Book Review: - Lucifer (Blake's 7), by Paul Darrow

A Grand Read.

by Toria Burrell, 8/17/13

As I launched into this book, I was immediately struck by the grandiosity of the writing. It begins with an index of "Dramatis Personae" - an unusual thing to have in a novel - but a clear indication of the author's top priority - the characters in this drama. And drama indeed it is. The long, complicated list of characters is clearly laid out in a structured hierarchy, noting their relationships to each other. (And I found myself bookmarking this Dramatis Personae and returning to it, again and again, while reading the book, to remind myself who was who!)

Even before we get to the Prologue, on one of those blank pages leading up to the beginning of the novel, we are given a quote by Shakespeare: "Let us to't pell-mell, If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell!" A fitting quote to preface a Shakespearean-esque drama with themes of back-stabbing, tyranny and ambition.

The Prologue reads almost biblically, or like the opening of an ancient Greek legend, with language that is hyperbolic, old fashioned and dramatic. What follows is a drama in three parts (or "acts") with sparkling dialogue, and vivid, film-like descriptions. It's easy to imagine this being adapted for stage or screen.

Written by actor, Paul Darrow, we can easily imagine him speaking aloud (and enjoying) the narrative, with his deep, Shakespearean, RADA-trained voice. I was gripped by the final sentence of the Prologue - "Thus it was, as it has always been, that the apathy of the many suckled the tyranny of the few." An insightful statement that could be used as a quote for future novels!

The first chapter opens by zeroing in on one of the most important characters - Gabriella (and, with a satisfying sense of balance, the last chapter ends with her as well, if you don't count the epilogue). An angelic name, and indeed an angelic appearance (according the author's descriptions) - beauty, charm, youth, femininity and delicacy. The perfect exterior for arguably the most evil of all the characters - Is she the "Lucifer" (the proverbial "Fallen Angel") of the book's title? Or is it Avon? Or Servalan? I remember one of my recent conversations with Paul Darrow, in which he revealed that this is the main reason for the title: - He wants his readers to ask themselves: Who is the true Lucifer?

And, as you read further into the book, you being to wonder: - who is really the supreme power here? Who is most in control? And who is the most evil? For there are many contenders... Servalan of course - (Blakes 7 fans will be waiting with anticipation to see her appear on the scene, which she does with no less glamour and flourish than we might expect). Then there's what appears to be the new "Servalan" of the new generation: - Gabriella. (My money's on her). But then there's also Doctor Pandora Ess and March Dreyfus, two more supremely powerful, ambitious, cold-hearted, calculating women (notice a trend here?)...

Men competing for the title are: Avon, of course. You want to find him lovable and redeemable, but you suspect that he is just as evil, power-hungry and unfeeling as Servalan; perhaps more so. Then there is General Steiner, Major Cannon, Furneax, Li Lim, Li Kang, Fu Ti... And then, towards the end - we discover another woman leader who appears to be even more powerful and in control than all the others: - Commander Kwai... It's like discovering a nest of Russian dolls - in reverse - there is always one more layer above - one bigger doll, swallowing all the others...

An interesting character is Magda - Avon's "lover": - a woman warrior of skill, stealth and power too - but in a different way to the women in the government arenas - she is an Amazonian warrior - on the ground and in the woods. She ultimately ends up playing a pivotal role in the drama, in one of the book's final twists.

One slight niggle I had with the language, (as a literature scholar), is the frequent use and repetition of cliché phrases, such as "discretion is the better part of valour". But, knowing and respecting the author, as I do, these things are easily forgiven.

What connected me most to the book was the insight into the character of Avon that Darrow brings. Having played Avon for all those years on set of Blakes 7 and having written about the life-changing experience of it in his memoir "You're him aren't you?", it is fascinating to see how Paul Darrow envisages Avon now, imagining him 30 years on, having narrowly escaped death and survived - not entirely alone - on a tiny planet in the middle of nowhere.

Avon appears as always slick, cool, clever, cunning, amazingly athletic for his age, and of course, unswervingly ruthless, but always with that boyish charm that we Blakes 7 fans loved so much: - He has practically become a super-hero (or anti-hero?). But, I found myself asking, is Avon human? Does he love Magda? There are moments of tenderness and compassion between her and Avon that tease us. Does he even care for her, or anyone? Does he actually have a fondness for Servalan? Or does he ultimately love only himself, his computer Orac, and his power? Does that really matter?

But - is Avon infallible? He certainly has escaped death more often than most super-heroes. As an aging actor and author, Paul Darrow must find this persona a satisfying one to create and emulate. All Avon really needs now is the elixir of eternal life and he's unstoppable. But would he want to live forever? I suspect he'd end up getting bored. Above all, (not unlike the author of this book), Avon always seeks a challenge, a battle, a drama... And I like to think, underneath his cool exterior, he does have a heart... Maybe one that was broken and perhaps buried a long time ago, but nevertheless, one that sends us tiny glimpses now and then.... Above all - the show must go on - the drama must continue... And since this is apparently the first of a trilogy, I look forward to the subsequent books in this saga...