Electricity
Returning author, Myke Bartlett, has written his new book called Electricity. Come check it out!
From the Author of How to Disappear Completely:
1999Aston Somerfield, casual smoker and part-time alcoholic, has come to London to find himself. He knows who he’s looking for, he’s seen him on the cover of the NME. Drawn across oceans by fame and fate, Aston is keeping his diary empty to make sure he’s available. Won’t commit to anything until it’s everything.
London, however, has other ideas.
When a virtual stranger calls Aston a few hours before his death, fate catches up with him, derailing his barely-made plans. Amid a hundred boozy evenings and romantic deadends, a mystery unfurls.
Equally assisted and hindered by tremulous accountant Tom Hensley and dedicated loafer Steven Black, Aston uncovers a different London, one of murder, ghosts, dangerous emails and the second big bang.
As chaotic and random as the city it inhabits, Electricity gradually evolves into a mystery bigger than the universe itself. Being of a somewhat useless persuasion, Aston does his best to ignore it.
For more details: www.biggerthantheuniverse.com
August 8th, 2007 at 3:39 am
Woo Hoo, been waiting for you’r next piece of writing ever since I finished How to Disappear Completely. Got the first 3 episodes and hey what do you know it looks like it about time to walk the dog for 2 hours
August 9th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Yes! I’ve been waiting for the Podiobooks debut of Electricity, can’t wait to listen. Excuse me, I’ll just go subscribe now.
August 25th, 2007 at 1:21 am
A review of sorts
Only 10 episodes long but packed with action, pathos, humor, creepiness, and, of course, the seediest bits of London and humanity, Myke Barlett’s Electricity won’t disappoint Salmon & Dusk fans. Indeed, listeners new to Myke’s work will find this tightly written, well narrated piece is a better place to start listening. Myke seems to have settled into his podcasting style; his smooth accent never interferes with the story but instead draws you in, convincing you Aston is telling you his story over several pints in a smoke-filled pub. Additionally, this is perhaps the best use of music in a podcasted novel I’ve heard to date; the range of songs further develop each scene, strengthening whichever mood Myke’s shooting for at any given moment.
I want more. Can’t wait for Kilbey’s sequel of sorts.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I’m really loving this novel. Can’t wait for more! (that means please please hurry!)
Thanks,
~Dana
September 17th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
You’re back!! Hooray! I love your work!! This novel is awesome. I love the style. I love everything. I’m impatiently waiting for the next episode.
November 9th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Do yourself a favor and listen to this novel!
November 13th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Such a strange and quirky novel about the dark and seedy side of London and Londoners. A very unique style with excellent narration quality.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:02 am
What I would like to know is a novel about twenty somethings drinking their way through life in London become a science fiction story with strange matter?
What does strange matter have to do with a semi-alcoholic group of friends?
I liked the story, right up until it made a left turn at Albaquirky (sic) and never looked back…
June 30th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Superb novel - well worth a listen! Go subscribe to it right now!
July 13th, 2008 at 4:12 am
This is such a great ‘alternative’ take on living in London as a youthful ‘outsider’ looking in that you can’t possibly pass it by. It ain’t middle class suburbia here, its closer to edgy real life for many people coming to London than you might realise. Alongside it is a strange, supernatural theme that lends itself to that ‘not quite fitting in’ feel and accentuates that sense of unease that permeates the novel. Add in a superbly eclectic, individualistic, soundtrack [thanks Myke, picked up some good steers to bands I hadn’t come across before!] and this is unmissable stuff. More please, and soon!!!
August 15th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I thought you should know. You’ve made me an addict. You’re writing is my heroin. They don’t make a methadone for Myke Bartlett addicts so I think the only fair and proper thing for you to do is write more.
I listened to “HtDC” almost a year ago, loved it and scoured the net in search of other stories you’d written/podcasted. I downloaded “My Chalk Outline” and “Electricity” then, but decided to ration them since there is so little Myke Bartlett in the Webiverse. To be honest, I kinda hoped “My Chalk Outline” would reproduce if I left it in my iPod unsupervised for a while.
After listening to “HtDC” for the third time in 9 months I broke down and listened to the next Kilbey & Nero installment (sadly, it remained 3 episodes but at least they were an hour each of content). I loved it. I knew I would. Although, I loved it more than I expected. Then I was left with “Electricity”. I was determined to hold out, I was going to let it wait. But three days later I clicked play. I couldn’t help myself. All I can say is WOW! Well, I guess I can say more than wow…
You write like a god. If Shakespeare were alive right now he’d wish he could write like you. This is no empty flattery either. I sincerely love the way you turn a phrase. I love the character development. I love the way you wind stories around and through each other while they maintain their logic and structure. The music is great, too. There were at least two songs included I caught myself singing along with. But it wasn’t just that the music was familiar or likable, you chose songs that perfectly complimented each scene. It was obvious that you put as much effort into piecing together the score as you did in writing the story. Considering the character of Aston is so interested in music it’s easy to imagine that he punctuated his own reminiscences with these songs in his head. Your work is so complete and well sculpted…I’m listening but I can see it. I can feel the cold, hear the traffic and smell the alcohol on their breath.
I’ve been dreaming of going back to London to live for the last 20 years. For all the negative in the story about life in London in the 90’s I still want to go; perhaps even more now. Strikes me that there’s so much to overcome it would be more of an adventure. You should write an ironic guidebook for the disenfranchised 20 something émigré to London. No, no. No. No distractions. Just write more stories for me. I need a fix.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Just the story of an alcoholic loser completely lacking ambition and drive skating though life. I got so bored I turned it off after the third hour. I kept hoping something, anything, would happen. Nope.
October 19th, 2008 at 2:58 am
I really enjoyed How to Disappear Completely, and this book is equally well written and narrated, with good production. But I don’t like it. It’s just a personal thing. HTDC had the extra fantasy dimension. I’m sure many people will enjoy this, but for me it’s just too mundane, and I don’t really care about the characters. I’ll still look forward to more books by the author.
November 1st, 2008 at 7:45 am
I loved this book, it is very different from HDTC, but also very similar. I like the underlying theme that taking action can change the world.