Downfail: A Dystopian Robot Rebellion Adventure

by George Donnelly

No jobs. Robots took them. Citizens subsist on a basic income guarantee. They consume their lives in drug-fueled virtual reality gaming binges. Ian Blake doesn't play games and he won't accept handouts. He needs to be productive and useful - but his creepy boss just fired the baby-saving hero and father of three. Ian yearns to build his own robots now. But with a job offer in hand under his old boss in a government agency, he fights his family's callous material greed and his own self-doubt to build the future he thinks we all need.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2015

About the author

Former starship redshirt turned rag-clad resistance fighter, George Donnelly is the author of space opera, cyberpunk & post-apocalyptic science fiction series. A single unschooling expat dad, George prefers zombies to aliens but is primed for any meatspace apocalypse minus grey goo.

Reviews

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining relationships listening 🎶🔰

This was a free novella on Amazon.

The story of a family and friends relationships in a futuristic world 🌎. He finds out that his boss took credit for something he did after firing him. He finds out his wife has lied to him. But he does not give up.

I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers of futuristic novels. 2023 😀👒😡😮

[Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome writing, characters and world. I loved it and finished it in one morning so go ahead and get it and start reading now.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely well written and very entertaining. Great story line! Definitely want to read the follow up!

[Kort Ploshay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a wild ride, and you need to buckle your seatbelt as you dig into the twists and turns, the makings and unmakings, the heady highs and soul-crushing lows of Ian's evolution from the cyberpunk status-quo. You'll find it hard to put down, and running through your thoughts after you finish (?) it.

[James Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very hard book to rate...and at times, a hard book to read. I tried so very hard to root for the main character, because he always seemed to want to do the right thing. And every time anything ever went right for him, something almost immediately happened to bring him crashing back down again. Part of that is because he seemed to allow people to walk all over him.

And that is part of the problem. You want to root for the underdog, but when they don't seem to care about themselves, it is hard to work up much feeling for them.

Likes: the protagonist seems to truly care about doing what is right. Everyone else, with the exception of his youngest son, seems determined to do whatever is NOT right. (Because of this, the book takes on a bit of a farcical quality). While I KNOW people that are like some of the characters in the book, they are the exception and not the rule. In this book, there are two good guys and a world full of baddies. But you never know why the good guys are in the crosshairs. (Whoops...this is supposed to be about my likes.) I like that the protagonist never gave up, even when he clearly felt like the world was against him.

Dislikes: it got a bit much having the protagonist constantly beat down, time after time. There was never any reason given for it, either. It seems that some low level flunky becomes part of a government conspiracy to take down an even lower guy, who used to be his friend. At one point, even the flunky starts to feel bad about what he is doing. (For about a page or so). But you never find out why he is doing it. You never find out who is behind the curtains and why they do what they do. It seems highly unlikely that the entire world would have it in for the main character. He simply is too small to conjure up that kind of systematic oppression. In my experience, most people do not do evil or harm others, for no reason.

If all of this is "to be explained later," then I guess I would withdraw that complaint.

This was a strange little trippy book. I could have easily rated it a bit higher. But I docked it a bit because of my frustration with some of the above.

[Kitty Antonik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Blake does appear to be a schlep, a jerk who's let himself be taken advantage of repeatedly & for whom "shit (repeatedly) happens". But he's driven by determination to be the father his young son Jack is confident is there below the surface that has been beaten down many times.

Heroes in real life are often not that from the beginning or only intermittently, having "bad days" or even weeks and months where all seems lost. It's picking one's self up & trying again, maybe with something or in someplace different, that separates the heroes from the "wannabes" or "don't care".

George Donnelly's novella was mostly a pleasure to read. I admit though to be annoyed that Ian was so long accepting of his wife's & two older children's mind-numbing life interests. But he wanted to "save the world", including them.

Keep writing, George! Consider showing how a mutually voluntary interaction only society can work.

[Timothy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Mr. Donnelly nails the human aspect. The first 4 chapters were so intense that I actually had to put the book away for a few days - which is extremely rare for me. You find an empathy for the protagonist (Ian) that just draws you in. The story reads a lot like Kurt Vonnegut, though not quite so satirical. It does however bring a believable future if we continue the path of technology we're on. Not necessarily a read for everyone, but I enjoyed it. BTW, my version is titled "Downfail".

[Sakuralionheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story about a near future world where robots have taken over the economy, so humans no longer feel the need to do anything except sit around and play video games. It was a bit scary, but the main character wants to change all that. I really felt his frustrations throughout the story and couldn't wait to see how it ended!

The only issue I had with this book was some scene transitions that occurred a skosh too abruptly, but that's just me. It doesn't stop me from wanting to pick up the next one, however! :D

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Failpocalypse series . The author, George Donnelly writes his world and characters really well . I felt absolute hatred for horrible " uncle " Larry and Ian's awful money grabbing family . I felt sorry for poor Ian and his young son, Jack throughout the story .
Ian and Jack are both strong characters and are both determined to keep fighting on in life to achieve their goals and try to change the world for the better .
I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review .

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to follow

I had a hard time following the story of this book. In one chapter Jack is 8 the the next 16 and then back to 11. Not sure if the story was jumping between now and future or if it was just poor editing. There were loose ends that never got tied up such as we learn Ian's friend is hired to sabotage Ian's life over a long period of time but there was no explanation as to why. I could see what the author was trying to relate to the reader. I just think it was drug out a bit and hard to follow.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a dystopian novel, Downfail begins (and persists) in negativity. It can be quite frustrating, as the reader wonders if anything will go well for the protagonist. But the message of this book is extremely well presented. A fast read, it's worth your time, especially if you like robot science fiction.

[shannon Stubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a five star rating if there wasn't so much negativity with the main character. Other than that it was a great story. The next book hopefully will be better.
I've read a short story by this author and enjoyed it. It got me looking for other books written by this author. That's where I found downfail. I'm looking forward for more books and stories by this author.

[Anne Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.Home, family, job ,until it all goes wrong., illusions of grandeur, greed from some family members and bullying take over .Hitting rock bottom and fighting back is all he had left. Your emotions are all over the place for him and his family .twist and turns and an unexpected finish. Chapters jumped in and out but this just added to the the story.Liked it .

[Stephanie Mckeracher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbing and funny

I read this book in almost one go. I had to put it down a couple of times but was soon back to it. I felt sorry for Ian and wished he'd have something go right for him. It's quite disturbing that we all seem to rely on tech these days. It makes you think, do we really need it?

[Teri Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, interesting story

This story is different, I'm not a fan of dystopian fiction so it's difficult for me to gage the success or failure of a story in this genre. To be brutally honest there wasn't a single character in this story I didn't want to slap, hard!

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable book, from the first page to the end. There are not many books that engage me from page 1. There were a few gaps where I wanted to read more, but they were intentional gaps, but it never took away from one of the best stories I've read in a while

[Debbie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of mistakes, misadventures and mayhem. Poor Ian lost control of his life someone along with his manhood, but all is about to change. Thank you for an engaging read, Danny Scott.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Downfail

An interesting view of a robotic future and the good and bad parts of humanity in relation to it

[Jimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book stimulates you emotions from low to high and back. Good read

[Mark Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very jumpy

Overall the book is very good but it jumps around a bit more than I care for even with that said it is very much worth the read.

[Brandy Miner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes u just need a book that u don't like the way things r going,and
end just right.

[Heather Samsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant - Found that the author could really hold your attention!

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A logical extension of where we are.

[tj]

You don't want to miss this!

This is a great read, well thought out, well written, and it's quite original. I can't wait to read more!

[alice Tileston · Rating 5 out of 5]

received free for review:
to me this story seems more sf/fantasy.
A world where humans are lumps depending on robots, all except 1 man and his young son.
Who gets to decide what is best for humanity?

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly the author is interested in establishing a series as this is a short (read it in one evening) story about the beginnings of robots becoming care takers of humanity. The interesting plot involves humans and their mistreatment of each other, the pain and sacrifices of the inventor of the robots, and lastly the beginnings of the conflict between the humans and the robots. Obviously, the title is meant for the entire series and not just this installment, and frankly while interesting the beginning did not succeed in making me wish for the next in series. An easy read and you may well find it an interesting premise. In full disclosure, I received this book for free with the understanding and hope of the author that I'd write a review.