It's 1966 in a small village in the English countryside. Alan Fraser is a science fiction writer who has lived here all his life and is recovering from an accident under the care of a housekeeper and his chummy next door neighbor, along with frequent visits from the town doctor. Every day has a strict routine that is barely hidden behind casual "coincidences" surrounding the movement of the very small population of townspeople. And then things start to crack. Alan answers the phone and a strange man says a very familiar name to him, but he doesn't know where he heard the name before. He hears the doctor arrive like he does every day, but when he peeks out the window, the car is facing in the wrong direction. And then he goes for a very long walk in the countryside and runs into a young woman named Karen who he has never seen before. And she notices some very odd things about his village that just don't add up. She is drawn to him and wants to help, and not just because he gives her a real tobacco cigarette -- the kind you can't get anymore in 2016 (!!). This is a very fun science fiction novel with a heavy dose of spycraft, and just when you think you've figured out what is behind everything, the ground shifts a bit with a new twist. Bought this one for the cover and it ended up being an extremely fun read! ( )

A good and thoughtful book. I was a little disappointed in the ending. ( )

While the action seemingly begins on Monday the 13th of June, 1966, the actual year is half a century later, in 2016.
To mark this milestone, a very basic sketchmap of the artificial hamlet of Bewdey has been uploaded at both the Cartographer's Guild website and to Photobucket.

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Notes on the Setting and Characters of “The Artificial Man” by L. P. Davies (1965)

Time Setting:
The book purportedly begins on Monday 13th June, 1966, but the actual year is 2016 (ie 50 years later), so the protagonist, Alan Fraser, is faced with all the confusion of a time-split. Every detail of the 1966 background is planned to be authentic to the mid-60s period – p 120.

Place Setting:
The backwater valley hamlet of Bewdey (actually Beecher's End p 55) – pp 17, 54. The lane on which Bewdey was located allegedly linked up with the main road, which led to Cradhill, a market town supposed to be about 10 miles away. (Spoiler: In fact, there is no longer any road into the valley from outside, so a nightly helicopter flight brings in needed supplies for Project Newlife – p 119.)
The mouldering buildings of the seemingly abandoned Old Oak Farm, through locked gates at the end of the lane.

Charade Characters:
Alan Fraser, 36 years, who believed that he had lived in Bewdey all his life. Alan, who had 2 surgical scars on his forehead (p 11), was supposedly a writer.
Annoyed at being escorted everywhere (p 36) or kept under close watch, Alan escaped out the back of his section (ie lot) – p40.

Mrs. Low, Alan's housekeeper, who was also supposed to have been his childhood nurse.

Lee Craig, and his alleged wife, Sybil, Alan's next-door-neighbours. The 40-ish Lee was purportedly a freelance commercial artist.

Peter Clamp, who ran the small post-office and telephone exchange.

George Tarvin, who ran the Bewdey General Stores.

Constable Albert Cowen, who lived alone in the Bewdey police cottage.

Major Holt – 'the Major' – who lived alone at The Cot.

Anthony 'Tony' Verity, an artist, who lived alone at Rose Cottage.

Fred Tolley, who made daily deliveries to Tarvin's General Stores in the van of the Cradhill wholesale grocers, Liffy & Brand. At one point this van vanishes – p 19.

Doctor Crowther, who has charge of Alan's case and regularly visits him.

Karen Summer, 24 years, who unexpectedly walks in by an unsuspected footpath.

Eric Kitch, supposedly Alan's Literary Agent, who was said to live in Cradhill – p 58.

(Page references are to the Crime Club edition published by Doubleday in 1967.)

Also see Philip Challinor's brief review of this book at his Curmudgeon website:
http://thecurmudgeonly.blogspot.co.nz/2008/03/l-p-davies.html ( )