The Unmutual
Reviews: Number Six - The Prisoner Book, Files Magazine Special
John Peel - ISBN 6-01 12-744-k 592pp.1I1A
Review by David Healey
One
day, in a science-fication shop in Bromley, I
spotted a Prisoner book I was unfamiliar with. I naturally decided to purchase
it. What a mistake! This publication, entitled "No. 6, The PrisonerBook,
A Files Magazine Special", authored by John Peel, is quite simply, dreadful.
What can I say to ensure you don't rush out and purchase a copy? It contains
the 1977 Warner Troyer interview. Nothing new here. The bulk of the book is
made up of episode synopses. These are prepared with factual errors in the
storyline as well as gems such as "Schnapps" for "Schnipps"
and "directed by Patrick McGoohan as Pat Jackson". I purchased this
£11.99 tome for the episode critiques; to be fair some are not that
bad, but toward the end they become incomprehensible.
No one has proof read the book, letters and words are mis-spelt, missing and
even lurch into each other or capitals for no reason at all. The quality of
printing makes whole pages unreadable. Sentences disappear into the binding
entirely. The spelling is priceless. Just who are Berrine Le Beau, Fabian
Drake and Romo Gavara? "It's Your Funeral" was apparently written
by Michael Cramby! Have I deterred you yet? The quality of the photographs
vary from moderate to fourth generation photocopy. Any relationship between
the episode and illustration used is entirely coincidental. Some are reversed,
others duplicated. Some of the errors would be humorous if it wasn't so sad.
Honestly, at £11.99 this is a disgrace. The author should be removed
and sent to the Village for a rheabbilitashun course!