This Other Eden

By Ben Elton

Absurdities abound in this little-known gem written by British comic Ben Elton. Elton cut his teeth writing for classic "Monty Python: The Next Generation" fare such as The Young Ones and Blackadder. These days, he's moved on to writing novels, and the literary world is a better place because of it.

Elton's piercing wit saturates This Other Eden, from the tiniest details through to the comic hooks on which major plot points are hung. Set in the very near future, the story focuses on the tremendous coordination of efforts put forth to market an unusual product: the end of the world.

In this future, marketing mastermind and media magnate Plastic Tolstoy has the audacity to propose that humans can survive the end of the world, by purchasing self-sufficient, hermetically-sealed geodesic domes called Claustrospheres. These glorified bomb shelters-updated for wealthier clientele to include such "extras" as mountains, rainforests and genetically engineered, self-regenerating "geep" (a goat/sheep crossbreed that provides wool, milk, and meat)-are a source of both opportunity and controversy.

On the opportunity side, there's Nathan Hoddy, a struggling Hollywood screenwriter hoping to get his big break writing a "movie" (read: feature-length, product-placement-filled Claustrosphere infomercial) for Plastic Tolstoy. On the controversy side, there's Rosalie, a feisty, beret-wearing member of the Mother Earth ecoterrorist group. Rosalie seeks to topple Tolstoy's empire, to strike a blow for the underprivileged who would otherwise be left to perish on the day of the "Rat Run," when those who have them lock themselves into their Claustrospheres for good. Mother Earth and the other "green" organizations despise Tolstoy for what they view as his efforts to hasten the death of the planet.

Torn between the opportunity and the controversy is Max Maximus, a twenty-six-year-old Hollywood megastar looking to prove that he's more than just a pretty face and a perfectly sculpted set of abs. On his way to a meeting with Nathan and Tolstoy to discuss his career-making role in a major Tolstoy production, Max meets and falls for Rosalie.

For someone of greater depth, this would be a time to weigh the needs of the individual against the greater good of society. Fortunately, Max doesn't get bogged down by those concerns. Instead, he's got a different battle to wage: the one between his all-powerful ego and his raging libido. Max's career and acting ability mean everything to him-so much so that just thinking of what a fine actor he is invariably causes his nether regions to stand at attention. At the same time, he's taken with Rosalie in a way his shallow soul has not yet experienced before. What's an international playboy to do?

For someone who stays far from the latte-sipping circles of Los Angeles, Elton demonstrates a keen understanding of the Hollywood buzz-building machine. He's also a deft student of marketing, revealing piece by piece the intricacy and breadth of Tolstoy's plan to capitalize on our Armageddon.

First and foremost, however, Elton is a comic. His satire of the advertising and entertainment industries, as well as the ecological movement, is right on the money. It reveals itself in small touches throughout the book, such as the annoying wanna-be starlet named "Tori Doherty," and the booming industry of movie star assassins who-rather than invest valuable time and money waiting for lucky breaks as actors-instead decide to win instant fame by murdering those who have already attained it for themselves. These killers obtain agents, book and movie deals-and sometimes end up getting killed by the next wave of hopeful "stars."

Set in the future, and dealing with the end of the world, This Other Eden sounds at first like a typical science fiction story; however, it is anything but. Yes, it includes some of the typical sci-fi trappings and gadgets (an indestructible spray-on prophylactic plays a key role), but it delves beyond these to paint an unflattering yet honest and comical picture of our culture. If you have an inherent bias against science fiction, and avoid this book because of it, you'll be missing out.

This Other Eden was a #1 bestseller in England but, sadly, is currently out-of-print here in the U.S. Scour your local used bookstore for a copy or, better yet, take advantage of the "out-of-print search" services available both online and though most of the major book retailers. It's worth the trouble and, at its $12.00 cover price, a bargain if you can find it. And, since Elton's already got a movie deal in the works for his latest novel, Popcorn (see separate review), there's reason to hope his back catalog may soon receive a new press run-if you can wait that long.