Downs-Lord Doomsday (Panel 3 of the Downs-Lord Triptych) by John Whitbourn

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Downs-Lord Doomsday (Panel 3 of the Downs-Lord Triptych) by John Whitbourn
pub: Earthlight. 339 page paperback. Price: Ł6.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-671-03303-6

check out website: www.earthlight.co.uk

This is the third and final book - or panel - in the Downs-Lord Triptych (a triptych is a series of three paintings linked usually with a middle painting on to which the other two outer paintings - or panels - can be folded onto.

The series of books concerns an alternate Earth found by a seventeenth century Curate called Blades. He finds a portal through an old grandfather clock.

The alternate Earth is very different, geographically the same but little else. Humans are not at the top of the food chain. They are preyed on by large purple creatures known as the Null.

Blades, over the years, defeats the majority of the Null with firearms he brings through the portal. Blades rises in power and position, he loses his inhibitions and unchallenged, ascends to the throne as the God-King. He is all-powerful over the Null cleared empire he now calls New-Wessex.

A new threat emerges in the form of merciless Angels who exile Blades. The Angels are the guardians of the portals between the two Earths. After centuries of absence, he is rescued by his own descendant, Guy Ambassador and Hunter, an archbishop, from a life of poverty in our Earth (also known as Paradise) and brought back to the alternate Earth.

Under the new charmed leadership of Blades, the Angels are repulsed and humanity enjoys a respite of freedom. Decades later, the secluded God-King, broods with twisted thoughts while forming meaningless rules and laws. Meanwhile, with anarchy and neglect, the empire of New-Wessex falls into decline.

This book starts at this point with Guy travelling through New-Wessex. He is given life-threatening tasks by Blades who seems to want to see Guy dead. Guy, though, seems to dodge death even when he himself tries to pursue it.

His faith in Blades as a God diminishes and follows his own whim to go with Hunter (now the ex-archbishop who rescued Blades), to Egypt which is overrun with the Null to find the true fate of the ancient Egyptians.

This is the first book I've read in this series and it's not easy to pick up on the back-story. Although there is a prologue describing the previous events, it doesn't clarify what occurs in this book leaving you a bit bewildered. I ended up doing a bit of research, as there is little in the book to tell you what's gone on before.

The language is also very flowery, almost pseudo-seventeenth century style. I felt that I was once too often reaching for the dictionary to clarify the meaning of what the author was trying to get across. Some passages feel overworked and in need of a bit of pruning.

The storyline and scene sometimes rapidly jumps leaving you disorientated. This does sometimes make for a very swift pace but, there again, is slowed by the writing style and language.

There are some quite indulgent parts of the book especially the section in Egypt. The fight with the Null as they try to escape is perhaps a tad too long. You do get the feeling that some of the writing is just for show.

You may think by this point I didn't like the book. Well no, that's not the case at all. The character of Guy Ambassador is a cross between Blackadder (the third series) and the Scarlet Pimpernel.

The humour lifts the book and adds especially to the character of Guy. If you look under the dairy fudge language you find some very clever writing, plotline and development.

There is quite a bit of theology, but it never overwhelms or takes over the book and you get the feeling that the author is devout in his own beliefs.

If you have read the previous books then you will love this. It provides a satisfying end to the series. It explains the Angels and the ending rounds off the series comfortably. If, though, you are new to this series then I would recommend you start at the first book ‘Downs-Lord Dawn’.

Also, if you get chance, pick up a copy in a bookshop and read a few pages to see whether you like the style of writing. This is a very good book but it will not appeal to everyone's tastes.

Phil Jones

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