Bold as Love is a near-future fantasy that was penned in 2001. However, due to Brexit, reading about the Dissolution of the British countries now feels a bit more like a nearer-future scenario.

This is a truly wild and odd book. I don't come across such books very often, so I really relished reading this one, even when it got a bit on the gory side.

In an attempt to keep England united, rock stars have been enlisted to support the government. But things take a wrong turn, and soon the rock stars seem to be the only thing keeping the country together as they face a civil war in the North of England, a large influx of refugees from Europe, green extremism, and climate change-induced muddy festivals.

There are techno-hippies, elements of Arthurian structures, themes of survival, the immediacy of rock music in the present, a lot of drugs, plenty of chaos, and swirling power.

It's an odd book that's not easy to wrap your head around in one go. I love the fact that there's an interesting-looking bibliography at the back, and an even longer discography!

I had high hopes for this,

despite the appauling blurb on the back making it sound like a teenage romance novel.

However, I'm afraid to say that it disappointed me big time.

This is essentially an extrapolation of the near future of Britain,

where the United Kingdom breaks up into separate states and an ever more popular and dominant Counter Cultural Movement (CCM) causes the monarchy to fold and get replaced by the "leaders" of the CCM who become the head of state (but with real power): Rock stars!

The author also anticipates a global economic crisis that basically sets our civilization into decline, a reversing of globalization and a general rise of anarchy and violence.

The narrative is centered around three important figures (rockstars) in the CCM.

We follow their rise to prominence as the political and social crisis unfolds.

The success of this novel depends largely upon engaging with and liking the main protagonists,

but that's something I found very hard to do.

They were certainly realistic, well-rounded characters, each with issues, attitudes and humour.

But far too much of the book was focused on their personal crisis points and their interactions with each other for my science fiction wanting tastes.

This was far more a book about young people dealing with social upheaval whilst maintaining careers as popular rock stars, leading rock'n'roll lifestyles whilst personal problems keep bubbling to the surface.

By the end, I was glad it was over and can't see myself rushing out to get the next book in the series.

It's the sort of series you can tell is never going to have an ending, a resolution.

The reason to go on reading is to follow this crazy gang in their day to day trials and tribulations and watching how they get on with it.

Overall, it was a disappointment for me.

In a world where the British Isles is imploding and everything seems to be turning to crud, a diverse group of individuals find themselves involved in politics. This group consists of a bunch of rock-stars, assorted hippies, and artists.

It's an Arthurian tale where gigs and festivals replace political rallies. Our anti-heroes are trying their best to hold the country and themselves together in the face of a slow apocalypse.

At first, the premise might sound ridiculous, but it's nowhere near as daft as it seems. The story is truly original, with superb writing that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The main characters and their various stories are enthralling, a perfect blend of beauty and brutality.

It's a unique and captivating narrative that takes the reader on a wild ride through a world on the brink of chaos.

While I initially found myself not overly invested in the plotline itself, upon further exploration, I discovered that the characters were truly amazingly well-written. They were not just two-dimensional figures but rather had a depth and complexity that made them seem slightly more than 3D, which was highly appropriate considering they were supposed to be rock stars.

Each character had their own unique personality traits, backstories, and motivations that added layers of authenticity to the story. The author did an excellent job of bringing these characters to life, making it easy for the reader to become emotionally attached to them.

Even though the plotline may not have been the most engaging for me at first, the well-developed characters more than made up for it. They added a level of interest and excitement that kept me turning the pages and eager to see what would happen next.

In conclusion, while the plotline may not have been the strongest aspect of the story, the amazingly well-written characters more than compensated for it. Their depth and authenticity made them a joy to read about and added a great deal of value to the overall narrative.

Initially, I had a rather frustrating experience with this book. It seemed to jump around randomly, which made it extremely difficult for me to figure out what was actually going on, especially when it came to the political aspects. I often found myself confused and unsure of the context. However, as I continued to read, something interesting happened. The more I delved into the story, the more compelling it became. I started to see the connections and the deeper meanings that were hidden beneath the seemingly chaotic narrative. Now, I find myself eagerly looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I can't wait to see what new adventures and revelations await me.

This is a truly remarkable book that is both captivating and unique, yet also chaotic and exasperating.

We are thrust into a future where in the UK (or whatever it has become by then), a series of global coups are unfolding. To prevent a similar fate for the UK, the prime minister appoints a rock band as a sort of pseudo-government, which unsurprisingly leads to utter chaos.

As I delved into this book, I found myself deeply intrigued by the world that had been created. However, I wasn't overly invested in the plot that emerged from it. The writing, while perfectly fine, was at times rather confusing, causing me to struggle to fully enjoy the reading experience.

Part of the frustration stems from the rather loose tone, the abundance of world-building details that are casually thrown at the reader, and the fact that the main characters have up to three different names at various times. Additionally, I didn't have the energy to analyze how the Muslim characters were portrayed in the book, but I hope it was done well.

The book has elements of Neal Stephenson, Nicola Barker, David Mitchell, and Kathy Acker. There are also five sequels to this book, but the sense of relief I felt upon finishing this one makes it unlikely that I will continue with the series.

"The sun was setting in a flood of scarlet and gold as a small white van cruised to a halt on the Caversham Road. Heraldic colour arced majestically over the Thames valley, glowing in the edging windscreens and blanking out the visors of the traffic cops."

Strange but interesting.

The setting was oddly retro, with so many hippies, which gave it a unique charm.

The pace was meandering, but the premise was fascinating enough to keep me engaged.

However, I did think there was a gratuitous use of child sexual exploitation, which was quite disturbing.

Some other parts seemed a bit on the gory side as well.

Overall, it was very different from what I'm used to, but it wasn't overly revolting.

Despite its flaws, there was something about it that made me want to keep reading and see where the story would go.

It was a strange mix of elements that somehow managed to work together, albeit not perfectly.

I would recommend it to those who are looking for something out of the ordinary and don't mind a bit of discomfort along the way.

This is a deeply weird and beautifully written near-future dystopia that not only presents a captivating and thought-provoking vision of a world in turmoil but also pays an abstract homage to Arthurian legends. The story weaves together several crucial elements such as music and art, technology, religion, and environmental collapse, which serve as the hinge points around which civilization is in a state of flux. What makes this series truly special is its very British essence,展现ing a unique charm and perspective in the best possible way.

Unfortunately, it can be quite hard to find this series in the United States. However, there is a silver lining as the first four books are available for free in PDF format at boldaslove.co.uk.

It is important to note that this series contains explicit and sometimes disturbing content, which may not be suitable for all readers.

This review pertains to the entire 5-book series, offering a comprehensive look at its strengths, drawbacks, and overall appeal.

In the near future, with a touch of new technology, this story takes on a science fiction flavor. The world is in a downward spiral, facing issues such as climate change, the splitting of nations, and economic turmoil. However, it is not a post-apocalyptic or authoritarian dystopia. Instead, the focus is on slowing the decline rather than creating a utopia.

The United Kingdom is breaking up, with England, Scotland, Wales, and Ulster becoming independent. Climate and other problems are already causing difficulties. England is trying to figure out how to manage in this new situation. Officials have decided to recruit countercultural icons as figureheads to gain the support of the disaffected millions. After a terrorist attack, some of these counterculturals become major players in the government.

The effort to appeal to the disaffected reminds one of the rise of demagogues, and there is a passing reference to a politician saying "Make Britain great again." The nationalism is consistent with Brexit.

For most of the book, the musician Ax Preston leads the efforts to make the best of things. His mother worked in a nursing home, which taught him that you can't change the inevitable but can delay it and deal with some issues. That's what he does with the initial and new problems that arise. While the average English citizen is clearly facing hard times, we don't see much of them compared to the hippies, punks, and other countercultural people who choose to live in camps, communal buildings, or vans.

This is the first in a 5-book series, but my tastes aren't urging me to read further. Perhaps it's because I'm not as familiar with recent English counterculture. The book was published in 2001, and all 5 books in the series have titles related to Jimi Hendrix, who wasn't known for politics. Some of the countercultural are very punky, some are called hippies, and some are environmental extremists. The real world band with the most references in the book seems to be the Grateful Dead. It just didn't seem like the 2000s to me.

This has to be one of the worst books I've ever read.

Despite some decent prose, the overall quality of the book is severely lacking. The storyline is complex, yet incoherent, making it difficult for the reader to follow and engage with.

The characters are another major flaw. They are weak and implausible, lacking depth and authenticity. It's hard to care about what happens to them because they don't feel like real people.

And let's not forget the sex scenes. They are laughable at best, lacking any real passion or sensuality. It seems as though the author was trying too hard to be edgy and ended up falling flat.

In conclusion, I would not recommend this book to anyone. It's a disappointment from start to finish and fails to deliver on almost every front.

A really unique scenario indeed - a revolution led and a government formed by counter-cultural music icons. It's a concept that has the potential to be truly captivating as it unfolds in the telling.

The idea of musicians, who are often associated with challenging the status quo and expressing alternative views, taking on the role of leading a nation is both fascinating and thought-provoking.

However, while the premise is interesting, I find myself wishing that I could have enjoyed it more. Perhaps it's because the execution didn't quite live up to the promise of the concept.

Maybe there were aspects of the story that could have been developed further, or the characters could have been more fully realized. Nevertheless, it's still a scenario that makes for an engaging and memorable read.

It makes one wonder what a world would look like if counter-cultural music icons were at the helm of a government, and what kind of changes and innovations they might bring.

Following \\n  Spear\\n and Legendborn, Bold as Love concludes the book club's mini-season of Arthuriana. Although it won the Arthur C Clarke Award, Kate described it as sci-fi with sufficient ambiguity to count. Perhaps it's because I don't read much science fiction, but I struggled to understand the story's shape. Events occurred, characters had desires, yet I never had a clear sense of where the plot was going or what was required for Bold as Love to end.

Though Gwyneth Jones's central characters do correspond to the King Arthur legend, Bold as Love isn't overtly influenced by the legends. Until 60 percent of the way through the book, it's entirely possible to overlook or forget the connection to Camelot. That being said, the setting does feel disconnected enough from reality to be vaguely mythic, giving the book a meandering, dreamlike quality. Gwyneth Jones manages to address some deeply disturbing topics without sacrificing that, and without making it seem like she's inflicting trauma on the reader as some books do.

Fiorinda, Sage, and Ax feature prominently in the majority of Bold as Love's chapters. Fiorinda feels real from the start, in part because the book begins with her childhood and backstory. Ax and Sage are initially harder to grasp, but become more solid as the story progresses. While the supporting cast isn't overly detailed, it's not difficult to distinguish between them or remember which interest group each is associated with.

However, it's challenging to determine how much impact the characters have on advancing the plot without being able to precisely define what the plot is. There's little indication that any of the characters have an end goal beyond dealing with the new world Gwyneth Jones has created around them. There are enjoyable moments of drama and tension, but actions and consequences remain hazy throughout.

Despite that, neither the reading experience nor the ending is dissatisfying. If you're content to be led along without a map, it's an interesting journey.