the prequel out of sequence, show more having read some or all of the other volumes, will of course have no trouble remembering names and their position in the Institute, and are able to link revelations about their past to their present, fleshing out their characters. For someone who doesn't have the benefit of hindsight the short story provides intriguing glimpses of the main protagonists, written with a tongue placed firmly in cheek and with an obvious affection for each of them (possibly with the exception of the employees of the Society for the Protection of Historical Buildings) and has definitely whetted my appetite to learn more about the characters as soon as possible. show less
This short story serves as the prequel to the Chronicles of St Mary's series, giving readers a brief glimpse of characters' back stories. As I'm only just starting out, having picked up Just One Damned Thing after Another from the charity shop a short while ago, I wasn't familiar with any of the names, and found it initially quite difficult to keep track of who's who (26 names are squeezed into about 75 pages); luckily the author has helpfully provided a list of characters at the beginning – readers who come to the prequel out of sequence, show more having read some or all of the other volumes, will of course have no trouble remembering names and their position in the Institute, and are able to link revelations about their past to their present, fleshing out their characters. For someone who doesn't have the benefit of hindsight the short story provides intriguing glimpses of the main protagonists, written with a tongue placed firmly in cheek and with an obvious affection for each of them (possibly with the exception of the employees of the Society for the Protection of Historical Buildings) and has definitely whetted my appetite to learn more about the characters as soon as possible. show less
The Very First Damned Thing - Taylor-
3 stars
This prequel novella is read by the author. The series is addictive so it’s nice to have this background info about the early days of St. Mary’s. It helps to establish the personalities of the basic cast members. I enjoyed the introduction of the wacky Professors Rapson and Dowson. The best bit was the recruitment of Dr. Helen Foster, that fine physician with the world’s worst bedside manner. I realize this is fantasy, but it would be so satisfying if the public shaming of wife beaters could actually solve the problem.
3 stars
This prequel novella is read by the author. The series is addictive so it’s nice to have this background info about the early days of St. Mary’s. It helps to establish the personalities of the basic cast members. I enjoyed the introduction of the wacky Professors Rapson and Dowson. The best bit was the recruitment of Dr. Helen Foster, that fine physician with the world’s worst bedside manner. I realize this is fantasy, but it would be so satisfying if the public shaming of wife beaters could actually solve the problem.
This is an excellent story about how St Mary‘s came about and how the “cast” joined it, with enough vagueness to set up future plots. The author narrated it herself and I thought it was perfect. @julesG I agree that this should be read after reading the second or third book, once you know the characters better. Officially it should be read after the first book. Such an extraordinarily fun series.
In the beginning, there was chaos; then St. Mary's was founded and the chaos became organized. Staff recruitment is confoundingly assertive and results in a very unique verging on weird faculty and staff. And that is BM, before Max. A. belated but interesting prologue to this imaginative and lively series.
Let’s hear it for origin stories, though in a time travel series, origin is a term of art. In this prequel to Just One Damned Thing After Another, we learn how Dr. Bairstow got his initial funding and chose St. Mary’s as his campus. If a member of your board is a Waterloo buff, well, you know, one trip in the pod and Bob’s your uncle. Prequel though it be, I would not read this one first. There are inevitable spoilers for later novels.
Set before the first novel in the series, the story probably won't be as enjoyable if you haven't read that novel (at least). Coming back to it after reading twelve of the novels, I found it delightful, and enjoyed meeting the seven "essential" characters (along with several other important ones, including the main character of the series) for the first time. Delightful!
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- Canonical title
- The Very First Damned Thing
- Original publication date
- 2015-12-25
- People/Characters
- Edward Bairstow (director of St Mary's Institute); Theresa Mack (kitchen dupremo & former urban guerrilla); Helen Foster (doctor); Andrew Rapson (Professor | head of R&D); Octavius Dowson (Professor | librarian & archivist); Ian Guthrie (head of security) (show all 19); Angela Bessant (aka Mrs Green); Mr Tom; Mr Markham (security officer); Dave Murdoch ('Big Dave'); Mr Weller; Mr Ritter; William Randall; Mr Evans [St. Mary's]; Evelyn Dowson; Helen Foster; Mavis Enderby (wardrobe); Leon Farrell (chief technical officer); Mrs Green (aka Angela Bessant)
- Important places
- England, UK; St. Mary's Institute, England, UK
- Epigraph
- "History is just one damned thing after another."
Arnold Toynbee - First words
- One of the most important events in the history of mankind — after the discovery of fire, the development of the wheel, and the invention of chocolate, of course — occurred in London on an overcast chilly rainy afternoon,... (show all) and it is entirely typical that it should have been witnessed only by two bedraggled pigeons and a scrawny cat.
- Quotations
- Silence fell. And showed no signs of getting up again.
'I beg your pardon. I am sometimes afflicted with a little deafness. I did not hear your last question.'
'I did not utter it, sir.'
'I am so glad we understand each other.'
'You know the saying, "Those who can — do. Those who can't — teach." And those who never had any idea what it was in the first place are members of my Senior Faculty.' - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Picking up the telephone, he said, 'Leon, I thought you might like to know. She's here.'
- Publisher's editor
- Camacho, Cat
- Original language
- English UK
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Statistics
- Members
- 330
- Popularity
- 95,906
- Reviews
- 20
- Rating
- (3.92)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 9
