Shooting Sean
{{Short description|2001 novel by Colin Bateman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Shooting Sean
| image = Shooting Sean.jpg
| caption = First edition
| author = Colin Bateman
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| series = Dan Starkey novels
| genre = Crime, Dark comedy
| publisher = HarperCollins
| pub_date = {{Start date|2001|05|08|df=y}}
| media_type = Print (Softcover)
| pages = 245
| isbn = 978-0-00-651424-4
| dewey = 823.914
| congress =
| oclc = 46332304
| preceded_by = Turbulent Priests
(1999)
| followed_by = The Horse with My Name
(2002)
}}
Shooting Sean is the fourth novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 8 May 2001 through HarperCollins.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46332304 |title=Shooting Sean (Book, 2001) |publisher=WorldCat.org |oclc=46332304 |accessdate=13 January 2012}} The novel was named by Hugh Macdonald as one of The Heralds "paperbacks of the week" in June 2001.{{cite web|first=Hugh |last=MacDonald |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/paperbacks-of-the-week-hugh-macdonald-1.185289 |title=PAPERBACKS OF THE WEEK Hugh macdonald |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=2 June 2001 |accessdate=13 January 2012}}
Plot
Dan Starkey is employed by legendary film star, Sean O'Toole, who is looking to escape his type cast action hero career and move into directing movies. Unfortunately, O'Toole is making a movie based on an infamous IRA member, nicknamed "The Colonel", and events soon lead to Starkey once again struggling to both protect his wife Patricia and illegitimate child "Little Stevie", while also keeping himself alive and writing.
Reception
{{Quote box |align=left |quoted=true |width=25% |salign=center |quote=With Dan Starkey, Bateman has created a character that is uncomfortably easy to identify with. Devoid of focus, direction or anything approaching ambition, Starkey is the ultimate slacker with attitude. And it is this very attitude that elevates Bateman above the current deluge of thriller/comedy writers. His ability to find humour in the most trying of circumstances is Bateman's trump card, and in Shooting Sean this ability is given carte blanche.|source = Tom Grealis, RTÉ{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2001/0705/shooting.html |title=Shooting Sean by Colin Bateman - RTÉ Ten |publisher=Rte.ie |date=5 July 2001 |accessdate=13 January 2012 |first=Tom |last=Grealis}}}}
The novel was well received, with reviewers praising Bateman's droll humour and attention to detail.
In a review for The Herald, Hugh Macdonald stated that, while written fiction is often humorous without ever being laugh-out-loud funny, "Bateman can and does make me laugh" and found the novel to contain "Sharp-edged humour with a touch of suspense". Sue Leonard, reviewing for Books Ireland, called Bateman "the master of the fast-paced improbable satire" and stated that Shooting Sean "is packed full of humour and specializes in one liners". Leonard went on to say that "as in other Bateman novels the plot is so much larger than life as to be totally unbelievable" however does state that "in the hands of such a skilful writer this adds to the fun". She further states that she loves "Bateman's work for its strong construction, sharp satirical writing and inventive characterization" as well as his "attention to detail, and witty observation".{{cite web|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/services/book-promos/irish_fiction/shooting_sean.htm |title=A Selection of the Best in Contemporary Irish Fiction: Shooting Sean |publisher=Clarelibrary.ie |work=Books Ireland |first=Sue |last=Leonard |accessdate=13 January 2012}}
RTÉ also reviewed the novel, with Tom Grealis stating that the novel was "a funny and highly entertaining tale of narcotics, terrorism and eh, moviemaking". He does mention that "one thing that has to be pointed out about Shooting Sean is that the plot becomes somewhat ridiculous in the latter stages", following this with "[Bateman's] decision to go for suspense over characterization certainly panders to the mainstream, but it is a pandering one cannot but enjoy". Grealis also concluded that he found the novel to be "engaging, funny and eminently readable". Writing for Scottish newspaper, the Southern Reporter, Fiona Scott stated that Bateman "has become an absolute favourite" and that "Shooting Sean is my favourite so far". She states that "Bateman's droll Irish wit is ideal for this storyline", calling the novel as a whole simply "hilarious".{{cite news|first=Fiona |last=Scott |url=http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/local-headlines/book_your_place_in_literary_history_1_113402 |title=Book your place in literary history - Local Headlines |work=Southern Reporter |date=17 December 2003 |accessdate=13 January 2012}} Reviewing for Sprout Lore, reviewer David V. Baker stated that Bateman "has a wicked sense of humour" and that he found the book to be "a gripping read which will leave you laughing and sad at the same time, a rare quality".{{cite web|first=David V. |last=Baker |url=http://www.sproutlore.com/reviews/reviews.php?review=94 |title=Reviews |publisher=Sproutlore |accessdate=13 January 2012}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.colinbateman.com/sean.html}}
{{Colin Bateman}}
Category:Novels from Northern Ireland
Category:Novels set in Northern Ireland