What do you think?
Rate this book
The Reach #1
Earthbound
The Earth is suffocating under toxic skies and there’s only one way for those left behind to escape – the space elevator that sits atop the massive structure known as the Reach.
Knile Oberend is an outcast, a man exiled for the crimes of his past. Thrown an unlikely lifeline, he has less than forty-eight hours to cash in his ticket at the top of the Reach and escape off-world.
Disgraced cop Alec Duran had a bright future until he made one fateful mistake. Now his last shot at redemption becomes entwined with the fate of the very man who ruined his life three years ago.
Alton Wilt, an underworld boss desperate to leave Earth, falls upon a rare find – the name of a man who is about to be granted passage off-world. With his minions in tow he is hell bent on stealing that privilege for himself.
As time runs out, these three men find themselves on a collision course that will lead to a confrontation from which only one can emerge victorious.
Alternate cover edition: 1514614065
Knile Oberend is an outcast, a man exiled for the crimes of his past. Thrown an unlikely lifeline, he has less than forty-eight hours to cash in his ticket at the top of the Reach and escape off-world.
Disgraced cop Alec Duran had a bright future until he made one fateful mistake. Now his last shot at redemption becomes entwined with the fate of the very man who ruined his life three years ago.
Alton Wilt, an underworld boss desperate to leave Earth, falls upon a rare find – the name of a man who is about to be granted passage off-world. With his minions in tow he is hell bent on stealing that privilege for himself.
As time runs out, these three men find themselves on a collision course that will lead to a confrontation from which only one can emerge victorious.
Alternate cover edition: 1514614065
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
358 pages, Unknown Binding
First published July 1, 2015
49 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Mark R. Healy
16 books63 followersMark R. Healy is an author and musician from Brisbane, Australia. From an early age he loved to create, and often assembled his own illustrated books with accompanying stories - and then forced his parents to buy them.
Unfortunately this model was not scalable and Mark now seeks to promote his works to a wider audience.
Mark has also combined his storytelling prowess with music, creating a project called ‘Hibernal’ through which he interweaves original sci-fi stories with his own music to create an immersive theatrical experience for the listener. Combined with a professional voice cast and sound effects, these “audio movies” are available online through iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon under the name ‘Hibernal’.
Unfortunately this model was not scalable and Mark now seeks to promote his works to a wider audience.
Mark has also combined his storytelling prowess with music, creating a project called ‘Hibernal’ through which he interweaves original sci-fi stories with his own music to create an immersive theatrical experience for the listener. Combined with a professional voice cast and sound effects, these “audio movies” are available online through iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon under the name ‘Hibernal’.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 20, 2016
Mark R. Healy’s 2015 novel Earthbound pays tribute to many SF/F influences while delivering a unique and original vision.
The first inspiration that was evident was from the 1981 John Carpenter film Escape from New York; Healy even includes the line “heard you was dead” several times as his protagonist begins his trek “out of” or off Earth.
Healy has described a post-apocalyptic Earth where for the past few generations the inhabitants of Earth are slowly dying from pollution and toxins poisoning, as our atmosphere is failing daily and becoming more and more unlivable. This calamity followed technological advances where humanity has pushed out into space colonies. This idea of scientific and engineering progress that have survived into a time of post-apocalyptic survival is reminiscent of Poul Anderson’s 1983 novel Orion Shall Rise.
Protagonist Knile has survived (and nearly starved) in the calorie deficient Lowlands (reminding me of Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl) and has been given an opportunity to go off world. Knile is given a “passkey” which allows him, if he can make it in 48 hours, to be given access to a trip off world via The Reach; kilometers tall buildings that stretch up into the atmosphere to better allow space travel. The Reach tall towers reminded me a little of Robert Silverberg’s The World Inside, where inhabitants survive and live their whole lives separated from Earth’s poisonous air. Standing in the way of Knile’s advance is a cadre of Enforcers who keeps the Reach safe from the unwashed masses of Earthlings too unfortunate to still need to live outside.
While Knile’s adventure is the surface story, the real hero here is Healy’s world building and impressive imagery. The author also fills his narrative with an intricate and satisfying character dynamic that builds towards the denouement.
The first inspiration that was evident was from the 1981 John Carpenter film Escape from New York; Healy even includes the line “heard you was dead” several times as his protagonist begins his trek “out of” or off Earth.
Healy has described a post-apocalyptic Earth where for the past few generations the inhabitants of Earth are slowly dying from pollution and toxins poisoning, as our atmosphere is failing daily and becoming more and more unlivable. This calamity followed technological advances where humanity has pushed out into space colonies. This idea of scientific and engineering progress that have survived into a time of post-apocalyptic survival is reminiscent of Poul Anderson’s 1983 novel Orion Shall Rise.
Protagonist Knile has survived (and nearly starved) in the calorie deficient Lowlands (reminding me of Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl) and has been given an opportunity to go off world. Knile is given a “passkey” which allows him, if he can make it in 48 hours, to be given access to a trip off world via The Reach; kilometers tall buildings that stretch up into the atmosphere to better allow space travel. The Reach tall towers reminded me a little of Robert Silverberg’s The World Inside, where inhabitants survive and live their whole lives separated from Earth’s poisonous air. Standing in the way of Knile’s advance is a cadre of Enforcers who keeps the Reach safe from the unwashed masses of Earthlings too unfortunate to still need to live outside.
While Knile’s adventure is the surface story, the real hero here is Healy’s world building and impressive imagery. The author also fills his narrative with an intricate and satisfying character dynamic that builds towards the denouement.
March 24, 2016
Mark R. Healy’s science fiction novel Earthbound was a heck of a lot of fun! The author states in the post script that he absolutely loved writing this book and that passion and enthusiasm bleeds out of every page.
The story is based in a future Earth, where humanity’s short-sightedness has allowed our home planet to become virtually uninhabitable. The good news is that humanity has expanded out into space by this time, with advanced, luxurious colonies spreading throughout the solar system. The bad news is that these colonies are only for the very rich or the very lucky.
Why lucky? Well, sometimes wealthy people act as sponsors for those who can’t get off-planet under their own power, bestowing upon them a passkey for a trip off Earth, usually in exchange for some service, but sometimes just because they’re feeling charitable. Our story begins when protagonist, Knile Oberend, receives one such passkey from an unknown sponsor for an unknown reason. The catch? Oberend has to somehow make it from the poverty-stricken shanty towns that surround the space elevator which is the only way off-planet right up to the top where he can use his passkey. Oh, and Oberend is wanted by the law. So… three kilometres up, avoiding detection the entire way. Oh, and the passkey expires after 48 hours. Piece of piss, right?
Wrong! Oberend’s journey is an unrelenting rollercoaster ride of danger and excitement to rival any action movie. He hits complication after complication to the point where the reader really is in doubt as to whether he will make it to his goal. It’s a 300-odd page chase scene that hardly pauses for breath the entire time. Adrenaline junkies (well, bookworm adrenaline junkies) will have an absolute blast with this one. I ate it up like it was a meat-feast from Dominos! (Other pizza delivery companies are available.)
I also really enjoyed the way the author built up the protagonist from a faceless cypher to a fully-fledged three-dimensional character by means of a slow drip of snippets from his past. The reader gets to know the man as they get to know the world he lives in.
The only negative I have about the book is that the dialogue sometimes didn’t sound natural, but this seems to be a common trait of science fiction. (As Harrison Ford famously once said ‘You can type this shit, George, but you sure as Hell can’t say it!’) I also found myself a little uncomfortable with some of the racially charged language in one scene, with a particular character liberally sprinkling his speech with the words ‘bwana’, but it’s more than possible my left-wing sensibilities may have been being oversensitive here. The character using the word certainly wasn’t supposed to be viewed as a positive role model, after all. I guess I’d just like to think this sort of thing would have disappeared from our culture in the future!
Earthbound is part one of a series and I’m very much looking forward to reading the next installation.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair review. Having said that, I will definitely be happy to hand over good money for the author’s other work, based on the fun I had reading this novel!
The story is based in a future Earth, where humanity’s short-sightedness has allowed our home planet to become virtually uninhabitable. The good news is that humanity has expanded out into space by this time, with advanced, luxurious colonies spreading throughout the solar system. The bad news is that these colonies are only for the very rich or the very lucky.
Why lucky? Well, sometimes wealthy people act as sponsors for those who can’t get off-planet under their own power, bestowing upon them a passkey for a trip off Earth, usually in exchange for some service, but sometimes just because they’re feeling charitable. Our story begins when protagonist, Knile Oberend, receives one such passkey from an unknown sponsor for an unknown reason. The catch? Oberend has to somehow make it from the poverty-stricken shanty towns that surround the space elevator which is the only way off-planet right up to the top where he can use his passkey. Oh, and Oberend is wanted by the law. So… three kilometres up, avoiding detection the entire way. Oh, and the passkey expires after 48 hours. Piece of piss, right?
Wrong! Oberend’s journey is an unrelenting rollercoaster ride of danger and excitement to rival any action movie. He hits complication after complication to the point where the reader really is in doubt as to whether he will make it to his goal. It’s a 300-odd page chase scene that hardly pauses for breath the entire time. Adrenaline junkies (well, bookworm adrenaline junkies) will have an absolute blast with this one. I ate it up like it was a meat-feast from Dominos! (Other pizza delivery companies are available.)
I also really enjoyed the way the author built up the protagonist from a faceless cypher to a fully-fledged three-dimensional character by means of a slow drip of snippets from his past. The reader gets to know the man as they get to know the world he lives in.
The only negative I have about the book is that the dialogue sometimes didn’t sound natural, but this seems to be a common trait of science fiction. (As Harrison Ford famously once said ‘You can type this shit, George, but you sure as Hell can’t say it!’) I also found myself a little uncomfortable with some of the racially charged language in one scene, with a particular character liberally sprinkling his speech with the words ‘bwana’, but it’s more than possible my left-wing sensibilities may have been being oversensitive here. The character using the word certainly wasn’t supposed to be viewed as a positive role model, after all. I guess I’d just like to think this sort of thing would have disappeared from our culture in the future!
Earthbound is part one of a series and I’m very much looking forward to reading the next installation.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair review. Having said that, I will definitely be happy to hand over good money for the author’s other work, based on the fun I had reading this novel!
March 13, 2016
The first part of Earthbound felt a little slow to me but before I knew it this book had me hooked and refused to let me go. I loved it!
This was my first book by this author and I got to say that I'm impressed. The writing was excellent, the story was amazing and unpredictable. This is the kind of book that I will never get tired of.
With multiple points of view, with three characters in the spotlight, it gave us different insights to this world the author created. Earth is slowly dying and all characters came from different places. Most of the story takes place in the Reach, which on top has a space elevator that people would do anything for to be on to get off-world.
Like I said the book has multiple points of view but it still mainly revolves about Knile Oberend, who more than anything wants to leave Earth behind and start a new life somewhere else. With the dishonered cop Alec Duran and criminal Alton Wilt chasing after him for constrasting reasons, this is no easy feat. Especially when he has to drag a kid around who isn't all what she seems.
I loved the action and the various characters Knile comes across on his journey to the top of the reach. There was never a dull moment. It also hit home how if mankind isn't careful, this might become our impending future. I also loved the twists at the end. I thought it was very clever and very unexpected!
Overall, Earthbound by Mark R. Healy was fast-paced, thrilling and action-packed. The story was a race against time that introduced us to some strong and memorable characters that I sure won't forget.
This was my first book by this author and I got to say that I'm impressed. The writing was excellent, the story was amazing and unpredictable. This is the kind of book that I will never get tired of.
With multiple points of view, with three characters in the spotlight, it gave us different insights to this world the author created. Earth is slowly dying and all characters came from different places. Most of the story takes place in the Reach, which on top has a space elevator that people would do anything for to be on to get off-world.
Like I said the book has multiple points of view but it still mainly revolves about Knile Oberend, who more than anything wants to leave Earth behind and start a new life somewhere else. With the dishonered cop Alec Duran and criminal Alton Wilt chasing after him for constrasting reasons, this is no easy feat. Especially when he has to drag a kid around who isn't all what she seems.
I loved the action and the various characters Knile comes across on his journey to the top of the reach. There was never a dull moment. It also hit home how if mankind isn't careful, this might become our impending future. I also loved the twists at the end. I thought it was very clever and very unexpected!
Overall, Earthbound by Mark R. Healy was fast-paced, thrilling and action-packed. The story was a race against time that introduced us to some strong and memorable characters that I sure won't forget.
August 8, 2015
Rating: 3.5 stars
Ahead, the Reach awaited them.
I was provided a free copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. Mark Healy's Earthbound revolves around an apocalyptic, poisoned Earth where most humans have been moved off-planet. Those face grim conditions on a toxic planet, where the only hope lies in a single space elevator called Reach. Those who get sponsored by off-planet humans are then able to be shuttled off the planet. The rest, however, are left to suffer on the deserted Earth. Our story focuses on one main character, Knile Oberend, an outcast and criminal who somehow receives a passkey to get off the planet, a dream come true. However, in order to escape, he has to get to the top of the space elevator within 48 hours or so. His path is set to collide with two other major characters, one being a law enforcer seeking redemption, and the other being a criminal lord also looking for a way off. And so Earthbound takes the reader through Knile's thrilling race.
Earthbound was definitely an enjoyable novel overall. The neat thing about it was the quick, action-filled pace. It really never slowed down for any sort of info-dumping. All the necessary background info was mostly well placed in the story and dialogue. Because of the race nature of the story, the plot is really always moving and I think that the author was able to do this well. I did feel a little off about the characters. They were interesting and mostly well-written. I never felt that I truly connected with them though. At some points they just felt a little flat. And though the pacing of the novel as quick, it did get a little slow for me about halfway through. I did round the book rating up to 4 stars because I felt like the resolution of the novel and the twists at the end were very fun and thrilling. I did not see where the plot was going and I think the author did a great job putting together the plot the way he did.
Earthbound was a fun read and I will look forward to the next one in this series. There is definitely promise with the world of Reach and good things could come from it!
Ahead, the Reach awaited them.
I was provided a free copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. Mark Healy's Earthbound revolves around an apocalyptic, poisoned Earth where most humans have been moved off-planet. Those face grim conditions on a toxic planet, where the only hope lies in a single space elevator called Reach. Those who get sponsored by off-planet humans are then able to be shuttled off the planet. The rest, however, are left to suffer on the deserted Earth. Our story focuses on one main character, Knile Oberend, an outcast and criminal who somehow receives a passkey to get off the planet, a dream come true. However, in order to escape, he has to get to the top of the space elevator within 48 hours or so. His path is set to collide with two other major characters, one being a law enforcer seeking redemption, and the other being a criminal lord also looking for a way off. And so Earthbound takes the reader through Knile's thrilling race.
Earthbound was definitely an enjoyable novel overall. The neat thing about it was the quick, action-filled pace. It really never slowed down for any sort of info-dumping. All the necessary background info was mostly well placed in the story and dialogue. Because of the race nature of the story, the plot is really always moving and I think that the author was able to do this well. I did feel a little off about the characters. They were interesting and mostly well-written. I never felt that I truly connected with them though. At some points they just felt a little flat. And though the pacing of the novel as quick, it did get a little slow for me about halfway through. I did round the book rating up to 4 stars because I felt like the resolution of the novel and the twists at the end were very fun and thrilling. I did not see where the plot was going and I think the author did a great job putting together the plot the way he did.
Earthbound was a fun read and I will look forward to the next one in this series. There is definitely promise with the world of Reach and good things could come from it!
August 7, 2015
I received a free copy of Earthbound in exchange for an honest review. After reading about 30 indie sci-fi novels in the past couple years, I have to say this is one of the best. Earthbound is exciting with surprising depth and an ending that makes the whole trip worth it.
Knile Oberand is a criminal, living on the vast wasteland of Earth waiting for his ship to come in. In this case, the ship is a passkey, a small encoded device that gives him access to the last space elevator on the planet. From there he has a chance at a new life on one of many new colonies in the Solar System. Out of nowhere, he gets a message that a passkey is available with his name on it by some unknown benefactor. To get it, he must trudge through the slums of the city to the Reach, an insanely tall skyscraper with the Wire space elevator on top. Along the way he revisits his past, including a love lost, and friends abandoned. As a final catch, he must escort a young girl named Ursie to the elevator as well.
The trek from the city on the surface all the way to the top is an action-packed thrill ride that will give you vertigo at times.
There is plenty of action and some great characters in Earthbound. Knile is a criminal but has developed friendships along the way and values loyalty. His charge, Ursie, is a street urchin who has survived on her own on the rough streets of the city. There is also the inspector Alec Duran, who wants to take down the infamous Knile Oberand. Finally there is the vicious drug dealer Alton Wilt, who wants Knile's passkey for himself.
It is a race to the top for all of them.
The world-building is solid, utilizing a post-apocalyptic landscape with a space elevator, inspired by Arthur C. Clarke. The story does not dwell on the apocalypse or the suffering directly, but more on the race to the elevator. As a result, there is minimal infodumping or awkward recitations of facts. The dialogue gets a little long-winded and expository at times but it is pretty rare.
The chemistry between Knile and Ursie is a pretty interesting dynamic but at times I thought a little contrived. I liked both of them a lot but sometimes their interaction would take a leap or shift in a direction that felt unnatural. All of it realigned towards the end, which partially explained the unusual dynamic between them.
There were some truly great scenes, and lots of action. I did start to wear down at about the three quarters mark but everything pulled together at the end.
As far as indie sci-fi goes, this is definitely up there. The sometimes awkward, sappy dialogue and the length took a little away but it still very much deserves 5 stars.
Knile Oberand is a criminal, living on the vast wasteland of Earth waiting for his ship to come in. In this case, the ship is a passkey, a small encoded device that gives him access to the last space elevator on the planet. From there he has a chance at a new life on one of many new colonies in the Solar System. Out of nowhere, he gets a message that a passkey is available with his name on it by some unknown benefactor. To get it, he must trudge through the slums of the city to the Reach, an insanely tall skyscraper with the Wire space elevator on top. Along the way he revisits his past, including a love lost, and friends abandoned. As a final catch, he must escort a young girl named Ursie to the elevator as well.
The trek from the city on the surface all the way to the top is an action-packed thrill ride that will give you vertigo at times.
There is plenty of action and some great characters in Earthbound. Knile is a criminal but has developed friendships along the way and values loyalty. His charge, Ursie, is a street urchin who has survived on her own on the rough streets of the city. There is also the inspector Alec Duran, who wants to take down the infamous Knile Oberand. Finally there is the vicious drug dealer Alton Wilt, who wants Knile's passkey for himself.
It is a race to the top for all of them.
The world-building is solid, utilizing a post-apocalyptic landscape with a space elevator, inspired by Arthur C. Clarke. The story does not dwell on the apocalypse or the suffering directly, but more on the race to the elevator. As a result, there is minimal infodumping or awkward recitations of facts. The dialogue gets a little long-winded and expository at times but it is pretty rare.
The chemistry between Knile and Ursie is a pretty interesting dynamic but at times I thought a little contrived. I liked both of them a lot but sometimes their interaction would take a leap or shift in a direction that felt unnatural. All of it realigned towards the end, which partially explained the unusual dynamic between them.
There were some truly great scenes, and lots of action. I did start to wear down at about the three quarters mark but everything pulled together at the end.
As far as indie sci-fi goes, this is definitely up there. The sometimes awkward, sappy dialogue and the length took a little away but it still very much deserves 5 stars.
January 25, 2016
This was an exciting and thrilling ride! Mark has a great capability of keeping the reader engaged and entertained with character insights and fantastic attention to details of their surroundings and thoughts. Very unexpected ending! Can't wait to read book 2 and continue reading of Knile's journey!
I had to read it in spurts as my wintertime job has me pretty occupied with lots of snow this year, but was very easy to pick up and get into the thick of things when the times to read come about!
I had to read it in spurts as my wintertime job has me pretty occupied with lots of snow this year, but was very easy to pick up and get into the thick of things when the times to read come about!
January 3, 2016
Awesome action and intrigue
Absolutely loved every turn this book took me through!
Spellbinding is another word I could use to describe the story!
Knile is a wonderful character I felt easy to relate to.
The "Happy Ending" was unexpected.
Looking forward to next book in this series..
I received this in exchange for an honest review
Absolutely loved every turn this book took me through!
Spellbinding is another word I could use to describe the story!
Knile is a wonderful character I felt easy to relate to.
The "Happy Ending" was unexpected.
Looking forward to next book in this series..
I received this in exchange for an honest review
August 1, 2019
Was a great story
Great writing, storyline, and characters. But in parts, it felt long winded and drawn out. I liked the idea and the way the story was told though and look forward to the rest of the series
Great writing, storyline, and characters. But in parts, it felt long winded and drawn out. I liked the idea and the way the story was told though and look forward to the rest of the series
October 10, 2015
I did read it in spurts and do feel some content could be cut down, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Healy introduced some diverse characters as well as scenery. The world has gone into the crapper. Humans have depleted Earth's natural resources, the air is toxic, and food is scarce. Money still wins the game. The prize: taking a ride into the skies.
The Reach is a massive structure which provides commerce and shelter, but also holds the pathway to an elevator that reaches into space. On the other side - the potential for a new life and escape from a dying land. The price of admission varies, but it takes an off-world sponsor to secure travel accommodations.
An anonymous sponsor provides a ticket for Knile Oberend, whom has been surviving off the grid in an environment that is worse than the slums and crumbling city. He has a past in the civilized arena, but is a wanted man and keeps a low profile. Of course, the lure of a ride up brings him back into the fold and into his adversary's reach.
A cop is after him for crimes and a powerful criminal wants the ticket for himself. The three converge in a cat and mouse game where the maze is a vertical megalith - a race for life, death, retribution, and escape.
There are plenty of action scenes as well as fun characters. This is book one of a series or trilogy - that I don't know or haven't' looked up. The pace is pretty fluid and some of the different scenes and characters are, I believe, needed to set the stage for future adventure.
The author provided a copy for review. I read it over eight or nine days and it is about 350 pages
The Reach is a massive structure which provides commerce and shelter, but also holds the pathway to an elevator that reaches into space. On the other side - the potential for a new life and escape from a dying land. The price of admission varies, but it takes an off-world sponsor to secure travel accommodations.
An anonymous sponsor provides a ticket for Knile Oberend, whom has been surviving off the grid in an environment that is worse than the slums and crumbling city. He has a past in the civilized arena, but is a wanted man and keeps a low profile. Of course, the lure of a ride up brings him back into the fold and into his adversary's reach.
A cop is after him for crimes and a powerful criminal wants the ticket for himself. The three converge in a cat and mouse game where the maze is a vertical megalith - a race for life, death, retribution, and escape.
There are plenty of action scenes as well as fun characters. This is book one of a series or trilogy - that I don't know or haven't' looked up. The pace is pretty fluid and some of the different scenes and characters are, I believe, needed to set the stage for future adventure.
The author provided a copy for review. I read it over eight or nine days and it is about 350 pages
July 15, 2015
Earthbound is Mark R. Healy's 4th novel and the first in a new trilogy of books (following in from The Silent Earth series).
Earth is not the paradise it once was and those unfortunate to still be living on it are dying from airborne toxins, starvation and crime. The only way off the planet is by space elevator and everyone but everyone wants a ticket.
The story revolves around a young world weary man named Knile Oberand who out of the blue is given a passkey to get off the planet and start over. The only problem is that he is wanted by a cop on a mission and is being hunted by an organised crime lord who wants his passkey.
Mark has weaved a thrilling roller coaster ride of a sci-fi thriller. I could almost feel myself casting the movie as I was going along. It's a relentless journey and the pace never stops with the whole novel being set over just a couple of days. In all his novels Mark has a great ability to hold your attention and make you care for his characters.
I am very much looking forward to book 2 where I look forward to seeing some of the supporting characters from this novel again....and that's the thing, although they were only supporting characters they were interesting. That's what Mark does.....oh and he always has a few surprises up his sleeve as well. Enjoy
Earth is not the paradise it once was and those unfortunate to still be living on it are dying from airborne toxins, starvation and crime. The only way off the planet is by space elevator and everyone but everyone wants a ticket.
The story revolves around a young world weary man named Knile Oberand who out of the blue is given a passkey to get off the planet and start over. The only problem is that he is wanted by a cop on a mission and is being hunted by an organised crime lord who wants his passkey.
Mark has weaved a thrilling roller coaster ride of a sci-fi thriller. I could almost feel myself casting the movie as I was going along. It's a relentless journey and the pace never stops with the whole novel being set over just a couple of days. In all his novels Mark has a great ability to hold your attention and make you care for his characters.
I am very much looking forward to book 2 where I look forward to seeing some of the supporting characters from this novel again....and that's the thing, although they were only supporting characters they were interesting. That's what Mark does.....oh and he always has a few surprises up his sleeve as well. Enjoy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2020
This is a copy of a review I originally wrote on Amazon.com in 2016, with minor edits.
Mark R. Healy is a multi-talented artist who is carving out a name for himself as not only a first class writer of science fiction, but also is creating some truly exceptional progressive / atmospheric rock with his self produced band "Hibernal." In Earthbound, the first in this second series of novels, he has created a tensely suspenseful story based in a world on the brink of utter collapse.
If you are at all familiar with his music, you won't be surprised at the direction of his novels. Healy thrives on post apocalyptic or dystopian themes. In this series, the Earth is dying by degrees and most of the population has already fled to colonies throughout the solar system. Those left behind are either too poor to get off planet and resigned to their fates, or patiently waiting for their "slot" on the next ship off world. Faced with grim alternatives - most people do their best to survive the toxic planet or find some way out. This story follows one main protagonist who is offered a ticket to the stars, he need only make it to the top of "The Reach" to board the space elevator. I won't delve any further into the plot - suffice it to say he has many obstacles and not a few adversaries blocking his way out.
What Healy does amazingly well is world building - in his music he combines well written story vignettes with lush and complex musical scores that allow plenty of room for the listener to paint their own pictures. Similarly in this novel he has created a believable future world and given us enough information to imagine without overloading us with minutia that would bog down the action.
One of major characters in this novel is the Reach itself - a massive tower city that reaches to the heavens and serves as the last remaining gateway to outer space. Like the USS Enterprise of Star Trek fame, I found myself as intrigued by the Reach as I was by the people living in it. I want to know more about it, how was it built? What does it look like? I want to explore every nook and cranny.
If I have any quibble at all with the book, it might be with some of the technology described. I'm not exactly sure how far in the future this book is set, but at different points there were shades of steam punk in the surrounding slums at the base of the structure, super advanced technologies within the tower, 1960's television era labyrinths (you know, those ubiquitous people sized ventilation shafts that seemed to be in every adventure episode, from Mission Impossible and Man From Uncle to Batman.) Yet, some of the bad guys seemed firmly rooted in the 1940's, complete with hand guns and slightly dopey jargon. None of that is bad, the overall effect is a complex and entertaining world.
The pacing in this novel is fast; the main characters are well developed and enjoyable. There are some very nice twists and turns to keep the pages turning, and the ending definitely makes me want to come back for more. I describe it as a cinematic adventure and that it is...this story coupled with a solid Hibernal soundtrack would make a whale of an entertaining mini-series or television series.
Mark R. Healy is a multi-talented artist who is carving out a name for himself as not only a first class writer of science fiction, but also is creating some truly exceptional progressive / atmospheric rock with his self produced band "Hibernal." In Earthbound, the first in this second series of novels, he has created a tensely suspenseful story based in a world on the brink of utter collapse.
If you are at all familiar with his music, you won't be surprised at the direction of his novels. Healy thrives on post apocalyptic or dystopian themes. In this series, the Earth is dying by degrees and most of the population has already fled to colonies throughout the solar system. Those left behind are either too poor to get off planet and resigned to their fates, or patiently waiting for their "slot" on the next ship off world. Faced with grim alternatives - most people do their best to survive the toxic planet or find some way out. This story follows one main protagonist who is offered a ticket to the stars, he need only make it to the top of "The Reach" to board the space elevator. I won't delve any further into the plot - suffice it to say he has many obstacles and not a few adversaries blocking his way out.
What Healy does amazingly well is world building - in his music he combines well written story vignettes with lush and complex musical scores that allow plenty of room for the listener to paint their own pictures. Similarly in this novel he has created a believable future world and given us enough information to imagine without overloading us with minutia that would bog down the action.
One of major characters in this novel is the Reach itself - a massive tower city that reaches to the heavens and serves as the last remaining gateway to outer space. Like the USS Enterprise of Star Trek fame, I found myself as intrigued by the Reach as I was by the people living in it. I want to know more about it, how was it built? What does it look like? I want to explore every nook and cranny.
If I have any quibble at all with the book, it might be with some of the technology described. I'm not exactly sure how far in the future this book is set, but at different points there were shades of steam punk in the surrounding slums at the base of the structure, super advanced technologies within the tower, 1960's television era labyrinths (you know, those ubiquitous people sized ventilation shafts that seemed to be in every adventure episode, from Mission Impossible and Man From Uncle to Batman.) Yet, some of the bad guys seemed firmly rooted in the 1940's, complete with hand guns and slightly dopey jargon. None of that is bad, the overall effect is a complex and entertaining world.
The pacing in this novel is fast; the main characters are well developed and enjoyable. There are some very nice twists and turns to keep the pages turning, and the ending definitely makes me want to come back for more. I describe it as a cinematic adventure and that it is...this story coupled with a solid Hibernal soundtrack would make a whale of an entertaining mini-series or television series.
May 11, 2017
5/10/17
EARTHBOUND
Mark R. Healy
The earth is almost dead. The food, water and the air are all polluted and the natural resources are gone. Most of the people have been evacuated years ago now live in habitats established on other planets, stars etc.The people left either don't want to go or have no way of leaving.
To leave, your travel must be paid for and you must be sponsored by someone in a habitat. Needless to say, the desire to leave is far greater than the ability.
Knile has lived on the streets most of his life and therefore very surprised when he finds out he has been sponsored and has a pass to leave. He must reach the departure area at the Reach within 48 hours and oh yeah, he also has promised to take a young girl who needs to drop off a package with the buyer. No problem, it also seems that a gangster wants his pass, and a police inspector wants him for his past deeds. No problem soon turns into a big problem. Can he make it alive?
This is a very well written and engrossing book and you CANNOT put it down, even if you are not into Syfi. This book........this series will grab you and entertain you as well as any book around, and the ending, OMG, the ending, you can't beat it.
I would recommend this book to all.
EARTHBOUND
Mark R. Healy
The earth is almost dead. The food, water and the air are all polluted and the natural resources are gone. Most of the people have been evacuated years ago now live in habitats established on other planets, stars etc.The people left either don't want to go or have no way of leaving.
To leave, your travel must be paid for and you must be sponsored by someone in a habitat. Needless to say, the desire to leave is far greater than the ability.
Knile has lived on the streets most of his life and therefore very surprised when he finds out he has been sponsored and has a pass to leave. He must reach the departure area at the Reach within 48 hours and oh yeah, he also has promised to take a young girl who needs to drop off a package with the buyer. No problem, it also seems that a gangster wants his pass, and a police inspector wants him for his past deeds. No problem soon turns into a big problem. Can he make it alive?
This is a very well written and engrossing book and you CANNOT put it down, even if you are not into Syfi. This book........this series will grab you and entertain you as well as any book around, and the ending, OMG, the ending, you can't beat it.
I would recommend this book to all.
October 7, 2018
Earth is nearing its end as far as life is concerned, the air is toxic, the resources are depleted and life for humans is desperate except for the few who live in the upper reaches of the tower that is the connection to travel to colonies on the moon and beyond. At this point only a few can make the jump if they have a pass provided by an off earth sponsor. Knile Oberend a schemer, sometime thief and survivor has almost managed to reach the top of the tower but a miscalculation in hacking the gate to the departure level to space ruins his chance. He has now learned that he has been given a pass key if he can reach the jump off point in time for the next departure. As he makes his way to the tower base he is convinced to to take a street waif who has a briefcase she says has a buyer waiting her at the jump off point. Working their way up through the levels of the tower, dodging the security forces and a wealthy crime boss who is after Knile's pass they have many close calls. Do they make it? What happens if they do? You have to read it to discover for yourself.
June 4, 2018
It took me a bit of time to get into it but in the end I really like the story. The caracters are likable (well some at least!) but still have their default.
I started reading the second book in the series and am glad that they are still in the stories.
In the near future after we finally completely destroyed the ecosystem on Earth some have managed to get off the planet while the rest have to survive.
I started reading the second book in the series and am glad that they are still in the stories.
In the near future after we finally completely destroyed the ecosystem on Earth some have managed to get off the planet while the rest have to survive.
June 1, 2017
Very tight writing, professional. The story was good and unique as were the characters. A couple of instances where tense, confrontational dialogue felt a bit stilted but very good as a whole. I did feel like the story started to bog down a bit as he continued to climb the tower, but I never lost interest.
June 8, 2017
I read the whole serie a few months ago.
This isn't a best in class or some book that'll you remember for you whole life (like Dune as an example was at least for me), but it is ok.
There several books in the serie but the same idea present in the first book is reused with a different story. The place and the story mechanics keep rougly the same.
This isn't a best in class or some book that'll you remember for you whole life (like Dune as an example was at least for me), but it is ok.
There several books in the serie but the same idea present in the first book is reused with a different story. The place and the story mechanics keep rougly the same.
June 20, 2020
This was an exciting and thrilling ride! Mark has a great capability of keeping the reader engaged and entertained with character insights and fantastic attention to details of their surroundings and thoughts. Very unexpected ending! Can't wait to read book 2 and continue reading of Knile's journey!
June 1, 2018
It's dull, it's boring, the characters are shallow and uninteresting, the plot is uninteresting, and I've stuck with it hoping it would show a glimmer of something to make it worth reading. I'm over 2/3's through it, and I've got far better things to do with my time than continue reading this.
May 13, 2018
Liked it
I liked this story, it was fairly well written and contained good action. The story line was believable and not to outlandish to be fun.
I liked this story, it was fairly well written and contained good action. The story line was believable and not to outlandish to be fun.
October 20, 2015
Earth is dying, and the only way out is up The Reach-the last heavily guarded space elevator-and off planet. Knile Oberend is the protagonist who mysteriously receives a rare and required ticket. Knile reluctantly takes Ursie Meyer and her mysterious package with him as he bluffs, sneaks and battles his way to the top of The Reach. Knile has to make it past Alton Wilt, the main villain. Alton is a criminal kingpin who hires a team of thugs to take Knile's ticket. Another villain in Knile's path is Detective Alec Duran, who is trying to piece his career back together.
I enjoyed "Earthbound" and the world of The Reach, written by Mark Healy. His description of the "haves" and "have-nots" was intriguing, and I enjoyed how his characters weaved through this dichotomy. Mark has some surprises up his sleeve as Knile, Ursie and Alton fight their way up the Reach.
I look forward to reading more of Mark Healy's The Reach series. Thanks, Mark, for the free copy of Earthbound in exchange for a review.
I enjoyed "Earthbound" and the world of The Reach, written by Mark Healy. His description of the "haves" and "have-nots" was intriguing, and I enjoyed how his characters weaved through this dichotomy. Mark has some surprises up his sleeve as Knile, Ursie and Alton fight their way up the Reach.
I look forward to reading more of Mark Healy's The Reach series. Thanks, Mark, for the free copy of Earthbound in exchange for a review.
October 5, 2015
I think his writing is getting even better with each series.
June 10, 2016
有动机有人物刻画塑造，复查
April 16, 2017
A good idea, that doesn't really work. The nature of the adventure is that we keep moving forward in short bursts of activity, rapidly meeting new characters and then leaving them behind. The entire premise behind trying to get off-Earth is faulty; no matter how toxic Earth becomes, how can it possibly be any worse than anywhere else in the solar system? This problem is directly addressed by a character at one point, but the explanation given is not convincing.
The interactions with the people pursing them is so dependent on wild coincidence that it distracts from the story.
The interactions with the people pursing them is so dependent on wild coincidence that it distracts from the story.
April 21, 2017
Fantastic, loved this book - My favorite of Mark Healy`s so far. Taking Arthur C Clarkes Space Elevators and placing them in the final years of the earth is an inspired idea which is then twisted into a story which reminds me in all the best ways of Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob (turned into the equally fantastic movie Snowpiercer) with shades of the Original Die Hard movie as well.....Straight onto book 2 for me now!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews