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Earthfall #1
Earthfall
The battle for mankind is about to begin in this riveting story of Earth’s invasion from the author of the H.I.V.E. series.
Sam awakens to see strange vessels gathered in the skies around London. As he stares up, people stream past, walking silently toward the enormous ships, which emit a persistent noise. Only Sam seems immune to the signal. Six months later, he is absolutely alone.
Or so he thinks. Because after he emerges from his underground bunker and is wounded by a flying drone, a hail of machine-gun fire ultimately reveals two very important truths: One, Sam is not, in fact, alone. And two, the drone injury should have killed him—but it didn’t.
With his home planet feeling alien and the future unstable and unclear, Sam must navigate a new world in this gripping adventure.
Sam awakens to see strange vessels gathered in the skies around London. As he stares up, people stream past, walking silently toward the enormous ships, which emit a persistent noise. Only Sam seems immune to the signal. Six months later, he is absolutely alone.
Or so he thinks. Because after he emerges from his underground bunker and is wounded by a flying drone, a hail of machine-gun fire ultimately reveals two very important truths: One, Sam is not, in fact, alone. And two, the drone injury should have killed him—but it didn’t.
With his home planet feeling alien and the future unstable and unclear, Sam must navigate a new world in this gripping adventure.
280 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
58 people are currently reading
2072 people want to read
About the author
Mark Walden
65 books687 followersI am the world’s laziest man.
No…really. Not just a bit slack, really, truly, breathtakingly lazy.
Which is why it’s taken me so long to get off my big, lazy rear end and get myself properly on-line.
I’m the author of the HIVE series of books which I hope that some of the people who stumble across this might have read and enjoyed. Or read and hated…
I am fortunate enough to live with the two most beautiful women on earth. And yes of course I’m hoping they’ll read that and forgive me for any one of the incredibly stupid things I’ll do this month.
I have yet to hold down anything even vaguely approximating a proper job.
I did help make video games a while ago but that was not the best environment for someone as lazy as me.
No…really. Not just a bit slack, really, truly, breathtakingly lazy.
Which is why it’s taken me so long to get off my big, lazy rear end and get myself properly on-line.
I’m the author of the HIVE series of books which I hope that some of the people who stumble across this might have read and enjoyed. Or read and hated…
I am fortunate enough to live with the two most beautiful women on earth. And yes of course I’m hoping they’ll read that and forgive me for any one of the incredibly stupid things I’ll do this month.
I have yet to hold down anything even vaguely approximating a proper job.
I did help make video games a while ago but that was not the best environment for someone as lazy as me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
October 26, 2022
Its time to have a clear out of books - yes nearly all the books I read I have as physical copies and there are a lot of them! Anyway its time to make some space and time to read this book one last time.
With that in mind I have say that my previous review of 7 (wow was it really 7 years) ago pretty much stands firm. A fast and fun read and I have to say a rather well trodden path now although at the time I am sure it was a pretty unique story. So will I read the other two books in the trilogy - probably if I find them but to be honest right now I have such a back log I am not planning on going looking for them. But anyone who has this book I am sure you will enjoy it and I will enjoy reading your comments and reviews (which are always far better than anything I do)
I actually quite like this - now I do not mean this in a patronising way but more out of surprise. The reason being is that I have never read any of Mark Walden's works and yet I have seen the HIVE books almost every turn I make through the various book stores both new and old. So to try one of his books and from a new series no less was a bit of a gamble and one I will admit I really enjoyed.
So what is it all about - well to be honest the "blurb" on the back pretty much covers it off without going in to the small details - what I would say is that the conclusion to this instalment is a satisfying mix of enjoyable triumph and confusing warning of greater challenges to come mixed up with more questions than answers.
The book is fast paced and easy to read but still well written enough to hold a storyline that I wanted to read and enjoyed reading. I suspect i am not the reading demographic this book is aimed at and still it is written to not make me feel like I am reading something out of place (like reading the only book in the dental practice waiting for my check up) but rather a book with a story to tell and all else is irrelevant. I shall be looking for the next instalment in this series and I suspect I will enjoy just as much as the first.
With that in mind I have say that my previous review of 7 (wow was it really 7 years) ago pretty much stands firm. A fast and fun read and I have to say a rather well trodden path now although at the time I am sure it was a pretty unique story. So will I read the other two books in the trilogy - probably if I find them but to be honest right now I have such a back log I am not planning on going looking for them. But anyone who has this book I am sure you will enjoy it and I will enjoy reading your comments and reviews (which are always far better than anything I do)
I actually quite like this - now I do not mean this in a patronising way but more out of surprise. The reason being is that I have never read any of Mark Walden's works and yet I have seen the HIVE books almost every turn I make through the various book stores both new and old. So to try one of his books and from a new series no less was a bit of a gamble and one I will admit I really enjoyed.
So what is it all about - well to be honest the "blurb" on the back pretty much covers it off without going in to the small details - what I would say is that the conclusion to this instalment is a satisfying mix of enjoyable triumph and confusing warning of greater challenges to come mixed up with more questions than answers.
The book is fast paced and easy to read but still well written enough to hold a storyline that I wanted to read and enjoyed reading. I suspect i am not the reading demographic this book is aimed at and still it is written to not make me feel like I am reading something out of place (like reading the only book in the dental practice waiting for my check up) but rather a book with a story to tell and all else is irrelevant. I shall be looking for the next instalment in this series and I suspect I will enjoy just as much as the first.
May 14, 2013
I absolutely LOVE this book!
I have to admit, I am not a big reader, which is odd because I do write, lol.
I often have to force myself to get to the end of a book, or in a lot of cases I just never got there. Until now! From the first page of this book I could not put it down and if I did take a break, I was actually excited to get back to it. This is not a big deal for me, it's HUGE! I honestly thought I wasn't a big reader, my mum was walking by when I was reading and did a double take, lol.
Nothing has ever been able to hold my attention like this story has before. It was just perfect -the direction the story took -just everything. The action, I mean it was a domino effect, one thing after the other and when there was less action, the story played on my curiousity and kept me questioning the plot.
I was so sad when I finished it, I just didn't want it to end. Now I am impatiently awaiting part 2, it's really frustrating, I just want to read it now! Anyways to anyone considering this book, don't JUST mark to read, READ IT, it's awesome! Okay I'm done.
I have to admit, I am not a big reader, which is odd because I do write, lol.
I often have to force myself to get to the end of a book, or in a lot of cases I just never got there. Until now! From the first page of this book I could not put it down and if I did take a break, I was actually excited to get back to it. This is not a big deal for me, it's HUGE! I honestly thought I wasn't a big reader, my mum was walking by when I was reading and did a double take, lol.
Nothing has ever been able to hold my attention like this story has before. It was just perfect -the direction the story took -just everything. The action, I mean it was a domino effect, one thing after the other and when there was less action, the story played on my curiousity and kept me questioning the plot.
I was so sad when I finished it, I just didn't want it to end. Now I am impatiently awaiting part 2, it's really frustrating, I just want to read it now! Anyways to anyone considering this book, don't JUST mark to read, READ IT, it's awesome! Okay I'm done.
August 12, 2012
Earthfall was an exciting book that kept you in suspense and was shrouded in mystery throughout. I admit it got a bit confusing when the truth was all coming out but I think I had it figured out by the time I turned the last page lol. This is definitely one for younger readers (it's target audience) but is also an enjoyable read for adults.
I liked Sam, he's a typical boy hero, but felt his training later on was glossed over and I found it a bit unbelievable that he was able to fight as he did when, from my view, he doesn't seem to have trained or worked out much at all since those months are kind of just skipped, possibly to keep the book short, I don't know.
He is very smart and quick thinking though which were more believable qualities and things that I liked about him. I think there's potential for a love interest in book two which I'm looking forward to seeing more of.
The writing itself is very descriptive and Mark Walden does a really good job of telling his story, keeping me hooked in and leaving me wanting to see what happens next now the tables have started to turn.
I found the actual story intriguing and believable, even with the confusing bit, maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention lol. It was closed off neatly but I still have lots of questions. It's something I would recommend for someone looking for a quick read.
Favourite quotes
'There were times when he teetered on the brink of despair, but he never gave in to it. Instead he just got smarter and faster, managed to stay just one step ahead of the Drones. There was no alternative really; it was that or simply curl up and die.'
''Sam,' Rachel said, and he turned towards her. 'Be careful.'
'Careful's my middle name,' Sam said. 'Actually it's not, it's Patrick, but you get the idea.''
I liked Sam, he's a typical boy hero, but felt his training later on was glossed over and I found it a bit unbelievable that he was able to fight as he did when, from my view, he doesn't seem to have trained or worked out much at all since those months are kind of just skipped, possibly to keep the book short, I don't know.
He is very smart and quick thinking though which were more believable qualities and things that I liked about him. I think there's potential for a love interest in book two which I'm looking forward to seeing more of.
The writing itself is very descriptive and Mark Walden does a really good job of telling his story, keeping me hooked in and leaving me wanting to see what happens next now the tables have started to turn.
I found the actual story intriguing and believable, even with the confusing bit, maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention lol. It was closed off neatly but I still have lots of questions. It's something I would recommend for someone looking for a quick read.
Favourite quotes
'There were times when he teetered on the brink of despair, but he never gave in to it. Instead he just got smarter and faster, managed to stay just one step ahead of the Drones. There was no alternative really; it was that or simply curl up and die.'
''Sam,' Rachel said, and he turned towards her. 'Be careful.'
'Careful's my middle name,' Sam said. 'Actually it's not, it's Patrick, but you get the idea.''
April 6, 2025
Earthfall is a very easy book to read. I went through it very fast. The concept of the book is exciting and nice. However, the narrative and the characters were underdeveloped for my taste. The actions and changes in the attitude of the main character were very abrubt and felt very artificial. Moreover, the jokes felt awkward and only made me cringe instead of laugh. Not my book, but the concept is cool.
December 31, 2020
A perfect blend of combat, presence of mind, skill and strategy
September 13, 2017
I love aliens. I absolutely love scifi, with its infinite wonders, and the plays on possibilities. Nevertheless, this book fell short for me (yet another great example of not judging a book by its fabulous cover).
The mechanical writing
I hate criticizing this because in a way it’s a personal tint of the author’s, and writing is an art that grows steadier and more magic with practice, so it’s not really set in stone that the author is this and that just because a particular book happens to be, but even though I know this, I could not get over the writing.
It’s very mechanical and often repetitive (the words “He felt” was repeated within the space of 2 or 3 pages). Mechanical in the way that it reads like a guidebook, and so it fails to create any kind of connection with me.
Often when I read it’s because I want to experience and feel something different, but the constant writing of “He did. He felt. He walked. He saw. He ran.” sounds as if I’m watching something happen, instead of immersing me in the flow of the happenings and making me feel as if I’m there with the characters, and therefore it runs dry after a while and fails to keep me attentive or interested in the story.
Introducing a bunch of characters at the same time
This is a recurring issue for readers like me, who have terrible memory. Furthermore, for a book that hasn’t of yet established any kind of emotional connection with me, the sudden rush of character names that flow in are a bit confusing.
I know there are two more books to go, so I’ll probably have time to meet everyone, but I feel like this is not the best strategy to adopt if you want the reader to start connecting in whatever way to your characters, or to introduce them with a memorable bang, or a memorable whisper. Not that all characters have to be memorable, but at least, in my opinion, for what seems to be the main cast there should be something about that that makes them stand out, otherwise I’ll just forget everyone’s names two seconds into the introductions (which was what happened), because 5 or more characters were introduced at the same time with little more than their names.
I only remember Kate’s name because she said something funny underlined with snarky attitude and I was like, ah, I like you!
Other than that, this is a 1st book, and it wasn’t as if it was bad, it was just a bit…neutral? I’m hoping it catches a wave in the other two that are left, but I probably won't be reading them any time soon.
Undeveloped characters
, if that even his name? Who knows. Characters in this book are so flat, that I don't have time or pleasure in knowing them, and often forget their names or what they looked like. They're like wisps of smoke, slipping through my memory. Oh well, at least I remember liking her for a second there. I think the characters could also use a lot more work.
I've read other reviews saying this book was more aimed at younger kids (like, middle-grade) but I think especially kids with their difficult to capture attention would have a hard time connecting to the events in the books.
Ending
The ending was so…easy? Considering entirety of the book was fighting, the ending was just… That’s it. We get a resolution for 200 pages of running about, in less than 2 seconds. And somehow, But somehow without training, without attempts, he somehow did it again and it worked exactly like he wanted to.
It felt like a fast conclusion to a slow, impossible problem.
The aliens
The one great thing in this book. I absolutely loved the mystery behind the aliens, their composition, their biology, their mystic...It was very interesting and I wish the rest of the book would have caught up.
That being said I probably will read the rest when I'm done with my most pressing to-reads.
The mechanical writing
I hate criticizing this because in a way it’s a personal tint of the author’s, and writing is an art that grows steadier and more magic with practice, so it’s not really set in stone that the author is this and that just because a particular book happens to be, but even though I know this, I could not get over the writing.
It’s very mechanical and often repetitive (the words “He felt” was repeated within the space of 2 or 3 pages). Mechanical in the way that it reads like a guidebook, and so it fails to create any kind of connection with me.
Often when I read it’s because I want to experience and feel something different, but the constant writing of “He did. He felt. He walked. He saw. He ran.” sounds as if I’m watching something happen, instead of immersing me in the flow of the happenings and making me feel as if I’m there with the characters, and therefore it runs dry after a while and fails to keep me attentive or interested in the story.
Introducing a bunch of characters at the same time
This is a recurring issue for readers like me, who have terrible memory. Furthermore, for a book that hasn’t of yet established any kind of emotional connection with me, the sudden rush of character names that flow in are a bit confusing.
I know there are two more books to go, so I’ll probably have time to meet everyone, but I feel like this is not the best strategy to adopt if you want the reader to start connecting in whatever way to your characters, or to introduce them with a memorable bang, or a memorable whisper. Not that all characters have to be memorable, but at least, in my opinion, for what seems to be the main cast there should be something about that that makes them stand out, otherwise I’ll just forget everyone’s names two seconds into the introductions (which was what happened), because 5 or more characters were introduced at the same time with little more than their names.
I only remember Kate’s name because she said something funny underlined with snarky attitude and I was like, ah, I like you!
Other than that, this is a 1st book, and it wasn’t as if it was bad, it was just a bit…neutral? I’m hoping it catches a wave in the other two that are left, but I probably won't be reading them any time soon.
Undeveloped characters
, if that even his name? Who knows. Characters in this book are so flat, that I don't have time or pleasure in knowing them, and often forget their names or what they looked like. They're like wisps of smoke, slipping through my memory. Oh well, at least I remember liking her for a second there. I think the characters could also use a lot more work.
