'London Fields' by Martin Amis is a dark and twisted murder mystery that follows the impending death of Nicola Six, a dominatrix who foresees her own murder but is unsure of the identity of the killer. Set in London, the story delves into the lives of complex and morally ambiguous characters like Keith Talent, a cheating dart enthusiast, and Guy Clinch, a naive wealthy man. The narrative is rich with black humor, social commentary, and post-modern meta-narratives about the act of writing, all woven together by an American writer named Samson Young.

Characters:

The characters are vividly drawn but often embody stereotypes, with Nicola serving as a central tragic figure amidst morally ambiguous supporting characters.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is intricate and richly descriptive, often balancing dark humor with philosophical musings.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on Nicola Six's foreknowledge of her murder, the interactions leading up to it, and the narrator's exploration of these events.

Setting:

The setting is a dark, introspective London that encapsulates themes of urban decay and societal dread.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally slow and drawn-out, often focusing on character interactions rather than rapid plot progression.

A word about the title. Several alternatives suggested themselves. For a while I toyed with Time's Arrow. Then I thought Millennium would be wonderfully bold (a common belief: everything is called Mil...

Notes:

The book is set in London, specifically in its gritty streets during 1999.

The main plot revolves around Nicola Six, who knows she will be murdered on her 35th birthday.

Samson Young, the narrator, is a failed American writer living in London.

Keith Talent is a petty criminal and darts player, depicted as a complex and deeply flawed character.

Guy Clinch is a wealthy, emotionally unfulfilled banker involved with Nicola.

The narrative explores themes of apocalyptic dread and social class divides in Britain.

The writing style is marked by black humor and rich, vivid descriptions.

Martin Amis blends elements of humor, philosophical musings, and introspection throughout the novel.

The novel includes meta-narrative elements, with the narrator commenting on his writing process.

Critics note an underlying theme of misogyny and discomfort with female sexuality in Nicola's portrayal.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for London Fields include depictions of violence, sexual content, misogyny, and instances of racism, which may be disturbing to some readers.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in London Fields, particularly revolving around the complex relationships among the characters, especially between Nicola Six and her two potential partners.

From The Publisher:

London Fields is Amis's murder story for the end of the millennium-"a comic murder mystery, an apocalyptic satire, a scatological meditation on love and death" (The New York Times).

The murderee is Nicola Six, a "black hole" of sex and self-loathing intent on orchestrating her own extinction. The murderer may be Keith Talent, a violent lowlife whose only passions are pornography and darts. Or is the killer the rich, honorable, and dimly romantic Guy Clinch?

Here, Amis is "by turns lyrical and obscene, colloquial and rhapsodic." -Michiko Kakutani

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About the Author:

MARTIN AMIS is the author of fourteen previous novels, the memoir Experience, two collections of stories, and seven nonfiction books. He lives in Brooklyn.

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London Fields

Martin Amis