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    Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon: Diary of the Displaced, #1
    Unavailable
    Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon: Diary of the Displaced, #1
    Unavailable
    Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon: Diary of the Displaced, #1
    Ebook235 pages3 hours

    Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon: Diary of the Displaced, #1

    By Glynn James

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Diary of the Displaced is a genre-breaking saga that is part mystery, part scifi, part horror and part fantasy. 
    Set in a universe where creatures from the depths of Lovecraftian horror come up against blaster and shotgun wielding nomadic wanderers, it's not like anything you've ever read before. 
    There is a place where nightmares are real. A dark and terrifying place that is hidden from the world we know, by borders that only the most unfortunate of souls will ever cross. 

    James Halldon woke up in the dark, alone. 
    No food. No water. No light. Almost no memories of his past. 
    Things moved in the darkness around him. Things that growled. 
    And daytime never seemed to come. 
    "Of all the places I had to end up, it had to be here." 

    Readers are calling the DIARY OF THE DISPLACED series: 
    "A wild ride through a stunning imagination." ... "An epic journey through places best left in darkness." ... "I was hooked in the first few pages." ... "Mysterious, compelling, and brilliantly imagined." ... "Unpredictable with great character development." ... "Great books...enjoyed from first word to last." ... "Unexpectedly excellent!" ... "Very bizarre and imaginative." 

    If it's dark when you wake up, and you can hear growling, then close your eyes and maybe it will go away. 
    But maybe it won't.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherElement 12
    Release dateApr 17, 2011
    ISBN9781501460586
    Unavailable
    Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon: Diary of the Displaced, #1
    Author

    Glynn James

    Glynn is a writer of Dark Scifi novels, born in Wellingborough, England in 1972. He hasn't managed to escape from there yet. He has an obsession with anything to do with zombies, Cthulhu Mythos, post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction and films that began when he started reading HP Lovecraft and Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend" back when he was eight years old. Biggest influences - HP Lovecraft, Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Stephen King Website - 

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    Reviews for Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon

    4/5

    62 ratings24 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I got this book from Librarything early reviewers contest. It was a good book. It was short but really intriguing and exciting. The ending just left you with more questions than answers. I can't wait to read the next one and get the answer that I need.
    • 5/5
      The main character is dumped into a world of darkness with no idea how he got there. So, as the reader, are you. As the hero explores his surroundings so do you. At first it's by touch, then he manages to create light. He finds himself within a giant junkyard, yet in a place that is clearly... well, somewhere else. This book was an amazing read and a big part is exploring the world with the hero so I don't want to give too much away.

      The writing is very good, with vivid descriptions that really transport you into the world. It comes with a number of scary enemies, in particular one named Cutterjack (I'll let you read and find out more). The book builds to a very satisfying end which still leaves the door open for the next book in the series. It's so good that I went out and bought the omnibus of books 1 to 3 immediately (it was cheaper than buying 2 and 3 separately). Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      I received this book through the Member Giveaway and I am pleasently surprised. As the title suggests, it is written as a diary, the diary of a man who wakes in a mysterious place. I will not write a synopsis of the plot because I think it serves the story very well to discover all the secrets of the world you are thrown in along with the narrator.What I really enjoyed in this book are the descriptions of the place in which the story is set. I was able to have a perfect picture of what was around every moment and, despite the sun shining through my window, I could easily loose myself in the darkness and horror of the world surrounding the main character. Very well done!The end of the book leaves you looking forward to reading the following books and I think I will not let too much time go before getting the second one and finding out what happens next.
    • 4/5
      The book starts with the main character knowing as much about his situation as the reader, and together they explore the strange world that he finds himself in. A fantasy-esque version of Robinson Crusoe, James Halldon is alone in a vast and apparently endless sea of junk, beset by zombies, demon dogs, murderers, and ghosts he must work out what is going on - and how he got there... While perhaps slow to start, the pace worked fine in the end I found.Written in the style of a diary kept by the character, the story progresses at the rate at which Halldon discovers things and easily kept me engrossed - indeed I read the whole thing in one sitting, and picked up the sequel to find out what happened next.
    • 4/5
      From the get go the reader is taken in with the odd scenario that is being played out - in a good way! The reader is drawn in with the mysterious circumstances that brought our hero to the strange place he is surrounded by. Rope in some creepy zombie monsters, odd looking dog creatures and ghosts and you'd think you're reading a horror tale. Imagine that this is all explained by being in a parallel universe and it rings more science fiction. It was a great hook into the series and gets the reader wanting to read more and find out what happens to our hero!
    • 3/5
      I found the story interesting, the main character was quite 'real' and the plot had nice twists and turns. The book could use a bit more editing, though. On the whole, a pleasant read.
    • 4/5
      My main criticism is that I felt like this novel could have benefited from a bit more editing, as there were many errors. However, I found the story intriguing and will definitely be reading the sequel. I'm not typically a horror/zombie fan, but I did enjoy this novel quite a bit!
    • 5/5
      James Halldon, formerly of London, awakens to find himself in a strange, dark world, with no idea how he got there. He is battered, bruised & surrounded by junk of unknown origins. After his eyes adjust to the extremely low light level, James realizes that he is Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked in a foreign land & must find the means to keep himself alive. When foraging among the piles of refuse, James discovers a journal & begins to keep a diary of his experiences. It is through those journal entries that the reader travels along with James as he explores his new environment & seeks a way to get back home to London. Diary of the Displaced is written in first person narrative & Glynn James mastery of this POV had me hooked from the very first page. I could easily see this title being a success as an audio book.
    • 3/5
      AUTHOR: Glynn James appears to be a Science Fiction author with a unique twist on other dimensions. He has the ability to perk one's curiosity from one situation to the next. His writing is intriguing.SYNOPSIS –James is a salesman in England. He wakes up to find that he has been thrown into a world of rubble. While trying to find a means to escape, James is assisted by (2) ghostly friends, Rudy and Adler, each with their own stories. The maw assist in protecting James from Cutterjack. Why is James in that world? READ to find out. Who are the maw? READ to find out. Why is Cutterjack after James? READ to find out.(3 out of 5) Stars. Elements of a Science Fiction Book TEST =Other worldly............................................YES;Characters easily identifiable...........................NOAdventure................................................YESPeril................................................... YES;Plot easy to comprehend..................................NOFAVORITE PART: Scaffold....what a surpriseLEAST FAVORITE PART: Zombies....characters that are too typicalYOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: Science Fiction Adventure, Dimensions, Otherwordly, Ghosts, Zombies
    • 5/5
      From the moment that I began to read this book it just sucked me in and I could not get enough of this great fantasy story. It has zombies,the maw,ghosts, and a man who is not really sure who he is. He begins to keep a journal in a world he does not know for 39 days. The story will hold your attention and interest, but most of all it will keep you wondering how it will end. A wonderfully written book and a fine author.
    • 4/5
      I received this book from Library Thing Giveaway, I read it in a few sittings. It had a lot of different areas in it which had you wondering what was going on, it reminded me of the Twilight Zone.The story was well told and kept your interest.
    • 4/5
      Books like this one are the reason I'm so happy to have found Library Thing! Thanks to Glynn James and the 'member giveaway' I was one of the lucky recipients of this book. I must say this is certainly not the type of book I normally read, but what a pleasant surprise!The journey of the 'misplaced' James kept me happily engrossed in The Corridor, along with Adler and Rudy. I think this book would make an amazing movie! I'm definitely reading the next one!
    • 4/5
      I received this book through the Member Giveaway and I am pleasently surprised. As the title suggests, it is written as a diary, the diary of a man who wakes in a mysterious place. I will not write a synopsis of the plot because I think it serves the story very well to discover all the secrets of the world you are thrown in along with the narrator.What I really enjoyed in this book are the descriptions of the place in which the story is set. I was able to have a perfect picture of what was around every moment and, despite the sun shining through my window, I could easily loose myself in the darkness and horror of the world surrounding the main character. Very well done!The end of the book leaves you looking forward to reading the following books and I think I will not let too much time go before getting the second one and finding out what happens next.
    • 5/5
      Glynn James' book Diary of the Displaced the Journal of James Halldon. I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how Glynn kept things mysterious to his readers and you only knew as much as the character. Every step James took on his journey you take with him. After reading it I was left with wanting to read the sequel to this and read this one again. The title perfectly suits the book there are many twists and a very unexpected plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am very glad I gave it a chance. I am sure you will feel the same for fans of fantasy,paranormal,and zombies.
    • 4/5
      Have to say that this book was not what I was expecting. Because of that, I ended up really liking this story. At first it was slightly confusing. Which, given the character's confusion after waking, I identified along with him. His quest to survive in very strange circumstances, and his drive to find out answers became mine.I felt a bit of Alice in wonderland meets Dante's Inferno. I really want to know what happened next. In fact, if you read the authors other stories, questions get answered (but pay attention, or you may miss it), and timelines do make some sense. At least overlapping alternative realities.
    • 4/5
      When lost in a world you aren't used to, it's a good idea to keep track of what you see, because it can come back to get you. This, being a diary, has a unique way of describing atmosphere and tension between the main character and what is around him. The character interaction is written in such a way that you can believe someone quickly jotted it down from memory and the occasional odd list of supplies or random thoughts on a subject make the diary experience all the more real.Having not yet read any other books by this author, I found that for the most part, this was a book that was easy to get in to and finished quickly. I wasn't lost for lack of knowing anyone and after a very realistic semi-confusion that mirrored the main character's, I found myself quickly turning pages. The various plot points might seem like nothing of too much importance at first, but when you continue on through each day, you realize how important everything can be.Descriptions of the world and the action within it are written in such a way that your mind can easily come up with a visual, but they do not plug up the plot. I found that as I read things, my mind simply went with the flow, imagining things even if they weren't completely explained right away. A swamp is a swamp, what makes these swamps unique are the creatures that are inside.Overall I enjoyed reading Diary of the Displaced and am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the books focused on these characters because by the end of this one I was wanting more.Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
    • 4/5
      Diary of the Displaced by Glynn James is about a man who wakes up in a dark, unfamiliar place with no idea of when or how he arrived there. As the story progresses, he explores this new, dark world, discovering strange dog-like creatures; weird, Frankenstein-esque zombies; giant mushrooms; and other, stranger things. This story is equal parts stranded survivalist; memory mystery; ghost story; treasure hunt and horror adventure, set in an eerie semi-apocalyptic landscape and is told in diary-form.The author generates an excellent sense of atmosphere; at no point do you think the landscape he has created is safe or familiar. Even when a familiar item turns up, it only deepens the sense of unease because it isn't where it ought to be. Because the story is told using a single point of view, the reader is put in a state of sympathy in something like the same state of confusion as the narrator. His questions are largely ours, as is his frustration at the lack of answers. The antagonist* has the feel of a folk tale, and is largely effective because of the shadows and half-truths of the rhymes in which he is shrouded; nothing is as creepy as a child's rhyme.On the downside, I felt that the writing could be tighter and that minor issues - grammar and typos - could have been spotted by an editor. Recounted conversations also felt stilted a bit, and could be made smoother and less expository**, though I do recognise that making them flow in a more regular manner could be difficult or awkward. Naturally, you're only going to remember the highlights/ important parts of a conversation if you're writing it into a diary; I just felt that they could be a bit better. I felt initially that the language is at times too simple, though this does improve as the book progresses, so this could be taken as part of representing the narrator's state of mind.I'd recommend this to readers of dark or horror fantasy with a touch of mystery. It has a slow start to it, but builds well. I'm looking forward to reading the sequels.Overall: 3.5 or 4 starsReview copy supplied by the author as part of LibraryThing's Member Giveaway program.*He reminded me of Jack of Irons (Brian Froud's illustration in Faeries with the heads hanging from his belt was called to mind) from folklore, as much as the landscape reminded me of the hollow hills of the Irish Sidhe or the interior of an enchanted barrow, perhaps.**They felt a bit like conversations one has when playing an adventure game and speaking with non-player characters in town. This book did have the feel of a game script when it started, so that may have biased me a bit.
    • 4/5
      James awakes in an environment that seems like it could have once been a city or something similar but now there are just piles of garbage. He has no recollection of how he arrived there and soon discovers that he must start thinking fast in order to survive. He also discovers there are some very dangerous creatures in this place. He befriends a ghost who has been killed in this place and together they must see if there is a way out. This was an interesting book but left me with some questions. I will be interested to see what the next books in the series bring.
    • 4/5
      I liked this story. It's not something that I would typically read but I am so glad that I did. I liked the twists and turns. I loved the Maw. I never saw the end coming. I will read more by Glynn James.
    • 5/5
      I found this a very fast paced, exciting read, with twists I didn't see coming. I thought I was used to this world having already read The Last to Fall by the same author, but it still surprised me.I found myself wondering what I would have done in the same situations the character found himself in; I was rooting for him all the way. I loved the maw, which were discussed briefly in Last to Fall but examined more closely here, and the bad guy is just plain nasty. This is not I world I'd like to visit personally, but I did enjoy reading about from a safe distance.
    • 5/5
      Wow, an amazing writer.Glynn takes you on a journey you won't want to leave.How do you survive in a strange place, in the dark? How do you cope with waking up and not knowing where you are, or how you got there? Glynn appears to know the answers as his writing captivates and makes you feel as though you are there and experiencing it.I've seen Glynn's writing compared to Clive Barker, and that almost put me off, but he's so much better than that. His easy reading style, and fantastic imagination, reminds me of my favourite authors,Richard Laymon and Dean Koontz, and the descriptive power reminds me of H.G, Wells The Time machine.It's so nice to find a book by accident that you don't want to put down, and an author that can immerse you in their story so that you can't wait to start their next work.Glynn I want more, get writing.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book, can't wait to read the rest of this works...just wish it was all in print. But I do understand with cost the way the are, but I still wish I could read the rest with the book in hand. This book got me hooked after the first few pages and now I can't get enough. I am now going to start reading the other books on line.
    • 5/5
      Diary of the Displaced by Glynn James is an amazing, mystifying, surreal adventure story. A man wakes up. It is completely dark, and he has to work his way around by feel. He is bruised and battered. He's lost his cell. Where is he? What happened? He slowly discovers he is in a strange place. He makes friends with a demon dog and a ghost or two. He tries to make sense of it all, while working on survival.The author beautifully captures the emotion that someone in this situation would feel, and pulls the reader completely into the story. I read all night, trying to work out (with the protagonist, James) what on earth was happening. James explores this weird and wonderful world, and so vividly describes it that I felt I was there along with him. It was a bit like being inside a Salvador Dali painting - everything was a bit surreal, with elements of the familiar and real. The ending perfectly explains it all. I have just purchased a second book based in the same world, Chasing Spirits. I suppose I will be up all night again!
    • 3/5
      James Halldon wakes up and doesn't know where or who he is.
      He slowly gathers up some supplies and sets off to see if he can figure things out. Along the way he encounters some very strange creatures and befriends one of them-Dogthing. James and Dogthing make their way through a very strange and original world filled with zombies, gargants and a crazy guy named Cutterjack.
      I thought it was pretty well written and I enjoyed it enough to read the second book in the series.