WAIN, John

B Comedies 1990 Novel

Real sense of 30s England

WAKE, Nancy

B+ The White Mouse 1985 Non-Fiction (Autobiography)

WW2 Australian woman in French resistance: amazing story, prosaic narration

WAHLOO, Per

B Murder on the Thirty-first Floor Crime / SF - Dystopia

Unengaging narration of bland urban dystopia within crime framework

WALTER, Jess

B The Zero Novel 2006

Deft enough satire ala Heller, able writing, but it didn’t grip or sting me much past half-way (stock characters)

B Beautiful Ruins Novel 2012

Flawless integration of characters over different settings and decades, but none that particularly resonated personally

WARD, Geoffrey C.

B+ The West 1996 Non-Fiction (History)

Fascinating illustrated individual stories in the American west since the 17^th century

WATSON, Ian

D- Space Marine (Warhammer 40 000) 1993 SF (Military)

Ultra SF violence with a veneer of philosophy

WEBER, David

B On Basilisk Station 1993 SF (Military)

Right wing colonial future war story

WEEKS, Brent

C+ The Way of Shadows 2008 Fantasy

Another failed attempt to mix realism with fantasy; naïve

WELLS, H.G.

B+ The First Men in the Moon 1901 SF

Ripping yarn, good characters, robust alien culture, integrated thought-provoking issues

WELSH, Irvine

D- Catholic Guilt 2000 Short Story

(in ‘Speaking With the Angel’; Ed. Nick Hornby)

Stereotype priest slander with naughty words and obscene action. Pathetic

WESTLAKE, Donald E.

B+ God Save the Mark 1967 Crime / Humour

Capable enough humourous playing with crime conventions

WHITE, T.H.

A The Once and Future King 1958 Fantasy

Best to relish 'The Sword in the Stone', and then close the book and move on

WILDE, Oscar

B The Canterville Ghost 1887 Humour

Light comedy into light ghost story

WILLIAMS, Donna

B- Nobody Nowhere 1992 Autobiography

One tough story more than insight into autism

WILLIAMS, Tad

B Tailchaser's Song 1992 Fantasy / Juvenile (Adolescent)

Pleasant enough derivative fare undermined by poor resolution

WILLIAMS, Walter Jon

B+ Prayers on the Wind 1991 SF

(in The Giant Book of Fantastic SF; Ed. Gardner Dozios)

Capable dramatic yarn in a largely Hindu syncretic future

WILLIS, Connie

B+ Doomsday Book 1997 SF / Historical Fiction

Two concurrent storylines: one mired in triviality and stereotype; the other powerful and affecting

B+ To Say Nothing of the Dog 1997 SF / Humour

Light comic SF. Usable Wodehouse characters and settings around passable Dr Who premise

WINTON, Tim

D That Eye, The Sky 1986 Novel

Dark, cynical, bleak

WODEHOUSE, P.G.

B+ The Pothunters 1902 Humour

Not just because it’s the first, but because it’s good!

B- A Prefect's Uncle 1903 Humour

Too much detail on the cricket pitch

B- Tales of St Austins 1903 Humour

Still just one for the fans (or early 20th C. public schoolboys)

B The Gold Bat 1904 Humour

Still aimed at contemporary schoolboys, but more cohesive

B- William Tell Told Again 1904 Humour

Able exercise

B The Head of Kay's 1905 Humour

Not timeless, but a palatable authentic ride through historically interesting century old British public schools

B The White Feather 1905 Humour

Pleasing, predictable early Wodehouse

B Mike and Psmith 1909 (1953) Humour