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The Tower
15-year-olds Philippa and Danny have been best friends for years, but things are starting to change between them. Danny has a new set of friends - the rugby boys - and suddenly whispers of 'Phil the Thrill' start to follow Philippa around school, and she knows exactly where those rumours started. One evening, Philippa escapes to an abandoned seaside house to clear her head, but quickly discovers that she is far from alone. Not only has Danny secretly followed her, the two of them are about to witness something that will change their lives for ever.A mysterious Society is meeting in the house to try to summon Death, and Danny and Philippa are caught up in their dark spell. The pair manages to escape but they soon realise that they're being followed by two children who, as they begin to talk, claim to not be human. Where do these creatures really come from? And what is that they want?
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Simon Clark
215 books301 followersBorn, 20th April, 1958, Simon Clark is the author of such highly regarded horror novels as Nailed By The Heart, Blood Crazy, Darker, Vampyrrhic and The Fall, while his short stories have been collected in Blood & Grit and Salt Snake & Other Bloody Cuts. He has also written prose material for the internationally famous rock band U2.
Raised in a family of storytellers – family legend told of a stolen human skull buried beneath the Clark garage – he sold his first ghost story to a radio station in his teens. Before becoming a full-time writer he held a variety of day jobs, that have involved strawberry picking, supermarket shelf stacking, office work, and scripting video promos.
He lives with his wife and two children in mystical territory that lies on the border of Robin Hood country in England.
Raised in a family of storytellers – family legend told of a stolen human skull buried beneath the Clark garage – he sold his first ghost story to a radio station in his teens. Before becoming a full-time writer he held a variety of day jobs, that have involved strawberry picking, supermarket shelf stacking, office work, and scripting video promos.
He lives with his wife and two children in mystical territory that lies on the border of Robin Hood country in England.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 24, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this, it kept me captivated. I enjoyed the bits of humor throughout and the description of scenery was great. The characters felt real and not over exaggerated as well as it gave a reality in life experiences growing up. I enjoyed the mystery and the dark vibes yet the beauty of Death. I want to explain more, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet.
I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it and I love books that draw me in like that. Definitely a must read.
I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it and I love books that draw me in like that. Definitely a must read.
October 8, 2017
Really enjoyed this so much. The ending was so gripping that I've rated this 5 stars. Strong points - amazing dialogue that carried the story so well. Little touches of humour that made me smile. Well written, engaging story. Highly recommended.
October 1, 2017
Not Yet Dark was so eerie and totally compelling - absolutely the perfect book to kick off anyone's autumn reading. It reminded me in parts of both Skellig and S F Said's Phoenix, and I definitely think this book will appeal to fans of both.
February 2, 2018
What utter garbage this book is. I am thoroughly disappointed in David Almond for describing Clark as a “truly interesting new voice”. Very much anything but. I cannot fathom why anyone would even contemplate jotting down the “plot” for ‘Not Yet Dark’, let alone spend months turning it into a full fledged novel. Its storyline is so utterly banal, its characters so intolerably boring and ill-conceived, and its idea of good dialogue a disgrace of distilled ineptitude. I just do not understand. How. Did. This. Get. Published. HOW?!?
This book is about two school children who are meant to be friends, but, because they’re entering pubity, must now apparently go about hating one another, bickering and getting pissed off at least once per page. This is a first-person narrative, one that’s handled so poorly, that I honestly wonder whether the author has the slightest hint of personality beyond mild grouchiness. The characterisations are laughably mishandled. I didn’t like a single person, and there wasn’t the smallest hint of originality or quirkiness in any of them.
*****spoilers below*****
In terms of plot, there’s almost nothing to say. Two kids ‘chance upon’ a cult summoning Death — but, oops, the presence of the kids upsets the cultists’ ritual — and oh wow now there are two ghost kids who are actually embodiments of Death — and then there’s a ‘World Between’ magical place that’s pretty, but literally serves no function — and now they have to get an ancient book (see the originality on display?) from the cultists to restore balance to the universe — and oh, look, they’ve done that now — and showdown time, and boom, a pier blows up and it’s the end. Great. Bloody fantastic greatness.
‘Not Yet Dark’ could have been under a 100 pages. Or even a short story. It wouldn’t have been a good short story, but at least it wouldn’t have wasted so much of my time. Instead it’s a 276-page slog-fest.
Here’s an example of some dialogue:
“‘I blame the schools,’ said Cully [one of the cultists]. ‘Soft and silly, these kids.’”
Do you sense the characterisation? The authenticity? Do you feel scared of the evil cultist? Do you? I did. I trembled. With dread. I really did. —— I’m banging on about the dialogue because most of this wretched book is dialogue. It’s everywhere, padding things out, slowing down the (rare) action scenes, burdening the sorry mess. And all of it, to a letter, is inane, unconvincing, and laughable.