I've read other reviews saying this book was more aimed at younger kids (like, middle-grade) but I think especially kids with their difficult to capture attention would have a hard time connecting to the events in the books.
Ending
The ending was so…easy? Considering entirety of the book was fighting, the ending was just… That’s it. We get a resolution for 200 pages of running about, in less than 2 seconds. And somehow, But somehow without training, without attempts, he somehow did it again and it worked exactly like he wanted to.
It felt like a fast conclusion to a slow, impossible problem.
The aliens
The one great thing in this book. I absolutely loved the mystery behind the aliens, their composition, their biology, their mystic...It was very interesting and I wish the rest of the book would have caught up.
That being said I probably will read the rest when I'm done with my most pressing to-reads.
February 28, 2015
A fairly short book but it seemed to take forever to get through. A lot happens which is sort of expected. As I was reading, I'd think, okay I bet this guy is...
And he was. Then the villain, I bet he is...
And he was.
This might simply be a fact that I am an older reader, though I do love YA dystopian scifi. It's among my fav. genres.
A lot of things simply didn't transition correctly, or make sense. When something would happen, I would think - what? Others who have reviewed this book have the same issues as I did. Some things happen too fast. Others make no sense, and even in a made-up world, things need to make sense according to the rules/the way this world runs. For one, I'd think all the zombie humans would have stunk up the place by now, or died of starvation. I'm always curious where all the little children are, too, and the babies. Dead? If so, say so.
I guess it was a bit too predictable in plot and storyline, and a bit too confusing as too why certain things happened.
And he was. Then the villain, I bet he is...
And he was.
This might simply be a fact that I am an older reader, though I do love YA dystopian scifi. It's among my fav. genres.
A lot of things simply didn't transition correctly, or make sense. When something would happen, I would think - what? Others who have reviewed this book have the same issues as I did. Some things happen too fast. Others make no sense, and even in a made-up world, things need to make sense according to the rules/the way this world runs. For one, I'd think all the zombie humans would have stunk up the place by now, or died of starvation. I'm always curious where all the little children are, too, and the babies. Dead? If so, say so.
I guess it was a bit too predictable in plot and storyline, and a bit too confusing as too why certain things happened.
November 15, 2015
J'aurais mieux noté le livre s'il n'y avait des incohérences : comment par exemple les "walkers" (humains zombifiés) peuvent-ils survivre de longs mois sans aucune assistance ni nourriture ni soins etc De plus, les enfants (âgés de 12 à 15 ans) survivants ne sont pas crédibles dans leurs rôles On dirait au minimum de grands ados ou parfois des soldats déjà aguerris
L'intrigue est un peu trop cousue de fils blancs pour qui a déjà lu dans le genre
A part ça, le livre se lit d'une traite, les évènements s'enchaînent, peut-être trop vite, au détriment de toute cr��dibilité (il manque ces détails qui créent la perspective)
Comme c'est maintenant l'habitude chez les écrivains il y aura des suites
Une lecture définitivement à réserver à un public jeune
L'intrigue est un peu trop cousue de fils blancs pour qui a déjà lu dans le genre
A part ça, le livre se lit d'une traite, les évènements s'enchaînent, peut-être trop vite, au détriment de toute cr��dibilité (il manque ces détails qui créent la perspective)
Comme c'est maintenant l'habitude chez les écrivains il y aura des suites
Une lecture définitivement à réserver à un public jeune
September 2, 2014
This had me hooked as I love to read how writers explore the subject of our society, an indeed the world as a whole, being shaken and torn apart by a catastrophic event. Be that zombies, aliens, natural phenomena, it's fascinating to read fresh new ideas on this genre.
Earthfall is pretty damn good. I was hooked start to finish. The plot moved at a decent pace, the characters were engaging, though it would have been better for some of the background characters to be more fleshed out as I found myself wondering which of them I should care about.
The arc of Sam is well paced and the implications of the invasion lead to a much wider story, unexplored as yet by myself, so I can only comment on this book, though I know there are others in the series.
I did have some issues, and though it's clear this story is aimed at teenagers who might not grumble at such details, I can't help but find them annoying.
Sam talking to himself was weird. I guess we all talk to ourselves from time to time, but this felt forced somehow, as if the author thought he needed to put snippets of dialogue in to break up the narrative for fear of boring them with long chunks of description. It wasn't necessary as the narrative sped along nicely without them.
Maybe there's a need for clichéd characters because without them certain stories wouldn't work. This said it seems that here those standard types are slotted neatly into place - the young hero, the scientist guy with secrets he only shares when the plot needs him to, the troop of supporting characters with the banter and grim determination against all odds, and so on.
Not saying this is a bad thing as it worked well here, but it felt a little too easy, like everything unfolded as it should without too much effort from the author to make things difficult. Again, this is likely due to the story being aimed at a younger audience, so it's not exactly bad, just not brilliant.
Earth Fall popped up on recommended reading on Amazon due to having read Charlie Higson's The Enemy series. It's probably not entirely fair to compare the two stories, but since they do indeed share similarities (not to mention they have a character called Sam) I was compelled to compare them, from a plot and character standpoint, not writing style.
Side note on style - readers have their favourite authors, Stephen King = exploring or looking at something from a different and unique perspective, just as they have favourite movie directors, Michael Bay = big bangs, JJ Abrams = lens flare. I couldn't find a single quirk or style here by Mark Walden that stood out as different or special. Sure it read well and moved along nicely, but there wasn't much pop or wow factor.
Higson gives his characters an aim and then puts one obstacle after another in their way to hinder them as much as possible. That in itself is believable because characters (as in real life) don't just get what they want. Having said that, too many hurdles can become unrealistic and annoying so there must be a decent balance.
There don't seem to be many barriers in Earthfall. Yes, it's a bad situation, and yes, there's the obvious giant hurdle to get over, but like I said, it's a bit too easy for the good guys to get what they want. I felt somewhat cheated out of any small victory along the way as it felt the struggle to get there wasn't as tough as it could have been.
I like big plots, massive ideas that are drip fed to the reader until they begin to realise the scope of the story is much bigger than they realised. But I'm also a big fan of character driven stories. For me that's the adventure, the journey of the character through the changes. So when plot gears force a character to do things it feels awkward and formulaic.
The instance of Sam being rescued felt inevitable (though I guess it would have been a different story if he hadn't)because of the lead up to it. It bothered me that he was shown how to use guns, something the rest of the characters had been doing for 18 months, and way too quick Sam became an expert and was an important and crucial part of the team.
I wonder if teenagers would accept that more than adult readers because of how they're socially conditioned these days to accept and demand how fast things happen, both in real life and fiction.
Thinking about it, Sam seems to be the only one who progresses through an arc, starting in one place and ending up in another, at least in terms of personal growth. Though I find it weird that he takes everything his stride as if he's playing a disposable video game of his own life.
And there's the issue of conflict. Sure, there's conflict (to a limited degree) between Voidborn invaders and the surviving teenagers. Sadly there's not much more conflict to be had, and that is a shame as conflict is what drives a story. Everyone seems to get along with each other.
One huge thing that bothered me, and I can't not say this, was how the Voidborn control humans, turning them into mindless slaves (though not zombies which was made very clear in a roundabout way) who were then stored in large areas like warehouses etc. That isn't so bad since it makes sense for an invading force like the Voidborn to gather its workforce up, stock up on food and water and keep them together ready for working on whatever that thing in London they were supposed to be building.
Weird how that's not made clear to the reader.
So, that bit's fine. What I didn't like was the clear rip-off of Stephen King's Cell, where the good guys head to Wembley stadium and find all the mindless humans laying on their backs. Whilst it does make sense, when storing human slaves/drones, to keep them somewhere, that scene felt plagiarised to a degree. Sure, all stories are copies of other stores and writing fiction is the method of regurgitating or retelling the same plot in a different way.
But that was just wrong. It could have been done in many different ways. It simply felt copied, without much hard work on the part of the author to try something new. Now, this isn't coming from a Stephen King fan boy at all, and I'm happy to say where old Kingy went wrong in some of his painfully bad books, but it's pointing out that borrowing an idea without putting your own slant on it feels like cheating.
There were parts of the story that felt rushed and left unexplored, Sam's sudden need to track down his family but then forgotten for 18 months, for example. And also the scientist guy (sorry, can't remember his name) picked the perfect moment to give the reader a vast chunk of exposition just so Sam and the reader can be brought up to date in one quick hit.
It felt forced and unnecessary, like when the bad guy in movies tells the hero everything because it's assumed they're going to die, only for the hero to escape with all that convenient knowledge.
However, all those irritating bits and pieces aside, I did indeed enjoy Earthfall. I continued to turn the pages because I wanted to know what happens next. I cared about Sam way more than the other characters. I like the fact that the Voidborn used to be something else. I am intrigued to learn where they came from and how they contacted humans, and how the struggle will continue to play out.
Earthfall isn't a brilliant "must read" book like some reviewers may call it. It's a decent, entertaining, and above all easy, read. And despite my irks I am looking forward to reading the next one.
Earthfall is pretty damn good. I was hooked start to finish. The plot moved at a decent pace, the characters were engaging, though it would have been better for some of the background characters to be more fleshed out as I found myself wondering which of them I should care about.
The arc of Sam is well paced and the implications of the invasion lead to a much wider story, unexplored as yet by myself, so I can only comment on this book, though I know there are others in the series.
I did have some issues, and though it's clear this story is aimed at teenagers who might not grumble at such details, I can't help but find them annoying.
Sam talking to himself was weird. I guess we all talk to ourselves from time to time, but this felt forced somehow, as if the author thought he needed to put snippets of dialogue in to break up the narrative for fear of boring them with long chunks of description. It wasn't necessary as the narrative sped along nicely without them.
Maybe there's a need for clichéd characters because without them certain stories wouldn't work. This said it seems that here those standard types are slotted neatly into place - the young hero, the scientist guy with secrets he only shares when the plot needs him to, the troop of supporting characters with the banter and grim determination against all odds, and so on.
Not saying this is a bad thing as it worked well here, but it felt a little too easy, like everything unfolded as it should without too much effort from the author to make things difficult. Again, this is likely due to the story being aimed at a younger audience, so it's not exactly bad, just not brilliant.
Earth Fall popped up on recommended reading on Amazon due to having read Charlie Higson's The Enemy series. It's probably not entirely fair to compare the two stories, but since they do indeed share similarities (not to mention they have a character called Sam) I was compelled to compare them, from a plot and character standpoint, not writing style.
Side note on style - readers have their favourite authors, Stephen King = exploring or looking at something from a different and unique perspective, just as they have favourite movie directors, Michael Bay = big bangs, JJ Abrams = lens flare. I couldn't find a single quirk or style here by Mark Walden that stood out as different or special. Sure it read well and moved along nicely, but there wasn't much pop or wow factor.
Higson gives his characters an aim and then puts one obstacle after another in their way to hinder them as much as possible. That in itself is believable because characters (as in real life) don't just get what they want. Having said that, too many hurdles can become unrealistic and annoying so there must be a decent balance.
There don't seem to be many barriers in Earthfall. Yes, it's a bad situation, and yes, there's the obvious giant hurdle to get over, but like I said, it's a bit too easy for the good guys to get what they want. I felt somewhat cheated out of any small victory along the way as it felt the struggle to get there wasn't as tough as it could have been.
I like big plots, massive ideas that are drip fed to the reader until they begin to realise the scope of the story is much bigger than they realised. But I'm also a big fan of character driven stories. For me that's the adventure, the journey of the character through the changes. So when plot gears force a character to do things it feels awkward and formulaic.
The instance of Sam being rescued felt inevitable (though I guess it would have been a different story if he hadn't)because of the lead up to it. It bothered me that he was shown how to use guns, something the rest of the characters had been doing for 18 months, and way too quick Sam became an expert and was an important and crucial part of the team.
I wonder if teenagers would accept that more than adult readers because of how they're socially conditioned these days to accept and demand how fast things happen, both in real life and fiction.
Thinking about it, Sam seems to be the only one who progresses through an arc, starting in one place and ending up in another, at least in terms of personal growth. Though I find it weird that he takes everything his stride as if he's playing a disposable video game of his own life.
And there's the issue of conflict. Sure, there's conflict (to a limited degree) between Voidborn invaders and the surviving teenagers. Sadly there's not much more conflict to be had, and that is a shame as conflict is what drives a story. Everyone seems to get along with each other.
One huge thing that bothered me, and I can't not say this, was how the Voidborn control humans, turning them into mindless slaves (though not zombies which was made very clear in a roundabout way) who were then stored in large areas like warehouses etc. That isn't so bad since it makes sense for an invading force like the Voidborn to gather its workforce up, stock up on food and water and keep them together ready for working on whatever that thing in London they were supposed to be building.
Weird how that's not made clear to the reader.
So, that bit's fine. What I didn't like was the clear rip-off of Stephen King's Cell, where the good guys head to Wembley stadium and find all the mindless humans laying on their backs. Whilst it does make sense, when storing human slaves/drones, to keep them somewhere, that scene felt plagiarised to a degree. Sure, all stories are copies of other stores and writing fiction is the method of regurgitating or retelling the same plot in a different way.
But that was just wrong. It could have been done in many different ways. It simply felt copied, without much hard work on the part of the author to try something new. Now, this isn't coming from a Stephen King fan boy at all, and I'm happy to say where old Kingy went wrong in some of his painfully bad books, but it's pointing out that borrowing an idea without putting your own slant on it feels like cheating.
There were parts of the story that felt rushed and left unexplored, Sam's sudden need to track down his family but then forgotten for 18 months, for example. And also the scientist guy (sorry, can't remember his name) picked the perfect moment to give the reader a vast chunk of exposition just so Sam and the reader can be brought up to date in one quick hit.
It felt forced and unnecessary, like when the bad guy in movies tells the hero everything because it's assumed they're going to die, only for the hero to escape with all that convenient knowledge.
However, all those irritating bits and pieces aside, I did indeed enjoy Earthfall. I continued to turn the pages because I wanted to know what happens next. I cared about Sam way more than the other characters. I like the fact that the Voidborn used to be something else. I am intrigued to learn where they came from and how they contacted humans, and how the struggle will continue to play out.
Earthfall isn't a brilliant "must read" book like some reviewers may call it. It's a decent, entertaining, and above all easy, read. And despite my irks I am looking forward to reading the next one.
June 15, 2017
Woot woot! First one in the 'alien' shelf!
I really enjoyed the survival part of the novel, where Sam had to navigate through the ruins of the ravaged city, and I understand the importance of the team dynamic in a post-apocalyptic world, but it kind of got a bit...loose after that.
I mean I don't feel as connected to all the other characters as I had with Sam in the beginning. There was just so much to take in and adapt to. Where did Rachel and Jay come from? What's their story to getting on the Ops Team?
I was intrigued by Dr Stirling's story and Sam's father, but then the reaction of Sam after that: 'Why did you choose to tell me all this now? Why me?' Bro, you wanted to know! Honestly, it was probably a lot to take in but Stirling warned you!
It was like Sam was transforming immediately before my eyes but I didn't feel the groundwork as to how he got there. He was a lone survivor, then heroic and active, then the alien saviour. I need more struggle!
I liked how chapter to chapter, in reaction to each event there was an immediate response and not so much filler drama in between. However, I can also see what all the action sacrificed, and that is the growth in character.
Each chapter was often a page turner, which I liked, and I also want to see what happens next. Maybe there'll be more character development in the next one...
I really enjoyed the survival part of the novel, where Sam had to navigate through the ruins of the ravaged city, and I understand the importance of the team dynamic in a post-apocalyptic world, but it kind of got a bit...loose after that.
I mean I don't feel as connected to all the other characters as I had with Sam in the beginning. There was just so much to take in and adapt to. Where did Rachel and Jay come from? What's their story to getting on the Ops Team?
I was intrigued by Dr Stirling's story and Sam's father, but then the reaction of Sam after that: 'Why did you choose to tell me all this now? Why me?' Bro, you wanted to know! Honestly, it was probably a lot to take in but Stirling warned you!
It was like Sam was transforming immediately before my eyes but I didn't feel the groundwork as to how he got there. He was a lone survivor, then heroic and active, then the alien saviour. I need more struggle!
I liked how chapter to chapter, in reaction to each event there was an immediate response and not so much filler drama in between. However, I can also see what all the action sacrificed, and that is the growth in character.
Each chapter was often a page turner, which I liked, and I also want to see what happens next. Maybe there'll be more character development in the next one...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
A bit of War of the World meets Falling Skies but for middle grade.
August 6, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss.)
Teenager Sam has been surviving alone for 18 months, since alien’s invaded and everybody turned into mindless zombies.
One day though Sam is approached by a couple of other kids, who also seem to have survived, and then take him to the place where they live – with a group of other kids underground, led by a scientist called Dr Stirling.
How is it that these kids haven’t been zapped by the aliens? How did they find Sam? And how can they fight back?
This book was a bit unbelievable, and I didn’t like the ending.
Sam was an okay character, although I thought that him talking to himself was the least of his worries having not seen another non-zombie human being in 18 months. I thought that he had done well to keep his spirits up for so long, all things considered.
I did have some trouble with the storyline in this book. I think it’s aimed at younger teens really, and they probably wouldn’t have the issues that I had with it, but even so, I’m going to point them out.
When Sam is rescued by these other kids, they clean him up a bit, teach him how to fire a gun, and five minutes later he’s a critical part of their anti-threat task force. I mean really? This happened way too quickly for me.
Then there was the issue of the other humans. Supposedly, the aliens used some sort of signal to control them, which turned them into mindless zombies. At one point though the kids go to Wembley stadium, and find it full of rows of lying down zombie humans, which they say must be where they store them. My question is; how do they keep them fed, watered, and clean? They can’t just have them lying there all the time or they’d all be dead within 3 days, yet there’s no mention of the aliens doing anything more than ‘storing’ them.
There were also a couple of other plot-holes like this that I came across that I don’t want to mention because of dropping spoilers. There were a couple of twists in the tale, but I guessed them quite early on unfortunately, and they really weren’t all that impressive when they were revealed.
I didn’t like the ending much either. It was like the author got bored and just decided to end the story. Basically as soon as they got some little victory over the aliens, we were given a sort of message of hope, and the book finished. The end. Not impressed really.
Overall; a less than exciting post-apocalyptic story, that was unbelievable, and didn’t have a very good ending.
4.5 out of 10.
Teenager Sam has been surviving alone for 18 months, since alien’s invaded and everybody turned into mindless zombies.
One day though Sam is approached by a couple of other kids, who also seem to have survived, and then take him to the place where they live – with a group of other kids underground, led by a scientist called Dr Stirling.
How is it that these kids haven’t been zapped by the aliens? How did they find Sam? And how can they fight back?
This book was a bit unbelievable, and I didn’t like the ending.
Sam was an okay character, although I thought that him talking to himself was the least of his worries having not seen another non-zombie human being in 18 months. I thought that he had done well to keep his spirits up for so long, all things considered.
I did have some trouble with the storyline in this book. I think it’s aimed at younger teens really, and they probably wouldn’t have the issues that I had with it, but even so, I’m going to point them out.
When Sam is rescued by these other kids, they clean him up a bit, teach him how to fire a gun, and five minutes later he’s a critical part of their anti-threat task force. I mean really? This happened way too quickly for me.
Then there was the issue of the other humans. Supposedly, the aliens used some sort of signal to control them, which turned them into mindless zombies. At one point though the kids go to Wembley stadium, and find it full of rows of lying down zombie humans, which they say must be where they store them. My question is; how do they keep them fed, watered, and clean? They can’t just have them lying there all the time or they’d all be dead within 3 days, yet there’s no mention of the aliens doing anything more than ‘storing’ them.
There were also a couple of other plot-holes like this that I came across that I don’t want to mention because of dropping spoilers. There were a couple of twists in the tale, but I guessed them quite early on unfortunately, and they really weren’t all that impressive when they were revealed.
I didn’t like the ending much either. It was like the author got bored and just decided to end the story. Basically as soon as they got some little victory over the aliens, we were given a sort of message of hope, and the book finished. The end. Not impressed really.
Overall; a less than exciting post-apocalyptic story, that was unbelievable, and didn’t have a very good ending.
4.5 out of 10.
March 14, 2014
The children's literature section is packed with fantasy books that tell tales of magic, witches, and wizards, but the sci-fi section is sorely lacking. There are only a handful of books that I have encountered that have attempted bringing sci-fi to younger children and those seem to be overlooked.
Earthfall is the first book in a series, but it attempts to introduce children to the sci-fi genre in a fun, exciting way. Packed with adventure, aliens, and mystery this book is sure to captivate almost any reader's attention – regardless of age.
Earthfall is written in such a way that adult readers will find it a page-turner and captivating, while younger readers will find it thrilling and exciting. Some adult readers might find the plot a little 'elementary', but I felt there were enough twists and turns that even the most seasoned sci-fi adult readers would enjoy it.
Mark Walden does a lot right in this novel. First, the novel is approximately 280 pages. This means that readers aren't weighed down with lengthy descriptions or unnecessary information. The book gets right to the heart of the story, while still leaving a sense of mystery surrounding the entire plot.
The 280-page novel is also ideal for children. It isn't too intimidating, but it doesn't 'dummy' things down for them either. It is the perfect length for children venturing into the sci-fi genre for the first time.
Another thing that is just right is the plot development. There is just enough details given to create an amazing story, yet it isn't scary or overly complicated.
While Earthfall is amazing, there are a few things that could have been improved. One of them was the structure of the paragraphs. Sometimes, there would be incredibly long paragraphs that took up the entire page. I found this a little odd and hard to read, but nothing that completed distracted from the novel.
Another area that could have been worked on was the names of the alien creatures. Sometimes they were called Hunters, sometimes Voidborn. This was because the characters created their own names for the aliens and other creatures, which weren't the right names. When the truth came out, they find out the 'true names', and that was where things got confusing. It works itself out, but it was a tad confusing.
Overall, I was impressed with Earthfall. It was a quick, mysterious, action-packed novel that was ideal for readers of all ages. Whether just getting started with sci-fi fiction or an avid fan looking for a quick, yet good read, this is certainly a book for you.
Earthfall is the first book in a series, but it attempts to introduce children to the sci-fi genre in a fun, exciting way. Packed with adventure, aliens, and mystery this book is sure to captivate almost any reader's attention – regardless of age.
Earthfall is written in such a way that adult readers will find it a page-turner and captivating, while younger readers will find it thrilling and exciting. Some adult readers might find the plot a little 'elementary', but I felt there were enough twists and turns that even the most seasoned sci-fi adult readers would enjoy it.
Mark Walden does a lot right in this novel. First, the novel is approximately 280 pages. This means that readers aren't weighed down with lengthy descriptions or unnecessary information. The book gets right to the heart of the story, while still leaving a sense of mystery surrounding the entire plot.
The 280-page novel is also ideal for children. It isn't too intimidating, but it doesn't 'dummy' things down for them either. It is the perfect length for children venturing into the sci-fi genre for the first time.
Another thing that is just right is the plot development. There is just enough details given to create an amazing story, yet it isn't scary or overly complicated.
While Earthfall is amazing, there are a few things that could have been improved. One of them was the structure of the paragraphs. Sometimes, there would be incredibly long paragraphs that took up the entire page. I found this a little odd and hard to read, but nothing that completed distracted from the novel.
Another area that could have been worked on was the names of the alien creatures. Sometimes they were called Hunters, sometimes Voidborn. This was because the characters created their own names for the aliens and other creatures, which weren't the right names. When the truth came out, they find out the 'true names', and that was where things got confusing. It works itself out, but it was a tad confusing.
Overall, I was impressed with Earthfall. It was a quick, mysterious, action-packed novel that was ideal for readers of all ages. Whether just getting started with sci-fi fiction or an avid fan looking for a quick, yet good read, this is certainly a book for you.
Read
February 19, 2013Earthfall
By Mark Walden
Dystopian novels are my favorites and so even though this book is aimed clearly at middle school readers, it was a very engaging read for an adult. It’s not a large book at 288 pages. However, sometimes that is exactly what you feel like reading after wading through a 600-pagetome like Justin Cronin’s “The Twelve.”
So “Earthfall” was like a cool refreshing drink. If you are looking for an engaging, action packed read for your child, this will do the trick. And if you are like me and a sucker for War of the World sagas, then you won’t care that the protagonist is a young boy.
Mark Walden is the author of the very popular H.I.V.E. series and he was inspired to write “Earthfall” because he believed there hadn’t been a book written featuring a simultaneous worldwide invasion. In “Earthfall,” alien ships appear above London and suddenly every human being loses their free will and begins walking silently towards an unknown destination. Everyone, except Sam, who watches his sister and Mother walk out the door with the rest of the neighborhood. He follows them, but cannot stop them and is forced to leave them and become a fugitive from the invaders.
Six months later and Sam has yet to find anyone like him who is not enslaved by the aliens. He spends his days trying to survive and avoid the drones and alien invaders until he is stung and poisoned by a robotic drone. It should have killed him, but somehow he survives. Ill and disorientated, he is found by a small, organized group of other kids who are battling to save the Earth from the invasion.
This is the first of the series, which Walden explains will run alongside his H.I.V.E. series. “Earthfall II” is due to invade stores in 2014. This book captured my imagination and I am looking forward to being enslaved again.
By Mark Walden
Dystopian novels are my favorites and so even though this book is aimed clearly at middle school readers, it was a very engaging read for an adult. It’s not a large book at 288 pages. However, sometimes that is exactly what you feel like reading after wading through a 600-pagetome like Justin Cronin’s “The Twelve.”
So “Earthfall” was like a cool refreshing drink. If you are looking for an engaging, action packed read for your child, this will do the trick. And if you are like me and a sucker for War of the World sagas, then you won’t care that the protagonist is a young boy.
Mark Walden is the author of the very popular H.I.V.E. series and he was inspired to write “Earthfall” because he believed there hadn’t been a book written featuring a simultaneous worldwide invasion. In “Earthfall,” alien ships appear above London and suddenly every human being loses their free will and begins walking silently towards an unknown destination. Everyone, except Sam, who watches his sister and Mother walk out the door with the rest of the neighborhood. He follows them, but cannot stop them and is forced to leave them and become a fugitive from the invaders.
Six months later and Sam has yet to find anyone like him who is not enslaved by the aliens. He spends his days trying to survive and avoid the drones and alien invaders until he is stung and poisoned by a robotic drone. It should have killed him, but somehow he survives. Ill and disorientated, he is found by a small, organized group of other kids who are battling to save the Earth from the invasion.
This is the first of the series, which Walden explains will run alongside his H.I.V.E. series. “Earthfall II” is due to invade stores in 2014. This book captured my imagination and I am looking forward to being enslaved again.
December 31, 2016
What a great story! It's a middle grade book aimed at a younger audience but despite not being in the correct age bracket (not by a long stretch of the imagination) I was kept entertained to the end. I'll read anything that hints of an apocalypse and I just love a solid End Of The World story and that's exactly what I got with this. One of the things I especially liked about it is that it's set in London in present time, which isn't that common in apocalyptic fiction. I love post apoc even more if it's set in the UK so this one was off to a great start before I'd even turned a page.
Jam packed with Action, Adventure and Mystery. Throw in an alien apocalypse with only a handful of teens/pre-teen survivors and it's a winner no matter how you slice it. I just loved it so I imagine that it would be even more appealing to the target audience. I'm sure any fans of Charlie Higson's zombie series would lap this up.
I'd describe it as a mix of Independence Day and Falling Skies (both of which I love) and will probably appeal to both boys and girls alike as there are strong characters of both sexes in the story.
Sam, the main character is very likeable, as are the other survivors and the alien/mech creatures are suitably scary for the intended age group. There's plenty here to keep adults amused too though. It's a solid apocalypse story. The story is gripping and fast paced and there are enough little plot twists to keep things moving. It's thoroughly entertaining and overall a great read. I thought it was very good and am looking forward to the next in the series.
Who would I recommend it to? Everyone, but if you know a reluctant younger reader with a taste for carnage and destruction in a world with no rules...this is the book to tempt them with.
Note: I received a free copy of this title from the publisher.
Jam packed with Action, Adventure and Mystery. Throw in an alien apocalypse with only a handful of teens/pre-teen survivors and it's a winner no matter how you slice it. I just loved it so I imagine that it would be even more appealing to the target audience. I'm sure any fans of Charlie Higson's zombie series would lap this up.
I'd describe it as a mix of Independence Day and Falling Skies (both of which I love) and will probably appeal to both boys and girls alike as there are strong characters of both sexes in the story.
Sam, the main character is very likeable, as are the other survivors and the alien/mech creatures are suitably scary for the intended age group. There's plenty here to keep adults amused too though. It's a solid apocalypse story. The story is gripping and fast paced and there are enough little plot twists to keep things moving. It's thoroughly entertaining and overall a great read. I thought it was very good and am looking forward to the next in the series.
Who would I recommend it to? Everyone, but if you know a reluctant younger reader with a taste for carnage and destruction in a world with no rules...this is the book to tempt them with.
Note: I received a free copy of this title from the publisher.
March 2, 2020
I am a bit embarrassed to put this one on my list because I found it on my ereader, could not remember it and so started reading it... and then I kept having a sense of deja vue, so I knew I had at least started it before, but I could not remember the end so I assumed I had not finished it. I kept going and the deja vue kept happening, until eventually I finished it and thought:
Well I know now why I forgot about this one.
It is not a terrible book. Sam is on his own and there has been an alien invasion of Earth. Every day is a struggle for survival, and one day that struggle looks set to overwhelm him. But then he is found by others and joins a renegade group fighting the invaders.
Good solid science fiction stuff for young readers. They will probably enjoy it, particularly late primary school age (9-11ish) and particularly boys. However I fully expect to have forgotten this book again sometime soonish, and that is down to weak characterisations, and the lack of anything really bold and original in the plot. Also some aspects seemed rushed, such as Sam's training, and that added to the sense of weakness in the characterisation.
I am well above the target demographic for this book, and although I love children's and young adult books, I would hate for anyone to think children will dislike this one just because of my problems with it. Younger readers will find what they want to find in it and enjoy it, but us older young adult readers may want to pass on this one.
Well I know now why I forgot about this one.
It is not a terrible book. Sam is on his own and there has been an alien invasion of Earth. Every day is a struggle for survival, and one day that struggle looks set to overwhelm him. But then he is found by others and joins a renegade group fighting the invaders.
Good solid science fiction stuff for young readers. They will probably enjoy it, particularly late primary school age (9-11ish) and particularly boys. However I fully expect to have forgotten this book again sometime soonish, and that is down to weak characterisations, and the lack of anything really bold and original in the plot. Also some aspects seemed rushed, such as Sam's training, and that added to the sense of weakness in the characterisation.
I am well above the target demographic for this book, and although I love children's and young adult books, I would hate for anyone to think children will dislike this one just because of my problems with it. Younger readers will find what they want to find in it and enjoy it, but us older young adult readers may want to pass on this one.
August 26, 2016
Excellent read.
Kind of predictable, but the experience was not ruined regardless.
I haven't read many science fiction novels but this book felt very typical of the genre - there wasn't anything really special or unique. I still liked it, though!!
Although it is only 280 pages, it is dense with action.
One thing I found slightly annoying was the constant change in name of some things. For example, for one extraterrestrial species, the name went from Drones to Hunters to Voidborns to Workers. It is part of the plot but still, sometimes I had them mixed up with other species since the names changed a gazillion times.
I also just found out this book is a trilogy. I went into this thinking it was a stand alone. I was so happy when I realised it is a series, it helped me realise how much I liked this book.
Overall, very good with some flaws here and there.
Kind of predictable, but the experience was not ruined regardless.
I haven't read many science fiction novels but this book felt very typical of the genre - there wasn't anything really special or unique. I still liked it, though!!
Although it is only 280 pages, it is dense with action.
One thing I found slightly annoying was the constant change in name of some things. For example, for one extraterrestrial species, the name went from Drones to Hunters to Voidborns to Workers. It is part of the plot but still, sometimes I had them mixed up with other species since the names changed a gazillion times.
I also just found out this book is a trilogy. I went into this thinking it was a stand alone. I was so happy when I realised it is a series, it helped me realise how much I liked this book.
Overall, very good with some flaws here and there.
June 16, 2015
Sam is hiding from the Drones – beings that are part machine and part something else. Everyone he knows has been changed into a zombie-like state and there is no-one left to help him. One day when he is faced with a Drone, he thinks his life is over. But gunfire comes from nowhere and he is saved by a girl. After months on his own he finally has someone to talk to about what has happened to his family and city. But meeting her and others who are fighting back brings more questions than answers.
Earthfall was awesome! ‘War of the Worlds’ meets ‘I am Legend’ (Will Smith movie) meets ‘V’ (TV Series). I can’t wait for the next instalment from the author who wrote the ‘H.I.V.E’ series.
Earthfall was awesome! ‘War of the Worlds’ meets ‘I am Legend’ (Will Smith movie) meets ‘V’ (TV Series). I can’t wait for the next instalment from the author who wrote the ‘H.I.V.E’ series.
March 21, 2017
A Goodreads Win
I really enjoyed reading EARTHFALL by Mark Walden. I was into it from the very first page.It is full of non stop action, it doesn't get boring at all.
Mysterious ships appear over London & across the world, humanity is enslaved. A teenage boy Sam escapes & hides, believing himself to be alone, he concentrates on surviving, everything changes when he meets a girl & discovers he isn't alone.
The story is well written & easy to picture what's happening. The alien invasion is well thought out & described & a very realistic scenario. I wasn't expecting the ending, which came as a surprise. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.
I really enjoyed reading EARTHFALL by Mark Walden. I was into it from the very first page.It is full of non stop action, it doesn't get boring at all.
Mysterious ships appear over London & across the world, humanity is enslaved. A teenage boy Sam escapes & hides, believing himself to be alone, he concentrates on surviving, everything changes when he meets a girl & discovers he isn't alone.
The story is well written & easy to picture what's happening. The alien invasion is well thought out & described & a very realistic scenario. I wasn't expecting the ending, which came as a surprise. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.
March 23, 2013
An adventure book for 11-12 years old readers. The Earth has fallen to an alien invasion that has enslaved most of the population using mind control. The only resistance being from a group of teenage children.
The action gallops along well enough. There is maybe not enough depth to the plot and characters for an adult audience. The book does come to a resolution of sorts but there is a lot left unexplored and the ending is only the start of the real resistance against the Voidborn. It would appear that this is just the start of a new series from the author of the H.I.V.E. series.
The action gallops along well enough. There is maybe not enough depth to the plot and characters for an adult audience. The book does come to a resolution of sorts but there is a lot left unexplored and the ending is only the start of the real resistance against the Voidborn. It would appear that this is just the start of a new series from the author of the H.I.V.E. series.
August 13, 2018
My name is Sam, and I finally discovered I'm not alone on Earth. I've been hiding from Hunters in the sewers of London ever since the alien ships arrived a year and a half ago. Rachel saved me from a Hunter attack and then introduced me to the small group of humans still in control of their minds. I'm learning special ops like a guerrilla soldier, and it feels good to finally be fighting instead of running away. However, I'm not comfortable with the secrets Dr. Stirling is keeping from everyone. He won't say what his laboratory used to do, and he won't say how he was able to locate me in the middle of a devastated city. I know I'm different from the others, but I don't know why. Why did I survive a Hunter sting that usually kills within minutes, and why can't anyone else hear the sounds from the Threat like I do?
This is a dystopian novel with mechanical aliens like in the Jack Blank trilogy. I envisioned the invasion happening similarly to how it occurred during the Independence Day movie. Gigantic Motherships parked above major cities around the world and sent smaller ship and "soldiers" down to the planet. Almost every human on Earth became mindless workers for the aliens, including Sam's sister. His father was significant to the story, but his whereabouts were unknown. Sam's character was the most engaging part of the book, because there was something mysterious and compelling about him. He was obviously the protagonist hero, but he had some kind of connection to the antagonist aliens. Why didn't the sting kill him, and how could he almost hear voices in sounds that no one else could detect? Then, there was the unexplained scar on the back of his head and uncertainty about Stirling's secrets. All of these factors created a suspenseful plot with an exciting ending. Actually, the climax included a huge surprise that will have a dramatic effect on the sequel. I still don't totally understand the Servant or the Illuminate, but I'm sure they will become clearer in the next book. You'll enjoy this book if you like science fiction and aliens, and I recommend you give it a shot.
This is a dystopian novel with mechanical aliens like in the Jack Blank trilogy. I envisioned the invasion happening similarly to how it occurred during the Independence Day movie. Gigantic Motherships parked above major cities around the world and sent smaller ship and "soldiers" down to the planet. Almost every human on Earth became mindless workers for the aliens, including Sam's sister. His father was significant to the story, but his whereabouts were unknown. Sam's character was the most engaging part of the book, because there was something mysterious and compelling about him. He was obviously the protagonist hero, but he had some kind of connection to the antagonist aliens. Why didn't the sting kill him, and how could he almost hear voices in sounds that no one else could detect? Then, there was the unexplained scar on the back of his head and uncertainty about Stirling's secrets. All of these factors created a suspenseful plot with an exciting ending. Actually, the climax included a huge surprise that will have a dramatic effect on the sequel. I still don't totally understand the Servant or the Illuminate, but I'm sure they will become clearer in the next book. You'll enjoy this book if you like science fiction and aliens, and I recommend you give it a shot.
August 8, 2017
This book was very much like the film Independence Day. I really enjoyed the film and thus I also enjoyed this little YA adventure. Sam is a very likeable character and there is enough action to keep you going.
However, I was a little disappointed with how easy it was for Sam to escape death defying moments. Whenever he was in an inescapable scenario someone always seemed to appear out of nowhere and save him. These moments were quite aggravating as it felt like a get out of jail free card every time. The story also left me with a lot of unanswered questions but I feel like these will be answered in the books that follow. Finally, some characters in this book sadly don't make it and as there wasn't enough time to get to know them there loss wasn't as deeply felt as I think they were meant to be.
A good little novel to get people into the sci fi genre if they haven't been keen before.
However, I was a little disappointed with how easy it was for Sam to escape death defying moments. Whenever he was in an inescapable scenario someone always seemed to appear out of nowhere and save him. These moments were quite aggravating as it felt like a get out of jail free card every time. The story also left me with a lot of unanswered questions but I feel like these will be answered in the books that follow. Finally, some characters in this book sadly don't make it and as there wasn't enough time to get to know them there loss wasn't as deeply felt as I think they were meant to be.
A good little novel to get people into the sci fi genre if they haven't been keen before.
November 13, 2019
Earthfall was a short read, only 320 pages - and the line spacing was relatively big.
However, a lot of action was packed into the text. The storyline of aliens controlling all humans except a few seems abstract and not realistic at first glance - but Mark Walden makes it seem feasible. As a storyline, it also seems realistic yet far. Sam is in hiding; then he is found by a group determined to oppose the alien control.
Criticism of the ending:
This part is definitely the worst in terms of realism, though if you ignore those last pages then as said above the book feels plausible.
However, a lot of action was packed into the text. The storyline of aliens controlling all humans except a few seems abstract and not realistic at first glance - but Mark Walden makes it seem feasible. As a storyline, it also seems realistic yet far. Sam is in hiding; then he is found by a group determined to oppose the alien control.
Criticism of the ending:
This part is definitely the worst in terms of realism, though if you ignore those last pages then as said above the book feels plausible.
October 21, 2022
OK, it's more than a nice cover, but I wanted to point out that this really does have a strikingly-effective image to draw you in.
'Earthfall' is clearly a young-adult novel, and the first of series. The set-up and the plot moves along at a fair old pace but, for adult readers there's a bit of a sense of seen-it-all-before. To use a TV analogy, this is rather like 'Primeval' to 'Doctor Who'. Where 'Doctor Who' has complex writing and interesting characters and interlinking stories, 'Primeval' is entertainment that strives to emulate the style of Who but just never quite gets there. This is not to damn 'Earthfall' which, on its own terms, is a perfectly fine read... it just never stretches its readers in the way the best science fiction does.
'Earthfall' is clearly a young-adult novel, and the first of series. The set-up and the plot moves along at a fair old pace but, for adult readers there's a bit of a sense of seen-it-all-before. To use a TV analogy, this is rather like 'Primeval' to 'Doctor Who'. Where 'Doctor Who' has complex writing and interesting characters and interlinking stories, 'Primeval' is entertainment that strives to emulate the style of Who but just never quite gets there. This is not to damn 'Earthfall' which, on its own terms, is a perfectly fine read... it just never stretches its readers in the way the best science fiction does.
April 13, 2018
What's good:
Action packed
Good pacing
What's not good:
Shallow plot
Shallow characters
Character growth pacing is weird
A few more thoughts
It is a decent read, it doesn't try to overreach so character growth being almost non-existent is kind of alright (depending on your expectations).
I don't think you'll end up caring for the majority of the characters though, they're basically Blob One and Blob Two, Generic McGenerica, but it is what it is. A fast paced popcorn flick, it's pretty good.
Action packed
Good pacing
What's not good:
Shallow plot
Shallow characters
Character growth pacing is weird
A few more thoughts
It is a decent read, it doesn't try to overreach so character growth being almost non-existent is kind of alright (depending on your expectations).
I don't think you'll end up caring for the majority of the characters though, they're basically Blob One and Blob Two, Generic McGenerica, but it is what it is. A fast paced popcorn flick, it's pretty good.
June 16, 2018
A simple and quick read. It was a predictable story with good beats. The characters are basic without much depth or personality. The author just didn't go into that much detail. Definitely a book for young adults in the age range of 10-14.
Due to the light writing style I didn't get invested in the characters or story enough to continue on with this series.
Not a bad book for it's genre, but not the best either. It's more of a novelette, but the spacing, page thickness, and font size fill it out to 300 pages. :P
All right for a dumpster find. I'll donate it to a free library.
Due to the light writing style I didn't get invested in the characters or story enough to continue on with this series.
Not a bad book for it's genre, but not the best either. It's more of a novelette, but the spacing, page thickness, and font size fill it out to 300 pages. :P
All right for a dumpster find. I'll donate it to a free library.
September 30, 2024
Read this book years ago. I love the authors' other series, 'HIVE', and I wanted to enjoy this, but it didn't do it for me.
One of the twists didn't work, and the lore about the aliens felt too strange... I know aliens are supposed to be strange... but it wasn't believable enough. The wierd object vocabularily threw me off. It was mostly the twist I remember not liking.
Not a fan of the post-apocalyptic survival genre.
Ok read.
One of the twists didn't work, and the lore about the aliens felt too strange... I know aliens are supposed to be strange... but it wasn't believable enough. The wierd object vocabularily threw me off. It was mostly the twist I remember not liking.
Not a fan of the post-apocalyptic survival genre.
Ok read.
December 5, 2025
After eighteen months surviving alone during an alien invasion, Sam is found by other kids immune to whatever has turned the human race into mindless slaves - but as their resistance seeks a way to save Earth, they learn shocking truths about not just their enemies, but all of humanity...Walden will keep young fans of action and thrills decently entertained by this sci-fi story, though excessive in its expositions.
March 29, 2021
Amazing premise and backstory. Quite a bit of telling of backstory, especially at the end. This is very much a soldier/war story, so not the true sci-fi that I prefer. Many of the soldiers were stereotypes with cliched dialogue, but this may be more a reflection of the genre. So overall, loved the premise and the world created, but not so much the way it was told.
May 22, 2021
Great for science fiction fans who love non stop action. The 'threat' have taken over the world and most of the population have become the 'lost' or 'walkers', with one mindless purpose to serve the 'threat'. Sam joins a small group of resistance fighters who are determined to defeat the alien invasion and save Earth. Recommended for years 7-9.
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