Whoaaaaaaaaaaaa. This was a really disconcerting read. As a fan of John Brunner's science fiction and dystopian fiction, I unearthed this one from the depths of the library shelves with the expectation of similar writing. It starts off innocuously enough, with a seventeen-year-old student leaving his boarding school after the death of his mother in a car accident and the ensuing lack of money from his father. Upon relocating to the small country town where his father lives an insular lifestyle with an incompetent housekeeper, Stephen finds himself at a loss for companionship and work. A chance meeting with a young man who is employed by the team converting an old mansion to a gambling hall leads to employment and an escape from the dreary home of his father. All seems to be well, though the people of the town are less than thrilled about the prospect of a gambling hall and the folks it will attract.

This story seems like an innocent enough tale to begin with -- pleasant countryside, a bored young man returning home, a mysterious employer and the attraction of fine living in a remodeled mansion. So maybe that's why the darker gothic twist threw me for a loop, and kept me turning the pages.

It may be difficult to track down a copy of this book, and it's a bit of a genre change for those accustomed to Brunner's other works, but it is worth a read. ( )