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The Forgotten Fields
A young monk discovers a secret doorway buried deep beneath the monastery fields.
Forbidden to explore further, Brother Magnus’ curiosity drives him on, and with help from a local girl, uncover secrets and surprises from a different time and civilisation.
Forbidden to explore further, Brother Magnus’ curiosity drives him on, and with help from a local girl, uncover secrets and surprises from a different time and civilisation.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
7 people want to read
About the author
Geoffrey Beevers
83 books4 followersGeoffrey Beevers is a British actor who has appeared in many different stage and screen roles.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 19, 2016
I bought a copy of this on audio as even though I've read the novel already Geoffrey Beevers has a wonderful speaking voice and I thought it would be nice to hear him read his own story. I wasn't at all disappointed. Hearing a book is much slower than reading one. As such the story stretches out and mysteries become longer and character development slower.
Listening to this again I was struck once more by the mystery of it. The very human aspects of the end of the world. The way things start to fall apart in very slow and subtle ways. I really loved Jen's letters. The way she'd write about what was happening to her and to the world. All her writing for posterity really struck a cord. So much of what she was writing sounded so familiar. And yet within all the tragedy of society falling apart she had her own very human life of marriage, birth and divorce. Things that normally get completely forgotten about in apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic science fiction.
George's diary on audio was also very compelling. Slowly loosing his mind and growing confused seemed much more personal when you actually heard him. It was easy to picture the vaults, both when they lived there and afterwards.
Another thing that struck me was how easily the Abbot seemed to accept the death of whole villages. It seemed to trouble them only a little and the idea was that life would carry on regardless. Tragedy and death had become so much a part of their society that it was no longer shocked, just accepting and sad.
But in a way the book was also about hope. How things will carry on. How people remain the same and will be equally stupid or wise. That even in the worst of circumstances that fundamentally doesn't change.
I'm very glad I went back and listened to this wonderful story again. With the political turmoil of this year it feels more relevant than ever. I really can't recommend this highly enough.
Review from 2014 first reading it.
I wasn't sure what to expect reading this a novel by one of the Doctor Who actors but thought I'd try it. I ended up loving it. It really captured beautifully that feeling of 80s nuclear war fear. It was both political and personal. It was very character focused but also a beautiful depiction of a society on the brink. It's amazing how little things can be such powerful descriptions of how everything is falling apart. The swapping between the time periods was very effective. The 7th century depictions also felt very realistic. I loved how the emphasis was on how people are mostly the same whatever society they are living in. How the individual is often what is forgotten from history. It was also a wonderful post-apocalyptic tale unlike any I'd read before. Definitely one I'd recommend.
Listening to this again I was struck once more by the mystery of it. The very human aspects of the end of the world. The way things start to fall apart in very slow and subtle ways. I really loved Jen's letters. The way she'd write about what was happening to her and to the world. All her writing for posterity really struck a cord. So much of what she was writing sounded so familiar. And yet within all the tragedy of society falling apart she had her own very human life of marriage, birth and divorce. Things that normally get completely forgotten about in apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic science fiction.
George's diary on audio was also very compelling. Slowly loosing his mind and growing confused seemed much more personal when you actually heard him. It was easy to picture the vaults, both when they lived there and afterwards.
Another thing that struck me was how easily the Abbot seemed to accept the death of whole villages. It seemed to trouble them only a little and the idea was that life would carry on regardless. Tragedy and death had become so much a part of their society that it was no longer shocked, just accepting and sad.
But in a way the book was also about hope. How things will carry on. How people remain the same and will be equally stupid or wise. That even in the worst of circumstances that fundamentally doesn't change.
I'm very glad I went back and listened to this wonderful story again. With the political turmoil of this year it feels more relevant than ever. I really can't recommend this highly enough.
Review from 2014 first reading it.
I wasn't sure what to expect reading this a novel by one of the Doctor Who actors but thought I'd try it. I ended up loving it. It really captured beautifully that feeling of 80s nuclear war fear. It was both political and personal. It was very character focused but also a beautiful depiction of a society on the brink. It's amazing how little things can be such powerful descriptions of how everything is falling apart. The swapping between the time periods was very effective. The 7th century depictions also felt very realistic. I loved how the emphasis was on how people are mostly the same whatever society they are living in. How the individual is often what is forgotten from history. It was also a wonderful post-apocalyptic tale unlike any I'd read before. Definitely one I'd recommend.
October 8, 2021
I'm not normally a fan of stories that focus on social commentary. But Jeffrey Beaver has a way of bringing humanity into every character. This was such a good story. Can't go on enough about how much I love his writing.
February 6, 2017
This is my first book by Geoffrey Beevers having met him for the first time at a convention in Swansea last year where he was selling his books and I have to say, I am quite intrigued by his writing style.
Normally books written purely in letters/documentation format are not usually my thing but Geoffrey Beevers has a way which pulls you in and wants to make you continue on.
I very much liked the characters of Ann, Magnus and the Abott. I was also intrigued by the other monks back story.
He also wrote the 80's characters extremely well and it made me very curious about Jen, George and Tilly very much like Magnus was.
Such a simple story idea but just when you THINK you know what's happened, Geoffrey has a way surprising you in a quiet way.
It is a slow read but I read this a lot when I was catching the trains to and from work. Highly enjoyable and will look out for more works by Geoffrey Beevers in the future.
Normally books written purely in letters/documentation format are not usually my thing but Geoffrey Beevers has a way which pulls you in and wants to make you continue on.
I very much liked the characters of Ann, Magnus and the Abott. I was also intrigued by the other monks back story.
He also wrote the 80's characters extremely well and it made me very curious about Jen, George and Tilly very much like Magnus was.
Such a simple story idea but just when you THINK you know what's happened, Geoffrey has a way surprising you in a quiet way.
It is a slow read but I read this a lot when I was catching the trains to and from work. Highly enjoyable and will look out for more works by Geoffrey Beevers in the future.
August 20, 2015
A very clever story, well told. The switching between time periods works well and although the author states in the preface that it was written in the 1980s it is still very pertinent today and does not detract in anyway. The characters are well defined so that you care about the players in both time periods and feel for their own distinct problems whist remaining fascinated at their unique view points and interpretations of other periods. Well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews