In Dying Of A Light, DF Smith skillfully recreates the picturesque waterfront university Campus in historic Virginia, the raw sounds, smells & mind state of the Jersey City street Ecosystem. He gives an interesting insight into the sociocultural theoretical perspective of urban youth. The title character Diamond Palladium narrates a perilous journey, which is familiar to some, known to a few, but told by none. The story begins in the early seventies when Palladium is born into chaos and rescued by a strong woman. He embarks upon an odyssey, which is all too natural in regards to his genetic coding, but contrary to his moral home teachings. This serious life threatening, life-loosing narrative gives a unique view into the actuality of events that take place subsequent to young adults leaving their parents nest. In a novel that incorporates painstaking experiences with unforgettable style & detail, Smith presents an all to rarely witnessed part of young Urban culture with a provocative portrayal of the silent bonds between men & women of color. Most of all he gives us the saga of real flesh & blood individuals making difficult decisions in the face of unimaginable danger, giving a clearer, deeper understanding to the psychodynamics of the urban mind.