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Bus Stop on a Strange Loop
When brothers Nicky and Ethan escape the degraded, dangerous world of the future, they are seeking only sanctuary and peace. All they want is to leave their past behind them, but Ethan's unique talent, the instrument of their escape, means the past can never be forgotten - Nicky and Ethan have been followed...
Schoolteacher Olivia lives a lonely but safe life in the home of her late foster parents, a home she is about to lose. After an unsettling encounter with her new neighbours and a series of puzzling break-ins, Olivia is inadvertently drawn into the brothers' lives, and her own past is brought into sharp relief by her discovery of a cache of her foster mother's diaries, which raise questions about her birth parents.
The deeper she delves into the diaries, the closer she draws to unravelling an old mystery that will taint her relationship with Nicky and Ethan and challenge her perception of reality. As Olivia and the brothers are about to discover, sometimes paths intersect more than once.
Schoolteacher Olivia lives a lonely but safe life in the home of her late foster parents, a home she is about to lose. After an unsettling encounter with her new neighbours and a series of puzzling break-ins, Olivia is inadvertently drawn into the brothers' lives, and her own past is brought into sharp relief by her discovery of a cache of her foster mother's diaries, which raise questions about her birth parents.
The deeper she delves into the diaries, the closer she draws to unravelling an old mystery that will taint her relationship with Nicky and Ethan and challenge her perception of reality. As Olivia and the brothers are about to discover, sometimes paths intersect more than once.
168 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2011
101 people want to read
About the author
Shaune Lafferty Webb
7 books24 followersShaune’s father was an amateur astronomer and her eldest brother an avid science fiction reader, so perhaps it was inevitable that she developed an early enthusiasm for writing speculative fiction.
After obtaining a degree in geology from the University of Queensland, Shaune subsequently worked in geochemical laboratories, exploration companies, and, while living in the United States, at a multinational scientific institute involved in exploration beneath the ocean floors. A decade after returning to Australia, armed with a life-long addiction to SciFi and a broad scope of real-world research and editing experience, Shaune returned to her original passion, the writing of speculative fiction. Her short stories have appeared in AntipodeanSF, The Nautilus Engine, and Blue Crow Magazine.
‘Bus Stop on a Strange Loop’, Shaune’s first novel, was published by Winterbourne Publishing in July 2011 followed by 'Balanced in an Angel's Eye' in 2012.
Her third novel, 'Cold Faith', the first in The Safe Harbour Chronicle series, was released by Hague Publishing in May 2015 and 'Faithless', the second in the trilogy, in April 2017. 'The Unforgotten', the final instalment in The Safe Harbour Chronicle is scheduled for publication in 2019.
In 2018, 'Once a Dog', a furry fiction novel, was published by Jaffa Books; the novel has been nominated for a 2018 Ursa Major Award in the category of Best Novel.
Shaune lives in Brisbane with her research scientist husband, a slightly eccentric border collie and an extremely frenetic terrier.
After obtaining a degree in geology from the University of Queensland, Shaune subsequently worked in geochemical laboratories, exploration companies, and, while living in the United States, at a multinational scientific institute involved in exploration beneath the ocean floors. A decade after returning to Australia, armed with a life-long addiction to SciFi and a broad scope of real-world research and editing experience, Shaune returned to her original passion, the writing of speculative fiction. Her short stories have appeared in AntipodeanSF, The Nautilus Engine, and Blue Crow Magazine.
‘Bus Stop on a Strange Loop’, Shaune’s first novel, was published by Winterbourne Publishing in July 2011 followed by 'Balanced in an Angel's Eye' in 2012.
Her third novel, 'Cold Faith', the first in The Safe Harbour Chronicle series, was released by Hague Publishing in May 2015 and 'Faithless', the second in the trilogy, in April 2017. 'The Unforgotten', the final instalment in The Safe Harbour Chronicle is scheduled for publication in 2019.
In 2018, 'Once a Dog', a furry fiction novel, was published by Jaffa Books; the novel has been nominated for a 2018 Ursa Major Award in the category of Best Novel.
Shaune lives in Brisbane with her research scientist husband, a slightly eccentric border collie and an extremely frenetic terrier.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 4, 2012
I think the word that best describes Shaune Lafferty Webb's Bus Stop on a Strange Loop is probably intense. It's not necessarily intense as in non-stop action, but the mood is intense. As you're reading, you always have the feeling that something huge is going to happen in the next sentence.
The story revolves around a woman named Olivia. When her neighbor's brother Nicky arrives, a series of events transpire where seemingly unrelated events may not be as unrelated as believed. As Olivia starts to unravel the clues, it appears that time travel is actually possible and it's no longer easy to see what is free will and what has already been determined.
While I love science fiction books, I tend to avoid ones involving time travel due to the conflicts and issues that arise from it and are normally impossible to satisfy. This book, however, is very different. Webb uses the normal issues that arise from time travel in order to build a sense of mistery. By the end of the book, Webb is able to satisfactorily tie all the important ends together. Any ends left flapping seem to be done on purpose in order to let the reader draw his or her own conclusions.
I'm also amazed at the level of depth that Webb is able to achieve in the relatively short (163 pages) length of this book. She's able to do this mostly through the use of a very small cast. There are only three main characters with Olivia, Nicky, and his brother Ethan. Then there are only 3 or 4 other characters in the entire book. It enables you to become very involved with each character.
I will warn that it is very difficult to figure out what is going on for the first 3 or 4 chapters of the book. Webb doesn't waste any time with an introduction, and she jumps directly into the story. For the first 40 pages or so, I had very little idea where or (because I had read the back and new time travel was involved) when the characters were.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I've given it 4 stars, but for me, it's borderline 5 stars. As time goes by, I find myself continuing to think about the plot and characters which is usually a good sign that it was a great book. I still do the same thing with other scifi books like I am Legend and Ender's Game. I highly recommend this book. I have had pretty good luck with the First Reads that I've won, and this one was no exception.
I received this book in a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.
The story revolves around a woman named Olivia. When her neighbor's brother Nicky arrives, a series of events transpire where seemingly unrelated events may not be as unrelated as believed. As Olivia starts to unravel the clues, it appears that time travel is actually possible and it's no longer easy to see what is free will and what has already been determined.
While I love science fiction books, I tend to avoid ones involving time travel due to the conflicts and issues that arise from it and are normally impossible to satisfy. This book, however, is very different. Webb uses the normal issues that arise from time travel in order to build a sense of mistery. By the end of the book, Webb is able to satisfactorily tie all the important ends together. Any ends left flapping seem to be done on purpose in order to let the reader draw his or her own conclusions.
I'm also amazed at the level of depth that Webb is able to achieve in the relatively short (163 pages) length of this book. She's able to do this mostly through the use of a very small cast. There are only three main characters with Olivia, Nicky, and his brother Ethan. Then there are only 3 or 4 other characters in the entire book. It enables you to become very involved with each character.
I will warn that it is very difficult to figure out what is going on for the first 3 or 4 chapters of the book. Webb doesn't waste any time with an introduction, and she jumps directly into the story. For the first 40 pages or so, I had very little idea where or (because I had read the back and new time travel was involved) when the characters were.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I've given it 4 stars, but for me, it's borderline 5 stars. As time goes by, I find myself continuing to think about the plot and characters which is usually a good sign that it was a great book. I still do the same thing with other scifi books like I am Legend and Ender's Game. I highly recommend this book. I have had pretty good luck with the First Reads that I've won, and this one was no exception.
I received this book in a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.
September 24, 2011
Bus Stop on a Strange Loop by Shaune Lafferty Webb is an Australian speculative fiction offering from Perth based publisher Winterbourne Publishing.
The Story
Two brothers Nicky and Ethan escape a collapsing dystopian future Australia, through the use Ethan’s “Bus”, a time machine of sorts. Intending to hide out safely in the past. Unknown to them they are followed. Are their actions a catalyst or a result? Such are the questions raised by time travelling paradox’s.
There they come across Olivia, a school teacher and orphan who seems strangely familiar. It becomes apparent to the three of them that their lives have, or will, or is it have, intersected before?
A workout for your brain.
At only 163 pages you could be forgiven for thinking that Bus Stop on a Strange Loop would be a quick easy read, devoured in an afternoon. You would be mistaken. What we have is an evocative, intense and dense book, whose prose demands constant attention. This is no 45 minute jaunt in a blue box, but a book that demands that the reader work to unpack the story, the connections and implications.
It’s a well sequenced novel and I found myself going back after having read it through the once to tease out the full significance of early scenes.
Recommendations
I found it demanding, which is not a mark against it. Those that enjoy their science fiction “harder' will enjoy it despite the time travel trope. It’s also a book that I think you could hang a “literature” tag on.
And finally, on reflection the tale would also work extremely well as an a low budget Australian indie film project.
This book was provided to me free of charge as part of Goodreads First reads initiative.
The Story
Two brothers Nicky and Ethan escape a collapsing dystopian future Australia, through the use Ethan’s “Bus”, a time machine of sorts. Intending to hide out safely in the past. Unknown to them they are followed. Are their actions a catalyst or a result? Such are the questions raised by time travelling paradox’s.
There they come across Olivia, a school teacher and orphan who seems strangely familiar. It becomes apparent to the three of them that their lives have, or will, or is it have, intersected before?
A workout for your brain.
At only 163 pages you could be forgiven for thinking that Bus Stop on a Strange Loop would be a quick easy read, devoured in an afternoon. You would be mistaken. What we have is an evocative, intense and dense book, whose prose demands constant attention. This is no 45 minute jaunt in a blue box, but a book that demands that the reader work to unpack the story, the connections and implications.
It’s a well sequenced novel and I found myself going back after having read it through the once to tease out the full significance of early scenes.
Recommendations
I found it demanding, which is not a mark against it. Those that enjoy their science fiction “harder' will enjoy it despite the time travel trope. It’s also a book that I think you could hang a “literature” tag on.
And finally, on reflection the tale would also work extremely well as an a low budget Australian indie film project.
This book was provided to me free of charge as part of Goodreads First reads initiative.
August 25, 2016
I received 'Bus Stop on a Strange Loop' as a first-read giveaway.
Although science-fiction has never been one of my favorite genres (especially when it comes to TV and movies), I must say I really got to enjoy reading this book once I got past the initial chapters. And even though the base of the plot is science-fiction based, I would more be inclined to categorize the book as magic realism.
It is obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the plot and how to make a coherent storyline out of it and on the whole she has largely succeeded. The problem is that the author has struggled with how to start the book. The first chapters are a hard slog to get through but once you are past those, the book really starts to grow on you and it keeps doing so and finally you end up with a good read.
It certainly is a good debut and if were not for the clumsy start, I probably would have rated it 4 stars, as it is 3 stars are a fair judgement.
Although science-fiction has never been one of my favorite genres (especially when it comes to TV and movies), I must say I really got to enjoy reading this book once I got past the initial chapters. And even though the base of the plot is science-fiction based, I would more be inclined to categorize the book as magic realism.
It is obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the plot and how to make a coherent storyline out of it and on the whole she has largely succeeded. The problem is that the author has struggled with how to start the book. The first chapters are a hard slog to get through but once you are past those, the book really starts to grow on you and it keeps doing so and finally you end up with a good read.
It certainly is a good debut and if were not for the clumsy start, I probably would have rated it 4 stars, as it is 3 stars are a fair judgement.
August 26, 2013
Amazon Review by Danielle de Valera July 20, 2013
I was Shaune's manuscript assessor for this book and read it in the early stages. It's great to see it finally up here and out in the world. Ms Lafferty Webb is a master of mood. She does mysteriousness like no other writer I've ever come across. Somehow, and I still don't know how, she takes the usual theme of time travel and adds another dimension to it. If you're looking for something a little softer than your average sci fi, more complex in terms of mood and yes, a little sadder, this could well be the book for you.
I was Shaune's manuscript assessor for this book and read it in the early stages. It's great to see it finally up here and out in the world. Ms Lafferty Webb is a master of mood. She does mysteriousness like no other writer I've ever come across. Somehow, and I still don't know how, she takes the usual theme of time travel and adds another dimension to it. If you're looking for something a little softer than your average sci fi, more complex in terms of mood and yes, a little sadder, this could well be the book for you.
May 8, 2012
I'd like to give 4.5 stars but, oh well. A lot of fun to read. It takes a while to connect with the characters but once you're about half way through you just have to read it all at once. Quite addicting at the end. You have to realize that there are two different time zones being written about but it becomes pretty obvious... enjoy
September 7, 2011
Really enjoyable, fast read. If you enjoy time travel stories, this is a good choice.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews