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The Tube Riders #1
Underground
Beneath the dark streets of London they played a dangerous game with trains. Now it is their only chance for survival... Britain in 2075 is a dangerous place. A man known only as the Governor rules the country with an iron hand, but within the towering perimeter walls of London Greater Urban Area anarchy spreads unchecked through the streets. In the abandoned London Underground station of St. Cannerwells, a group of misfits calling themselves the Tube Riders seek to forget the chaos by playing a dangerous game with trains. Marta is their leader, a girl haunted by her brother's disappearance. Of the others, Paul lives only to protect his little brother Owen, while Simon is trying to hold on to his relationship with Jess, daughter of a government official. Guarding them all is Switch, a man with a flickering eye and a faster knife, who cares only about preserving the legacy of the Tube Riders. Together, they are family. Everything changes the day they are attacked by a rival gang. While escaping, they witness an event that could bring war down on Mega Britain. Suddenly they are fleeing for their lives, pursued not only by their rivals, but by the brutal Department of Civil Affairs, government killing machines known as Huntsmen, and finally by the inhuman Governor himself.
447 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2012
551 people are currently reading
2018 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ward
58 books140 followersChris Ward is the author of The Tube Riders series, the Tales of Crow series, and the forthcoming Endinfinium YA fantasy series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
September 4, 2024
A truly riveting read.
This book is so well-written that I got lost in it. The author's descriptions were so good that it was like I was right there and I could smell the trains, and feel the atmosphere. I got to know our main tube rider characters, who I absolutely adored so well just through the words that he wrote. Each of the four of them had their idiosyncrasies, and when I got to know them better I understood why they were the way they were. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story, and also some gruesome and brutal surprises, but the journey is thrilling, terrifying and sinister all at the same time. A pleasure to read.
This book is so well-written that I got lost in it. The author's descriptions were so good that it was like I was right there and I could smell the trains, and feel the atmosphere. I got to know our main tube rider characters, who I absolutely adored so well just through the words that he wrote. Each of the four of them had their idiosyncrasies, and when I got to know them better I understood why they were the way they were. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story, and also some gruesome and brutal surprises, but the journey is thrilling, terrifying and sinister all at the same time. A pleasure to read.
April 18, 2013
The Tube Riders by Chris Ward was one of the best books that I have read in a very long time. I don't say this often because I hate movie adaptations of books, but I think this book would make an amazing movie. Chris is one of the best "builders" I have come across. Allow me to explain what I mean: the world that the tube riders live in is so rich in detail that I can totally see myself running alongside them as they are running from the government. I can feel myself hanging off the side of subway trains with them as they are rushing through the tunnels. The characters are well developed and easily loved or hated depending on whose side you are one. I love the internal struggles that some of them have throughout the book.
This book was great for me on other levels as well. I have a degree in psychology and I loved watching the interactions of the protagonists and the antagonists. I loved the fact that Chris let us into the minds of his characters. I think that adds so much to a book.
The plot is well developed and keeps you wanting more. I read some other reviews that called the book "gritty and rough", which I think is a great way to put it. There aren't a lot of frills, but man does this book keep you wanting more. I'm sometimes put off buy 500+ page books, but this one was well worth the time that went into reading it. I would recommend this book to anyone that has a love for reading. I don't care what genre you like, this book is well written and you will love the depth of the plot and the characters that you encounter. Give this book a try. You won't be sorry that you did.
Overall Rating: 5/5
This book was great for me on other levels as well. I have a degree in psychology and I loved watching the interactions of the protagonists and the antagonists. I loved the fact that Chris let us into the minds of his characters. I think that adds so much to a book.
The plot is well developed and keeps you wanting more. I read some other reviews that called the book "gritty and rough", which I think is a great way to put it. There aren't a lot of frills, but man does this book keep you wanting more. I'm sometimes put off buy 500+ page books, but this one was well worth the time that went into reading it. I would recommend this book to anyone that has a love for reading. I don't care what genre you like, this book is well written and you will love the depth of the plot and the characters that you encounter. Give this book a try. You won't be sorry that you did.
Overall Rating: 5/5
September 23, 2012
Absolutely Riveting!
It is 2075 and Britain is now a dangerous, frightening place, ruled over by a cruel despot. The cities have become the stalking grounds of thugs and psychopaths and have been walled in to prevent the insalubrious citizenry from escaping to the countryside where the nice people live. Government agents prey on the people, transporting children to factories as slave labour or worse, to be fodder for the strange cyber experiments going on in secret places underground. Every so often space rockets are launched and fall back to earth, but nobody knows why. Somewhere in London the sinister 'Governor' controls the country but few have seen his face and there are rumours he has incredible supernatural powers.
There is no future and no hope for the young people of this shadow-land, so they find their excitement where they can. One small band rides the tube trains – on the outside, clinging precariously to wooden 'clawboards' clamped to the side, looking in at the terrified passengers. They become their own legend. Their ghostly faces peering through the windows assumed to be the wraiths of the dead – they are The Tube Riders.
This is, without doubt, the most exciting book I have read for some time. I was gripped from the first page. Chris Ward's dystopian 'Mega Britain' is chilling and utterly believable, as are his characters. I loved them all - the brave young people who strive not only to survive, but to incite rebellion and bring freedom to the oppressed people of the cities, the thinkers who keep their heads below the parapet and plan for the new day, even the dreadful cyber creatures, the 'huntsmen', who never asked to become monsters. Terrible things happen in this book, but there are also ingenious strategies and heroic stands. And most of all, there is love.
This is an epic work created by a superb writer. It is one of those books you will want to read over and over again, that will stay in your memory forever.
It is 2075 and Britain is now a dangerous, frightening place, ruled over by a cruel despot. The cities have become the stalking grounds of thugs and psychopaths and have been walled in to prevent the insalubrious citizenry from escaping to the countryside where the nice people live. Government agents prey on the people, transporting children to factories as slave labour or worse, to be fodder for the strange cyber experiments going on in secret places underground. Every so often space rockets are launched and fall back to earth, but nobody knows why. Somewhere in London the sinister 'Governor' controls the country but few have seen his face and there are rumours he has incredible supernatural powers.
There is no future and no hope for the young people of this shadow-land, so they find their excitement where they can. One small band rides the tube trains – on the outside, clinging precariously to wooden 'clawboards' clamped to the side, looking in at the terrified passengers. They become their own legend. Their ghostly faces peering through the windows assumed to be the wraiths of the dead – they are The Tube Riders.
This is, without doubt, the most exciting book I have read for some time. I was gripped from the first page. Chris Ward's dystopian 'Mega Britain' is chilling and utterly believable, as are his characters. I loved them all - the brave young people who strive not only to survive, but to incite rebellion and bring freedom to the oppressed people of the cities, the thinkers who keep their heads below the parapet and plan for the new day, even the dreadful cyber creatures, the 'huntsmen', who never asked to become monsters. Terrible things happen in this book, but there are also ingenious strategies and heroic stands. And most of all, there is love.
This is an epic work created by a superb writer. It is one of those books you will want to read over and over again, that will stay in your memory forever.
March 2, 2014
"1984" Meets "The Island of Dr. Moreau" Meets "Escape From New York"
This book describes a dystopian Great Britain run by a despot (who isn't but might as well be a vampire) that engages in genetic experiments after having segregated every class of citizen that he could into separate urban and rural areas with no travel or communication allowed. A group of kids stuck living in London get their kicks by jumping onto and hanging off the sides of the trains, but one day find themselves witnessing an assassination, thus beginning their attempts to escape from not just the city but the entire country, all while being pursued by a rival gang, the governments secret police, and a mutated human/dog hybrid that the government puts on their tail.
The story was pretty good; it did sag a bit in the middle and I wasn't sure if I'd finish it, but it picked back up and the last third of the book especially kept me pretty captivated. There *is* a lot of violence in the book so it may not be appropriate for a younger audience or for anybody that gets a bit squeemish from descriptions of blood and gore. Some of the more fantastic elements relating to the genetic mutations and experiments had me rolling my eyes a bit, but they didn't detract too much from the story. I felt that the ending of the book was very satisfactory in closing out the story, while providing a small and very minor cliffhanger to set up the sequel.
This book describes a dystopian Great Britain run by a despot (who isn't but might as well be a vampire) that engages in genetic experiments after having segregated every class of citizen that he could into separate urban and rural areas with no travel or communication allowed. A group of kids stuck living in London get their kicks by jumping onto and hanging off the sides of the trains, but one day find themselves witnessing an assassination, thus beginning their attempts to escape from not just the city but the entire country, all while being pursued by a rival gang, the governments secret police, and a mutated human/dog hybrid that the government puts on their tail.
The story was pretty good; it did sag a bit in the middle and I wasn't sure if I'd finish it, but it picked back up and the last third of the book especially kept me pretty captivated. There *is* a lot of violence in the book so it may not be appropriate for a younger audience or for anybody that gets a bit squeemish from descriptions of blood and gore. Some of the more fantastic elements relating to the genetic mutations and experiments had me rolling my eyes a bit, but they didn't detract too much from the story. I felt that the ending of the book was very satisfactory in closing out the story, while providing a small and very minor cliffhanger to set up the sequel.
October 26, 2012
The
Hell
Ends
There, where you decide you are not
Unable, you are not weak, you are not
Broken, tired, dead.
Even when they hunt you,
Ride you, scare you,
Island of Mega Britain will hear your voice,
Dead will cheer your life, whispers and sighs
Echoing through the tunnels.
Ride will take you further, to where
Sun can rise again.
Yes, that is an acrostic poem about this book. Shut up.
This is not a book I would call a literary wonder. It is not beautiful or artistic. It is raw and it stings. It is not there to help you evolve your emotions. It is there to make your adrenalin burst, and that it does.
Writer showed an amazing imagination with characters, technologies and games that just kept coming. And talking about emotions, he showed us only one, but important thing, that even when surrounded with friends, everyone is alone in their pain.
"It was pretty in a desolate kind of way"
Still, at times I found it too long for adrenalin-packed type of book and at times too crude for my, apparently sensitive-to-that-much-violence soul. The result of that was that after a while it made me unimpressionable.
Maybe that was the plan, overloading the reader with the action, just like his characters were, before the denouement. If that was the case, I must still be waiting to unload.
Hell
Ends
There, where you decide you are not
Unable, you are not weak, you are not
Broken, tired, dead.
Even when they hunt you,
Ride you, scare you,
Island of Mega Britain will hear your voice,
Dead will cheer your life, whispers and sighs
Echoing through the tunnels.
Ride will take you further, to where
Sun can rise again.
Yes, that is an acrostic poem about this book. Shut up.
This is not a book I would call a literary wonder. It is not beautiful or artistic. It is raw and it stings. It is not there to help you evolve your emotions. It is there to make your adrenalin burst, and that it does.
Writer showed an amazing imagination with characters, technologies and games that just kept coming. And talking about emotions, he showed us only one, but important thing, that even when surrounded with friends, everyone is alone in their pain.
"It was pretty in a desolate kind of way"
Still, at times I found it too long for adrenalin-packed type of book and at times too crude for my, apparently sensitive-to-that-much-violence soul. The result of that was that after a while it made me unimpressionable.
Maybe that was the plan, overloading the reader with the action, just like his characters were, before the denouement. If that was the case, I must still be waiting to unload.
March 5, 2014
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it, hence, it gets a 3 star rating on Goodreads from me. It's pretty long, and part of a trilogy, but thankfully this book ends with a satisfactory resolution to the plot of the novel, with an opening for the trilogy to continue that isn't too much of a cliffhanger.
It had lots of action...though beware if you aren't into heavy violence and gore.
It had an interesting premise...though the plot could have been tightened up quite a bit. There was a LOT going on.
It had decent characters...though some of them seemed a little too schitzo and therefore unbelievable.
If those characters were developed a tad more so that every action they took was backed up by what I knew about them, then I could get behind the story more. (I'm especially thinking of Clayton here--he's ruthless enough to slit children's throats, supposedly, but he hesitates multiple times in the story, among other things. Some of the other villains seemed to be contrary, as well. Dreggo kind of went AWOL on the story to me. She had many more reasons to hate the Governor than the Tube Riders, am I right?)
And there were so MANY characters that some were not developed enough at all, even some of the more prominent ones.
The world in this story was very intriguing...though it didn't seem to follow its own rules sometimes.
The story presented some gaps that kept me from submerging myself in it. For one, why in the world had no one EVER escaped out through the train tunnels before? That in itself seemed so unlikely to me that I couldn't stop thinking about it. I mean, you have gigantic walls built to contain a rioting, despondent populace, criminals and desperate-to-survive "innocents" alike, yet no one has ever tried to walk out through these ungated tunnels before? Humph. Nor had these kids ever rode the trains beyond the stations they practiced in. I thought it was going to be because they wouldn't be able to hang from the train while it went through the tunnel, but that's not it, obviously. Also, how in heck did anyone survive at all in the cities? There was a lot of head scratching for me there. Seemed like you couldn't walk a block without something blowing up, yet there were still people like Jess and her parents about? Businesses and schools? Buses and tube service? Also, with all the crazy scientists making mutant cyborg freaks (and what we see in the end), I wondered why the evidence the tube riders had to expose the Governor was even considered important, compared to what he had obviously done to the country and it's citizens besides. It just didn't all completely jive.
But, hey, it was entertaining, and had only a small amount of typos and grammatical errors for the size of the text, which is rare in a free kindle download.
It had lots of action...though beware if you aren't into heavy violence and gore.
It had an interesting premise...though the plot could have been tightened up quite a bit. There was a LOT going on.
It had decent characters...though some of them seemed a little too schitzo and therefore unbelievable.
If those characters were developed a tad more so that every action they took was backed up by what I knew about them, then I could get behind the story more. (I'm especially thinking of Clayton here--he's ruthless enough to slit children's throats, supposedly, but he hesitates multiple times in the story, among other things. Some of the other villains seemed to be contrary, as well. Dreggo kind of went AWOL on the story to me. She had many more reasons to hate the Governor than the Tube Riders, am I right?)
And there were so MANY characters that some were not developed enough at all, even some of the more prominent ones.
The world in this story was very intriguing...though it didn't seem to follow its own rules sometimes.
The story presented some gaps that kept me from submerging myself in it. For one, why in the world had no one EVER escaped out through the train tunnels before? That in itself seemed so unlikely to me that I couldn't stop thinking about it. I mean, you have gigantic walls built to contain a rioting, despondent populace, criminals and desperate-to-survive "innocents" alike, yet no one has ever tried to walk out through these ungated tunnels before? Humph. Nor had these kids ever rode the trains beyond the stations they practiced in. I thought it was going to be because they wouldn't be able to hang from the train while it went through the tunnel, but that's not it, obviously. Also, how in heck did anyone survive at all in the cities? There was a lot of head scratching for me there. Seemed like you couldn't walk a block without something blowing up, yet there were still people like Jess and her parents about? Businesses and schools? Buses and tube service? Also, with all the crazy scientists making mutant cyborg freaks (and what we see in the end), I wondered why the evidence the tube riders had to expose the Governor was even considered important, compared to what he had obviously done to the country and it's citizens besides. It just didn't all completely jive.
But, hey, it was entertaining, and had only a small amount of typos and grammatical errors for the size of the text, which is rare in a free kindle download.
January 17, 2013
The year is 2075; the location, the futuristic Mega-Britain in a post apocalyptic world. The once Great Britain is now ruled by an extreme totaliterian regime run by the mysterious "Governor" that few have laid eyes on. But, what many have laid eyes on are the ghosts that peer through the windows of London's underground trains. Yet, they are not ghosts; they're real. They are The Tube Riders.
The young band of train riding daredevils have formed a familiar kinship through their love of "tube riding," a secret and solitary activity in a country where perimeter walls are erected and dead trees have bent like old men toward the ground. TV, books, and internet are banned, freedom is a thing of the past, and all inhabitants must pay strict homage to the corrupt government.
During an altercation with a rival group of train lovers, The Tube Riders gain possession of vital evidence that could bring revolution and tear the tyranical government down forever, allowing a new world to begin. But, the evil government is not about to let that happen. And so the book continues with its thrilling suspense that begins on page one.
Chris Ward is an astounding writer, who has written one of the best Sci-fi thrillers to come along in years. Ward's fast paced action is riveting, while his description is vivid, placing one within the picture-perfect scenes. But most of all, Ward's characters are magnificently crafted and real. The vigilante Tube Riders are vibrant, powerful kids turned freedom fighters within minutes of a single instance in their lives.
The Government is also steeped in its activity of genetic engineering and soon unleashes the most frightening component of Ward's novel--The Huntsman. These indestructable, half-human, half gentically altered hounds are bounty hunters set on the trail of The Tube Riders. These and other characters serve as the spellbinding antogonists that keep the page turning continuously.
The Tube Riders by Chris Ward is a Sci-fi masterpiece and a must read for all! I anxiously await the the sequel and hopefully, the movie!
The young band of train riding daredevils have formed a familiar kinship through their love of "tube riding," a secret and solitary activity in a country where perimeter walls are erected and dead trees have bent like old men toward the ground. TV, books, and internet are banned, freedom is a thing of the past, and all inhabitants must pay strict homage to the corrupt government.
During an altercation with a rival group of train lovers, The Tube Riders gain possession of vital evidence that could bring revolution and tear the tyranical government down forever, allowing a new world to begin. But, the evil government is not about to let that happen. And so the book continues with its thrilling suspense that begins on page one.
Chris Ward is an astounding writer, who has written one of the best Sci-fi thrillers to come along in years. Ward's fast paced action is riveting, while his description is vivid, placing one within the picture-perfect scenes. But most of all, Ward's characters are magnificently crafted and real. The vigilante Tube Riders are vibrant, powerful kids turned freedom fighters within minutes of a single instance in their lives.
The Government is also steeped in its activity of genetic engineering and soon unleashes the most frightening component of Ward's novel--The Huntsman. These indestructable, half-human, half gentically altered hounds are bounty hunters set on the trail of The Tube Riders. These and other characters serve as the spellbinding antogonists that keep the page turning continuously.
The Tube Riders by Chris Ward is a Sci-fi masterpiece and a must read for all! I anxiously await the the sequel and hopefully, the movie!
May 8, 2012
Read my review here or at The Akamai Reader.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
This book reads more like a YA novel as the Tube Riders are most like a gang of skateboarders. That doesn’t make this story any less fun or unique. It’s got a lot of action and the violence in the story seems to contradict my snapshot judgment of it being a YA novel.
Nonetheless, the characters in the book are all very young and their problems are very young. I don’t want that to steer you away from reading this book though. I really did enjoy it.
Marta is the nominal leader of the group of Tube Riders and she’s very well fleshed out. I was able to identify with her the most. She reacts in very human and believable ways to each situation. With each step of the way I was cheering her on.
Another of the Tube Riders I really liked was Switch. He had street smarts and cunning that made me admire him. He was loyal to his friends and deadly to his enemies. Switch was a true survivor in every sense of the word.
All of the Tube Riders were heroes in their own ways but those two were my favorites for those reasons. The villains were equally fleshed out which made the story all the more enjoyable.
Their harrowing escape from the powers that be takes them all over Mega Britain and they meet a myriad assortment of characters. From the sleepy countryside to the busy underground of Bristol, they keep on running from the strong-arm of the law and the inhuman strength of the Hunstmen.
The Huntsmen are scary cyborg creations that have inhuman strength and are unstoppable when they’re on the path of their prey. The Tube Riders will eventually learn how they come to be during the course of their adventures. The answer will hit closer to home then they’d ever dream of.
It had heart-stopping action and heart-wrenching moments. A very entertaining ride!
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
This book reads more like a YA novel as the Tube Riders are most like a gang of skateboarders. That doesn’t make this story any less fun or unique. It’s got a lot of action and the violence in the story seems to contradict my snapshot judgment of it being a YA novel.
Nonetheless, the characters in the book are all very young and their problems are very young. I don’t want that to steer you away from reading this book though. I really did enjoy it.
Marta is the nominal leader of the group of Tube Riders and she’s very well fleshed out. I was able to identify with her the most. She reacts in very human and believable ways to each situation. With each step of the way I was cheering her on.
Another of the Tube Riders I really liked was Switch. He had street smarts and cunning that made me admire him. He was loyal to his friends and deadly to his enemies. Switch was a true survivor in every sense of the word.
All of the Tube Riders were heroes in their own ways but those two were my favorites for those reasons. The villains were equally fleshed out which made the story all the more enjoyable.
Their harrowing escape from the powers that be takes them all over Mega Britain and they meet a myriad assortment of characters. From the sleepy countryside to the busy underground of Bristol, they keep on running from the strong-arm of the law and the inhuman strength of the Hunstmen.
The Huntsmen are scary cyborg creations that have inhuman strength and are unstoppable when they’re on the path of their prey. The Tube Riders will eventually learn how they come to be during the course of their adventures. The answer will hit closer to home then they’d ever dream of.
It had heart-stopping action and heart-wrenching moments. A very entertaining ride!
September 25, 2012
Review of The Tube Riders by Chris Ward
An amazing adventure through a dystopian futuristic Britain that I sincerely hope no one ever lives to witness, “The Tube Riders” is an immensely creative and thoroughly imagined, riveting novel. I couldn’t step away and I doubt any other reader could. Marta, Simon, Paul, Jess, Switch, and later Paul’s brother Owen, and young Carl, undergo danger, horror, adrenaline surges, friendship, family loyalty, deaths galore-and what doesn’t kill them does indeed make them stronger. “The Tube Riders” possesses incredible characters, and not just the “heroes.” No, even the “villains”: Dreggo, Clayton, the Huntsmen, Dr. Karmski, and the mysterious, elusive, incredibly powerful Governor of Mega Britain, are vividly imaged and truly four-dimensional.
Author Chris Ward weaves Dystopian society and culture with a natural outgrowth of the current rush-to-collapse seen in some segments of contemporary society, and with the history of decades of scientific experimentation, vivisection, and genetic engineering and manipulation. The quest to engineer a “Super-Man” in the Nietzschean sense is well more than a century old, but in the deft hands of this author, the quest reaches a horribly ugly but effective conclusion.
I was provided with an e-book copy of this novel by the author, Chris Ward, on Sept. 12, 2012, via the Goodreads Group Making Connections, in exchange for my fair and impartial review.
An amazing adventure through a dystopian futuristic Britain that I sincerely hope no one ever lives to witness, “The Tube Riders” is an immensely creative and thoroughly imagined, riveting novel. I couldn’t step away and I doubt any other reader could. Marta, Simon, Paul, Jess, Switch, and later Paul’s brother Owen, and young Carl, undergo danger, horror, adrenaline surges, friendship, family loyalty, deaths galore-and what doesn’t kill them does indeed make them stronger. “The Tube Riders” possesses incredible characters, and not just the “heroes.” No, even the “villains”: Dreggo, Clayton, the Huntsmen, Dr. Karmski, and the mysterious, elusive, incredibly powerful Governor of Mega Britain, are vividly imaged and truly four-dimensional.
Author Chris Ward weaves Dystopian society and culture with a natural outgrowth of the current rush-to-collapse seen in some segments of contemporary society, and with the history of decades of scientific experimentation, vivisection, and genetic engineering and manipulation. The quest to engineer a “Super-Man” in the Nietzschean sense is well more than a century old, but in the deft hands of this author, the quest reaches a horribly ugly but effective conclusion.
I was provided with an e-book copy of this novel by the author, Chris Ward, on Sept. 12, 2012, via the Goodreads Group Making Connections, in exchange for my fair and impartial review.
June 12, 2012
Such an action-packed adventure from the very beginning, The Tube Riders had me on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter. This book is so incredibly orginal in its plot and it was so extremly pleasing to read something that has a powerful story and captivating characters. I would classify this book as a YA, dystopian but most enjoyable for all ages.
This story takes place in Great Briton, in the future, in a world that doesn't exist in reality. But, fictionally, it's terrifying and alluring all the same. Coming from someone who is DEFINITELY not a risk-taker, I couldn't help but be drawn in to the idea of tube riding. I can see why these characters make tube riding their life.
The author has the "good guys" and the "bad guys" in this story. And then--to make matters even crazier--we're smacked in the face with a whole other group of antagonists that is almost scarier than the first.
Our main protagonists have to embark on a journey for their lives. After seeing something that they shouldn't have, everything is on the line.
The story kept me engaged, the characters kept me rooting for them. Chris Ward has made me a fan!
Christy @ Captivated Reading
This story takes place in Great Briton, in the future, in a world that doesn't exist in reality. But, fictionally, it's terrifying and alluring all the same. Coming from someone who is DEFINITELY not a risk-taker, I couldn't help but be drawn in to the idea of tube riding. I can see why these characters make tube riding their life.
The author has the "good guys" and the "bad guys" in this story. And then--to make matters even crazier--we're smacked in the face with a whole other group of antagonists that is almost scarier than the first.
Our main protagonists have to embark on a journey for their lives. After seeing something that they shouldn't have, everything is on the line.
The story kept me engaged, the characters kept me rooting for them. Chris Ward has made me a fan!
Christy @ Captivated Reading
January 28, 2013
I spotted this book free on the Freebooksy Facebook page and WOW! I read a LOT of science fiction and The tube Riders is by far the best book I've read in a very LONG time! It's one wild ride that keeps you up late at night reading to see what happens next when you really should be sleeping because you have to get up early for work in the morning. Book 2 is in the works and I can't wait to get it in my hands!
February 1, 2015
Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews: http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2012/08/24/the-tube-riders-by-chris-ward/
In a future Britain where travel is restricted and the Governor rules with an iron fist, the Tube Riders stumble across a secret and become Mega Britain's most wanted.
The Tube Riders is a book in which several scruffy, disenfranchised youths are the main characters. However, this does not mean that this book would comfortably sit in the young adult category. These kids have a dark background and the author lets the harshness of a cruel future Britain leak through the pages. Rape, prostitution, violence, murder and the omnipotent presence of a government which "disappears" people on a regular basis form the reality in which these teenagers survive - and survive they do. I feel the author offsets this harsh existence by presenting us with a bunch of intelligent, resilient and loyal friends who jump onto moving trains for entertainment. The setting, the form of entertainment and the young protagonists themselves had me hooked from the start. I sometimes felt the author was channelling Michael de Larrabeiti's Borribles trilogy, one of my favourite journeys into a darker folkloric London.
The action in the first part of the book was gripping. A gang war builds and in escaping, the Tube Riders accidentally discover a secret that could get them killed. And this is where the relentless manhunt across Britain commences. Relentless is a word that so accurately describes the chase itself and the pursuers, a mix of government agents and nightmarish creatures devised in laboratories run by a sadistic government. The author gives us a barrage of perspectives from which to observe the action bouncing from character to character. Sometimes this can be disorientating in a story, but I actually found that it helped flesh out different characters in the novel from the Tube Riders to the Governor himself. Consequently, I felt more invested in the story which can only be a good thing.
