LIVERPOOL FANTASY

What if the Beatles had broken up early in their run—with dire, world-altering consequences—and then fecklessly come together again 25 years later? That is the discouraging alternative history musician and playwright Kirwan proposes in his choppy debut novel. It is 1962, and the Beatles are in the first flush of fame when John Lennon, feuding with manager Brian Epstein, angrily stomps out of the studio for good. Following the demise of the "Fab Four," the course of history is changed for the worse. By 1987, England has devolved into a musty and vulgar fascist state, in which Lennon's son, Julian, plays a role. Lennon lives a bitter, booze-stoked life; George Harrison is a confused Jesuit priest; Ringo Starr, supported by his wife, dresses and behaves like a peacock; Paul McCartney, popular in Las Vegas as "Paul Montana," has made it big but is fading. Now, 25 years after the breakup, he dreams of rekindling success by reuniting with his mates back in Liverpool. Returning, he convinces them to give the Beatles one last shot, arguing that had they reached their prime, they might have changed history. Kirwan is generally unsuccessful at playing the zany Beatle humor games Richard Lester so brilliantly employed in A Hard Day's Night. More critically, he fails to bring his famous characters to convincing life. Hardcore Beatle fans may gain some titillation from this distorted picture of their favorites, but they might do better to listen again to "Penny Lane" or "Hey, Jude" and try to imagine a world without them. (June)