Songlight Torchlight Book One

Set in an Orwellian society, with shades of Atwood’s Gilead and Wyndham’s Chrysalis, playwright and screenwriter Buffini’s YA novel debut came glimmering out of her childhood imagination. Fusing elements of science fiction fantasy with socio-political and ecological commentary, her post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy evolved from her vivid replication of friends in her mind even when they weren’t present in reality. She explains, ‘It’s inspiring to imagine connections with people, where we can communicate beyond our physical selves. The part of the human brain which makes and remembers song is far older than that which makes language. Song is the most primal way in which humans communicate. That’s why I named my version of telepathy, Songlight.’

Counting the fantastical landscapes of Ursula Le Guin among her influences, Buffini creates believable worlds. There is a dichotomy between the draconian Brightland, where sentient telepaths are persecuted and their light is quenched, and Ayland where equality is practiced. Her prelude in Kaira’s voice is reminiscent of Collins’ The Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in its depiction of poverty, hunger and control. Following this we hear the teen voices of star-crossed lovers Elsa and Rye, inhabitants of the small fishing community of Northaven, where misogyny, indoctrination, religious zealotry and memories of a great war rule, connecting with each other through Songlight. In Songlight they conceal themselves behind code names to survive. From there the book unfolds in five parts as betrayal, duplicity and political intrigue lead to Manchurian Candidate style mind manipulation, murder, persecution, propaganda, sinister eugenics and terror.

Songlight is an ambitious project, juggling with a scatter gun of multiple perspectives as readers are introduced to Piper and Swan who have their own secrets to hide in a corrupt society where the rights of the individual are quashed. Caught in a maelstrom of political chicanery, they must make some painful choices.

Buffini builds up the tension to the perilous denouement, deliberately using copious swearing as a shout of rebellion for her protagonists who find refuge in friendship. While she addresses weighty issues within a dream world of telepathy interwoven with evocative imagery, at certain points the plot is too derivative and the pace too breathless. Minor quibbles aside, it is a promising start to a trilogy entitled Torchlight, ending on a cliffhanger which will leave curious readers wanting more. This unusual novel is also a melange of ideas posing philosophical questions. Ultimately, it has the power to open up discussion among young adult readers about the dangers of climate change, the importance of diversity and the evils of totalitarianism and toxic behaviour.