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Lightning Seeds
Fire from the sky, dystopia, true love… some things never change.
A naive young mutant is caught up in a war between reptilians and all other mutant species, and must embark on a quest to find a home at last or die trying.
Suddenly freed from slavery, Syx falls in love with his rescuer who is forced to leave him. He becomes a commando and uncovers the truth of his betrayal as the world is destroyed in a holocaust. He has another narrow escape, but against all odds will he find his lost love again?
A naive young mutant is caught up in a war between reptilians and all other mutant species, and must embark on a quest to find a home at last or die trying.
Suddenly freed from slavery, Syx falls in love with his rescuer who is forced to leave him. He becomes a commando and uncovers the truth of his betrayal as the world is destroyed in a holocaust. He has another narrow escape, but against all odds will he find his lost love again?
Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2020
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Rupert Smithson
12 books5 followersRUPERT SMITHSON is from the distant future of the same planet where The Stars Hereafter Chronicles begin circa 52,000 BCE. He describes himself as an author in the fabulist genre. However, he paraphrases Pablo Picasso when he says that, like all art, fiction is “the lie that tells the truth.”
He credits his most fortunate meeting with the chronicles’ protagonist Sir Rowan Berry Longbow, whose life story they comprise, to the accidental and indirect aid of an ingenious device invented by his physicist friend Fiona Power (which she calls the Oculi in Tempore in Latin, or the Eyes in Time).
With respect to the Oculi, Smithson says: “I am truly grateful that Fiona’s device, hitherto restricted to a kind of temporal telescope with which she viewed the past, by resonance with Prince Masudah’s somewhat similar invention in Sir Rowan’s time, somehow transported me bodily from the dystopia in which I’d grown up back through the millennia to a time and place where Mother Nature had not yet been laid waste. Yet paradisiacal it was not. Even then archetypal Evil oppressed the world, indeed threatened to sunder planet Eorthe and send its moon Lunah into the sun. However, magic in the antique past had not yet been separated from science, which further enhanced the ability to travel time, not only solo, but in the company of Sir Rowan and others. Although these travels tested our mettle to maximum, to participate in the potential manifestation of the Good, the Beautiful and the True remains our mission.”
In order to avoid what he calls the Thought Police, the censors of his native time, he departed from his usual beast-fable genre a little, an example of which is George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, and wrote Sir Rowan’s tale as a science-fiction fantasy series. Smithson explains that, in his own late twenty-first century, the highly curated education system is such that few censors can actually read with comprehension in the first place, and that he had forged a document for a speech censor, a bribe to pass the affiliated Literati inspection. Literature censors, according to the author, are without exception dismissive of fabulism as unworthy of intelligent investigation, but so far consider it valuable nonetheless as distraction that pacifies the furry fandom.
Smithson insists that it’s the story that’s important, not the storyteller. Nevertheless, he concedes to a few details, especially to credit influences.
Before learning to read, at around age four young Rupert remembers spending much time pretending to read. In the early years following, several writers became important influences: Kenneth Grahame (The Wind in the Willows); Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (Grimm’s Fairy Tales); Lewis Carroll (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; Through the Looking Glass); Ernest Thompson Seton (Wild Animals I Have Known); Andre Norton (The Beast Master); Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan series; John Carter of Mars series; Pellucidar series); H.G. Wells (The Time Machine; The War of the Worlds); and of course J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings trilogy).
The works of John Wyndham (The Chrysalids; The Kraken Wakes; The Day of the Triffids) had also been life-changing experiences in the way books can be to children. And thanks to a friend whose grandmother was a librarian, a vast quantity of science fiction had been secretly illumined by mini lantern late into the night, beginning with the works of authors Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles) and Isaac Asimov (Foundation series). The dear lady had given the two boys many dozens of classic and contemporary titles that would have otherwise been recycled. Sleep was lost, but minds were expanded.
Gratitude is great, Smithson adds, for not suffering from writer’s block, and moreover for having overcome reader’s block.
He credits his most fortunate meeting with the chronicles’ protagonist Sir Rowan Berry Longbow, whose life story they comprise, to the accidental and indirect aid of an ingenious device invented by his physicist friend Fiona Power (which she calls the Oculi in Tempore in Latin, or the Eyes in Time).
With respect to the Oculi, Smithson says: “I am truly grateful that Fiona’s device, hitherto restricted to a kind of temporal telescope with which she viewed the past, by resonance with Prince Masudah’s somewhat similar invention in Sir Rowan’s time, somehow transported me bodily from the dystopia in which I’d grown up back through the millennia to a time and place where Mother Nature had not yet been laid waste. Yet paradisiacal it was not. Even then archetypal Evil oppressed the world, indeed threatened to sunder planet Eorthe and send its moon Lunah into the sun. However, magic in the antique past had not yet been separated from science, which further enhanced the ability to travel time, not only solo, but in the company of Sir Rowan and others. Although these travels tested our mettle to maximum, to participate in the potential manifestation of the Good, the Beautiful and the True remains our mission.”
In order to avoid what he calls the Thought Police, the censors of his native time, he departed from his usual beast-fable genre a little, an example of which is George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, and wrote Sir Rowan’s tale as a science-fiction fantasy series. Smithson explains that, in his own late twenty-first century, the highly curated education system is such that few censors can actually read with comprehension in the first place, and that he had forged a document for a speech censor, a bribe to pass the affiliated Literati inspection. Literature censors, according to the author, are without exception dismissive of fabulism as unworthy of intelligent investigation, but so far consider it valuable nonetheless as distraction that pacifies the furry fandom.
Smithson insists that it’s the story that’s important, not the storyteller. Nevertheless, he concedes to a few details, especially to credit influences.
Before learning to read, at around age four young Rupert remembers spending much time pretending to read. In the early years following, several writers became important influences: Kenneth Grahame (The Wind in the Willows); Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (Grimm’s Fairy Tales); Lewis Carroll (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; Through the Looking Glass); Ernest Thompson Seton (Wild Animals I Have Known); Andre Norton (The Beast Master); Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan series; John Carter of Mars series; Pellucidar series); H.G. Wells (The Time Machine; The War of the Worlds); and of course J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings trilogy).
The works of John Wyndham (The Chrysalids; The Kraken Wakes; The Day of the Triffids) had also been life-changing experiences in the way books can be to children. And thanks to a friend whose grandmother was a librarian, a vast quantity of science fiction had been secretly illumined by mini lantern late into the night, beginning with the works of authors Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles) and Isaac Asimov (Foundation series). The dear lady had given the two boys many dozens of classic and contemporary titles that would have otherwise been recycled. Sleep was lost, but minds were expanded.
Gratitude is great, Smithson adds, for not suffering from writer’s block, and moreover for having overcome reader’s block.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 11, 2025
Lightning Seeds
Lightning Seeds is the great start of the series The Stars Hereafter Chronicles Book 1. Rupert Smithson has layered dystopian elements, cross travel between different worlds, creating a sprawling, genre-crossing setting.
The story concentrates on the main protagonist, Syx, a slave-turned-commando, fights for survival. The story stats unfolding in an interesting pase from the moment that tears his world open: the meeting with a mysterious “noob” an outsider he assumes is male, only to discover later that she is a girl. Their escape from the orphanage is not just thrilling but it’s transformative. As they flee across surreal landscapes, and the next series of events makes the novel a meditation on identity. What makes Syx compelling isn’t just his physical prowess, but his emotional vulnerability. He’s torn between duty and desire, loss and love, constantly wrestling with his own humanity, adds heartfelt stakes to the epic backdrop.
Smithson’s writing style emphasizes action, combat sequences, intense escapes, and high-stakes betrayals drive the storyline forward. Each chapter ramps up stakes and expands the lore, making it a genuine page-turner.
What I liked utmost in the story is the creative world in which the story was build up. The world they traverse is one of rare imagination. The beautiful worlds of Perkona Ola and Wishbone Warren aren’t just backdrops; they are almost sentient realms, each infused with their own weight of memory and magic. The reader walks not just through places, but through echoes of each steps taken in these magial world.
To sum up, Lightning Seeds is an amazing start of an adventure which is fast paced and unique world building. I want wait to have my hands on the next part of the series.If you're hungry for adventure with heart, Lightning Seeds makes a strong debut. I would honestly rate this with 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Lightning Seeds is the great start of the series The Stars Hereafter Chronicles Book 1. Rupert Smithson has layered dystopian elements, cross travel between different worlds, creating a sprawling, genre-crossing setting.
The story concentrates on the main protagonist, Syx, a slave-turned-commando, fights for survival. The story stats unfolding in an interesting pase from the moment that tears his world open: the meeting with a mysterious “noob” an outsider he assumes is male, only to discover later that she is a girl. Their escape from the orphanage is not just thrilling but it’s transformative. As they flee across surreal landscapes, and the next series of events makes the novel a meditation on identity. What makes Syx compelling isn’t just his physical prowess, but his emotional vulnerability. He’s torn between duty and desire, loss and love, constantly wrestling with his own humanity, adds heartfelt stakes to the epic backdrop.
Smithson’s writing style emphasizes action, combat sequences, intense escapes, and high-stakes betrayals drive the storyline forward. Each chapter ramps up stakes and expands the lore, making it a genuine page-turner.
What I liked utmost in the story is the creative world in which the story was build up. The world they traverse is one of rare imagination. The beautiful worlds of Perkona Ola and Wishbone Warren aren’t just backdrops; they are almost sentient realms, each infused with their own weight of memory and magic. The reader walks not just through places, but through echoes of each steps taken in these magial world.
To sum up, Lightning Seeds is an amazing start of an adventure which is fast paced and unique world building. I want wait to have my hands on the next part of the series.If you're hungry for adventure with heart, Lightning Seeds makes a strong debut. I would honestly rate this with 4.5 out of 5 stars.
January 12, 2026
Review: Weirdo novel. Weird ambling storyline. Weird cover art. Character development that never evolves past bizarre exchanges. Movement that is suddenly truncated with sudden events. Really quite refreshing in presentation. Yah, I am a bit angular in approach and this fits my tendencies.
Girly boy is raised his whole life to serve Reptiles within a brutal system. Common inter-personal exchanges are rare and would expose developmental weaknesses. He comes around due to his natural genius, good looks and guilless demeanor. Aw shucks he even has a hot wolf-gurl orbiting his biggus.
The relationships within become strained for no apparent reason, other than that Wolf Chick is in SPECIAL FORCES with nano enhanced hapkido jitsu skills and Cat Dummy is the same but just a Knight Protector (all of a sudden) body guarding Wolf babe and we can all be confused from here on out. There is an abundance of high tech, but people choose to live in caves cause they are scared of the Reps that have the same tech. Hmmm. Portals and Space battles suddenly subsume a once innocent story line that had so much potential.
I lost interest in this story line when it spun out of control.
DNF
Girly boy is raised his whole life to serve Reptiles within a brutal system. Common inter-personal exchanges are rare and would expose developmental weaknesses. He comes around due to his natural genius, good looks and guilless demeanor. Aw shucks he even has a hot wolf-gurl orbiting his biggus.
The relationships within become strained for no apparent reason, other than that Wolf Chick is in SPECIAL FORCES with nano enhanced hapkido jitsu skills and Cat Dummy is the same but just a Knight Protector (all of a sudden) body guarding Wolf babe and we can all be confused from here on out. There is an abundance of high tech, but people choose to live in caves cause they are scared of the Reps that have the same tech. Hmmm. Portals and Space battles suddenly subsume a once innocent story line that had so much potential.
I lost interest in this story line when it spun out of control.
DNF
September 23, 2025
This delivers a compelling narrative set in a richly imagined world that intertwines elements of adventure, self-discovery, and existential inquiry. The story begins fifty-two thousand years ago, capturing the reader's attention immediately with a vivid description of an orphan named Syx, who wakes to the harsh crack of his master’s crop and a daily ritual of oppressive training. The stark environment of the orphanage not only sets the tone for Syx’s challenging upbringing but also establishes the social hierarchy and dynamics among the boys.
The character development is impressive, particularly through Syx, who embodies resilience despite the brutal conditions he faces. Through the course of the narrative, the reader witnesses the struggle for identity and purpose among the orphaned boys, who chant their subordinate phrases under the watchful eye of Master Hepta, revealing a deep-seated culture of obedience and survival. This formative setting is juxtaposed with intriguing glimpses into the world beyond the orphanage, hinting at a more advanced civilization, the Khémians, which forms a substantial backstory for the unfolding events.
Author's prose is rich and descriptive, offering insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings, particularly Rowan, another key figure who deals with themes of social isolation and the yearning for connection amidst a backdrop of societal expectations and pressures. The interplay of personal and societal narratives is skillfully woven together as characters navigate their relationships and evolving environments, emphasizing the struggle for agency in a world filled with rules and conditioning
The technological aspects of the world, such as the floating vehicles known as discs and the Hall of Memory filled with artifacts, add layers of intrigue and fantasy, enhancing the storyline as characters seek knowledge and freedom. These elements not only serve to create a captivating adventure but also facilitate deeper philosophical explorations of heritage, memory, and the impact of history on the present. Overall, this presents a thought-provoking opening to the Stars Hereafter Chronicles, balancing action with reflection, and leaves readers eager to discover how the characters will break free from their past and forge their paths in this expansive universe. The combination of strong character arcs and a richly developed world makes it a promising start to Smithson's trilogy, inviting readers to ponder their own places within the structures of society while engaging with a narrative that is as fantastical as it is reflective of real human experiences.
The character development is impressive, particularly through Syx, who embodies resilience despite the brutal conditions he faces. Through the course of the narrative, the reader witnesses the struggle for identity and purpose among the orphaned boys, who chant their subordinate phrases under the watchful eye of Master Hepta, revealing a deep-seated culture of obedience and survival. This formative setting is juxtaposed with intriguing glimpses into the world beyond the orphanage, hinting at a more advanced civilization, the Khémians, which forms a substantial backstory for the unfolding events.
Author's prose is rich and descriptive, offering insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings, particularly Rowan, another key figure who deals with themes of social isolation and the yearning for connection amidst a backdrop of societal expectations and pressures. The interplay of personal and societal narratives is skillfully woven together as characters navigate their relationships and evolving environments, emphasizing the struggle for agency in a world filled with rules and conditioning
The technological aspects of the world, such as the floating vehicles known as discs and the Hall of Memory filled with artifacts, add layers of intrigue and fantasy, enhancing the storyline as characters seek knowledge and freedom. These elements not only serve to create a captivating adventure but also facilitate deeper philosophical explorations of heritage, memory, and the impact of history on the present. Overall, this presents a thought-provoking opening to the Stars Hereafter Chronicles, balancing action with reflection, and leaves readers eager to discover how the characters will break free from their past and forge their paths in this expansive universe. The combination of strong character arcs and a richly developed world makes it a promising start to Smithson's trilogy, inviting readers to ponder their own places within the structures of society while engaging with a narrative that is as fantastical as it is reflective of real human experiences.
September 15, 2025
Book Review: Lightning Seeds (The Stars Hereafter Chronicles Book 1) by Rupert Smithson
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉Rupert Smithson’s Lightning Seeds opens The Stars Hereafter Chronicles with a sweeping and imaginative narrative that blends dystopia, romance, mysticism, and epic adventure into a story that is both exhilarating and deeply emotional. At its center stands Syx, an orphan who has endured slavery and hardship, and whose sudden freedom becomes the catalyst for an odyssey that tests his strength, his loyalty, and his capacity for love.
👉The novel begins with a transformative encounter. Syx meets an outsider, a mysterious figure he initially mistakes for male, only to later discover her true identity. Their escape from the orphanage is not simply an act of survival but the beginning of a bond that awakens his deepest emotions. When this rescuer is forced to leave him, Syx’s journey becomes charged with longing, heartache, and the relentless pursuit of a place to call home. His path leads him into a brutal world at war, where reptilian forces and other mutant species clash in battles that reshape existence itself.
👉What makes Lightning Seeds compelling is the way Smithson layers high-stakes action with profound character development. Syx does not emerge as a conventional hero defined by power alone. His humanity lies in his contradictions. He is a fighter and a commando, but also a man scarred by betrayal, vulnerable to love, and torn between duty and desire. This emotional depth makes his victories feel hard-earned and his struggles painfully real. Readers are invited not only to witness his battles but also to share his inner turmoil, his yearning for connection, and his determination to endure despite overwhelming odds.
👉Smithson excels in creating vivid and original worlds. Perkona Ola and Wishbone Warren are not mere backdrops but almost living presences in the novel. They carry echoes of memory, magic, and history, shaping the journey as much as the characters do. These realms are crafted with rare imagination, making the act of traversing them feel transformative.
Happy reading 😁
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉Rupert Smithson’s Lightning Seeds opens The Stars Hereafter Chronicles with a sweeping and imaginative narrative that blends dystopia, romance, mysticism, and epic adventure into a story that is both exhilarating and deeply emotional. At its center stands Syx, an orphan who has endured slavery and hardship, and whose sudden freedom becomes the catalyst for an odyssey that tests his strength, his loyalty, and his capacity for love.
👉The novel begins with a transformative encounter. Syx meets an outsider, a mysterious figure he initially mistakes for male, only to later discover her true identity. Their escape from the orphanage is not simply an act of survival but the beginning of a bond that awakens his deepest emotions. When this rescuer is forced to leave him, Syx’s journey becomes charged with longing, heartache, and the relentless pursuit of a place to call home. His path leads him into a brutal world at war, where reptilian forces and other mutant species clash in battles that reshape existence itself.
👉What makes Lightning Seeds compelling is the way Smithson layers high-stakes action with profound character development. Syx does not emerge as a conventional hero defined by power alone. His humanity lies in his contradictions. He is a fighter and a commando, but also a man scarred by betrayal, vulnerable to love, and torn between duty and desire. This emotional depth makes his victories feel hard-earned and his struggles painfully real. Readers are invited not only to witness his battles but also to share his inner turmoil, his yearning for connection, and his determination to endure despite overwhelming odds.
👉Smithson excels in creating vivid and original worlds. Perkona Ola and Wishbone Warren are not mere backdrops but almost living presences in the novel. They carry echoes of memory, magic, and history, shaping the journey as much as the characters do. These realms are crafted with rare imagination, making the act of traversing them feel transformative.
Happy reading 😁
February 18, 2025
I was enthralled by the alternate world Rupert has created and the characters are very interesting, I have a few favourites.
This book came to me a just the right moment and was quite the page turner - at some points nail biting. Kinda has a bit of everything, action, adventure, an awakening, a love interest. There were also some pages that were so insightful and beautifully written that they are almost poetic.
I moved onto the second book yesterday. Excellent that there are so many in the series!
This book came to me a just the right moment and was quite the page turner - at some points nail biting. Kinda has a bit of everything, action, adventure, an awakening, a love interest. There were also some pages that were so insightful and beautifully written that they are almost poetic.
I moved onto the second book yesterday. Excellent that there are so many in the series!
February 18, 2025
I really loved this book. It is not something I would normally read, but I found it fascinating and it really kept me guessing the whole way through.
Read
March 6, 2021I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Lightning Seeds and I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me one in exchange for an honest review.
It hurts to say this: I’ve been trying to read this book and I can’t seem to make any progress. I don’t know why, or how but I know for sure I’ve never DNFed a book before. And, unfortunately this is my first time.
If you’re gonna read this review, don’t panic, I won’t include any spoilers.
Basically Lightning Seeds follows the story of an orphan? of a boy who goes by the name Syx as he is provided help by an unknown person who gets him out of the place he’s been confined to till he becomes a Hepta? and finds out the secrets and the betrayals that have shaken his world.
I’m so sorry if I didn’t get the description right. Being completely honest, this is truly an original idea and I would’ve loved to read more if only it had been able to get me hooked in the firsts 100 pages. I just don’t feel any connection, any emotional attachment to the main character and honestly, I didn’t get the part where he explains the whole ranking thing in his society and it truly messed things up in my head. I feel bad, because I was really excited to read this when I first requested but, turns out it wasn’t what I thought it would be.
First of all, the writing style. I don’t know if it might just be me but I didn’t get the meaning, I didn’t see the significance behind every word and every sentence and paragraph. They were just words connected but, for me, lacking content and meaning. Plus I didn’t actually find it easy to read.
Second of all, the description of the social hierarchy? or how the society in this dystopian world works. Is “Hapte” someone’s name or like a rank? Like colonel? And Syx? Is that also someone’s name ( the main character’s name ) or just a common name given to orphans who turn out to be not orphans because they’ve been denied to come back home until they ascend to Hepta? Am I right? Or wrong? And that’s what I’m referring to. I’m sure we would be given more information further in the book. However, I can’t keep reading it. It just doesn’t get me hooked and instead of feeling excitement to keep reading it, I just dread to even think of opening it and pass my eyes through thousands of words that hold no meaning to me.
Despite the fact that I’m aware it’s too difficult to get to love the main character in the beginning, other books really catch the reader’s attention in the first page or the second one. I didn’t feel any of this reading Lightning Seeds.
I’m sure some people may wonder how I dnfed it while they thought it’s a piece of art but, it’s just my opinion. So, again, I’m sorry for the author but I just couldn’t put myself to read this book.
Maybe, maybe someday I’ll find the courage to give it a second try and maybe, who knows? Maybe I’ll find myself enjoying it.
It hurts to say this: I’ve been trying to read this book and I can’t seem to make any progress. I don’t know why, or how but I know for sure I’ve never DNFed a book before. And, unfortunately this is my first time.
If you’re gonna read this review, don’t panic, I won’t include any spoilers.
Basically Lightning Seeds follows the story of an orphan? of a boy who goes by the name Syx as he is provided help by an unknown person who gets him out of the place he’s been confined to till he becomes a Hepta? and finds out the secrets and the betrayals that have shaken his world.
I’m so sorry if I didn’t get the description right. Being completely honest, this is truly an original idea and I would’ve loved to read more if only it had been able to get me hooked in the firsts 100 pages. I just don’t feel any connection, any emotional attachment to the main character and honestly, I didn’t get the part where he explains the whole ranking thing in his society and it truly messed things up in my head. I feel bad, because I was really excited to read this when I first requested but, turns out it wasn’t what I thought it would be.
First of all, the writing style. I don’t know if it might just be me but I didn’t get the meaning, I didn’t see the significance behind every word and every sentence and paragraph. They were just words connected but, for me, lacking content and meaning. Plus I didn’t actually find it easy to read.
Second of all, the description of the social hierarchy? or how the society in this dystopian world works. Is “Hapte” someone’s name or like a rank? Like colonel? And Syx? Is that also someone’s name ( the main character’s name ) or just a common name given to orphans who turn out to be not orphans because they’ve been denied to come back home until they ascend to Hepta? Am I right? Or wrong? And that’s what I’m referring to. I’m sure we would be given more information further in the book. However, I can’t keep reading it. It just doesn’t get me hooked and instead of feeling excitement to keep reading it, I just dread to even think of opening it and pass my eyes through thousands of words that hold no meaning to me.
Despite the fact that I’m aware it’s too difficult to get to love the main character in the beginning, other books really catch the reader’s attention in the first page or the second one. I didn’t feel any of this reading Lightning Seeds.
I’m sure some people may wonder how I dnfed it while they thought it’s a piece of art but, it’s just my opinion. So, again, I’m sorry for the author but I just couldn’t put myself to read this book.
Maybe, maybe someday I’ll find the courage to give it a second try and maybe, who knows? Maybe I’ll find myself enjoying it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews