Strange Valley [Paperback]

Darrell Bain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2004

A clerk working in the census bureau discovers a series of anomalies in the population of a small city located in the Ozark Mountains. Intrigued, the clerk continues to investigate. He finds that, on average, the people of the city and surrounding valley, are a little smarter, less religious, more thrifty, marry less, have a higher level of education, are more sexually liberated and have fewer illnesses. The city also refuses government money for schools and roads, has little crime and no sign of racial unrest. None of these factors would mean much taken alone, but together, they spell out a population that is distinctly skewed from the normal. Surprisingly, hardly anyone in the valley realizes that most of them are different from the average. They simply think they live in a good place among good people. Then the investigation starts...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent sci fi suspense thriller that will have the reader wondering what normal really means. Tight, fast paced, fun..." --Dinah Roseberry.

"Strange Valley" is a thrilling adventure that you will be hard-pressed to put down." --Annette Gisby, editor of Twisted Tales.

"Darrell Bain has written a fabulous eye-opening tale." --Harriet Klausner for Baryon.

About the Author

He has become well known for his fast-paced tales and unusual plots. Darrell Bain is the author of almost two dozen books in many genres, including the award winning science fiction novel, "The Sex Gates." For the last several years he has concentrated on humor and science fiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Twilight Times Books (October 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931201234
• ISBN-13: 978-1931201230
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,491,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have read about 20,000 books in my lifetime, much of it science fiction but history, mystery, war, popular and historical fiction as well. I also write and have a variety of books published in print and as e-books. I like to write humor and adventure/mystery/science fiction/suspense/thriller novels and short stories. I have worked in the medical field, am a Vietnam Veteran and currently live and write in east Texas where my wife Betty and I owned a Christmas tree farm until two years ago. I like to correspond with fans and can be reached through my web site, www.darrellbain.com We have two dachshunds that I've written about. I currently have about fifty books in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read, but seems stuck in the 60s, December 17, 2007

By 

W. R. Day (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strange Valley (Paperback)

Strange Valley was a fun read, and it goes fast, which is probably a good thing, because I'd hate to think I spent too much time on this one. It's got an interesting premise, but it fails to expand much beyond the premise. Character motivations are paper-thin and seem too often to just be a thinly disguised extension of the author's feelings with no logical grounding in the plot. And sure, it's fun to see someone taking a few pot shots at neo-conservative Christian mentalities, but hey, it doesn't always drive the book forward. And the sexual liberalism scenes, particularly the final one where the main characters are celebrating their success, come off as just some ridiculous throw-back to the 60s. Like something out of an Austin Powers spoof. Can you say campy?

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong hyperbole based thriller, May 2, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strange Valley (Paperback)

Census Bureau career civil servant Harry Beales is stunned with the data that reflects Masterville in the Arkansas Ozarks. The small town contains no measurable crime, a much greater than average life-span, no international business chains as everything is locally owned, no federal money is received not even Medicare or Pell Grants, the marriage rate is very low, but offspring very high and no major religion has taken hold. However, the oddest fact is that these trends can be traced back to the Civil War.

Harry's findings reach NSA; they become concerned with this oddity in the center of the Bible Belt especially since the objective of the President of the United States is to imbue Christian family values as the Bill of Rights. NSA field agents Daniel Stenning and Shirley Rostervick are sent to Masterville to uncover and destroy this heretical conspiracy in the middle of the United States that the POTUS and the NSA believe is the biggest threat to national security since the wall fell.

Using hyperbole to highlight the extreme of the fundamentalist religious right movement, Darrell Bain provides a powerful political thriller. The story line showcases a central government that feels so strongly in the end state of Christian based federalism that it leads the people to a restrictive faith in which the means to get there do not matter. This includes beating the bushes to thwart a small town whose residents are living together in harmony as that is not necessarily a pious life style. This reviewer kept thinking of the bane imposed on Rushdie as this strong thriller with a powerful message leaves readers to ponder what is right. Darrell Bain has written a fabulous eye-opening tale.

Harriet Klausner