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The people of the Euchronian Millennium had been reminded of the Underworld that existed beneath the platform on which they had constructed their better, cleaner, safer world--leaving the original surface of Earth a dark, dreary, and forgotten place.

That awareness had become a political pawn, which many different people were trying to manipulate in their own interests. In the meantime, the search for more information about what actually existed in the Underworld went on, tentatively and ineptly.

The hunter sent to help clarify the situation brought back a sensational prize, and revealed it to the world--but in so doing, he triggered an unexpected and unprecedented reaction, which changed the whole nature of the game, gave the people of Heaven a vision of Hell, and threw the fate of both worlds into the balance.

The second novel in the exciting Realms of Tartarus series!

Published in 2012 by Borgo Press.
ISBN: 978-1-4344-4580-3

First published in omnibus The Realms of Tartarus
Translated into German as: Die Vergessene Hölle unter uns
Translated into Japanese

Reviews by Ian Braidwood

Cast of Characters:
Carl, Joth, Ryan and Julea Magner. Chemec, Camlak, Porcel, Ermold, Nita, Sada, Old Man Yami, Huldi, Rafael Heres, Abram Revelent, Thorold Warnet, Enzo Ulicon, Jervis Burnstone, Yvon Emerich, Eliot Rypeck, Randal Harkander Iorga, Joel Dayling, Sisyr, Gregor Zuzara, Vicente Soron, Javan Sobol, Joachim Casirati, Alwyn Ballow, Luel Dascon, Germont.

This book starts with Camlak waking after the attack by the Ahrima. He finds Stalhelm destroyed and sets off on the road to see what has become of those who fled before the onslaught.

Joth, Nita and Huldi have crossed The Swithering Waste and turn toward Shairn in the hope of finding other survivors.

On the roof of the world, various political machinations and posturings occur and we are introduced to Sisyr, who gets to endure the first of several visitations from Euchronian citizens, each following their own agenda. At this point the alien is coming across as one of those annoying aliens, whom we are told cannot be understood, because they're alien and that's that.

Randal Harkander leads Euchronia's first expedition into the underworld; becoming frustrated by his team's thorough and methodical approach, which doesn't measure up to his romantic ideals.

We do get to see quite a lot of the underworld and Ron Walotsky's cover is a fair representation, though no picture could possibly get across exactly how filthy and harsh the environment actually is.

Like many middle volumes of trilogies, A Vision of Hell is unsatisfying in itself. Characters wander around aimlessly, like badly choreographed dancers. There is a lot of discussion, which doesn't seem relevant on the face of it; but this is all preparation for the final volume and is brought to a climactic conclusion, which carries you - whether you planned it or not - into A Glimpse of Infinity.