Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Ace (2003), Edition: Reissue, Mass Market Paperback, 240 pages
Description
John Taylor works in the Nightside-the gaudy, neon noir, secret heart of London, where it's always three in the morning, where gods and monsters make deals and seek pleasures they won't find anywhere else. He has a gift for finding things. And sometimes what he's hired to locate can be very, very dangerous indeed. Right now, for example, he's searching for The Unholy Grail, the cup that Judas drank from at the Last Supper. It corrupts all who touch it-but it also gives enormous power. So he's not the only one hunting. Angels, devils, sinners, and saints-they're all out there, tearing apart The Nightside, seeking the dark goblet. And it's only a matter of time until they realize that the famous John Taylor, the man with the gift for finding things, can lead them straight to it...… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Murphy-Jacobs
Certainly hooked on the series now. I'm pretty sure there's a subtle satire going on here, a sort of pulp send up carefully worked through the weave of stories. The characters aren't exactly deep or nuanced, and there are a few too many catch phrases used a little too often ("Got it in one!"), but
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when I hold onto that satire element, it just falls into the humor category. The plot of this one is pretty interesting, although I don't agree (quite) with the way Taylor catches the blame for it all. I loved the twist at the end, in particular, as it caught me completely off-side. Very solid second in the series, which is always the hard one. Show Less
LibraryThing member MaryWJ
really enjoying this series! like the paranormal/noir detective story mixture, with the occasional witty dialog
LibraryThing member Ilithyia
These are amazing books, short and easy to read, with the most unusual ideas.
This book is about the search for the Unholy Grail, the cup that Judas drank from at the Last Supper. Definitely a new idea. John Taylor must find it and then decide who should have control over it.
This book is about the search for the Unholy Grail, the cup that Judas drank from at the Last Supper. Definitely a new idea. John Taylor must find it and then decide who should have control over it.
LibraryThing member lewispike
The Unholy Grail (Judas' cup at the Last Supper) shows up in the Nightside. Both heavenly and demonic type angels show up and the Nightside suffers. John Taylor finds the grail and...
Yet another cross-referenced story that seems to fit out of sequence. It's fun, the humour works well here.
Yet another cross-referenced story that seems to fit out of sequence. It's fun, the humour works well here.
LibraryThing member greytfriend
A good continuation of the series begun with Something From the Nightside. The lead character, John Taylor, continues to be sympathetic and engaging. The supporting characters are also vividly presented. The story is fast-paced. The various creatures and horrors presented in the mystical part of
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London called The Nightside are composed of an interesting mixture of traditional literary figures and a new gang created by the author. Overall a good, light read, even considering that the book is so dark in theme and humor. Show Less
LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
As I think I've mentioned somewhere before, I am the biggest sucker for pulp fiction. Simon R. Green's Nightside series take pulp fiction an extra step & meld it to the supernatural and the weird sci-fi realm. You may be a little lost if Agents of Light and Darkness is where you start in the
In this episode, our hero, John Taylor, is back in the Nightside again, and finds himself seated face to face with an emissary from the Vatican. It seems that the Unholy Grail is missing and is believed to be somewhere in the Nightside. Taylor's gift is to be able to find anything, so his skills are wanted to find the Unholy Grail. As opposed to the Holy Grail, the Unholy Grail is the cup from which Judas drank before betraying Jesus to the Romans. Its possession gives the owner great temptations & special powers strong enough to control any and everything and it is most wanted not only by the Vatican emissary, so that he can bury it so that it never surfaces again, but by the Heavenly Angels & the Angels from Hell who each have their own agendas for the cup; and this is not to mention the evil ones in the Nightside who will stop at nothing to obtain the cup. So besides finding the cup, Taylor & his best friend Suzie have their work cut out for them just to stay alive.
As usual, this Nightside book is a definite treat. And, for those of you who are Lovecraft aficionados, such as myself, there is a hidden treat in here: on a visit to The Collector, Taylor is going through the Collector's crates & finds one labeled "Antarctic Expedition 1936; Do not open until the Elder Ones Return."(207) This sentence made me chuckle. For those of you who don't have a clue of what I'm talking about, well, never mind.
Sci-fi/fantasy fans, readers of steampunk and even horror readers will enjoy this series.
Recommended; fun, meant to entertain for a few hours.
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series; I would definitely start with the first one "Something From the Nightside" and go through the books in order.In this episode, our hero, John Taylor, is back in the Nightside again, and finds himself seated face to face with an emissary from the Vatican. It seems that the Unholy Grail is missing and is believed to be somewhere in the Nightside. Taylor's gift is to be able to find anything, so his skills are wanted to find the Unholy Grail. As opposed to the Holy Grail, the Unholy Grail is the cup from which Judas drank before betraying Jesus to the Romans. Its possession gives the owner great temptations & special powers strong enough to control any and everything and it is most wanted not only by the Vatican emissary, so that he can bury it so that it never surfaces again, but by the Heavenly Angels & the Angels from Hell who each have their own agendas for the cup; and this is not to mention the evil ones in the Nightside who will stop at nothing to obtain the cup. So besides finding the cup, Taylor & his best friend Suzie have their work cut out for them just to stay alive.
As usual, this Nightside book is a definite treat. And, for those of you who are Lovecraft aficionados, such as myself, there is a hidden treat in here: on a visit to The Collector, Taylor is going through the Collector's crates & finds one labeled "Antarctic Expedition 1936; Do not open until the Elder Ones Return."(207) This sentence made me chuckle. For those of you who don't have a clue of what I'm talking about, well, never mind.
Sci-fi/fantasy fans, readers of steampunk and even horror readers will enjoy this series.
Recommended; fun, meant to entertain for a few hours.
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LibraryThing member wispywillow
I couldn't get into this book as deeply as I wanted to--it's really not my style--but there are some very memorable, spooky parts! The gun... and the Unbeliever... just to name a couple.
Interesting characters. Interesting place. Interesting plot.
They just weren't combined in the right way to
Interesting characters. Interesting place. Interesting plot.
They just weren't combined in the right way to
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really grab me. Show Less
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
It's short and fast. This story is a bit better than the first in the series and the phrase "in the Nightside" was only repeated 20-30 times instead of 100-110 times as in the first one.
It's like a child's fantasy book (talking frogs, princesses, evil witches) except it involves gory, gross and
While I don't regret reading it I think I'll call it quits on this series.
It's like a child's fantasy book (talking frogs, princesses, evil witches) except it involves gory, gross and
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rude characters instead. The characters are excessive, over-written and nonsensical, some seemingly put in just to be gory and gross. The story is like an attempt to tell a silly and gross fairy-tale for adults.While I don't regret reading it I think I'll call it quits on this series.
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LibraryThing member quynies_mom
The Angels are coming, the angels are coming! Grab hold for a bumpy ride. Angels are not what you thought they were. John Taylor is hired to find something everyone else wants...badly. And I mean badly. We meet some new characters and wander ever deeper into the dark alleys ofthe Nightside.
LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the second book in the Nightside series by Simon Green. This was a great book; much in par with the first book.
John Taylor is good at finding things; anything. When he is contacted by the Vatican to find the Unholy Grail, the most vile and evil of artifacts, he knows he is in trouble. The
This is another fast-paced, fun novel. Written in a very noir style, with great action scenes, and grisly details it's a quick (and sometimes slightly disturbing) read. It was great to get more background on Shotgun Suzie. It was also fun to meet some of the other interesting characters in the Nightside. You learn more about the Collector and get to meet Nasty Jack Starshine, along with a slew of other badies. I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that, again, it is such a short book.
The story is fairly self-contained with an over-arcing story that deals with the mystery behind John's mother and the mystery of why the Nightside itself exists. I look forward to reading the next book. These are well-written, easy to read, fun to read novels. They are very creative in their own way.
John Taylor is good at finding things; anything. When he is contacted by the Vatican to find the Unholy Grail, the most vile and evil of artifacts, he knows he is in trouble. The
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Unholy Grail is somewhere in the Nightside and everyone who is anyone is trying to get their hands on it. With the assistance of Shotgun Suzie, John starts the long dangerous quest to find the Unholy grail. Meanwhile the angels of heaven and hell want the Unholy Grail for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.This is another fast-paced, fun novel. Written in a very noir style, with great action scenes, and grisly details it's a quick (and sometimes slightly disturbing) read. It was great to get more background on Shotgun Suzie. It was also fun to meet some of the other interesting characters in the Nightside. You learn more about the Collector and get to meet Nasty Jack Starshine, along with a slew of other badies. I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that, again, it is such a short book.
The story is fairly self-contained with an over-arcing story that deals with the mystery behind John's mother and the mystery of why the Nightside itself exists. I look forward to reading the next book. These are well-written, easy to read, fun to read novels. They are very creative in their own way.
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LibraryThing member Reacherfan
The second book in this series is just fantastic!!
Someone comes to Taylor, because he can find anything with his special power. The person that comes to Taylor is from the Vatican, and they want him to find a very special item. If this item falls into the wrong hands, it seems that pretty much the
This is a fantastic series! I really liked how Green is adding depths to his characters. We get more of a background on Shootgun Suzie (god I love that name). We find out why she is the way she is. We also meet a lot of wonderful characters in this book. All of the characters seem so life like, you can't help but to care about them. I love what Green is doing with Taylor!
This book also have a very strong writing style. This is evident through fantastic characters, and great plot twists that will keep the reader hooked to the last page.
Give yourself a treat, and start the first book in the series and enjoy the ride. You don't have to read the first one in order to follow this book, it's that good.
Someone comes to Taylor, because he can find anything with his special power. The person that comes to Taylor is from the Vatican, and they want him to find a very special item. If this item falls into the wrong hands, it seems that pretty much the
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world will come to and end. That being said, the person from the Vatican isn't alone. It seems that the Angels from Heaven and from Hell both want this item. Angels from Heaven aren't the nice ones that we hear about in the Bible. Oh no, they'll destroy anything they have to get the item back. If they have to destroy our world or the Nightside, well, that's just fine by them. It also seems that people in the Nightside want this special for themselves too. Everyone is out to get this. What could this item be? Well, it's the Unholy Grail. The cup that Judas drank from in the last supper. Everyone want's it. If that means killing Taylor, then so be it. The thing is that Taylor won't go down without a fight.This is a fantastic series! I really liked how Green is adding depths to his characters. We get more of a background on Shootgun Suzie (god I love that name). We find out why she is the way she is. We also meet a lot of wonderful characters in this book. All of the characters seem so life like, you can't help but to care about them. I love what Green is doing with Taylor!
This book also have a very strong writing style. This is evident through fantastic characters, and great plot twists that will keep the reader hooked to the last page.
Give yourself a treat, and start the first book in the series and enjoy the ride. You don't have to read the first one in order to follow this book, it's that good.
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LibraryThing member PallanDavid
Angels from above and below invade The Nightside in search of the Unholy Grail. Shooter Suzie is killed!!!!.... OR, is she??? mmmmmm This was a fun read. I am totally enjoying this series!
LibraryThing member les121
If you liked the first Nightside book, then you'll definitely enjoy the second. If fact, I found this second installment more exciting and intriguing than the first. The best part of both of these stories is Green's sheer creativity. Throughout the novel I was constantly wondering what fantastical,
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creepy, horrifying thing Green would come up with next. It makes the world of the Nightside fascinating to explore. I'm also growing increasingly attached to the characters and even more drawn in by the mystery surrounding Taylor's parentage. The third book is definitely on my reading list. Show Less
LibraryThing member dswaddell
Taylor finds things...it's what he does. Unfortunately this time he's looking for the Judas Cup which is hunted by Angels, the Fallen, and just about everybody else. This book is a great page turner with a surprising twist at the end.
LibraryThing member hoosgracie
John Taylor can find anything, which he does for a living in the Nightside - a part of London which is between Heaven and Hell. He is hired by Jude, a priest, to find the Unholy Grail, something which he finds everyone else - including angels from Heaven and Hell want. Interesting concept, but
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wasn't quite to my taste. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
John Taylor is hired to find the unholy grail. The cup used by Judas at the last supper. His employer is the vatican but there are other people searching for the grail, and other denziens of the nightside including angels from both above and below. John recruits Shotgun Suzie to help him.
In this
In this
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one you find out more about John and he learns more about the world that is the nightside and his place in it. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwormteri
How have I gone all my life without reading this series? Seriously?!? Excellently written, characters are great, and the Nightside is just amazing. I kind of want to go there and explore, but am also scared to do so. Taylor is paid to beat everyone (including Angels) to the Unholy Grail. Shotgun
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Suzie by his side, they must find it or risk the destruction of the Nightside. Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
I thought this second book in the series was much stronger than the first. The first had altogether too much world-building, but this time we get right to the meat of the story. The Unholy Grail (a cup that Judas drank from that grants its holder great power) is supposedly on the loose in the
Since this is a YA book, it’s a relatively quick read. I felt more connected to Taylor and his unusual associates this time around, and will likely continue with the series.
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Nightside, and everyone knows about it. Including the Angels, both from above and below. Taylor is brought in to find it — hopefully before the Angels tear the Nightside to pieces.Since this is a YA book, it’s a relatively quick read. I felt more connected to Taylor and his unusual associates this time around, and will likely continue with the series.
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LibraryThing member Krumbs
Not as predictable as I expected! It could have gone a very ho-hum direction at one point, but it stayed interesting and entertaining.
