The Avengers International Fan Forum

Frankymole · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:37 am Post subject:

Mine arrived about half an hour ago - it looks beautiful. Jaz's cover is a humdinger in real life! Rodney's text is splendidly presented, laid out with sufficient spacing in a clear and readable font. Very smart-looking book.

I'm having great fun flipping about all over the place, as is my wont. First the introductory epigraphs and Roger Marshall's foreword, and the contributor bios (because I'm nosy, and especially like to know about the broad range of fans attracted to the appeal of the shows I love). The scene is set perfectly by the two Marshalls and, with the insight given by them, I am getting even more excited about the book!

Then the afterword, which I'm on now: my goodness, but page 299 really explains the atmosphere of The Avengers in a way I've never seen in print before. The first and most gripping thing I experienced about the series was the intense grip of the mysterious, menacing atmosphere. Rodney explains it brilliantly here, and in other references to Avengerland being a state of mind as much as a place. This gives insight into how the series' creative production personnel made it so.

I have to go to Timeless's essays of course (or of golf course Wink

)... and how delicious that she started The Thirteenth Hole one with a quote from The New Avengers. Now to devour the rest of her work, and everyone else's - but I had a nagging thought in my mnind as I started reading... I suspect this book is going to make me want to watch all of this season all over again (some episodes probably more than once), inspired by the essays and curious to catch all the things I keep missing!
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Last watched: Invasion of the Earthmen on ITV4.

Timeless A-Peel · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:54 am Post subject:

Frankymole · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:09 am Post subject:

Did you order from Amazon Canada? If so I guess it'll arrive pretty sharpish. I did go for Express delivery almost as soon as the book became available, which was expensive but I need some instant(ish) gratification especially after the work week I've had...

I'm prouder of one of my essays than the other, but I don't know if anyone will guess which one or why!

The wonderful thing now is I can stop fretting about mine and luxuriate in so many other viewpoints on the rest. It's clear that like most of The Avengers, this book's writing has both style and substance, in abundance.

Well I've just eaten lunch, so back to the book Smile

I'll read very slowly so you don't have to jealous Smile

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Last watched: Invasion of the Earthmen on ITV4.

Timeless A-Peel · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:36 am Post subject:

Frankymole · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:44 am Post subject:

I've read four of five of the chapters now - not in order. Oh, what a high standard! Lovely work.

I really loved your contributions, Timeless. I should save my comments for when there's talk about each chapter (on the episode threads?). Your Quick, Quick Slow Death had me chortling and gasping at various points. The tragedy of the tattooed fellow's loneliness never struck me before, and lots of other things you mention too. Ah, I'll save it for the discussions! But I really want to see it again now, you remind me how great it is when I'd forgotten. As for Thirteenth Hole, utterly delightful. You really got hold of Steed's subversion and Emma's ennui at the prospect of golf...

Anti-clockwise's analysis of Dial A Deadly Number is breathtakingly daring. I bet Roger Marshall will be blushing (with pleasure) once he's read it Smile

I can't wait to read her others. I've disciplined myself a bit and am reading the earlier essays now, The Murder Market has depth and great puns too, as Rodney promised Smile

Nice to see that the Tara volume shares Anti-clockwise's name as a title!
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Last watched: Invasion of the Earthmen on ITV4.

Frankymole · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:13 am Post subject:

Well, I've noticed an error at the start of my "Two's A Crowd" chapter - it says "Twenty-five years after the end of the Second World War" and it should be twenty years! Grr.

There are a couple of typos around the text that I can send to Rodney (e.g. "Ivenko" is listed as "Ivano" in the list of characters). Hopefully he'll change my chronologically-challenged second paragraph too in future editions.

This book has one of the loveliest descriptions of Emma Peel's demeanour, and a reason I find her so attractive: "cool warmth".
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Last watched: Invasion of the Earthmen on ITV4.

mrs_emma_peel · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:33 am Post subject:

Received my copy this morning and I agree with Franky, the book is even better in 'real-life' so to speak - the cover is dazzling, the book nicely big and chunky and the text is very clear, well-spaced and making it a very comfortable read.

I'm pleased that Piers' splendid essay and my own piece on Brimstone didn't replicate too much, and have interestingly different approaches.

Of course, re-reading my own Brimstone essay I'm perhaps over critical and can think of a few improvements and I should have written more.

On careful reading this evening: I have found some omissions - I'm not sure if the text of Mrs Peel's missing height and vital statistics of ... 5' 8½" tall, 34-25-36½ are an Amazon figures error or omission - an omitted Ian Fleming quote and a missing piece of text - Mrs Peel's hypothetical reaction quote to her kinky costume... it's one of my best lines! It would be great if these pieces of text could possibly be re-instated Wink

There's an inevitable typo in original dialogue script: text should read Hotel George V or Cinq - not Sand or Sanc.

Nevertheless, overall, I'm contented with my intentionally controversial risque piece and hope to continue this erotic theme into the Series 5 chapters Smile

'This book has one of the loveliest descriptions of Emma Peel's demeanour, and a reason I find her so attractive: "cool warmth"'
What a superb description of our gorgeous Emma, Franky Smile

I've read a few tasters of Anti-clockwise's and Margaret's chapters and they are an absolute joy Smile

Just been skimming through a few chapters, Rodney's brilliant linking pieces... and the brief contributor bios, which are fascinating. I must say this book is astonishingly good... totally compelling, and a real must for any Avengers fan. It's the type of magnetic book to which you will continually want to return - a classic 'unput downable' - 'real page turner!'

The book is thrilling, stylish and sexy - it has pace, verve and panache - very much like an Avengers episode itself!

Well done Rodney... well done Amazon... well done everyone! Smile

James
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James/Mrs Emma Peel

cyberrich · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:38 am Post subject:

Received my copy this morning. Great cover and artwork. Very Happy

Like a lot of you I've skipped through it randomly, and the essays look very impressive. I will probably feel I should have done a lot better with my essay once I've read all of yours Exclamation

I've noticed one grammatical error in mine already. Laughing

Can't wait to read the book properly over the weekend. Rich.

Rodders · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:20 am Post subject:

glad people liked my description of EP's 'cool warmth'. It seemed the perfect oxymoron to sum up her charmingly paradoxical character.
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The Avengers: a product of the sixties and a timeless piece of sublime art

Timeless A-Peel · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 12:18 pm Post subject:

Rodders · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 12:27 pm Post subject:

Just imagine the magic you will weave with The New Avengers!
I think this four volume collection will form an important part of the show's history.
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The Avengers: a product of the sixties and a timeless piece of sublime art

Timeless A-Peel · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 12:33 pm Post subject:

Rodders · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 1:06 pm Post subject:

Rodders · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 1:13 pm Post subject:

Please e-mail me any typos or factual errors and I will change them at the end of March. It involves taking the book offline for 48 hours. I've changed Frankymole's already.
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The Avengers: a product of the sixties and a timeless piece of sublime art

Timeless A-Peel · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 1:44 pm Post subject:

mousemeat · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 2:10 pm Post subject:

dissolute · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:53 pm Post subject:

mousemeat · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:49 pm Post subject:

mrs_emma_peel · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:19 pm Post subject:

Just to confuse things there is a George Sand Hotel in Paris but only 3 star - Piers is correct it is a typo in the dialogue script - it should be the luxury 5 star George V Hotel in Paris.
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James/Mrs Emma Peel

anti-clockwise · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject: