I originally reviewed The Gun Seller on November 8th, 2006.
The Gun Seller is a spy novel that spoofs spy novels and also takes on the military-industrial complex. From the beginning it is clear to see the direct and strong influence of P.G. Wodehouse specifically the Wooster & Jeeves stories. It also reminds one of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books, which were also influenced by Wodehouse. The main character, Thomas Lang, is a thinly veiled Wooster and his long time associate, Solomon, is clearly Jeeves. The narrative is told in a flippant, sarcastic tone that takes frequent comic asides.
At times it threatens to get out of hand, a shaggy dog tale run amok, but Laurie never lets the story get out of control. The further along the story gets the more the jokes fall to the wayside and the plot itself starts to come to center stage.
