Dying of a Light

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 Black 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 black 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 Black mind.