LibraryThing member AdriaFaye
I liked this book even more than the first one. I just love the twist ending, I never see them coming. This series is definitely unpredictable, which I really like. I notice that a lot of things go unexplained which I kind of like because I am hoping it just building to an even bigger mystery.
LibraryThing member Garfatron5000
I've been listening to all the NIghtside audiobooks in the car on my way to work, and I'm up to 'Hell to Pay'. Going back and writing these reviews I realise I don't remember much of this one. Probably because it bored the hell out of me.
The first book nicely built up the hero John Taylor, the
Without doubt the weakest entry in the Nightside series. Though Marc Vietor, the narrator, is still pretty good.
The first book nicely built up the hero John Taylor, the
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world of the Nightside and asked questions about the significance of his return. Unfortunately 'Agents of Light and Darkness' doesn't really build on much of that but goes off on a tangent. Something about the unholy grail being stolen and thousands of demons and angels come in to the Nightside to fight over it. I remember thinking the pace was so quick I often missed important bits of information. I seem to remember that I got into the characters of Suzie Shooter and the Collector a bit more, but like the first book there were elements that didn't impress me such as the Speaki Gun. What?!Without doubt the weakest entry in the Nightside series. Though Marc Vietor, the narrator, is still pretty good.
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LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
This is not your sparkly vampires sort of urban fantasy - in this book, we have single minded killer angels bent on finding a holy artefact that has made its way into the Darkside. All sorts of people wants it, but only one person has the right ability to find it- and that person is John Taylor. He
He needs to dodge crazy Collectors, Angels in the air, and Suzie Shooter, who he enlists to help.
I've read a number of these books - I think this one is the most scary. There is something primal about the angels. The Unholy Grail is furesome, and than there is the speaking gun... a gun that doesn't just kill you, but wipes you out of existence.
Not great literature, but well written and nicely executed.
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takes the case for the first person to ask, which is the Vatican. He needs to dodge crazy Collectors, Angels in the air, and Suzie Shooter, who he enlists to help.
I've read a number of these books - I think this one is the most scary. There is something primal about the angels. The Unholy Grail is furesome, and than there is the speaking gun... a gun that doesn't just kill you, but wipes you out of existence.
Not great literature, but well written and nicely executed.
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LibraryThing member Sarah_Buckley
A quest for the Unholy Grail-the goblet from which Judas drank at the Last Supper-takes private eye John Taylor deep into the secret, magical heart of London...called the Nightside.
AS mentioned in the blurb there at the start this is a quest for the Holy Grail. So, once again John Taylor has to use
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his own particular gifts to hunt the object down. Of course as with all things Nightside, it isn't so cut and dry. The Holy Grail isn't some peaceful relic, it is in fact very, very dangerous. Way too dangerous for anyone in the night side to possess.When the Vatican *and* the Authorities of the Nightside ask John to help find the Grail he basically laughs in their faces. Things quickly escalate and then no one at all is laughing.
Throughout the book John once again pulls in a couple of friends, and sometime enemies, to help: Shotgun Susie, sometime friend and enemy is a bounty hunter whose best friends are her weapons. Also, Razor Eddie the "Punk God of the Straight Razor", who is a friend and working off some bad karma of his own.
This book also goes into The Authorities a bit more although they really are just a mysterious group behind the scenes at this point. We also spend some time with The Collector. He is a greedy, self-serving, jerk of a character who is not very sympathetic in this story. He, as can be guessed by his name, wanders throughout the world (and time) to collect interesting or important items. Not to show them off, but rather to hoard in his home base.
I felt this book was better than the last, everyone had clear goals and story lines here. Some of the characters you meet have good back stories and motivations that are expanded in this book as well as the rest in the series.
A quick entertaining read!
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LibraryThing member BJ3568
I read the first two books in this series in two days. I thoroughly enjoyed Something from the Nightside (book 1). I thought it provided fantastic humor and great notes of horror. The second book was not quite as engrossing, but I think it would have been if I had given it a few days in between.
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John Taylor is slowly becoming more interested in the idea of learning about his mother which will likely have some unfortunate consequences. The style of the novel is in keeping with the first book and uses a similar narrator. The pace of the novels is great, and the details of the world were well imagined and engaging. I will certainly continue with the series, but I'll be taking a little break first. Show Less
LibraryThing member borbet
Fun dark urban-fantasy series. The first one "Something from the Nightside" was a short face-paced read. This is similar. My quibble with this second book is that the author reused a few too many descriptions verbatim from the series' first book -- these clever turns of phrases and bon mots work
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once, but when repeated word for word seem lazy. Show Less
Original publication date
2003
Physical description
240 p.; 6.8 inches
ISBN
0441011136 / 9780441011131