The Brightonomicon

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The Brightonomicon
Author Robert Rankin
Country Great Britain
Language English
Series The Brentford Trilogy
Genre(s) Fantasy
Publisher Golancz
Released 2005
Media Type Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages 404 (paperback edition)
ISBN ISBN 0-575-07773-5 (paperback edition)
Preceded by Knees Up Mother Earth

The Brightonomicon is a book by British Fantasy author Robert Rankin, the title parodying that of the fictional grimoire the Necronomicon from the Cthulhu Mythos.

The novel is set in Brighton, and concerns the grand high magus Hugo Rune (AKA The Reinventor of the Ocarina, the Mumbo Gumshoe, the Hokus Bloke, the Cosmic Dick, the Guru's Guru, the Perfect Master, the Lad Himself) and his quest to solve the mystery of the Brighton zodiac, with the aid of his amnesia struck assistant, Rizla.

The author lives in Brighton and the book is set in an accurate depiction of the city. The cases featured are as follows;

The Hound of the Hangletons: The amnesic Rizla and Hugo Rune are hired to investigate a strage lost dog, and Rune reveals to Rizla the secret of the Chronovision

The Curious Case of the Centenary Centaur: While attending a lecture with Hugo Rune, Rizla is captured by a group of demented doctors and a centaur is unleashed

The Monstrous Mystery of the Moulescomb Crab: A conversation with a bog troll leads to Rizla and Rune learning of a terrible plot to bring down the Royal Family with the aid of a group of space crabs

The Lark of the Lansdowne Lioness: When a statue of Queen Victoria begins to cry tears of real Earl Grey Tea, Rune alone knows that nightmare form the past is about to be unleashed

The Curious Case of the Woodingdean Chameleon: With Rune away, it is up to Rizla to avert an assassination attempt at a game of croquet

The Scintillating Story of the Sackville Scavenger: Attending the opening of a nudist theme restaurant with Rune, Rizla is shocked to witness a group of dead rock stars dining with them

The Fantastic Adventure of the Foredown Man: While attending a garden party, Rizla witnesses the apparent murder of the Lord Jeffrey and his various relatives subsequently begin to die in various horrible manners

The Baffling Business of the Bevendean Bat: Reports of lost cats in the Bevendean area lead to a confrontation between Rune and the evil Count Otto Black

The Sensational Sage of the Saltdean Stallion: While at a party in Lewes, Rune is apparently killed, leaving Rizla to escape Count Otto Black’s followers with the aid of an urban legend

The Birdman of Whitehawk: The Chronovision now recovered, Rune and Rizla must tackle the mysterious apparitions that plague their current host

The Wiseman of Withdean: Rizla is forced to disguise himself as a woman as he and Rune search for the last descendent of Jesus Christ

The Concluding Chaotic Conundrum of the Coldean Cat: Their forces gathered, Rune and Rizla prepare for the final confrontation with Count Otto Black and for their final parting after a long year of adventures