London: Flamingo (HarperCollins), 1995. dj. Hardcover first edition - Critically aclaimed and savagely satiric tale of a failed novelist, who wants to hurt his best friend because he is successful in all the things Richard is failing at. Ironically, considering the theme of the book, Amis caused a storm of controversy when he demanded a large advance for this novel. 494 pp. ISBN: 0-00-2253569.