Ember

Haan #0.5

by James K. Decker, James Knapp

Plagued by overpopulation, disease, and starvation, humanity was headed for extinction—until an alien race called the haan arrived. And then the real trouble began.

Dragan Shao is a dedicated soldier, but he’s seen—and delivered—too much death and despair as a border zone guard. After he secures a discharge, he travels to the gritty city of Hangfei, where he hopes being a security guard patrolling the impact rim—the wasteland that surrounds the haan spaceship since it crash-landed fifty years ago—will be a less devastating duty. But that’s before he receives a distress signal from a girl more in need of saving than himself…

Ember is a prequel novella to James K. Decker’s The Burn Zone, and the ebook contains the first chapter of that novel as well.

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2012

About the author

James K. Decker was born in New Hampshire in 1970, and has lived in the New England area since that time. He developed a love of reading and writing early on, participating in young author competitions as early as grade school, but the later discovery of works by Frank Herbert and Isaac Asimov turned that love to an obsession.

He wrote continuously through high school, college and beyond, eventually breaking into the field under the name James Knapp, with the publication of the Revivors trilogy (State of Decay, The Silent Army, and Element Zero). State of Decay was a Philip K. Dick award nominee, and won the 2010 Compton Crook Award. The Burn Zone is his debut novel under the name James K. Decker.

He now lives in MA with his wife Kim.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novelette "prequel" which introduces a major off-stage character for the first series novel. This story presents an interesting moral quandary, but unfortunately does not explore the issue in any depth. Still, I enjoyed the story enough to move right into the novel. I do recommend starting with this #0.5 in series though, as it does establish some of the world.

[Carl V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragan Shao has been an exemplary soldier, and now he is bowing out of the service for reasons that have not yet become entirely clear to him. On a future Earth where an alien race provides advanced technology to address a host of environmental issues, Dragan Shao will soon get a chance to begin examining those reasons…up close and personal.

his series by author James K. Decker promises much with its imaginative future technology, look at the coexistence of an alien race with humanity, acknowledgment of the economic and environmental issues our world is sure to face in the decades/centuries to come, coupled with what looks to be a solid, action-packed story arc. Decker gets things right straight out of the gate with this novella which introduces readers to a few pivotal characters and lays a bit of groundwork for the world-building, all while providing an exciting story. If the goal of “Ember” is to get you to want more, it succeeds brilliantly.

For the rest of my non-spoiler review, please follow the link below:

http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2014...

[Heather Romanowski Book Realm Revisions, LLC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice background about Dragan and Sam.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Sammy

*Beware of possible Spoilers*

This is a must read before you read book one, The Burn Zone. As with The Burn Zone, this is a well written, interesting world and engaging story. What makes this story so important to read first is that the story is about Dragan Shao. Knowing his background and how he finds the “girl” who is his daughter in the next book, lets us know what kind of person he is. It really helps to understand some of the things in The Burn Zone better.

I love this gritty world James has created, with characters that are hard yet with heart. I highly recommend reading in order for any Sci-fi fans, a wonderful addition to the genre.

(A big thank you to James for the gift of this book after reading book one. I am a fan and am looking forward to reading more about this world.)

http://openbooksociety.com/article/em...

[Tamara aka SoMysteriousLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to get a brief touch of Dragan's mindset and 'life' before "The Burn Zone". The haan invasion of the world Decker's created is fierce, scary and shows human nature at it's worst and best. I'm intrigued by the idea of technology that invades your brain in the form of commercials aimed at you and speaking to you. As I don't watch commercials (no, not even for Super Bowl), I think I'd go completely batshit crazy just trying to get through an elevator ride, much less while walking around in a city of starving and desperate people. Being suggested things you could do to improve yourself while keeping you from paying too much attention to the real world going on around you is scary indeed.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wanted to say thank you to the author, James K. Decker, for allowing me to have the opportunity to read his prequel novella "Ember".

Absolutely loved this prequel. It was a great, quick read that gives some insight to what Dragon went through before we meet him in "The Burn Zone". Also, it shows how Dragon and Sam meet and what happens when he saves her. I really enjoyed getting to read Mr. Decker's novella and hope he continues to write about Dragon, Sam, and the Haan. His novels bring to life stories and worlds I definitely love getting lost in and will always recommend to others.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short novella (about 60 real pages) introduces a bleak future world in which humans are at war with each other. Some have allied with the Haan, a alien race that parcels out its advanced technology at regular intervals in exchange for 70% of the food supply which leaves most starving. The story is heavy on describing stock sci-fi trappings - instant transit portals, flying motorcycles with no attempt to justify an underlying science to support their existence. Although this story is just kind of there, I found the world explored in this story intriguing enough to want to read the novel.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad intro to Decker's world of the Haan, although I can't say that it grabbed me enough to make me want to read The Burn Zone right away. There was just too much old cyberpunk ground that is retrodden, albeit with a few interesting elements. The world itself doesn't exactly pull me in, however.

[Blender · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've already read Burn Zone there's really no need to read this. It's really just a fuller version of some info that is told through flash backs in the other. That said, it was reasonably well written and does give a better view into the adoptive fathers pov.

[Dana Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent prequel to THE BURN ZONE

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short...but enjoyable.