Falling Sky

by James Patrick Riser

Following a devastating world war, the surface of the planet has been covered in a substance called Dust, a weapon that can break down the physical make up of entire cities, reducing them to rubble and preventing citizens from rebuilding their lost metropolises for several years. In order to survive, humanity has taken refuge in crowded, underground cities.

Ian Blum is a 15 year old boy living in one such city. His crippling social anxiety confines him to a solitary life at home, while his parents are away at their jobs. The person he interacts with the most is his home school professor, Michael Wasley. One night, Ian is visited by a mysterious figure in a dream. The man warns Ian of a great earthquake that will destroy the cities, killing all of the inhabitants. The man charges Ian with the task of getting everyone out.

Soon after, Ian finds out that he isn't the only one who has had this dream and reluctantly joins a group of rebels who has made it their mission to drive everyone from the cities for their own safety, however, no one believes in the stranger's prophecy. Ian and the rebels must find a way to get the people to safety at any cost.

Genres: Short Stories, Dystopia

69 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2013

Reviews

[Krissys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the amazing detail, for a YA book its a magnificent way to bring young adults into a new world and James Riser does a great job of paying great attention to every detail of the crampt underground cities and the people struggling to cope with their new ways of life. As if that wasn't enough now the survivors of a great devastation have even more to deal with. You really feel for the people in Riser's world, I found myself sitting on pins and needles anxiously waiting to find out what would happen next.

[Robin Clemons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpected

Unexpected

writing seemed contrived. hard to understand the author's perspective of life after the end the war that sent everyone to live underground. did not feel like there was any way to believe that this was a viable way to live.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is a *very* short story. It felt rushed. I would have enjoyed this much more had the book taken more time to build characters, build the world, and to build the plot. Not bad, but not great either. This story would be more suited to a longer form of storytelling than was employed.

[Matthew Saunders · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok short story. I grabbed it as an eBook using it to experiment checking eBooks out of the library.

[Louanne Nicely]

Eh, it was okay.

[Garp · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly complete story, despite it short length. It could have continued and maybe will get a sequel. About people living underground after the earth is bad.