Customer Reviews

Omega: A novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book by Stewart Farrar was one of the first I'd read from him. I could NOT put it down! It takes the reader on a journey into a future not too far from our own day, where politics and religion blend into a terrifying combination! Farrar makes each character come alive, and the protagonists are not only beliveable but the kind of neighbors I'd love to have!

This novel is a little dated in that it writes about a "future" date that we're already beyond, but just like "1984" that doesn't keep the story from being very engaging and gripping. The things it points out about society and government "black ops", coupled with the view of people surviving as "outlaws" makes for a very good read.

I first read Omega about 25 years ago. it was my formal introduction to Wicca, and it changed my outlook on everything. I also couldn't put it down, and for 25 years, kept it close to me. last summer, through a sad chain of circumstances, my copy was destroyed. I wrote to Janet (his widow) but never got an answer.
then I found it here on amazon. thank you.
over the years, Moira, Dan, Rosemary, Greg, Angie, Eileen, and Peter have become my friends.
there are some very special books that I can just pick up, and start reading; this is one of them. the political activities are eerily accurate, and very frightening, and the destruction of the World seems to me to be more fact than fiction every day.
as for his craft, I can't complain. there are no continuity errors that I've ever found, and all his characters are well-developed and "true" to themselves. it's a giant canvas, and the story is riveting.
in the end, it comes down to the traditional struggle between good and evil. the ending is amazing.
and it's REAL; I've been to the Red Lion Inn.
as little Diana says, "Blessed be".

I first picked up this book over 20 years ago, thinking "Hmmm...a mystery by Stewart Farrar! This could be good..." How right I was! The characters, both protagonists and antagonists, are well-rounded, and you really feel for the heroes and heroines as they try to make a new start in the Welsh mountains following a world-wide cataclysm. Hopefully, this book will come back into print - it's worth it!

Given that this book is by Stewart Farrar, I thought the book would be heavy-handed for Wicca. This is not necessarily the case although they are among the protagonists.

This book is set in the future when we have discovered a new source of power. Unfortunately, man doesn't think to truly understand the ramifications until things get out of hand. The government does recognize this and attempts to blame the "witches."

Farrar walks the reader through Wiccan ceremony and thought without making it sound like a manual. He shows us that there are practitioners of black magic as well as white. Similarly, he shows us that there are good and bad government people. Overall, he was very even-handed in his depictions.

Without giving anything away, this is a science fiction novel about a future catastrophe and how people work to overcome this event. Although it is not going to win any awards, it is a pleasant read for a rainy afternoon.

This is a great book, way better then you'd think when you pick it up. Highly recommended... Great read, Preppers, a bit of sci-fi and a government conspiracy, what's not to love... I couldn't put it down.