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The Battle of Hastings 1066. Possibly the most seminal date in Britain’s historical calendar. But what if Harold had not rushed into battle on that fateful day? A change of plan could have radically reshaped an entire nation – and the world. Stephen Atkinson’s re-imagined future fearlessly entwines science, magic and mayhem in a rich tapestry.
Richard Ward MA BA BEd retired head teacher, author of several series of children’s books. This fantastical mix of history and make-believe is a must for highbrow and lowbrow readers alike. If I had to pick fault with Ludec it is only this; it is simply not long enough to carry all the strange fruits of Stephen Atkinson’s fertile imagination. The bizarre imaginings and twists and turns of his convoluted ideas swell the mind to bursting, with fodder enough to cram two or three novels of twice, three times, the size. Where he gets his off-the-wall ideas is anybody’s guess, but they are all here catapulted in a roller coaster ride that will thrill readers of all ages, and of all interests. To be found in the pages of Ludec is a science fiction story of monumental creation, tempered with real history and healthy helpings of the magic and romance of Arthurian legend. Sometimes the mind literally reels with the author’s meandering creativity, but at the heart of Ludec there is too a heart-warming story of the small man who, with wit and foresight, can change history. He is everybody’s hero and my one complaint is that he had to die so young. I predict that this premiere novella from Stephen Atkinson will not bite the dust quite so easily. The pages span 1,000 glorious and captivating years of action, conquest and romance – I just wish there was a page for each year.
