Robin Anderson Author Reviews

Swallow Dive

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Body double, doppelganger, spitting image…you name it
ZInnie Zin and you’re her!"
Grady Harp – Amazon – Oct 2015

Robin Anderson takes a million and one chances in this stingingly funny novel and his writing style is so
adept that he knows exactly how to balance camp with storyline. A little background: Anderson was born
in Scotland and educated in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and South Africa and while his novels have a
decidedly bent twist, is day job is that of an internationally respected interior designer. And in that field
he likely has encountered much of the classy fodder he molds into this book.

This current tale of the naughty realm of Anderson's purview can be summarized s follows: ‘Aggressive “no holds barred” entrepreneur Rodney Swallow sees The Seven Ages of Man ruthlessly reduced to four; The Initial Step followed by The Climb, followed by The Platform and “If you don’t watch your effing step, an effing Swallow Dive!” Ambitious young actor Robert Crozier (“smutty putty” in Rodney Swallow’s grasping hands) joins equally young artist Alfie Quimm and fashionista sensation, the rainbow striped Zin for their Initial Step followed by their Climb; the three finally reaching their ultimate goal, The Diving Platform. But will they stay there or end up in the humiliating Swallow Dive? A top cast of colourful characters including the Machiavellian Chetwin Godwin a producer, director extraordinaire; the awesome Mr Samuel Khayetlisha, South Africa’s answer to America’s Big Arnie; the vodka marinated restaurateur Norman Wray; dashing dilettante Richard “Dickie” Dunkett and the formidable Magda Mamazulon, owner of the famous Bond Street gallery bearing the same name, are only a few other ambitious souls who proceed to make, break or even destroy the three determined climbers. Backdrops for the unfolding scenarios feature the cities of London and Bristol, the historic city of Bath (What really does go on behind those elegant Regency facades?), Italy’s spectacular Cinque Terre and glitzy Monte Carlo. While Swallow Dive may be seen to be as kaleidoscopic as an Alfie Quimm painting; Zin’s shaven, multi-coloured striped head or Chetwin Godwin’s spectacular production of Little Boy Blew, behind all the glamour and glory there runs a darker side, a veritable river of Lethe with Swallow Dive necessitating an extra deep breath before the reader takes the plunge.’

But far more than the wondrously absurd storyline is Robin’s gift with prose. He is a master – this is his 35th book, I think – and he just gets better……. Inhale deeply and don’t exhale until you’ve consumed the mastery of Robin Anderson, comic extraordinaire!

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"Another Laugh Fest."
Amos Lassen

If you follow my reviews, you are aware that I have reviewed many Robin Anderson titles. I have figured out how Anderson does it—he has written books in almost every genre and rarely falls back on himself (when he does it is with recurring characters or in series). His originality knows no bounds and you can be always sure of several good laughs in Anderson’s books.
Just the other day I realized that I have not read anything new from him in quite a while but that changed quickly with the arrival of the mailman and Anderson’s new book , “Swallow Dive”. I have learned that reading an Anderson book is best done all at once so I cleared my day and sat down to read.

Barely into the book, I meet Rodney Swallow an aggressive entrepreneur who stops at nothing to get what he wants sees and whose middle name is “Ruthless”. Robert Crozier is a young actor filled with more ambition than talent and who Rodney has the ability to mold into whatever we wants. Robert and Alfie Quinn, a young artist and Zin, a fashionista have come together and are not ready to take a swallow dive into obscurity. Following Rodney’s ages of man (which he has reduced from seven to four) they reached stage three, the diving platform, and they plan to stay there for a while. Whether they do or not depends on all kinds of variables but especially on the other characters in the novel. There is the Machiavellian Chetwin Godwin (did I mention that Anderson characters have the best names going in the world of fiction?) who is both a producer and director. Samuel Khayetlisha (Mr.) of South Africa, Norman Wray, a restaurant owner with a penchant for vodka, Richard “Dickie” Dunkett, a very good-looking dilettante and Magda Mamazulon, owner of a gallery are other characters we meet here. (Lots of characters with unpronounceable names is an Anderson characteristic). This group is determined to destroy the three shameless social climbers. Basically the story is set in England but we do take trips to Monte Carlo and Italy. Just a note—reading Anderson makes you feel like you are on a trip but not the kind that travel companies plan.

There is a dark side here that provides dark humor and when mixed in with author Anderson’s prose and whacky situations, we get quite a read which I have no intention of spoiling for you. Get the book, you will not be sorry. Maybe you can also pick up copies of the other 34 Robin Anderson titles.

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