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Ruins War #1
Mr. Ruins
Book 1 of the Ruins Sonata trilogy.
Ritry Goligh is a former Arctic marine living in a dystopian, tsunami-wrecked future. He works as a graysmith- a specialist capable of diving the minds of others and implanting or erasing memories. Scarred by the events of the Arctic war, he leads a directionless life of alcohol, violence, and sex, until a man calling himself Mr. Ruins offers him a devil's bargain- gain a future, but forfeit his soul.
At the same time, a crew of hardened marines rouse in a unique submarine designed to dive through lava within a planet's molten core. They have no memories except their names, ranks, and a burning urge to complete their mission. Yet none of them know what their mission is, or what the stakes will be if they fail.
Ritry Goligh is a former Arctic marine living in a dystopian, tsunami-wrecked future. He works as a graysmith- a specialist capable of diving the minds of others and implanting or erasing memories. Scarred by the events of the Arctic war, he leads a directionless life of alcohol, violence, and sex, until a man calling himself Mr. Ruins offers him a devil's bargain- gain a future, but forfeit his soul.
At the same time, a crew of hardened marines rouse in a unique submarine designed to dive through lava within a planet's molten core. They have no memories except their names, ranks, and a burning urge to complete their mission. Yet none of them know what their mission is, or what the stakes will be if they fail.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
45 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
Michael John Grist
57 books109 followersMichael John Grist is a British/American author and ruins photographer who lives in London, UK. He writes dark and weird science fiction and fantasy books, such as the fantasy novel Ignifer’s Rise and the SF series The Ruins Sonata.
For 11 years he lived in Tokyo exploring Japan’s modern ruins, such as abandoned theme parks, military bases, and ghost towns, gaining millions of hits on this website with his photographs and stories.
The best of these adventures are now collected in his unique travel book Into the Ruins, which thriller bestseller Barry Eisler calls, “gorgeous, haunting, stunning.”
Now Michael enjoys working out in the gym, watching TV and movies, and of course writing stories and novels. He lives in London with his wife, and works as an academic English lecturer at university.
For 11 years he lived in Tokyo exploring Japan’s modern ruins, such as abandoned theme parks, military bases, and ghost towns, gaining millions of hits on this website with his photographs and stories.
The best of these adventures are now collected in his unique travel book Into the Ruins, which thriller bestseller Barry Eisler calls, “gorgeous, haunting, stunning.”
Now Michael enjoys working out in the gym, watching TV and movies, and of course writing stories and novels. He lives in London with his wife, and works as an academic English lecturer at university.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 16, 2014
I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This could be a good book. It's hard to tell. The writing structure is at once intricate and confounding. There are two interweaving storylines and it's not until the end that they make sense together. Which leaves most of the book sounding like so much incoherent dream babbling. The main character is well-detailed, but everything else around him is grayed out. His wife and children are tortured and frankly, I didn't much care because they weren't real to me.
The world building that went into this was obvious, but unfortunately, confusing. I got that it was post-apocalyptic and that waves of water are still killing people off, but what the people were warring over and how they did battle was unclear.
The main antagonist was also hard to understand. He has godlike abilities and yet the main character is able to defeat him. Who and what was the villain? I presume the rest of the series answers that. I hope the rest of the series answers that.
I also found a glaring typo. Therm instead of them.
The book was interesting, but lacked the ability to make me care.
This could be a good book. It's hard to tell. The writing structure is at once intricate and confounding. There are two interweaving storylines and it's not until the end that they make sense together. Which leaves most of the book sounding like so much incoherent dream babbling. The main character is well-detailed, but everything else around him is grayed out. His wife and children are tortured and frankly, I didn't much care because they weren't real to me.
The world building that went into this was obvious, but unfortunately, confusing. I got that it was post-apocalyptic and that waves of water are still killing people off, but what the people were warring over and how they did battle was unclear.
The main antagonist was also hard to understand. He has godlike abilities and yet the main character is able to defeat him. Who and what was the villain? I presume the rest of the series answers that. I hope the rest of the series answers that.
I also found a glaring typo. Therm instead of them.
The book was interesting, but lacked the ability to make me care.
August 21, 2017
Holy guacamole! Really good book. Worth all 5 stars.
Not for the squeamish, for sure, but overall a really excellent read. The way the author wove the several threads throughout the story was quite elegant, and unlike other self-published titles I've read, there were no loose threads or missing items at the end of it. I hate to sound trite, but "all will be explained at the end."
One of the things I liked about it, that was initially off-putting, was the fact that the book didn't over-explain things too early. That would have ruined the discovery, and how the knowledge of the world was revealed built it more solidly than if the background was more thoroughly explained.
Would love to get more into it, but that leaves us into the spoiler realm and I don't do that.
Not for the squeamish, for sure, but overall a really excellent read. The way the author wove the several threads throughout the story was quite elegant, and unlike other self-published titles I've read, there were no loose threads or missing items at the end of it. I hate to sound trite, but "all will be explained at the end."
One of the things I liked about it, that was initially off-putting, was the fact that the book didn't over-explain things too early. That would have ruined the discovery, and how the knowledge of the world was revealed built it more solidly than if the background was more thoroughly explained.
Would love to get more into it, but that leaves us into the spoiler realm and I don't do that.
July 8, 2017
An interesting trip into the mindscape
This is an interesting trip into a future after the ice caps have melted, and the existence of the few remaining settlements is threatened by tsunamis.
Graysmiths dive into the minds of others, sometimes for information, sometimes to assist in settling new memories into place. The big danger in the exercise is the Lag, the minds own defense against intrusion, the only way to stave it off is to give up memories and experiences.
Ritry Goligh is possibly one of the best in the graysmithing field, the survivor of a war, and when one particular client comes to visit he is dragged into a new battle. And like before, he finds himself fighting for everything he is, and everyone he loves.
I love how the author dives into the worldscape of the mind, and pulls us along for the ride.
Just who is Mr Ruin, and what kind of threat does he pose? Read along to find out, because this is the first in a series that has a lot of potential.
This is an interesting trip into a future after the ice caps have melted, and the existence of the few remaining settlements is threatened by tsunamis.
Graysmiths dive into the minds of others, sometimes for information, sometimes to assist in settling new memories into place. The big danger in the exercise is the Lag, the minds own defense against intrusion, the only way to stave it off is to give up memories and experiences.
Ritry Goligh is possibly one of the best in the graysmithing field, the survivor of a war, and when one particular client comes to visit he is dragged into a new battle. And like before, he finds himself fighting for everything he is, and everyone he loves.
I love how the author dives into the worldscape of the mind, and pulls us along for the ride.
Just who is Mr Ruin, and what kind of threat does he pose? Read along to find out, because this is the first in a series that has a lot of potential.
March 31, 2019
A fascinating, albeit somewhat confusing (and that confusion extends to the title - 'Ruins' here but 'Ruin' on Amazon's listing and in fact also on the epub I downloaded) but anything that begins with a section entitled 'The End' is likely to prove confusing. As it happens the narrative, although non-linear, follows two main threads and they are well-delineated and make sense gradually. Not essential to give a precis of the plot - but while there is a satisfying end there are two further volumes making up the 'Ruin War' sequence and the teaser for volume two is including and tantalising!
The book seems to have two publication years and a change to the sequence title (originally 'Ruins Sonata') but despite that it's worth reading (and I'll probably be catching up on the other two volumes in due course).
The book seems to have two publication years and a change to the sequence title (originally 'Ruins Sonata') but despite that it's worth reading (and I'll probably be catching up on the other two volumes in due course).
May 5, 2018
A bit like Inception, only several centuries from now.
Mr. Ruin was written before Michael John Grist gave us the nine books in the “Last Mayor” series. While far from identical with regards to the setting and the conflict, Ritry (in Mr. Ruin) is similar in many ways to Amo, the last Mayor. So if you liked the evolution of Amo in the Last Mayor, you will likely appreciate Grist’s character-building of Ritry. As for the other characters in both series, Michael John Grist details all of them with unique elements that serve to keep the reader engaged.
I was a fan of Roger Zelazny during my earlier years of reading science fiction, and the novel, Mr. Ruin, invokes memories of “Creatures of Light and Darkness” (Egyptian mythology) and “Lord of Light” (Hindu mythology), among others. Both Ritry and Mr. Ruin have an “other-worldly” aura similar to the main characters in the Zelazny novels. And the sense of characters transcending “normal” human abilities in a world where there is an almost-elusive access to supernatural/scientific powers, also links the style of both Mr. Ruin (where “bonds have an almost feeling of familiarity when compared to “The Hydrogen Line” in Amo’s world.
I am glad I read Mr. Ruin, and look forward to the two novels that follow in this series, as well as “The Saint’s Rise”, first of the three Ignifer Cycle Books.
Mr. Ruin was written before Michael John Grist gave us the nine books in the “Last Mayor” series. While far from identical with regards to the setting and the conflict, Ritry (in Mr. Ruin) is similar in many ways to Amo, the last Mayor. So if you liked the evolution of Amo in the Last Mayor, you will likely appreciate Grist’s character-building of Ritry. As for the other characters in both series, Michael John Grist details all of them with unique elements that serve to keep the reader engaged.
I was a fan of Roger Zelazny during my earlier years of reading science fiction, and the novel, Mr. Ruin, invokes memories of “Creatures of Light and Darkness” (Egyptian mythology) and “Lord of Light” (Hindu mythology), among others. Both Ritry and Mr. Ruin have an “other-worldly” aura similar to the main characters in the Zelazny novels. And the sense of characters transcending “normal” human abilities in a world where there is an almost-elusive access to supernatural/scientific powers, also links the style of both Mr. Ruin (where “bonds have an almost feeling of familiarity when compared to “The Hydrogen Line” in Amo’s world.
I am glad I read Mr. Ruin, and look forward to the two novels that follow in this series, as well as “The Saint’s Rise”, first of the three Ignifer Cycle Books.
June 29, 2021
My Mind is Ruined
The story takes place at some point in the future after we have ruined the planet. Wars have been fought over the limited resources and civilization has been left in scattered ruins. However, technology has continued to advance, especially when it comes to manipulating the mind. The protagonist is a savant in this field which draws unwanted attention and leads to ruin, or rather Mr. Ruins.
I almost didn't finish this book. It is way out there and difficult to digest. If nothing else, it is unique because I have never come across anything quite like it before. The closest thing to compare it to would be the movie Inception, in regards to the mind bending aspects. This is also a sci-fi thriller with heavy doses of suspense in a very harsh setting. If any of this sounds appealing, give it a try and see if it Mr. Ruins you too!
The story takes place at some point in the future after we have ruined the planet. Wars have been fought over the limited resources and civilization has been left in scattered ruins. However, technology has continued to advance, especially when it comes to manipulating the mind. The protagonist is a savant in this field which draws unwanted attention and leads to ruin, or rather Mr. Ruins.
I almost didn't finish this book. It is way out there and difficult to digest. If nothing else, it is unique because I have never come across anything quite like it before. The closest thing to compare it to would be the movie Inception, in regards to the mind bending aspects. This is also a sci-fi thriller with heavy doses of suspense in a very harsh setting. If any of this sounds appealing, give it a try and see if it Mr. Ruins you too!
August 22, 2017
An interesting concept of after the ice caps melt, and what happens. A bit hard in the beginning to get into, but one started, no problem finishing the book. Intriguing author and first time for me, not the last..
September 21, 2017
This book is an absolute gem! Inventive, imaginative, engaging, in fact I found it quite "un-put-downable"(sic). At the risk of repeating my Amazon review; this is probably the best Sci-fi/Techno/Cyber/Post Apoc' read I've ever had the great good fortune to find. Mr Grist,Ruins, you rock man!!!
March 7, 2018
Sci-fi of the Mind
In the future we can use our minds to kill those that want to kill us. We use our memories new, and some old to do our dirty work.
So is the synopsis of MR RUIN!
In the future we can use our minds to kill those that want to kill us. We use our memories new, and some old to do our dirty work.
So is the synopsis of MR RUIN!
May 27, 2015
Before becoming aware of Mr. Grist's work as an author, I'd known that he'd spent some time in Japan, exploring the ruins of man-made structures long since abandoned and reclaimed by the natural world. I can't explain it, but it's something that's always captured my attention. It doesn't matter if it's the majestic columns of the Parthenon or the rusty subterranean confines of abandoned American missile silos; I have to see it. So when I saw that Mr. Grist had written a book (he's written several actually), I thought, "I'll have to check this out." After seeing the striking cover and reading the sample chapters, I knew that I had to explore further.
After getting hooked by the opening, the pace of the book slowed down. I'd say that it didn't pick back up until about midway through. Much of the first half is Ritry wandering around destroying his own brain cells and then trying to recover the alcohol-damaged memories. And in the marines' narrative, they spend an equivalent amount of time wandering around trying to figure out who they are and just staying alive. Eventually, Grist gets both narratives to a point of self-realization where there's clear focus, and then when the connection between the two is made, the story really moves along.
It takes a while before one can develop much sympathy for Ritry Goligh (his unusual name is explained in the book). But as Grist reveals more about his past, it becomes painfully obvious why the guy is hellbent on self-destruction. His experiences alone in the Arctic War would qualify him as someone with PTSD and survivor's guilt, but there's even more: his childhood. We learn about this through the adventures of the marines. Without giving anything away, we find that Ritry's unique childhood started him down this path.
You might wonder why, in a world where the technology exists to implant or erase memories, Ritry didn't seek out a fellow graysmith to assist him with his emotional wounds. There is that saying: doctors make the worst patients. Rather than seek help or a normal life, Ritry has chosen to suffer instead. He feels that he deserves this life, scraping a living out in the skulks—the floating shanty towns outside the city's protective tsunami wall. But for all the pain that his childhood brought him, it ultimately proves to be his source of strength.
Ritry's foe is Mr. Ruins, a wicked bundle of evil so cruel that he seems the very definition of sadist. Before he turns on Ritry, he offers to be his teacher, to help him claw his way out his pit and become something far greater. He's obsessed with Ritry for reasons we don't discern until later. And while much is revealed in the latter half of the book, there is so much more about him that we don't know. Hopefully, as the series progresses, those answers will be revealed.
As for the marines, their story is a surreal one. They're forced to adapt to their bizarre surroundings or perish. While I can't say more about that without spoiling it, I will say that the dynamic between the team members goes beyond mere professionalism. Their dedication to each other is rivaled only by their dedication to the mission.
While the story takes place in a not too distant future (a century?), the names for some prominent places have changed. And for the places that seemed real that I was unfamiliar with, I couldn't find any trace of them online. I wasn't sure if these changes were made to reflect the tsunami ravaged world, or we were on some mirror Earth. There was a common history (Napoleon) and obvious similarities with our own (climate change), but the differences were disorienting. Maybe that was Grist's intent. I chalked it up to creative license.
Unfortunately, my experience was marred by typos and punctuation problems. There were many words that were hyphened that shouldn't have been. And comma usage was just plain wrong in many places. Grist got it right most of the time, so it's not like he's going by a different set of rules. If he had hired a proofreader, I believe that the manuscript would've been much cleaner. If commas and hyphens don't catch your eye, then don't sweat it. Just enjoy the story.
In Mr. Ruins, Grist has drawn upon his real life adventures among our modern ruins and the 2011 Japanese tsunami to set the stage for an ice cap free future. His protagonist is a ruined man living without purpose in a ruined world. Just as the people in this world have rebuilt their cities (behind walls) after tsunamis knocked them down, Grist tears him down and builds him back up again. He takes us on a surrealistic journey into the depths of memory to reveal what shaped his protagonist and shows us the power that lies within to change.
This review initially appeared at the New Podler Review of Books.
After getting hooked by the opening, the pace of the book slowed down. I'd say that it didn't pick back up until about midway through. Much of the first half is Ritry wandering around destroying his own brain cells and then trying to recover the alcohol-damaged memories. And in the marines' narrative, they spend an equivalent amount of time wandering around trying to figure out who they are and just staying alive. Eventually, Grist gets both narratives to a point of self-realization where there's clear focus, and then when the connection between the two is made, the story really moves along.
It takes a while before one can develop much sympathy for Ritry Goligh (his unusual name is explained in the book). But as Grist reveals more about his past, it becomes painfully obvious why the guy is hellbent on self-destruction. His experiences alone in the Arctic War would qualify him as someone with PTSD and survivor's guilt, but there's even more: his childhood. We learn about this through the adventures of the marines. Without giving anything away, we find that Ritry's unique childhood started him down this path.
You might wonder why, in a world where the technology exists to implant or erase memories, Ritry didn't seek out a fellow graysmith to assist him with his emotional wounds. There is that saying: doctors make the worst patients. Rather than seek help or a normal life, Ritry has chosen to suffer instead. He feels that he deserves this life, scraping a living out in the skulks—the floating shanty towns outside the city's protective tsunami wall. But for all the pain that his childhood brought him, it ultimately proves to be his source of strength.
Ritry's foe is Mr. Ruins, a wicked bundle of evil so cruel that he seems the very definition of sadist. Before he turns on Ritry, he offers to be his teacher, to help him claw his way out his pit and become something far greater. He's obsessed with Ritry for reasons we don't discern until later. And while much is revealed in the latter half of the book, there is so much more about him that we don't know. Hopefully, as the series progresses, those answers will be revealed.
As for the marines, their story is a surreal one. They're forced to adapt to their bizarre surroundings or perish. While I can't say more about that without spoiling it, I will say that the dynamic between the team members goes beyond mere professionalism. Their dedication to each other is rivaled only by their dedication to the mission.
While the story takes place in a not too distant future (a century?), the names for some prominent places have changed. And for the places that seemed real that I was unfamiliar with, I couldn't find any trace of them online. I wasn't sure if these changes were made to reflect the tsunami ravaged world, or we were on some mirror Earth. There was a common history (Napoleon) and obvious similarities with our own (climate change), but the differences were disorienting. Maybe that was Grist's intent. I chalked it up to creative license.
Unfortunately, my experience was marred by typos and punctuation problems. There were many words that were hyphened that shouldn't have been. And comma usage was just plain wrong in many places. Grist got it right most of the time, so it's not like he's going by a different set of rules. If he had hired a proofreader, I believe that the manuscript would've been much cleaner. If commas and hyphens don't catch your eye, then don't sweat it. Just enjoy the story.
In Mr. Ruins, Grist has drawn upon his real life adventures among our modern ruins and the 2011 Japanese tsunami to set the stage for an ice cap free future. His protagonist is a ruined man living without purpose in a ruined world. Just as the people in this world have rebuilt their cities (behind walls) after tsunamis knocked them down, Grist tears him down and builds him back up again. He takes us on a surrealistic journey into the depths of memory to reveal what shaped his protagonist and shows us the power that lies within to change.
This review initially appeared at the New Podler Review of Books.
February 13, 2017
This was one of the many books I’ve picked up on offer (or maybe free), then left sitting on my Kindle for far too long. When I got round to reading Mr Ruins, I had totally forgotten what it was supposed to be about, and I went to the cover for clues.
I have to say it didn’t look promising. Some of the cover text was hard to read, and the image seemed amateur. I know I shouldn’t judge a book in this way, but it’s a natural reaction.
But the book is far superior to that cover. The writing reminded me of Jeff Noon, and I found myself enjoying not only the story but also the flow of the language.
The story is split in two, with alternating chapters following each strand. The first concerns Ritry Goligh, a graysmith who deals with memories, inserting them before following into the minds of others, helping these memories seed. Or something. It’s confusing, and at no time does the main character (or the author) take the time to explain clearly what is going on.
I don’t say that as a weakness of the book, though — far from it. I love the way there is no pause for exposition. There was just enough context to make sense of the unfamiliar terms, and I was drawn into Ritry’s feelings and thoughts.
The other part of the story follows a group of (possibly) marines, setting out on a mission to infiltrate the Solid Core. This is more confusing than the Ritry chapters, and I always felt there was far more going on here than the words conveyed. The characters are Me and six others, making up a chord (although technically this should probably be a scale, but I won’t quibble), with names such as Doe, Ray, Far, and so on. The language in these sections often has a musical feel, and I wished more had been done with this idea. Even the three parts of the book are called ‘Movements’, so I expected something more important to happen with the musical theme. Or maybe I missed it.
I won’t try to explain more of what happens, because it soon becomes fairly convoluted, with the barrier between the external worlds and internal worlds shifting much of the time. I’m not even sure if I understand exactly what happened at the end. But that doesn’t matter, because I enjoyed the ride. This is the kind of book where the feel of the language is as much of a pleasure as the plot.
This book won’t appeal to everyone. In fact, it probably has quite a niche market. Many people will be turned off by the way the author uses first person present tense throughout, but I found this suited the characters. In the strand following Me and his chord, their memories are unreliable, and they are forced to exist only in the present, and so the writing helps the feeling of immediacy here. In the other part of the story, where we follow Ritry around, the use of present tense adds to the feeling of dissociation Ritry puts himself through. It is as if he wants to escape from his past, and so he only looks to what is around him at the moment.
Mr Ruins is not a perfect book. Sometimes is becomes too confusing for its own good. I also came across a few typos and some formatting that didn’t work. But overall I found this book excellent, and have already downloaded a few more by the author. I’ll be interested to see how the Ruins War trilogy continues.
I have to say it didn’t look promising. Some of the cover text was hard to read, and the image seemed amateur. I know I shouldn’t judge a book in this way, but it’s a natural reaction.
But the book is far superior to that cover. The writing reminded me of Jeff Noon, and I found myself enjoying not only the story but also the flow of the language.
The story is split in two, with alternating chapters following each strand. The first concerns Ritry Goligh, a graysmith who deals with memories, inserting them before following into the minds of others, helping these memories seed. Or something. It’s confusing, and at no time does the main character (or the author) take the time to explain clearly what is going on.
I don’t say that as a weakness of the book, though — far from it. I love the way there is no pause for exposition. There was just enough context to make sense of the unfamiliar terms, and I was drawn into Ritry’s feelings and thoughts.
The other part of the story follows a group of (possibly) marines, setting out on a mission to infiltrate the Solid Core. This is more confusing than the Ritry chapters, and I always felt there was far more going on here than the words conveyed. The characters are Me and six others, making up a chord (although technically this should probably be a scale, but I won’t quibble), with names such as Doe, Ray, Far, and so on. The language in these sections often has a musical feel, and I wished more had been done with this idea. Even the three parts of the book are called ‘Movements’, so I expected something more important to happen with the musical theme. Or maybe I missed it.
I won’t try to explain more of what happens, because it soon becomes fairly convoluted, with the barrier between the external worlds and internal worlds shifting much of the time. I’m not even sure if I understand exactly what happened at the end. But that doesn’t matter, because I enjoyed the ride. This is the kind of book where the feel of the language is as much of a pleasure as the plot.
This book won’t appeal to everyone. In fact, it probably has quite a niche market. Many people will be turned off by the way the author uses first person present tense throughout, but I found this suited the characters. In the strand following Me and his chord, their memories are unreliable, and they are forced to exist only in the present, and so the writing helps the feeling of immediacy here. In the other part of the story, where we follow Ritry around, the use of present tense adds to the feeling of dissociation Ritry puts himself through. It is as if he wants to escape from his past, and so he only looks to what is around him at the moment.
Mr Ruins is not a perfect book. Sometimes is becomes too confusing for its own good. I also came across a few typos and some formatting that didn’t work. But overall I found this book excellent, and have already downloaded a few more by the author. I’ll be interested to see how the Ruins War trilogy continues.
March 2, 2016
Michael John Grist’s “Mr. Ruins” Ruins Sonata Book 1 is 270 pages of dialogue chronicling the life of a man who has experienced a lot, and about to experience even more.
Ritry Goligh, a graysmith and the protagonist of the story, is a man with the talent of bestowing special gifts into others by way of infiltrating the minds of his clients. This first person read also examines Ritry’s adventures, such as his trek to the Molten Core in his vessel The Bathyscape as well as his crew whose names are those of chords (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti: some with different spellings).
This book is comparable to three movies; think Dennis Quaid’s “Inner Space” for the purposes of internal exploration of the human body.
“The Matrix” for its innovation.
And MAYBE “Johnny Mnemonic” for the purposes of information exchange.
This unique combination creates a more intense and insane premise yet without the humor of Martin Short, resulting in a more serious tone.
When stumbling around an alley because of a nasty drunken bar fight, after caring for and being intimate with his client Mei-An, Ritry meets Mr. Ruins. Mr. Ruins is an intriguing character, mysterious in ways that would have your hair standing on end on your arms because he is quite creepy. Creepy in ways that makes you wonder if the Boogeyman is real. He seems to know quite a bit about Ritry when he leaves Ritry hanging in curiosity and thought as they conversed briefly in a Shark Tank arena. During that time they speak of what Ritry craves and desires as well as what matters most to him. How Mr. Ruins plays into everything will become clear soon enough.
This is a quasi-poetic/philosophical read: I like that a lot. However, it is very wordy to the point of losing its potency in the realm of storytelling. Said wordiness could have been cut out to reduce the book by roughly 100 pages. Also consistency in keeping the main storyline intact—consistency as in, not being overly descriptive, and/or going off on unnecessary tangents.
I think that extra eyes were needed due to comma misplacement and over usage. One of the most noticeable flaws is found on page 32: a misplaced comma that is very out of place when the word “fine” reads as “fin,e“.
As much as I enjoy being able to envision myself in the story to see and experience what the character(s) are going through, there is so much that is going on that my imagination compass is thrown out of sync. In all honesty, the story has a decent premise, yet it is watered down by too much descriptive narrative to where the main idea has washed away.
Mr. Ruins, honestly, needs quite a bit of work. Editing and proofing is very essential so that the very best story can be told. Once this is accomplished, a better score would be given by the next reader(s).
Ritry Goligh, a graysmith and the protagonist of the story, is a man with the talent of bestowing special gifts into others by way of infiltrating the minds of his clients. This first person read also examines Ritry’s adventures, such as his trek to the Molten Core in his vessel The Bathyscape as well as his crew whose names are those of chords (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti: some with different spellings).
This book is comparable to three movies; think Dennis Quaid’s “Inner Space” for the purposes of internal exploration of the human body.
“The Matrix” for its innovation.
And MAYBE “Johnny Mnemonic” for the purposes of information exchange.
This unique combination creates a more intense and insane premise yet without the humor of Martin Short, resulting in a more serious tone.
When stumbling around an alley because of a nasty drunken bar fight, after caring for and being intimate with his client Mei-An, Ritry meets Mr. Ruins. Mr. Ruins is an intriguing character, mysterious in ways that would have your hair standing on end on your arms because he is quite creepy. Creepy in ways that makes you wonder if the Boogeyman is real. He seems to know quite a bit about Ritry when he leaves Ritry hanging in curiosity and thought as they conversed briefly in a Shark Tank arena. During that time they speak of what Ritry craves and desires as well as what matters most to him. How Mr. Ruins plays into everything will become clear soon enough.
This is a quasi-poetic/philosophical read: I like that a lot. However, it is very wordy to the point of losing its potency in the realm of storytelling. Said wordiness could have been cut out to reduce the book by roughly 100 pages. Also consistency in keeping the main storyline intact—consistency as in, not being overly descriptive, and/or going off on unnecessary tangents.
I think that extra eyes were needed due to comma misplacement and over usage. One of the most noticeable flaws is found on page 32: a misplaced comma that is very out of place when the word “fine” reads as “fin,e“.
As much as I enjoy being able to envision myself in the story to see and experience what the character(s) are going through, there is so much that is going on that my imagination compass is thrown out of sync. In all honesty, the story has a decent premise, yet it is watered down by too much descriptive narrative to where the main idea has washed away.
Mr. Ruins, honestly, needs quite a bit of work. Editing and proofing is very essential so that the very best story can be told. Once this is accomplished, a better score would be given by the next reader(s).
October 13, 2016
This novel is one of the most unique concepts I’ve encountered. Many authors and film writers have worked with plots that take characters into the minds of others. Many of these works have explored new territory but, because there isn’t much depth, the concept wears thin after a few stories. Mr. Ruins takes this concept much deeper, and does so in a way that is compelling and creative in its execution.
Mr. Ruins is written in alternating chapters that flip between Ritry Goligh’s activities in the material world and his spelunking inside a mind intent on destroying him and his team. Although Ritry is exceptionally good at his job as a greysmith, his success hasn’t given him much in life. In fact, it has kept him away from the one woman he truly loves, and he has banished himself to live on the fringes of a world inundated with tsunamis.
The precarious floating world, strung together from the debris of old, flooded cities and floating ships that didn’t survive the epic initial storms, mirrors Ritry’s internal environment. As the chapters unfold, readers learn about the tortured past that created a person who, although able to dive into anyone’s mind, can’t form the connections that make us human and buoy us atop the waves. Before he can make any progress, he needs to find himself…and that process just might kill him.
Very well written with only one ding: the use of the word BOOM (yes, always in upper case letters) to convey explosions and other loud sounds. The prose is really a cut above most hard science fiction novels, so to have the author fall back on such a weak way to describe the chaos—especially with such frequency—was disappointing. However, that’s a very minor ding and won’t prevent readers from enjoying what is truly an engaging work.
I also disagree with the decision of the author to warn about violence and graphic language on sales platforms. There’s nothing here that is so objectionable readers need to be warned. Don’t let that turn you aside, and don’t prevent your precocious teens from picking up this work, either.
The author photographs ruins and often finds inspiration amidst the wreckage of humanity’s past.
The novel comes with a glossary that defines in-world words for those who enjoy or need that but the prose integrates the terms so well you won’t need to refer to the glossary while you read.
5 stars!
If you enjoy stories that delve into the depths of humanity, check out Beloved: A Sensual Noir Thriller.
Mr. Ruins is written in alternating chapters that flip between Ritry Goligh’s activities in the material world and his spelunking inside a mind intent on destroying him and his team. Although Ritry is exceptionally good at his job as a greysmith, his success hasn’t given him much in life. In fact, it has kept him away from the one woman he truly loves, and he has banished himself to live on the fringes of a world inundated with tsunamis.
The precarious floating world, strung together from the debris of old, flooded cities and floating ships that didn’t survive the epic initial storms, mirrors Ritry’s internal environment. As the chapters unfold, readers learn about the tortured past that created a person who, although able to dive into anyone’s mind, can’t form the connections that make us human and buoy us atop the waves. Before he can make any progress, he needs to find himself…and that process just might kill him.
Very well written with only one ding: the use of the word BOOM (yes, always in upper case letters) to convey explosions and other loud sounds. The prose is really a cut above most hard science fiction novels, so to have the author fall back on such a weak way to describe the chaos—especially with such frequency—was disappointing. However, that’s a very minor ding and won’t prevent readers from enjoying what is truly an engaging work.
I also disagree with the decision of the author to warn about violence and graphic language on sales platforms. There’s nothing here that is so objectionable readers need to be warned. Don’t let that turn you aside, and don’t prevent your precocious teens from picking up this work, either.
The author photographs ruins and often finds inspiration amidst the wreckage of humanity’s past.
The novel comes with a glossary that defines in-world words for those who enjoy or need that but the prose integrates the terms so well you won’t need to refer to the glossary while you read.
5 stars!
If you enjoy stories that delve into the depths of humanity, check out Beloved: A Sensual Noir Thriller.
March 31, 2015
Ritry Goligh is a wordsmith, a person capable of going into the mind of another. He spent years fighting in a war that helped destroy the Artic ice cap. Now, most ofthe remnants of humanity perch behind tsunami walls and the rest live in slums attached to the front of those protections. Ritry lives a life of alcohol, violence, and debauchery in those unprotected slums. Until he meets a being with immense powers. A being that wants to make Ritry like himself. Now, Ritry has to decide whether to be predator or prey or something else entirely.
Running at the same time, there is a story line of a group of soldiers trying to accomplish a mission that they can not remember. In fact, they only remember their names and almost nothing else. How will their mission tie into and change Ritry's life?
This book has a lot going for it. Most of it is good, but some isn't. It is not an easy read but any stretch. It has not one, but two, complex stories running throughout the book. The reader gets only a hint here and there of how they tie together until almost the very end of the book
The world in the book has had a lot of thought and work put into it. From new sciences, types of warfare, climate change, and many other things, this world has been crafted. At points, some of this world is vague and left to the reader to flesh out for themselves.
The characters are complex and we'll developed for the most part. There were things about Mr. Ruins that were not fully addressed and so I was left with questions about him. Ritry is very interesting, but I did not necessarily like him even though he was the protagonist.
Ritry goes through a lot of changes in this story. He is broken down and completely rebuilt more than once. Like a car engine or a gun, he is basically reduced to pieces only to be reassembled. As a reader, I felt like I was also being stripped apart and being rebuilt (some of that could be due to the cold medicine I am taking).
So, I would say this is a good, if not easy, read. It may not be to everyone's taste, but if you give it a chance, I suspect you will not be disappointed.
Running at the same time, there is a story line of a group of soldiers trying to accomplish a mission that they can not remember. In fact, they only remember their names and almost nothing else. How will their mission tie into and change Ritry's life?
This book has a lot going for it. Most of it is good, but some isn't. It is not an easy read but any stretch. It has not one, but two, complex stories running throughout the book. The reader gets only a hint here and there of how they tie together until almost the very end of the book
The world in the book has had a lot of thought and work put into it. From new sciences, types of warfare, climate change, and many other things, this world has been crafted. At points, some of this world is vague and left to the reader to flesh out for themselves.
The characters are complex and we'll developed for the most part. There were things about Mr. Ruins that were not fully addressed and so I was left with questions about him. Ritry is very interesting, but I did not necessarily like him even though he was the protagonist.
Ritry goes through a lot of changes in this story. He is broken down and completely rebuilt more than once. Like a car engine or a gun, he is basically reduced to pieces only to be reassembled. As a reader, I felt like I was also being stripped apart and being rebuilt (some of that could be due to the cold medicine I am taking).
So, I would say this is a good, if not easy, read. It may not be to everyone's taste, but if you give it a chance, I suspect you will not be disappointed.
April 26, 2015
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
Mr Ruins is the first book of the Ruins Sonata trilogy. It tells two stories; the first of one man’s struggle against a terrible evil and the second of a group of marines tasked to complete their mission no matter what.
Ritry Goligh is a broken man. Working as a graysmith he fills his empty life with booze and women. When the story begins he’s weak, seriously flawed and at times a difficult character to like. As the novel progresses and Ritry is struggling to get his life back in order he becomes stronger and very likeable, and definitely I found myself caring for the character and his fate.
Mr Ruins is an excellent antagonist and the perfect adversary for Ritry. He incorporates everything a villain should be; ruthless, devious, manipulative, charismatic, frightening. You could literally feel the atmosphere of the novel change with every scene that he was in.
Alongside Ritry’s battle against Mr Ruins runs the story of a group of marines who are tasked with completing a mission without any knowledge of their time before it began and what might happen should they fail. At first the two stories seem unconnected but further into the novel how they are interlinked becomes clear.
Mr Ruins is a fantastic and extremely well-written science fiction novel. The plot is engaging, compelling and very cleverly thought out, which kept me guessing right up until the very end. I highly recommend Mr Ruins to lovers of the science fiction genre!
Mr Ruins is the first book of the Ruins Sonata trilogy. It tells two stories; the first of one man’s struggle against a terrible evil and the second of a group of marines tasked to complete their mission no matter what.
Ritry Goligh is a broken man. Working as a graysmith he fills his empty life with booze and women. When the story begins he’s weak, seriously flawed and at times a difficult character to like. As the novel progresses and Ritry is struggling to get his life back in order he becomes stronger and very likeable, and definitely I found myself caring for the character and his fate.
Mr Ruins is an excellent antagonist and the perfect adversary for Ritry. He incorporates everything a villain should be; ruthless, devious, manipulative, charismatic, frightening. You could literally feel the atmosphere of the novel change with every scene that he was in.
Alongside Ritry’s battle against Mr Ruins runs the story of a group of marines who are tasked with completing a mission without any knowledge of their time before it began and what might happen should they fail. At first the two stories seem unconnected but further into the novel how they are interlinked becomes clear.
Mr Ruins is a fantastic and extremely well-written science fiction novel. The plot is engaging, compelling and very cleverly thought out, which kept me guessing right up until the very end. I highly recommend Mr Ruins to lovers of the science fiction genre!
April 14, 2015
Ritry Goligh lives in a society constantly in the verge of destruction by deadly tsunamis. But until the next one, Ritry will continue his work: diving in the minds of others, implanting knowledge, or removing painful memories. This is his life. Until he meets Mr. Ruins. Then everything changes.
'Mr. Ruins (Ruins Sonata Book 1)' by Michael John Grist is so messed up it may be brilliant. At first it reminded me of the movie Inception based on the idea of going into someone's mind, but I soon realized there is so much more to this book. The author writes at a perfected pace, and it kicks up a notch right when you get sucked into it and doesn't let up.
The setting is well done, and I got into it immediately. He managed to make nearly everything recognizable from what it is now without compromising the futuristic setting. I'm not typically great at picturing things in my mind, but I had no trouble doing so with this novel.
The added plot with the team of marines was clever, and was perfectly executed. By the end I was rooting for them, and emotionally invested in their mission.
Grist's style of writing does take some getting used to, but it works well with the novel. I found a few errors in the text, although not enough to take me out of the novel. Actually, only one did because it was a repeated word, but not a big deal.
If you're looking for an emotionally charged book, one that makes you question your state of mind, one that delves into the power of memories, and what lies at our core as a human, this is the book for you.
'Mr. Ruins (Ruins Sonata Book 1)' by Michael John Grist is so messed up it may be brilliant. At first it reminded me of the movie Inception based on the idea of going into someone's mind, but I soon realized there is so much more to this book. The author writes at a perfected pace, and it kicks up a notch right when you get sucked into it and doesn't let up.
The setting is well done, and I got into it immediately. He managed to make nearly everything recognizable from what it is now without compromising the futuristic setting. I'm not typically great at picturing things in my mind, but I had no trouble doing so with this novel.
The added plot with the team of marines was clever, and was perfectly executed. By the end I was rooting for them, and emotionally invested in their mission.
Grist's style of writing does take some getting used to, but it works well with the novel. I found a few errors in the text, although not enough to take me out of the novel. Actually, only one did because it was a repeated word, but not a big deal.
If you're looking for an emotionally charged book, one that makes you question your state of mind, one that delves into the power of memories, and what lies at our core as a human, this is the book for you.
January 19, 2015
The book was a little confusing to begin with, with two storylines running simultaneously. I was always wondering how the two were going to resolve. It wasn't until about the last 4 or 5 chapters when things started to come together. At this point the whole story gained momentum and I found myself making time for the book rather than just passing time with the book.
At times the story was a little bit rushed and it seemed like the author was just trying to get the action down on the page as quickly as possible, but when the writing was good, it was very good.
I'm not sure if this was a preview edition but I did come across a few typos, spelling errors and misplaced words, but I can't really complain as I didnt pay for the book.
This was a decent action/suspense/sci-fi romp and I'm happy to say that I don't regret reading it!
At times the story was a little bit rushed and it seemed like the author was just trying to get the action down on the page as quickly as possible, but when the writing was good, it was very good.
I'm not sure if this was a preview edition but I did come across a few typos, spelling errors and misplaced words, but I can't really complain as I didnt pay for the book.
This was a decent action/suspense/sci-fi romp and I'm happy to say that I don't regret reading it!
August 5, 2014
[Mr. Ruins] by [Michael John Grist] is a mind twisting thriller through the tsunami ravages future. The main character Rit is a diver of minds and the plot goes back and forth between Rit and Me, who is currently on a mission with his "chord". If this sounds confusing, it can be, but this is how the tone is set for this novel and works very well with it. The future world created by [Grist] is one in turmoil and with no promise of a future and he portrays this emotion in his writing.
I look forward to reading more of [Mr. Grist's] books. It was a interesting journey. I recommend it to any fan of science fiction.
I look forward to reading more of [Mr. Grist's] books. It was a interesting journey. I recommend it to any fan of science fiction.
February 18, 2016
Mind bending.
Two stories written side by side, connected in a very strange way. Occasionally confusing, but mostly mind bending, this is a strange and thrilling dystopian novel, in a world where tsunamis have destroyed just about everything. Ritry is a very flawed hero, though oddly likeable. Mr Ruins is his opposite, a man who is more monster than anything else.
Two stories written side by side, connected in a very strange way. Occasionally confusing, but mostly mind bending, this is a strange and thrilling dystopian novel, in a world where tsunamis have destroyed just about everything. Ritry is a very flawed hero, though oddly likeable. Mr Ruins is his opposite, a man who is more monster than anything else.
February 13, 2016
This is great the idea of gray smithing and the adventures within are a great concept that is well executed and has characters that are well written that make you interested in seeing what happens with them.
February 17, 2016
Sorry didn't care for this book
It just felt to disjointed and incomplete to me when reading it I couldn't get into the story. I read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy but this story just didn't ever make a lot of sense to me.
It just felt to disjointed and incomplete to me when reading it I couldn't get into the story. I read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy but this story just didn't ever make a lot of sense to me.
November 18, 2016
sorry I didn't really enjoy this book I think I was spoilt by the ocean series
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