BOOKS BY SIMON HIGGINS
LATEST RELEASE
Published by Undo Redo Press
ISBN: 978-0-9806194-3-0
ISBN: 978-0-9806194-3-0
DRAGONS OF DUSK AND DAWN
Wei. Linguist turned military adviser. Raised among the intellectual elite of China's mighty Tang Dynasty. He sees warfare as life's cruellest certainty, a necessary evil that must be mastered to ensure survival. Victory calls for study, planning and the application of science.
Einarr. Scandinavian raid chief. A tenacious, formidable product of resilient Viking society. To his kind, battle is destiny's call to riches and glory. A chance to defeat life's harsh realities through conquest and plunder, to enter the songs of men, the feasting halls of the gods.
Their cultures lie at opposite ends of the world. They are the dragons of dusk and dawn. Yet Einarr and Wei are fated to be adversaries in a monumental clash — ferocity and cunning against methodical strategy, with the future of a vulnerable kingdom hanging in the balance.
A thought-provoking, epic adventure, this is the exciting story of a remarkable lost turning point in history that could actually have happened.
Einarr. Scandinavian raid chief. A tenacious, formidable product of resilient Viking society. To his kind, battle is destiny's call to riches and glory. A chance to defeat life's harsh realities through conquest and plunder, to enter the songs of men, the feasting halls of the gods.
Their cultures lie at opposite ends of the world. They are the dragons of dusk and dawn. Yet Einarr and Wei are fated to be adversaries in a monumental clash — ferocity and cunning against methodical strategy, with the future of a vulnerable kingdom hanging in the balance.
A thought-provoking, epic adventure, this is the exciting story of a remarkable lost turning point in history that could actually have happened.
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Purchase ebook from Undo Redo Press
Available for purchase on Amazon
ANATOMY OF A NOVEL
Check out this fast-paced, visually rich 15 minute documentary hosted by Simon himself.
It includes riveting martial arts and battle footage, and taps into exciting historical cultures and figures — including warrior women!
It includes riveting martial arts and battle footage, and taps into exciting historical cultures and figures — including warrior women!
Titles available now
The Tomodachi Duology
Tomodachi: The Edge of the World and Tomodachi: The Forest of the Night follow adventurous youth Daniel Marlowe as he's shipwrecked in Japan and separated from his diplomat father in the deadly Age of Warring Clans. Finding unlikely 'tomodachi' (friends) in the young nobleman and escaped hostage Kenji and the beautiful, enigmatic Otsu, Daniel becomes entangled with spies, duellists, inter-clan wars and even the Japanese spirit world.
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TOMODACHI: THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
It’s 1543 and English teenager Daniel Marlowe has been thrown into a harrowing first contact situation. Separated from his diplomat father by a shipwreck, he's stranded in a Japan torn by vicious inter-clan warfare. Spies, deserters and masterless warriors are everywhere.
Kenji, a warlord’s son, has an equally dire problem. He’s fled an obligation with a stain on his honour and must get home despite roaming bandits and clashing armies waiting in his path.
Courageous orphan Otsu, born of samurai blood and forced to flee her commoner hosts, has her own chilling secret, linked to the weird doll called Chiyo that she carries inside her kimono.
Fated to become ‘tomodachi’ -friends- these three young travellers are also destined for dangerous adventures as they cross a beautiful land haunted by the shadow of the sword.
Kenji, a warlord’s son, has an equally dire problem. He’s fled an obligation with a stain on his honour and must get home despite roaming bandits and clashing armies waiting in his path.
Courageous orphan Otsu, born of samurai blood and forced to flee her commoner hosts, has her own chilling secret, linked to the weird doll called Chiyo that she carries inside her kimono.
Fated to become ‘tomodachi’ -friends- these three young travellers are also destined for dangerous adventures as they cross a beautiful land haunted by the shadow of the sword.
REVIEWS:
‘Higgins’s writing is a joy to read.’ GoodReading Magazine
‘Tomodachi is not only a great action-packed ripping yarn which is sure to appeal to all ages, it is also a terrific historical novel which presents Japan’s feudal era in fascinating detail.’ Pamela Freeman, Winner of the NSW History Prize for Young People
‘The prose is clean and simple and the story quick… Higgins, who has visited Japan, China and the Philippines to study martial arts, uses his experiences to contrast the differences between English and Japanese culture of the period. He has also craftily explained important Japanese terms within the text and left the rest to the glossary, which expounds nicely on some concepts mentioned only in passing…the stage is set…for an entertaining and informative series.’ The Courier Mail, Author and Literary Critic Jason Nahrung
‘Higgins’s writing is a joy to read.’ GoodReading Magazine
‘Tomodachi is not only a great action-packed ripping yarn which is sure to appeal to all ages, it is also a terrific historical novel which presents Japan’s feudal era in fascinating detail.’ Pamela Freeman, Winner of the NSW History Prize for Young People
‘The prose is clean and simple and the story quick… Higgins, who has visited Japan, China and the Philippines to study martial arts, uses his experiences to contrast the differences between English and Japanese culture of the period. He has also craftily explained important Japanese terms within the text and left the rest to the glossary, which expounds nicely on some concepts mentioned only in passing…the stage is set…for an entertaining and informative series.’ The Courier Mail, Author and Literary Critic Jason Nahrung
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Eagle Books
ISBN 978 -0- 9945 -2808 -7
ISBN 978 -0- 9945 -2808 -7
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TOMODACHI 2: THE FOREST OF THE NIGHT
Shipwrecked at the far end of the world in a land at war.
Befriended by runaways fated to harrowing paths.
In constant danger from warriors, bandits and superstitious villagers who take his blue eyes and pale skin as proof that he’s a demon…
Young Daniel Marlowe and his Japanese ‘tomodachi’, his friends, Otsu and Kenji, are about to stumble into a stomach-knotting adventure where a ferocious public test of samurai virtue and a murder investigation will collide. Their hazardous journey promises answers. The hope of being joyfully reunited, the risk of confirming loss.
But the spirit world has its own part to play in their destinies, for someone -or something- waits watchfully in the ancient Forest of the Night.
Befriended by runaways fated to harrowing paths.
In constant danger from warriors, bandits and superstitious villagers who take his blue eyes and pale skin as proof that he’s a demon…
Young Daniel Marlowe and his Japanese ‘tomodachi’, his friends, Otsu and Kenji, are about to stumble into a stomach-knotting adventure where a ferocious public test of samurai virtue and a murder investigation will collide. Their hazardous journey promises answers. The hope of being joyfully reunited, the risk of confirming loss.
But the spirit world has its own part to play in their destinies, for someone -or something- waits watchfully in the ancient Forest of the Night.
REVIEWS:
‘…a novelist of meticulous and respectful detail…at the centre of the novel there is, as you might expect, a murder investigation…this is a novel that will take you deep into another world. Recommended for readers from eleven to sixteen years.’ Kevin Brophy for Reading Time
‘…fight scenes are gripping, prolific and told with undeniable authority…issues of difference and how to manage it positively, deftly propel the reader into another place and culture.’ Joy Lawn in Magpies: Talking About Books for Children
‘…a novelist of meticulous and respectful detail…at the centre of the novel there is, as you might expect, a murder investigation…this is a novel that will take you deep into another world. Recommended for readers from eleven to sixteen years.’ Kevin Brophy for Reading Time
‘…fight scenes are gripping, prolific and told with undeniable authority…issues of difference and how to manage it positively, deftly propel the reader into another place and culture.’ Joy Lawn in Magpies: Talking About Books for Children
The Moonshadow Trilogy
The Moonshadow Trilogy comprises Eye of the Beast, The Wrath of Silver Wolf and The Twilight War. As fragile peace dawns in medieval Japan, an orphan raised by spymasters and veteran samurai is pitted against a brilliant warlord trying to plunge the nation back into war. Facing a plethora of enemies with remarkable abilities, young shinobi (ninja) Moonshadow finds an ally -and potential romantic interest- in the formidable, volatile Snowhawk. Along with courage, the duo's martial and preternatural skills must see them through not only hair-raising missions involving human and supernatural nemeses, but also moral dilemmas that threaten to turn them into foes.
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Random House
ISBN 978-1-74166-283-2
ISBN 978-1-74166-283-2
Australian Bestseller 2008. Shortlisted for an Aurealis Fantasy Award. Teachers and readers outside Australia and New Zealand please note that Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast is titled Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja in the US and The Young Ninja in Indonesia.
MOONSHADOW: EYE OF THE BEAST
Fragile peace dawns in the land of the samurai.
Any death, man or beast, must be accounted for.
Moonshadow is the youngest agent of the Grey Light Order. As spies for the Shogun, the order must stop fanatical lords re-igniting civil war.
Moon’s first mission: use his unusual powers to steal the plans for a foreign secret weapon that could forever change the way battles are fought. His lurking enemies: a legendary assassin, rogue samurai and perhaps most dangerous of all…
a mysterious, beautiful girl.
Secret allies. Advanced sword skills. Unique powers. And courage. Will it be enough to save a world?
Any death, man or beast, must be accounted for.
Moonshadow is the youngest agent of the Grey Light Order. As spies for the Shogun, the order must stop fanatical lords re-igniting civil war.
Moon’s first mission: use his unusual powers to steal the plans for a foreign secret weapon that could forever change the way battles are fought. His lurking enemies: a legendary assassin, rogue samurai and perhaps most dangerous of all…
a mysterious, beautiful girl.
Secret allies. Advanced sword skills. Unique powers. And courage. Will it be enough to save a world?
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REVIEWS:
‘Lightning-fast action and gripping intrigue. Higgins’s grasp of Japanese sword skills and spy craft is masterful!’ John Flanagan, Author of Ranger’s Apprentice
‘Moonshadow is the perfect ninja…honourable, brave, and deadly. Higgins has populated his world with all the exotic locations and ice-hearted villains you could possibly desire…an adventure you’ll never forget! Moonshadow is a terrific read, and deserves to be a smash!’ Sean Williams, Author of The Changeling and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
‘This is a thrilling and engaging novel that will excite young fantasy readers.’ Viewpoint Magazine
‘Lightning-fast action and gripping intrigue. Higgins’s grasp of Japanese sword skills and spy craft is masterful!’ John Flanagan, Author of Ranger’s Apprentice
‘Moonshadow is the perfect ninja…honourable, brave, and deadly. Higgins has populated his world with all the exotic locations and ice-hearted villains you could possibly desire…an adventure you’ll never forget! Moonshadow is a terrific read, and deserves to be a smash!’ Sean Williams, Author of The Changeling and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
‘This is a thrilling and engaging novel that will excite young fantasy readers.’ Viewpoint Magazine
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Random House
ISBN 978-1-74166-405-8
ISBN 978-1-74166-405-8
Readers and teachers outside Australia & New Zealand please note; Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf is titled Moonshadow: The Nightmare Ninja in the US (published June 2011) and The Young Ninja 2 in Indonesia.
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MOONSHADOW: THE WRATH OF SILVER WOLF
In the land of the samurai, the defenders of peace are now targets…
Power-hungry warlord Silver Wolf plots against Moonshadow and the Grey Light Order.
His schemes could tear Japan apart and the legendary mystic, the White Nun, is caught in the middle. To reach the White Nun’s haunted mountain home, Moon and Snowhawk must survive Silver Wolf’s living weapons: bounty hunters, a vengeful gangster and powerful Clan Fuma agents.
Among them is Chikuma, an assassin who uses no force, weapons or poisons – but may prove the most lethal enemy they’ve encountered yet.
Will Silver Wolf’s wrath destroy Japan’s guardians of peace?
Power-hungry warlord Silver Wolf plots against Moonshadow and the Grey Light Order.
His schemes could tear Japan apart and the legendary mystic, the White Nun, is caught in the middle. To reach the White Nun’s haunted mountain home, Moon and Snowhawk must survive Silver Wolf’s living weapons: bounty hunters, a vengeful gangster and powerful Clan Fuma agents.
Among them is Chikuma, an assassin who uses no force, weapons or poisons – but may prove the most lethal enemy they’ve encountered yet.
Will Silver Wolf’s wrath destroy Japan’s guardians of peace?
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REVIEWS:
‘This exciting sequel to the all-action ninja adventure Eye of the Beast delivers the thrilling, stylish fight sequences that today’s young anime-literate readers demand. The book’s major strength, though, is its foundation in authentic Japanese mythology, history and culture.
Higgins’ own personal passion for Japanese martial arts shines brightly, bringing greater depth to the characters and their historically-based medieval world. Moonshadow is a powerful young shinobi (ninja) -fast, silent and deadly. He has the ability to merge his mind with animals – to see through their eyes and control them. But his recent victory has earned him a dangerous and determined enemy.
Summoned on an urgent mission with his new companion Snowhawk, the pair soon find themselves hunted by a team of assassins with powers and abilities even more deadly than their own.
Moonshadow is a terrific hero, honourable and disciplined; he nevertheless struggles with the conflicting lessons of his teachers and with his own insecurities, including his confusing feelings for the beautiful but temperamental Snowhawk. A perfect formula for boys and girls aged 12 plus, mixing the best elements of anime, fantasy, spy thrillers and medieval action.’ Richard Bilkey, Australian Bookseller and Publisher, October 2009
‘This exciting sequel to the all-action ninja adventure Eye of the Beast delivers the thrilling, stylish fight sequences that today’s young anime-literate readers demand. The book’s major strength, though, is its foundation in authentic Japanese mythology, history and culture.
Higgins’ own personal passion for Japanese martial arts shines brightly, bringing greater depth to the characters and their historically-based medieval world. Moonshadow is a powerful young shinobi (ninja) -fast, silent and deadly. He has the ability to merge his mind with animals – to see through their eyes and control them. But his recent victory has earned him a dangerous and determined enemy.
Summoned on an urgent mission with his new companion Snowhawk, the pair soon find themselves hunted by a team of assassins with powers and abilities even more deadly than their own.
Moonshadow is a terrific hero, honourable and disciplined; he nevertheless struggles with the conflicting lessons of his teachers and with his own insecurities, including his confusing feelings for the beautiful but temperamental Snowhawk. A perfect formula for boys and girls aged 12 plus, mixing the best elements of anime, fantasy, spy thrillers and medieval action.’ Richard Bilkey, Australian Bookseller and Publisher, October 2009
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Random House
ISBN 978 -1- 74274 -314 -1
ISBN 978 -1- 74274 -314 -1
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MOONSHADOW: THE TWILIGHT WAR
Attacked by the powerful Fuma clan, young Moonshadow and the agents of the Grey Light Order fight for their lives.
In the heat of battle, one of their number disappears. Was the Grey Light Order agent abducted by the Fuma or did they leave willingly? Was there a double agent in their midst?
Moonshadow and Groundspider are ordered to the Fuma’s mountain fortress, said to be impregnable. Their mission: discover the truth, then act accordingly. Will their dangerous quest end in a rescue?
Or will Moonshadow be forced to destroy a trusted friend?
In the heat of battle, one of their number disappears. Was the Grey Light Order agent abducted by the Fuma or did they leave willingly? Was there a double agent in their midst?
Moonshadow and Groundspider are ordered to the Fuma’s mountain fortress, said to be impregnable. Their mission: discover the truth, then act accordingly. Will their dangerous quest end in a rescue?
Or will Moonshadow be forced to destroy a trusted friend?
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REVIEWS:
‘…an excellent story with historical threads running through it. Written as if an anime story or fantasy this should appeal to young boys in a time when few books are written for that age group…fast action pace…well written…recommend this for those age 10-14 or those young at heart.’ Randy Daugherty, Goodreads
‘…an excellent story with historical threads running through it. Written as if an anime story or fantasy this should appeal to young boys in a time when few books are written for that age group…fast action pace…well written…recommend this for those age 10-14 or those young at heart.’ Randy Daugherty, Goodreads
The Dream Web Files Trilogy
Doctor Id, Cybercage, and The Stalking Zone form The Dream Web Files trilogy. The teenage daughter of a Special Crime Squad investigator, computer-obsessed Jade Draper relentlessly cyber-sleuths the city's most dangerous cases herself. She also struggles with harrowing flashes of precognition in bizarre dreams. Glamorous Lucy Van Daal and Jade's romantic interests, martial artist-hacker Wing Tran and rookie police detective Bruce King, support Jade's secret vigilantism. Together they take on a serial killer, a sociopathic genius, and finally a deranged master sniper.
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Random House
ISBN 0 09 183469 4
ISBN 0 09 183469 4
CBC Notable Book of the Year. Published also in Italy (Mondadori ISBN 88 04 47829 2) and serialised in Japan by Asahi Shimbun Newspaper with original artwork by David Severn.
DOCTOR ID
There’s a serial killer on the loose. A killer so clever that Detective Dave Draper’s Special crime Squad has no clues to go on. How does “The Invisible Man” know so much about his victims? How does he choose them and track them down? Jade Draper, teenage computer freak, wants to know. The mounting tally of unsolved murder victims is wrecking her family life. No one is safe. She has her own theory and she wants to test it. With the help of her two admirers she decides to set a trap – a trap that just might work! But who is really setting the trap and who is really after who?
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REVIEWS:
‘…an exciting, gripping suspense novel to read or recommend..clever young characters, with super computer knowledge who set out to track down a serial killer..cleverly handled without resorting to conventional stereotypes…the family life is well integrated and provides welcome comic relief from the tension that barely lets up, especially through the perpetually hungry, perpetually subversive younger brother, Alan, called ‘the monster’ by Jade. What increases the tension and the creepiness are the interspersed cuts to the Invisible Man and his planning, plotting and stalking…his undoing then is clever, but not before a terrifying, violent confrontation between the young people and him, that is fittingly climactic.’ Viewpoint Magazine ‘On Books for Young Adults’
‘…witty, fast paced and inventive…’ Australian Book Review
‘…strong and suspenseful…aimed at a younger market, but which has value for all readers…this is gritty and …benefits from Higgins’ experience as policeman & (private) investigator.’ Gold Coast Bulletin (Michael Jacobson)
‘…a writer with considerable understanding of human behavior…a book which interests teenagers – and treats readers, characters and subject matter with maturity and respect..a gripping and challenging murder mystery. The story’s threads – computers, kids and crime – are woven into a sticky, heart stopping web that will pull teenagers to the edge of their seats.’ The Daily News
‘Higgins calls on his past with the South Australian police to conjure up the scary stuff.’ WHO Magazine
‘…the suspense mounts- this is scary!’ Bookphile
‘…fast paced and very easy to read with a lot happening in a relatively short book…accessible to teenagers of varying reading ability levels….Higgins combines family, friendship and romantic issues with computers, murder and mystery in a very readable way.’ Fiction Focus
‘… a nail biting, suspense-filled, crime novel… contemporary and action-packed… plus a look into real police operations.’ The Northern Star
‘…an exciting, gripping suspense novel to read or recommend..clever young characters, with super computer knowledge who set out to track down a serial killer..cleverly handled without resorting to conventional stereotypes…the family life is well integrated and provides welcome comic relief from the tension that barely lets up, especially through the perpetually hungry, perpetually subversive younger brother, Alan, called ‘the monster’ by Jade. What increases the tension and the creepiness are the interspersed cuts to the Invisible Man and his planning, plotting and stalking…his undoing then is clever, but not before a terrifying, violent confrontation between the young people and him, that is fittingly climactic.’ Viewpoint Magazine ‘On Books for Young Adults’
‘…witty, fast paced and inventive…’ Australian Book Review
‘…strong and suspenseful…aimed at a younger market, but which has value for all readers…this is gritty and …benefits from Higgins’ experience as policeman & (private) investigator.’ Gold Coast Bulletin (Michael Jacobson)
‘…a writer with considerable understanding of human behavior…a book which interests teenagers – and treats readers, characters and subject matter with maturity and respect..a gripping and challenging murder mystery. The story’s threads – computers, kids and crime – are woven into a sticky, heart stopping web that will pull teenagers to the edge of their seats.’ The Daily News
‘Higgins calls on his past with the South Australian police to conjure up the scary stuff.’ WHO Magazine
‘…the suspense mounts- this is scary!’ Bookphile
‘…fast paced and very easy to read with a lot happening in a relatively short book…accessible to teenagers of varying reading ability levels….Higgins combines family, friendship and romantic issues with computers, murder and mystery in a very readable way.’ Fiction Focus
‘… a nail biting, suspense-filled, crime novel… contemporary and action-packed… plus a look into real police operations.’ The Northern Star
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Random House
ISBN 0 09 183971 8
ISBN 0 09 183971 8
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CYBERCAGE
Computer freak Jade Draper’s outing to the experimental building Cybercourt has already become the field trip from hell. Nightmare images make her doubt her own sanity. Then there’s the romantic conflict that just won’t go away. Bad day? Things are about to get worse… In the labyrinth of Cybercourt, Jade must survive a deadly nemesis – fearless prison escapee Haman Callow. Aided by a brilliant young geek, the ruthless, inventive criminal is about to lock Jade and her friends Bruce, Wing and Lucy into a terrifying contest of wits. Escape will depend on controlling the artificial intelligence that runs Cybercourt. That’s another problem: it’s armed… and it’s gone crazy.
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REVIEWS:
‘…interesting and entertaining…’ Australian Personal Computer
‘Here’s a slick, very cool and totally engrossing thriller about a future world that’s almost here…Higgins has created a colourful group of young people who are exciting but also who fall outside of many stereotypical heroes. One of the strong points of the story is its consideration of the reality of prison life and the complex and diverse types of criminal behaviours that are part of the people who find themselves ‘doing time’. Readers who have an Internet connection -or would love to have one- will really enjoy Cybercage and will probably want to read everything else Simon Higgins has written.’ Viewpoint Magazine Winter 2001
‘…interesting and entertaining…’ Australian Personal Computer
‘Here’s a slick, very cool and totally engrossing thriller about a future world that’s almost here…Higgins has created a colourful group of young people who are exciting but also who fall outside of many stereotypical heroes. One of the strong points of the story is its consideration of the reality of prison life and the complex and diverse types of criminal behaviours that are part of the people who find themselves ‘doing time’. Readers who have an Internet connection -or would love to have one- will really enjoy Cybercage and will probably want to read everything else Simon Higgins has written.’ Viewpoint Magazine Winter 2001
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Random House
ISBN 978 -1- 74274 -314 -1
ISBN 978 -1- 74274 -314 -1
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THE STALKING ZONE
On a lonely Australian Bush plateau, a young man and two women are about to be hunted. Their pursuer is an expert tracker, skilled with firearms. Cunning. Dedicated. Insane. During this life-and-death chase, secrets will be revealed, loyalties tested.
WING TRAN Trained fighter. Obsessed with a family secret. Haunted by a man he can never be.
JADE DRAPER Amateur Sleuth. Target of Internet hate mail. Unwilling guardian of an ancient gift.
LUCY VAN DAAL Glamour girl? Confused yet confident, and Quarry Number 3 in a diabolical game.
…for deep in the forest, madness is ready to hunt.
WING TRAN Trained fighter. Obsessed with a family secret. Haunted by a man he can never be.
JADE DRAPER Amateur Sleuth. Target of Internet hate mail. Unwilling guardian of an ancient gift.
LUCY VAN DAAL Glamour girl? Confused yet confident, and Quarry Number 3 in a diabolical game.
…for deep in the forest, madness is ready to hunt.
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REVIEWS:
‘First came Dr Id then Cybercage and in The Stalking Zone Simon Higgins continues the slickly exciting adventures…Interwoven in this cliff-hanging tale is a more thoughtful one, that of Wing’s father, Tran Minh, taken from his diary as a soldier against the Viet Cong. A good read…food for thought, great for upper secondary.’ Magpies Vol 17
‘…an ultra scary thriller…gripping…’ DMAG
‘…The Stalking Zone does send chills up and down the readers vertebrae…The cocoon of urban safety is totally removed…Simon has developed his central characters further from the original books…don’t hesitate to read the book before you put on the gift wrap, you will enjoy being “creeped out” too…’ Writeabout Magazine
‘First came Dr Id then Cybercage and in The Stalking Zone Simon Higgins continues the slickly exciting adventures…Interwoven in this cliff-hanging tale is a more thoughtful one, that of Wing’s father, Tran Minh, taken from his diary as a soldier against the Viet Cong. A good read…food for thought, great for upper secondary.’ Magpies Vol 17
‘…an ultra scary thriller…gripping…’ DMAG
‘…The Stalking Zone does send chills up and down the readers vertebrae…The cocoon of urban safety is totally removed…Simon has developed his central characters further from the original books…don’t hesitate to read the book before you put on the gift wrap, you will enjoy being “creeped out” too…’ Writeabout Magazine
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Random House
ISBN 1-74051-903-5
ISBN 1-74051-903-5
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THE DREAM WEB FILES
The Dream Web Files is an omnibus of the three novels: Doctor Id, Cybercage & The Stalking Zone, complete and unabridged.
'Some nights I dream of a ghostly portal that is slowly dragging the real world in by its edges. The same thing always happens as the nightmare unfolds. I touch the scar on my face, smell burning wires or gunpowder, then get pulled through the portal.
And I go back.
To a dark, dangerous season in my life. Amazing, really, that the ancient gift itself did not destroy me back then. Of course, I had never wanted it in the first place.
Why would I? In those days I would have said, "I’m the scientific type. Technology is practically my religion! Cut me and I bleed CPUs, silicon chips." But then there is the other Jade, isn’t there? The one who knows a dreadful curse that people have described since time began. Inside what should be safe, peaceful sleep, a dark curtain slowly parts. Then you glimpse things. Strange, scary, meaningful things. Naturally, disbelief follows. Starting with your own.
So it was a short, difficult tunnel that took me from girl to woman, and I guess along the way there were five men who between them changed my life. The two I came to love, occasionally at the same time. When I think of them, certain images always come to me first, fragments I will forever remember as so… them. Wing's hands, tracing circles in the air. Strong, fluid, pale blades suddenly darting at imaginary targets. The quick, ambitious eyes of Bruce, shining above that smile he knew how to use so well.
And then there were the other three. Each tried to end me. Each made me know why people fear the black of night, and a stranger's steps behind them. I think of those three often too, but rather oddly now. Not as men, not as human, but as a weird procession of beings that crept into my world to slowly encircle my friends and I.
First came a phantom, then the Minotaur, and finally, that angel of death…'
From Jade Drapers Encrypted Diary File
'Some nights I dream of a ghostly portal that is slowly dragging the real world in by its edges. The same thing always happens as the nightmare unfolds. I touch the scar on my face, smell burning wires or gunpowder, then get pulled through the portal.
And I go back.
To a dark, dangerous season in my life. Amazing, really, that the ancient gift itself did not destroy me back then. Of course, I had never wanted it in the first place.
Why would I? In those days I would have said, "I’m the scientific type. Technology is practically my religion! Cut me and I bleed CPUs, silicon chips." But then there is the other Jade, isn’t there? The one who knows a dreadful curse that people have described since time began. Inside what should be safe, peaceful sleep, a dark curtain slowly parts. Then you glimpse things. Strange, scary, meaningful things. Naturally, disbelief follows. Starting with your own.
So it was a short, difficult tunnel that took me from girl to woman, and I guess along the way there were five men who between them changed my life. The two I came to love, occasionally at the same time. When I think of them, certain images always come to me first, fragments I will forever remember as so… them. Wing's hands, tracing circles in the air. Strong, fluid, pale blades suddenly darting at imaginary targets. The quick, ambitious eyes of Bruce, shining above that smile he knew how to use so well.
And then there were the other three. Each tried to end me. Each made me know why people fear the black of night, and a stranger's steps behind them. I think of those three often too, but rather oddly now. Not as men, not as human, but as a weird procession of beings that crept into my world to slowly encircle my friends and I.
First came a phantom, then the Minotaur, and finally, that angel of death…'
From Jade Drapers Encrypted Diary File
The Thunderfish Trilogy
Thunderfish, Under No Flag, and In the Jaws of the Sea make up the Thunderfish trilogy. After losing her father and inheriting his shipping empire, young Kira Beaumont witnesses a high seas massacre of refugees trying to reach Australia. With trauma spawning transformation, Kira uses her incredible resources to reinvent herself as the Captain Nemo of the 21st century. Building a rogue crew from her gifted multinational inner circle and upgrading a blackmarket submarine with experimental technology, Kira battles modern pirates and illegal whalers and attempts impossible rescues.
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Random House
ISBN 0-09-183 953-X
ISBN 0-09-183 953-X
CBC Notable Book of the Year. Australian Bestseller February 2000. Reprinted continuously since 1999. Has been performed on stage.
THUNDERFISH
In the Coral Sea near Australia, Kira Beaumont has witnessed a crime of Piracy that’s changed her life forever. The 18 year old heir to a giant shipping empire, she now has a dangerous obsession. As newspapers speculate about her disappearance, and tabloid magazines invent gossip about future TV weddings, Captain Kira Beaumont fights a secret crusade a thousand feet under the pacific. Goal: Save refugees attacked on the high seas. Enemy: Modern pirates, murderous and well armed. Secret Weapon: A reborn combat submarine, bristling with 21st Century technology to fight an ancient evil. Thunderfish: Some legends were meant to come true.
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REVIEWS:
‘…another brilliant read by a delightful storyteller..again I will pass this on to the young adult in my home to read and enjoy..’ Writeabout Magazine
‘…Higgins writes a ripping good adventure yarn for young adults…I am usually riveted by a good submarine story and this was no exception..you can probably file Higgins’s work under the same reference as John Marsden, as they both write exceptionally paced, well written adventure books for teenagers without ever striking a single patronizing note..the sort of book that grips and doesn’t let go…’ The Word On Books
‘…action packed adventure stories to entice even the most reluctant reader…the simplicity of style and plot allow the detail of the novel, the descriptions of the futuristic technology and the dramatic action, to capture and maintain the interest of a diverse group of readers…the appeal of this novel for younger readers will lie in the actual adventures and battles…it will leave them feeling satisfied and..have them looking for more.’ Viewpoint Magazine
‘…another brilliant read by a delightful storyteller..again I will pass this on to the young adult in my home to read and enjoy..’ Writeabout Magazine
‘…Higgins writes a ripping good adventure yarn for young adults…I am usually riveted by a good submarine story and this was no exception..you can probably file Higgins’s work under the same reference as John Marsden, as they both write exceptionally paced, well written adventure books for teenagers without ever striking a single patronizing note..the sort of book that grips and doesn’t let go…’ The Word On Books
‘…action packed adventure stories to entice even the most reluctant reader…the simplicity of style and plot allow the detail of the novel, the descriptions of the futuristic technology and the dramatic action, to capture and maintain the interest of a diverse group of readers…the appeal of this novel for younger readers will lie in the actual adventures and battles…it will leave them feeling satisfied and..have them looking for more.’ Viewpoint Magazine
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Random House
ISBN 0 091 83981 5
ISBN 0 091 83981 5
Short listed for the Ned Kelly Award (recognizing quality Australian Crime Fiction).
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UNDER NO FLAG
Only a few years from now… The intrepid crew of the rogue submarine Thunderfish face a terrible responsibility. Cornered by the navy after a campaign against illegal whalers, Captain Kira Beaumont has been forced to accept a dangerous secret mission, turning her military-trained crew and hi-tech sub into pawns in a volatile international drama. And the stakes are high: to rescue a crucial diplomat and prevent war, something even greater must be risked… our world’s pollution-sick lungs themselves – the oceans!
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REVIEWS:
‘…this fast-paced action novel is well-constructed with characters who are now developing into real people…Simon Higgins acknowledges the help of a retired Royal Navy submarine engineer…’ Reading Time
‘…a racing heartbeat almost from the first sentence in this excellent follow up…renegade terrorists are the antagonists, in the climate we live in, a frightening possible reality…don’t just think of this as a book for young adults, although they would love it, go out and buy it for your own enjoyment…’ Jill Smith for Writeabout Magazine
‘Simon Higgins follows up his submarine action novel for young adults, Thunderfish, back in the water again and making a splash with a cracking good read. Appropriately setting the scene with a quote from the first submarine novel’s Captain Nemo (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne is one of Higgins’ favorite books)… ‘I have done with society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not therefore obey its laws, and I desire you never to allude to them before me again!’ It’s a quote that could also have been uttered by ‘obsessed’ heiress Kira Beaumont, Captain of the refitted combat submarine Thunderfish. This time around the good 19-year-old captain and her military-trained crew must partake in a secret mission of international significance. Rescuing a diplomat to prevent a war is a tall order, especially when the future of the world’s oceans also hangs in the balance. As with other adventures from Higgins, Under No Flag features a great cast of characters and a fast-paced plot while subtly slipping in some of the big themes of the new millennium – military might, nationalism and environmental awareness not being the least.’ From The Word on Books with Jeremy Fenton
‘…this fast-paced action novel is well-constructed with characters who are now developing into real people…Simon Higgins acknowledges the help of a retired Royal Navy submarine engineer…’ Reading Time
‘…a racing heartbeat almost from the first sentence in this excellent follow up…renegade terrorists are the antagonists, in the climate we live in, a frightening possible reality…don’t just think of this as a book for young adults, although they would love it, go out and buy it for your own enjoyment…’ Jill Smith for Writeabout Magazine
‘Simon Higgins follows up his submarine action novel for young adults, Thunderfish, back in the water again and making a splash with a cracking good read. Appropriately setting the scene with a quote from the first submarine novel’s Captain Nemo (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne is one of Higgins’ favorite books)… ‘I have done with society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not therefore obey its laws, and I desire you never to allude to them before me again!’ It’s a quote that could also have been uttered by ‘obsessed’ heiress Kira Beaumont, Captain of the refitted combat submarine Thunderfish. This time around the good 19-year-old captain and her military-trained crew must partake in a secret mission of international significance. Rescuing a diplomat to prevent a war is a tall order, especially when the future of the world’s oceans also hangs in the balance. As with other adventures from Higgins, Under No Flag features a great cast of characters and a fast-paced plot while subtly slipping in some of the big themes of the new millennium – military might, nationalism and environmental awareness not being the least.’ From The Word on Books with Jeremy Fenton
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Random House
ISBN 1-74051-896-9
ISBN 1-74051-896-9
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IN THE JAWS OF THE SEA
The year is 2013. The planet’s food chain is collapsing after decades of harsh marine exploitation. Only one man can save our dying oceans: rogue genius Myles Roundtree, now secretly called upon to prevent the extinction of the human race. But Myles is trapped aboard a crippled submarine, deep below the ocean, teetering on the edge of a hull-crushing abyss. His best chance of rescue lies with another marine outlaw, a woman called Kira, and her silent hunter-killer craft, Thunderfish. Kira and her crew are no strangers to daring rescues -but this mission may take a miracle. Assuming they can even get there in time….
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REVIEWS:
‘…undersea action and adventure…Higgins delivers a future world that is richly endowed…exhaustive research renders these fictional scenarios with an accessibility and believability which makes his prognosis for our future all the more dire. Unlike (Tom) Clancy, Higgins imbues his stories with action aplenty without getting bogged down in too much technical detail. Rather Higgins focuses on the human drama of his characters and how they maintain focus on their goals in the face of insurmountable odds. In the Jaws of the Sea maintains its pace with a dual narrative, as the reader moves between two submarines, both locked in a battle against time, with the Earth’s future at stake…not only keeps the action moving, it whets the appetite for more.’ Australian Bookseller & Publisher Review by Ben Beaton
‘…undersea action and adventure…Higgins delivers a future world that is richly endowed…exhaustive research renders these fictional scenarios with an accessibility and believability which makes his prognosis for our future all the more dire. Unlike (Tom) Clancy, Higgins imbues his stories with action aplenty without getting bogged down in too much technical detail. Rather Higgins focuses on the human drama of his characters and how they maintain focus on their goals in the face of insurmountable odds. In the Jaws of the Sea maintains its pace with a dual narrative, as the reader moves between two submarines, both locked in a battle against time, with the Earth’s future at stake…not only keeps the action moving, it whets the appetite for more.’ Australian Bookseller & Publisher Review by Ben Beaton
Standalone Books
Check out Simon's other books.
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Hodder Headline
ISBN 0 7336 1173 7
ISBN 0 7336 1173 7
BEYOND THE SHAKING TIME
Later in the 21st Century… 18 year old Cass Marshall has survived a global disaster and most of Australia is under water, with survivors scattered in island villages. Cass can handle the freak weather and her makeshift stockade home, but not her over-protective dad Eddie, who won’t let her join Fort Necessity’s Militia. Especially when her best friend has vanished, the scouts are keeping secrets, and there are strange tracks in the forest! Cass is determined to know what it all means, but solving this mystery will drag her into the heart of terror, and the new world into war.
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REVIEWS:
‘It is a remarkable tale of adventure set in a recognizable but frightening future world…creativity with language and strong action scenes makes this a challenging read. A fascinating book.’ Reading Time
‘The scenario may belong to the realm of fantasy, what-if, but the author works hard at (creating) an almost super-realist effect. In the case of Higgins, this means considerable research into traditional Aboriginal foods and weapons of the New South Wales -Queensland coast. Staples like Bungwahl bread make his future society viable, as well as credible on the purely literal level. There is much to commend in this book: the character of Cass, and her progress from wayward teenage girl to Amazon; the way Higgins shows a society adapting to change; the interactions of the many interesting minor characters; and a deft grasp of action writing. There is clearly a space for a sequel or two (or three) which I trust will happen.’ Viewpoint Magazine Summer 1999
‘It is a remarkable tale of adventure set in a recognizable but frightening future world…creativity with language and strong action scenes makes this a challenging read. A fascinating book.’ Reading Time
‘The scenario may belong to the realm of fantasy, what-if, but the author works hard at (creating) an almost super-realist effect. In the case of Higgins, this means considerable research into traditional Aboriginal foods and weapons of the New South Wales -Queensland coast. Staples like Bungwahl bread make his future society viable, as well as credible on the purely literal level. There is much to commend in this book: the character of Cass, and her progress from wayward teenage girl to Amazon; the way Higgins shows a society adapting to change; the interactions of the many interesting minor characters; and a deft grasp of action writing. There is clearly a space for a sequel or two (or three) which I trust will happen.’ Viewpoint Magazine Summer 1999
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