Review – The East Side of the Universe
While I will admit one reason I wrote the East Side of the Universe was to get out of having to come up with a whole new plot for NaNoWriMo in 2022, there were other reasons for it.
One was to address a few issues with Ceilidh, particularly concerning why and how she would be so eager to leave behind Ballyvaughan and everything she knew.
Another was because, in all honesty, I wanted to visit with her and a lot of the gang in The Real Hub of the Universe again!
Background
One of the harder things for beta readers to swallow was the question of why Ceilidh would leave her family so easily. She would not be the first woman to simply accept her lot in life. Also, Ceilidh isn’t someone who goes to salons or is otherwise getting exposure to the more radical ideas of the 1870s, such as women’s suffrage.
So, I hit upon an idea. She would be changed by someone she meets briefly. Just like sometimes you can pour your heart out to someone you sit next to during a long bus ride, she would pour her heart out to someone she would only be in contact with for a few days.
But who would come to backwater Ballyvaughan and only stay a few days, who wasn’t family?
And then… I got an idea.
Plot of the East Side of the Universe
Ceilidh O’Malley’s life is forever altered by two events in her past. One is the death of her beloved father, Ryan. The other is the arrival of a rogue—Michael Hollis.
Hollis isn’t just a rogue, though. He’s also politically aware of what is going on in England and Ireland at the time. This makes him a threat to upset the ‘apple cart’ that is Ballyvaughan.
Characters
The characters are Ceilidh O’Malley; her mother, Mary; her sister Maeve; and various village residents. There’s also the Barnes family, mainly Nora, Jack, Johnny, Father Paul, Christopher, Harriet, and Alfred.
Plus a pivotal character in her life—Michael Hollis.
And, yes, Michael Hollis is a direct reference to The Obolonk universe‘s Charlie Hollis.
Memorable Quotes
“Has it never occurred to you that there might be more than one Michael in the world? Then again, if you’ve only seen the people in this village, then I suppose I can’t fault you for thinking it’s the center of the universe, the hub of everything. But it’s not. It’s not even the east side of the universe. It’s a lot closer to being a lot of nothing.”
“Ballyvaughan is far from being nothin’. An’ I still don’t think ya’re Michael.”
“What’s this other fellow Michael’s full name?”
“Michael Sweeney.”
“Well, then I ain’t him. I would tell you mine, but like I said, there’s an awful lot to explain, Miss…?”
“O’Malley. Ceilidh O’Malley. An’ now ya’d best tell me your whole, true name, an’ show your face, so we can be properly introduced.”
“Promise you won’t say anything to anyone?”
“I can promise ya nothin’ if I don’t know ya, now, can I? So, show yourself so I can make up my mind.”
“You’re a hardheaded woman, Miss Ceilidh O’Malley. It is Miss, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ‘tis Miss, if ya truly must know.”
“Ah, you wound me, Miss O’Malley. But my loss of face is something I should have anticipated. After all, turnabout is fair play.”
Rating
The story has a K+/T rating. Johnny’s antics are neither cute, nor are they excusable.
Takeaways for The East Side of the Universe
For Ceilidh to truly grow as a person, she has to change from a rusticated farm girl to a Boston servant to, eventually, a person with a degree of standing in the world. And to be able to accept the science fiction aspects of the Real Hub universe, she has to have an open mind. While there is no science fiction in it whatsoever, I think The East Side of the Universe contains the events that open her mind.