Was Moses really such a great liberator? How did a thug as thick as Samson get to be a hero? Wasn't the miracle at Bethesda about as merciful as pulling wings off flies? The fifteen stories in The Lateral Truth follow selected biblical themes through to their illogical conclusions, building on questions the author was never brave enough to ask in Sunday school.
Satire (and the abilty to do it), particularly of religious texts, is a crucial dimension of a free society. Rebecca Bradley carries out this important task with relish and no shortage of literary skill.
"With skill, wit, and a keen nose for a good story, Rebecca Bradley reminds us that sacred cows must never be milked too seriously." - Ronald Wright, author of A Short History of Progress.
"Rebecca Bradley is a fabulous writer, The Lateral Truth is a witty and clever skewering of Bible stories. Funny and fresh - a much-needed antidote to rampant fundamentalism. Enjoy!" - Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Rollback.
"Bradley combines her creative eye for quality fiction with her skeptical nous to bring off a satirical delight. Serious ideas should not always be treated seriously. Indeed, they often remain serious only because they inoculate themselves from such forms of criticism. Not so here. Bradley is a veritable thorn in the side of biblical austerity. And I love it." Jonathan MS Pearce, author of The Little Book of Unholy Questions.