A sequel to The Antipope, this is the second novel in 'The Brentford Trilogy.' All over Brentford electrical appliances were beginning to fail—could it be that it had been chosen as the first base in an alien onslaught on planet Earth?

This story uncovers suburbia's darkest secrets?mostly in The Flying Swan, where Neville the barman and Archroy, owner of five magic beans, do battle with beasts of the occult?and in particular the rather unpleasant Pope Alexander VI, the last of the Borgias.

It is the year 2050 and the soap opera 'The Earthers' is making big video bucks in the intergalactic ratings race. Alien TV executives know exactly what the old earth drama needs to make the off-world audience sit up and stare?a spectacular Armageddon-type finale.