It's important to have disbelief in check throughout this book as the story pushes the boundaries in some places. However, I think the author tries hard to inject credibility. A group of kids can evade an organised manhunt because the country has been restructured to discourage organised movement. The character, Switch, steers our gang all too true, but revelations make sense of his eerily accurate bearings (although this is really pushed to the limit as the story progresses). The man-made paranormals, if I can call them that, are unlikely, but I still had difficulty scoffing and I thought their inclusion made the flight all the more desperate. Then lastly, the success of this self-appointed dictator of Mega Britain seems unsustainable until an equally fantastical explanation makes some sense of it. In any case, I became happy to check my cynicism at the door which means that something had to be working well.
There are several major characters that we spend time with thanks to switching points of view throughout the novel. However, Marta is arguably the principal character of the story. The leader of the Tube Riders remained an interesting blend of resilience and vulnerability to me and in some ways she was a hopeful look at what a teen surviving in such a bleak existence could be. The death of her parents and the disappearance of her brother do not rob her of humanity. She remains fierce, she does what she has to do, but she also remains compassionate and loyal. The Tube Riders become her family, one that she is prepared to fight for.
However, although Marta is the main character, there are more interesting characters in my opinion. The nasty knife-wielding Switch, shows several different shades of colour over the course of the story. Jess is jolted by the horrific death of her parents and transitions from a sheltered, innocent girl through grief and loss into a callous and violent instrument of vengeance. However, most interesting to me is the walking horror that is Dreggo. Part terminator, part crushed spirit I enjoyed watching her battle for her own humanity knowing that there could be no happy ending.
There were a few issues I had with the book, but thankfully not too many. There were a few more errors than I'd like to see but none of them exposed an inability to use the English language. Additionally, I had a bit of an issue with the finale. The action by this stage had become fever pitched and rather absurd, but that wasn't as much of an issue as it remained immensely entertaining even if possibly pushing that suspension of disbelief a little too far. What bothered me a little was how unresolved the ending was. Because I was on every step of this journey with the protagonists I was invested in their success of failure, but the author left that hanging to some degree, the possibility of a sequel dangling with it. I could understand that it would take far too much at that stage to really provide a conclusion and some hundreds of pages of resolution reduced to a mere epilogue probably would have angered me more, but I couldn't help but feel a little flat.
My few reservations aside, I enjoyed The Tube Riders a great deal. The author has recently broken up the volume into three parts and I would highly recommend grabbing the first and giving it a try if a 500+ page novel from an indie author seems too high a risk. If you like your action set in a dark and cruel future - and who doesn't - you owe it to yourself to give this a go.
In a future Britain where travel is restricted and the Governor rules with an iron fist, the Tube Riders stumble across a secret and become Mega Britain's most wanted.
The Tube Riders is a book in which several scruffy, disenfranchised youths are the main characters. However, this does not mean that this book would comfortably sit in the young adult category. These kids have a dark background and the author lets the harshness of a cruel future Britain leak through the pages. Rape, prostitution, violence, murder and the omnipotent presence of a government which "disappears" people on a regular basis form the reality in which these teenagers survive - and survive they do. I feel the author offsets this harsh existence by presenting us with a bunch of intelligent, resilient and loyal friends who jump onto moving trains for entertainment. The setting, the form of entertainment and the young protagonists themselves had me hooked from the start. I sometimes felt the author was channelling Michael de Larrabeiti's Borribles trilogy, one of my favourite journeys into a darker folkloric London.
The action in the first part of the book was gripping. A gang war builds and in escaping, the Tube Riders accidentally discover a secret that could get them killed. And this is where the relentless manhunt across Britain commences. Relentless is a word that so accurately describes the chase itself and the pursuers, a mix of government agents and nightmarish creatures devised in laboratories run by a sadistic government. The author gives us a barrage of perspectives from which to observe the action bouncing from character to character. Sometimes this can be disorientating in a story, but I actually found that it helped flesh out different characters in the novel from the Tube Riders to the Governor himself. Consequently, I felt more invested in the story which can only be a good thing.
It's important to have disbelief in check throughout this book as the story pushes the boundaries in some places. However, I think the author tries hard to inject credibility. A group of kids can evade an organised manhunt because the country has been restructured to discourage organised movement. The character, Switch, steers our gang all too true, but revelations make sense of his eerily accurate bearings (although this is really pushed to the limit as the story progresses). The man-made paranormals, if I can call them that, are unlikely, but I still had difficulty scoffing and I thought their inclusion made the flight all the more desperate. Then lastly, the success of this self-appointed dictator of Mega Britain seems unsustainable until an equally fantastical explanation makes some sense of it. In any case, I became happy to check my cynicism at the door which means that something had to be working well.
There are several major characters that we spend time with thanks to switching points of view throughout the novel. However, Marta is arguably the principal character of the story. The leader of the Tube Riders remained an interesting blend of resilience and vulnerability to me and in some ways she was a hopeful look at what a teen surviving in such a bleak existence could be. The death of her parents and the disappearance of her brother do not rob her of humanity. She remains fierce, she does what she has to do, but she also remains compassionate and loyal. The Tube Riders become her family, one that she is prepared to fight for.
However, although Marta is the main character, there are more interesting characters in my opinion. The nasty knife-wielding Switch, shows several different shades of colour over the course of the story. Jess is jolted by the horrific death of her parents and transitions from a sheltered, innocent girl through grief and loss into a callous and violent instrument of vengeance. However, most interesting to me is the walking horror that is Dreggo. Part terminator, part crushed spirit I enjoyed watching her battle for her own humanity knowing that there could be no happy ending.
There were a few issues I had with the book, but thankfully not too many. There were a few more errors than I'd like to see but none of them exposed an inability to use the English language. Additionally, I had a bit of an issue with the finale. The action by this stage had become fever pitched and rather absurd, but that wasn't as much of an issue as it remained immensely entertaining even if possibly pushing that suspension of disbelief a little too far. What bothered me a little was how unresolved the ending was. Because I was on every step of this journey with the protagonists I was invested in their success of failure, but the author left that hanging to some degree, the possibility of a sequel dangling with it. I could understand that it would take far too much at that stage to really provide a conclusion and some hundreds of pages of resolution reduced to a mere epilogue probably would have angered me more, but I couldn't help but feel a little flat.
My few reservations aside, I enjoyed The Tube Riders a great deal. The author has recently broken up the volume into three parts and I would highly recommend grabbing the first and giving it a try if a 500+ page novel from an indie author seems too high a risk. If you like your action set in a dark and cruel future - and who doesn't - you owe it to yourself to give this a go.
July 4, 2012
When I first came upon The Tube Riders, it caught my attention with the originality of the premise. Here is a world that is cut off, harshly governed, and mysterious as all get out. Add in a set of characters who are willing to put their lives at risk for a little bit of a rush, and you have my attention. I don't think I would have ever thought of riding on trains as a way to unwind. For these characters though? That's reality. It's fabulous!
More than anything else, I instantly fell in love with the characters in this book. Marta, Paul, Switch and Simon are all intriguing in their own right. They are all the family that each other have, even when things get crazy. If I had to choose some favorites, I'd go with Marta and Switch. Marta is a no-nonsense kind of girl who does whatever it takes to keep her family safe. Switch is a little off sometimes, but loyal as they come and deadly to his enemies. This group is so diverse that you'd think they'd argue, and sometimes they do, but they play off one another wonderfully. Above everything, I loved seeing how they survived.
The world that Chris Ward builds here is fantastic in its own right though. Mega Britain is an insane world that uses militant rule to keep people down. There is poverty, violence in the form of daily riots, and so many secrets that it'll make your head spin. When the Tube Riders uncover a sinister plot by accident, it sets in motion a series of events that will have you holding on for dear life as you read. These poor characters never really have a moment to rest. Running from the authorities, being hunted by half animal, half human creatures, and trying to just stay alive. It kind of puts the high that they used to get from riding trains in perspective.
If there was one thing that was tough for me, it was just the length of the book overall. That's not to say that it doesn't maintain a pretty steady stream of action. More that I felt there were some descriptions, and some events, that probably could have been left out and still made for a intriguing story line. Parts of the story just felt a little over written. Totally my opinion! It might be different for other readers. It obviously didn't stop me from reading all 500+ pages of this book. Rightfully so, because the ending was awesome!
Let's just say that if you're looking for something original and exciting to read, this is for you! Chris Ward once again proves that self-published works can be just as amazing (if not more so) than traditionally published ones. I am extremely glad that I picked up The Tube Riders and I so hope that there is more. Now that I've been immersed in the world of the the Tube Riders, I'm not willing to leave yet.
More than anything else, I instantly fell in love with the characters in this book. Marta, Paul, Switch and Simon are all intriguing in their own right. They are all the family that each other have, even when things get crazy. If I had to choose some favorites, I'd go with Marta and Switch. Marta is a no-nonsense kind of girl who does whatever it takes to keep her family safe. Switch is a little off sometimes, but loyal as they come and deadly to his enemies. This group is so diverse that you'd think they'd argue, and sometimes they do, but they play off one another wonderfully. Above everything, I loved seeing how they survived.
The world that Chris Ward builds here is fantastic in its own right though. Mega Britain is an insane world that uses militant rule to keep people down. There is poverty, violence in the form of daily riots, and so many secrets that it'll make your head spin. When the Tube Riders uncover a sinister plot by accident, it sets in motion a series of events that will have you holding on for dear life as you read. These poor characters never really have a moment to rest. Running from the authorities, being hunted by half animal, half human creatures, and trying to just stay alive. It kind of puts the high that they used to get from riding trains in perspective.
If there was one thing that was tough for me, it was just the length of the book overall. That's not to say that it doesn't maintain a pretty steady stream of action. More that I felt there were some descriptions, and some events, that probably could have been left out and still made for a intriguing story line. Parts of the story just felt a little over written. Totally my opinion! It might be different for other readers. It obviously didn't stop me from reading all 500+ pages of this book. Rightfully so, because the ending was awesome!
Let's just say that if you're looking for something original and exciting to read, this is for you! Chris Ward once again proves that self-published works can be just as amazing (if not more so) than traditionally published ones. I am extremely glad that I picked up The Tube Riders and I so hope that there is more. Now that I've been immersed in the world of the the Tube Riders, I'm not willing to leave yet.
September 26, 2014
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads (go up to the top menu, where there is a drop-down arrow next to 'Explore', and look at 'Giveaways'!)
While waiting for this book to arrive...my main intrigue is to why a book set in the London Underground has a Deltic on the front cover :-)
****
26th Dec 2012
I got about 20% of the way through the book, and just didn't engage with any of the characters. I don't think it's anything to do with the way it is written, but me as a reader - perhaps I'm not the intended audience for this, perhaps I would have got on with it better when I was the age that most of the characters were.
So there was nothing bad about the book, nothing I could point to as dreadfully wrong, just that I didn't have my interest held in what was going to happen in the next chapter, nevermind the next 400 pages.
As a result, things that wouldn't normally bother me were the things that grabbed my attention - such as the artistic licence in station layouts, which given that this is a fictional version of the London Underground should be fine.
But I spent my time wondering just where there's a sub-surface station which has a platform either side of a single line. I can think of surface stations that have that arrangement, e.g. middle line at Loughton or White City. I can think of sub-surface stations that have both platforms opposite each other, but with both an up and down line, e.g. Circle Line at Liverpool Street. When I realised my attention was more diverted by trying to find a station that could fit the description in the book rather than the story, I figured it was time to call it a day (given that I got a dozen new books to add to my 150+ volume waiting-to-be-read-shelf for Christmas, I have to prioritise).
So this was a reluctantly abandoned book, and I do really think it was more to do with me than the book.
While waiting for this book to arrive...my main intrigue is to why a book set in the London Underground has a Deltic on the front cover :-)
****
26th Dec 2012
I got about 20% of the way through the book, and just didn't engage with any of the characters. I don't think it's anything to do with the way it is written, but me as a reader - perhaps I'm not the intended audience for this, perhaps I would have got on with it better when I was the age that most of the characters were.
So there was nothing bad about the book, nothing I could point to as dreadfully wrong, just that I didn't have my interest held in what was going to happen in the next chapter, nevermind the next 400 pages.
As a result, things that wouldn't normally bother me were the things that grabbed my attention - such as the artistic licence in station layouts, which given that this is a fictional version of the London Underground should be fine.
But I spent my time wondering just where there's a sub-surface station which has a platform either side of a single line. I can think of surface stations that have that arrangement, e.g. middle line at Loughton or White City. I can think of sub-surface stations that have both platforms opposite each other, but with both an up and down line, e.g. Circle Line at Liverpool Street. When I realised my attention was more diverted by trying to find a station that could fit the description in the book rather than the story, I figured it was time to call it a day (given that I got a dozen new books to add to my 150+ volume waiting-to-be-read-shelf for Christmas, I have to prioritise).
So this was a reluctantly abandoned book, and I do really think it was more to do with me than the book.
March 12, 2014
Review by Nic's wife.
Okay- I had a few pet peeves with some of the characterization in the beginning, and some of the plot twists toward the end, but I was overall really wowed by this book. I love dystopias, but got a bit burned out after a string of fairly "meh" ones that really had nothing to add, and just ended up being pale derivatives of more popular properties with thoughtful themes and commentary. I'm not sure I totally understand the message implicit in the Tube Riders, but the world created is exhilarating enough on its own to suck me right in, and I do see seeds of a message in its crafting. Just not sure I understand it yet. Maybe I will by the time I finish the trilogy.
The adrenaline-lust of the Tube Riders (characters, not title) is ugly, but completely relatable (Take it from someone who's done her share of dangerous/stupid/illegal dares and bets). And there's several subversive twists in characterization and worldbuilding. For instance, men and women alike may have to resort to prostitution, and the most prominent character with that background is no less well written or relatable, because of his occupation. Between the usual victimized girl portrait papered over dystopian sex workers, with all of its fetishistic detail, being challenged, and the solid characterization, this was a breath of fresh air for me.
The plot moves fast, which suits the breathless narrative tone. That tone stuck with me long after I finished the book. The next book I picked up just seemed so slow, so plodding, I put it down for a week to give my mind time to settle. It was the most solidly written, and attention-catching book I've read in quite a while.
Okay- I had a few pet peeves with some of the characterization in the beginning, and some of the plot twists toward the end, but I was overall really wowed by this book. I love dystopias, but got a bit burned out after a string of fairly "meh" ones that really had nothing to add, and just ended up being pale derivatives of more popular properties with thoughtful themes and commentary. I'm not sure I totally understand the message implicit in the Tube Riders, but the world created is exhilarating enough on its own to suck me right in, and I do see seeds of a message in its crafting. Just not sure I understand it yet. Maybe I will by the time I finish the trilogy.
The adrenaline-lust of the Tube Riders (characters, not title) is ugly, but completely relatable (Take it from someone who's done her share of dangerous/stupid/illegal dares and bets). And there's several subversive twists in characterization and worldbuilding. For instance, men and women alike may have to resort to prostitution, and the most prominent character with that background is no less well written or relatable, because of his occupation. Between the usual victimized girl portrait papered over dystopian sex workers, with all of its fetishistic detail, being challenged, and the solid characterization, this was a breath of fresh air for me.
The plot moves fast, which suits the breathless narrative tone. That tone stuck with me long after I finished the book. The next book I picked up just seemed so slow, so plodding, I put it down for a week to give my mind time to settle. It was the most solidly written, and attention-catching book I've read in quite a while.
April 10, 2013
Like other reviewers here I gained this novel on a special offer - and probably wouldn't have chosen it otherwise, as I don't usually read sci-fi - however I do read Thrillers.
After a bit of a slow start where I wasn't 'in the world of the book' nor 'caring enough about the characters' I was suddenly tipped into a Thriller (albeit set in a dystopian future) with the whole government backed horror driving the story, characters (now fully fleshed out) to care about, and a goal to achieve that will not only save their skins, but the future of mega-britain and all who live there - hence ending up as a gripping read!
I see Chris Ward has now released this as a 3 part trilogy - It was a very long book so this might have been a wise move! Just let me say - give the story time to grow on you - you should be well on track before the end of 'London' but 'Bristol' and 'Cornwall' are full steam ahead!
After a bit of a slow start where I wasn't 'in the world of the book' nor 'caring enough about the characters' I was suddenly tipped into a Thriller (albeit set in a dystopian future) with the whole government backed horror driving the story, characters (now fully fleshed out) to care about, and a goal to achieve that will not only save their skins, but the future of mega-britain and all who live there - hence ending up as a gripping read!
I see Chris Ward has now released this as a 3 part trilogy - It was a very long book so this might have been a wise move! Just let me say - give the story time to grow on you - you should be well on track before the end of 'London' but 'Bristol' and 'Cornwall' are full steam ahead!
April 25, 2017
Too much violence for me but this is a modern British version of Clockwork Orange. Some young people - teens to twenties - are engaged in dangerous destructive activities in a crumbling, anarchic London. When two gangs fight it out, one gang escapes on the Underground train which they cling to by means of a hook and board. They then witness a murder by government officials in an abandoned station and realise that they are in twice as much danger.
The London Greater Urban Area is the setting for most of the story, with perimeters guarded to prevent anyone leaving and with bombs, looting and killing frequent occurrences. Later the scene shifts to Cornwall. People need a licence to use an electronic device while the government is more concerned with enslaving and killing its own citizens than administering wise policies. Some spacefaring has taken place and spaceships are sent up from the East End beaches. I saw some odd Americanisms like police cars having red lights, when UK uses blue; I'm not saying things don't change over time, but there were other American terms in the text which seemed odd in a world without tv or net.
Don't get too attached to anyone. Actually, you won't. Just as well.
This is an adult read due to severe and sustained violence, dangerous behaviour not to be imitated, and strong language. Just not my kind of story, but if you're okay with all the above you might enjoy it.
I downloaded a free copy. This is an unbiased review.
