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Noah's Ark #1
Survivors
May 1st 2014 the Earth is scorched by a stray asteroid, wiping out almost all life. Almost, but not quite. Three thousand souls aboard a cruise ship visiting the north pole are spared by a freak of nature.
The ship’s First Officer, Jake Noah, was looking forward to getting back to dry land once and for all. But then the world ended, and now he finds himself reluctantly in charge of the last handful of survivors of the human race.
The limited resources on board mean that just staying alive will be a struggle. With the threat of mutiny ever present, can Jake rise to the challenge and lead his crew and their passengers on a quest for safety, or will he take the easy option and leave anarchy and chaos to prevail?
The ship’s First Officer, Jake Noah, was looking forward to getting back to dry land once and for all. But then the world ended, and now he finds himself reluctantly in charge of the last handful of survivors of the human race.
The limited resources on board mean that just staying alive will be a struggle. With the threat of mutiny ever present, can Jake rise to the challenge and lead his crew and their passengers on a quest for safety, or will he take the easy option and leave anarchy and chaos to prevail?
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2013
340 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Harry Dayle
29 books20 followersBritish chap Harry Dayle lives with his domesticated animals and undomesticated wife and daughter in the middle of rural France. When he’s not writing in his secret woodland retreat, Harry spends his days battling entropy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 16, 2017
An asteroid on a collision course enters Earth's atmosphere and starts cooking people alive with its fiery dust trail in the southern hemisphere. As it circles around Earth various times, it gets lower and winds it way slowly north, destroying everything in it's path. On a cruise ship in the Arctic, passengers watch in horror as they see the end of the world coming...but then the asteroid starts to gain height and exits the atmosphere again, leaving most on the ship alive.
OK I'm not a science expert or anything so I'm not going to say anything about the way the asteroid behaves. I always expected an asteroid on collision course comes straight downn and hits Earth like Deep Impact as opposed to circling the Earth multiple times. It didn't sound right to me for it to do that but like I said, I'm no expert and it is fiction after all.
Instead of all being happy to be alive, the passengers seem to want to moan about everything that doesn't matter and don't get that the crew have important things to be getting on with like keeping the ship going and looking after the injured. Of course we also have the captain who decides the end of the world should be nigh and hatches the grand scheme to kill off everyone on board personally. Frankly he isn't very good at it and only manages one murder before getting caught. At the same time a disappointed wife beating religious zealot is gutted not to see the apocalypse come and then decides he has his own plan to please God with some kind of psycho takeover. It's like the Love Boat gone mental on this ship.
I found the plot to be a bit mental. I think every psycho on earth is on that ship which I found a bit annoying. It just all seemed a bit over the top plot wise. The story of the ship surviving the disaster would've been interesting enough with all the possible problems it would face but having all these murderers and zealots on board running around the place causing chaos was just too much for me. It didn't do anything to entertain me or to make me care about the nutters on board.
Nothing much else to say really. Didn't like anything about it.
OK I'm not a science expert or anything so I'm not going to say anything about the way the asteroid behaves. I always expected an asteroid on collision course comes straight downn and hits Earth like Deep Impact as opposed to circling the Earth multiple times. It didn't sound right to me for it to do that but like I said, I'm no expert and it is fiction after all.
Instead of all being happy to be alive, the passengers seem to want to moan about everything that doesn't matter and don't get that the crew have important things to be getting on with like keeping the ship going and looking after the injured. Of course we also have the captain who decides the end of the world should be nigh and hatches the grand scheme to kill off everyone on board personally. Frankly he isn't very good at it and only manages one murder before getting caught. At the same time a disappointed wife beating religious zealot is gutted not to see the apocalypse come and then decides he has his own plan to please God with some kind of psycho takeover. It's like the Love Boat gone mental on this ship.
I found the plot to be a bit mental. I think every psycho on earth is on that ship which I found a bit annoying. It just all seemed a bit over the top plot wise. The story of the ship surviving the disaster would've been interesting enough with all the possible problems it would face but having all these murderers and zealots on board running around the place causing chaos was just too much for me. It didn't do anything to entertain me or to make me care about the nutters on board.
Nothing much else to say really. Didn't like anything about it.
July 6, 2017
Hmmm, starting with an implausible gravitational trajectory from a stray asteroid, the scene is set for Jake Noah to become interim captain of the worlds surviving people. I guess it accomplished the goal of 'what if there was just a cruise ship full of people left in the world' from which to start the story, but it left little hope for something more than a survival story. Jakes a bit of a pushover and inevitably there are malcontents on the crew who want control of 'humanity'. Somehow two of whom have a religion based desire to eliminate the few humans left? And the land is toxic but similar sites on the ship unaffected?
Fair enough as a survival drama, but the fact the rationale is so contrived reduces it somewhat. Shame, because rediscovering the world after such a cataclysm over the next four books could have been fun.
Fair enough as a survival drama, but the fact the rationale is so contrived reduces it somewhat. Shame, because rediscovering the world after such a cataclysm over the next four books could have been fun.
April 3, 2016
Incredible Story
I will gladly review this unbelievable book. I could not put it down. So I strongly recommend it to all the adventurous souls to enjoy. Y
I will gladly review this unbelievable book. I could not put it down. So I strongly recommend it to all the adventurous souls to enjoy. Y
February 6, 2018
Reviews seem to lean toward either disliking this book or loving it. I really liked it but I very seldom give out 5 stars. Based on this 1st book (which was a freebie), I purchased the other 4 in the series. I usually don't purchase ebooks and just stay with free downloads, but this piqued my interest enough that I coughed up the $$.
May 16, 2017
So so storyline
How can you have a captain with zero backbone? No wonder the mutiny!! Couldn't even make it all the way through the book..
How can you have a captain with zero backbone? No wonder the mutiny!! Couldn't even make it all the way through the book..
June 14, 2023
I thought this a very good and well conceived idea about a cruise ship in the Artic Ocean when a life destroying asteroid blows by Earth. The cruise ship of 3000 souls was in the right place at the right time when the asteroid passed over them. It did some damage to the ship and killed 200 people that were outside at the time, but the ship survived, as did most of the passengers and crew. Here is where the story becomes interesting. In the next few days , the crew sets sail for the nearest town to see if anyone survived.
When they arrived and found the town destroyed ,along with all its in habitants, because of the toxic ash deposited by the asteroid, the passengers start to flex their muscle as they start to realize that they may be the only survivors in the world. A small band overthrows the crew and takes the ship, with the purpose of starting the world over. the leader wanted to kill most of the passengers to preserve food and supplies, while keeping alive all women 30 and younger for breeding purposes. It becomes involved and more of an action adventure at this point. the captain is set adrift on a raft to die while the ship sets sail for Scotland where they will start a new world.
Hurt ,cold and hopeless the captain encounters a British nuclear sub that rescues him and starts out for the ship to save it. the sub crew takes over the ship and with the ships captain ,devise a plan to keep the ship working with the nuclear reactor of the submarine. this is book 1 of a series of books about the ships.
Survivors -Noah's Ark #1 = 4 stars . A rather decent thriller.
When they arrived and found the town destroyed ,along with all its in habitants, because of the toxic ash deposited by the asteroid, the passengers start to flex their muscle as they start to realize that they may be the only survivors in the world. A small band overthrows the crew and takes the ship, with the purpose of starting the world over. the leader wanted to kill most of the passengers to preserve food and supplies, while keeping alive all women 30 and younger for breeding purposes. It becomes involved and more of an action adventure at this point. the captain is set adrift on a raft to die while the ship sets sail for Scotland where they will start a new world.
Hurt ,cold and hopeless the captain encounters a British nuclear sub that rescues him and starts out for the ship to save it. the sub crew takes over the ship and with the ships captain ,devise a plan to keep the ship working with the nuclear reactor of the submarine. this is book 1 of a series of books about the ships.
Survivors -Noah's Ark #1 = 4 stars . A rather decent thriller.
August 16, 2022
.
.
A good book.
Good writing:
“…Lucya never normally noticed these vibrations or the noise as the ship cruised the world. It was always there in the background, like wallpaper….”
“…Jake sensed he might have struck a seam of doubt. He intended to mine it as far as he could…..”
A nice twist on the old, tired, starship-theme; using a real ocean-going ship:
“…There were three main staircases that ran between all the accommodation decks. One fore, one aft, and one in the middle. Lucya checked the cabin number. She was nearest the aft, which suited her fine, as her first thought of a destination was the engine room, which was located at the rear of the ship. It meant descending a long way, which increased the risk of getting caught, but there really wasn’t anywhere else to go. The bridge was off limits, and she had no idea where any of the rest of the crew might be. At least in the engine room there was a good chance of finding Martin, and refuge. She turned left, and stopped in her tracks. The door of the opposite cabin had just opened….”
But Jake?
JAKE IS PUZSY!
.
.
.
A good book.
Good writing:
“…Lucya never normally noticed these vibrations or the noise as the ship cruised the world. It was always there in the background, like wallpaper….”
“…Jake sensed he might have struck a seam of doubt. He intended to mine it as far as he could…..”
A nice twist on the old, tired, starship-theme; using a real ocean-going ship:
“…There were three main staircases that ran between all the accommodation decks. One fore, one aft, and one in the middle. Lucya checked the cabin number. She was nearest the aft, which suited her fine, as her first thought of a destination was the engine room, which was located at the rear of the ship. It meant descending a long way, which increased the risk of getting caught, but there really wasn’t anywhere else to go. The bridge was off limits, and she had no idea where any of the rest of the crew might be. At least in the engine room there was a good chance of finding Martin, and refuge. She turned left, and stopped in her tracks. The door of the opposite cabin had just opened….”
But Jake?
JAKE IS PUZSY!
.
.
July 30, 2023
The writing was good enough, the premise behind the story was good enough. But. (And there's always a "but", isn't there?)
I'm not a scientist, but the way the meteorite behaved was...weirdly odd. Why would it just fly over and around Earth, and not smash into the planet?
Jake Noah, the main character, was rather spineless for someone who was meant to be the captain, in charge of the whole vessel. He also loved to reminisce about his ex-wife for about few moments here and there, completely forgetting about her when it came to Lucya. Talking of whom - she was behaving like a lovesick little puppy when it came to having any sort of feelings towards Jake, and she didn't behave like a head of her own department.
The ship also had two religious people who saw this as ther chance to "shine", too? Like. I get the name of the book, being potentially just a play on the main character's name, but the story could have been absolutely fine without those undertones, too.
I'm not a scientist, but the way the meteorite behaved was...weirdly odd. Why would it just fly over and around Earth, and not smash into the planet?
Jake Noah, the main character, was rather spineless for someone who was meant to be the captain, in charge of the whole vessel. He also loved to reminisce about his ex-wife for about few moments here and there, completely forgetting about her when it came to Lucya. Talking of whom - she was behaving like a lovesick little puppy when it came to having any sort of feelings towards Jake, and she didn't behave like a head of her own department.
The ship also had two religious people who saw this as ther chance to "shine", too? Like. I get the name of the book, being potentially just a play on the main character's name, but the story could have been absolutely fine without those undertones, too.
May 28, 2017
Noah's Ark, by Harry Dayle, is quite well written apart from the inevitable misuse of certain words, but I still enjoyed the tale. Book one in a multi-book saga, SURVIVORS tells the story of Jake Noah, an officer on a cruise ship, who ends up as a reluctant captain following Arca near-miss with an asteroid that buzzes Earth, killing most of the world's population--but not all. The 3 thousand souls on the ship might be safe, but what kind of world awaits them if they can get underway again? Jake is in charge, not only of the health and wellbeing of the passengers, but the crew. Ill-prepared for this task, he falls victim to human elements with a mind-set totally at odds with his own. Those who enjoy apocalyptic disasters, especially those that do not focus entirely on the USA and have a unique cause for the destruction of Earth, certainly have a treat in store.
January 7, 2018
I couldn’t bear to put this down from start to finish. It took a while (very good length), and I’m very pleased to say there were very few typos in it. I’ve come to expect them in most of the disaster books I read. Although I wasn’t quite convinced by some of the science, this book does not over-do the science side – it provides the characters’ descriptions of events, and does not attempt to educate readers. This is a very good thing in my opinion, because I want to be entertained, and to read the events from the viewpoints of the characters rather than some invisible lecturer/narrator.
