DAN VYLETA is the son of Czech refugees who emigrated to Germany in the late 1960s. He holds a Ph.D. in history from King's College, Cambridge. Vyleta is the author of three novels, Pavel & I, The Quiet Twin, which was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, and The Crooked Maid, which was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and won the J.I. Segal Award. An inveterate migrant, Vyleta has lived in Germany, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. He currently resides in Stratford-upon-Avon in England.
"Dan Vyleta writes with intricacy and imagination and skillful
pacing; never once would I have considered putting his book down.
In the manner of both a Dickens novel and the best young adult
adventure stories (the Harry Potter series among them), the
children run away together to uncover the dark secrets of the
grown-up world . . .his ending, which I wouldn't dare reveal here,
is a real firecracker, and the lessons Mr. Vyleta wishes to impart
are largehearted"
--Jennifer Senior, The New York Times "Vyleta's Gothic YA fantasy
is part Dickens, part dystopia and totally immersive; a book as
eerie and atmospheric as its sooty muse."
--Entertainment Weekly's "Best Books of 2016 so far..."
"[S]tunningly inventive."
--O Magazine's Summer Reading Guide "Compelling...a gloriously
murky vision of the past. . . .[D]eliriously imagined. . . .
Elusive and nebulous, this gas-lamp fantasy at time borders on
steampunk through the grimy lens of a dystopian past."
--NPR.org "Vyleta has woven a powerful fictional spell, creating
both an entire world (as believable as it is incredible) and a
richly crafted cast of characters. It's a unique and unforgettable
reading experience."
--National Post (Canada) "A fiercely inventive novel . . . Vyleta's
bold concept and compelling blend of history and fantasy offer a
provocative reflection on the nature of evil, power, believe, and
love. Dickensian in its imaginative scope and atmosphere."
--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) "[T]he novel's sumptuous,
irresistible narrative--filled with plenty of twists and turns and
imagination--will satisfy any reader. A terrific, suspenseful
tale."
--Kirkus "Is it natural to think 'bad' thoughts, and if so, does
that make it OK? Do people behave morally out of true goodness?
Full of otherworldly adventure yet chilling in its realism, Smoke
lures readers into considering these questions about society and
ourselves."
--Booklist (starred review) "Dan Vyleta has conjured a rich and
surprising counter-history, an England saturated with a substance
so potent and evocative it vaults instantly into the pantheon that
includes the Dust of Philip Pullman, the soma of George Orwell, and
the opium of Amitavh Ghosh. Smoke is enthralling."
--Robin Sloan, bestselling author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour
Bookstore "Smoke is one of the most original and enthralling books
I have read in a long time. I was immediately sucked in and then
mesmerized enough that I read it in a rush. I think the book is
absolutely stunning. I've told so many people about it, I feel like
I should carry a bag of galleys around with me to hand out. I've
refined my elevator pitch to: 'Smoke is an addictive combination of
thriller, fantasy, and historical novel, with a dash of horror.
It's chilling and complex and amazingly imaginative.'"
--Marilyn Dahl, Shelf Awareness "Astonishing . . . It's filling in
that gaping hole left by both Harry Potter and Philip Pullman's
Northern Lights. Yes, really."
--Stylist From the Hardcover edition.
Dan Vyletawrites with intricacy and imagination and skillful
pacing; never once would I have considered putting his book down.In
the manner of both a Dickens novel and the best young adult
adventure stories (the Harry Potter series among them), the
children run away together to uncover the dark secrets of the
grown-up world . . .his ending, which I wouldn t dare reveal here,
is a real firecracker, and the lessons Mr. Vyleta wishes to impart
are largehearted
Jennifer Senior, The New York Times
"Vyleta's Gothic YA fantasy is part Dickens, part dystopia and
totally immersive; a book as eerie and atmospheric as its sooty
muse."
Entertainment Weekly's "Best Books of 2016 so far..."
"[S]tunningly inventive."
