The visitors by simon sylvester

Half the squadron wore night vision goggles, for all the good theyd do. People have been disappearing and the question is simple. Written by simon sylvester prepare to be haunted, entranced and intrigued by a debut novel that is anything but run of the mill. It is rare that a novel mines this level of landscape awareness, or that a novel push you to feel the air of an unknown land. Debuts from simon sylvester, dawn anahid mackeen and nilanjana roy. The island has always seemed such a safe place, such a friendly community.

Nobody moves to the remote scottish island of bancree, and few leave but leaving is exactly what seventeenyearold flora intends to do. May 16, 2014 flo sits on the headland of her island home, watching her new neighbours boat their belongings over the water to a rundown islet shack. But in between heavy travels, and a new job that demands my attention like a thrift collector, i found a few. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Brian culbertson together tonight lavender hill smooth jazz penthouse suite duration. If youd like to read more about some of the story inspirations, here are my thoughts on selkies, and heres my love letter to the scottish islands. Sylvesters first novel chronicles the bond forged between friendless 17yearold flora and odd newcomer ailsa after the latter moves to a small. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It was only my third year with the division, and i was already the oldest. Simon sylvester, author of the visitors, recently wrote about a book that means a lot to him both as a reader and as a writer.

Buy the visitors by simon sylvester from waterstones today. Sylvesters descriptions of the dying town of bancree and its wild shores add more than atmosphere. In the tradition of neil gaiman and iain banks, simon sylvester brings an ancient myth to life with this lush, atmospheric comingofage talenobody comes to the remote scottish island of bancree, and seventeenyearold flora cant wait to move to. Hopefully youll see some you didnt know about, and maybe some that. Simon sylvester also catches plenty of the strange magic of the selkie stories and he brews it successfully with that adolescent angst. Simon sylvester screenwriter selfemployed linkedin. This is the year in which i read too little of contemporary books, even if i bought some 30 or so books, mostly published this year. An interview with simon sylvester dale lately, january 25th, 2015 18. The visitors by simon sylvester, 9781848663732, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. His work has been published in a range of magazines, journals and anthologies, and he has written more than a thousand flash stories on twitter. The visitors offers a moody, beguiling, absorbing take on the myth of the selkie, one that asks what the attention these creatures offer their human suitors truly demonstrates.

Click to read more about the visitors by simon sylvester. This novelfirst published in 2014, but appearing in the u. View simon sylvesters profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. He lives in cumbria with his partner and their daughter. Some of the same culprits are there, but with different albums. It is now available from amazon other booksellers are available buy local if you can, folks. I cant hear woodface by crowded house or crossroads by bon jovi without becoming eight or nine or ten years old, and playing heroquest with my brother. Those who come in bring trouble, so when ailsa and her father wash up one summer, flora is surprised to make an unexpected friend. Simon sylvesters novel the visitors is on sale now. It is a wonderful book that tells the story of a strange, quiet town in scotland being transformed by the incursion of strangers. Nobody comes to the remote scottish island of bancree, and seventeenyearold flora cant wait to move. The visitors is an affecting read, a book in which you want to believe, as mysterious and deep as the sea.

For all it has to offer, bancree has seen better days. For a lifelong fan of high stakes genre drama, especially. Simon sylvester, a writer and filmmaker with an impressive body of work under his belt. The visitors is my debut novel, published by the mighty quercus books in june 2014. He wrote eloquently on roald dahls henry sugar and then urged me to do the. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Set on the fictional scottish isle of bancree, the visitors is a heady mix of myth and modern life, with a plot that ebbs and flows like the waves that surround its misty setting.

After an early career writing fiction, in which his debut novel the visitors won the guardian not the booker prize, simon has now discovered the perfect medium for his stories on the screen. Simon sylvester a writer, teacher and occasional filmmaker. Simon sylvester draws you into this small scottish island immediately. The visitors simon sylvester bancree is the island home that flora has known for all her 17 years, a bleakly beautifu l place of escape, a place where people disappear. A long look at the visitors by simon sylvester a haunting story of a remote community in the shetlands is told as a thriller, but it would be better without the. After working as a camera assistant and journalist, he began writing fiction, and his short sotries are published regularly in literary journals. Simon sylvesters the visitorsreleased last year in the uk by quercusis now available from melville house, and we want to send you a copy. Buy the visitors by simon sylvester online from the works. Oct, 2014 the winner of the not the booker prize 2014 is. In the tradition of neil gaiman and iain banks, simon sylvester brings an ancient myth to life with this lush, atmospheric comingofage tale. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover simons connections and jobs at similar companies. A long look at the visitors by simon sylvester a haunting story of a remote community in the shetlands is told as a.

Dale lately speaks to novelist, poet, slamwinning hatwearer and winner of the guardians not the booker prize 2014, simon sylvester about. On starting the hollows, i developed a new soundtrack. The travel itself brought me in contact with simon sylvesters the visitors. Have they wandered off while drinking, or could there be a supernatural explanation. The kids were tense, but they struggled with allnight shifts. Simon sylvester writers edinburgh international book. The visitors by simon sylvester thriller books at the works. Throughout this competition, the visitors has had fervent support. Sunday mail glasgow myth and murder combine in sylvester s lyrical yet gripping debut novel. Like many modern teenagers, flora feels like an outsider and cant wait to. When strangers come to the island, flo is curious to meet them, but.

Simon sylvester is a writer, teacher and occasional filmmaker. In the visitors, simon sylvester has created both a world where i want to livethe island of bancree, off the west coast of scotlandand a seventeenyearold heroine named flora, whom i would follow anywhere. In the tradition of neil gaiman and iain banks, simon sylvester bring. His characters are complex and interesting, drawing readers into the story and the drama. We assembled at dusk and waited, scanning the skyline, binoculars flitting between the sunset buildings.

Simon sylvester is a writer, teacher, and occasional filmmaker. Simon sylvester s the visitors is a great first effort. With marvelous skill he weaves together the legends of the selkies and his modern, murderous plot. The scotsborn, cumbriabased writer and film maker took the honours with the haunting and enthralling the visitors. Feb 05, 2015 buy the visitors by sylvester, simon isbn. Youd be forgiven for not knowing what a selkie is, though once you do, there isnt really any turning back. Set on a fictional scottish isle, it features believable teenage characters, some celtic mythology, and a mystery. A contemporary twist on an old fishermans myth complete with an immensely atmospheric setting, a strong yet sympathetic central character and a missing persons mystery thatll keep you guessing till all is said and doneand then somethe visitors by simon sylvester has everything including the girl going for it. Mar 01, 2015 the visitors simon sylvester bancree is the island home that flora has known for all her 17 years, a bleakly beautifu l place of escape, a place where people disappear. The visitors is a cracking read have tried to find other work by this author as i enjoyed it so much, but think this must be his first book. A contemporary twist on an old fisherman s myth complete with an immensely atmospheric setting, a strong yet sympathetic central character and a missing persons mystery thatll keep you guessing. Though billed as a mystery, the novel is much less a whodunit than a meditation on place, history, and progress. Mysterious outsider figures are the focus of suspicion in debut novel the visitors. Dale lately speaks to novelist, poet, slamwinning hatwearer and winner of the guardians not the booker prize 2014, simon sylvester about nomadic existence, writing from and outside of experience and the history of storytelling.

Are they the victims of a crazed killer, of supernatural forces or of both. Nov, 2014 he may have only won a mug, but debut author simon sylvester was delighted to pick up the guardians not the booker prize last month. Flora is a wonderful main character with a need many will understand. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Lavender hill penthouse suite smooth jazz music 514,469 views. Flo sits on the headland of her island home, watching her new neighbours boat their belongings over the water to a rundown islet shack. Set on the fictional scottish isle of bancree, the visitors is a heady mix of myth and modern life, with a plot that ebbs and. He may have only won a mug, but debut author simon sylvester was delighted to pick up the guardians not the booker prize last month. In simon sylvester s hands, the mysteries of character are every bit as enticing as the mysteries of abduction and violence. Over time, music becomes integrated entirely with memory. In the tradition of neil gaiman and iain banks, simon sylvester brings an ancient myth to life with this lush, atmospheric comingofage tale nobody comes to the remote scottish island of bancree, and seventeenyearold flora can t wait to move to the mainland when she finishes school.

Simon sylvester writers edinburgh international book festival. In the tradition of neil gaiman and iain banks, simon sylvester brings an ancient myth to life with this lush, atmospheric comingofage talenobody comes to the remote scottish island of bancree, and seventeenyearold flora cant wait to move to the mainland when she finishes school. Simon sylvester is a screenwriter, film teacher, video editor and occasional filmmaker. In the tradition of neil gaiman and iain banks, simon sylvester brings an ancient myth to life with this lush, atmospheric comingofage talenobody comes to the remote scottish island of bancree, and seventeenyearold flora cant wait to move to the. In sylvesters debut novel, myth and mystery collide on an isolated scottish island when. Buy this book sylvesters first novel chronicles the bond forged between. Simon sylvesters the visitors is a great first effort. After working as a camera assistant and journalist, he began writing fiction, and his short stories are published regularly in literary journals. Now the possibility of a killer on bancree is dangerously close to home.