Writer: Amelia Williams (J. R. Hartley)
First Publication: 2013
Challenge: Once Upon a Time VII
“Summer Falls” is a very interesting take on meta-fiction. In an episode of Doctor Who, Clara (the current companion) is talking with a child who is reading a book with this title. The BBC decided to have one of their author’s ghost write that book. Amelia Williams is the name of the previous Doctor Who companion. She was Amy Pond, real name of Amelia, who married Rory Williams. Amy and Rory were trapped in the past. Speculation is that it contains clues to future episodes of Doctor Who.
So what is the story about? It features a young girl who acquires a painting called “The Lord of Winter”. Through various events, the Lord of Winter is summoned to the village. The adults disappear and she is forced to rely on two boys she befriended. But then she receives a call from the museum curator. If the Lord of Winter succeeds, the village will be trapped in winter forever. One of the characters will receive eternal youth, but at what cost?
If you are a fan of Doctor Who, it is easy to figure out who the Doctor is in this story. Various clues are given that reveal his identity. If you are looking for a short novel for someone who enjoys adventure tales featuring young characters, a talking cat, possible magic (or maybe not…) this is a fun book. It definitely falls in the fable/mythology genre. I read it while vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and it was the perfect setting for such a story. It brought back memories of stories I read in my younger days.
