Above the Lower Sky

by Tom Deitz

In the year 2024, a bizarre shared destiny unites Kevin Mauney, his estranged sister Carolyn and Thunderbird O'Connor. For each has a unique role to play in the resolution of a multi-species conspiracy that predates humankind--and in the magical battle that is to come against a terror that has risen from the ocean's depths to walk the world of humans.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

456 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Thomas Franklin Deitz (January 17, 1952- April 27, 2009) was an American novelist from Georgia. He had a B.A. and M.A. in medieval English from University of Georgia. He was the author of the "Soulsmith Trilogy," comprised of the books Soulsmith , Dreambuilder , and Wordwright . He also wrote a popular series consisting of Windmaster's Bane , Fireshaper's Doom , Darkthunder's Way , Sunshaker's War , Stoneskin's Revenge , Ghostcountry's Wrath , Dreamseeker's Road , Landslayer's Law , and Warstalker's Track . His stand-alone novel The Gryphon King centers around a few of the characters from the later novels in the last series mentioned.

Deitz also won the Phoenix Award in 2007. This award is given at the annual DeepSouthCon to a professional who has done a great deal for Southern Fandom.

Deitz was a well-liked college instructor as well, with stints as an adjunct English faculty member at Gainesville State College, Lanier Tech, and Tri-County Community College, and received a tenure-track appointment as assistant professor in Fall 2008 at Gainesville State College. He was recognized as GSC's adjunct faculty member of the year in 2008.

In addition to writing, Deitz's creative outlets included visual art (murals, fantasy art, and more); drama (with minor roles in a number of community and college productions); model automobile collecting; costumery; and other pursuits via the Society for Creative Anachronism. He was a founding member of the SCA's Barony of Bryn Madoc.

Deitz died on Monday, April 27 2009 of heart failure. He had a heart attack in January of this year and was a candidate to receive a Ventricular assist device (VAD) but had suffered too much damage to his heart for the device to be implanted.
(From Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the David Sullivan series in that Celtic and Native American lore are combined, but this one has a science component also.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I brought this science fiction novel along on a trip to visit Walter Wallace and Karen Engdahl in Springfield, Vermont. I read most of it up in the third floor bedroom of Walter's son, Stas. It wasn't very impressive. Deitz is usually classed as a fantasy writer.

[Heidi Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is different from the average run of the mill sci-fi/fantasy. I found Mr. Dietz's premise to be refreshing and look forward to reading even more of his books.