Amazon The Sun Singer Category:  Fantasy Publisher: iUniverse ISBN-10:  0595316654 Type: Fiction Pages: 320 Copyright: June 24, 2004 ISBN-13: 9780595316656 Teenager Robert Adams is blessed and cursed with the gift of prophecy, a talent he will need for his survival after he steps through a portal into a look-alike mountain world in another universe. This novel, labelled as "fantasy" by the publisher, uses a mix of magical realism and dreams to show Robert adams' "heropath" journey into an unknown mountain land where he must complete a mission left undone by his avatar grandfather. He steps into a world at war and must first learn whom to trust and then how to trust himself. The book was inspired by the Sun Singer statue at Allerton Park in Monticello, Illinois. While the book uses few real place names, the mountain adventure action is set in Glacier National Park, Montana. Excerpt Cold chaos of night and strangled moon, the great old trees drenched in sap’s perfume rise up like gaunt fingers out of the valley gloom seeking stars, any light. He shoves through tangled vines, hears small creatures running away in the dark, smells bones, close, crushed beneath the weight of eyes, feels owl’s call—sharp and true down off the black mountain’s ridge—hoooo hoo-oooo, hoo hoo, tear through his veins as mocking ice. A twig snaps beneath his boot. Choke hold. Shadows drag him down. He fights for breath, would sell his soul for it, and hears, is hearing, “There are numerous ways to die, little boy.” Cold blooded, that voice is mother of snakes.

An excellent read, highly recommended!,
"The Sun Singer" tells the story of a young man on the brink of adulthood, who is propelled on an adventure by the will and words of his recently deceased Grandfather. Robert Adams has the unique gift of prophecy that is both a blessing and a curse. After foreseeing a death too close to home, and being unable to prevent it, the young man tries with all his might to block out the visions. But his wise and optimistic grandfather knows that this special ability is something to be nurtured, and so arranges for Robert to return to the place where the old man discovered Pyrrha, and where Robert must take over the odyssey. Led by the elder's friends, Robert enters an alternate universe in dire need of his help and his second sight. There he learns as much about himself as he does about his very special grandfather, and gains some unique lifelong friends.

Malcolm Campbell has created a fascinating alternate universe, filled with realistic and unique characters. While the plot is sometimes a bit confusing, the author does an admirable job of describing some difficult images, and uses wonderful, almost poetic, prose in the process. The story line not only leaves the adventure open to a sequel, but also to what is certain to be a very interesting prequel.

The author lives in Georgia, where he has worked as a writer in multiple capacities. The Sun Singer is a Foreword Magazine Book of the Year finalist and the author is a Georgia Author of the Year nominee.

A remarkable facet of what I hope will soon become a fantasy series- this book would be even more appreciated if another in the adventure followed it.

Highly recommended by Reviewer: Nancy Morris, Allbooks Reviews.