Code Breakers

Code Breakers #0.5

by Colin F. Barnes

Note: This prequel story can be read at any point in the Code Breakers series.

Rogue hackers Petal and Gabriel are low on food and water. Their reputation precedes them and they are no longer able to hustle the crime community for supplies. With survival becoming harder, they’re left with no other choice but to accept a risky job from a dangerous individual.

The two will have to negotiate with the Tinker— a woman whose reputation for psychotic behaviour is known across the nuclear-blasted Abandoned Lands; infiltrate a town overrun with killers; and recover a cache of exceptionally rare information.

They will have to put their very lives on the line in order to succeed, and with the odds considerably stacked against them, they’ll need more than luck on their side.

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Cyberpunk, Fiction, Novella, Apocalyptic, Amazon

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Colin F. Barnes is a British author of thrillers featuring working-class heroes doing extraordinary things. He is published by 47North, Audible, and Podium. He is represented by Paul Lucas of Janklow & Nesbit.

Reviews

[Keith Sprague · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This post-apocalyptic tale of Petal and Gabe will not let you down. Short, but part of a series, so you aren't left wanting too much. Worth my time and money...

[Norm Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Back Story of Petal. I actually recommend reading it last as a way to ween off the addictive characters of the 4 part Code Breaker series/book.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Future dystopian tale; prequel to a series.

[Robert Featherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fast-paced read.

[Lionel Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, intense.

[5t4n5 Dot Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and lively prequel for the main series, which i have dived eagerly straight into without a pause.

Characters are really well written and perfectly suited for this nuked out, post apocalyptic wasteland that the world has become.   I am so hoping the rest of the series holds up to what's been suggested here because it looks like it's going to be a rather good read.

Next up: Code Breakers: Alpha .

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apex Cypher is the prequel to the series The Techxorcist and this is where Colin F. Barnes is at his best. Technology mixed with science fiction and of course placed in a post apocalyptic world. The back story is laid out in a world where only the privileged live under a dome 'protected' from the world they believe is barren after nukes have done their damage. Gabe and Petal travel the land in search of food and fight for their survival. The technology created by Colin F. Barnes is as always fascinating and very inventive. While this book is short it does what it sets out to do, it gives you the back story for Gabe and Petal. Who they are, what they are about and how the series kicks off in the first book called Artificial Evil. If you are a fan of his work and have not jumped on board with this series I highly suggest you do so. If you love technology, science fiction and post apocalyptic stories than again get aboard and enjoy the ride.

[Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this prequel to The Techxorcist and really felt like it made me want to read the first in the series. There are definitely some things that would make some people skittish (cannibalism for one) but for being a dystopian world it totally makes sense. We are basically told there is a utopia type city under a dome that was founded and is controlled by "The Family". The Family also happens to be the organization that dropped nukes and EMP bombs all over the world to ensure their domination. Apex Cypher introduces us to a couple of characters who are just doing what they can to get by in a dying world by taking jobs to download and remove unsafe AI and tech from systems. I already have the first book in the series ready to read, I just hope it involves the same characters as I'd be very interested to see what ends up happening to them.

Would definitely recommend if you like techno thrillers.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petal and Gabriel are rogue hackers are in deep. Short of food and water, their tarnished reputations making it impossible for them to continue hustling supplies from the criminal community, they’re given a job offer—infiltrate a town full of killers and retrieve a cache of rare information. The problem is, they might not live long enough to collect their pay.
Apex Cypher by Colin F. Barnes is a neatly crafted bit of science fiction that is prequel to a series. Action scenes are well staged, although the characters are a bit cartoonish. Still an enjoyable read.
I received this book free in exchange for my review.

[William Massa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first taste of Colin Barnes’ post-apocalyptic cyberpunk series. The grim world depicted here is a dangerous place, a new dark age existing among the ruins of the modern world. Badass hacker-mercs navigate the wasteland where madness and violence lurk around every corner. I was reminded of classic Conan novellas but with post-apocalyptic cyberpunk twist. A perfect blend of adventure, scifi and horror. Can’t wait to check out the books.

[Bluecobras09 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about a post apocalyptic world where nothing is worth more than information. Hacker pair Petal and Gabe are hired to get some data from someone that has it. The run in to issues with the local cannibals, and find a 128 year old computer with special qualities.

The story is interesting and the writing style is good but the liberal use of a spell checker would have taken care of the misspellings and maybe some of the missing words.

I would recommend it for the story.

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of holes in the premise, or at least a lot of unanswered questions. All in all, the setting is sort of Max Max-ish with hackers, if that makes any sense.

The action's good, and the plot moves along well, but the forced dialect/slang detracts significantly.

Having said that, I'm reading the sequels.

[Jānis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grāmata bija ļoti īsa un es nevarētu teikt, ka sniedza daudz jauna par Gabriela un Petalas dzīves sākumiem. Biju arī cerējis, ka būs aprakstīts atrastā Old Grey ceļš pie kiborga, bet nekā. Tāda īsa forša epizode no viņu pirms Gerija dzīves.

[Rok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit too short but very exciting nonetheless.

[Heberton Eugênio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muito bom!






Incrivelmente sensacional! Obra prima! Pronto para ler os próximos livros dessa história incrível e cativante... O que aguarda nossos anti-heróis?

[Budd Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prequel to the series.