Century

The fourth title in Biblioasis’s Renditions Series, Century begins with the nightmare visions of a young woman named Jane Seymour, catching the reader up in a chronicle of the Seymour family that moves from Austria, America and Africa, through Edinburgh and Venice, and then back through the Paris of the Belle Epoque and forward to 1923 Germany. Terrifying, powerful, slashing and satiric, yet at the same time musical and wonder-filled, Century remains the most important work of Ray Smith’s oeuvre, and one of the most impressive, and far-reaching novels ever published in Canada.

Fight For Your Long Day

Fight For Your Long Day is a day-in-the-life tragicomedy that follows the eventful unraveling of Cyrus Duffleman, a portly, down-and-out educator who teaches classes at four urban universities and works the night shift, all so he could barely stay afloat in an increasingly “efficient” service economy.

This dark satire, set in the modern, super-information age of “terror squared,” embodies the American-made irony of being an overworked, overwrought and marginalized citizen in a once-wealthy and industrious country.

Watermark plot points twist and turn as students protest, get laid, practice murder, and commit suicide, while “Duff,” the novel’s lovable loser, trudges along from pillar to post with his overstuffed book bag and perversely cynical thoughts.

The Lady Soldier

1812. Spain. Jem Riseley, brave, skilled and daring, the perfect soldier in Wellington’s Army except she is a gently-born lady. A battlefield promotion provides an escape from a sadistic Major, but first Jem must convince jaded Captain Tony Dorrell, who knew her as a lady, that she’s the man she seems. From the dangers of war-torn Spain to scandal in London’s elegant drawing rooms, Jem will fight to preserve her secret. However, the reappearance of an old adversary forces Jem to confront her past to save her and England’s future.

Cover image from Wikimedia Commons