Review
An ambitious and worthy tale that tries to pack in just a little too much, says Verbal Arts Centre
- The Tides of Men
- Aberdeen Bay
Turning Tide
Opening in Belfast with a funeral scene told through the eyes of a child, The Tides of Men ranges far and wide in its examination of the political process on a global scale.
From Nicaragua to China, South-East Asia and the USA, MacAllister focuses his gaze on hotspots for political intrigue and corruption through the lens of a complex political thriller - culminating in threats of nuclear Armageddon. The book bills itself as ‘an epic account of the deception of Global Power from a broad perspective’. That’s a tall order to fill, and not one that filled this casual reader with any great anticipation of enjoyment – it’s a description that doesn’t exactly scream ‘page-turner’. That said, MacAllister writes well (if sometimes like an academic rather than a novelist). MacAllister is to be commended for the ambition of his vision and the depth of his research. It is obvious that this is intended as more than a disposable airport thriller. By drawing together a tapestry of political, economic, historical and ethnic intrigues, the author attempts to engage the reader in a confrontation of difficult issues. There is a sincere message apparent here, yet lofty ambitions sit uncomfortably alongside a basic premise which is far more populist than the novel itself seems to know. The changes in pace are also incongruous at times, with the (admittedly lovely) descriptions of scenery, vying for attention with the conspiracy and intrigue at the heart of the story. This is a strange animal - part thriller, part polemic; I fear it might be too much for fans of the first, and too fanciful for those interested in the latter.
Verbal Arts Centre