The i...

About the Book

The i... are a deeply ancient alien race that have drifted through a galaxy of stars for aeons. A phenomenally advanced culture which scientifically collect samples from every intelligent species which they discover, for closer study. On planet Earth, in late 1970`s Northern England is Arthur MacNeil. Unemployed, homeless and alcoholic, he unwillingly becomes one such sample. The story follows his life leading to his abduction and the strange “construct” in which he is consequently placed. Like any zoo, where a conscious effort is put into simulating the original environment of the captured specimen, Arthur finds himself in an dark and threatening world, where all periods of time and its associated peoples are represented. It is this disturbing copy of his familiar Tyneside, into which he is thrust without aid, instruction or a guide book. In this sinister town Arthur endures and survives, makes a friend and gradually acquires some local knowledge. Eventually he makes an inventive discovery enabling him to break through into another section of this enormous “zoo”, which is a cleaner and healthier place, but not without dangers of its own. As he explores this alternative Northumberland, Arthur seeks an understanding for his predicament.

About the Author

My childhood was played-out in the Tyneside of the 1960`s, Northern England. The impressions, memories and impressions from this time form the setting for the bulk of my first novel. Both Newcastle and Gateshead by the early 1970`s suffered greatly from the economic decline that blighted much of Britain in this period. Despite a rich history going all the way back to Roman times, it had become a grimy, run-down, gloomy place. However it was a fascinating chaos of conflicting architectural styles and eras, with much dereliction providing rank upon rank of empty terraced streets and many interesting abandoned industrial buildings which provided poor kids with lots to explore. The themes, moods and locations of this story derive directly from my formative years in this environment. Yet it is also partially an exorcism of the disturbing and sinister aspects of poverty and it's associated shadow, violence. Tyneside could also be a very haunting place. As young lads we explored and pillaged through the spaces that once had been peoples homes and workplaces. It was all too easy to read the traces of difficult, impoverished and unhealthy existences, they were everywhere, they were obvious. As a youth, I sensed the unfulfilled presence of these tough northern folk, it was as if their ghosts were watching us as we searched through the belongings and detritus they left behind. It was not until 2007 that the notion occurred that this personal history, both place and time, could provide the atmospheric background to a novel. Where lacunae and hazier memories presented problems, research through local libraries and historical societies solved this matter. Gradually and slowly I assembled what became “the i...”. I left Tyneside in 1978 to study in Edinburgh, Scotland and later in 1984 moved to the Isle of Skye, where I still live. I have been rock climbing since my teens and joined Skye Mountain Rescue Team the same year I moved to the Island. Both climbing and rescue work still figure large in my life on Skye, which is a remarkable place if rugged mountains, challenging sea cliffs and high crag faces are what floats your boat. I am self employed as an illustrator and occasional leather-worker (I ran a leather craft business for over 15 years) and dabble in mountaineering and rescue equipment design. In 2002 I won the Winston Churchill Fellowship Award for my work on the Secure Casualty System, now manufactured by Snowsled Polar and used by many steep ground rescue teams. I also served a placement with Yosemite Search and Rescue as a full team member-an unforgettable experience. I am married with one son who also lives on the Island. I dedicate this first novel to the memory of my daughter Elizabeth who tragically died in 2008, she is much missed.