Ben Elton
Ben Elton is a British comedian, author, playwright, actor, and director. He is known for his work in television, particularly as a writer for the series 'The Young Ones' and 'Blackadder'. He has also written several novels, including 'Stark', 'Gridlock', and 'Popcorn'.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Inconceivable
A Comedy of Fertility
In this witty and heartfelt narrative, a married couple embarks on a tumultuous journey through the trials and tribulations of infertility. As they navigate the emotional rollercoaster of trying to conceive, their relationship is tested by the pressures of medical interventions, societal expectations, and their own personal insecurities. Through alternating diary entries, the couple shares their innermost thoughts and fears, offering a candid and humorous glimpse into the complexities of love, hope, and the desire to create a family against all odds.
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2. Stark
In a satirical and darkly comedic narrative, the story unfolds in a world where environmental degradation and corporate greed have reached alarming heights. A group of wealthy and powerful individuals, aware of the impending ecological collapse, secretly plan to abandon Earth for a new life on a pristine planet. Meanwhile, an unlikely hero, a hapless and eccentric environmentalist, stumbles upon their conspiracy and embarks on a chaotic journey to expose the truth. The tale weaves together themes of environmental activism, corporate corruption, and the absurdity of human nature, all set against the backdrop of a planet on the brink of disaster.
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3. This Other Eden
Set in a dystopian future where environmental collapse is imminent, the narrative unfolds in a world where the wealthy elite have retreated to a luxurious, self-sustaining biosphere, leaving the rest of humanity to fend for themselves in the deteriorating outside world. The story follows the intertwining lives of several characters, each grappling with their own moral dilemmas and the consequences of their choices, as they navigate a society on the brink of collapse. Through a blend of satire and drama, the tale explores themes of privilege, survival, and the ethical implications of technological advancements in the face of ecological disaster.
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4. Gridlock
Set in a near-future London, this satirical thriller delves into the chaotic world of urban traffic congestion and the political machinations behind it. The story follows a diverse cast of characters, including a determined environmental activist, a corrupt politician, and a brilliant but disillusioned scientist, as they navigate a city on the brink of gridlock. With humor and sharp social commentary, the narrative explores themes of corporate greed, environmental responsibility, and the complex interplay between technology and human behavior, ultimately questioning the price of progress in a rapidly evolving world.
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5. Blast From The Past
In this gripping tale, a chance encounter between Polly Slade, a single mother living in London, and Jack Kent, a former American soldier, reignites a passionate yet tumultuous relationship that began during the Cold War. As their past collides with the present, secrets unravel, and the shadows of espionage and political intrigue threaten to upend their lives. With humor and suspense, this story explores themes of love, loyalty, and the enduring impact of history on personal lives.
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6. Mr. Toppit
In this intriguing tale, the life of a seemingly ordinary family is turned upside down when the father, a reclusive author, passes away, leaving behind a series of children's books that unexpectedly become a global sensation. As the world becomes enchanted by the fictional universe he created, the family grapples with the overwhelming fame and scrutiny that follows. Amidst the chaos, they must navigate the blurred lines between reality and fiction, confronting hidden secrets and personal struggles that threaten to unravel their lives. This poignant narrative explores themes of legacy, identity, and the unforeseen consequences of storytelling.
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7. Time And Time Again
In this gripping tale, a disillusioned ex-soldier is given the chance to rewrite history by traveling back to the pivotal year of 1914, with the mission to prevent the outbreak of World War I. As he navigates the complexities of early 20th-century Europe, he grapples with the moral implications of altering the past and the unforeseen consequences that arise from his actions. The story weaves together themes of love, sacrifice, and the eternal question of whether one person can truly change the course of history.
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8. Meltdown
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9. Gasping
A darkly comic, satirical novel that follows the moral and emotional fallout when a terminally ill elderly patient remains on life support, sparking family divisions, media circus and political grandstanding; it skewers public hypocrisy and examines debates about euthanasia, personal autonomy and the pressures of modern healthcare while mixing farce with uncomfortable ethical questions.
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10. Chart Throb
A sharp, fast-paced satire of contemporary pop culture that follows the engineered rise of a manufactured music celebrity created by reality-TV machinery and ruthless industry operatives; through dark humor and incisive scenes it exposes the manipulation, hypocrisy and commodification behind instant fame and asks what audiences value in the spectacle of stardom.
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11. Identity Crisis
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12. The First Casualty
The First Casualty (2005) is a historical crime novel by English author Ben Elton, set during the First World War.
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13. Blind Faith
A sharp social satire about a high-profile rape accusation that polarizes a nation: a beloved television comedian is accused by a young woman, touching off a tabloid and television feeding frenzy, court battles and a viral online campaign that manipulates public opinion. The novel skewers celebrity worship, media distortion and internet vigilantism, probing how fandom, sensationalism and technology can warp truth, justice and personal responsibility as the scandal unfolds and surprising moral ambiguities are revealed.
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14. Two Brothers
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15. Past Mortem
A gripping crime thriller about a tense race to catch a brutal serial killer whose crimes echo those of a notorious murderer from the past; as investigators piece together chilling clues they confront media sensationalism, mounting public fear and the personal toll the case takes on victims and those hunting the killer, leading to dark revelations and a dramatic confrontation.
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16. High Society
A fast-paced, darkly comic satire set in contemporary Britain that follows a cast of characters—celebrities, politicians and ordinary people—whose private drug use and self-serving hypocrisies are exposed by tabloids and moral crusaders, triggering scandal, media frenzy and escalating, often bleakly funny consequences while skewering celebrity culture, class snobbery and the contradictions of the so-called war on drugs.
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17. Popcorn
A dark, satirical thriller in which a charismatic killer stages sensational murders to expose and exploit society’s appetite for violence and fame, while the entertainment industry, the media and the legal system are lampooned for their hypocrisy and complicity as characters wrestle with moral responsibility, sensationalism and the blurred line between art and atrocity.
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18. Dead Famous
A razor-sharp satirical thriller set inside a cutthroat reality TV contest, following contestants and producers as the pursuit of fame spirals into voyeurism, scandal and murder; the story skewers celebrity culture and media ethics while an investigation peels back the manipulative forces that manufacture public spectacle.