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Refuge for Human Civilization
Fragments of Light follows a young Archivist named Keela as she uncovers relics of a forgotten civilization while ancient machines awaken beneath the ice. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Winter. It all started with that. I live where winter is a VERY present concept, and as much of an avid reader as I am, rarely did I ever find a compelling SciFi story that took place in winter or somewhere where winter was the norm. So I figured that starting everything there would be something that could generate a different type of texture to the narrative. And one of those threads is the impact – or I should probably say “impacts” – of climate change. As harsh an environment as the Arctic is, climate change has a disproportionate effect on it; everything seems magnified. So to me, that area would likely be a natural refuge for human civilization should the World go to Hell in a handbasket…
Keela’s emotional journey feels incredibly intimate. Was her character shaped by any personal experiences or themes you wanted to explore?
No personal experience per se. However, being a parent, I see that many young people – and having been one myself – are unsure of the potential in them; of the strength that inhabits them. Sometimes it’s easier to wait for someone else to do what needs to be done, but most of the time, YOU could do it, and you could probably do it better. As for the archivist part, that’s purely projection: I’m a big history nerd! I just find it fascinating – good and bad – how technology throughout the ages shaped humans; how it creates a virtuous (or perverted, depending on where you stand) cycle where humans create technology that changes them and allows them to create more “advanced” or different technology that in turn changes them again, and so on and so forth.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Resilience. Ambiguity. Adventure. Friendship. And as corny as it sounds, humor. Because I really do not want to live in a world where even during the worst of the worst we are not able to smile or laugh. Maybe not at what’s happening, but surely at how we deal with ourselves and others.
The machines beneath the ice feel both mythical and scientific. What was your process for designing their nature and purpose?
Well, in Fragments of Light, machines are not generally “under the ice.” Some are, but it’s more because of their purpose, really. In the subsequent books, we see that Keela and Anina need to go outside the safety of their known world – the Arctic – and cross entire continents to continue their quest and get to interact with many different societies, machines, and people.
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Without spoiling too much, let’s just say that machines are left over from a technologically advanced world that existed pre-Fracture. One where geo-engineering was seen as the way to stop/reverse/curb global environmental collapse. Think huge sun reflecting mirrors, carbon catchers, water purifiers, methane gas processors, etc. These would need to be massive, on a scale that would blow your mind, in order to affect the climate of a system as big and complex as the Earth. And you are right, as with anything that is old, eventually they did drift into mythology or quasi-myth.
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Keela was meant to guard the past, not be claimed by it. In the frozen city of Lumik, she touches a relic that hums with memory, and nothing stays buried. Her quiet life shatters, pulling her into a truth no one else will face.
With Anina, a gifted technician who reads machines like language, Keela follows its call across a fractured Earth. Engines stir beneath snow. Salvage-built cities whisper of healing long abandoned. Wonder ignites, but so does danger, as rivals twist awe into power.
This is not destiny. It is choice. And when no one else steps forward, Keela must.
For fans of Skyward, Scythe, The 100, and Ship Breaker. Discovery-driven sci-fi with brave heroines, hidden tech, and the courage to do what must be done. Scroll up to begin.
Fragments of Light
Fragments of Light is a sweeping and atmospheric dive into a fractured world where humanity rebuilds in the shimmer of auroras and forgotten machines. The story follows Keela, a young Archivist in the crystalline city of Lumik, as she unearths relics from a past civilization while strange awakenings stir beneath the ice. The novel blends science fiction and myth with elegant precision. From flooded towns to radiant cities, author Arlen Voss crafts a landscape that feels both alien and deeply human. The world pulses with mystery, every shard of glass or whisper in the frost hinting at something larger, something old and waiting.
The prose is lyrical and deliberate, yet grounded enough to keep the story alive with movement. Voss’s worldbuilding shines brightest, the mix of Arctic folklore and speculative technology is mesmerizing. But it’s the emotional undercurrent that struck me most. Keela’s curiosity feels contagious, her fears achingly real. The author paints her world with a quiet sadness, a kind of beauty that only exists in loss. At times, the pacing slows, but I didn’t mind. The stillness gives the reader space to breathe, to feel the hum of a place where even silence has memory.
I loved how Voss lets themes of memory and connection rise slowly. There’s wonder here, but also unease. The machines waking up, the whispers of the past bleeding into the present, it all feels eerily relevant. The dialogue, especially between Keela and her mentor Naaja, carries warmth and wisdom without feeling heavy. I appreciated the subtlety in the emotional moments, the quiet restraint that lets the story breathe. Rather than pushing too hard, it invites the reader to lean in and feel the emotions between the lines. That control gives the book a quiet strength, reflecting a world learning to remember with care instead of pain.
I’d recommend Fragments of Light to readers who like their science fiction poetic, patient, and full of heart. It’s for those who savor atmosphere over action and find joy in slow discovery. Fans of Le Guin, Chambers, or Ishiguro’s quiet dystopias will feel right at home.
Pages: 397 | ASIN: B0F3D7WDHG
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