This isn't a Young Adult Dystopian tale. It's not romance. It's not cuddly.
The Thrown Away post-apocalyptic saga continues...
After months in the Recycling Zone breathing in polluted air and finding no clues that might lead him to discover where Ryan went, by pure chance Jack's fate is changed instantly when a facility guard comes looking for him with a re-assignment card.
And it's the worst news.
Will this new job lead to his death or to new opportunity?
GLYNN JAMES is an author of science fiction, post-apocalyptic, dark fantasy, horror, and dystopian fiction. His love of science fiction began when he was eight years old after discovering HP Lovecraft and Richard Matheson, and then later on Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, James Herbert, Clive Barker, and Stephen King.
In addition to being author of the “ALTERLIGHT” supernatural mystery thriller series, he is author of the dark sci-fi series "DIARY OF THE DISPLACED", the post-apocalyptic "THROWN AWAY" series, and co-author of the "ARISEN" series and the “DUSTFALL” series.
“Recycled” continues the dystopian tale of the world of “Thrown Away”, a desolate landscape of junk, centuries of modern trash thrown away at our convenience, and now the livelihood of humanity in the future. It is six months after Jack turned himself in to the Hunters, and he still has not found Ryan. One day, he is tagged as a replacement for a scavanger, to go out on week-long missions to scavange the junkpiled wastelands for recyclable materials - metals and electronics being the most valuable. As Jack makes headway with a new crew, they are assigned to salvage the remains of a Picking Factory, where earlier a large group of women and children had been captured by Junkers. Hoping beyond hope, Ryan soldiers on.
This is more of a serial than a book or even series. Each book is only a couple of chapters long and would have done better to be put together. None the less, I found them to be very entertaining. We've really only met 2 main characters at this point and another has been mentioned, a lot. (Read the description for more details.) While I found the main character to be a little wooden, that may be on purpose as people on the fringes of this society tend to be very wary of anyone else and don't tend to trust anyone.
*Sort'a spoiler??* This is what ultimately drives the story. Against all common sense, our hero (of sorts), bonds to someone and then fails them. This affects the character and causes him to make choices that would seem crazy to most others. This drive to redemption is what really pushes this story, as far as it's gone.
I did get these first three books for free but nothing was asked of me in return and I would like to read more of the story. I'm not a big fan of serial stories though. Paying for a chapter at a time is very annoying. In any case, it's worth a read, especially if you can get all the "episodes" all at once.
I read these books in the boxed set, but am reviewing each separately to get proper credit for my annual Goodreads challenge. In the end this series turned out to be a pretty amazing work of dystopian fiction. In the beginning I wasn't sure I would stick with it because the author was jumping around so much in the timeline. I like my books to read "in a straight line." That is, from beginning to end with no flashbacks. The first part of this story jumps frequently, e.g., present to past to distant past then back to present - then repeat. It is my personal preference that authors do not write that way as I personally find it frustrating. Nevertheless, the flashbacks eventually stopped and the story developed into a captivating tale. I really enjoyed the overall story and now I'm looking forward to the next work by Mr. James.
I have the omnibus edition but wanted to say that part three sees Jack moved to Recycling, where further characters are introduced and who seem to be friendly, despite the disgusting conditions.
Lisa is fascinated by him but we don't the plans for that.
One of the better series of the apocalypse. What every one wants to know draws you in to the story. You want to read next book before you even finish this one.
This series just keeps getting better and better. Each new instalment brings a new twist, a new aspect to the world of the Junklands, and new characters. Glynn James is very skilled in creating realistic worlds with minimal details, and here you really feel the heat, the grime and the relentless tiring work. On to volume 4!