Into the Abyss [Hardcover]

David Marsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

What if there is an advanced civilization living among us, deep below the sea?

A flash storm catches young Ashlyn and his sister Autumn off guard while rowing off the rugged Oregon coast. The two terrified youngsters are drawn into a whirlpool, which seems certain to pull them to their deaths. Suddenly, Ashlyn sees a bright light. Seconds later they awaken ashore, shaken but alive. Was it actually a bioluminescent hand he saw under the boat, pushing them to safety? He begins to hear whispers calling his name. The boy is convinced he has been saved by a higher power, of this or another world. Into The Abyss chronicles the adventures of a young hero’s journey into the unknown. Escapism for young and adult readers alike, it explores the notion of the existence of intelligent life deep below the sea, a tradition long held by many of the world’s cultures. The creature that befriends Ashlyn and eventually enlists his help embodies the hope and promise of a higher form of life here on earth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... a novel that will delight teens and adults everywhere. "Into The Abyss" will spawn thoughtful insight and numerous discussions..." -- Heather Froeschl, Book Review.com

"A riveting story you will not want to miss..." -- Mike Horn, Cable Radio Networks

"Imaginative and engrossing...a dreamlike under the sea adventure"... -- Rick Anthony, Hollywood Film Flash Radio

There is no denying that Marsh knows how to work a crescendo. -- Kirkus Discoveries, January 2005

About the Author

Although this is David Marsh's first novel, David wrote, produced, and directed the film, "The Lords Of Magick," about two apprentice wizards from the dark ages. In the late eighties and early nineties David Marsh was the owner/operator of a television postproduction facility in Los Angeles called Digital Post. The company was one of the first postproduction houses to experiment with digital techniques in film and TV. He is currently writing 2 new novels.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 403 pages
• Publisher: Sea Chest Books (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974290904
• ISBN-13: 978-0974290904
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,963,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very exciting read with a big earth message., July 18, 2006

By 

Roger B (Glendale, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into the Abyss (Hardcover)

"Into the Abyss" opens with a recently orphaned 14-year-old boy, Ashlyn, and his younger sister, Autumn, (they lost both parents in two separate tragic incidents) a mile from the seashore in a stormy sea, spiraling down in a whirlpool, about to die. But suddenly Ashlyn sees a bright white light, and in the blink of an eye he and his sister find themselves back on the beach, shaken, confused, but very much alive. Rescued by something remarkable, the boy believes even though his sister is certain a lucky wave saved them. A few days later Ashlyn hears whispers in his mind beckoning him to return to the ocean, so persistent Ashlyn fears for his sanity. At his lowest ebb, he flees back to the beach, but instead of achieving a moment of reflective solitude, he finds that "something remarkable," staring at him, and it is not a figment of his imagination. It is a glowing light underneath the water with a voice asking, "Are you human. Are you aware?"

Later, that glowing light will prove to be bioluminescence from a mythical creature recognized by much of the world as a mermaid. But wait, this is not your typical fairytale mermaid. Imagine a large, intelligent animal built for oppressions of the deep sea, with a thick bioluminescent epidermis, gills, dorsal, and only a hint of our human appearance. To boot, she moves like lightning and communicates telepathically. As the story goes, no one in the history of the human race has ever been able to communicate with her. Until now! She wishes to show Ashlyn something about her world. Therein lies a rather large problem: being human he cannot breathe underwater nor can he survive the crushing atmospheric pressure of the deep sea. Thus begins the real adventure, finding the way.

As the book progresses, this small seaside tale of a lonely boy and undersea being he's discovered takes on multiple dimensions. Hunters who know of the being's existence are going to great lengths to track it down for commercial reasons. A religious nut with a nasty agenda plans on making sure that rumors of the discovery of a new sea species, one that also prays to God, don't go any further, and a mysterious man who knows more than he admits (about Ashlyn, his sister, and the being) might be the link to Ashlyn's past and future. But the real magnificence of this novel unravels in the third act, after an incredible submersible voyage beneath the physical seabed, when the boy discovers whole families of deep-sea beings dying from man-made pollutions seeping into their subterranean caverns.

A hundred years ago or so the grandmaster of seafaring tales Jules Verne wrote "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea," which was also called "Into the Abyss." This modern day "Into the Abyss' is no less of a master's tale, a pace-churner with tons of thrills, chases, good guys and bad guys. At times, it will bring tears to your eyes. At times, it will make you think about what we are doing to our planet in ways you might not be conscious of, and its conclusion is one very uplifting story. This is different from the pack, and refreshingly so. For readers of all ages, adults like me too, I highly recommend. 5 stars!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed With Adventure and Action, January 2, 2005

By 

Gary H. Cassel "Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews" (Baltimore, MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Abyss (Hardcover)

Ashlyn and Autumn Miller live in their grandmother's house on the coast of Oregon because both of their parents have died. One day the two siblings are exploring Deadman's Bluff down at the beach, when they are caught in a storm and almost drowned in a whirlpool. Miraculously, something in the water saves their lives. Soon, Ashlyn becomes aware of strange sounds inside his head. At first he thinks nothing of it, but before long the sounds turn into messages. He follows the messages and finds he has been chosen. He and Autumn venture into the bottom of the ocean and discover secrets beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

Set in present day, all the characters could be people in today's world, except for Ashlyn. Ashlyn has a telepathic ability that allows him to communicate with fictional creatures. The adventures that Ashlyn and Autumn have are thrilling, with twists in each chapter. The wide variety of people that help Ashlyn and the others who try to steal his discovery away from him add a different dimension to the story. At the end, however, some of events that occurred were a little too far-fetched. As a whole, I loved the adventures and action that was packed into the book.

Reviewed by Flamingnet Book Reviews, www.flamingnet.com.

5.0 out of 5 stars A book I couldn't put down, July 23, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Into the Abyss (Hardcover)

reviewer:millerinfinitydaughter

"Into the Abyass" is about a 14 year old boy named Ashlyn, and his sister Autmn. They get lost far from shore and they have both lost their parrents. As they are getting sucked down a whirlpool about to die, Ashlyn sees a white light. Does this mean he is going to die? If so what will happen to his sister? They here a voice asking if they are human, what does this mean ? Is the creature asking not human? Is Ashlyn human if he can communicate telepathicly? What is happening? This is a book I couldn't put down. If i could I would give it more than 5 stars