The Palace of Fears

C. Stephen Gray is Toronto-based communications consultant.

Travel writer Paul William Roberts’s first novel is an ambitious book
that aims high but ultimately misses its mark.

The novel chronicles Barrett Ceiddan’s life, from early childhood to
the onset of middle age. Initially, the reader is disposed to be
sympathetic toward this character, whose natural father left home when
Barrett was just two weeks old and whose mother finds romance (and
eventual remarriage) with the contemptible Fred Millston. Barrett’s
early misfortunes continue with the unexpected arrival of his
dipsomaniacal great-aunt Kate and her parrot, who become permanent
houseguests and commandeer the unfortunate Barrett’s bedroom.

Having experimented briefly with juvenile crime, Barrett discovers the
mysterious pleasures and pains of sex—at first in the arms of Diane
Flounder, his childhood friend and neighbor, and later with a large cast
of characters, beginning with Gawain, his homosexual cousin, and ending
with anyone who is willing to give him a second glance. As Barrett
evolves into an increasingly self-absorbed and unsympathetic character,
The Palace of Fears relinquishes the considerable literary promise with
which it began.