Dark Phase

Dark Phase #1

by Jonathan Davison

Sarazen is a silicant, an android existing in a highly organised and rigid society where individuals are designed to perform unique functions. Created and maintained by The Mother, each silicant coexists in harmony to pursue their primary function, the protection of the primitive organic creatures with whom they share their world.

Sarazen, a career 'troubleshooter' is called to examine a rogue named Cole with orders to fix his malfunction or send him for 'renewal', but Cole is unlike any silicant Sarazen has yet encountered.

Cole's enlightening revelations lead Sarazen to make the courageous and perilous decision to leave the comfort of The Mother's influence and find the true meaning of the silicants' existence and the horrifying reality of their collective fate.

Dark Phase is a cerebral, powerful and thought provoking Science Fiction story with a plot that will leave you captivated even after the final page has been turned.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2011

About the author

Hi, my name is Jonathan Davison.

I never had aspirations to be a writer. It all happened by accident. One day I had a few hours waiting for something to happen and I thought it would be a great idea to write a story. After I finished my first book, I vowed never to do it again. I started my second book the next day.

I am an independent author. That is someone who takes it upon him or herself to write and publish books all by themselves. This means no agent or editor, no safeguards, nowhere to hide! It also means my books might not be free of typing errors, grammatical anomalies or mistakes in my research - for that, I apologise in advance. By publishing this way, we amateur writers are exposing ourselves to critique which can be uplifting as well as disheartening and sometimes beguiling. It is my aim to tell a story and I hope that you will enjoy sharing the fruits of my over-active imagination without getting too many pips between your teeth.

Reviews

[Lyndaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the story of Sarazen the Silicant. His story starts in an age when Silicants just go about their allotted business with their intended purpose, but Sarazen, the troubleshooter, the fixer of other malfunctioning Silicants, starts to take notice of the world around him. When he is sent on a mission to a malfunctioning farming Silicant, events transpire which completely change his outlook on the world and he questions his existence. Sadly his own sudden curiosity, inbuilt programming and innocence do not do him any good in a world that has suddenly changed. Hopefully there will be a happier outcome in the following books.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. And even thought it had my hated white space between paragraphs I was able to get beyond that and finish reading it.

At the start it reminded me of THX 1138, and then Genesis II (the 70's TV movie where character is in suspended aninmation and woken inthe future... you know the two belly button movie... ;)

In the end it was a story of a beingin standing by what it beleived right...

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author did a second release after further editing. I really like what he did this time. Interesting story to follow. I almost felt like it was a post-Terminator type story where nothing but the machines rule. I liked how it ended. It made perfect sense to have it twist the way it did near the end. Life, no matter of form, will evolve and carry on.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely it is the story of a trouble shooting android (silicant) who becomes self aware and when pressured by later self aware models uses his own beliefs and logic to make his life decision

I can't wait to read more from this author

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarazen was a surprisingly likeable character and this book was realistically written and enjoyable.

[Cas · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting concept executed adequately. At times the writing seemed a bit disjointed, though I could put this down to the fact that all the main characters are machines which, though sentient, seem largely lacking in personality. Sarazen, the main character is more well rounded, though his naivette does end up grating somewhat.

The thing that I found the most irritating was that the only prominent 'female' character ends up being a tool for manipulation by the antagonist, which I felt stripped her somewhat of the chance of being an interesting character in her own right. Indeed despite her protestations that the more enlightened sentient community didn't treat women like the companions back in the Mother's clutches, her defining character trait ends up being how attractive she is.

I focus on the negative not out of malice but because I hope something constructive can be gleaned, and I must stress that otherwise it was a decent read. Clearly the author enjoys writing and exploring his world, and sometimes that aspect showing through is enough to get me through the objectionable bits. Certainly it was good enough that I will likely read the next one to see how Mr Davison improves.

[Coralyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story about a robot's journey from programmed logic to emotions is interesting. It reminded me of iRobot and Ai. I wished the author had taken his play with ideas and words much further, the trees weren't enough for me. Although I was half expecting the ending I still enjoyed it, especially the little twist in the epilogue - well a big twist actually. But did it set us up for another book, or was that really the end?