Ancient Lights

by Davis Grubb

A modern epic novel about the search for truth in a world gone mad. The founders of an international electronic conspiracy are positioning themselves to take over the world. And there's only one man who can stop them--a country bumpkin from West Virginia named Sweeley Leech.

Genres: Horror, Novels, Fiction

544 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 1982

About the author

From Wikipedia

Born in Moundsville, West Virginia, Grubb wanted to combine his creative skills as a painter with writing and as such attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. However, his color blindness was a handicap he could not overcome and he gave up on painting to dedicate himself to writing fiction. He did, however, make a number of drawings and sketches during the course of his career, some of which were incorporated into his writings.

In 1940, Grubb moved to New York City where he worked at NBC radio as a writer while using his free time to write short stories. In the mid 1940s he was successful in selling several short stories to major magazines and in the early 1950s he started writing a full length novel. Influenced by accounts of economic hardship by depression-era Americans that his mother had seen first hand as a social worker, Grubb produced a dark tale that mixed the plight of poor children and adults with that of the evil inflicted by others.

The Night of the Hunter became an instant bestseller and was voted a finalist for the 1955 National Book Award. That same year, the book was made into a motion picture that is now regarded as a classic. Deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Grubb went on to write a further nine novels and several collections of short stories. His 1969 novel Fools' Parade would also be made into a motion picture starring James Stewart. Some of Grubb's short stories were adapted for television by Alfred Hitchcock and by Rod Serling for his Night Gallery series.

Grubb died in New York City in 1980. His novel Ancient Lights was published posthumously in 1982, and St. Martins Press published 18 of his short stories in a book collection titled You Never Believe Me and Other Stories.

His longtime canine companion was a Lhasa Apso named Rowdy Charlie.

Reviews

[Greg Leatherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

You are not prepared for this book. No matter what you have read by Davis Grubb, or what you imagine this book is, you cannot really know without reading it. I have read all of his books. None of them truly foreshadow this one in scope, style, or subject. Perhaps that is because in Ancient Lights, Grubb did not try living up to past glories, he broke new ground. As his swan song, it is a remarkable testament to the unfettered artist and belongs next to the few other books written without the restraint of trying to please publishers (A Confederacy of Dunces comes to mind). Since there is nothing else like Ancient Lights, it cannot really come with a recommendation. It's far too bizarre for me to tell other people they will like it. But as for me, I loved it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was Davis Grubb's swan song, so to speak. His son published it posthumously. A very strange book, yet it is well written. The plot is difficult to describe, except to simply say that it is about life, and how the twists and turns of "destiny" puts us in another place than where we first projected ourselves to be. Grubb's use of foreshadowing is illusionary: what he leads you to believe will happen, does not. The next twist is totally unforeseen, even given the personalities of the characters. Those surprises are exactly like life, and makes the book a masterpiece of writing. You will want to read it more than once.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point, I'm no longer certain how many times I've read this generous, messy, lovely book, but I'm sure this won't be my last time through it. All I can say is thanks to the late, great Davis Grubb.

[Michaël Wertenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think Salman Rushdie meets The Looney Tunes and they discuss spirituality at a sex club. I loved it! Zany, highly original, with beautifully poetic passages and lots of sex with fairies. Only Davis Grubb could pull this off.

[John Tipper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read two other novels by Davis Grubb: The Night of the Hunter, and Fools Parade. This third one is certainly a departure. It's a fantasy, Post Modern, meta fiction. Sweeley Leech, the main character, is a messianic figure who preaches love and kindness. And he eschews riches. The narrator, Fifi, Sweeley's daughter, is not always reliable, since she takes drugs a lot. She's also sex crazed. This is not a quick read, because Grubb uses wordplay, metaphors, puns, and references to writers and artists. People like William Blake, Walt Whitman, Paul Klee, Durer, Billie Holliday, and Mile Davis. The government has collapsed and has been taken over by a powerful organization called TRUCAD, which rules the streets with gangs that use Tae Kwon Do to beat up dissidents. The novel is set in the future, and the government is able to read the minds of citizens. Leech is viewed as a threat, and so is Fifi. They are put on a hit list, with assassins sent out to get them. Sweeley is a fascinating character, able to perform miracles. And he speaks in parables. This reminded me of the writing of Philip Jose Farmer, and Hunter S. Thompson. As well as John Barth. The story is a long, bawdy ride.