If Preincarnate had asoundtrack, Danny Elfmanwould have composed it,with lyrics provided by BarryHumphries and the film clipmade by the boys behind The League of Gentlemen. Thisbook sees Shaun Micallefswing a sledgehammer through the fourth(and fifth) wall in order to take his readerson an impossible journey through time.Suspend your disbelief (no, seriously …suspend it) as you delve into a world only amind like Micallef ’s could create.

Using the least-traditional form of timetravel available, Dan Brownesque ‘CatholicMason’-style secrets and a narrator narratinga book that was never written, Shaun has put his artistic license to good use.

I won’t lie, I was a fan of Shaun’s long before I read it. (What’s not to love about the guy who, while hosting Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation, will come out with this gem, ‘We’re a Channel Ten show, do you really think the answers would be Andy Warhol or Lichtenstein?’) This is one really funny book. Micallef has managed to transfer his irreverent sense of humour beautifully onto paper, producing a book that is as interesting, clever, funny and distinguished as the Silver Fox himself.

All of this makes Preincarnate simply a really enjoyable book to read. Although hard at first, I found once I’d succumbed, it was very refreshing to read a mystery novel without the pressure of trying to work out what was going on. Indeed, I can confidently state that the story and events are so original and unique, you will not be able to pick in advance a single occurrence or happening. All you will be assured of, by an argument with the editor early on in the book through footnotes,* is that there will be no badger stories. Expect the unexpected. And perhaps even then don’t expect that.

*Not since Terry Pratchett have footnotes been used in such an amusing and entertaining way.