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The Stream: A Tale of Survival
After a savage storm kills his parents, five-year-old Wend awakens to the strange world of the Stream. He discovers he can only travel downstream, and dangers lurk at every deadly rapids, ruthless pirates, a mysterious pavilion that lures him into intoxicating fantasies. And how will he survive the endless waterfall rumored to lie at the edge of the world. Defenseless, alone, with only courage and his will to survive, Wend begins his quest to become a man. Will tragic loss trap him in a shadow world, or will he enter the Stream, with all its passion and peril?
Part coming-of-age tale, part adventure, part spiritual journey, The Stream is a haunting fable of redemption and renewal.
Perfect for readers looking for tales like Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist or Yann Martel’s Life of Pi.
Shelf Unbound Notable Book in Literary Fiction
ForeWord Reviews Indie Fab Book Awards, Finalist, in Literary Fiction
Eric Hoffer Award Finalist, in General Fiction
USA Best Book Awards, Finalist, in Visionary Fiction
da Vinci Eye, Finalist
Part coming-of-age tale, part adventure, part spiritual journey, The Stream is a haunting fable of redemption and renewal.
Perfect for readers looking for tales like Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist or Yann Martel’s Life of Pi.
Shelf Unbound Notable Book in Literary Fiction
ForeWord Reviews Indie Fab Book Awards, Finalist, in Literary Fiction
Eric Hoffer Award Finalist, in General Fiction
USA Best Book Awards, Finalist, in Visionary Fiction
da Vinci Eye, Finalist
- GenresFantasy
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2014
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
A.R. Silverberry
10 books18 followersAdler wouldn’t do—I needed the right handle to go where I was going. Silverberry unlocked the magic door. Now I quest through the limitless realms of the imagination, here, official scribe to bold knights and treacherous kings, there, intrepid recorder of the future and the far reaches of space. Wherever I land, I promise to hold nothing back.
This portal takes you there … www.arsilverberry.com
This portal takes you there … www.arsilverberry.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 14, 2014
This book moved me deeply, made me laugh and made me sad at the same time, but above all pushed me to turn the pages, eager to know more about Wend's destiny.
Wend is the protagonist of the story. The book starts when he is 5 years old and goes on until he becomes adult.
The reader sympathizes with him immediately. Wend is an orphan, his parents died during a storm. He has to learn to survive in the cruel world of the Stream, an endless river full of dangers, rapids, and waterfalls.
But it isn't Wend's desperate situation that made me love him. He is smart, kind, generous, and he can always see the silver lining in everyone. During his long travel, he meets terrible people who deceive him and hurt him, but he never loses faith in human beings.
Wend's bravery and compassion make him an amazing character. Even when life puts in his path unbearable pains, he doesn't leave his optimistic vision of the world—he is able to see everything through eyes full of childish wonder, even when he grows up.
Wend's story is not just a coming-of-age tale or an adventurous travel. The author goes deep down, and the Stream becomes the metaphor of the flowing of life.
The Stream provides food and water to people, but it is also extremely challenging. It doesn't allow them to go back, but only ahead, toward a mythical ocean that no one has seen in person. If someone choses to stop or rest, the price to pay is very high. But the Stream is also merciful ("The Stream gives back”), and rewards the good people.
The author manages to speak about topics so deep and delicate with grace and lightness, without leaving the dimension of the fairy tale.
I was captivated by Silverberry's powerful descriptions. The images melted together in front of my eyes and then became real feelings. The Stream is present not only in the plot, but in the embracing flowing of the words themselves.
I recommend the book to anyone who loves leave-a-mark stories, no matter the genre or age.
Wend is the protagonist of the story. The book starts when he is 5 years old and goes on until he becomes adult.
The reader sympathizes with him immediately. Wend is an orphan, his parents died during a storm. He has to learn to survive in the cruel world of the Stream, an endless river full of dangers, rapids, and waterfalls.
But it isn't Wend's desperate situation that made me love him. He is smart, kind, generous, and he can always see the silver lining in everyone. During his long travel, he meets terrible people who deceive him and hurt him, but he never loses faith in human beings.
Wend's bravery and compassion make him an amazing character. Even when life puts in his path unbearable pains, he doesn't leave his optimistic vision of the world—he is able to see everything through eyes full of childish wonder, even when he grows up.
Wend's story is not just a coming-of-age tale or an adventurous travel. The author goes deep down, and the Stream becomes the metaphor of the flowing of life.
The Stream provides food and water to people, but it is also extremely challenging. It doesn't allow them to go back, but only ahead, toward a mythical ocean that no one has seen in person. If someone choses to stop or rest, the price to pay is very high. But the Stream is also merciful ("The Stream gives back”), and rewards the good people.
The author manages to speak about topics so deep and delicate with grace and lightness, without leaving the dimension of the fairy tale.
I was captivated by Silverberry's powerful descriptions. The images melted together in front of my eyes and then became real feelings. The Stream is present not only in the plot, but in the embracing flowing of the words themselves.
I recommend the book to anyone who loves leave-a-mark stories, no matter the genre or age.
July 29, 2014
If I were not already a fan of A.R. Silverberry’s from Wyndano’s Cloak, I now would be after the exhilarating adventure of The Stream. Silverberry’s masterful storytelling technique will have you hooked from the onset. So much so for me, I was unable to concentrate on anything else until the end.
The courage and fortitude of Wend from childhood to manhood will melt your heart. Life lessons are learned along the way for those open to all the glory the universe has to offer and for those who choose to live in darkness their lives are bound for a different path. The Stream is a spell-bounding fantasy and imaginative world the reader will embrace from the first sentence and will not be able to let go off until long after the conclusion.
The courage and fortitude of Wend from childhood to manhood will melt your heart. Life lessons are learned along the way for those open to all the glory the universe has to offer and for those who choose to live in darkness their lives are bound for a different path. The Stream is a spell-bounding fantasy and imaginative world the reader will embrace from the first sentence and will not be able to let go off until long after the conclusion.
November 29, 2017
This was an interesting read. It wasn't what I was expecting. I guess I thought it was going to be a YA Fantasy, but actually it turned out to have a magical realism feel. It has a gentle pace and it's character-based rather than plot-based. But the plot elements came full circle in a way that complemented the character relationships well. I enjoyed it a lot, despite it not being a genre I'm that fond of, and would recommend it to fans of magical realism.
November 14, 2021
I just finished “The Stream”. What a book!
Deep and thought provoking. I couldn’t put it down! I am a true fan!
Deep and thought provoking. I couldn’t put it down! I am a true fan!
October 7, 2014
Intensely Captivating
“This tale stirs the depths of my soul, connecting the emotions with vivid and colorful characters and events. I couldn't put it down for long, though I needed to at times for tears to fall and my mind to chew through the sometimes very dark passages. Silverberry portrays life within these pages in mosaics of light and dark, as life truly is, in the layers and cataracts, gifts, and tragedies of - The Stream.”
Merged review:
Intensely Captivating!
“This tale stirs the depths of my soul, connecting the emotions with vivid and colorful characters and events. I couldn't put it down for long, though I needed to at times for tears to fall and my mind to chew through the sometimes very dark passages. Silverberry portrays life within these pages in mosaics of light and dark, as life truly is, in the layers and cataracts, gifts, and tragedies of - The Stream.”
“This tale stirs the depths of my soul, connecting the emotions with vivid and colorful characters and events. I couldn't put it down for long, though I needed to at times for tears to fall and my mind to chew through the sometimes very dark passages. Silverberry portrays life within these pages in mosaics of light and dark, as life truly is, in the layers and cataracts, gifts, and tragedies of - The Stream.”
Merged review:
Intensely Captivating!
“This tale stirs the depths of my soul, connecting the emotions with vivid and colorful characters and events. I couldn't put it down for long, though I needed to at times for tears to fall and my mind to chew through the sometimes very dark passages. Silverberry portrays life within these pages in mosaics of light and dark, as life truly is, in the layers and cataracts, gifts, and tragedies of - The Stream.”
January 2, 2018
Having read and enjoyed A.R. Silverberry’s first novel Wyndano’s Cloak, I was excited to read his second novel The Steam, a story of personal transformation and spirituality. The Stream begins as a wilderness survival story, filled with colorful characters and quickly morphs into a fantasy adventure quest filled coming of age magic, adventure romance, hope, and love, but which also contains its fair share of personal setbacks, heartache, suffering and tragedy.
Set in an alternate universe, The Stream serves as a metaphor for life, and travelers on The Stream quickly learn that they can never fight against the current and return upstream, the can only go forward, gathering knowledge and wisdom along the way. Just as our decisions affect the path we take through life, the decisions one makes while navigating The Steam charts the course of their future. Told through the eyes of Wend, we are witnesses to the ups and downs of his life, told with such simple, yet vivid language that it is nearly impossible not to make an emotional connection with Wend. I found myself laughing with Wend, but also crying with him. The Stream is a powerful story that bestows wisdom on the reader, no matter how young or how old.
The Stream belongs in the same discussions Kahil Gibran’s The Prophet as required reading for anyone interested in philosophical reflections on what it means to live a good and fulfilling life.
I give The Stream and Silverberry my highest recommendation.
Set in an alternate universe, The Stream serves as a metaphor for life, and travelers on The Stream quickly learn that they can never fight against the current and return upstream, the can only go forward, gathering knowledge and wisdom along the way. Just as our decisions affect the path we take through life, the decisions one makes while navigating The Steam charts the course of their future. Told through the eyes of Wend, we are witnesses to the ups and downs of his life, told with such simple, yet vivid language that it is nearly impossible not to make an emotional connection with Wend. I found myself laughing with Wend, but also crying with him. The Stream is a powerful story that bestows wisdom on the reader, no matter how young or how old.
The Stream belongs in the same discussions Kahil Gibran’s The Prophet as required reading for anyone interested in philosophical reflections on what it means to live a good and fulfilling life.
I give The Stream and Silverberry my highest recommendation.
February 21, 2015
I would enjoy a discussion about this book...a rare result in my reading patterns. The author was delightful and willing to chat about the stories when I met him and purchased the book in PG. The two typos I tripped upon were almost forgiven due to the quality of the tale itself. I am ready to read more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews