Gabriel's Watch

The Scrapman Trilogy #1

by Noah Fregger

It is the darkest chapter of our civilization. Ten years after the global fallout, teetering on the edge of extinction, a man is fighting for survival. As the threat of inner-city violence spans outward, Miles Stone is left to his own ingenuity, along with the gifts of his unique partner, Alice. Together they begin to construct a weapon designed by the genius of old. But what horrors might await them upon its completion? This is his personal account of the events that will forever alter the fate of humanity ...

Genres: Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2013

About the author

Noah Elijah Fregger, born April 8th, 1983, grew up in San Jose, California. Being an avid fan of science fiction, Noah spent much of his childhood immersed in various books and movies–most of which involving lightsabers, space travel, and heroic battles between good and evil. And although many teachers did recognize his exceptional skills as a writer and artist, he remained a lackluster student through high school.
Joining the Navy in 2003, Noah was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan and toured the Western Pacific from the literal belly of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk.
While on a thirty-day leave, he married his hometown sweetheart, Kristina, in a Sunnyvale cathedral, January of 2006.
Traveling the beautiful Pacific, Noah had nothing but time to read and write and brainstorm new ideas. It was there that he’d decided to write his first novel. After nailing down the plot, he began the arduous task of capturing ideas on paper. Writing on a close friend’s laptop, the story earned the attention of numerous people…until (sadly) the laptop, the story, and an immense amount of time and effort were stolen.
The writer and artist in Noah lay dormant for many years after, waiting for the proper time to be resurrected.
Honorably discharged from the Navy in 2007, Noah returned home to civilian life with all its blessings and tragedies. His daughter, Lila, was born in 2008. Noah’s father, Jeff, after an extensive and heroic battle with cancer, passed away in June of 2010 (just shy of his 50th birthday).
In the months following his father’s death, Noah’s Grandfather, Brad, challenged him to write again–originally to create a series of short-stories for publication in a science fiction magazine. Noah accepted the task and decided to retell and retool the story he’d lost years ago. He had a newfound purpose: to dedicate it to his inspirational father and muse-like daughter. Noah completed his manuscript at the end of 2011.

Reviews

[Lucy Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a FANTASTIC read! Noah Fregger is a really talented author who has created a dark world that will pull you in and then spin you around and around leaving you wanting more and more!

I was glued to every page and left stunned in the end. Gabriels Watch is a morbid roller coaster ride that will tug at your heartstrings!

Please, I am begging you, read this book!

I want to send a huge THANK YOU to Noah Fregger for sending me a copy of this masterpiece. I enjoyed it immensely! I was the Lucky Girl who won a copy of Gabriels Watch by Noah Fregger on First Reads.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

So everyone who reads my reviews know I read the WHOLE book! From blurb or dedications to Acknowledgments. From the way Noah writes so far I know this is going to be a great book, I'm already needing my tissue box.

Yep, as predicted I'm in fan girl mode! This book was spectacular! Noah Fregger is without a doubt my favorite author right now! The world he allows you to be apart of is morose, morbid, sometimes down right scary but you still feel astounded by the love, passion and emotions embedded deep in Gabriels Watch.

Have you ever read a book and by the end you just sit looking at the last page shocked that something that marvelous could be written!?! Because that is exactly how I felt after being so hooked on every word in this fascinating and creative story! What I wouldn't give to be inside Noah's mind for just one day! I mean seriously, how on earth did he come up with Such a fresh and prolific plot! And sweet lord the characters are so advanced and deep. They make the world in this story addictive and intoxicating!

This is a post-apocalyptic story, teeming with action and adventure and even some romance. The main character Miles has an air about him that I never saw coming. When I first started I was captured by the mystery of the plot, the who, what, when, where and why. But somehow in a matter of 15 pages I was laughing at the witty inner dialog if Miles and tearing up because of his heartbroken past. Even with everything he went through he prevails and continues to grow into a man with more humanity than any of the one left on earth. I know this is a fictional book, but you can't help but stop reading for a second and think, wow, this guy is something else, a GOOD man, then you end up shaking your head and mentally slapping yourself because you aren't in the world, it's not real. BUT SERIOUSLY!! That's just how amazing he painted the picture that is this story.

