Synopsis
FAMOUS: Celebrated. Acclaimed. Legendary. Illustrious. Popular. Notorious. Recognised. Renowned. Successful. Eminent. Prominent. Excellent. Having kudos. Being a star. The Fallen Boys were at their zenith when Zac's luck ran out. How does the shock of being dumped from dazzling and conspicuous success into relative obscurity affect his fellow boy band members Karl, Ritchie and Leon? Accustomed to adulation, wall-to-wall glamour, sex and all the illusions of fame, the Boys find themselves in strange territory. No longer courted, with zero prospect of resurrecting the group, they find themselves facing harsh realities. Karl is driven to appear on chat shows and accept pantomime roles: all the P.R. exercises he previously spurned. Desperate for work he even auditions for a blue movie. Reluctantly, he participates in a TV reality series soon after he meets Lizzie Keating, daughter of an IRA bomber. Hormones and adrenalin surge as the challenges to their relationship surface: Karl's father, ex-Army and implacable in his hatred for the Irish; Karl's wandering eye; Lizzie's refusal to play second fiddle to anyone. With gusto, humour and insight, Ian Barker entertains with this intertwined tale of discovering what is truly valuable in life.
From the Back Cover
Praise for Fallen Star
Ian Barker's protagonist could be Fielding's Tom Jones redrawn in a sly dig at the sleb-crazy twenty-first century. FALLEN STAR is a witty and accomplished debut. Watch out Tony Parsons and Nick Hornby.
Eliza Graham, author Playing with the Moon
Ian is one of those rare guys who contributes quality comic material to radio shows for little reward bar the occasional competition prize of a free CD. Without chaps like Ian, chaps like Terry Wogan would not be able to own several acres of prime real estate in rural Berkshire. I never quite managed to build a lucrative career out of Ian's material, but I always laughed like a drain. He is a spiffing writer, and hopefully he will not have to wait to get his reward in heaven. If there is any justice it will arrive as a result of this novel.
Martin Kelner, writer and broadcaster - author of When Will I be Famous?
Fast-paced and refreshingly original, Fallen Star is an unforgettable journey that starts in the superficial universe of boy band culture before plunging headlong into a real world of sacrifice, heartbreak, and prejudice.
Carrie Kabak, author Cover the Butter
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