Lightborn
Published on 7. October 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-84149-407-4 (ISBN)
Description
Lightborn, better known as 'shine', is a mind-altering technology that has revolutionised the modern world. It is the ultimate in education, self-improvement and entertainment - beamed directly into the brain of anyone who can meet the asking price. But in the city of Los Sombres, renegade shine has attacked the adult population, resulting in social chaos and widespread insanity in everyone past the age of puberty. The only solution has been to turn off the Field and isolate the city.
Trapped within the quarantine perimeter, fourteen-year-old Xavier just wants to find the drug that can keep his own physical maturity at bay until the army shuts down the shine. That's how he meets Roksana, mysteriously impervious to shine and devoted to helping the stricken. As the military invades street by street, Xavier and Roksana discover that there could be hope for Los Sombres - but only if Xavier will allow a lightborn cure to enter his mind. What he doesn't know is that the shine in question has a mind of its own . . .
Trapped within the quarantine perimeter, fourteen-year-old Xavier just wants to find the drug that can keep his own physical maturity at bay until the army shuts down the shine. That's how he meets Roksana, mysteriously impervious to shine and devoted to helping the stricken. As the military invades street by street, Xavier and Roksana discover that there could be hope for Los Sombres - but only if Xavier will allow a lightborn cure to enter his mind. What he doesn't know is that the shine in question has a mind of its own . . .
Reviews / Votes
Gripping, thought-provoking speculation, populated with gritty, believable characters and a storyline that moves in surprising directions, from an award-winning author * THE TIMES * Sullivan is brilliant at presenting convincing near-future scenarios peopled by heart-breakingly real characters . . . and leaves the explication of the technology in the background while concentrating on the human consequences of its malfunction. Recom * GUARDIAN * Compelling, imaginative and often discomforting * SFX * A pretty damn good read * IMPACT *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 130 mm
Width: 201 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
366 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84149-407-4 (9781841494074)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Tricia Sullivan was born in New Jersey in 1968 and received a music degree from Bard College and a Master's in Education from Columbia University. She taught in Manhattan and New Jersey before moving to the UK in 1995. DREAMING IN SMOKE won the 1999 Arthur C. Clarke award.