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Robert sees the statue of the Sun Singer in a lonely meadow, hears the song of the sun and receives the gift of prophecy. Robert then blames himself for the tragedy he cannot prevent and shoves his bright talent into the dark shadows of the future where, he suspects, it will one day save him... or kill him.
The main character in "The Sun Singer" is Robert Adams, a teenager who<BR/>has been tormented with his psychic dreams, especially after the death<BR/>of his grandfather, and Julianne. Robert was against the idea of <BR/>battling with his dreams. It was easier to ignore them, but his agony,<BR/>and torment lead to a major decision. He had the dying need to meet the<BR/>people who knew his grandfather, and he had to find out the truth about<BR/>his close friend's death, Julianne. The choice he had to make in order<BR/>to move on was a once in a lifetime opportunity, which happened while<BR/>on a family vacation in the mountains, after the passing of his<BR/>grandfather. The door of Pyrrha then opens, inviting Robert to enter<BR/>a village that's ruled by evil, mystical magic, and a journey of<BR/>ultimate reality into the future. As Robert enters this magical kingdom,<BR/>does he grow up overnight? Is he prepared to battle with evil, and step<BR/>into war as he confronts his grandfather's betrayer? Does he stop blaming<BR/>himself for a tragedy he could not prevent? Will he survive Pyrrha's<BR/>evil as he unlocks the mystery of Julianne's death? As Robert set out<BR/>on his quest to complete a journey that his grandfather began, the<BR/>pages to "The Sun Singer" become an unforgettable magical adventure.<BR/>I recommend this novel to teens, adults, and all fantasy lovers. <BR/>Malcolm R. Campbell takes the reader on a magnificent, magic carpet ride<BR/>to the past, the present, and the future. The story is enlightening,<BR/>and tug's at the reader's heart as the adventure becomes a journey<BR/>that strikes a chord in every reader, while looking back into the<BR/>years of growing up. This novel is packed with riveting intensity,<BR/>and is hauntingly powerful. As each page in "The Sun Singer" fits<BR/>another piece to the mysterious puzzle that Robert is determined to<BR/>put together, the story becomes more entertaining, and touching.<BR/>The author created a brilliant, must-read fantasy that makes you crave<BR/>for a sequel. "The Sun Singer" takes the reader into an enchanting<BR/>adventure, with magical power, and healing tonic. After Robert enters<BR/>a time-zone of another world, the mystery he unravels leaves<BR/>unforgettable consequences as if viewing "The Sixth Sense" with<BR/>Bruce Willis!<BR/><BR/><BR/>Geraldine Ahearn, A.I.O.M.<BR/>Author of 6 books<BR/>Founding Member ABI Women's Review Board
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Melissa-S
Posted April 1, 2012
Malcolm R. Campbell’s The Sun Singer is a rich tapestry of wisdom and wit. Starting with captivating family banter and culminating in an adventure so grand that it can only be magical, this hero’s journey takes the reader to a land beyond the narrow constraints of everyday identity - a land where a boy can discover just what sort of metal he is truly made of.
Generational relationships play an important role in this book, and anyone who has ever had a special connection with a grandparent or grandchild will treasure the bond between Robert and his grandfather. The warmth between them is palpable, and lessons are delivered wrapped in ribbons of jest.
The writing itself is lyrical and dense, and the plot is complex, compelling, and original. Dreams, alternate dimensions, and nested stories interweave, one on top of the other, until they are braided so thick that the reader cannot possibly guess what will happen next.
This is a book I’m sure I will return to and share with others, again and again.
With "The Sun Singer," the author Malcolm Campbell exquisitely draws us into a hero's journey unlike any before.
When 15-year-old Robert Adams and his family leave on a long-awaited wilderness vacation, it is under the cloud of the death of his beloved Grandfather, Tom Elliott. The vacation had been planned, among other things, so Tom could introduce to Robert the "magical" world of the high mountains he has written about in his books. What Robert doesn't realize is that the places and events described to him by his Grandfather are actually magical - in a parallel universe. And Robert is soon transported there and enjoined by perils against which he must quickly learn to protect himself and a whole alien culture . all in the need to complete a task left unfinished by his Grandfather.
Within the arcana of fantastic hero's journeys the authors seem so often to be drawn into the realms of Arthurian Legend and Nordic Forest symbolism and, although some of this does find its way into Mr. Campbell's story, he introduces a significantly more naturalistic/shamanic universe for his hero to travel, while also managing to imbue his story with a subtle but comprehensive educational introduction to the flora and fauna of the Western forest.
There is magic to be found here, and the gathering of superhuman powers; there is much danger, and spirits malevolent and benign; but they seem to feel closer - more immediately accessible to us mortal beings. Mr. Campbell, while avoiding the wholesale bloodletting of the books that precede The Sun Singer, weaves a spectacularly intricate and heart-pounding spell that pulls the reader, racing alongside his hero to the end - and leaves us breathlessly wanting more.
One hopes that we are allowed to join Robert Adams in his further adventures.
I read about one half of THE SUN SINGER and then made the mistake of allowing an inquisitive teenager to read a few pages. The book was gone in a flash and not returned until finished. Compelling characters and challenging scenarios keep these pages turning. I had a couple of beloved grandfathers, I could relate to Robert Adams. I had to discover what he would do next.
Author Malcolm R. Campbell weaves many fantastic one-two liners into this story. I have several favorites. An example: "Lovely word, hallucinating," drawled Tor. "I must put it on my list of important words."
There is an unconventional "Alice in Wonderland" feel when Robert steps into other dimensions with curious readers at his heels. Adults will enjoy this novel. Teens will love it.
Anonymous
Posted August 4, 2008
'The Sun Singer' is a book that will transport you to other realms, realms that shadow ours. Campbell's story is not only about how one character must complete what his grand-father began, it is about how one must come to terms with loss and death too. Robert undertakes a journey not only to other realities, but to his genetic heritage, a heritage that he must fully accept in order to become free. I highly recommend this book to those who seek to understand their own magical natures. Campbell has a fine eye for describing nature and emotions, something rare in writers these days. I predict that readers will resonate with his wisdom and I am really looking forward to his next book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 26, 2007
Malcolm R. Campbell takes us into a realm of two worlds connected by space and separated by time. You could also describe the story as the reverse. The author has created a fantasy for young or old adult readers. Many of the latter will notice similarities with Carlos Castaneda's Don Juan adventures. As in the Don Juan books, the lead character seems to cross back and forth between the two worlds whenever he least expects it. A teenage boy who has a highly developed relationship with his grandfather prepares to enter a world from another time. The grandfather describes magical (and dangerous) adventures that await his grandson when the moment arrives for the boy to step through the time portal. He tells his grandson many surprising things about the mystical lives of both of them, but the boy finds the journey through time to be more remarkable than he could ever have dreamed.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 31, 2005
Campbell is an alchemist, expertly blending ingredients as diverse as vision quests and quantum mechanics to deliver something more like a powerful healing tonic than a novel: a sort of literary elixir. He delicately interweaves these elements into his story so skillfully that, unlike so many other novels of this genre, he avoids lecturing or preaching. Because of this nuanced approach to holistic and new age concepts, he reached me in a way that Castaneda never could. The characters are dynamic and complex, the dialogue authentic, and the relationships extraordinarily familiar. Campbell¿s interplay of waking and dreaming, the fantastic and the familiar, serves to obfuscate and disorient so effectively that when the epiphanies did come I felt them as deeply as if they were my own. Campbell commands language like a sorcerer, crafting vivid, visceral dreamscapes. Quite simply, The Sun Singer was like a lucid dream.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 20, 2005
Immerse yourself in `The Sun Singer¿ an enchanting adventure, which will whisk your imagination into a magical world. The unique relationship between Robert Adams and his grandfather fuels the quest Robert feels he needs to complete. This young teenage boy finds himself in the same mythical kingdom that his grandfather once visited. The connection between reality and fantasy lie in Robert¿s psychic dreams. Through them, Robert sees the future as an unorganized scene of events. Each piece has a meaning, yet without his grandfather¿s insight, they appear to be nothing more than a serious of tragic dreams. Dreams Robert wants nothing to do with after the death of a dear friend, Julianne. `The Sun Singer¿ portrays Robert¿s travels up the mountainside, as a journey with no time. Robert finds himself greeted by people and magical characters that knew of his grandfather. He realizes that he needs to rely on the dreams he vowed to leave behind to complete this journey. Robert Adams steps through a portal that leads to a magical kingdom known as Pyrrha. Ruled by evil and in need of deliverance, Robert finds himself fighting for this society of mutant creatures. His heroic deeds lead him to the truth of Julianne¿s death, and he returns home appreciating the gift he once cursed. `The Sun Singer¿ delivers a young boy from his antagonizing dreams into a chain of mythological events that in the end prepare him for manhood. A story that feels real!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 14, 2004
This is a wonderful adventure story which is hard to put down! Within Robert¿s quest to finish his beloved Grandfather¿s work, every reader will find something which strikes a chord from his/her own life. Both Native American and Scottish lore are incorporated into the ¿magic¿ or ¿fantasy¿ elements, which are so well constructed that the reader never doubts that everything which occurs is quite real. The scenes are artfully crafted and the words carefully chosen ¿ a real delight. A great read for both teens and adults.
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Posted May 10, 2010
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Overview
Robert sees the statue of the Sun Singer in a lonely meadow, hears the song of the sun and receives the gift of prophecy. Robert then blames himself for the tragedy he cannot prevent and shoves his bright talent into the dark shadows of the future where, he suspects, it will one day save him... or kill him.