In The Lonely Fen
A Novel by Richard Moore
Published by Publish America
www.PublishAmerica.com
ISBN # 1-59129-962-4
216 pgs $19.95
Mental Hospitals have made for some interesting stories; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, K-Pax, Arkham Asylum, are but a few that have become some of my favorite stories ever. I think it is because there is such a richness of characters in a confined area, and they are forced to interact in such an offbeat way. The problems they have which brought them there, in most cases, are secondary to the characters themselves. When done well, each character comes alive as you experience them, with one outstanding one who leads the bunch. Moreover, if the story is well written, the central character can take you on an adventure that is a joy. I can now add one more to that list with the novel ‘In The Lonely Fen', by Richard Moore.
Keith is nineteen years old, and suffering from bi-polar disorder also know as manic-depressive. Henry, although he may be twenty, has the mind of a child. Then we have Allan who suffers from schizophrenia, hearing voices telling him his medications are poisoned, so he refuses to take them, causing his behavior to become more erratic and unstable. When the night shift at the home they stay at fall asleep and this motley crew sneak out, their adventures lead to some very surprising results. Keith meets with a girl from the local video store, Henry gets a drug dealer more than a little upset at him (to put it mildly), and Allan decides to go in search of his mother who abandoned him many years ago. I won't go into more details, as you should really read this for yourself; to say too much would be the ruination of some carefully laid out story elements you should really experience.
Author Richard Moore (I have to admit, what a great name for an author-if you don't know what I'm talking about, go back to the name of this reviewer) has written a story of which he should be very proud. He has taken what can be normally dreary types of characters in dreary type situations and made them burst into life in a full three-dimensional way. His use of characterization and conversational skills are excellent, and he has put together a story to be enjoyed by any reader, regardless of genre preference, no easy feat for an author to do.
I hope there will be more to come from his pen (or computer, or whatever he writes with). Even though I have said it before, it is time I say it again. I have had the pleasure of reading quite a lot of really good authors since I have been doing this. Don't let the fact the publishing house might not be one of the big name ones, or the books might be a little hard to find. Search them out, invest the time and money, and curl up with the work of an author that will surprise you. In that roll call, Richard Moore and his book ‘In The Lonely Fen' will be near the top, I can guarantee it.