Michael Marshall SmithMichael Marshall Smith

SPARESSPARES

Michael Marshall SmithMichael Marshall Smith Born 1965 in EnglandBorn 1965 in England Attended Cambridge UniversityAttended Cambridge University Comedy writer/performer Radio 4Comedy writer/performer Radio 4 Worked as a graphic designerWorked as a graphic designer Only ForwardOnly Forward SparesSpares One of UsOne of Us ““Michael Marshall”Michael Marshall”

The Straw Men The Straw Men trilogytrilogy The IntrudersThe Intruders Bad ThingsBad Things

SPARES: PlotSPARES: Plot

Jack Randall is on the run with a Jack Randall is on the run with a small group of rescued “Spares”small group of rescued “Spares”

His flight is interrupted by a series of His flight is interrupted by a series of horrific events in New Richmond and horrific events in New Richmond and he is flung into a hunt for those he is flung into a hunt for those responsibleresponsible

Style and structureStyle and structure

First personFirst person Past tense throughoutPast tense throughout Flashbacks play a large part in the Flashbacks play a large part in the

novel’s structure, with key points novel’s structure, with key points only revealed when necessaryonly revealed when necessary

SF trappings used sparingly – little SF trappings used sparingly – little expositionexposition

VoiceVoice

Much humour, despite the subject Much humour, despite the subject mattermatter

ConversationalConversational Intelligent and cynicalIntelligent and cynical

CharactersCharacters

Jack RandallJack Randall RatchetRatchet The SparesThe Spares VinaldiVinaldi Nearly and HowieNearly and Howie Arlond MaxenArlond Maxen

ThemesThemes

RedemptionRedemption ResponsibilityResponsibility RevengeRevenge

Why I chose the extractsWhy I chose the extracts

Humour and styleHumour and style Back storyBack story Character and placeCharacter and place

Why I chose this bookWhy I chose this book

VoiceVoice StyleStyle StructureStructure