Craig Lancaster | 600 Hours of Edward

Published: January 13, 2010

In Craig Lancaster’s first novel, his central character, Edward Stanton, is a near middle-aged man with Asperger’s syndrome. The obsessive-compulsive nature of his illness causes Edward to live a near solitary life, but not an unhappy one.  

Comfort is in routine, like recording his daily waking time and weather data, shopping for the same foods at the same grocery store, and watching an episode of Dragnet at precisely 10 p.m. every evening (he prefers “just the facts”).

To get things off his chest, Edward thoughtfully crafts a daily “letter of complaint” to someone, and then meticulously files it away instead of mailing it. This action is recommended by his therapist, as a way for him to vent his frustrations with a disorderly world (and shield people from his straight-forward honesty).

Edward is in control of his orderly life until one chaotic October, when over a period of 25 days (600 hours) people and events bring changes to his daily routine that will forever alter his life.

This endearing hero deserves the fine ending the author has bestowed on him. The final pages leave the reader wanting to know what happens next for Edward, in his newly acquired red Cadillac.

Craig Lancaster is a longtime journalist, who edits and reports for newspapers in several states. He currently resides in Billings. His debut novel was published by Riverbend Publishing of Helena.

– Judy Shafter