Oswald and the End of the World

Having a dad who is a ‘bearded, batty fraud, a liar, a cheat and full of nonsense’ lands the long suffering Oswald in all kinds of difficult situations. After being chased off the island of Greater Fury, the pair are to be found treading water while dad, optimistic as always, awaits the appearance of Mother Fortune to rescue them. Meanwhile Oswald is not sure that drowning would not be better than another day with dad. When Elizabeth and her daughter Bella appear in their small boat and take them to the island of Idlegreen, Oswald discovers that his arrival – or at any rate the arrival of someone with the initials ‘O.O.’ – has been foretold and that, mysteriously, he is being counted on by the exploited islanders to change their lot.

A rationalist, Oswald is convinced that there is a scientific explanation for the appearance of the comet that is linked with his arrival, but that does not mean that he is averse to using his reputation as fortune teller to help out his impoverished hosts. Chases, mysteries and a larger than life villainous landowner add to the fun in this funny, fast paced story narrated in the first person by the laconic Oswald. But adventures apart, it is Strong’s easy, humorous style and his perceptive account of Oswald’s mixed feelings (irritation, anger and love) for his eccentric father that will engage the young readers of this entertaining first novel.