Well, that’s that. Don’t touch this book. It’s one of the worst things I’ve forced myself through in years. So, yay.
This book is about two school children who are meant to be friends, but, because they’re entering pubity, must now apparently go about hating one another, bickering and getting pissed off at least once per page. This is a first-person narrative, one that’s handled so poorly, that I honestly wonder whether the author has the slightest hint of personality beyond mild grouchiness. The characterisations are laughably mishandled. I didn’t like a single person, and there wasn’t the smallest hint of originality or quirkiness in any of them.
*****spoilers below*****
In terms of plot, there’s almost nothing to say. Two kids ‘chance upon’ a cult summoning Death — but, oops, the presence of the kids upsets the cultists’ ritual — and oh wow now there are two ghost kids who are actually embodiments of Death — and then there’s a ‘World Between’ magical place that’s pretty, but literally serves no function — and now they have to get an ancient book (see the originality on display?) from the cultists to restore balance to the universe — and oh, look, they’ve done that now — and showdown time, and boom, a pier blows up and it’s the end. Great. Bloody fantastic greatness.
‘Not Yet Dark’ could have been under a 100 pages. Or even a short story. It wouldn’t have been a good short story, but at least it wouldn’t have wasted so much of my time. Instead it’s a 276-page slog-fest.
Here’s an example of some dialogue:
“‘I blame the schools,’ said Cully [one of the cultists]. ‘Soft and silly, these kids.’”
Do you sense the characterisation? The authenticity? Do you feel scared of the evil cultist? Do you? I did. I trembled. With dread. I really did. —— I’m banging on about the dialogue because most of this wretched book is dialogue. It’s everywhere, padding things out, slowing down the (rare) action scenes, burdening the sorry mess. And all of it, to a letter, is inane, unconvincing, and laughable.
Well, that’s that. Don’t touch this book. It’s one of the worst things I’ve forced myself through in years. So, yay.
March 30, 2018
*SPOILERS*
This started off promisingly enough with the chance encounter of a satanic-type cult trying to defeat Death witnessed by two teenage friends. The appearance of two mysterious teenagers following this event is disturbingly spooky. However, everything goes downhill from then on. I would have been prepared to ignore the heavily artificial 'banter' between Philippa and Danny, had the plot developed well, but it didn't. There was meant to be tension between the two central characters and I kept thinking it might be because Danny has romantic feelings for Phil (it was an overused device that she kept insisting on Phillippa) or that he is gay and trying to let her know, but it turned out to be nothing very much and all resolved by her taking more of an interest in his rugby-playing friends.
There was a lot of padding between incidents which didn't engage me or move the plot on and I found myself skim-reading towards the end. The mystical World Between was intriguing but the whole aspect of Danny being disillusioned with life and being addicted to spending more time there, was touched on but never really developed. I think I would have preferred this aspect of the plot to the satanic suburban fruit-loops and their magic book.
This started off promisingly enough with the chance encounter of a satanic-type cult trying to defeat Death witnessed by two teenage friends. The appearance of two mysterious teenagers following this event is disturbingly spooky. However, everything goes downhill from then on. I would have been prepared to ignore the heavily artificial 'banter' between Philippa and Danny, had the plot developed well, but it didn't. There was meant to be tension between the two central characters and I kept thinking it might be because Danny has romantic feelings for Phil (it was an overused device that she kept insisting on Phillippa) or that he is gay and trying to let her know, but it turned out to be nothing very much and all resolved by her taking more of an interest in his rugby-playing friends.
There was a lot of padding between incidents which didn't engage me or move the plot on and I found myself skim-reading towards the end. The mystical World Between was intriguing but the whole aspect of Danny being disillusioned with life and being addicted to spending more time there, was touched on but never really developed. I think I would have preferred this aspect of the plot to the satanic suburban fruit-loops and their magic book.
December 17, 2017
I can't in all honesty give this an "ok" 2/5, so 1.5 stars rounded down.
This is a children's book, not even a YA-novel. The youths in the book are too childish, the plot is very thin and explanations are glossed over. The author should have decided on making a story about friendship, or one about stopping stupid adults from controlling death, or one about strange visitors from another world...
This is a children's book, not even a YA-novel. The youths in the book are too childish, the plot is very thin and explanations are glossed over. The author should have decided on making a story about friendship, or one about stopping stupid adults from controlling death, or one about strange visitors from another world...
February 21, 2018
I adored this from start to finish.
It had that perfect combination of eerie, other worlds, death and a creepy factor that I just adored. I’m so glad I picked this up and finally got around to reading it.
It had that perfect combination of eerie, other worlds, death and a creepy factor that I just adored. I’m so glad I picked this up and finally got around to reading it.
February 4, 2018
It was okay, cool concept but didn’t hold my attention much.
March 13, 2020
Check out my review of Not Yet Dark https://youtu.be/yul7ze5u3CQ
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews