17 DECEMBER 1983, Page 52

Best and worst books of the year

A selection of the best and worst books of the year chosen by some of the Spectator's regular reviewers.

Anthony Blond

The best book was The Oxford English Dic- tionary: Volume 0 to SCZ. This is a con- temporary splendour. There are 600 words on the Quango.

The worst book was God Cried by Tony Clifton (Quartet). I don't object to the message but I do to the text which contains phrases like 'Well, that's bullshit for starters'. That trees should have been cut down to provide paper for this book was an ecological affront.