Mixed Pickles - the Book log 2012

Rick cracks up, but even in his worst moments still proves himself a leader.

Baby, it's cold outside

An interesting, '60s take on racism and imperialism as a climate change plunges Europe into deep, and seemingly perpetual, winter.  The lucky few manage to escape to Africa where they find themselves the new underclass, forced to work in the same kind of conditions that the native South Africans found themselves when subjugated by their white masters.

Although Christopher uses the story as a fable to illustrate just how wrong white behaviour was/is (obvious now, but not so evident to a sizeable proportion of the British population back when this book was written), he still falls into the trap of stereotyping black behaviour as lustful (particularly concerning white women), greedy, corrupt, incompetent, and riven by tribalism.  Which is not to say that the remnants of British civilisation maintains a "noble savagery"; far from it.  The reamaining survivors tend to a form of new feudalism (a state which Christopher has survivors of his many catastrophe novels  revert to), with only a few looking to rebuild society rather than remake it into something which supports them at the expense of others.

A new home beckons - but is eveything in the garden as lovely as it is painted?

Rick continues to feel the pressure (and the isolation)  of leadership in this increasingly compelling series.

Select options as appropriate

Bertie has (taken up a hobby/grown facial hair/started wearing something) of which Jeeves disapproves. 

Meanwhile, a (sporty/soppy/intellectual) ex-fiance now engaged to Bertie's (friend/enemy/rival in the Drones Darts Tourney) breaks off her engagement and committs herself to (improving/marrying/improving AND marrying) Bertie.

Meanwhile, Bertie's (good/bad) aunt wants Bertie to (steal something/take someone under his wing/steal something/steal something).

Meanwhile, Bertie makes an enemy of  (an American Billionaire/a Northern industrialist/a would-be Fascist dictator/a psychologist/a magistrate) by (sloshing them/coshing them/stealing something from them/becoming affianced to their daughter/niece/fiancee).

Jeeves steps in.

The status quo is restored.

A middle class assortment, trapped in a ski lodge by an avalanche, find themselves one-by-one being taken over by a parasitic lifeform which is neither malevolent nor benevolent, but merely determined on survival.   Probably an allegory for something, but if so it is lost in the mists of time as far as I am concerned.  A slightly too-large cast, with too many viewpoints make this a confusing read at times, and many of the character traits are those that recur elsewhere in his works;  the drinking, the promiscuity, the infidelity. 

I worry about Rick.  How much longer can he hold it all together?