I gave 5 stars, mainly because the characters are well formed and ‘knowable’, which I always enjoy. And the story itself is full of surprises.
I would like to read more of this author’s work.
(Initially reviewed at Amazon on 23 September 2013.)
I gave 5 stars, mainly because the characters are well formed and ‘knowable’, which I always enjoy. And the story itself is full of surprises.
I would like to read more of this author’s work.
(Initially reviewed at Amazon on 23 September 2013.)
October 22, 2019
Good premise and good idea. You can tell the author knows a lot about cruise ships. The characters could be a bit more developed and the main character turns out to be a bit of a wuss. Hopefully as lead he will do better in the next books in the series but he keeps fainting anytime the situation is a bit too much for him; not my choice for the leader of the last remnants of humans.
Situational development is fairly good but a bit over the top in conspiracy theories and then the surprise arrival of unexpected help in the last few chapters is a bit far fetched. I hate late chapters surprises that bring the solution to the challenges that took three quarters of the book to develop.
It's good but if it doesn't improve in book 2, I don't think I will read the whole collection.
Situational development is fairly good but a bit over the top in conspiracy theories and then the surprise arrival of unexpected help in the last few chapters is a bit far fetched. I hate late chapters surprises that bring the solution to the challenges that took three quarters of the book to develop.
It's good but if it doesn't improve in book 2, I don't think I will read the whole collection.
October 29, 2022
Noah lol!
Being familiar with the Scriptures, the title pun is much appreciated, but that's as far as the Scriptures go in this story. However, there is a "religious nut" as a protagonist. We are reminded within the story that not all religious folk are nutters by the way. If you enjoy dystopian, end-of-the-world-by-asteroid-while-on-a-luxury-cruise-ship-in-the-Arctic scenarios, then this is the book for you. If you enjoy reading about a young adult reluctantly stepping up into leadership after spending a lifetime avoiding it, here's your story. But if you're expecting a biblical account of Noah, the flood, and that Ark, this is not that, but there are similarities. Enjoy!
Being familiar with the Scriptures, the title pun is much appreciated, but that's as far as the Scriptures go in this story. However, there is a "religious nut" as a protagonist. We are reminded within the story that not all religious folk are nutters by the way. If you enjoy dystopian, end-of-the-world-by-asteroid-while-on-a-luxury-cruise-ship-in-the-Arctic scenarios, then this is the book for you. If you enjoy reading about a young adult reluctantly stepping up into leadership after spending a lifetime avoiding it, here's your story. But if you're expecting a biblical account of Noah, the flood, and that Ark, this is not that, but there are similarities. Enjoy!
January 4, 2018
This was potentially a 5-star book, based on the overall story, and the writing style was good. However, the part of the premise involving ship officers and passengers is too unbelievable. And the eventual captain, Noah, was just too much an embarrassing wimp - read it and judge for yourself. I finished the book because it did offer suspense, but it was less enjoyable due to the two major faults I mentioned.
August 1, 2022
An asteroid comes so close to earth it wipes out almost all life. There is a cruise ship near to one of the arctic regions who are saved by getting inside the ship. Jake Noah ends up being the new captain after losing the two highest ranking men on the ship. Mutiny and chaos start to prevail. I liked the book a lot but didn’t know it was a series which left the ending somewhat up in the air. I don’t know why I end up reading books that are series. I don’t like that.
March 21, 2023
I found this book downloaded on my Kindle from years ago. I didn’t even remember downloading it. I read the reviews (which I normally never do) and almost didn’t start the book. While yes, the whole setting event seems very unbelievable, if you’re able to put that aside from your mind the books isn’t bad. I found the read enjoyable and what you’d expect from a disaster story. Very interested to see where the story goes.
May 22, 2017
This book has mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it!
My interest was grabbed from the beginning and I couldn't put it down until the last page. I found the characters believable, though not all likeable. While there is obviously much more to the story this book did have an ending and didn't leave me hanging. I look forward to the next book in the series.
My interest was grabbed from the beginning and I couldn't put it down until the last page. I found the characters believable, though not all likeable. While there is obviously much more to the story this book did have an ending and didn't leave me hanging. I look forward to the next book in the series.
June 16, 2017
A pretty decent read
It left me curious as to what happens in the next book in the series. The characters were for the most part believable. Any one who had worked retail recognizes in the passenger rep the quintessential "customer who wants it his way or no way". I did not mourn his death.
It left me curious as to what happens in the next book in the series. The characters were for the most part believable. Any one who had worked retail recognizes in the passenger rep the quintessential "customer who wants it his way or no way". I did not mourn his death.
March 15, 2019
End of the world?
What to say...well I loved the ending and I have a feeling the sequels will be even better. It was a very slow starter for me. I should have had more faith in the author. It was scary, thrilling, sad and encouraging. When I can afford to I will be getting the next book in the series.
What to say...well I loved the ending and I have a feeling the sequels will be even better. It was a very slow starter for me. I should have had more faith in the author. It was scary, thrilling, sad and encouraging. When I can afford to I will be getting the next book in the series.
July 10, 2017
Apocalyptic
A fun apocalyptic story. I really would like a little more science behind the ash. And can't wait to learn more about the navy guys. Story got a little better in the middle but then picked up again.
A fun apocalyptic story. I really would like a little more science behind the ash. And can't wait to learn more about the navy guys. Story got a little better in the middle but then picked up again.
October 15, 2017
Cool!
This book starts out with a bang and just gets better from there. It has a great story line, excellent characters, and enough action and terror to please anyone. I can't wait to get the next book in the series.
This book starts out with a bang and just gets better from there. It has a great story line, excellent characters, and enough action and terror to please anyone. I can't wait to get the next book in the series.
October 20, 2018
Well written story
A possible scenario that is well put together and presented with real life problems. The "gang" of followers might have been a stretch but hay, after Jim Jones I guess about anything could happen!
A possible scenario that is well put together and presented with real life problems. The "gang" of followers might have been a stretch but hay, after Jim Jones I guess about anything could happen!
July 25, 2019
Simply Awesome
Noah's Ark Survivor is a must read! This is book 1 of the Noah's Ark Series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure during a end of the world scenario. Harry Dayle, your storyline will capture readers , cover to cover. Well done sir!
Noah's Ark Survivor is a must read! This is book 1 of the Noah's Ark Series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure during a end of the world scenario. Harry Dayle, your storyline will capture readers , cover to cover. Well done sir!
October 11, 2020
Cruise ship follies.
Author freebie. The author is British and uses words slightly differently. The British save the day. A giant asteroid causes havoc. The survivors will live on in spite of themselves.
Author freebie. The author is British and uses words slightly differently. The British save the day. A giant asteroid causes havoc. The survivors will live on in spite of themselves.
January 20, 2021
Great read.
At first I thought that this story was going to be boring but I kept reading and it turned into a better than interesting story. I can't wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.
At first I thought that this story was going to be boring but I kept reading and it turned into a better than interesting story. I can't wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.
January 1, 2022
Really pretty good read
A lot of action and few soft spots. Story builds nicely. But I have a pet peeve: don’t have main characters on the same side with names that begin with the same letter. It can sometimes be confusing.
A lot of action and few soft spots. Story builds nicely. But I have a pet peeve: don’t have main characters on the same side with names that begin with the same letter. It can sometimes be confusing.
May 8, 2017
Well done
Very plausible. End of the world and exciting action. Strong characters. Could see the settings. Would make a good movie.
Very plausible. End of the world and exciting action. Strong characters. Could see the settings. Would make a good movie.
May 17, 2017
Actually at least 3.5 stars. I did get caught up in it, but I'm a dystopian fan anyways. I will look into the next book in the series.
May 23, 2017
B- = interesting, liked the characters,
September 3, 2017
Good book
This book kept me waiting for the other shoe to drop. I read all in one sitting and even forgot about lunch.
This book kept me waiting for the other shoe to drop. I read all in one sitting and even forgot about lunch.
May 28, 2018
This turned out to be a really good book. It was a little different than your typical apocalyptic story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews