What do you think?
Rate this book
Warrior
The Ancients were as gods. They commanded technologies that defied comprehension. Their rule spanned across worlds. But their sins overtook them, and for their sins, worlds died.
Anna is a warrior, a member of the elite caste that rules over what's left, making her way across the face of the dead world that the Ancients left behind. Nothing stands in her way. Until she meets a nameless girl with no memory... who may hold secrets that were better lost with the Ancients.
Anna is a warrior, a member of the elite caste that rules over what's left, making her way across the face of the dead world that the Ancients left behind. Nothing stands in her way. Until she meets a nameless girl with no memory... who may hold secrets that were better lost with the Ancients.
- GenresScience Fiction
169 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2016
10 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 6, 2016
There has always been to me a certain beauty in a piece of music that is written cleanly, with few excess notes - Bullet by The Misfits is a prime example. All meat, no filler. Get it's point across, and ends well before it wears out it's welcome.
The same can be said for Warrior. This is a tightly written novella, almost to the point of curtness. Simple dialogue, even descriptions, and subtle world building - it trusts it's reader to be insightful and patient, as it is patient with us, giving the reader ample time to get to know the characters and the world without waving information in our faces like a pair of double D's at the titty bar.
The tone of the writing very much fits the book, which tells of a world where all but the basest necessities are neglected in favour of finding enough food and clean water to survive, while dodging scavengers, nomads, and mutants.
The beauty of writing in this style is that through scarcity, it imparts value upon the world, and the mystery leaves us wanting more. The world that unfolds is bleak - ruins of what I can only assume to be our own civilization advanced by thousands of years.
Technology far in advance of our own having been used to destroy itself, and gone to ruin.
The problem here for me, is that I couldn't find anything about this novel to complain about, and that makes for a sort of boring review... it's just gonna be two or three minutes of me fellating this book like I think it's gonna ejaculate Coffee flavoured Scotch that'll make me twenty-six years old again.
The whole thing is reminiscent of the Vampire Hunter D novels, except there's no Mary Sue D to detract from the universe.
There are four main characters in the book, Anna, Karen, Jorm, and The Hunter, and off all these only the main Antagonist was defined a little hazily - no mean feat for 169 pages - and the other three had fairly decent character arcs, also - 169 pages. I've read five hundred page epics that didn't make me like the characters nearly as much.
You'll notice that I haven't touched on the plot at all - there's a reason for that. I really think you should read this book - yes, you. Specifically. If there were a print edition available, I'd buy every one of my friends a copy out of my own pocket, just so you could all know how worldbuilding is supposed to be done.
I often don't say this about books that I very much enjoyed, but I hope the author never revisits these characters - because the ending to this one is super satisfying. And like any good showman, it knows when to take a bow and call it a night - right on time.
The same can be said for Warrior. This is a tightly written novella, almost to the point of curtness. Simple dialogue, even descriptions, and subtle world building - it trusts it's reader to be insightful and patient, as it is patient with us, giving the reader ample time to get to know the characters and the world without waving information in our faces like a pair of double D's at the titty bar.
The tone of the writing very much fits the book, which tells of a world where all but the basest necessities are neglected in favour of finding enough food and clean water to survive, while dodging scavengers, nomads, and mutants.
The beauty of writing in this style is that through scarcity, it imparts value upon the world, and the mystery leaves us wanting more. The world that unfolds is bleak - ruins of what I can only assume to be our own civilization advanced by thousands of years.
Technology far in advance of our own having been used to destroy itself, and gone to ruin.
The problem here for me, is that I couldn't find anything about this novel to complain about, and that makes for a sort of boring review... it's just gonna be two or three minutes of me fellating this book like I think it's gonna ejaculate Coffee flavoured Scotch that'll make me twenty-six years old again.
The whole thing is reminiscent of the Vampire Hunter D novels, except there's no Mary Sue D to detract from the universe.
There are four main characters in the book, Anna, Karen, Jorm, and The Hunter, and off all these only the main Antagonist was defined a little hazily - no mean feat for 169 pages - and the other three had fairly decent character arcs, also - 169 pages. I've read five hundred page epics that didn't make me like the characters nearly as much.
You'll notice that I haven't touched on the plot at all - there's a reason for that. I really think you should read this book - yes, you. Specifically. If there were a print edition available, I'd buy every one of my friends a copy out of my own pocket, just so you could all know how worldbuilding is supposed to be done.
I often don't say this about books that I very much enjoyed, but I hope the author never revisits these characters - because the ending to this one is super satisfying. And like any good showman, it knows when to take a bow and call it a night - right on time.
October 2, 2017
This book was really unique. At first, I wasn't drawn into it, was quite turned off to it, until I forced the typical dystopian paradigms from my mind and tried to start over, reading from a fresh, open perspective. Only then did I begin to appreciate it. I mean "Warriors" with spears, shields, etc, in presumably a post-nuclear age? But then the tech in these spears, the armor, the shields, grabbed hold of me and I eliminated my need for standard "slug thrower" guns or laser/plasma guns. Don't exist in this world, no need for them to. The mystery girl with amnesia is a tantalizing character and the protagonist as a rare female warrior, who is damn good, make for an unusual, unique, and interesting pairing in a (non) typical sci fi novel. There's plenty of action and suspense and this underlying mystery to be solved. When I first started this book, I thought "3 stars max." Now, for me, while admittedly not the greatest book ever written, this was a well rounded, action packed, unique dystopian novel with characters I came to really care about, and ultimately it was both entertaining and all encompassing. Hard to ask for more than that. If you want something a little different in your sci fi and/or dystopian reading, definitely consider this one. Strongly recommended.
June 15, 2023
A short novel that prefaces the themes of the awesome recent space adventure Liberator, with a post-apocalyptic Earth where remnants of technology are both coveted and regarded with deep suspicion. A keep turning the page adventure that never really stops to take a breath, the book is better read in one sitting (as is quite short) and while it raises more questions than it answers, it is quite entertaining by itself.
January 6, 2020
I love this book! Short but authentic and gritty. Excellent story.
Great book. Wish there was another one. Or more by this author. Excellent writing and story. Characters and future apocalypse armor. Very cool idea
Great book. Wish there was another one. Or more by this author. Excellent writing and story. Characters and future apocalypse armor. Very cool idea
March 23, 2017
Interesting story line. Characters were very good. The ending was different than expected.
If you are the type that enjoys a good fight, you will like the book. Interesting ending. Good stand alone story.
If you are the type that enjoys a good fight, you will like the book. Interesting ending. