The Light of Day [Paperback]

James Byrd (Author), Frances Byrd (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2009

Those who hate humanity have taken over the environmental movement. The environmental movement has taken over the world’s governments. Those governments have joined together to form The World Consortium on Government, Labor, and the Environment, and have moved everyone underground to isolate people from the environment and save the world. However, not everyone wants to live underground. Not old man O’Hara. That’s why he joined the Resistance, but that was years ago. Now he is living underground with a son who despises him and with whom he has nothing in common; eating synthetic food, breathing synthetic air, and only seeing synthetic light, except when the guards see fit to open the topside. It would be a dismal existence if not for his grandson Jeff. Jeff is everything he imagined his son would be: smart, independent, inquisitive, defiant, everything except free, but that’s about to change. A series of events that begins with Jeff’s inquisitiveness and ends with his defiance and the death of his grandfather, thrusts him into an unknown world. It’s a world where the sun shines, and the wind blows, where people generate their own electricity and thieves are hanged by the side of the road. Jeff finds love, friendship, the truth about his grandfather and the hero he truly was. He finds that killing and dying for what you believe in is sometimes both necessary and painful.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I spent the holidays reading a wonderful new libertarian-themed novel by first time author James Byrd called, "The Light of Day". The book explores what could happen if the environmentalist movement is permitted to "run the world". It's the future and everyone is required to live underground because living above ground is too environmentally unfriendly.

It is certainly a sci-fi page turner with a fast moving plot and interesting characters. The novel juxtaposes two societies, a society with very little freedom and another that is about as libertarian as you can get. Byrd accomplishes this effort quite effectively without getting overly preachy. There are no multi-page John Galt style speeches. Byrd uses the plot to emphasize the free vs. non-free "fight" in a quite understated way.

I'm sure there are those that will balk that Byrd's vision of a future where environmentalists control society in such a way, but that's not really the point here as I see it. The point really is to illustrate that your individual freedom is being assaulted on all fronts, not just the obvious ones.

Yes, the climate change zealots are dangerous to your freedoms. Are they as dangerous as terrorists? Maybe more dangerous, maybe less, but I would argue that Byrd's future vision is not too far from our future reality.

We may have slightly cleaner air, but at what cost? Is it worth it to live in a prison-like society to shave a degree or two off the global average?

The book makes a perfect, if not mischievous gift, for your favorite Left-leaning environmentalist friends, if you have any. Of course, fans of Ayn Rand, Robert Heinlein, and L. Neil Smith will find "The Light of Day" a wonderful addition to their libertarian fiction bookshelves. --Marc Gallagher at Libery Maven

This book, by emerging author James Byrd, paints a telling portrait of the true agenda of the Green Movement. It successfully exposes the underlying agenda of collective power in the hands of the State; at the expense of the individual. Mr. Byrd creates a world of dynamic characters, their interrelations, and the societies in which they are cast. It is a powerful first book, by an author who has a firm grasp of the way in which an oppressive government uses propaganda and fear to control the general population. The Light of Day is the story of Jeff O'Hara and his struggle for personal freedom and the realization that the things most worth having sometimes require the greatest sacrifice.

From the first paragraph, the reader is thrust into the O'Hara family dynamic.

Old Man O'Hara comes from a time before The World Consortium forced the people of the earth into a subterranean existence, where some never experience the simple pleasure of feeling sunlight on their skin. Those who live in the lower levels never have the opportunity to see the sky, even through the barrier of an observation window. It is a world of grime and florescent lighting, where people don't care about their surroundings. The bleak artificial nature of their world has deprived them of a sense of accomplishment and the desire to maintain their surroundings. The concept of individuality is virtually nonexistent.

Jeff is the grandson of Old Man O'Hara. He is inquisitive, headstrong, and intelligent. Because these are all qualities discouraged by the collective, Jeff soon finds himself at odds with his situation. A conflict between his grandfather and the guards who grant access to the surface leads to Jeff's determination to escape the oppressive environment of his birth. Subsequent events lead to Jeff's banishment to a prison compound and his personal quest for Liberty. Through the kindness of others and his own strength of character, Jeff escapes and joins up with The Revolution of which he had heard rumors.

The Light of Day is a must read for anyone who is concerned with the veracity and motives of the modern environmental movement. The reader will find themselves cast into a world that may not be far off, where the needs of the individual are superseded by the `virtues' of nature. It is a gripping first novel and a testament to the integrity of the human spirit. --Alvaro Alvillar at Breitbart's Big Government

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439261342
• ISBN-13: 978-1439261347
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 7.9 x 5.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Byrd grew up outside of Atlanta Georgia in what was once the rural town of Douglasville. After spending two years at Georgia State University he moved to Savannah where he managed a kitchen while earning his degree in computer art from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After graduation he decided to forgo the computer animation industry and pursue a career in writing. In order to support himself while writing he has built a career in the information technologies field where he currently works as a systems engineer.

James is married to political artist and illustrator Frances Byrd whom he met at the Savannah College of Art and Design. They have been married for seven years and have a five year old son.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book December 20, 2009

By S. Morgan

Format:Paperback

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and at first glance I wasn't sure if it would be my type of book at all. I could not have been more wrong! Read it cover to cover in about a day and a half - I just couldn't put it down for long. Within the first chapter or two I was interested in, and cared about the main characters. Really looking forward to reading more from James Byrd.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Light of Day December 1, 2009

By avid reader

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Just finished reading the novel and enjoyed it very much; which is saying something for I don't usually read this type novel. The plot is easy to follow and the characters are interesting. In fact, it is a good easy read that would be a good movie! Would make a nice Christmas present for those who like to read.