In addition to the amazing Miles you have the ever witty, elegant but very much foxy Alice! She has moments in Gabriel's watch that makes you want to plow into the story and either console her, offering comfort and hugs or brief moments when you want or need to baby shake her for her as I call the 'Alice moments'. Overall the characters were epic! Completely out of the park amazing! I never do the whole blurb/review but I will say that Mile's and Alice having the strength and tenacity to try to survive not only together but for one another after the demise of mankind, it leaves you contemplating if you would handle the situation with the same finesse, truly beautifully written.

Gabriel's Watch is not like your average day dystopian, this one has a untouched and utterly unique story line. If you haven't read the FREE first five chapters, I recommend it, like now, as in go to Noah Freggers website, download and read... now! You'll thank me later, because this story is definitely worth the time! I recommend this to anyone and everyone, though I think you should probably be over the age of 15 or 16. That's all I can really say about this book, beside, READ IT NOW!

Review can also be found at:
http://heaventoearthreviews.blogspot....

[Danielle Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel’s Watch is a post-apocalyptic book that is unlike anything I have ever read before. It’s not just a story about struggling to survive, even though that is certainly an important element. Ten years after a nuclear war has decimated the majority of the population, the remaining survivors are living in a dangerous world. Government agents, who are really just thugs, have taken over the city, wreaking havoc wherever they go. Miles and Alice have built their own safe haven outside of the city, only it becomes clear that their safety is being threatened by the agents.

While reading this, I honestly had no idea what to expect. There was nothing predictable at all, and there were several surprises and revelations that left me stunned. I almost immediately fell in love with the main characters, Miles and Alice. Their relationship was complicated but beautiful at the same time. They are both strong people who have dealt with unimaginable horrors, and even though Alice is not a typical woman, she still seemed very real. They find an unusual way to defend themselves, which surely becomes a great challenge.

Poetically written, this novel winds together science fiction, drama, action, and romance. Its unique and fascinating story line is truly unforgettable. It is a reflection on humanity and how ultimately destructive our species can be. I’m afraid to write too much more because I don’t want to give anything away. It was definitely a book that I desperately wanted to keep reading so I could find out what was going to happen. I carry my Kindle with me just about everywhere, so I would pick it up any chance I had. The ending left me satisfied and in awe, and I even read it a couple of times so I could take it all in.

I have read several books that are the first in the series, and even though I liked most of them, chances are I won’t get around to reading the following books. With this book, I will make sure I read the next ones. I can’t even begin to imagine what’s in store for us as the story continues.

This is a book definitely worthy of five stars. It affected me emotionally in so many ways – there were times when I was sad, angry, nervous, elated, and hopeful. I loved it, and I highly recommend it!

[Alexander McKinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique blend of hi-tech sci-fi and post apocalyptic wasteland. I was drawn in by the character Miles, and his entertaining dialogue that occasionally broke the fourth wall. You're introduced to Miles in an adrenaline rush of events that makes you interested in the quieter day-to-day aspects of surviving after the apocalypse.

If you're at all a fan of post-apocalyptic settings, this is a novel that you need to add to your shelves.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel's Watch is unlike any book I have ever read. The premise is entirely original - a refreshing turn of events in today's literary world of zombies, vampires, and werewolves. It is a well-balanced blend of post-apocalyptic and sci-fi with a dash of (what else) Greek mythology. While the religious overtones can be somewhat overbearing at times (as a non-religious novel) the story itself is delightfully overpowering and reveals a spectacular read.

Both the main characters, Miles and Alice, are relatable while retaining a good deal of mystery, much of which is uncovered throughout the novel. The relationship between the two tends to be a little confusing at times, but ultimately left me satisfied. My one complaint is the unrealistic notion that it took the two ten years to "get together," though they've lived side by side in the same small space for the entire duration.

Despite a burst of action in the first pages, Gabriel's Watch begins rather slowly with introductions and backstory, but once it picks up the pace it's ripe with action-packed twists and turns and is complete with an ending that would make Shyamalan proud.

[Steven Stennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic really well written. I applaud the authors ability to pull this off. My assumption is that this is his first publication, and again I have to say well done.

Its low price on amazon wont last, so if you like your sci fi based on earth scattered with robots, clones, and aliens then give this one a go.

The author name checks harder than the writers of the avengers and that saying something Batman, Alice in wonder land, just to mention just a few. But it works, oh so well!

I just thought to check the price on Amazon before I posted this message.

Its gone up. Not by a lot but but it has increased in price, not because the author is being greedy, but because its worth it.

I have to give a shout out to Lacey, for recommending this one to me. Good call!!!!

[Mat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't quit on this book. It takes a while to get going, but the pages turn faster as you get toward the ending which is not what I expected.

[Rachael Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant brilliant story!!!!! being a recent fan of sci fi this book had me hooked within moments. I cannot wait until the next book is released!

[Carol Kean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened across an author named Noah Fregger via Nicholas Sansbury Smith's Twitter wall. Noah looks so cute and young, I had to download a sample chapter even though the book was not recent enough for me to review @PerihelionSF.

No disclaimer necessary: Noah never asked me to review this, and I bought it at the incredibly low price (for a book this good)of $3.

From the first line, I was hooked: “It was shortly before nightfall, and no one was ever out past sunset--far too dangerous for the weak and unsuspecting. I am neither.”

After a violent adventure in the night, Miles Stone looks out the window above his bed: “In the moonlight, past my home and the debris of the previous world, I could see two thin strips of raised earth in the distance, each marked with its own small and simply constructed wooden cross. There in the thick and stale night air, with the world collapsing around us, I blew them a kiss and wished them goodnight.”

At that moment, there was no longer any doubt: I was smitten with this man.

Oh, my husband knows. It’s all good. Miles Stone exists only in my Kindle, and what I love most about him are the same things I love about my husband.

Funny thing: some reviewers have said this is a book written by a man, for men. It’s true that this is no Chick Flick, but women readers who love romance will find the real thing here without all the annoying tropes of the genre.

Men will find more than enough battle scenes, bloodshed, action, and gore. I hope both genders are equally enthralled with all the cool technology. The idea of rummaging through a junk yard to build a robot and getting it to walk and talk is awesome and just plain fun to read. That figure on the book cover is fascinating, thought provoking, ominous, endearing, and comical. I love the way Alice, not Miles (Go, #WomenInScience!)is the nimble inventor of awesome electronics and weaponry.

Back to Miles Stone. See, the thing is, I lied. I was hooked before Chapter One. In the front matter, we see a photo of a man smiling at a baby with utterly smitten devotion. It made me wonder why so many Chick Flick book covers show naked male torsos (as if his face is secondary) when the gentleness and protectiveness of a good father is the ultimate end-goal of most romance. Turns out the man in the photo is the author's father, who died in 2010, holding his granddaughter. "To a life that's ended, and one that's just begun," the dedication reads. "May the world forever remember them both."

This is what love is. Those spare, simple, powerful words set the stage for the story that unfolds.

I tried but couldn’t read 50 Shades (waaay too much explicit and gratuitous detail). To me this is more riveting: “She took my hand in hers almost immediately, squeezing it with the kind of reassuring warmth that could only be disbursed by a loved one.” Especially when she obviously wants more and he’s just too unassuming, too busy mourning his wife and child, and too gentlemanly to think of taking advantage of the innocent girl he took in ten years ago to save her from the terrible fate that befalls girls in this ruined city. Apparently he hasn’t stopped thinking of this woman as the child she was when he first rescued her from a trio of gang-rapists.

The plot has been summarized by others, so I won’t do it here, but I have to say what a fantastic setting Fregger creates for a familiar premise (a post-apocalyptic earth, now dominated by thugs who call themselves the government). Miles lives underground, beneath a junkyard, haunted by memories of seeing wife and child killed and being helpless to stop it. He’s an obvious case of PTSD along with the apparent emotional detachment of the Aspie. Women who live with Aspie men know their secret: deep down, they feel more deeply than those heart-on-their-sleeves romantics who trot out pretty words that mean nothing.

Okay: There really is an action story, a thriller, even if one obtuse Amazon reviewer complains of “slow pace” or some such nonsense. Who needs exploding helicopters when Miles Stone can take on three thugs and leave them broken and unconscious in the dark night of the dangerous city?

He does more than that, much more, with the help of Alice and the robot you see on the book cover, drawn (splendidly) by the author himself.

Romance fans may get impatient waiting for the payoff, but to me, the pacing is sheer perfection.

Readers who care more about action than character will find plenty to keep them turning pages. Stick around to the book’s world’s most riveting and high-impact EOC (end of chapter) in Chapters 21 and 22.

Meanwhile, I focus more on character. “The end of the world had stripped me of a great many things,” Miles tells us. “But I had to make sure that my humanity (at least the good part of it) remained intact.”

His humanity echoes and resounds throughout this story. The scene where we first meet Mohammed shows it splendidly.

The loneliness of Miles is palpable. Fregger conveys it without ever once using maudlin (sentimental, obvious) terms. His sense of loss is palpable without ever coming close to a Nicholas Sparks level of obviousness. Judging from the author bio (he spent four years in the Navy), I’d bet he lived on a submarine, missing his wife and child, to write with such authenticity.

--Close, but no cigar: he was stationed on an aircraft carrier. Still, that sense of isolation, cut off from the rest of the world, pervades this novel. In a good way. Miles and Alice are not part of any community, and with only a few well chosen words, their alienation is something we feel too.

Speaking of lonely, at least Miles gets out once in a while. Alice spends ten years underground, never seeing the light of day. She consumes huge quantities of books and spends many of her lonely hours designing and building cool things. It’s obvious to the reader, but not to Miles, that she loves him as much as he unknowingly loves her. Readers who fail to appreciate the little revelations--the gradual and exquisite *waiting* for him to figure that out --just don’t deserve a book this good.

There’s a long list of Kindle Highlights if anyone knows how to find them. I’ll include just a few:

- It's amazing how a daily dose of real human contact can be an anchor for one's personal sanity.

- How I'd despised those who couldn't eat a meal without prodding through their glowing portable Internet devices, searching for some tasty piece of gossip, or perhaps just something to complain about.

- That seemed to be a comforting thought for people near death's door--to know their names would still be on the lips of those they loved. That's all any of us really want in the end, right?

- the dead will rise ... and alas ... here I am.

- there were no words in this place. They did not exist. There was only… (*Ha! Not telling you: you must read this for yourself!*)

There’s another facet to this story that I haven’t even touched on: The Visitors and their gift. I’ll only say the writing is spare but powerful as we see humans do what they’ve done for millennia: kill their Savior. Doesn’t matter who or what the Messiah or Redeemer looks like. Variations on the Messiah include contemporary prophets like Ghandi and Martin Luther King.

I keep revisiting that photo of that man holding his infant granddaughter. Back when our son was shy and awkward around girls, I told him that the best chick-magnet is to borrow someone’s baby (or puppy) and walk around with it in public. --Little did I know the Aspie-ish high school fresman would soon morph into a jazz musician who has girls volunteering their phone numbers written on bar napkins. Now he’s the kind of heartthrob, I’m sorry to say, that women love to read about. But he will eventually settle down and sire grandchildren. (Yes. He will.)

I’m planning to review this book in a future issue of Perihelion Science Fiction--but not until Book Three of the series comes out . There’s a lot more I’ll say at www.perihelionsf.com about the science, the aliens, the chimeras that come with the robot’s stolen memory chip, and Mohammed.

Wait. Nobody can say anything about him, really, without spoilers. Mohammed is so memorable and vivid, he gets to star in Book Two, Gabriel’s Sacrifice.

Did I mention that I haven’t loved a novel quite this much since “Watership Down” by Richard Adams? The little bunnies living in their underground warren. The final scene. Epic. Moving. Marvelous.

Earth to Noah Freggers: No more praise until you publish Book Three!

[Sibil]

DNF at 70%

[Norma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out good, then got weird

[S.E Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book stood the “don’t read the blurb first” test. I couldn't remember downloading the sample on my Kindle and had no clue what it was about - I just went in to see if it could keep me turning. And it did.

Here we have our main character Miles – once a mechanic and family man – who now lives in a junkyard which he calls home. He gets by surviving on the meagre rations his post-apocalyptic world has to offer. With few friends and many enemies, venturing far from home is a risk, but he does, and out there he finds more than he bargained for.

To say any more would be giving away too much, but Gabriel’s Watch is bleak for the most part, leaving the reader with no sense of security even when things look like they’re going well. You’re always anticipating something is about to go wrong, and it often does though never in the way you predict.

You never get to relax; the author throws in enough twists to keep you on edge. Much like Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, you’re left, a lot of the time, in the company of the main characters.

Which brings me onto my few gripes with the story. Despite getting to know the characters, I just couldn’t gel with them the way I wanted to. That’s not to say I wasn’t engaged, but I definitely felt a bridge there.
The author creates set ups for his character to judge others in what I assume is an attempt to get the reader to sympathise with Miles and his anger towards the antagonists. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it’s too easy for me. The antagonists just become fodder. Yes, I think that was my problem: glassy-eyed antagonists.

What I’m trying to say is, in a dog-eat-dog post-apocalyptic world, I would've liked more exploration of the fine lines between “good” and “evil”. I think the author, Noah Fregger, accomplished this with his sub-characters Saint John and my fave, Zeke the Robot. Zeke was fantastic as the metallic bodyguard. He had a fully formed personality, odd drives and dangerous weaknesses; I really hope to see more of Zeke in Fregger’s Scrapman trilogy.

My other gripe was the relationships. Some took very long to form, which is fine, but I wasn’t always convinced. And relationships that were quickly formed and then suddenly destroyed weren’t mourned on the basis that “the person was bad, anyway” - or something along those lines.
There are also some corny situations and phrases thrown in here and there but that’s my personal humbug!

What I really loved more than anything was Fregger’s similes. I hate similes in most stories, especially when they’re over used and not done well. But this author does them fantastically. Every time I read one I’d give a quiet sigh and wait for the cliché but it wouldn’t come and instead I’d be served an awesome one liner!

Anywho, if you’re into post-apocalyptic novels, pick this one up. My gripes may not be your gripes and there are enough plot twists in this to keep you entertained. Whenever you think you know what’s going on, you find out you never did. This book has been out for a while now and although is intended to be a trilogy, the second book has yet to come to fruition, but don’t let that stop you. Gabriel’s Watch still does well as a stand-alone.

[D.L. Denham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel’s Watch hooked me with it’s blend of dystopia and alien invasion that reads like an underdog story turned superhero. Amalgamating our ancient past with speculative future, Fregger excels in delivering a tale that is worth being read. Although often common in the books I read, this one entertained in a unique way. In comparison to many invasion tales, this one provokes thoughts of a protector rather than a destroyer concept. Instead of alien Visitors being the bad guys, the reader has to come to the realization that evil is perhaps something that exists only on Earth and lies within the realm of mankind--or at least that is a reoccurring thought I had while reading this story. Without spoiling the plot or the ending, which sets up Book 2 nicely (release date soon, I read on the author’s site).

Give Gabriel’s Watch a chance and you’ll be hooked. A quick read from an incredibly talented new author. This is one of those rare stories that mixes my favorite genres. So for those interested in a scifi, cyberpunk, alien invasion, dystopian, or superhero story… this one has you covered! Additionally, Fregger’s usage of literary characters and stories throughout the novel is very enjoyable, and I hope he does the same with Book 2. Plus, how can you not like a book that evokes the Asimov’s Three Laws?

[A.L. Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read this book twice, primarily because of how amazing it was but also because I wanted to write an incredibly accurate review.

If you are looking for a Science Fiction story that doesn't hold true to the boring stereotypes that drive most of us away from the genre, this is the story. Not only do you get to see incredible feats in depth of character but you also are thrust forward into a world of amazing creation.

Miles is a realistic and astonishing character that causes for a sort of addiction. By the end of the book you are wishing, not only that the book is over, but that this was a person you actually knew. Alice is sultry and witty, not that damsel in distress you see so often, especially in post-apocalyptic.

Without giving away too much, as I want many to read this book and become as addicted as I have become, I don't normally read books twice. This is a book I already want to read again for the third time. It's a diamond in the rough and we can only hope soon to see it plastered all over the internet and maybe even Hollywood!

Noah Fregger is a very talented author and if this story was foresight into any of the novels he will be providing us further then we are in for a real treat.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had some trouble getting into this book. But after the first few chapters I was able to submerge myself into the story line, the world of the book opened up and I really enjoyed it. The characters are identifiable and interesting, you know a book is good when you become extremely emotionally invested in it's characters. The whole feel of the Gabriel's Watch is a raw quality that gives a realistic edge to the post apocalyptic world. It just so...human in every sense of that word and the ending is outright beautiful. I would recommend it to any fan of science fiction. It may take a while to get into but it's a book that sticks with you after you've finished the last page.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story set in a post-apocalyptic world with a unique distinction- an alien race stepped in to help humanity recover, but swiftly left. Survivors have to juggle the added anxieties of wondering why they came, where they went, and if they'll be back on top of just trying to survive after a societal collapse.

Throughout most of the book, it's not clear where the story is going, which makes things feel dynamic. Meanwhile, the main protagonists an antagonists are well developed, particularly given its modest 352 pages.

I'd give the book a 4.25 and round up for being unique and dynamic.

[Misterg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave this a rare 5!!
The story concerns the aftermath of a global war, the intervention of an alien species, and the collapse of society into mob rule. The story unfolds as it progresses, giving glimpses into key ideas without actually giving anything away.

The loss of a star? Two minor points. Firstly it almost becomes Deus Ex Machina at the end, like gloss paint on the dystopian backdrop. That made it a bit disjointed, but OK. Also the story leaves itself open to a sequel ... which doesn't seem to be forthcoming! However, it still works as a standalone in its own right.

[Ray Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book which leads you in different directions to get where you hoped the story would go. There is a lot of references to pop culture, which is an intentional ploy by the author. I found them to be spread across the story line which kept them interesting and did not take away from the pleasure of reading the book. Look forward to reading the next two books in the series.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Man this book had one twist after another! I love that in books, I finally gave up guessing what was gonna happen next! Towards the end of the book it got freakier! Miles and Alice sure don't lead dull lives that's for sure! So, if you like sci fi, robots, aliens, action, you name it, it's in here! It's definitely not a boring book!

[Madmonk · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st day, halfway through. 4 more days and I get book 2 which I've already preordered via Amazon for 2.99. For a grand total of 6 bucks, this is one of my better buys as of late. Keep em comin' Noah.

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I call myself Scrapman" and that was the end of it.

[Johnny]

Pretty good read.

If you like post apocalyptic stories then this book is for you. I am definitely looking forward to book 2.

[unknown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel's Watch

I enjoyed the read. characters were well developed and the start moved along with ease. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Bryan457 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an entertaining post-apocalyptic story with some alien interference, an experimental AI and some techno tinkering.

I would like to see where the story goes next.