Description
Can Wild Alan unite the Discard against the tyranny of the Pyramid?
Idle Hands is an ancient disease that once tore through the Discard, and if Wild Alan doesn't find a way into the Black Pyramid to administer the cure to his son, Billy, it will soon be stalking Gleam once again. Even with Bloody Nora's help, there's only one way in - and that's through the Sump, which was sealed long ago to contain the horrors within.
And for Alan, the Black Pyramid will be even more dangerous. Thanks to the disease, the Pyramidders' fear and loathing of the Discard is reaching fever-pitch - and Alan is the most well-known Discarder of all.
Bloody Nora has her own agenda. All the information she needs to complete her people's Great Work is hidden in the Pyramid - but just by being there, she is violating a centuries-old treaty between the Pyramid and the Mapmakers, which could spark conflict between the two greatest powers that Gleam knows.
'Gleam's combination of dystopia, mythic quest, music and squishy monsters is hugely entertaining' SFX
About the Author
Tom Fletcher is a writer of horror and dark fantasy novels and short fiction. His first three horror novels, The Leaping, The Thing on the Shore and The Ravenglass Eye, were followed by Gleam and Idle Hands, the first two books in The Factory Trilogy, his first fantasy series. His new novel, Witch-Bottle, is a deeply atmospheric modern gothic tale of grief and guilt. He lives in a remote village in Cumbria with his wife and family.
Reviews
It is such an interesting, weird, intriguing read I was literally glued to the pages. I hadn't finished a book this quickly in a while, which means a lot. The story, though absolutely bonkers at times, flows so well and reads so quickly * Midnight Blue Book Reviews *
Imaginative and exciting. There's subterfuge, violent action and personal tragedy, along with the mutated monsters, strange landscapes grotesque characters and twisted societies that populate Fletcher's bizarre world * Horror Hot House on Idle Hands *
One of the most promising young horror authors of the past decade turned his stark talents to fantasy, conjuring up 'a devastated landscape equal parts Ambergris and Fallout 3' to typically excellent effect * Tor.com *
There's true passion in every written word . . . With such deep characters and a storyline that promises more in its sequels, Gleam is definitely not one to discard. 4/5 * SciFiNow *
Gleam's combination of dystopia, mythic quest, music and squishy monsters is hugely entertaining. Fletcher's distinctive prose - alternating barogue description and brutal action - is spiced with witty dialogue and eccentric characters. 4/5 * SFX *
Absolutely one of my favourite books of the year . . . a sprawling, wild and highly engaging tale of a completely different world - one inhabited by the weird and wonderful, where dark secrets lie hidden and an eclectic and highly intriguing group set out on a quest to discover them * Liz Loves Books on Gleam *
Gleam is an astonishing novel . . . A book of the year for sure. -- For Winter Nights
Gleam is a very accomplished novel. The tapestry of the Alan's world is extremely rich and is filled with immaculately planned details. The story flows nicely and the last hundred pages or so only made me want to read more. In short, it'll be a long wait for the sequel! * Upcoming4me *
A wild ride through a world rooted in bizarre and unfathomable traditions . . . Gleam is simply beyond fascinating . . . I quickly fell in love with this book. * Bibliosanctum *
Idle Hands keeps up the momentum built up in Gleam and goes on to deliver an exciting second instalment of Fletcher's dystopian vision . . . An imaginative and exciting sequel * The Horror Hothouse *
Book Information
ISBN 9781848662599
Author Tom Fletcher
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Jo Fletcher Books
Publisher Quercus Publishing
Series factory trilogy
Weight(grams) 285g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 24mm
