What do you think?
Rate this book
Dark Future #1
Path to Destruction
Can a ragtag band of soldiers save what's left of the USA?
In a last attempt to turn the tide in a desperate war, General Matthew Smith of the American Freedom Fighters asks Master Samurai Kenzo and his unit of warriors to make a batch of the ultimate weapons--memory weapons that infuse its user with the skills and memories of a master warrior. But, will the cost be too high when the weapons fall into the hands of a unit of unstable augmented soldiers?
Check out another Dark Future story: THE RIGHT PATH
In a last attempt to turn the tide in a desperate war, General Matthew Smith of the American Freedom Fighters asks Master Samurai Kenzo and his unit of warriors to make a batch of the ultimate weapons--memory weapons that infuse its user with the skills and memories of a master warrior. But, will the cost be too high when the weapons fall into the hands of a unit of unstable augmented soldiers?
Check out another Dark Future story: THE RIGHT PATH
Nook
First published April 1, 2010
9 people want to read
About the author
Debra L. Martin
28 books250 followersDebra has been writing fantasy/science fiction with her co-author, David W Small, since 2010.
An elite assassin, children of prophecy, and a Black Witch Coven who wants to control their magic is the theme in the WITCH STONE PROPHECY trilogy--ASSASSIN'S CURSE, WITCH'S CURSE, and the final book, STONE'S CURSE.
If you like paranormal vampire romance, THE SILVER CROSS (Vampire Nightlife) along with the exciting conclusion, SILVER DOUBLE CROSS are available on amazon. Detective Lacey Gardner is the best vampire hunter on the Boston Fringe Team. When she meets hunky bartender Damon Harte, she feels she's met her soul mate until she learns his devastating secret. Now she knows what she must do--kill the man she loves.
They have published 2 novels, QUEST FOR NOBILITY and THE CRYSTAL FACADE in the "Rule of Otharia" series. The 3rd and final book, THE KING'S LAST WORD is due to be published in 2025.
Debra also writes romance under the pen name, Debra Elizabeth.
She lives in the Greater Boston area with her husband and enjoys gardening, motorcycle rides, and playdates with her granddaughter.
An elite assassin, children of prophecy, and a Black Witch Coven who wants to control their magic is the theme in the WITCH STONE PROPHECY trilogy--ASSASSIN'S CURSE, WITCH'S CURSE, and the final book, STONE'S CURSE.
If you like paranormal vampire romance, THE SILVER CROSS (Vampire Nightlife) along with the exciting conclusion, SILVER DOUBLE CROSS are available on amazon. Detective Lacey Gardner is the best vampire hunter on the Boston Fringe Team. When she meets hunky bartender Damon Harte, she feels she's met her soul mate until she learns his devastating secret. Now she knows what she must do--kill the man she loves.
They have published 2 novels, QUEST FOR NOBILITY and THE CRYSTAL FACADE in the "Rule of Otharia" series. The 3rd and final book, THE KING'S LAST WORD is due to be published in 2025.
Debra also writes romance under the pen name, Debra Elizabeth.
She lives in the Greater Boston area with her husband and enjoys gardening, motorcycle rides, and playdates with her granddaughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 16, 2012
After the wars and fighting, after the dropping of the nuclear weapons, a small, ragged force continues to try to fight to save the United States. General Smith is the lat general and he has convinced one of his commanders - Kenzu - to create memory weapons, with which contact brings a connection and fills the mind of the wielder with the memories of the expert fighter whose neurons were copied. Will these memory weapons be the path to salvation - or the path to destruction?
A prequel novel in the "Dark Future" series, chronologically this takes place before "The Right Path." Fans of dystopian science fantasy should find this an engaging novella, and those collecting the Dark Future series should not miss this one.
A prequel novel in the "Dark Future" series, chronologically this takes place before "The Right Path." Fans of dystopian science fantasy should find this an engaging novella, and those collecting the Dark Future series should not miss this one.
September 28, 2011
Deb L. Martin
David W. Small
THE PATH TO WAR
Kindle Edition B003FGWUG8 File size 47 kB
Review by Roger E. Craig, Novelist Four Stars
Nuclear bombs destroy the infrastructure and technology of developed countries leading to chaos in America and all over the world. America’s population and armed forces are depleted. Its power generation and manufacturing infrastructure are in ruins, and with it the ability to replace weaponry. The USA is at the mercy of the bigger populations of less developed nations and also terrorists. To defend themselves, countries revert to hand-to-hand fighting with swords and ancient weapons. The more numerous survivors from the south surge northward to plunder a weakened North America. Scattered US citizenry do not feel adequately protected by the armed forces. They create their own medieval defenses by walling-in their towns.
General Smith, leader of the remnants of the American Forces, now confronts mutiny by one of his drug- augmented battalion, led by the unbalanced and devious Commander Hurley. Hurley believes he can save America with his methods fair or foul. He despises Smith as a weak moralist. His men are the most powerful warriors in Smith’s army, and they want to go-it-alone without Smith’s constraints. Their first moves in this direction are ominous and frightening enough to bring this novella to a close. We have to wait for the next novella in this series to read what they do next. Can General Smith control Hurley’s mutinous battalion?
The character of General Smith is not well defined but the authors give us a few clues: Smith appears to be easily frightened. He also appears to be naïve and easily manipulated. His unseemly behavior with Tiffany, a tough, attractive battalion commander seems to indicate he is not as moral as the image he portrays. And Tiffany is not above using her beauty to manipulate either Smith or Hurley to further her agenda.
Hurley is a patriot, but the drugs he and his men were given have made them mentally unstable and vicious. But perhaps he and others like him will be the savior of America? An enigma in the form of a Samurai warrior and his sword lends an interesting twist to the story.
The story is quite creative and believable and the authors unfold it naturally and with good use of the English language.
David W. Small
THE PATH TO WAR
Kindle Edition B003FGWUG8 File size 47 kB
Review by Roger E. Craig, Novelist Four Stars
Nuclear bombs destroy the infrastructure and technology of developed countries leading to chaos in America and all over the world. America’s population and armed forces are depleted. Its power generation and manufacturing infrastructure are in ruins, and with it the ability to replace weaponry. The USA is at the mercy of the bigger populations of less developed nations and also terrorists. To defend themselves, countries revert to hand-to-hand fighting with swords and ancient weapons. The more numerous survivors from the south surge northward to plunder a weakened North America. Scattered US citizenry do not feel adequately protected by the armed forces. They create their own medieval defenses by walling-in their towns.
General Smith, leader of the remnants of the American Forces, now confronts mutiny by one of his drug- augmented battalion, led by the unbalanced and devious Commander Hurley. Hurley believes he can save America with his methods fair or foul. He despises Smith as a weak moralist. His men are the most powerful warriors in Smith’s army, and they want to go-it-alone without Smith’s constraints. Their first moves in this direction are ominous and frightening enough to bring this novella to a close. We have to wait for the next novella in this series to read what they do next. Can General Smith control Hurley’s mutinous battalion?
The character of General Smith is not well defined but the authors give us a few clues: Smith appears to be easily frightened. He also appears to be naïve and easily manipulated. His unseemly behavior with Tiffany, a tough, attractive battalion commander seems to indicate he is not as moral as the image he portrays. And Tiffany is not above using her beauty to manipulate either Smith or Hurley to further her agenda.
Hurley is a patriot, but the drugs he and his men were given have made them mentally unstable and vicious. But perhaps he and others like him will be the savior of America? An enigma in the form of a Samurai warrior and his sword lends an interesting twist to the story.
The story is quite creative and believable and the authors unfold it naturally and with good use of the English language.
September 21, 2013
Short Story does not stand on its own
Sometimes I like Dionysian, but most of the time I don't. This is one of the "don'ts". As a short story, this leaves a lot of information out that I guess is in the Dark Future Series. In other words, this short story does not stand on its own.
I haven't decided if the military units are believable or not.I am leaning towards not, but the end times would change unit dynamics - and maybe change them in this direction.
I did not like the foreshadowing lines that popped up here and there in a storyline that should of concentrated on the "now" only. Foreshadowing is fine in a novel, but the purpose of a short story is to be short.
I did like the technological twist of memory weapons and would be interested to see how it affects the brain long-term.
Sometimes I like Dionysian, but most of the time I don't. This is one of the "don'ts". As a short story, this leaves a lot of information out that I guess is in the Dark Future Series. In other words, this short story does not stand on its own.
I haven't decided if the military units are believable or not.I am leaning towards not, but the end times would change unit dynamics - and maybe change them in this direction.
I did not like the foreshadowing lines that popped up here and there in a storyline that should of concentrated on the "now" only. Foreshadowing is fine in a novel, but the purpose of a short story is to be short.
I did like the technological twist of memory weapons and would be interested to see how it affects the brain long-term.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews