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Stone Bleeding
Britain has broken. Anarchy and mayhem have finally become a way of life. The system has shut down and politics has imploded. Even being famous doesn't mean as much as it once did; nowadays it's friend vs. friend, celebrity vs. celebrity and reality vs. fiction. But even in hell, there are love stories left to tell... Meet Zach, Albie and Archie, three nobodies with something to say; the private detective on a case that threatens his own sanity, TV's former golden girl who just wants out, and the voice of the people, now the country's most wanted man. A trio of interconnected lives and loves recounted in reverse and wrapped around the dark mystery of a country at war with itself. Through their reflections, confessions and memories, a chillingly twisted portrait of a world, not too dissimilar to our own, is slowly revealed. Blending satire with unsettling drama and with a wicked streak of humour, Stone Bleeding is a story of worth amongst the worthless, hope amongst the hopeless and love amongst the loveless.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
232 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2012
About the author
Russell Mardell
10 books43 followersRussell Mardell is a novelist, playwright, and producer based in the South West of England.
He is the author of the novels, Stone Bleeding, Bleeker Hill, Darkshines Seven and Cold Calling, and the short story collection, Silent Bombs Falling on Green Grass.
Having studied film production in London he has also worked on various short films and is an associate producer on the award-winning documentary, Rise: The Story of Augustines.
Russell is also one of the founders of The Salisbury Literary Festival
He is the author of the novels, Stone Bleeding, Bleeker Hill, Darkshines Seven and Cold Calling, and the short story collection, Silent Bombs Falling on Green Grass.
Having studied film production in London he has also worked on various short films and is an associate producer on the award-winning documentary, Rise: The Story of Augustines.
Russell is also one of the founders of The Salisbury Literary Festival
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 13, 2012
Welcome to Britain in anarchy, in a not too far distant alternative future, Britain has gone to the dogs, too much self greed and worship of the celebrity over substance has led to a breakdown in civilised society. Stone Bleeding is a wonderfully stylised view through the eyes of three interlocking characters. Zach, a Private Detective trying to make something of himself in a broken land; he takes up a case on behalf of Mr Pigeon whose wife has been allegedly seeing a plumber by the name of Butcher. The case takes an ugly turn and brings Zach into a meeting with the mysterious Edgerton, a man with connections and a letter which he says is the answer to everything.
Albie, the second character, a "washed-up" TV celebrity, trying to make a career from her past, is an ex lover of Zach and also an advisor to Archie. Albie is fleeing a London in chaos and riot by evacuation on a special train and is flung into disaster and ends up sheltering in a flat in a tower block with vigilante residents holding off a crowd of rioters.
Lastly, we meet Archie, Archibald Butcher, unlikely Prime Minister and architect of the disaster unfolding. Archie flees his hotel aided by his psychic advisor, Edgerton and heads for his old home and dreams of getting back into contact with his love, Albie and his mate, Zach. Archie is gripped by paranoia and guilt.
This is talented playwright and author, Russell Mardell's first full length novel and I absolutely loved it. Fresh, cynical and poetic and is a damning portrayal of the way 21st century, media obsessed life has become. Brilliant and highly recommended!
Albie, the second character, a "washed-up" TV celebrity, trying to make a career from her past, is an ex lover of Zach and also an advisor to Archie. Albie is fleeing a London in chaos and riot by evacuation on a special train and is flung into disaster and ends up sheltering in a flat in a tower block with vigilante residents holding off a crowd of rioters.
Lastly, we meet Archie, Archibald Butcher, unlikely Prime Minister and architect of the disaster unfolding. Archie flees his hotel aided by his psychic advisor, Edgerton and heads for his old home and dreams of getting back into contact with his love, Albie and his mate, Zach. Archie is gripped by paranoia and guilt.
This is talented playwright and author, Russell Mardell's first full length novel and I absolutely loved it. Fresh, cynical and poetic and is a damning portrayal of the way 21st century, media obsessed life has become. Brilliant and highly recommended!
March 9, 2012
I was really looking forward to the second book having enjoyed muchly the first Silent Bombs Falling on Green Grass. I was not disappointed. This book is darkly sarcastic, laugh out loud funny and very thought provoking.
So the country has buggered itself up and you meet three people who are interconnected with it all and each other. You follow their story through the anarchy and havoc which paints such a realistic picture of what the world could be and what love can do.
I liked the POV of the characters how they are personally telling you the story like you're there in that time, like your reading a diary. I also liked how you realise this is the country falling in around itself but you don't realise how bad it is until you read through the book, it gives you small glimpses and situations that reveals how dire it all is. I like that each POV was a verse and how that linked in with the characters. There are so many things with this book I can't list them all down, and all those little things I like make this book one of my favourites.
I'm not ashamed to say my soppy self cried at one point in this book. Its a powerful thing, I think, realising that death is better then living because of what has become of the world. I was there I could see it from their reasoning and perhaps the choice made was the better one.
I have to say as I did with the last you have to read this peoples even if it’s not your type of book because this isn't my type of book I’m a fantasy reader. You will be surprised at how well written and different this book is from anything you have ever read before.
Oh and one last thing.....A Lampshade?!
So the country has buggered itself up and you meet three people who are interconnected with it all and each other. You follow their story through the anarchy and havoc which paints such a realistic picture of what the world could be and what love can do.
I liked the POV of the characters how they are personally telling you the story like you're there in that time, like your reading a diary. I also liked how you realise this is the country falling in around itself but you don't realise how bad it is until you read through the book, it gives you small glimpses and situations that reveals how dire it all is. I like that each POV was a verse and how that linked in with the characters. There are so many things with this book I can't list them all down, and all those little things I like make this book one of my favourites.
I'm not ashamed to say my soppy self cried at one point in this book. Its a powerful thing, I think, realising that death is better then living because of what has become of the world. I was there I could see it from their reasoning and perhaps the choice made was the better one.
I have to say as I did with the last you have to read this peoples even if it’s not your type of book because this isn't my type of book I’m a fantasy reader. You will be surprised at how well written and different this book is from anything you have ever read before.
Oh and one last thing.....A Lampshade?!
November 6, 2012
With his first novel, Stone Bleeding, Russell Mardell continues the trend started by his short story collection, Silent Bombs Falling on Green Grass, by creating something that defies genre. It begins as a classic detective novel and quickly takes a turn down a dark road into a near apocalyptic work caused not by zombies or nuclear war, but by reality television.
The story takes place in three interconnecting “verses,” each told by a different character who was directly involved with the country’s collapse. First we meet Zach, an actor turned private detective working one last case as the world crumbles around him, and through him we experience the remnants of times not so far past transposed into a new reality— including children playing mere feet from a corpse. Next comes Albie, game show starlet on her way out of town when she finds a boy who changes everything. And finally, Archie who, once the voice of the people, is being hunted by more than just the ghosts of his mistakes. Theirs is a future that could happen, though not to us, we wouldn't let it, or would we?
This story appealed to me as a student of both literature and mass media. It examines a part of our everyday lives that we don't really want to question: the changing role of mass media. Mardell makes some astute observations about the ways in which media impact our lives. In recent years, we have transitioned from consensus narrative, where there was one shared reality and one shared set of values, to one of individual realities and the freedom to choose our own values. We're seeing a convergence of all of the traditional forms of mass media-newspapers, magazines, music, photography, film, books-all digitized and available online. While celebrities still dictate our taste and our interests, they are not so carefully screened through the studio system; more often, today’s celebrities are individuals who post blogs or upload videos to YouTube their popularity is decided by their audience and not by executives schooled in the ways of entertainment as a business. At the same time, more people are getting their news from comedy shows like Jon Stewart; we are increasingly more likely to text our votes for the reality competition show of the moment than we are to make our way to the polls on Election Day. How far are we from a time when we'll be texting in those votes as well? The fact that these changes have happening so quickly, and with little opposition, places us in a position where the wrong choices are made at the wrong times could spell disaster.
While reading, I often felt as though these were transcriptions of audio recordings, found among the wreckage of some past or future event and left to warn us before it was too late. Mardell confronts this reality in a way that is equal parts funny and terrifying, but always genuine. Mardell's England is claustrophobic as our narrators search for a way out of a country that is crumbling faster than the walls of the houses they once lived in. I found myself wondering how much different an event like 9/11 would have been felt if our country only reached as far west as Pennsylvania and was walled off from Canada.