O Magazine's Summer Reading Guide
Compelling a gloriously murky vision of the past. . .
.[D]eliriously imagined. . . .Elusive and nebulous, this gas-lamp
fantasy at time borders on steampunk through the grimy lens of a
dystopian past.
NPR.org
Vyleta has woven a powerful fictional spell, creating both an
entire world (as believable as it is incredible) and a richly
crafted cast of characters. It s a unique and unforgettable reading
experience.
National Post (Canada)
A fiercely inventive novel . . . Vyleta s bold concept and
compelling blend of history and fantasy offer a provocative
reflection on the nature of evil, power, believe, and love.
Dickensian in its imaginative scope and atmosphere.
Publishers Weekly(Starred Review)
[T]he novel's sumptuous, irresistible narrative filled with plenty
of twists and turns and imagination will satisfy any reader. A
terrific, suspenseful tale.
Kirkus
Is it natural to think bad thoughts, and if so, does that make it
OK? Do people behave morally out of true goodness? Full of
otherworldly adventure yet chilling in its realism, Smoke lures
readers into considering these questions about society and
ourselves.
Booklist(starred review)
Dan Vyletahas conjured a rich and surprisingcounter-history, an
Englandsaturatedwith asubstance so potent andevocativeit vaults
instantly into the pantheon that includes the Dust of Philip
Pullman, the soma of George Orwell, and the opium of Amitavh Ghosh.
Smoke is enthralling.
Robin Sloan, bestselling author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour
Bookstore
Smoke is one of the most original and enthralling books I have read
in a long time. I was immediately sucked in and then mesmerized
enough that I read it in a rush. I think the book is absolutely
stunning. I ve told so many people about it, I feel like I should
carry a bag of galleys around with me to hand out. I ve refined my
elevator pitch to: Smoke is an addictive combination of thriller,
fantasy, and historical novel, with a dash of horror. It s chilling
and complex and amazingly imaginative.
Marilyn Dahl, Shelf Awareness
"Astonishing . . . It's filling in that gaping hole left by both
Harry Potter and Philip Pullman'sNorthern Lights. Yes, really."
Stylist From the Hardcover edition."
Dan Vyletahas conjured a rich and surprisingcounter-history, an
Englandsaturatedwith asubstance so potent andevocativeit vaults
instantly into the pantheon that includes the Dust of Philip
Pullman, the soma of George Orwell, and the opium of Amitavh Ghosh.
"Smoke" is enthralling.
Robin Sloan, bestselling author of "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour
Bookstore"
"Smoke" is one of the most original and enthralling books I have
read in a long time. I was immediately sucked in and then
mesmerized enough that I read it in a rush. I think the book is
absolutely stunning. I ve told so many people about it, I feel like
I should carry a bag of galleys around with me to hand out. I ve
refined my elevator pitch to: "Smoke" is an addictive combination
of thriller, fantasy, and historical novel, with a dash of horror.
It s chilling and complex and amazingly imaginative.
Marilyn Dahl, "Shelf Awareness
" A fiercely inventive novel . . . Vyleta s bold concept and
compelling blend of history and fantasy offer a provocative
reflection on the nature of evil, power, believe, and love.
Dickensian in its imaginative scope and atmosphere.
" Publishers Weekly "(Starred Review)""
[T]he novel's sumptuous, irresistible narrative filled with plenty
of twists and turns and imagination will satisfy any reader. A
terrific, suspenseful tale.
" Kirkus"
Is it natural to think bad thoughts, and if so, does that make it
OK? Do people behave morally out of true goodness? Full of
otherworldly adventure yet chilling in its realism, Smoke lures
readers into considering these questions about society and
ourselves.
" Booklist "(starred review)
"Astonishing . . . It's filling in that gaping hole left by both
"Harry Potter "and Philip Pullman's"Northern Lights." Yes,
really."
"Stylist" "From the Hardcover edition.""
Ask a Question About this Product More... |