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Saving the Day
Some people will do anything for a sense of self-worth ...
When the vans begin to arrive beneath the bridge offering untold wealth for the homeless men who live there, Stephen can only resist for so long. Unemployed and alone, he will take any work he can get. But once he steps inside that van he will set in motion a chain of events from which there may be no coming back ...
Saving the Day - a novella of 12,000 words.
When the vans begin to arrive beneath the bridge offering untold wealth for the homeless men who live there, Stephen can only resist for so long. Unemployed and alone, he will take any work he can get. But once he steps inside that van he will set in motion a chain of events from which there may be no coming back ...
Saving the Day - a novella of 12,000 words.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2012
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ward
58 books141 followersChris Ward is the author of The Tube Riders series, the Tales of Crow series, and the forthcoming Endinfinium YA fantasy series.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 22, 2013
This is a story which will have you questioning what it takes to be a hero.
Because it is a short story, I can't say much more about the plot without spoilers so here is what I can say; The story has some great twists and a zinger at the end that I totally did not see coming.
I love it when a story has me on the edge, guessing, hoping. When I reached the last page, I wanted to scream that it was over too soon but ended up laughing that the author got me good.
I recommend this to my friends and fellow readers of Thriller short-stories.
Because it is a short story, I can't say much more about the plot without spoilers so here is what I can say; The story has some great twists and a zinger at the end that I totally did not see coming.
I love it when a story has me on the edge, guessing, hoping. When I reached the last page, I wanted to scream that it was over too soon but ended up laughing that the author got me good.
I recommend this to my friends and fellow readers of Thriller short-stories.
July 7, 2019
This book is set in a dark future, Simon has become one of the thousands whose means of supporting his family has been taken away from him by a robot. He fights his way to London, the only place where some kind of work is available but as he struggles to survive he begins to realise that there is something more to his plight.
Every time I thought I knew where this novel was going it spun in another direction. I can’t wait for book 2 to see where it leads.
Every time I thought I knew where this novel was going it spun in another direction. I can’t wait for book 2 to see where it leads.
July 1, 2019
A real page turner. I love Chris Ward's writing. You will enjoy this one.
July 3, 2019
A great start to this new series! Mad story keeps you guessing! Liked the characters, ideas & plot! Another winner I think!
December 9, 2023
Very very good!! Would happily look at more from this series
October 2, 2019
*Spoilers*
This is a book set in a future Britain where a combination of destruction of some type has combined with people out of work due to automation to create a hellscape of haves and have nots. Our main protagonist, Simon Ester, has headed to London to find work to support his family after he loses his job to "a box".
London has become a fenced off hellscape where men (and it turns out, one woman) compete to be selected for dangerous physical labour. The author doesn't explain why humans are pulling apart rusting boats when robots seem to do most other jobs, but I will assume because it is cheaper to have people do it. Simon makes his way to a fantastical community called "The Bridge" where life seems to be better, but it is all part of his plan to get back to his wife and children. Various adventures ensue, including chases and romance, and Simon continues to discover more and more about this weird apocalyptic environment, including the fact that the people who are taken off the bridge go to a strange place called "The Facility" where they become pawns in some bizarre game where people pay to rescue others.
And then in the last 20% of the book you are told this is all some kind of giant reality TV show, no-one is who they seem, and Simon is escaping more than just a dreary work experience but something much stranger and more sinister.
There was a lot about this book I like - I live in London and thought the author did a good job of writing about the city, being quite detailed in some places and vague in others in a way that worked. I write about the future of work (in a non-fiction capacity) so I was interested in this tale of automation destroying the lives of the many for the sake of the few. And some of the characterisations were very well done. However as with so many sci-fi/post-apocolyptic stories the romance feels very tacked on and serving no real purpose - the romance between Simon and Allie simply did nothing for the story and would have been better remaining as a friendship or some other kind of relationship. And while I was interested to read how the author was going to explain what the heck was going on with this world as things got more and more convoluted, the 'Truman-show-esque' explanation was a bit of a let down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a book set in a future Britain where a combination of destruction of some type has combined with people out of work due to automation to create a hellscape of haves and have nots. Our main protagonist, Simon Ester, has headed to London to find work to support his family after he loses his job to "a box".
London has become a fenced off hellscape where men (and it turns out, one woman) compete to be selected for dangerous physical labour. The author doesn't explain why humans are pulling apart rusting boats when robots seem to do most other jobs, but I will assume because it is cheaper to have people do it. Simon makes his way to a fantastical community called "The Bridge" where life seems to be better, but it is all part of his plan to get back to his wife and children. Various adventures ensue, including chases and romance, and Simon continues to discover more and more about this weird apocalyptic environment, including the fact that the people who are taken off the bridge go to a strange place called "The Facility" where they become pawns in some bizarre game where people pay to rescue others.
And then in the last 20% of the book you are told this is all some kind of giant reality TV show, no-one is who they seem, and Simon is escaping more than just a dreary work experience but something much stranger and more sinister.
There was a lot about this book I like - I live in London and thought the author did a good job of writing about the city, being quite detailed in some places and vague in others in a way that worked. I write about the future of work (in a non-fiction capacity) so I was interested in this tale of automation destroying the lives of the many for the sake of the few. And some of the characterisations were very well done. However as with so many sci-fi/post-apocolyptic stories the romance feels very tacked on and serving no real purpose - the romance between Simon and Allie simply did nothing for the story and would have been better remaining as a friendship or some other kind of relationship. And while I was interested to read how the author was going to explain what the heck was going on with this world as things got more and more convoluted, the 'Truman-show-esque' explanation was a bit of a let down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2022
This book starts with a great idea, but when you think you have a handle on what is going on, the plot thickens and the location changes. When you have started to understand that, you move again... This all sounds very strange, but it actually works very well to produce a really good book.
I can happily report that I haven't read anything like this before, and I am very intrigued about how the plot will develop, so I look forward to Book 2!
I can happily report that I haven't read anything like this before, and I am very intrigued about how the plot will develop, so I look forward to Book 2!
June 15, 2022
This book starts with a great idea, but when you think you have a handle on what is going on, the plot thickens and the location changes. When you have started to understand that, you move again... This all sounds very strange, but it actually works very well to produce a really good book.
I can happily report that I haven't read anything like this before, and I am very intrigued about how the plot will develop, so I look forward to Book 2!
I can happily report that I haven't read anything like this before, and I am very intrigued about how the plot will develop, so I look forward to Book 2!
October 13, 2019
I have read many of the books by this author and have never been disappointed. This one is no exception. I was engaged in the story fairly early on and it became very difficult to put down. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 25, 2013
A good concept for a short story, but I never really accepted the premise of it. Otherwise, the story was well written and did keep my interest to the end.
February 23, 2020
Robots
And survival. Chris Ward has done it again. The characters or fully developed. This is definitely a journey you take with Simon Ester.
And survival. Chris Ward has done it again. The characters or fully developed. This is definitely a journey you take with Simon Ester.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews