Crichton certainly has the Midas touch

A giant of a writer

The best thing about Europa is the voice Tim Parks conjures up: Marlow's wry, defeated reason keeps you turning the pages... A forlorn but seductive voice, reminding us that it is far easier to unite a sprawling continent than the few cubic metres that contain a human soul

The triumph of the work is its discomforting portrayal of an agile mind hampered by the twin shackles of longing and disgust... Europa is that rare beast, a book which demands and withstands a second reading

A brilliant journalistic investigation... A copy should be sent to every Labour MP to remind them of their responsibilities

'This is a dirty book'

'Fine comic scenes...readers will have trouble putting Sap Rising down, even if their gorge rises'

'Imagine Barbara Pym writing for Penthouse'

'He writes so brilliantly'

'Extremely funny'

'Do not buy this book'

'Frightful pile of garbage'