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New Alcatraz: Dark Time
The New Alcatraz Trilogy takes you into the near future, where technology is restricted, time travel exists, and the Federal Government has created a new solution to prison New Alcatraz. The New Alcatraz trilogy is an action packed sci-fi, conspiracy, murder mystery, saga that spans millennia. Book 1 of 3 - Dark Time In the year 2070, the body of a female Federal Time Anomaly Agent is found in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Phoenix missing several organs. Powell, a struggling attorney, is arrested for the gruesome murder, and, despite his claims of innocence, is flung forward in time to a penal colony reserved for the most violent criminals. Powell finds himself fighting a sure death in the harsh elements of the desolate future prison, deemed by many as New Alcatraz. Once there, Powell encounters Ellis, a mysterious prisoner who claims to be the person who helped establish the prison wasteland, and knows how to escape back to the present. Can Ellis and Powell do the impossible and escape from New Alcatraz? And if they do, will Powell be able to go back far enough to stop the murder that originally set him on this path? PRAISE FOR THE “Truly a phenomenal read! The author’s mastery of time and space and what it means to live on various planes of existence took me to a place in my soul I’ve never traveled to before. It also really made me think about and imagine what the future of humanity will look like. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!” --- D. D. Scott, International Bestselling Author ABOUT THE Grant Pies was born on the West Coast of Florida. He attended school where he studied chemistry and microbiology, and eventually graduated from law school. His first full-length novel New Dark Time was released in 2014. It is the first in a planned trilogy. The sequel, New Golden Dawn, was released in 2016, and the final volume, New Loss Paradox is set for release in the second half of 2017.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2014
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May 10, 2015
Original But Flawed Time-Travel Story
Title: New Alcatraz
Author: Grant Pies
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: 80,000 words (estimated)
Reviewer: Pearson Moore
Rating: 3 stars
New Alcatraz is an ambitious time-travel story that succeeds in weaving an interconnected, temporally back-and-forth narrative without dampening dramatic effect or leaving the reader confused. Unfortunately, this triumph of intercut storytelling is marred by inadequate editing, stilted prose and dialog, and other frequently recurring technical problems that render the novel difficult to enjoy.
The basic story of criminals exiled in a land beyond time is given depth by innovative use of some of the more well-known quirks of time travel. The plot mechanics in New Alcatraz are sound, and beyond that, Mr. Pies introduces interesting ideas and historical facts to a brooding mix of character intentions and desires. Powell must work with a small group of men not only to take command of their fate, but to overturn some of the controls imposed by the forces that now shape time for all of humanity. Along the way, he and his comrades discover interesting things about themselves, the nature of time, and the temporal and causal topographies of their world.
Powell is one of many characters possessing a single name. I found the small number of persons easy to remember, though few really stood out for me as individuals. Characters such as Loralie are introduced but then too quickly sacrificed so that no emotional connection is established, while other players seem to be not much more than automatons.
I was glad to discover only occasional spelling errors, though frequent usage errors, droning repetition, and unnatural syntax and narrative structure indicated poor command of the written language. Whenever I correspond with wannabe writers, I repeat the same advice I was given in 2005, six years (and about two million words) before I published my first novel: Work hard, write every day, and have your work critiqued. You can't learn writing in a week or a month; years of constant effort are required. The 10,000 hour minimum is a good rule of thumb in any profession, but it is critical to those of us brazen enough to believe people will pay hard-earned money to read our stories. Finally, for those authors who are storytellers but not wordsmiths, hiring an editor--or two--is the only way to lift a story out of mediocrity.
For those readers able to swim or crawl through a thick stew of stilted language, usage and syntax problems, and a host of technical issues, New Alcatraz presents genuinely interesting ideas and possibly the best arrangement of back-and-forth temporal narrative I've read in a time-travel story. If Mr. Pies works at his craft and seeks competent editing assistance future works could easily rate four or five stars. While I cannot recommend this novel, fans of the time-travel sub-genre may find an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for a non-reciprocal honest review.
3 stars.
Title: New Alcatraz
Author: Grant Pies
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: 80,000 words (estimated)
Reviewer: Pearson Moore
Rating: 3 stars
New Alcatraz is an ambitious time-travel story that succeeds in weaving an interconnected, temporally back-and-forth narrative without dampening dramatic effect or leaving the reader confused. Unfortunately, this triumph of intercut storytelling is marred by inadequate editing, stilted prose and dialog, and other frequently recurring technical problems that render the novel difficult to enjoy.
The basic story of criminals exiled in a land beyond time is given depth by innovative use of some of the more well-known quirks of time travel. The plot mechanics in New Alcatraz are sound, and beyond that, Mr. Pies introduces interesting ideas and historical facts to a brooding mix of character intentions and desires. Powell must work with a small group of men not only to take command of their fate, but to overturn some of the controls imposed by the forces that now shape time for all of humanity. Along the way, he and his comrades discover interesting things about themselves, the nature of time, and the temporal and causal topographies of their world.
Powell is one of many characters possessing a single name. I found the small number of persons easy to remember, though few really stood out for me as individuals. Characters such as Loralie are introduced but then too quickly sacrificed so that no emotional connection is established, while other players seem to be not much more than automatons.
I was glad to discover only occasional spelling errors, though frequent usage errors, droning repetition, and unnatural syntax and narrative structure indicated poor command of the written language. Whenever I correspond with wannabe writers, I repeat the same advice I was given in 2005, six years (and about two million words) before I published my first novel: Work hard, write every day, and have your work critiqued. You can't learn writing in a week or a month; years of constant effort are required. The 10,000 hour minimum is a good rule of thumb in any profession, but it is critical to those of us brazen enough to believe people will pay hard-earned money to read our stories. Finally, for those authors who are storytellers but not wordsmiths, hiring an editor--or two--is the only way to lift a story out of mediocrity.
For those readers able to swim or crawl through a thick stew of stilted language, usage and syntax problems, and a host of technical issues, New Alcatraz presents genuinely interesting ideas and possibly the best arrangement of back-and-forth temporal narrative I've read in a time-travel story. If Mr. Pies works at his craft and seeks competent editing assistance future works could easily rate four or five stars. While I cannot recommend this novel, fans of the time-travel sub-genre may find an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for a non-reciprocal honest review.
3 stars.
April 16, 2015
This was not my usual cup of tea. A lawyer seemed at least at first to be a strange choice for a main character, but he grew on me as it went on. It moved quickly and I had good time reading it. The moral questions were very interesting, and the science involved was interesting. The characters were likable and easy to follow. At the end without a spoiler here, was tragic and I felt it with the main character. I look forward to more from Grant in the future.
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