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Allied: First Contact
Awakened by a violent storm one morning, Ethan is joined by Cara, his attractive neighbor. They evacuate their apartment building, only to be greeted by absolute chaos outside. Violent hurricane winds and rain blow through the town, the air is freezing cold, and the days and nights seem to shorten into mere hours. They embark on an incredible adventure as they find out what is causing these bizarre events.
In a world where humans and governments seem helpless to stop the forces of destruction, the impossible occurs. This is a gripping story with twists and turns of survival in chaos, and the human instinct to bond together in times of crisis.
"Allied: First Contact" is a short story of 8700 words in length or approximately 30 pages. It is the prequel to an upcoming full-length novel.
In a world where humans and governments seem helpless to stop the forces of destruction, the impossible occurs. This is a gripping story with twists and turns of survival in chaos, and the human instinct to bond together in times of crisis.
"Allied: First Contact" is a short story of 8700 words in length or approximately 30 pages. It is the prequel to an upcoming full-length novel.
- GenresScience Fiction
32 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2013
7 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Blake Ridder
2 books13 followersBlake Ridder is an award-winning filmmaker, director, and writer who has made a name for himself in the world of independent cinema. With a passion for storytelling and an unwavering drive to create, Blake has produced over 50 films, earning recognition and accolades on the festival circuit. His achievements are a testament to the power of talent, perseverance, and dedication in making the impossible possible.
In addition to his impressive filmography, Blake is also a gifted writer who loves to share his insights and experiences with others. His unique blend of wit, charm, and British humour captivates readers and leaves a lasting impression. Blake enjoys writing stories in various formats, from screenplays to novels, and is currently working on his first full-length novel.
Drawing from his wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience in the industry, Blake aims to inspire and encourage others to follow their creative dreams and pursue their passion for filmmaking.
When Blake isn't busy bringing his cinematic visions to life or putting pen to paper, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, exploring the great outdoors, and continuing to push the boundaries of his creative potential.
In addition to his impressive filmography, Blake is also a gifted writer who loves to share his insights and experiences with others. His unique blend of wit, charm, and British humour captivates readers and leaves a lasting impression. Blake enjoys writing stories in various formats, from screenplays to novels, and is currently working on his first full-length novel.
Drawing from his wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience in the industry, Blake aims to inspire and encourage others to follow their creative dreams and pursue their passion for filmmaking.
When Blake isn't busy bringing his cinematic visions to life or putting pen to paper, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, exploring the great outdoors, and continuing to push the boundaries of his creative potential.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 4, 2020
I really liked it!
I got this short story for free on Amazon and I thank the author for that because I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the twists and turns they had to go through in this catastrophe.
I got this short story for free on Amazon and I thank the author for that because I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the twists and turns they had to go through in this catastrophe.
June 25, 2015
I got this a while back for free on amazon. I like the concept that the author is using in this short story, and I think it would be interesting to see how it turns out in a longer form. It is probably an idea that need some space to develop properly and it is a prequel to a novel that hasn't been published yet.
The author has managed to create some good, suspenseful moments in this short story. It is frantically paced, things shifting very rapidly, even too rapidly and I think it might be a good idea to slow things down a little bit.
The cast of characters is interesting, but sometimes I felt their behavior was a little odd. That detracted a little from the enjoyment of the story, but I think it's not a big problem and one that wouldn't be difficult to change for the better.
So I think there is a lot of good in this story, but some room for improvement. I hope the novel will be published someday, because I think it would be interesting to see it in longer form.
The author has managed to create some good, suspenseful moments in this short story. It is frantically paced, things shifting very rapidly, even too rapidly and I think it might be a good idea to slow things down a little bit.
The cast of characters is interesting, but sometimes I felt their behavior was a little odd. That detracted a little from the enjoyment of the story, but I think it's not a big problem and one that wouldn't be difficult to change for the better.
So I think there is a lot of good in this story, but some room for improvement. I hope the novel will be published someday, because I think it would be interesting to see it in longer form.
March 2, 2014
(Reviewed by PAul Lappen for the Kindle Book Review)
Prequel to an upcoming novel, this novelette is about an Earth whose climate changes from normal to catastrophic seemingly overnight.
Ethan is your average resident of England who wakes up one morning to find a hurricane going on outside his window. He grabs Cara, a young woman who lives in the same high rise apartment building, and they get out of the building before it collapses. Making their way to the nearest Underground station, they find it jam-packed with people, who start disappearing. They find an open shop, where a man named Fisher gives them a partial explanation.
What looks like a permanent overcast cloud cover has made any watching of the sky impossible. Fisher has a cousin named Jake, who is currently aboard the International Space Station. Jake tells Fisher of some Very Interesting Things going on in orbit, not least of which is the sudden appearance of an alien spaceship. The secret mission of the astronauts is to investigate the alien visitor. Jake is the only survivor of the crew, by being taken aboard the alien ship. Ethan, Cara and Fisher also find themselves on board. The ship is run by a group of humanoid aliens who just happened to be in the vicinity. They quickly realized that the only way to save humanity was to take as many of them as possible aboard their ship. Conditions on Earth are getting worse, so going back home is not an option. What do they do now?
If the writer can keep up this level of writing in the upcoming novel, then it will be very much worth reading. The story is short, and has believable characters. It is more than worth checking out.
(The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.)
Prequel to an upcoming novel, this novelette is about an Earth whose climate changes from normal to catastrophic seemingly overnight.
Ethan is your average resident of England who wakes up one morning to find a hurricane going on outside his window. He grabs Cara, a young woman who lives in the same high rise apartment building, and they get out of the building before it collapses. Making their way to the nearest Underground station, they find it jam-packed with people, who start disappearing. They find an open shop, where a man named Fisher gives them a partial explanation.
What looks like a permanent overcast cloud cover has made any watching of the sky impossible. Fisher has a cousin named Jake, who is currently aboard the International Space Station. Jake tells Fisher of some Very Interesting Things going on in orbit, not least of which is the sudden appearance of an alien spaceship. The secret mission of the astronauts is to investigate the alien visitor. Jake is the only survivor of the crew, by being taken aboard the alien ship. Ethan, Cara and Fisher also find themselves on board. The ship is run by a group of humanoid aliens who just happened to be in the vicinity. They quickly realized that the only way to save humanity was to take as many of them as possible aboard their ship. Conditions on Earth are getting worse, so going back home is not an option. What do they do now?
If the writer can keep up this level of writing in the upcoming novel, then it will be very much worth reading. The story is short, and has believable characters. It is more than worth checking out.
(The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.)
November 19, 2013
To come
March 5, 2015
Enjoyed the book even though short, intense but keep me interested to continue reading to find out more of what's going on.
April 30, 2016
An excellent short story!
June 13, 2014
What a tease?!? I want more now!!!
October 6, 2019
Nice read -had to finish once started
I want more. I'll be looking for other books you have written. There were a few typos that I only caught because I was listening via text to speech. Blake, keep up the good work. See ya in Twitter.
I want more. I'll be looking for other books you have written. There were a few typos that I only caught because I was listening via text to speech. Blake, keep up the good work. See ya in Twitter.
May 30, 2015
Allied: First Contact is a prelude to a book that is not out yet.
Huge storms are devastating Earth. The climate is changing and so it the length of days. People are disappearing. While we learn what caused it, we're left with a new discovery, which leads to the series.
A lot happens in these few pages, which makes it feel rushed. We didn't get to know any of the characters at all and the little we know makes me think I may not like Ethan in the long run.
The idea is promising though, so I'm hoping the rest of the series will be more developed.
Huge storms are devastating Earth. The climate is changing and so it the length of days. People are disappearing. While we learn what caused it, we're left with a new discovery, which leads to the series.
A lot happens in these few pages, which makes it feel rushed. We didn't get to know any of the characters at all and the little we know makes me think I may not like Ethan in the long run.
The idea is promising though, so I'm hoping the rest of the series will be more developed.
March 7, 2016
The storyline and pacing for this didn't work as a short story. There were too many characters and not enough development of them for me to connect with them or find them realistic or engaging. Ethan, in particular, was rather unlikeable for the duration of the story, which made Cara's affection for him strange. I think this story would have worked better as a full novel (or a novella) instead of a prequel short.
September 24, 2014
Really unsure about this very short intro story - It was all over the place whilst keeping up a frenetic pace. So many introductions for what are clearly planned novel elements but it did not grip me just got me annoyed. Barely one concept or plot line was established before something else was introduced a character was killed or some other twist occurred in the 35 minutes it took me to read it.
July 24, 2014
Awesome! Definitely going to read the novel. If you want a gripping short story this book is for you!
July 24, 2014
Very good short story, definitely looking forward to full length novel. Recommend to anyone who is looking for a gripping short story!
August 2, 2014
Cant wait to read more. It leaves you wondering so many things! Will have to read more. For someone who loves sci-fi, this ticks all the boxes
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews