Reservoir Pups

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Reservoir Pups
Reservoir Pups.jpg
Author Colin Bateman
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Series Eddie & the Gang with No Name
Genre Crime, young adult
Publisher Hodder Children's
Publication date
13 November 2003 (2003-11-13)
Media typePrint (hardcover and softcover)
Pages312
ISBN 9780340877807
OCLC 52921494
Followed by Bring Me the Head of Oliver Plunkett
(2004)' 

Reservoir Pups (also known as Running with the Reservoir Pups) is the first novel of the Eddie & the Gang with No Name trilogy by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, published on 13 November 2003 through Hodder Children's Books. [1] It is Bateman's first young adult novel.

Contents

Plot

The story surrounds a twelve-year-old named Eddie and his affiliation with a local gang, known as the "Reservoir Pups".

Eddie's father leaves his mother to run away with her boss, a doctor. His mother finds herself a new nursing job at the Royal Victoria Maternity Hospital, however it's located in a run-down section of Belfast; the pair move there regardless. A short time after they arrive, Scuttles, the chief of hospital security, accuses Eddie of scamming the locals and of being part of a neighbourhood gang, the "Reservoir Pups", for which his mum scolds him also.

Given that all the people in his life believe he is already part of the gang, Eddie decides to join. He is tasked with stealing the security codes from Scuttles' computer and while attempting to do so, hears of a plot to kidnap twelve babies from the hospital nursery, abandoning his mission. Returning to the gang, Eddie is ostracised for his failure to complete his task and he is told to "watch his back". Eddie then sets out to foil the kidnapping himself.

Characters

Reception

Colin Bateman presents an exhilarative, spine tingling work filled with all the zestful agitation, whimsical cast of characters and explosive tension necessary to hold the target audience absorbed from beginning paragraph to ending lines.

Molly Martin [2]

The novel was well received, with reviewers praising the pace of the novel and the complex themes discussed throughout.

Publishers Weekly called the novel a "rippingly paced", "zany caper cloaked in the droll, dark comedy that marks [Bateman's] adult fiction", praising the "cleverly convoluted plot"; and concluding that "how all the strands come together in this innovative, far-fetched tale makes for great entertainment, and Bateman's appealing young hero is entirely credible". [3] Candice Cooper, writing for Kaboose, called the novel a "fun, witty, tale of a 12 year-old boy with a gigantic amount of integrity and ambition", commenting that "it's important for him to do the right thing and he works very hard to accomplish it". She does go on to comment, however, that the "gang aspect of the book is a bit disturbing at times", finding that to perhaps be inappropriate for a book aimed at this audience. Cooper awarded the novel a score of four out of five. [4] Kirkus Reviews found that the "fast-paced plot gradually moves the reader from recognizable reality into a neverland of impossible characters and larger-than-life evildoers", concluding that "for the lovers of nonstop action and understated British humor, this will be a satisfying page-turner. Unpretentiously unpredictable". [5] Children's book reviewer, Inis Magazine, found that "in this mixture between 'problem novel' ... and Dahlesque novel of the grotesque, with a humanised version of 101 Dalmatians thrown in for good measure, Bateman creates a strange juxtaposition of pathos, comedy and shocking grotesquerie". Reviewer Amanda Piesse also commented on the "swift pace" and "hyperbolic tone" throughout; in conclusion finding it to be "highly thought-provoking in terms of both form and content, this book had me re-reading it the moment I'd finished it". [6] BookPage reviewer Alice Cary commented on the negative connection people may make with the subject matter for this novel, stating "between the witty word-smithing of Irish novelist Colin Bateman and the engaging voice of his protagonist, Eddie, readers are in good hands". Cary continues to state that while many elements of the novels plot could be considered unrealistic, "Eddie's narration makes it riveting and funny, and the story always rings true". [7]

Controversy

The descriptions of "Mo", a young albino girl, caused controversy for Bateman at a school in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Anubis Gates</i> 1983 time travel fantasy novel by Tim Powers

The Anubis Gates is a 1983 time travel fantasy novel by American writer Tim Powers. It won the 1983 Philip K. Dick Award and 1984 Science Fiction Chronicle Award. The plot concerns an English professor, who participates in a time travel experiment and ends up trapped in the 19th century. The novel was influenced by Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor and, to a lesser degree, the works of Charles Dickens.

<i>Colonel Sun</i> Novel by Kingsley Amis

Colonel Sun is a novel by Kingsley Amis published by Jonathan Cape on 28 March 1968 under the pseudonym "Robert Markham". Colonel Sun is the first James Bond continuation novel published after Ian Fleming's 1964 death. Before writing the novel, Amis wrote two other Bond related works, the literary study The James Bond Dossier and the humorous The Book of Bond. Colonel Sun centres on the fictional British Secret Service operative James Bond and his mission to track down the kidnappers of M, his superior at the Secret Service. During the mission he discovers a communist Chinese plot to cause an international incident. Bond, assisted by a Greek spy working for the Russians, finds M on a small Aegean island, rescues him and kills the two main plotters: Colonel Sun Liang-tan and a former Nazi commander, Von Richter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Bateman</span> Northern Irish author and journalist

Colin Bateman is a novelist, screenwriter and former journalist from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.

<i>Divorcing Jack</i> (novel) 1995 novel by Colin Bateman

Divorcing Jack is the debut novel and first of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 28 January 1995 through HarperCollins. The novel was recognised as one of the San Francisco Review of Books favourite "First books" of 1995–1996.

<i>Mr. Monster</i> 2010 horror novel by Dan Wells

Mr. Monster is a young adult horror novel by Dan Wells, published in 2010 by Tor Books and by Headline. It is the sequel to I Am Not a Serial Killer and the second book in the John Wayne Cleaver series. The book focuses on the dual threats of the conflict between John and his darker side, which he calls "Mr. Monster", as well as the emergence of a second serial killer in Clayton County. Reviewers have praised both the continuation of the series' plot and the depth found in John's characterization. The novel was the co-winner of the 2010 Whitney Award for Novel of the Year. It has been published in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Czech, and Croatian. An audiobook of the novel is available, narrated by Kirby Heyborne. The sequel to this book, I Don't Want to Kill You, was released in March 2011.

<i>Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men</i> 1996 novel by Colin Bateman

Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men is the second novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 25 April 1996 through HarperCollins. The name of the novel is a reference to the John Steinbeck novella Of Mice and Men.

<i>Turbulent Priests</i> 1999 novel by Colin Bateman

Turbulent Priests is the third novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 6 December 1999 through HarperCollins. Bateman's usage of Rathlin Island as the book's setting led to Bateman being invited to unveil a "Writer's Chair", commemorating writers of all origin and genre.

<i>Shooting Sean</i> 2001 novel by Colin Bateman

Shooting Sean is the fourth novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 8 May 2001 through HarperCollins. The novel was named by Hugh Macdonald as one of The Heralds "paperbacks of the week" in June 2001.

<i>Driving Big Davie</i> 2004 novel by Colin Bateman

Driving Big Davie is the sixth novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 5 April 2004 through Headline Publishing Group. Bateman started the novel in response to the death of Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash, who he stated was a "huge inspiration on [his] teenage years".

<i>Belfast Confidential</i> 2005 novel by Colin Bateman

Belfast Confidential is the seventh novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 7 November 2005 through Headline Publishing Group.

<i>Nine Inches</i> 2011 novel by Colin Bateman

Nine Inches is the eighth novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 13 October 2011 through Headline Publishing Group. Fellow crime author, Ian Rankin, recognised the book in The Scotsman as one of his "books of the year" 2011. It was also listed by author Nick Quantrill as one of his "Top 5 Books of 2011".

<i>Murphys Law</i> (novel) 2002 novel by Colin Bateman

Murphy's Law is the first novel of the Martin Murphy series by Northern Irish author Colin Bateman, published on 13 October 2011 through Headline Publishing Group. The novel is adapted from the television series of the same name, created by Bateman and starring James Nesbitt.

<i>Murphys Revenge</i> 2005 novel by Colin Bateman

Murphy's Revenge is the second novel of the Martin Murphy series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, published on 4 April 2005 through Headline Publishing Group.

<i>Bring Me the Head of Oliver Plunkett</i> 2004 young adult novel by Colin Bateman

Bring Me the Head of Oliver Plunkett is the second novel of the Eddie & the Gang with No Name trilogy by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, published on 13 May 2004 through Hodder Children's Books.

<i>Titanic 2020</i> 2007 young adult novel by Colin Bateman

Titanic 2020 is the first novel of the Titanic 2020 series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, published on 19 July 2007 through Hodder Children's Books.

<i>Titanic 2020: Cannibal City</i> 2008 young adult novel by Colin Bateman

Titanic 2020: Cannibal City is the second novel of the Titanic 2020 series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, published on 19 June 2008 through Hodder Children's Books.

The SOS Adventures series is a trilogy of young adult novels written by Northern Irish author Colin Bateman, released between June 2010 and March 2011. The novels surround teenager Michael Monroe and his adventures with a team of international environmental rescue operatives, known as SOS. The first novel in the series was longlisted for the children's Northern Ireland Book Award 2010–11.

<i>Cycle of Violence</i> 1995 novel by Colin Bateman

Cycle of Violence, also known as Crossmaheart, is the first stand-alone novel by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 13 November 1995 through HarperCollins. The novel follows a journalist named Miller and his appointment in the hostile town of Crossmaheart; it was well received by reviewers. A movie adaptation has been made, named Crossmaheart also, and was featured in a number of film festivals.

The Eddie & the Gang with No Name series is a trilogy of young-adult novels, written by Northern Irish author Colin Bateman. The trilogy surrounds a twelve-year-old Eddie and his affiliation with a local gang, the "Reservoir Pups". The trilogy was bought by the publisher Random House for release in America. However, given the drug-related content in the third installment of the series, Random House decided to publish only the first two novels.

The Dan Starkey novel series is written by Colin Bateman. It revolves around the private detective Dan Starkey and cases that Starkey investigates.

References

  1. Reservoir Pups (Book, 2003). WorldCat. OCLC   52921494.
  2. Martin, Molly (19 February 2005). "Book Review: Running with the Reservoir Pups by Colin Bateman". jandysbooks. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  3. "Children's Review: Running With the Reservoir Pups". Publishers Weekly. 10 January 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  4. Cooper, Candice. "Running with the Reservoir Pups : Eddie and the Gang with No Name: Book One". Kaboose. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  5. "Running With the Reservoir Pups by Colin Bateman". Kirkus Reviews. 15 December 2004. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  6. Piesse, Amanda. "Review – Reservoir Pups". Inis Magazine (8). Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  7. Cary, Alice (February 2005). "Humor drives this offbeat story". BookPage. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  8. "Student Book Protest". BBC. 2 July 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.