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Mockeymen by Ian Watson check out website: www.goldengryphon.com
In the early days, many were humanoid and managed to acquire an excellent understanding of English. There have been evil aliens, good ones inviting us to join their federation and ones so strange we don't really understand them or even recognise their sentience. In the majority of cases, the human race has gone out to the stars to meet the aliens. Occasionally, they come to us, for example in Arthur C. Clarke's 'Childhood's End' where they conceal their appearance for years, as more recently in Sherri Tepper's novel 'Fresco' where arrival was more clandestine. Some genuinely want to help, others have less salutary motives. This isn't the first time that Ian Watson has flirted with aliens, but he always does it with panache. His reasons always seem to be to give us a greater insight into human nature. In 'Mockeymen', he asks the reader to think and question truth, the gullibility of human nature and what we mean by personality. Are mind and body separate entities and transferable or are they inextricably entwined? There are two principle parts to this novel which initially seem divorced from one another. The first section, labelled 'Past', originally appeared in 'Interzone' in October 1997. Chrissy Clarke and her partner, Steve Bryant, make jigsaw puzzles at a craft centre and are approached by an elderly gentleman with a peculiar request. He wants four photographs taken by Chrissy and Steve in an Oslo park. He is very specific that they must be taken by moonlight and with them pressed naked against four of the statues there. The photographs must be converted into jigsaws with very tiny pieces. It transpires that he worked with the Nazis during their occupation of Norway and they had attempted to create a safe haven using magic. Frisvold believed that with these puzzles he would be able to reincarnate with all his memories as a member of the next generation. The second part, 'Present', is a near-future world. As the planet spiralled into destruction, saviours appeared from space. The aliens came, offering to fix the Earth's problems. All they wanted in return was a lot of marine worms. They also needed a loan of a few bodies. With a new hallucinogenic drug called Bliss, heroin addicts and other junkies could get the high were seeking, continuously. It would wipe out drug crime instantly. After a year of Bliss, the users became vegetables, the perfect host for the aliens which were dubbed 'Mockeymen'. The Mockeymen also needed couriers to carry them as mind passengers between Earth and the other worlds they were helping. The problem was that transit was excruciatingly painful and Mockeymen can't stand pain. Zandra and Barnabas were ideal couriers having indulged in self-mutilation for many years. Zandra had taken in Jamie, the only Bliss user to ever recover from the vegetative state. Jamie is therefore being watched to find out why. Jamie is also the son of Chrissy Clarke and the reincarnation of Frisvold. Not everyone believes that the aliens are as all encompassingly benevolent as they seem. Anna Sharman is part of the very small team that is trying to find an answer. The Frisvold conundrum is a part of the information that could help them find out. Both sections are told in first person, the first by Chrissy, the second by Anna. Watson writes in a convincing female voice and is able to hook and carry along the reader, even where information has to be imparted. A very enjoyable read. Pauline Morgan
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OTHER REVIEWS - March 2004
Chasing Science by Frederick Pohl Wolves Of The Calla by Stephen King and illustrated by Bernie Wrighton The Mammoth Book Of Native Americans edited by Jon E. Lewis Changing Planes by Ursula Le Guin Red Star Rising: More Chronicles Of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Three Hearts And Three Lions by Poul Anderson Downward To The Earth by Robert Silverberg Buffy: Seven Crows by John Vornholt The Dragon Of Despair by Jane Lindsjold Gunpowder Empire by Harry Turtledove Barry Trotter And The Unnecessary Sequel by Michael Gerber Fitcher’s Brides by Gregory Frost Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 2003 The Moon’s Shadow by Catherine Asaro Which Way To The Future: Selected Essays From Analog by Stanley Schmidt
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From
the ages when story-telling first began, people have been fascinated
by alien encounters. In ancient times, the aliens were the gods
and demons of mythology - beings ascribed supernatural powers. 
Even
Beowulf's battles with Grendel was a kind of alien encounter. Then
their powers were magic, now we would call it advanced technology.
Once we began to realise that there were other planets circling
distant stars, we have wondered whether we are alone in the universe
and writers began to populate space with aliens.
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