This little novel, novelette, novella, or what have you, by John O’Loughlin is based around an autobiographical fantasy and shares with False Pretences (1982), its literary precursor, the stylistic device of first-person narrative, as it shamelessly relates the nocturnal visit of an old acquaintance to the flat of an admirer who had optimistically written to her in the hope of receiving a positive response. What follows is a romantic pact in which Carmel agrees to live with Joe, provided he accepts responsibility for her daughter, Julia. He does, and the trio live happily ever after, or so it would seem. For when Julia comes of age there is a sexual treat in store for her which conforms to the post-atomic integrity of our narrative, and such an integrity owes nothing to conventional or traditional marital customs! In fact, marriage is completely out-of-the-question for these three people, whose raison d'être is to remain free and liberated, come what may! Clashes of interest inevitably occur, but it seems that the women are prepared to accommodate this radical philosopher and live on a sexually equal basis with their man. – A Centretruths Editorial
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