"The Vast and Gruesome Clutch of Our Law"
This first book follows the twists and turns of the unconscious mind, through basing the narrative on the lucid dreams of the author. The world has adjusted poorly to a global catastrophe, leaving opportunist dictators to take power. But this totalitarian regime might quickly change hands, as rebels make a daring assassination attempt. All these forces are eventually drawn into the small town of Goscote, where they inflict an unjust punishment on the young Governor and his family and friends. This long suffering community struggle against a backdrop of stunning landscapes, astronomical events and the brutal laws of empire. The Vast and Gruesome Clutch of Our Law will leave you breathless and intrigued throughout, with epic themes of nature's effect on human affairs, with a strong religious allegory.
The book is an interwoven series of eight dreams, with one dream taking the central plot throughout one third of the narrative. The eight dreams and their influence on the work will be released in the fourth and final book in the Dreamscape Series, ‘Dreamer' released in 2007/8.
"I was genuinely interested in where this tale was heading and there are some fine ideas in here."
"The book is intriguing. I found myself unwilling to let the book go until I had finished it. I would definitely pick up the sequel if I were to come across it."
"Its post-apocalypse setting and ambience reminded me of Richard Cowper's Twilight of Briareus, Brian Aldiss' Greybeard and several of John Wyndham's books, whilst the cloud causing the problems gave echoes of Fred Hoyle's The Black Cloud. Because of this, it stimulated an affectionate nostalgia".
A shortened version of the book is available from Amazon.co.uk and the full version should be out by autumn 2006. To see these reviews in full go to www.bookcrossing.com
Search for ‘The Vast and Gruesome Clutch of Our Law' by B.C.Bamber ISBN: 0-9549691-0-3 ; Vagabond Unlimited 2005.
