Ticky is a palyful novel, written in a tone of gentle mockery. This light-hearted novel incorporates elements from Shakespearean plays, and reminds of some of the satirical works of Evelyn Waugh or even Lewis Carroll, but is altogether conceived in Gibbons own inimical style.

The story has characteristics of a fairytale. it is set in a location described as a Club in central London, but this is hard to comprehend, and it seems more likely that the location should be thought of as a large neo-Gothic building with two high-towering glass towers on either side of the structure on a large, partly wooded estate. Central to the story is the duality between "the city" and "the country", a duality simutaneously played out between the aristocrcy, embodied by the regiment, and the working class, embodied by the servants. The regiment is characterized as foppish, decadent and hedonistic, and a total farce. The novel creates an image of a medieval mock-antiquated army that is entirely self-absorbed, and lead by the Colonel, whose sole obsession is the conquest of the whole estate. He is thwarted in this ambition by a charter which protects the servants rights, but as the servants' domain comes under threat, the charter cannot be found and the Colonel seems about to usurp the Servants Pleasure Grounds. These pleasure grounds are an area in the woods, that stand for a magical world. After work, the servants can go there, to forget their sorrows. Some of the soldiers also go there, but this is frowned upon. When sergeant Cannonroyal is ordered "to take" the Pleasure Gardens, he cannot even muster a skeleton force, as more than three quarters of the regiments' force is excused, ill or occupied with other chores. Lieutenant Toloreaux 'Ticky' plays the role of a maverick, in scuttling between the two realms and siding with the servants. The Colonel "attacks" and lies siege to the Glass Tower of the servants, aiming to conquer and subject the realm of the servants, but in the final moment the servants are saved when the charter is found.

The novel features a sub-plot involving a love affair, and several fairytale characters, mocking the tin foil army and the antiquated world they represent. Particularly the Colonel has a slurred, aristocratic accent that adds to the colour locale of the novel.

Ticky is a peculiar novel, that would probably divide readers in those who would love it, and those who would hate it. There are some elements that remind the reader of Cold Comfort Farm, but Ticky is quite unique and wholly original, although it seemingly bears relation to the imagery of the satirical novels of Evelyn Waugh and Lewis Carroll. Ticky failed as a novel, most likely because this type of satire at the height of World War II, in 1942, was not welcomed, and in the post-war years, the novel seemed to be belonging to an older style of fiction. It was largely forgotten. However, part of its impopularity may be that the novel is difficult to place.

Ticky is very playful and an excellent story full of elements to tickle one's imagination. ( )