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Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears
In the beautifully-isolated Oothangbart, order and organisation, hierarchy and custom, and the regular flying of kites ensure that each finely-mapped hour of each planned week are as predictable and reassuring as the last. One Donal Shaun Hercule Poseidon, a citizen of middling rank with no greatness in gait or demeanour, is not so reassured and is becoming less and less predictable. Love is partly to blame. Were it not for his love for the baker, Pearl Offerings, his shed would not be filled with ossified bagels, nor would he be constantly fretting over the unsent love-letter that sat upon his mantelpiece. Nature had its role to play too. Were it not for the leaping fish that emerged unannounced and unexpected from the supposedly-barren river encircling Oothangbart, he might have wandered unnoticed for his entire existence and taken his philosophical questions with him to the grave. Government is definitely to blame. When the fish-panic seized Oothangbart, Donal was dragged into the machinery of government and thrust into an officialdom which had no place for a creature of thought. This is Donal’s story.
202 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2016
7 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Lloyd
38 books43 followersFor the most part I write short stories, and while many of them were first published in literary journals, in 2014, I had two collections of my stories published at the same time, Mercy with Tartarus Press, which is a beautifully made hardback book, and The View from Endless Street, a paperback published by WiDo.
Some of my stories could be described as psychological horror and others as magic realism, and from time to time I write about ghostly things. What interests me most is the inventive ways we deal with what life throws at us, and the ability many of us have to slip easily between our invented worlds and the shared world, as if travelling back and forth down a long worn path.
Some of my stories could be described as psychological horror and others as magic realism, and from time to time I write about ghostly things. What interests me most is the inventive ways we deal with what life throws at us, and the ability many of us have to slip easily between our invented worlds and the shared world, as if travelling back and forth down a long worn path.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 14, 2017
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Rebecca Lloyd's Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is a spellbinding literary fantasy novel for readers who want to read something out of the ordinary. I'm delighted to say that this satirical novel is unlike any other novel on the market today, because it's an engaging and insightful story about life, hierarchy, predictability and love in an isolated and totalitarian village.
Oothangbart is anything but a conventional novel, because it has a fable-like and quirky atmosphere that separates it from other modern novels. Readers who are intrigued by fables and novels that have a deeper meaning behind the story will find this novel fascinating and thought-provoking. It makes many of us think about what is happening and why the characters act the way they do.
When I began to read this novel, I found myself wholly captivated by it. It had many layers, clever metaphors and intriguing events that kept me turning pages late into the night. Everything about it felt intriguing, because there were no weak spots. I was fully satisfied with the story and its subtle complexity, because there was a lot of hidden social commentary and wisdom beneath the surface.
It's nearly impossible to find similar kind of novels, but - in my opinion - the closest resemblance to Oothangbart is Winkie by Clifford Chase. Although Winkie is different from this novel, the author has the same kind of unorthodox way of exploring various themes and issues within the context of speculative fiction as Clifford Chase. There's something in this novel that is slightly reminiscent of stories written by Rhys Hughes and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris, but it also has astute Orwellian elements.
Worldbuilding works well and is refreshingly original, because the events take place in an isolated community called Oothangbart, which feels connected to a wider world, but is detached from it. There's a gate and a way out of town, but no one ever comes to visit Oothangbart and no one leaves it. Everything in Oothangbart is fascinatingly skewed, because it prides itself on having a perfect social structure and a strict hierarchy that is followed and respected by the citizens. Because thinking differently about things is considered to be a threat and can lead to trouble, the citizens have settled into a peaceful and predictable way of life. Some of the citizens have wondered about whether or not Bristol exists outside the borders of the village and beyond the forest, but thinking such thoughts could cause severe problems, so no one ever explores the existence of Bristol. Nothing ever changes in Oothangbart, because everything is predictable and reassuring. Oothangbartians are used to having time measured with such terms as Newtime, Trumpet-time, Fishthoughts, Whittletime, Late-repast, Vespertime, Curfew and Freetime, and their hours are filled with routines.
The characters are interesting and their individual traits and frailties add plenty of fascination to the story. I think that many readers will find the fascinatingly absurd and quirky conversations between the characters charmingly fresh. It was fun to read about how the characters acted in a particular way, because they had always done so and felt no need to change things (they had become used to doing things in a certain way and didn't want to change anything).
The protagonist of this novel is Donal Shaun Hercule Poseidon. He's a citizen of middling rank who is becoming increasingly unpredictable and begins to think about certain things that are not considered to be normal by others. He only expresses his private thoughts to his friend who advises him not to talk about them. He is secretly in love with the baker, Pearl Offering, and his shed is filled with her bagels. He is constantly fretting over an unsent love-letter, because he has not been able to see the Postal Fellow, although he has done his best to catch him. He yearns for validation and is fascinated by Bristol. His life begins to change when leaping fish emerge from the barren river encircling Oothangbart and cause panic among the citizens. As the citizens become frightened by what is happening in the river and fish-panic seizes Oothangbart, Donal suddenly finds himself being thrust into an officialdom.
I enjoyed reading about Donal and his life, because he thought differently about many things than others and had interesting problems. He questioned several things and thought a lot about what is happening in Oothangbart and if there's something outside its limits. He was fascinated with what could be found outside the limits of Oothangbart.
Rebecca Lloyd explores power, rulership, oppression, hierarchy, growth, change and love in a satisfyingly satirical and amusing way. Her approach to these themes and issues feels wonderfully fresh and imaginative, because she has a gift of blending the mundane with the fantastical. She irresistibly combines everyday life and challenging situations with fantastical elements.
I found the author's sense of humour delightfully poignant and witty. Because I like well written humour with a touch of satire, I loved the way the author added bits of humour to the story and created a fable-like atmosphere. Her clever tongue-in-cheek humour is simply wonderful. I think that readers who have participated in workplace meetings or are familiar with what happens in committees and local governments will immensely enjoy this novel, because the story reflects so well what happens in real life that you can't help but be impressed by its parodical and satirical elements. The author writes deftly and comically about how individuals are treated in meetings and how their opinions are met by others.
Rebecca Lloyd's writing style is clear and simple yet sophisticatedly complex. She's one of the most talented authors working on the field of literary speculative fiction, because she can write different kinds of stories and has the ability to alter her writing style to suit the needs of the story. Those who are familiar with her World Fantasy Award-nominated Mercy and Other Stories will find this novel intriguingly different from it.
Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is one of the best and most engaging novels available for adult readers who are fascinated by thought-provoking, amusing and unconventional novels. There's much to love and adore in this novel, because it has been written lovingly and told with passion. Please, invest a bit of time into reading this wonderful novel and discover its magic, because it's something unique.
Highly recommended!
Rebecca Lloyd's Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is a spellbinding literary fantasy novel for readers who want to read something out of the ordinary. I'm delighted to say that this satirical novel is unlike any other novel on the market today, because it's an engaging and insightful story about life, hierarchy, predictability and love in an isolated and totalitarian village.
Oothangbart is anything but a conventional novel, because it has a fable-like and quirky atmosphere that separates it from other modern novels. Readers who are intrigued by fables and novels that have a deeper meaning behind the story will find this novel fascinating and thought-provoking. It makes many of us think about what is happening and why the characters act the way they do.
When I began to read this novel, I found myself wholly captivated by it. It had many layers, clever metaphors and intriguing events that kept me turning pages late into the night. Everything about it felt intriguing, because there were no weak spots. I was fully satisfied with the story and its subtle complexity, because there was a lot of hidden social commentary and wisdom beneath the surface.
It's nearly impossible to find similar kind of novels, but - in my opinion - the closest resemblance to Oothangbart is Winkie by Clifford Chase. Although Winkie is different from this novel, the author has the same kind of unorthodox way of exploring various themes and issues within the context of speculative fiction as Clifford Chase. There's something in this novel that is slightly reminiscent of stories written by Rhys Hughes and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris, but it also has astute Orwellian elements.
Worldbuilding works well and is refreshingly original, because the events take place in an isolated community called Oothangbart, which feels connected to a wider world, but is detached from it. There's a gate and a way out of town, but no one ever comes to visit Oothangbart and no one leaves it. Everything in Oothangbart is fascinatingly skewed, because it prides itself on having a perfect social structure and a strict hierarchy that is followed and respected by the citizens. Because thinking differently about things is considered to be a threat and can lead to trouble, the citizens have settled into a peaceful and predictable way of life. Some of the citizens have wondered about whether or not Bristol exists outside the borders of the village and beyond the forest, but thinking such thoughts could cause severe problems, so no one ever explores the existence of Bristol. Nothing ever changes in Oothangbart, because everything is predictable and reassuring. Oothangbartians are used to having time measured with such terms as Newtime, Trumpet-time, Fishthoughts, Whittletime, Late-repast, Vespertime, Curfew and Freetime, and their hours are filled with routines.
The characters are interesting and their individual traits and frailties add plenty of fascination to the story. I think that many readers will find the fascinatingly absurd and quirky conversations between the characters charmingly fresh. It was fun to read about how the characters acted in a particular way, because they had always done so and felt no need to change things (they had become used to doing things in a certain way and didn't want to change anything).
The protagonist of this novel is Donal Shaun Hercule Poseidon. He's a citizen of middling rank who is becoming increasingly unpredictable and begins to think about certain things that are not considered to be normal by others. He only expresses his private thoughts to his friend who advises him not to talk about them. He is secretly in love with the baker, Pearl Offering, and his shed is filled with her bagels. He is constantly fretting over an unsent love-letter, because he has not been able to see the Postal Fellow, although he has done his best to catch him. He yearns for validation and is fascinated by Bristol. His life begins to change when leaping fish emerge from the barren river encircling Oothangbart and cause panic among the citizens. As the citizens become frightened by what is happening in the river and fish-panic seizes Oothangbart, Donal suddenly finds himself being thrust into an officialdom.
I enjoyed reading about Donal and his life, because he thought differently about many things than others and had interesting problems. He questioned several things and thought a lot about what is happening in Oothangbart and if there's something outside its limits. He was fascinated with what could be found outside the limits of Oothangbart.
Rebecca Lloyd explores power, rulership, oppression, hierarchy, growth, change and love in a satisfyingly satirical and amusing way. Her approach to these themes and issues feels wonderfully fresh and imaginative, because she has a gift of blending the mundane with the fantastical. She irresistibly combines everyday life and challenging situations with fantastical elements.
I found the author's sense of humour delightfully poignant and witty. Because I like well written humour with a touch of satire, I loved the way the author added bits of humour to the story and created a fable-like atmosphere. Her clever tongue-in-cheek humour is simply wonderful. I think that readers who have participated in workplace meetings or are familiar with what happens in committees and local governments will immensely enjoy this novel, because the story reflects so well what happens in real life that you can't help but be impressed by its parodical and satirical elements. The author writes deftly and comically about how individuals are treated in meetings and how their opinions are met by others.
Rebecca Lloyd's writing style is clear and simple yet sophisticatedly complex. She's one of the most talented authors working on the field of literary speculative fiction, because she can write different kinds of stories and has the ability to alter her writing style to suit the needs of the story. Those who are familiar with her World Fantasy Award-nominated Mercy and Other Stories will find this novel intriguingly different from it.
Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is one of the best and most engaging novels available for adult readers who are fascinated by thought-provoking, amusing and unconventional novels. There's much to love and adore in this novel, because it has been written lovingly and told with passion. Please, invest a bit of time into reading this wonderful novel and discover its magic, because it's something unique.
Highly recommended!
February 2, 2018
Oothangbart is a strange place. It is somewhat reminiscent of an ancient English village or market town, except that it lies in splendid isolation, surrounded by a river (“long may its waters encircle us!”), its frontiers further confirmed by a frightening forest and a gate at one end to stop the more intrepid amongst the villagers from exploring further. The only link with the outside world is the flotsam and debris occasionally washed up by the river, hinting at the existence of other settlements which the villagers have never seen and which might not even exist. The legendary Bristol, for example.
Within Oothangbart, life is regimented and regimental. Time, in particular, is considered precious and Oothangbart’s inhabitants are obliged to make use of it as the elders dictate. There is also a strict hierarchy, with the Mayor heading a select coterie of officials who make it clear that they rule the roost. Life is designed to be predictable, safe and reassuring – and in such a world, thought and imagination are dangerous.
Most of the citizens are happy to play by the rules, others less so. Take Hutchinson, for instance, who makes it a point to come across as an eccentric loner. Or the novel’s protagonist, one Donal Shaun Hercule Poseidon. Donal sincerely tries to fit in, diligently carrying out his unfulfilling chores at the Department of Found Objects. However, he cannot help dreaming of a different life, and wondering whether the citizens of the outside world (supposing that they exist) have it better. These are dangerous, treasonous thoughts which Donal expresses only in the presence of the closest of friends. Love might have something to do with Donal’s romantic trait. For a long time he has admired Pearl Offering, owner of the village bakery, but he has always been too shy to make the first step. A love letter baring his soul remains, day after day, unsent.
But things might soon change. Fish have been jumping out of the river and Oothangbart is in turmoil. Donal, who is one of the witnesses of this frightening phenomenon, is catapulted into officialdom and, during a state of emergency, persons who think differently might win the day.
Rebecca Lloyd is best known as an author of dark fiction, with two of her short story collections published by contemporary horror and weird fiction specialists, Tartarus Press. In Oothangbart, however, she opts for a gentler sort of fantasy, a “fable”, as the subtitle itself implies. Oothangbart reiterates what is quite a common literary (and movie) trope, the idea of a “dystopian utopia”, a seemingly perfect community where safety is achieved at the expense of freedom and imagination. What distinguishes this book from others of the sort is its delightful “oddness”. There is quirkiness in the world-building – little touches such as the “Escalator” which the dignitaries of the community ride just to show their importance, or the kite-flying competitions during which the villagers are, albeit briefly, allowed a measure of freedom. There is quirkiness in the characters and in the way they are portrayed, even physically – indeed, it might not be immediately obvious but the inhabitants fo Oothangbart are, in reality, antropomorphic bears. These fantastic elements emphasize the “fable-like” character of the title, which is further conveyed through the imaginative use of archaic-sounding language and expressions which, however, have nothing to do with old English. Thus, all males are “fellows”, females “sweetfellows”, the postman is the “Postal Fellow”. The different times of day have strange names such as “newtime”, “whittletime” or “fishthoughts”. The villagers greet each other with curious sayings – “long may our flags flutter in kindly winds! Long may sweet clouds drift!” Often the main characters indulge in philosophical discussions, hinting at the pressing social concerns underlying this seemingly innocuous fantastic tale.
Indeed, the author’s real aims are not far to seek. As Lloyd’s afterword confirms, “Oothangbart” is a satire poking fun at (and occasionally savagely attacking) contemporary society and, particularly, common workplace mores. We live indeed in a context where conformity and productivity are the order of the day and where original thought and imagination are therefore considered “dangerous”. As in Oothangbart’s absurdly inconclusive committee meetings, “group activities” are sometimes merely an excuse in fuelling the self-importance of supposed leaders. I’d like to believe that this is not as pervasive a problem as the author makes it out to be and that there is a place in our world for diverse “fellows” and “sweetfellows” like Donal. But as the characters in the novel ask at one point, what is belief? Is it merely a “hope” to help us get through life? A subversive fable it certainly is...
Within Oothangbart, life is regimented and regimental. Time, in particular, is considered precious and Oothangbart’s inhabitants are obliged to make use of it as the elders dictate. There is also a strict hierarchy, with the Mayor heading a select coterie of officials who make it clear that they rule the roost. Life is designed to be predictable, safe and reassuring – and in such a world, thought and imagination are dangerous.
Most of the citizens are happy to play by the rules, others less so. Take Hutchinson, for instance, who makes it a point to come across as an eccentric loner. Or the novel’s protagonist, one Donal Shaun Hercule Poseidon. Donal sincerely tries to fit in, diligently carrying out his unfulfilling chores at the Department of Found Objects. However, he cannot help dreaming of a different life, and wondering whether the citizens of the outside world (supposing that they exist) have it better. These are dangerous, treasonous thoughts which Donal expresses only in the presence of the closest of friends. Love might have something to do with Donal’s romantic trait. For a long time he has admired Pearl Offering, owner of the village bakery, but he has always been too shy to make the first step. A love letter baring his soul remains, day after day, unsent.
But things might soon change. Fish have been jumping out of the river and Oothangbart is in turmoil. Donal, who is one of the witnesses of this frightening phenomenon, is catapulted into officialdom and, during a state of emergency, persons who think differently might win the day.
Rebecca Lloyd is best known as an author of dark fiction, with two of her short story collections published by contemporary horror and weird fiction specialists, Tartarus Press. In Oothangbart, however, she opts for a gentler sort of fantasy, a “fable”, as the subtitle itself implies. Oothangbart reiterates what is quite a common literary (and movie) trope, the idea of a “dystopian utopia”, a seemingly perfect community where safety is achieved at the expense of freedom and imagination. What distinguishes this book from others of the sort is its delightful “oddness”. There is quirkiness in the world-building – little touches such as the “Escalator” which the dignitaries of the community ride just to show their importance, or the kite-flying competitions during which the villagers are, albeit briefly, allowed a measure of freedom. There is quirkiness in the characters and in the way they are portrayed, even physically – indeed, it might not be immediately obvious but the inhabitants fo Oothangbart are, in reality, antropomorphic bears. These fantastic elements emphasize the “fable-like” character of the title, which is further conveyed through the imaginative use of archaic-sounding language and expressions which, however, have nothing to do with old English. Thus, all males are “fellows”, females “sweetfellows”, the postman is the “Postal Fellow”. The different times of day have strange names such as “newtime”, “whittletime” or “fishthoughts”. The villagers greet each other with curious sayings – “long may our flags flutter in kindly winds! Long may sweet clouds drift!” Often the main characters indulge in philosophical discussions, hinting at the pressing social concerns underlying this seemingly innocuous fantastic tale.
Indeed, the author’s real aims are not far to seek. As Lloyd’s afterword confirms, “Oothangbart” is a satire poking fun at (and occasionally savagely attacking) contemporary society and, particularly, common workplace mores. We live indeed in a context where conformity and productivity are the order of the day and where original thought and imagination are therefore considered “dangerous”. As in Oothangbart’s absurdly inconclusive committee meetings, “group activities” are sometimes merely an excuse in fuelling the self-importance of supposed leaders. I’d like to believe that this is not as pervasive a problem as the author makes it out to be and that there is a place in our world for diverse “fellows” and “sweetfellows” like Donal. But as the characters in the novel ask at one point, what is belief? Is it merely a “hope” to help us get through life? A subversive fable it certainly is...
September 3, 2016
Oothangbart is quite a touching love story in the end, and I wasn't expecting it to turn out that way, although I am relieved it did. At the outset I thought the story was much darker, but then as it progressed I realised it was much more of a personal search/realisation story in as much as it is a commentary on society. A story unhurriedly and lovingly told with compassion for all the characters and their individual frailities. Totally engaging. The language is clear and clean, simple and uplifting which contrasts with the confusion in the minds of the characters and their absurd conversations and ideas. I thought the descriptions of the fish jumping out of the sea was beautiful.
October 7, 2016
A delightful read with everything that appeals a reader. I thought I loved Lloyd's 'The View from Endless Street'. If anything, I love this all the more. It had the kites, the fair share of humor, romance as well as the subtle satire. I kept asking myself about the existence of Bristol.
December 30, 2017
From the title, the description, and reading the first several pages, I thought this story would be... more light-hearted, I suppose. I liked the writing style and there were several indications of comedy and adventure soon to come. I didn't read enough before purchasing it to guess that it would form into a political satire and it turned out to be too heavy-handed for me.
Most of the book consisted of the meetings the characters held in order to determine how to act upon the discovery of fish jumping out of the river, which had thrown all of Oothangbart into a panic.
It was meant to poke fun at or be a sort of complaint about such meetings being a pointless, drawn-out waste of time... you can imagine how that might NOT be fun to read. The pacing was deliberately slow, the subject matter dry, the characters frustrating and illogical. The fish, the early darkness, and Bristol were all MacGuffins.
Most of the book consisted of the meetings the characters held in order to determine how to act upon the discovery of fish jumping out of the river, which had thrown all of Oothangbart into a panic.
It was meant to poke fun at or be a sort of complaint about such meetings being a pointless, drawn-out waste of time... you can imagine how that might NOT be fun to read. The pacing was deliberately slow, the subject matter dry, the characters frustrating and illogical. The fish, the early darkness, and Bristol were all MacGuffins.
January 5, 2021
I have been enraptured in the last week or two by this book. And I hope I shall be allowed to play the Postal Fellow when the book is eventually screened or staged. – as it will be … but never as good as the book itself – though someone needs to go out sooner rather than later to curate the costumes ready for its first performance because such costumes will be difficult to amass, even one by one. Ad infinitum.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long to post here.
Above is its conclusion.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long to post here.
Above is its conclusion.
October 8, 2016
Some writers put across unique metaphors that keep you thinking for days about it, but when you read a novel that seems to be a huge big metaphor in itself, you cannot help but marvel at the talent and expertise of the writer. Oothangbart by Rebecca Lloyd is one such book.
In this book, there is a love story, there are kites and fishes, there are leaders who like to bask in the limelight and there are leaders who lead well, but most of all there is one question that some Oothangbartians think but never say aloud, ‘Does Bristol exist?’
Oothangbart is a seemingly straightforward story, yet it is not that at all, it is a story with multiple layers, told simply and humourously. This is definitely a book to read.
In this book, there is a love story, there are kites and fishes, there are leaders who like to bask in the limelight and there are leaders who lead well, but most of all there is one question that some Oothangbartians think but never say aloud, ‘Does Bristol exist?’
Oothangbart is a seemingly straightforward story, yet it is not that at all, it is a story with multiple layers, told simply and humourously. This is definitely a book to read.
April 14, 2017
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Rebecca Lloyd's Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is a spellbinding literary fantasy novel for readers who want to read something out of the ordinary. I'm delighted to say that this satirical novel is unlike any other novel on the market today, because it's an engaging and insightful story about life, hierarchy, predictability and love in an isolated and totalitarian village.
Oothangbart is anything but a conventional novel, because it has a fable-like and quirky atmosphere that separates it from other modern novels. Readers who are intrigued by fables and novels that have a deeper meaning behind the story will find this novel fascinating and thought-provoking. It makes many of us think about what is happening and why the characters act the way they do.
When I began to read this novel, I found myself wholly captivated by it. It had many layers, clever metaphors and intriguing events that kept me turning pages late into the night. Everything about it felt intriguing, because there were no weak spots. I was fully satisfied with the story and its subtle complexity, because there was a lot of hidden social commentary and wisdom beneath the surface.
It's nearly impossible to find similar kind of novels, but - in my opinion - the closest resemblance to Oothangbart is Winkie by Clifford Chase. Although Winkie is different from this novel, the author has the same kind of unorthodox way of exploring various themes and issues within the context of speculative fiction as Clifford Chase. There's something in this novel that is slightly reminiscent of stories written by Rhys Hughes and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris, but it also has astute Orwellian elements.
Worldbuilding works well and is refreshingly original, because the events take place in an isolated community called Oothangbart, which feels connected to a wider world, but is detached from it. There's a gate and a way out of town, but no one ever comes to visit Oothangbart and no one leaves it. Everything in Oothangbart is fascinatingly skewed, because it prides itself on having a perfect social structure and a strict hierarchy that is followed and respected by the citizens. Because thinking differently about things is considered to be a threat and can lead to trouble, the citizens have settled into a peaceful and predictable way of life. Some of the citizens have wondered about whether or not Bristol exists outside the borders of the village and beyond the forest, but thinking such thoughts could cause severe problems, so no one ever explores the existence of Bristol. Nothing ever changes in Oothangbart, because everything is predictable and reassuring. Oothangbartians are used to having time measured with such terms as Newtime, Trumpet-time, Fishthoughts, Whittletime, Late-repast, Vespertime, Curfew and Freetime, and their hours are filled with routines.
The characters are interesting and their individual traits and frailties add plenty of fascination to the story. I think that many readers will find the fascinatingly absurd and quirky conversations between the characters charmingly fresh. It was fun to read about how the characters acted in a particular way, because they had always done so and felt no need to change things (they had become used to doing things in a certain way and didn't want to change anything).
The protagonist of this novel is Donal Shaun Hercule Poseidon. He's a citizen of middling rank who is becoming increasingly unpredictable and begins to think about certain things that are not considered to be normal by others. He only expresses his private thoughts to his friend who advises him not to talk about them. He is secretly in love with the baker, Pearl Offering, and his shed is filled with her bagels. He is constantly fretting over an unsent love-letter, because he has not been able to see the Postal Fellow, although he has done his best to catch him. He yearns for validation and is fascinated by Bristol. His life begins to change when leaping fish emerge from the barren river encircling Oothangbart and cause panic among the citizens. As the citizens become frightened by what is happening in the river and fish-panic seizes Oothangbart, Donal suddenly finds himself being thrust into an officialdom.
I enjoyed reading about Donal and his life, because he thought differently about many things than others and had interesting problems. He questioned several things and thought a lot about what is happening in Oothangbart and if there's something outside its limits. He was fascinated with what could be found outside the limits of Oothangbart.
Rebecca Lloyd explores power, rulership, oppression, hierarchy, growth, change and love in a satisfyingly satirical and amusing way. Her approach to these themes and issues feels wonderfully fresh and imaginative, because she has a gift of blending the mundane with the fantastical. She irresistibly combines everyday life and challenging situations with fantastical elements.
I found the author's sense of humour delightfully poignant and witty. Because I like well written humour with a touch of satire, I loved the way the author added bits of humour to the story and created a fable-like atmosphere. Her clever tongue-in-cheek humour is simply wonderful. I think that readers who have participated in workplace meetings or are familiar with what happens in committees and local governments will immensely enjoy this novel, because the story reflects so well what happens in real life that you can't help but be impressed by its parodical and satirical elements. The author writes deftly and comically about how individuals are treated in meetings and how their opinions are met by others.
Rebecca Lloyd's writing style is clear and simple yet sophisticatedly complex. She's one of the most talented authors working on the field of literary speculative fiction, because she can write different kinds of stories and has the ability to alter her writing style to suit the needs of the story. Those who are familiar with her World Fantasy Award-nominated Mercy and Other Stories will find this novel intriguingly different from it.
Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is one of the best and most engaging novels available for adult readers who are fascinated by thought-provoking, amusing and unconventional novels. There's much to love and adore in this novel, because it has been written lovingly and told with passion. Please, invest a bit of time into reading this wonderful novel and discover its magic, because it's something unique.
Highly recommended!
Rebecca Lloyd's Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is a spellbinding literary fantasy novel for readers who want to read something out of the ordinary. I'm delighted to say that this satirical novel is unlike any other novel on the market today, because it's an engaging and insightful story about life, hierarchy, predictability and love in an isolated and totalitarian village.
Oothangbart is anything but a conventional novel, because it has a fable-like and quirky atmosphere that separates it from other modern novels. Readers who are intrigued by fables and novels that have a deeper meaning behind the story will find this novel fascinating and thought-provoking. It makes many of us think about what is happening and why the characters act the way they do.
When I began to read this novel, I found myself wholly captivated by it. It had many layers, clever metaphors and intriguing events that kept me turning pages late into the night. Everything about it felt intriguing, because there were no weak spots. I was fully satisfied with the story and its subtle complexity, because there was a lot of hidden social commentary and wisdom beneath the surface.
It's nearly impossible to find similar kind of novels, but - in my opinion - the closest resemblance to Oothangbart is Winkie by Clifford Chase. Although Winkie is different from this novel, the author has the same kind of unorthodox way of exploring various themes and issues within the context of speculative fiction as Clifford Chase. There's something in this novel that is slightly reminiscent of stories written by Rhys Hughes and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris, but it also has astute Orwellian elements.
Worldbuilding works well and is refreshingly original, because the events take place in an isolated community called Oothangbart, which feels connected to a wider world, but is detached from it. There's a gate and a way out of town, but no one ever comes to visit Oothangbart and no one leaves it. Everything in Oothangbart is fascinatingly skewed, because it prides itself on having a perfect social structure and a strict hierarchy that is followed and respected by the citizens. Because thinking differently about things is considered to be a threat and can lead to trouble, the citizens have settled into a peaceful and predictable way of life. Some of the citizens have wondered about whether or not Bristol exists outside the borders of the village and beyond the forest, but thinking such thoughts could cause severe problems, so no one ever explores the existence of Bristol. Nothing ever changes in Oothangbart, because everything is predictable and reassuring. Oothangbartians are used to having time measured with such terms as Newtime, Trumpet-time, Fishthoughts, Whittletime, Late-repast, Vespertime, Curfew and Freetime, and their hours are filled with routines.
The characters are interesting and their individual traits and frailties add plenty of fascination to the story. I think that many readers will find the fascinatingly absurd and quirky conversations between the characters charmingly fresh. It was fun to read about how the characters acted in a particular way, because they had always done so and felt no need to change things (they had become used to doing things in a certain way and didn't want to change anything).
The protagonist of this novel is Donal Shaun Hercule Poseidon. He's a citizen of middling rank who is becoming increasingly unpredictable and begins to think about certain things that are not considered to be normal by others. He only expresses his private thoughts to his friend who advises him not to talk about them. He is secretly in love with the baker, Pearl Offering, and his shed is filled with her bagels. He is constantly fretting over an unsent love-letter, because he has not been able to see the Postal Fellow, although he has done his best to catch him. He yearns for validation and is fascinated by Bristol. His life begins to change when leaping fish emerge from the barren river encircling Oothangbart and cause panic among the citizens. As the citizens become frightened by what is happening in the river and fish-panic seizes Oothangbart, Donal suddenly finds himself being thrust into an officialdom.
I enjoyed reading about Donal and his life, because he thought differently about many things than others and had interesting problems. He questioned several things and thought a lot about what is happening in Oothangbart and if there's something outside its limits. He was fascinated with what could be found outside the limits of Oothangbart.
Rebecca Lloyd explores power, rulership, oppression, hierarchy, growth, change and love in a satisfyingly satirical and amusing way. Her approach to these themes and issues feels wonderfully fresh and imaginative, because she has a gift of blending the mundane with the fantastical. She irresistibly combines everyday life and challenging situations with fantastical elements.
I found the author's sense of humour delightfully poignant and witty. Because I like well written humour with a touch of satire, I loved the way the author added bits of humour to the story and created a fable-like atmosphere. Her clever tongue-in-cheek humour is simply wonderful. I think that readers who have participated in workplace meetings or are familiar with what happens in committees and local governments will immensely enjoy this novel, because the story reflects so well what happens in real life that you can't help but be impressed by its parodical and satirical elements. The author writes deftly and comically about how individuals are treated in meetings and how their opinions are met by others.
Rebecca Lloyd's writing style is clear and simple yet sophisticatedly complex. She's one of the most talented authors working on the field of literary speculative fiction, because she can write different kinds of stories and has the ability to alter her writing style to suit the needs of the story. Those who are familiar with her World Fantasy Award-nominated Mercy and Other Stories will find this novel intriguingly different from it.
Oothangbart: A subversive fable for adults and bears is one of the best and most engaging novels available for adult readers who are fascinated by thought-provoking, amusing and unconventional novels. There's much to love and adore in this novel, because it has been written lovingly and told with passion. Please, invest a bit of time into reading this wonderful novel and discover its magic, because it's something unique.
Highly recommended!
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