The London Greater Urban Area is the setting for most of the story, with perimeters guarded to prevent anyone leaving and with bombs, looting and killing frequent occurrences. Later the scene shifts to Cornwall. People need a licence to use an electronic device while the government is more concerned with enslaving and killing its own citizens than administering wise policies. Some spacefaring has taken place and spaceships are sent up from the East End beaches. I saw some odd Americanisms like police cars having red lights, when UK uses blue; I'm not saying things don't change over time, but there were other American terms in the text which seemed odd in a world without tv or net.
Don't get too attached to anyone. Actually, you won't. Just as well.
This is an adult read due to severe and sustained violence, dangerous behaviour not to be imitated, and strong language. Just not my kind of story, but if you're okay with all the above you might enjoy it.
I downloaded a free copy. This is an unbiased review.
September 10, 2018
Sometimes I buy things on the Kindle sale thinking, how bad could it be? And the answer is: pretty bad. I really need to notice when something is self-published.
Anyway, it's just a mushy, lazy, underwhelming pablum of YA Dystopia Tropes. Not even good entertainment, although there were a few so-bad-it's-good sentences, which I have highlighted for your amusement:
Anyway, it's just a mushy, lazy, underwhelming pablum of YA Dystopia Tropes. Not even good entertainment, although there were a few so-bad-it's-good sentences, which I have highlighted for your amusement:
This was so far out of his comfort zone it had come full circle and poked him in the backside.
The sound was what Clayton imagined a snake with the flu would sound like; a hissing, sibilant noise like a piece of metal being dragged across sand.
A thick chest looked ready to throw bombs, and Carl backed away across the room, fearing a storm.
‘Negotiations have opened with the European Confederation,’ the Governor said in that dark chocolate voice, like an old cassette tape playing on weak batteries.
Marta, with hair she rarely cut that was matted from lack of care rather than dreaded, and a body that was hard from tube riding, knew she was attractive in a goth-punk kind of way, because enough guys had told her.
She had fallen badly and lost consciousness, but she was still a novice after all so really she had to be thankful she hadn’t broken anything at best.
The wound was bad, but not serious.
When he saw the Governor, his eyes gave a double take and a look of horror danced across his face.
March 3, 2020
A quite original premise that while stretching credibility at the outset, really shines with some great characterization. While it looks like a YA series, it's graphic depiction of death and bleakness definitely shows it is not. Look forward to the other books!
November 4, 2013
Generally, I am not a fan of the dystopian genre. The world as it is today is all too often filled with staggering inequalities, brutalities and horrors. The thought of it getting even worse depresses the bloody hell out of me. Having said this, Tube Riders was a great read. A full on balls to the wall race for their lives by a group of young people (some just children) who happened to be in the very wrong place at a very wrong time.
I initially grabbed this book because (admitted couch potato and wuss, that I am) the concept of tube riding fascinated me. It was liked taking train surfing to the next level. I wanted to see if the author could me it believable and Mr. Ward did this in spades.
Britain has been walled off from the rest of the world – the ultimate in in isolationism. Any of the larger cities (the Greater Urban Areas or GAUs) are walled round. No travel in, out or over. Only trains, troops and government officials move throughout the country. The roads have been demolished, even the road signs removed all to keep the population as stationary as possible. Cities, other than London, are set up as manufacturing centres – one product per city. Only in the farming countryside or Greater Forested Areas (GFAs) does everyday life even remotely resemble normality.
This isolation, these changes will eventually strengthens Britain’s economy according to the Governor who seldom seen rules with an iron fist. But, kids being kids, will always find ways to have fun and subvert the rules.
Marta’s brother, Leo was the first of the Tube Riders; a small number of street teens with an almost mythic reputation. Leo discovered a way to ride the side of the Underground. Horrifically dangerous, ecstatically addictive; the group who rode the Tubes never numbered more than a couple dozen. Through deaths, the disappearance of Leo and general attrition the group is now no more than a handful with Marta as the de facto leader. Their reputation still reigns high in London’s urban mythology. No one knowing if they are real or the ghosts of those killed in Underground accidents or, just made up stories. Witnesses who swear to seeing ghostly faces peering in the train windows are discounted by most authorities.
Meanwhile, another group of young people are playing and equally hair-raising game with the trains, the Cross Jumpers. Jumping from one side of the tunnel to the other in the path of an oncoming train. Whoever’s jump is closest to the front of the train becomes the leader of the Cross Jumpers. Dreggo, whose jump took her a mere 12 feet in front of her train is current leader. She is ,also, unreasonably, psychopathically jealous of the Tube Riders mythic status. She rallies the Cross Jumpers to hunt down the unsuspecting Tube Riders and get rid of them by any means possible.
When Dreggo’s group finally tracks down their imagined rivals, the Riders realize how insanely vicious Dreggo is and how outnumbered they are. They take to the Tubes bypassing their usual landing place and end up at an unknown platform…Just in time to witness and video an act of astounding brutality. An act that could begin war with the rest of the world against Britain and possibly free Britain from the Governor if the SD card carrying the video can be gotten out of the U.K. to European authorities. A seemingly impossible feat but their lives and those of everyone they know are in deadly, unyielding danger. Stalked by the Governor’s hit men and his vicious, bioengineered horrors called the “Huntsmen.” The five young people run for their lives.
If you are looking for believable characters and nonstop kick ass action that will leave you breathless I highly recommend this book!
I initially grabbed this book because (admitted couch potato and wuss, that I am) the concept of tube riding fascinated me. It was liked taking train surfing to the next level. I wanted to see if the author could me it believable and Mr. Ward did this in spades.
Britain has been walled off from the rest of the world – the ultimate in in isolationism. Any of the larger cities (the Greater Urban Areas or GAUs) are walled round. No travel in, out or over. Only trains, troops and government officials move throughout the country. The roads have been demolished, even the road signs removed all to keep the population as stationary as possible. Cities, other than London, are set up as manufacturing centres – one product per city. Only in the farming countryside or Greater Forested Areas (GFAs) does everyday life even remotely resemble normality.
This isolation, these changes will eventually strengthens Britain’s economy according to the Governor who seldom seen rules with an iron fist. But, kids being kids, will always find ways to have fun and subvert the rules.
Marta’s brother, Leo was the first of the Tube Riders; a small number of street teens with an almost mythic reputation. Leo discovered a way to ride the side of the Underground. Horrifically dangerous, ecstatically addictive; the group who rode the Tubes never numbered more than a couple dozen. Through deaths, the disappearance of Leo and general attrition the group is now no more than a handful with Marta as the de facto leader. Their reputation still reigns high in London’s urban mythology. No one knowing if they are real or the ghosts of those killed in Underground accidents or, just made up stories. Witnesses who swear to seeing ghostly faces peering in the train windows are discounted by most authorities.
Meanwhile, another group of young people are playing and equally hair-raising game with the trains, the Cross Jumpers. Jumping from one side of the tunnel to the other in the path of an oncoming train. Whoever’s jump is closest to the front of the train becomes the leader of the Cross Jumpers. Dreggo, whose jump took her a mere 12 feet in front of her train is current leader. She is ,also, unreasonably, psychopathically jealous of the Tube Riders mythic status. She rallies the Cross Jumpers to hunt down the unsuspecting Tube Riders and get rid of them by any means possible.
When Dreggo’s group finally tracks down their imagined rivals, the Riders realize how insanely vicious Dreggo is and how outnumbered they are. They take to the Tubes bypassing their usual landing place and end up at an unknown platform…Just in time to witness and video an act of astounding brutality. An act that could begin war with the rest of the world against Britain and possibly free Britain from the Governor if the SD card carrying the video can be gotten out of the U.K. to European authorities. A seemingly impossible feat but their lives and those of everyone they know are in deadly, unyielding danger. Stalked by the Governor’s hit men and his vicious, bioengineered horrors called the “Huntsmen.” The five young people run for their lives.
If you are looking for believable characters and nonstop kick ass action that will leave you breathless I highly recommend this book!
May 22, 2013
3.5 if I had the option....
I liked this look at a very potential future. It was gritty and did not hold back on the violent lifestyle of this dystopian, deprived world Chris Ward has created. Set in London, Bristol and Cornwall, the reader follows a group of young adults called the Tube Riders, named for their love of a dangerous sport; riding the side of tube trains in London's Underground. Those who seek thrills, don't care about dying or are simply looking for a way to forget the hardships of London life come together and have formed a 'family'. This for me was a fantastic idea and reading how Chris Ward came about it at the end of the book made me grin.
The Tube Riders soon find themselves in a heap of trouble when a rival gang find their location and call for their deaths. They run away and stumble on a murder that the government want keeping quite. So now they are on the run from the gang and the government. As their stories unfold the reader is subjected to the starkness of their terrible lives, everyone is struggling to survive one day to the next. Rape, Murder and Riots are minutes away on every street. Children learn how to wield weapons from a young age to protect themselves. Its bad enough on the surface but deep down there are worse tortures. The government steal people off the streets to use in the Labs, creating all types of monsters. Part men, Part Canine and Part Cyborg creatures come from these Labs called the Huntsmen and they are used when the government need to take out their enemies fast. The Tube Riders are their enemies.
The character development was great, the Tube Riders all had a heartwrenching past, they all had suffered, lost loved ones and struggled to get by. The people they meet along the way on their journey to get out of the country alive are interesting.
World building is definitely a talent Chris Ward possess but I found myself getting bored in places or skipping large amounts of text and description to get to the interesting bits. Though I loved the gritty violence and the author's 'don't hold back' approach to it, I did get a bit desensitized so I wasn't as shocked as I should have been in certain places. By the end, I will admit, I wanted it to be over sooner. It was very long and the cliffhanger left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. I want to read on to follow the Tube Riders adventures, but I also felt like the story should be over.
I enjoyed The Tube Riders despite this not being my favourite genre and would have given it a 3.4 star rating if I had the option. It is well worth the read if you want a unique take on a Sci-fi, futuristic Britain.
I liked this look at a very potential future. It was gritty and did not hold back on the violent lifestyle of this dystopian, deprived world Chris Ward has created. Set in London, Bristol and Cornwall, the reader follows a group of young adults called the Tube Riders, named for their love of a dangerous sport; riding the side of tube trains in London's Underground. Those who seek thrills, don't care about dying or are simply looking for a way to forget the hardships of London life come together and have formed a 'family'. This for me was a fantastic idea and reading how Chris Ward came about it at the end of the book made me grin.
The Tube Riders soon find themselves in a heap of trouble when a rival gang find their location and call for their deaths. They run away and stumble on a murder that the government want keeping quite. So now they are on the run from the gang and the government. As their stories unfold the reader is subjected to the starkness of their terrible lives, everyone is struggling to survive one day to the next. Rape, Murder and Riots are minutes away on every street. Children learn how to wield weapons from a young age to protect themselves. Its bad enough on the surface but deep down there are worse tortures. The government steal people off the streets to use in the Labs, creating all types of monsters. Part men, Part Canine and Part Cyborg creatures come from these Labs called the Huntsmen and they are used when the government need to take out their enemies fast. The Tube Riders are their enemies.
The character development was great, the Tube Riders all had a heartwrenching past, they all had suffered, lost loved ones and struggled to get by. The people they meet along the way on their journey to get out of the country alive are interesting.
World building is definitely a talent Chris Ward possess but I found myself getting bored in places or skipping large amounts of text and description to get to the interesting bits. Though I loved the gritty violence and the author's 'don't hold back' approach to it, I did get a bit desensitized so I wasn't as shocked as I should have been in certain places. By the end, I will admit, I wanted it to be over sooner. It was very long and the cliffhanger left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. I want to read on to follow the Tube Riders adventures, but I also felt like the story should be over.
I enjoyed The Tube Riders despite this not being my favourite genre and would have given it a 3.4 star rating if I had the option. It is well worth the read if you want a unique take on a Sci-fi, futuristic Britain.
October 3, 2012
(Book provided by the author through ARR #534 in the Making Connections group, in exchange for an honest review.)
A long book packed with action and events, for sure, and one that I had a hard time putting down whenever I had to.
First, the theme. A book about young people riding trains, barely hanging onto them with tiny boards, and using them first for games, then to escape and run for their lives. In Tube stations and tunnels. In the hands of a reader who's been known to ride the London Tube and explore corridors and stairwells there just for fun. Awesome. Also, I think the author did a good job depicting his world. Granted, there were a few points on which my suspension of disbelief was somewhat stretched at times (some of the experiments, and a couple of plot junctures). But Chris Ward quickly falls back on his feet, giving us explanations about Mega Britain's shortcomings, that make it more understandable why a group of fugitives manages to outsmart officials for some time. If anything, I would've liked to know a little more about how exactly that country and government came to be; on the other hand, the books is already quite long, and this probably isn't absolutely essential in order to enjoy it (it's just me being curious).
The characters portrayed throughout the story were all heroic in their own ways, while remaining very humane, with both merits and flaws. Among the heroes, I especially liked the street-savvy Switch, always so resourceful, and Jess, who had to wade through so much grief and try to find her own answers. The villains themselves had humane sides and redeeming points, in spite of their vices; the Huntsmen were clearly victims before being monsters, and Dreggo herself had a vulnerable side and a very hard past that made her anger and resentment all the more understandable. For sure, she was a resilient and interesting adversary.
I'm still hesitant about the ending, to be honest: I can't decide whether I'd like to see a sequel or not. So much may still happen—the Bristol guys, the person left on the beach at the very end...—yet at the same time, the story still feels self-contained no matter what. It's hard to tell.
A long book packed with action and events, for sure, and one that I had a hard time putting down whenever I had to.
First, the theme. A book about young people riding trains, barely hanging onto them with tiny boards, and using them first for games, then to escape and run for their lives. In Tube stations and tunnels. In the hands of a reader who's been known to ride the London Tube and explore corridors and stairwells there just for fun. Awesome. Also, I think the author did a good job depicting his world. Granted, there were a few points on which my suspension of disbelief was somewhat stretched at times (some of the experiments, and a couple of plot junctures). But Chris Ward quickly falls back on his feet, giving us explanations about Mega Britain's shortcomings, that make it more understandable why a group of fugitives manages to outsmart officials for some time. If anything, I would've liked to know a little more about how exactly that country and government came to be; on the other hand, the books is already quite long, and this probably isn't absolutely essential in order to enjoy it (it's just me being curious).
The characters portrayed throughout the story were all heroic in their own ways, while remaining very humane, with both merits and flaws. Among the heroes, I especially liked the street-savvy Switch, always so resourceful, and Jess, who had to wade through so much grief and try to find her own answers. The villains themselves had humane sides and redeeming points, in spite of their vices; the Huntsmen were clearly victims before being monsters, and Dreggo herself had a vulnerable side and a very hard past that made her anger and resentment all the more understandable. For sure, she was a resilient and interesting adversary.
I'm still hesitant about the ending, to be honest: I can't decide whether I'd like to see a sequel or not. So much may still happen—the Bristol guys, the person left on the beach at the very end...—yet at the same time, the story still feels self-contained no matter what. It's hard to tell.
May 15, 2014
Feel like I'm picking on Veronica Roth (Divergent) for the second time but was so struck by how much better Chris Ward's writing is and how much less hype for what is an incredibly imaginative gritty series.
And ok, both these books are into trains, post-apocalyptic stuff, with strong female leads, so there were some obvious similarities.
Chosen fairly randomly (from the first book of both trilogies) compare this from Veronica Roth:
vs Chris Ward:
Or how they both write character or relationships. Chris Ward's perception is adult and nuanced. Roth's characterisation is just stilted. Ward's baddies are badder and the goodies are bad too.
This is a great series. If you liked say Phillip Reeve's Mortal Engines series (Hungry City Chronicles) you will find this equally enjoyable.
The only problem is the series title! He should put it out under a different one... doesn't do justice do it.
And ok, both these books are into trains, post-apocalyptic stuff, with strong female leads, so there were some obvious similarities.
Chosen fairly randomly (from the first book of both trilogies) compare this from Veronica Roth:
"Renovation moves slowly through the city, which is a patchwork of new, clean buildings and old, crumbling ones. Most of the new buildings are next to the marsh, which used to be a lake a long time ago."
vs Chris Ward:
"They came out of a side street onto a wider road alongside a river, identified by a rusty sign as Temple Way. A bridge led over the muddy, lethargic water, and beyond it was another litter-strewn park."
Or how they both write character or relationships. Chris Ward's perception is adult and nuanced. Roth's characterisation is just stilted. Ward's baddies are badder and the goodies are bad too.
This is a great series. If you liked say Phillip Reeve's Mortal Engines series (Hungry City Chronicles) you will find this equally enjoyable.
The only problem is the series title! He should put it out under a different one... doesn't do justice do it.
June 9, 2012
Action-packed, suspenseful, and highly entertaining, this book is a wonderful blend of sci-fi and apocalyptic horror, with a refreshing sense of adventure and a dash of drama that just makes it all around a wonderful read.
It reads better if you use a British accent in your head, but that simply adds to the charm.
"It was a cold October day, the sky a leaking grey bucket that spat rain on her leather tunic and ripped jeans."
The descriptions in this book are vivid and truly enjoyable; even though I've never seen these places or people before, I can imagine everything very well and the way it's written is beautiful.
There are some pretty unexpected twists and turns in this book, too, a wonderful aspect of it that I really appreciated and enjoyed.
There were a couple of random typos and words that were misused, but oddly enough - between the British accent in my head and the action-packed scenarios - I wasn't too affected by them; they didn't disrupt my reading.
The book is long, but there's so much that happens that it needs to be long. This is the perfect book to read if you're looking for something entertaining, exciting, and interesting - the futuristic aspect helps, too, so it literally has a little bit of something for everyone!
"But in reality, the only truth was that the truth could be anything."
This is my favorite sentence in the entire novel; it really illustrates that anything is possible in a book like this, and makes it that much more exciting.
Awesome work by Chris Ward - I highly recommend this book!
Reviewed by Jennifer-Crystal Johnson
Original review can be found at www.SoulVomit.com
It reads better if you use a British accent in your head, but that simply adds to the charm.
"It was a cold October day, the sky a leaking grey bucket that spat rain on her leather tunic and ripped jeans."
The descriptions in this book are vivid and truly enjoyable; even though I've never seen these places or people before, I can imagine everything very well and the way it's written is beautiful.
There are some pretty unexpected twists and turns in this book, too, a wonderful aspect of it that I really appreciated and enjoyed.
There were a couple of random typos and words that were misused, but oddly enough - between the British accent in my head and the action-packed scenarios - I wasn't too affected by them; they didn't disrupt my reading.
The book is long, but there's so much that happens that it needs to be long. This is the perfect book to read if you're looking for something entertaining, exciting, and interesting - the futuristic aspect helps, too, so it literally has a little bit of something for everyone!
"But in reality, the only truth was that the truth could be anything."
This is my favorite sentence in the entire novel; it really illustrates that anything is possible in a book like this, and makes it that much more exciting.
Awesome work by Chris Ward - I highly recommend this book!
Reviewed by Jennifer-Crystal Johnson
Original review can be found at www.SoulVomit.com
May 25, 2012
A fun romp with lots of action, cool bad guys and an interesting and believable world that is created very well. I'd call this book a young adult book, but would qualify that it's not young adult for parents who are out of touch with the YouTube generation, who think that anything "politically correct" is still a good idea, or who are super religious, etc. But, for the rest of the universe, the plot, characters and action would appeal very well to the sensibilities of the sub twenty-five male in particular. For the over forty crowd, probably not, without a lot of caveats allowed.
The story starts out really well and the first half of the book had me enthralled and even dreaming about it on a few nights. The plot gets a little shaky and felt contrived around the 60% to 70% mark, and I confess I was really frustrated by parts of it that seemed way too easy in places as the story got past the midway mark. However, the author saves it pretty nicely in the last ten or fifteen percent of the book with some really interesting world-building and some plot strategies that didn't seem contrived and were set up in the early parts of the book. A fun conclusion to read, all in all.
While I admit this book has its bumps and typos etc., in the end it comes down to the question of, would I read the next book if the author made a sequel? Yes, I would. I think this author has potential to really grow into someone capable of serious awesomeness.
The story starts out really well and the first half of the book had me enthralled and even dreaming about it on a few nights. The plot gets a little shaky and felt contrived around the 60% to 70% mark, and I confess I was really frustrated by parts of it that seemed way too easy in places as the story got past the midway mark. However, the author saves it pretty nicely in the last ten or fifteen percent of the book with some really interesting world-building and some plot strategies that didn't seem contrived and were set up in the early parts of the book. A fun conclusion to read, all in all.
While I admit this book has its bumps and typos etc., in the end it comes down to the question of, would I read the next book if the author made a sequel? Yes, I would. I think this author has potential to really grow into someone capable of serious awesomeness.
September 10, 2016
Though this book is a bit on the long side it is very interesting and will keep you reading. The story is about a group of kids that are called Tube Riders, basically they are train jumpers for adrenaline rush of it. The story is based in the future Britain or Mega Britain. The main characters are simple kids or young adults that are just trying to survive in the new world made for them by a sadistic ruler that turns normal people into gene altered or scientifically altered creatures of ones nightmares. As the author stated in reference to the creatures sometimes death is better, sometimes death is a release. When the kids find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time not only do their lives forever change but so does the world around them. The group finds themselves challenged in every possible way and then some. The courage and skill the group has will be challenged, forced and even broken at times. They must find a way to survive and they must find help. Who lives and who dies won’t tell you but this definitely not a normal read. I loved this book and intend to read on into the next book. The author truly gave this read a new feel and new way to look at what you thought about the changes of the world. Really good read would recommend this to anyone over 14, only because of gore feature.
April 27, 2014
Tube Riders is primarily a futuristic chase thriller, though there is a background dystopia at work. For me, Chris Ward was at his finest when three disparate groups, each pursuing it’s own agenda, are brought together in a single train station one evening when bad goes to worse as deaths mount up and pursuit of the most innocent group begins.
Character development is a bit lacking and the dialog occasionally rings hollow, but I found the two young boys whose gaming skills set them up to handle weapons and evasion more skillfully than their street-savvy counterparts adeptly handled. The villain, Mega Britain’s leader, is revealed to have fantasy powers seemingly bestowed from an abduction, not unlike those he perpetrates on the half-human, half-canine beasts, the huntsmen. The fantasy element was a bit over the top for my taste, but the amazing array of creatures that populate a wasteland of rejected creations is surprising and interesting.
Similarly, the complications that develop as the plot drives forward are continually engaging. If you like plot-driven futuristic thrillers and don’t mind a bit of fantasy thrown in, Tube Riders is sure to keep you reading to the end, and perhaps beyond, as this is the first book in a trilogy.
Character development is a bit lacking and the dialog occasionally rings hollow, but I found the two young boys whose gaming skills set them up to handle weapons and evasion more skillfully than their street-savvy counterparts adeptly handled. The villain, Mega Britain’s leader, is revealed to have fantasy powers seemingly bestowed from an abduction, not unlike those he perpetrates on the half-human, half-canine beasts, the huntsmen. The fantasy element was a bit over the top for my taste, but the amazing array of creatures that populate a wasteland of rejected creations is surprising and interesting.
Similarly, the complications that develop as the plot drives forward are continually engaging. If you like plot-driven futuristic thrillers and don’t mind a bit of fantasy thrown in, Tube Riders is sure to keep you reading to the end, and perhaps beyond, as this is the first book in a trilogy.
January 20, 2013
I was sent a copy of this book by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
It was difficult for me to get into the story and I am afraid to say that I found it boring very soon. But I went on reading because I thought that it would start being interesting... but it didn't. I stopped reading this book when I reached 68% on my Kindle. A group of young people who called themselves Tube Riders because they ride the trains in the Tube. They get in trouble and there are some people who want to kill them. They run away and the others chase them. It really wasn't the kind of story that hooks me as to wish to read it until the end.
The very weird formatting (or lack of it), typos, and mistakes didn't help me to think highly of this book. I don't like to stop reading books, but I really didn't feel any wish to know about the ending.
It was difficult for me to get into the story and I am afraid to say that I found it boring very soon. But I went on reading because I thought that it would start being interesting... but it didn't. I stopped reading this book when I reached 68% on my Kindle. A group of young people who called themselves Tube Riders because they ride the trains in the Tube. They get in trouble and there are some people who want to kill them. They run away and the others chase them. It really wasn't the kind of story that hooks me as to wish to read it until the end.
The very weird formatting (or lack of it), typos, and mistakes didn't help me to think highly of this book. I don't like to stop reading books, but I really didn't feel any wish to know about the ending.
December 9, 2014
Wow. I got this as a Kindle download and I could not put it down!
The story moves at a fairly robust pace - there is little time wasted on exposition, though we do delve a little into each character as the book progresses. Every one of them has a story to tell, and every one of them carries pain from events in their past, and therefore each of the good guys feels very human, and therefore relatable in some way.
I have to admit to being completely unsure how I was going to find this book. I was initially concerned it would be a young adult or teen fare, and therefore watered down on the tension, gore and language fronts, as well as being overly soap operaish. Thankfully, this is not a story to pull its punches, and keeps up the excitement and tension and fear right until the very end.
I plan to see how this trilogy unfolds just as soon as I can!
The story moves at a fairly robust pace - there is little time wasted on exposition, though we do delve a little into each character as the book progresses. Every one of them has a story to tell, and every one of them carries pain from events in their past, and therefore each of the good guys feels very human, and therefore relatable in some way.
I have to admit to being completely unsure how I was going to find this book. I was initially concerned it would be a young adult or teen fare, and therefore watered down on the tension, gore and language fronts, as well as being overly soap operaish. Thankfully, this is not a story to pull its punches, and keeps up the excitement and tension and fear right until the very end.
I plan to see how this trilogy unfolds just as soon as I can!
March 4, 2014
An enjoyable little near future dystopian book, just creeping into the cyberpunk arena I'd say.
I bought this book on a whim as it popped up on the recommended for you section of the kindle store and was free! Very glad that I did.
I found the story progressed at a fairly frenetic pace after a slightly slow start, the characters were engaging for the most part and the constant addition of back story snippets helped greatly with this.
I'm also a big fan of an author who is not afraid to build a decent character, flesh them out and then kill them off when you're expecting the first part of the happy ever after.....
I happily purchased the next book at full price to see how the story unfolded. Well worth a read if you're into this genera,
I bought this book on a whim as it popped up on the recommended for you section of the kindle store and was free! Very glad that I did.
I found the story progressed at a fairly frenetic pace after a slightly slow start, the characters were engaging for the most part and the constant addition of back story snippets helped greatly with this.
I'm also a big fan of an author who is not afraid to build a decent character, flesh them out and then kill them off when you're expecting the first part of the happy ever after.....
I happily purchased the next book at full price to see how the story unfolded. Well worth a read if you're into this genera,
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