Centuries from now, the planet Clandoi is frozen and exists without sun or stars. For Solly and Lalune a life of darkness is what they know ... along with their forbidden friendship. Solly is a Wayfarer, the lowest caste on the planet, while Lalune is a rich, pampered Appaloosian. As the story opens, sadistic ruling forces have trapped Lalune and her parents in the sinister cyberclinic, intent on harvesting their body parts, while Solly's parents have been arrested and taken from him. Grief-stricken and frightened, Solly's only support comes in the shape of the wise old Seer Aube. It is Aube who reveals to Solly that far from being helpless, he is named in an age old prophecy as one of three extraordinary children who have the power to use the Key of Being. The key that will free Clandoi to thrive once again as a planet. Time is running out for Clandoi, and Solly must act quickly in finding the key and using it. But time is also running out for his beloved Lalune ... If he doesn't reach her before her body is harvested he will lose her for ever. Waylaid on his journey by an eccentric little Wayfarer girl, Etolantie, and the malign-seeming Sybilla Geepool, Solly almost doesn't make it back to the clinic in time, but by the skin of his teeth he arrives to rescue Lalune and start the search for his parents, the secret of the Key of Being, and for the identity of the two other chosen ones to use the Key ... Will his quest be successful All is revealed in part two, The Key to Clandoi.

Author Biography

When Erica was at school she entered every available writing competition and always came either second or third, which she found most frustrating! Later, one of her stories was shortlisted for the Real Writers Award 2003 and another was published in the online science fiction site, Aphelion. She is a compulsive reader - anything from Chicken Licken" to Chick Lit", and takes a keen interest in ethical issues: global warming, permaculture, cloning, genetic engineering, all of which spill over into her writing, though she hates to preach, simply provoke questions from her readers. Erica also sings Mezzo Soprano in her local choral society and interestingly lived on a houseboat for many years with her family. She is relieved now to be living on dry land! The wonderful Cybernation" is her first published novel.