AT THE SHARP END OF LIGHTNING: The novel is a crossover fantastical tale that weaves and bursts beyond its genre.

One of the two central characters is a Sea Sprite who happens to be a lightning attractor…and likes it.

The other is a restless youth, afflicted with a disease of the blood, perplexed as to why a fulminating man in a white suit would try to kill him.

It is set across the seas of the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent lands, from the medieval past to the near future, and across intricately connected worlds—and yet timely for the issues of today.

It is a serious book about ocean ecology and climate change but set amidst issues of family, of loss and sacrifice, of unexpected gifts and coping with disability and new abilities. About ritual and doubt. About myth, celtic legends and about reshaping of history.

It is about how the world might be at the end of the century after the planet has warmed and the oceans have acidified.

s. BOOK ONE OF THE OCEANLIGHT SERIES

ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-0-6 (mobi)
ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-1-3 (epub)
ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-2-0 (Print )
Amazon Kindle ASIN: (ASIN: B00T0TJLYI)

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-End-Lightning-Oceanlight-Book-ebook/dp/B00T0TJLYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1422801432&sr=1-1

Praise for ‘At The Sharp End of Lightning’ by NR Bates:

“What a fantastic book” “What a fantastic book, the author takes you into another realm. I couldn’t put the book down, a real page turner. Seeing as this is book 1 I can’t wait for the next one to be written.” Scotialassie, Amazon.UK Reviewer (10 Feb 2015) 5 star review

“Dark dreams and the flashes of lightning in the far distance.” “British author NR Bates makes his novel writing debut with AT THE SHARP END OF LIGHTNING, Book 1 of the OCEANLIGHT series. He has indeed written extensively which explains why his command of the medium is so secure: he has published more than one hundred and twenty scientific papers on ocean chemistry, climate change and ocean acidification as a Senior Scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and Professor of Ocean Biogeochemistry at the University of Southampton, UK. Bates’ passion for the ocean and environmental sciences has proven a successful driving force in both his scientific mind and his fantasy creative mind. The result, as we read it here, is `true’ Science Fiction fantasy! And from this synopsis it is clear that there will be further books forthcoming in this series - and a welcome light on the nidus this prelude offers.

Bates opens his book with a map/diagram called The Interfaces – the meaning of which will be explained throughout the novel, but whose information offers hints and suggestions of codes to be solved. And at the end of his book he discusses Welsh history that informed this story as well as the biology and biogeochemistry of the Sargasso Sea, further influences. The author provides an outline of the story that assists the reader immensely: `The interwoven fantastical tale of family, of loss and sacrifice, of unexpected gifts and coping with disability and new abilities set against the backdrop of climate change occurring across parallel worlds.

Bates’ writing style can only be called `elegant’ – he is unafraid to challenge the reader with a rich vocabulary that somehow enhances the characters we encounter. This is obvious form the opening paragraph:

“As the streamer of lightning harmlessly discharged through her body into the palm of her hand, Yalara Narika noticed many things at once. There was fright and surprise as adrenaline raced through her body. The words “I’m alive” came to mind, accompanied by an overwhelming relief when the forked sharpness passed out of her. Then came the reflex response– her call to Calymene, Mother Earth– that she had despite her doubt. A hurried glance brought the reassuring thought “I’m still in the sky.” Simultaneously, she returned to her search– for the “lost”– which was set against the immensity of the seas. And interwoven amongst these reactions were thoughts of that moment in the distant future, at the end of her life, when she’d fly up into the tumult, clad in a cuprous woven fabric, and upon the flash of electrica, her constituent parts would disassemble in an instantaneous coruscation of energy.’

This is our first encounter with being struck by lightning.

As with most fantasy/sci-fi books it takes a while to adjust to the strange names and the references to places of origin, but Bates’ language makes that journey of discovery a rewarding one. He does offer a helpful Sprite Glossary and Human Glossary at books end. This is a strong debut, well worth the investment of mental energy.”- Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame & top 100 reviewer. (2 March 2015) 5 star review

Book Viral Spotlight “Ambitious and enchanting, At The Sharp End Of Lightning by author N R Bates proves a rich and original foray into the realms of fantasy fiction. Compelled by a commanding narrative that readily enthrals the imagination, the magical intrigue simmers throughout as Bates renders his fantasy world in rich hues. A world parallel to our own yet retaining a time worn familiarity that makes it feel immediately authentic. It’s an intricate, intrigue-laden telling, which plays to the best in this popular genre and it’s clear from the start that Bates is in his element.

“There’s certainly much to enjoy here. From cleverly contrived and vibrant scenes to a captivating blend of magical mysticism, he ably manages to avoid prescriptive tropes whilst a certain descriptive economy and a tight word count brings a penetrating levity to his dialogue. Both timely and well observed, he notably avoids the trite mutterings of mediocre characterisation to create genuine depth and emotive resonance, which in turn ensures the reader becomes fully invested in the trials and tribulations of his characters.

Beautifully written and undoubtedly the start of an exciting new series, At The Sharp End Of Lightning proves a fine example of fantasy fiction. Definitely deserving of a place on your bookshelf, it is recommended without reservation!”-Book Viral (Feb 2015) 5 star review

“Simply excellent!” “I'm not one to overly rave about books but I would like to think I can spot something exceptional when I read it. For me At The Sharp End Of Lightning falls into this category. The descriptive elements of the writing are simply excellent and the story and characters very well described. Read over the weekend I lost all track of time which is what should happen with a really great book.”-Danny, Amazon.UK Reviewer (12 March 2015) 5 star review

“A truly exciting and original read!” “I've really enjoyed reading this book, especially as I live in the shadow of Bryn Euryn and so am familiar with the places that the author describes. The Bryn truly is a magical and historic place and I can well imagine the events that occur in the book taking place there. I look forward with fascination to reading the next two volumes. A well written and entertaining book that I can wholeheartedly recommend.”-Willanon, Amazon.UK Reviewer (11 March 2015) 5 star review

“A must read book! “A great pleasure to read this novel and I look forward to the next two books in the trilogy. Once you enter the story you are swept along by the depth of the characters and places and the promise of an exciting read (a can't put down sort of book) which is beautifully written with a harmonious mix of both the scientific and fantastical. Hurry up book 2!!.”-Mobilly, Amazon.UK Reviewer (5 March 2015) 5 star review

 

“What a wonderful book”. “What a wonderful book. I'm a big fan of the fantasy genre but have found slim pickings in recent years despite all the books that are being released. The trouble is they are all much the same which is why I really loved this one. I thought the storyline and characters were very original and I loved the alternative dimension. There is a lot of detail at times which I really loved and it is very well written. I am hoping there will another one in this series soon.” Lorraine Carter, Goodreads. (13 March 2015) 5 star review

“An Easy 5 stars” “Very imaginative, I closed the doors and totally immersed myself in the story for an entire weekend. There’s not a lot I can say without giving too much away but as far as Fantasy novels go I couldn’t give it less than 5 stars.” Karen E. Proctor, Amazon.UK Reviewer (15 March 2015) 5 star review

“A well written and rather enjoyable Sci-fi fantasy.” “At the Sharp end of lightening is a fantasy Sci-fi that touches upon lots of different subjects such as family, sacrifice, losing loved ones, coping with disabilities, gifts that weren't expected and also the ever present climate change. All this occurs over two parallel universes.

In this book we meet Yalara Narika, a winged Sea Sprite. She searches for her lover across miles of oceans but while she does this she stumbles across catastrophe and the realisation that her world has changed and is turned upside down. Elsewhere in what appears to be a safe area in North Wales Einion Morgan Alban, a young agitated individual that is subjected to dealing with a disease of the blood, finds themselves almost being murdered by a guy in a white suit. Between both Yalara and Einion they have to discover a way to find out about the reasons the pair almost lost their lives and also their unknown connections as the two of them come to terms with the shakeup of their lives and worlds.

With all the slightly tricky names and terms from both the humans and sprites it is rather helpful to find the author has listed them and their meanings at the back of the book. It was very enjoyable and if the first is anything to go by then the others in the series will be enjoyable reads. H.Y. Taylor, Amazon.UK Reviewer (15 March 2015) 5 star review

“Bring on Book 2!” “I just finished this book and did not want it to end. Cannot wait for Book 2. So many things...I no longer see the Ocean Sprites as mythical creatures, but precious little souls with deep emotions. I also felt deeply the trials, emotions and excitement of Einion. And the whale matriarch's tale brought tears to my eyes. I can see why one reviewer called this book "elegant". It is elegant, brilliant, and unlike any book I have ever read before. Margaret Shapiro, Amazon Reviewer (18 March 2015) 5 star review

THE GATHERING PLACES: Yalara Narika recovers from grief and settles back to life on her Seanest, the Veliger, as it approaches the Lonely Isle and the Gathering Place.  She must seek the aid of the Watcher Sprite and a dying human scientist—a man she calls an alciemist—ito uncover threats posed by a growing environmental catastrophe and the machinations of a forest Sprite, Xylenia. Passing between existence in his own mundane, modern time and medieval Wales, Einion Alban Morgan finds himself at the multilayered center of life and death in the Gray Hall, his unexpected friendship with Auron ap Cadwaldwr Gwynedd deepening, and the mysteries of the Igateways between worlds revealed to him by the exiled Sprite, Helia Eradica. In both Oceanlight and in medieval Wales, all is not what it seems. BOOK TWO OF THE OCEANLIGHT SERIES

ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-3-7 (mobi; Coming soon)
ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-4-4 (epub; Coming soon)
ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-5-1 (Print; Coming soon)

Amazon Link: The second book will be published in several months.


The Fall of Icarus (The Elevator, The Fall of Icarus, and The Girl)

Three interconnected short-stories set in Paris explore the issue of choice, survival and transformation. In the first story, a young man on his first business trip is waylaid by an aberrant elevator. In the pivotal tale, a young scientist re-imagines the Greek myth of Icarus and his fall to earth. In the final story, a young woman who cannot recall her own name relates the fantastical tale of a girl who can fly.

ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-6-8 (mobi)
ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-7-5 (epub)
ISBN Number:  978-0-9931905-8-2 (Print )
Amazon Kindle ASIN: (ASIN: B00T0TJLYI)

http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Icarus-Elevator-Girl/dp/0993190588/ref