Alison by Andrew Humphrey is the long awaited first venture in ages** into novel publishing by TTA Press. It finally hit the streets in February and my copy arrived at the weekend. Now, I don’t have a lot of time for reading at the moment, but whenever I get a new book I can never resist checking it out.
As you would expect of a TTA product, Alison is a beautifully designed and produced artifact. The cover design by David Gentry is clean, attractive and deliciously ambiguous; it reminded me of the old Barrington slipstream anthologies, but more modern. It was so attractive I was unable to resist a peek at the first page – and was instantly hooked. It’s a total page-turner. I finished it in a day and a half.
I’ve read a lot of Andrew’s short fiction. His first collection, Open The Box, was one of Elastic Press’s first titles, and his second, Other Voices, will be appear from the same publisher imminently. Both are recommended, but the short stories didn’t prepare me for how skillful and powerful the novel would be.
Alison tells the story of a man whose partner has died, alternate chapters playing off the retrospective charting of the progress of their relationship against his hurt, blundering attempts to discover why she died. It’s a dark story involving a small circle of close friends and family, and in its essence has a few poignant thing to say about the fact that we never know everything about those close to us, and it’s probably for the best that we don’t.
The only quibble I had about it was the decision to present the “happening now” chapters in the present tense. I suppose it was intended to differentiate them from the retrospective chapters, but there are less jarring ways of doing this. It’s not, by any means, though, a major issue.
Alison is full of sharp characterisation and pointed, naturalistic, dialogue. It’s a captivating story that won’t let you go until you’ve discovered all there is to know about characters you came quickly to care about. And by then it’ll be too late.
Very, very good indeed.
**Edit: Alison is of course not the first novel TTA has produced. Allen Ashley’s “The Planet Suite” and Ray Naylor’s “American Graveyards” were both excellent publications. Maybe I just wish they’d do it more often.
ayeahmur 
Neil
Thanks for the tip, it’s always good to hear about new (to me) writers, and I think I have located a copy of the sold out “Open the Box” and will seal the deal tonight, but will also look out for “Alison” and “Other Voices” and add them to the reading pile, which will surely diminish now that “Black Man” is coming to an end.
Ian
Hi Neil
Thank you so much for those kind words, i’ve been a bit nervous about the reception Alison might get and that’s made me feel a lot better!
Having a browse around the site and adding it to my favourites. Thanks again.
Ian – i hope you enjoy my stuff, please let me know what you think if you get a chance.
I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it, Andy. It’s a cracking read.
Well done. Hope you’re working on something new!
Ian, one of the beautiful things about Andrew’s books is that although they are slight (Alison is only 174pp), and therefore take up little room, they pack a lot into that space. Hope you enjoy them.
ah thanks! about time this came out! just got other voices the the day at the BFS open night and looking forward to reading it
Andrew, I will let you know, and Neil, glad to hear that they are slim, having finally laid to rest Richard Morgan’s weighty “Black Man”, and while I’m waiting on “Open the Box” to arrive, I ‘m reading Neil Gaiman’s World Book Day (which was yesterday) effort “Odd and The Frost Giants”, one of this year’s crop of children’s books for a pound, and very enjoyable it is too.
Yes, the entire Humphrey canon has arrived, thanks to the mighty BBR, and not only is Alison short, it contains short chapters, another plus for reluctant readers like me, opinions to follow, once the reading is done.