{"product_id":"machine-elves-descending-john-king-9798887440972","title":"Machine Elves Descending","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"John King is an adventurous avant-garde novelist. The sheer \u003cbr\u003evirtuosity of his language overflows with a richness of invention.\" \u003cbr\u003e--Boyd Tonkin, \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eIndependent\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest known for the social realism of novels such as \u003ci\u003eThe Football Factory\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHuman Punk\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLondon Country\u003c\/i\u003e, John King's writing also carries speculative strands, with his interest in dystopian fiction clear in several books. \u003ci\u003eThe Liberal Politics of Adolf Hitler\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e took this further, and the main story in this collection, \"Machine \u003cbr\u003eElves Descending,\" drives deep into the worlds of science fiction. As an\u003cbr\u003e alien spaceship approaches, pod-dweller Stretch scans the flatlands, \u003cbr\u003ehoping that the invaders will become bored and leave. Once the aliens \u003cbr\u003ehave landed, Stretch becomes unsure, as new memories close in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Granny's Letters\"\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003etells\u003cbr\u003e the story of an elderly widow waiting for an under-threat Post Office \u003cbr\u003eto deliver her mail. Granny Smith isn't as frail as she appears, though.\u003cbr\u003e She knows how to dish out some righteous justice. \"See No Evil\"\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003efinds Jimmy Ramone released from prison and facing temptation, conscious that he must resist if he is to survive the night.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlus\u003c\/i\u003e . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Writing the Canals\" finding inspiration in the local waterways\u003ci\u003e. \"\u003c\/i\u003eA Very Corporate Coup\" an article that appeared in the \u003ci\u003eNew Statesman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e in the run-up to the EU referendum. \"The Shed\" a trip into the famous \u003cbr\u003eChelsea home end and the author's youth. \"May Day\" introduction to the \u003cbr\u003eLondon Books edition of John Sommerfield's 1936 novel of the same name, \u003cbr\u003erepublished as part of the London Classics series which John edits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAnd featuring\u003c\/i\u003e . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Call\u003cbr\u003e Me Elvis,\" an interview with the surrealist collagist and experimental \u003cbr\u003enovelist Allan Kausch. Books, beer, and punk rock . . . Animal rights, \u003cbr\u003einternational travel, our spiritual paths . . . The Clash, Bowie, Pete \u003cbr\u003eJohnson . . . Alan Sillitoe, George Orwell, American fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e John King\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798887440972\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e PM Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/06\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 128\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback","brand":"John King","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48520188461311,"sku":"9798887440972","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_fe62d80d-4b4b-42e0-b6f4-4efb564657ef.jpg?v=1778741269","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/machine-elves-descending-john-king-9798887440972","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}