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James Downey
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St Cybi's Well Kindle Edition

by James Downey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 67 ratings
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The year is 2012, and the theocratic American Government of National Unity has increasing problems both at home and abroad due to its openly racist and hostile policies. Darnell Sidwell, USAF, but on extended detachment to the Israeli moon shuttle program as a pilot has gone to Wales to visit his sister ... and to potentially find a miracle cure for the eye disease that threatens to end his career. There, between the American Security Ministry agents following him and an old man who seems to have walked out of myth wanting to recruit him for ... something ... Darnell discovers that the world is not nearly as logical or sensible as he always believed.

And then the world-encompassing pandemic flu begins.
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  1. Print length
    382 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    April 11, 2020
  4. File size
    1613 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0871P13G1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Artifact Imprints (April 11, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 11, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1613 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 382 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 67 ratings

About the author

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James Downey

James Downey

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James Downey has written thousands of pieces for numerous online and print publications. He is an artist and respected conservator of rare books & documents. His "Ballistics by the Inch" site is generally considered the premier world reference on handgun ballistic performance. He was co-author of "Her Final Year", an Alzheimer's Disease care-giving memoir. And he was author of the very popular "Communion of Dreams" science fiction novel, of which this is the prequel. More information about him can be found on Wikipedia (see below) and other online sources.

Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Downey_%28Internet_performance_artist%29

You can contact Jim here: jim@communionofdreams.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
67 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book has elements of fantasy, science fiction, and mystical elements. They describe it as an interesting and engaging tale with a straightforward narration that makes the dramatic developments almost natural. The writing style is described as thoughtful and introspective, allowing the reader to consider and anticipate upcoming action. Many customers find the book worth reading and a timely read, with excellent writing quality and a unique voice. The characters are portrayed as real, and readers appreciate the author's attention to detail regarding the lead character's journey.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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FantasyStory qualityInsightValue for moneyWriting qualityCharacter development
23 customers mention "Fantasy"18 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the fantasy elements in the book. They find it engaging, with a blend of science fiction and mystical elements. The book explores history, mystery, and human insight through an engaging tale. Readers appreciate the detailed descriptions of ancient sites and Wales.

"...No. There is some action, of course, but it's not gun-fight-smash cut to-spaceships-shooting-lasers-followed by-energy-gauntlet-fisticuffs-at-dawn..." Read more

"...The lavish descriptions of the landscape, castles, churches, and holy wells allow readers to immerse themselves almost as if they were part of the..." Read more

"...of which was its engaging use of description and its depiction of technological advances. It’s a fascinating story as is St. Cybi’s Well...." Read more

"...I believe he has what the best science fiction writers had - the ability to see ahead...and write that." Read more

9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find the writing straightforward and engaging, making the dramatic developments seem natural. The chapter headers are informative excerpts from websites about Wales, and the story is well-crafted with plenty of detail.

"...No. This book can be read as a standalone story but you'll most likely want to follow it up with CoD. * How excited am I about this?..." Read more

"This is a very good stand-alone story, in which you follow Darnell in his journey, a quest for a miracle cure that takes him into the world of Wales..." Read more

"...A lot is going on in this story, and there are many story elements talked about or alluded to that I would love to know more about, but in context..." Read more

"...by Jim Downey's ability to make the characters, settings, and story line believable. Science fiction with mystical elements...." Read more

8 customers mention "Insight"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the books thoughtful and introspective, with scenes and situations that stay with them. The structured narrative allows the reader to consider and anticipate upcoming action. They find the blend of science, technology, and philosophy fascinating and thought-provoking. The author's in-person research really drives home the immersion, making the books spiritual yet terrifying for the modern world.

"...You will appreciate Sidwell’s determination, his acute survival skills, and his willingness to consider, confront, and accept some things that..." Read more

"This is a great read from James Downey, a man with a background in art, science, technology, and philosophy who manages to weave all of these things..." Read more

"...on a number of fronts in a very structured narrative that allows the reader to consider and anticipate upcoming action...." Read more

"Fascinating read, reminiscent of the style of Dan Brown, in its blending of factual places and artifact with drama and fantasy. Hard to put it down...." Read more

8 customers mention "Value for money"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good value for money. They say it's worth reading and a timely read.

"...Read for yourself and see – this is a novel worth your time." Read more

"...Well done, and worth the buy!" Read more

"St Cybi’s Well is well worth your time. The author wove a plot that completely engrossed me...." Read more

"...Well worth the read." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality. They find the settings well-crafted and the tale engaging with its own unique voice.

"...The writing is enjoyable and kept me interested in seeing how fore-shadowed events would come about/play out...." Read more

"...Names of God and Childhood's End, while still compelling readers with its own unique voice...." Read more

"...The writing is clever, compact and spawns a gentle lust to turn the page. It is, nevertheless, a bit thought provoking...." Read more

"...picture many of the characters and the settings, thanks to the excellent writing...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find it a pleasure to read descriptions of the lead character's journey.

"...as a fixed point in engaging the reader to treat the story and characters as real." Read more

"...I was there, I identified with the main characters...." Read more

"...It was a pleasure to supplement the lead character's hero's journey by reading descriptions of the various churches, castles, ancient wells, caves,..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Agmarr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the wait.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I read the original novel (Communion of Dreams, also available here https://smile.amazon.com/Communion-Dreams-James-Downey-ebook/dp/B006ZCGMSQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=communion+of+dreams&qid=1586801447&sr=8-1 ) some time ago. I don't remember the exact date but I'd guess around 7 to 8 years. I've awaited this prequel with bated breath.

    It delivers. Oh does it ever.

    I picked this up late last night and couldn't put it down. My phone kept hitting me in the face as I was struggling to continue reading. Which was what finally made me go "perhaps it's time to go to sleep." When I woke up, the second thing I reached for (before my alarm even went off) was my phone. First were my glasses since I can't really see without them and I am reading after all.

    I plowed through the rest of the book. Now, I'm going to let this sit for a while and come back to read it a second time probably Wednesday or Thursday (today being Monday). We'll see what I can pick up on my second time through.

    Now, some questions and comments as to the type of novel:
    * Is this your BANG BANG SHOOT 'EM UP military sci-fi? No. There is some action, of course, but it's not gun-fight-smash cut to-spaceships-shooting-lasers-followed by-energy-gauntlet-fisticuffs-at-dawn throughout the entirety of the novel.
    * Spaceships, transports, energy shields and lasers? The author utilizes some definite scientific advancements that we haven't achieved yet but a level of technology like Star Trek isn't what you're going to find here.
    * The author had this storyline planned for some time. With some recent political developments and COVID-19, I found this unsettlingly realistic.
    * Do you need to read Communion of Dreams? As someone who thoroughly enjoyed it, YES.
    * But do you need to read it before you read St. Cybi's Well? No. This book can be read as a standalone story but you'll most likely want to follow it up with CoD.
    * How excited am I about this? Well, I'm a big fan of a physical book in the hand instead of reading on a phone or another electronic device. I STILL grabbed this on Kindle and will be getting a physical copy as well.
    * But would you recommend it to your friends? I tend to buy books as gifts for those friends of mine who will actually read them. I will be adding St Cybi's Well to Communion of Dreams as a staple in my gift-box-o'rama.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • William M. Steinborn
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fine stand-alone story. A prequel that fills in questions.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very good stand-alone story, in which you follow Darnell in his journey, a quest for a miracle cure that takes him into the world of Wales mysticism. The lavish descriptions of the landscape, castles, churches, and holy wells allow readers to immerse themselves almost as if they were part of the story. The journey culminates in the events referred to in the book "Communion of Dreams", but does not require the reader to have already read that book. If you have not read "Communion of Dreams", you eventually should, as it not only continues Darnell's story, be also explains the how, or why, of healing.

    For those that have read "Communion of Dreams", this story fills in the blanks, and explains why Sidwell is the way he is, and why he guided Jon as he did. If you read St. Cybi's Well just for the events referred to in "Communion" then you will not appreciate that the focus of this new book is the journey of Darnell, and less so the final events.

    This book left me wanting a little more - maybe a few paragraphs - about the beginning of the transformation of the US to a more benevolent culture, and a hint about how Darnell ended up where he was in "Communion of Dreams". Maybe James Downey will write a short story about this 40 year gap between the two books.

    In all, I think this is a very good book. I intend to re-read it once our own pandemic subsides and I go back to regular working hours. I had to snatch time here and there to read this book, and did not have the time to just sit for several hours to immerse myself into it. I found with Jim's first book, every time I re-read it I pick up more things I missed or did not "get" the previous time.

    TRIVIA:
    Most of the chapters start with information that looks like it came from Internet websites. I typed in some of the URLs, and they are exactly what they seem to be, lending credence to the book.

    You could take the majority of this book, and use it as a travelogue to visit many parts of Wales on a vacation.
    5 people found this helpful
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