The Light From Far Below

by Simon Williams

"You can't go home, Amber. You know perfectly well that you don't have one anymore. Home's gone. Daddy's gone. Joe's long gone from your dreary life, but he lingers on in your head, doesn't he? Like a footprint or a ghost. A faded sketch of the boy you once knew." Joe's and Amber's lives have changed, their fates engineered by unseen forces. The Order is not the organisation they thought it was. Universal secrets exist that Joe and Amber have only just begun to reveal. Can they stay hidden from their enemies and find a way to stem the tide of chaos beginning to sweep through the world?

216 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2018

About the author

Simon Williams is an author of dark fantasy with elements of science fiction and horror, and a rather shapeless male of indeterminate age who seems intent on writing about himself in the third person.

If you're especially lucky you may see him half-shambling, half-rolling along the street in his home town of Trumpton. You'll catch the best view from the other side of the road, which is probably where you'll be anyway. Small children will point excitedly and turn to their parents to exclaim, "It must have been *one hell of a* spade to do that!"

He is the author of the Aona series (five books in all, and the series is complete) and Summer's Dark Waters, which is a fantasy / sci-fi adventure aimed more at children and teens although judging by the reviews a lot of adults seem to like it too.

The positive response to Summer's Dark Waters further prompted him to start writing a sequel.

His favourite authors include Clive Barker, Alan Garner, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Joe Abercrombie, Ian Irvine, George R R Martin, C J Cherryh, Tad Williams, Celia Friedman, Aldous Huxley and numerous others.

When not scribbling away in his notepad of doom, the curious Mr Williams enjoys counting magpies, opening old paperbacks and marveling at how each one smells very slightly different, discussing current interest rates and inflation with the local squirrels, and eating whatever he finds at the back of the fridge (unless it's a door to Narnia, which he'd never eat just in case Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy were hoping to use it to get back).

Interviews with the author:

Rachel Hunter

Ross Kitson

Gwen Perkins

M L Falconer

Kim Smith

Alex Butcher

Fiona McVie

Veronica Roxby Jorden

Dakota Douglas

Kyra Dune

Heidi Angell

Reviews

[Mike Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Summer's Dark Waters with a plot that is definitely on the dark side. As expected it is superbly written, and doesn’t waste too much time with purple prose and overly detailed descriptions. In this adventure Joe and Amber must keep apart in case the Order finds them. This is a situation that they can’t get on with. Joe makes a new friend, Dean. Dean’s father is part of the order and his mission is to find out more about Joe. The order is determined to create chaos and misery, and in that area reflects only too well the current social commentary we are living through now. When our heroes discover that members of the order can look like anyone they realise that more is at stake than they could possibly imagine. As the plot thickens we begin to worry that Joe and Amber may never see each other again, and if they did…what would happen? This is a cracking follow on from its predecessor and an equally good read. I can definitely recommend this dark ride to readers of all ages.

[Joyce Hertzoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the sequel to Summer’s Dark Waters, Joe and Amber are separated to protect them from the Order. Joe’s new friend Dean is a son of a member of the Order and inadvertently gives away Joe’s location. Meanwhile, Amber and her dad are found and separated. The kids travel through the Nothingness separately and find themselves in a maze controlled by the Order. Aimed at middle-grade and older readers, this is a great series to introduce kids to darker science fiction and fantasy. The writing is very good and is illustrated by drawings.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book to review and I thought it was atmospheric and eerie. I'd read the first story and this one follows the mystery and battles that Joe and Amber have to face.

It's aimed at younger readers but its message is depressingly clear - I think this is a story that will resonate on many levels to all ages.

It's well-written and thought-provoking with great characters and a plot that is certainly on the dark side.

A recommended read.