'Omega' has been made publicly available on web sites that showcase fiction. Inevitably, it has attracted the critical attention of some of the readers. These readers are not professional reviewers, but that does not necessarily mean that their observations are the less valid. In the interests of shameless self-promotion, I include here reviews that have been complimentary to my novel. These reviews are already publicly available on the StoryMania site and the alt.fiction.original newsgroup.

"This is probably one of the best pieces of work to grace Storymania in quite some time. Your writing style is very sophisticated and quick-witted."
- Danny Gonzales (Storymania)

"If I was intimidated by the length of Bradley Stoke's 'Omega', I would have missed out on what is, without a doubt, the single most informative and well done piece Storymania has had to offer thus far. Quite simply, it should be in print. If you disagree, then by all means, point me in the direction of the piece which should, or comes close to holding that honour."
- Michael Harris (Storymania)

"I confess that I might have been put off by giant, talking grasshoppers had they appeared in a first chapter. That’s a prejudice of mine, I think. It doesn't apply here though. In the first place it's so charmingly and well written. In the second place it suits your purpose very well (or you make it do so): a vehicle for commentary on social, political, religious, scientific and aesthetic issues. (Have I left anything out? It is a very broad canvass you’ve chosen.)

The fantasy goes deeper than this, of course. The Cartesian and Newtonian divisions of the Church, for example, are intriguing, suggestive, actually quite plausible. I was rather taken with the quest. An excellent read."
- Longden (alt.fiction.original)

"A very superior fantasy this, set in a world full of different pockets of existence distinguished by species or class or faith. As a result, it’s layered and complex, and whilst slow moving it's refreshingly unpredictable. The humour and targets are, I suppose, British, but there's a general appeal. Don't miss it is my recommendation."
- Alaric McDermott (alt.fiction.original)

Posted on Sunday 11 of December, 2005 [17:58:21 UTC]

There is a first time for something in everyone's life, and this for me is the first time I've ever indulged in writing a blog entry. It's a momentous occasion and I hope I don't make too many mistakes.

The pseudonym I use is "Bradley Stoke", which is the name of a rather colourless (English) West Country suburb. I chose the nym partly because it sounds plausibly like a real name and partly because the world my fiction inhabits is ultimately rooted in the banal realities of life, although the fiction extends into some very wierd and surreal corners. But if you think about it, isn't the world of first world suburbia, especially that built in the last few years, as weird and surreal as anything in fiction? The roads are named after sycamores, oaks, heather and other creatures of nature: invoking a rustic landscape of rural beauty but in practice are the names of rows of rather uninspiring indentikit houses with at least two cars per home and a severely mown lawn or well-clipped herbaceous border.

My fiction has been on the internet for several years and has been pretty well critically received. It's because it has already been made available that I don't think I can justify charging anyone for downloading my books. In any case, The profit motive was not what inspires me to write.

The two novels "Omega" and "Alif" are satirical novels. "Omega" is pretty weird and unconventional (well! I've never read anything like it), whilst "Alif", although containing no graphic sex, is on the margins of what could be described as mature fiction.

Both have been well received when published on the internet, though it is fair to say that most readers have a decided preference towards one book rather than the other.

I hope you enjoy reading the novels and please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for reading my first ever blog,


Bradley Stoke

Posted on Wednesday 23 of November, 2005 [13:29:05 UTC]