Headhunters is the story of five friends. Carter USM is a live wire
who lives on the edge and tries not to think too much; Mango can't stop
thinking, has made money but is weighed down by family tragedy; Harry is
a beer-lover and dreamer; Balti is his drinking partner, out of work and
hoping for a fresh start; while Will is the quiet romantic, a voice of
reason as the lives of the others become increasingly chaotic and veer
towards disaster.
Headhunters is also a story of London. The novel is rooted in its
streets, workplaces, pubs and music, but a parallel society exists,
where the planet's wealthy are able to buy and sell whatever they like.
This is a world from which the Londoners of this novel are excluded,
resentment too often directed against their own kind. The Unity is the
boys' local pub and it is here that they form a tongue-in-cheek Sex
Division to celebrate a new year. Based on the idea of a football
league, the most Woman can offer Man is four points--unless she leaves
her handbag unattended.
Carter is the Unstoppable Sex Machine and soon leads the table, while
Mango breaks the rules and buys success. Harry and Balti are overweight
and hard up, know they have little to offer apart from their
personalities, turn to cold lager and hot curries instead of sex. Will
falls in loves and retires. Recognition of the affinities between the
sexes soon becomes clear. Background is more important than gender.
Headhunters mixes humor and longing as the real feelings of these men
break through, moving beyond expectations. A missing brother, prophetic
visions, genuine romance and a tit-for-tat confrontation draw the
characters out into the open--revealing the individuals behind the words
and their craving for respect. Events run out of control, but several
happy endings seem possible.
