When first approaching Colin J. Davies’ book 2001: A Space Ode & Ditty, an open mind is essential. The cover declares it “A fandom drama of memoirs and poetry”, but this offers little real insight into what you might find inside. Venture in though and Davies’ witty anecdotes and observations will very quickly hook you, and at less than 80 pages it will all then be over far too quickly.
Developed from a spoken word show first performed in November 2014, this book is a nostalgic trip that documents the spiritual journey of a self-confessed geek; a man so enamoured with pop culture and nerd-dom that every key event in his life is notable by the references that surround it. Perhaps this is what may prove to be slightly divisive. If you lived through the same experiences, enjoyed the same films for the first time, and coveted the same merchandise, then Davies’ book will resonate deep within your soul. If you didn’t then perhaps it may prove a little too indulgent in places, but the humour and intelligent writing are still deeply engaging.
Whatever your preferences, this is a book worth picking up and one unlike anything you have probably read before. It’s also worth returning to that cover line, but with a little embellishment. In Davies’ book, the memoirs are rich and entertaining and the poetry is both funny and poignant, and also very accessible. But more than that this is simply a thoroughly entertaining read, albeit a brief one.
2001: A SPACE ODE & DITTY / AUTHOR: COLIN J. DAVIES / PUBLISHER: WORDRABBIT / PUBLISHER: OUT NOW
