ENC Press read and liked KC's review of Moon Beaver:

"The life of Benny Henderson is normal, British, and sure. He works for the multinational Company, plans to marry his fiance (and Company co-worker) Louise, plays squash with his friend (Company boy) Carl, and leads a homogeneous life in Norwich (in a...more The life of Benny Henderson is normal, British, and sure. He works for the multinational Company, plans to marry his fiance (and Company co-worker) Louise, plays squash with his friend (Company boy) Carl, and leads a homogeneous life in Norwich (in a house owned by the Company).

Then Moon Beaver enters. She captivates Benny and his wallet with her striking individuality. As the two travel to the distant lands of Moscow and Bangkok, Benny finds himself both mesmerized and exacerbated by his eccentric guide's whims. First intoxicated by the prominently lipsticked fantasy of Moon, he later realizes her unconventional lifestyle is an attempt to achieve immortality by losing herself in time.

While the story prepares to fly away with Moon, Andrew Hook grounds the novel with real struggles. Poultry farming, adult entertainment, and a self-conscious narrative voice star in subplots. Even Benny's Norwich faces tragic changes; the Company expands, Louise explores her heartache, and Carl discovers a surprising secret about Moon. Comic fantasy and real satire mingle in this story about individuality, immortality, and meaningful life.(less) "

ENC Press read and liked Sarah's review of Exit Only:

"Situated amidst international airline flights, “Exit Only” delves into the complex idiosyncrasies of the Westerner’s life in Saudi Arabia. Author Liam Bracken exposes not only opposing modes of existence, but also the various ways in which peop...more Situated amidst international airline flights, “Exit Only” delves into the complex idiosyncrasies of the Westerner’s life in Saudi Arabia. Author Liam Bracken exposes not only opposing modes of existence, but also the various ways in which people choose to cope with their misfortunes. While the trajectory of the novel for every character heads for some form of escape, each struggles with the concept of “home.” Ensnared by a sense of intercontinental limbo, their lives are left unguarded, influenced by the whims of a foreign culture, commercial airline politics and the ravenous fight for individual survival.

Bracken writes, “It’s such a fine line between what’s true and what’s politically correct to say about people,” a dilemma clearly caught by the novel’s messy dichotomy between informed and misinformed prejudice. Racism, sex, hatred and brutality run rampant throughout the novel, characteristic of no one society in particular. What seem to guide each character are hopes for redemption, justification and happiness, signifiers of a shared human reality.

However, all these various incongruities amassed appear to breed a culture of insecurity and fear, one that is no longer bound to a single landmass. The distance between the East and West becomes virtually nonexistent as airports, cell phones, technology and money force every nation to live side by side. This makes “Exit Only” an exhilarating read of confusion, contradiction and unbridled emotion.
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ENC Press read and liked Kari Wolfe's review of The Alphabet Challenge:

"This is the first book I have read by Olga Gardner Galvin and, I must say, it will not be the last.

Set in a future not too distant from our own, the United States in The Alphabet Challenge has almost become paralyzed from political correc...more This is the first book I have read by Olga Gardner Galvin and, I must say, it will not be the last.

Set in a future not too distant from our own, the United States in The Alphabet Challenge has almost become paralyzed from political correctness. Everyone considers themselves a victim of something. Everyone is entitled to reparations for their suffering and for equality, meaning if someone else has it, everyone else should have it also.

Earlier this year, my husband and his aunt were discussing legislating equality. She said, “Yes, you can.” Tom came back with, “Then I want Paris Hilton’s lifestyle.”

This is EXACTLY what this book is about. In it, the gridlocked, 4-party government and PeopleCare, the victim groups’ watchdog, are trying to and have mostly accomplished just that – the legislation of morality. I was amused by just how many different kinds of “survivor” organizations that Ms. Galvin could list in her book and, in different spots, I’d have to put the book down and giggle or groan at the organization mentioned.

At the beginning, Ms. Galvin has set her goal of explaining the nature of victimization and what it does for people. By the end, she has very much stated her case and shown the ridiculousness of trying to legislate morality and equality.

The main character is Howell Langston Toland, who has just gotten out of jail for “assault and not recycling glass bottles.” He’s looking for a get-rich-quick scheme so he can move out of his friend’s apartment and take his ex in-laws to Australia. So he concocts an idea: he would start an organization for people whose last names start with the last half of the alphabet (M – Z) because, since the world is set up for things to be in alphabetic order, these people are victims of discrimination.

His idea, while it sounds a bit strange to us, is wildly popular in this futuristic Manhattan and Toland begins to rake in the cash. But instead of taking off with his friends to Australia, he sticks around to see how much he can make. In doing this, he begins to see the “role” he is playing as the leader of this group and becomes frustrated with the entire situation.

It’s not long at all before PeopleCare and the government start trying to take over because Toland begins to tell his followers they are responsible for their own lives, not the government and definitely not PeopleCare.

I enjoyed this book. As I stated, Ms. Galvin does her part to explain both sides of this argument. While reading the book, in many ways, I was reminded of another Russian woman who came to America and saw the potential within it: Ayn Rand. However, thankfully, Ms. Galvin is a touch more succinct than Ms. Rand was – there are no 90 page speeches on Objectivism in this book.

I definitely look forward to more of what Ms. Galvin will produce.(less) "

ENC Press read and liked Anne Miller's review of The Alphabet Challenge:

"The Alphabet Challenge is a humorous and satirical account of society several years from now. The story decribes a society in which political correctness and big brother have run amok and individual freedoms are severely curtailed. "