Stone Bleeding is infinitely quotable as many of the characters’ musings relate as well to our reality as they do to theirs. They are simply things most of us wouldn't say because we haven’t been placed in that position. Russell looks into his characters’ souls and coerces their innermost secrets. The thing that is compelling is not how different their feelings are from our own, but how much they are the same.
To be completely honest, my first reaction upon reaching the end of Stone Bleeding was to throw the Kindle I had been reading it on several feet to the other end of the bed and glare at it for several minutes. I was angry that it hadn't handed me the answer to every question I'd had along the way. I wanted to post a single paragraph stating this was a terrible book and no one should ever read it, but I couldn't bring myself to do that. Taking a step back, as well as the time to consider not only the destination but the journey itself; I found the answers that I wanted and realized that was likely the point all along.
If you're looking to have answers to handed to you and all the loose ends tied up tight enough to fit into the box you'd made to put them in, this book is not for you. This is a book for people who want to feel a connection to a book through drawing their own conclusions and making the tale their own in the spaces between. For those individuals, I wholeheartedly recommend Stone Bleeding.
The story takes place in three interconnecting “verses,” each told by a different character who was directly involved with the country’s collapse. First we meet Zach, an actor turned private detective working one last case as the world crumbles around him, and through him we experience the remnants of times not so far past transposed into a new reality— including children playing mere feet from a corpse. Next comes Albie, game show starlet on her way out of town when she finds a boy who changes everything. And finally, Archie who, once the voice of the people, is being hunted by more than just the ghosts of his mistakes. Theirs is a future that could happen, though not to us, we wouldn't let it, or would we?
This story appealed to me as a student of both literature and mass media. It examines a part of our everyday lives that we don't really want to question: the changing role of mass media. Mardell makes some astute observations about the ways in which media impact our lives. In recent years, we have transitioned from consensus narrative, where there was one shared reality and one shared set of values, to one of individual realities and the freedom to choose our own values. We're seeing a convergence of all of the traditional forms of mass media-newspapers, magazines, music, photography, film, books-all digitized and available online. While celebrities still dictate our taste and our interests, they are not so carefully screened through the studio system; more often, today’s celebrities are individuals who post blogs or upload videos to YouTube their popularity is decided by their audience and not by executives schooled in the ways of entertainment as a business. At the same time, more people are getting their news from comedy shows like Jon Stewart; we are increasingly more likely to text our votes for the reality competition show of the moment than we are to make our way to the polls on Election Day. How far are we from a time when we'll be texting in those votes as well? The fact that these changes have happening so quickly, and with little opposition, places us in a position where the wrong choices are made at the wrong times could spell disaster.
While reading, I often felt as though these were transcriptions of audio recordings, found among the wreckage of some past or future event and left to warn us before it was too late. Mardell confronts this reality in a way that is equal parts funny and terrifying, but always genuine. Mardell's England is claustrophobic as our narrators search for a way out of a country that is crumbling faster than the walls of the houses they once lived in. I found myself wondering how much different an event like 9/11 would have been felt if our country only reached as far west as Pennsylvania and was walled off from Canada.
Stone Bleeding is infinitely quotable as many of the characters’ musings relate as well to our reality as they do to theirs. They are simply things most of us wouldn't say because we haven’t been placed in that position. Russell looks into his characters’ souls and coerces their innermost secrets. The thing that is compelling is not how different their feelings are from our own, but how much they are the same.
To be completely honest, my first reaction upon reaching the end of Stone Bleeding was to throw the Kindle I had been reading it on several feet to the other end of the bed and glare at it for several minutes. I was angry that it hadn't handed me the answer to every question I'd had along the way. I wanted to post a single paragraph stating this was a terrible book and no one should ever read it, but I couldn't bring myself to do that. Taking a step back, as well as the time to consider not only the destination but the journey itself; I found the answers that I wanted and realized that was likely the point all along.
If you're looking to have answers to handed to you and all the loose ends tied up tight enough to fit into the box you'd made to put them in, this book is not for you. This is a book for people who want to feel a connection to a book through drawing their own conclusions and making the tale their own in the spaces between. For those individuals, I wholeheartedly recommend Stone Bleeding.
March 2, 2012
Stone Bleeding is a look at ‘broken Britain’ and tells a tale of how our reality TV and celebrity obsessed culture is one step away from this brutally painted picture of life.
Anyone with a passing interest or basic study of politics will recognise Hobbes’ ‘state of nature’ in the early pages of this book, the effect that a lack of social contracts bring and the return of man’s base instinct; leading to a life that:
“In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; [….] no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”
Mardell litters his book with references to Hobbe’s theory of the state of nature and does a good job of showing us what this might look like in Britain today.
That said, that I’m afraid that I don’t quite share Mardell’s vision that things would disintegrate quite so quickly, buy who knows? It’s certainly an important tale of morality.
The book is told in three ‘verses’, Zach, Albie and Archie. Each character had a role to play in the breakdown of the country, and each story is interlinked. I’d have liked to have seen a more individual voice for each of the three characters; for me they didn’t feel sufficiently different. However, they were each interesting, and Albie was, for me, the more profound of the three voices; the quotes from her father were the most interesting, and I’m sure can be linked back to various political philosophers.
For a county obsessed by celebrity, this is an important story. We’re currently in the midst of the Leveson Enquiry into media ethics, and this book clearly shows the role that the media have; they can make or break a Government. Archie himself notes that he is just a puppet, and that ‘they wash each others’ backs and be adults about it’.
The end of the book is interesting, and thought provoking. About a quarter of the way through Archie’s verse I began to think that Archie and Zach were one and the same person; but who knows. I’m still not sure. I can see, in my mind, the arguments for them being the same person (and there is references made about Zach’s personalities) but who knows. Not me. And that, I think, is the mark of a great book; it makes the reader continue to think long after the final page has been turned.
Anyone with a passing interest or basic study of politics will recognise Hobbes’ ‘state of nature’ in the early pages of this book, the effect that a lack of social contracts bring and the return of man’s base instinct; leading to a life that:
“In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; [….] no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”
Mardell litters his book with references to Hobbe’s theory of the state of nature and does a good job of showing us what this might look like in Britain today.
That said, that I’m afraid that I don’t quite share Mardell’s vision that things would disintegrate quite so quickly, buy who knows? It’s certainly an important tale of morality.
The book is told in three ‘verses’, Zach, Albie and Archie. Each character had a role to play in the breakdown of the country, and each story is interlinked. I’d have liked to have seen a more individual voice for each of the three characters; for me they didn’t feel sufficiently different. However, they were each interesting, and Albie was, for me, the more profound of the three voices; the quotes from her father were the most interesting, and I’m sure can be linked back to various political philosophers.
For a county obsessed by celebrity, this is an important story. We’re currently in the midst of the Leveson Enquiry into media ethics, and this book clearly shows the role that the media have; they can make or break a Government. Archie himself notes that he is just a puppet, and that ‘they wash each others’ backs and be adults about it’.
The end of the book is interesting, and thought provoking. About a quarter of the way through Archie’s verse I began to think that Archie and Zach were one and the same person; but who knows. I’m still not sure. I can see, in my mind, the arguments for them being the same person (and there is references made about Zach’s personalities) but who knows. Not me. And that, I think, is the mark of a great book; it makes the reader continue to think long after the final page has been turned.
July 2, 2012
While I had never before had the pleasure of reading a book by Russell Mardell, this was a book that i could not put down. i have read this book through from cover to cover and enjoyed it more with each read.
September 9, 2012
This is one of the those books where you reach the end of the story and you go "What the hell? Did that really happened?"... well who knows because I'm still trying to figure it out for myself.
Anarchy has taken over Britain and this story's been told through three different perspectives interlinked with one another. Zach, Albie, and Archie all had a role in bringing down the country in a matter of hours and are now facing the consequences of their mistakes. In a world where there are no rules and everyone must fend for themselves, the author paints a picture of the violence, hostility, and chaos the world could result in the future if the government is ever overthrown.
(Spoilers)
What I enjoyed most about this book was reading each story and listening to what Zach, Albie, and Archie had to say. Each character was interesting in their on way and the narrative aspect brought each character alive. You could almost feel as if you were right next to them listening. However, I don't know what to think of the story. I like the fact that it makes you think but what version is right? Is there a right version at all? There were instances where I thought Zach and Archie were the same person because both witnessed similar events. I thought about the beginning, how Zach mentioned that when he took his pills he talked less to himself... so maybe Zach was mentally ill and Archie was just a voice in his head. Maybe Albie didn't exist at all either. I guess that's the beauty of it... but what I can't get out of my head is that damn envelope... WHAT DID IT SAY?
Anarchy has taken over Britain and this story's been told through three different perspectives interlinked with one another. Zach, Albie, and Archie all had a role in bringing down the country in a matter of hours and are now facing the consequences of their mistakes. In a world where there are no rules and everyone must fend for themselves, the author paints a picture of the violence, hostility, and chaos the world could result in the future if the government is ever overthrown.
(Spoilers)
What I enjoyed most about this book was reading each story and listening to what Zach, Albie, and Archie had to say. Each character was interesting in their on way and the narrative aspect brought each character alive. You could almost feel as if you were right next to them listening. However, I don't know what to think of the story. I like the fact that it makes you think but what version is right? Is there a right version at all? There were instances where I thought Zach and Archie were the same person because both witnessed similar events. I thought about the beginning, how Zach mentioned that when he took his pills he talked less to himself... so maybe Zach was mentally ill and Archie was just a voice in his head. Maybe Albie didn't exist at all either. I guess that's the beauty of it... but what I can't get out of my head is that damn envelope... WHAT DID IT SAY?
April 8, 2012
I won Stone Bleeding by Russell Mardell through the Goodreads Giveaway.
Stone Bleeding is a look at ‘broken Britain’ and tells a tale of how our reality TV and celebrity obsessed culture is one step away from this brutally painted picture of life.This novel is a blend of satire, drama and humour.
Mardell's vision that things would disintegrate quite so quickly, is mind blowing,the state of what this might look like in Britain today.This world is not too dissimilar to our own.
The book is told in three ‘verses’, Zach, Albie and Archie. Each character had a role to play in the breakdown of the country, and each story is interlinked. I’d have liked to have seen a more individual voice for each of the three characters; for me they didn’t feel sufficiently different. But, they were each interesting.
For a county obsessed by celebrity, this is an important story. This book clearly shows the role that the media have; they can make or break a Government.
The end of the book is interesting, and thought provoking. And that, I think, is the mark of a great book; it makes the reader continue to think long after the final page has been turned.
Thank you Russell for allowing me to experience this drama.
Stone Bleeding is a look at ‘broken Britain’ and tells a tale of how our reality TV and celebrity obsessed culture is one step away from this brutally painted picture of life.This novel is a blend of satire, drama and humour.
Mardell's vision that things would disintegrate quite so quickly, is mind blowing,the state of what this might look like in Britain today.This world is not too dissimilar to our own.
The book is told in three ‘verses’, Zach, Albie and Archie. Each character had a role to play in the breakdown of the country, and each story is interlinked. I’d have liked to have seen a more individual voice for each of the three characters; for me they didn’t feel sufficiently different. But, they were each interesting.
For a county obsessed by celebrity, this is an important story. This book clearly shows the role that the media have; they can make or break a Government.
The end of the book is interesting, and thought provoking. And that, I think, is the mark of a great book; it makes the reader continue to think long after the final page has been turned.
Thank you Russell for allowing me to experience this drama.
January 31, 2017
I won Stone Bleeding by Russell Mardell through the Goodreads Giveaway.
Very sarcastic and thought-provoking book! I had some trouble getting into the book at first (why is unbeknownst to me), but once I did I greatly enjoyed the read. The story is told by three characters. However, sometimes the voices didn't feel distinct enough.
Very sarcastic and thought-provoking book! I had some trouble getting into the book at first (why is unbeknownst to me), but once I did I greatly enjoyed the read. The story is told by three characters. However, sometimes the voices didn't feel distinct enough.
October 20, 2014
Very dark read, I liked the writing if not the story so much, maybe too plausible in these days
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews