The Exploits of Engelbrecht
Another long standing book on my Amazon wish list that was bought for christmas. I saw it recommended by Michael Moorcock who I used to read a lot and could now get a lucrative job writing fantasy screenplays I'm sure. If he hasn't already. Exploits is a collection of short stories about a surrealist dwarf boxer (authors description) who gets involved in all sorts of competitions such as witch shoots, fights with grandfather clocks, man hunting etc. etc. All take over a very long time and distance and are, well, pretty weird which I guess what a surrealist sportsman would engage in. Although entertaining and very readable the stories are short and could be lengthened with more description as to the how and why with a bit of character development, most of whom come and go superficially. Having said that these were written for a regular magazine publication rather than as a book and by the end of the book you get a pretty good picture as to some of the characters. Most of the sports have heavy betting often with fixing involved and mainly to gain time rather than money. Yes, clocks feature heavily. The afterword by Moorcock says that this book is a treasure. And when was Michael ever a fantasist?
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