The evidence of a fabulous ancient past is about to be lost forever with the death of an enigmatic recluse. The last people to witness this mysterious civilisation’s power were blown up by an explosion that baffled and alarmed the authorities who attempted to commit its existence to oblivion. Dr Duncan Parfait is charismatic, a little shambolic, and totally convinced that there could be no intelligent culture pre-dating the present one. The unequivocal proof that there was sets his preconceptions and world on its head. Without giving a thought to it being too true to be good, he sets out to excavate submerge cities and write a book which contradicts all those assumptions made by historians and archaeologists that went before. Dodo Books
Jane Palmer’s first title, “The Planet Dweller”, was published by The Women’s Press in their science fiction list in 1985. They also published “The Watcher” (now republished by Dodo as “The Kybion”) in 1986, and the sequel to “The Planet Dweller”, “Moving Moosevan”, in 1990. Swift Publishers published “The Drune” (now republished as “Babel’s Basement” by Dodo) in 1999. The author also illustrates under the name of Dandi Palmer.
The ancient and highly developed civilisation of Fairdamon has fallen, its sole survivor proves an intriguing centre point to the tale. We meet a succession of characters who, in various ways, connect with him.
I loved the tapestry of this book: prewar rumblings to 21st century Archaeology and the descriptions of place and people that we glimpse from childhood.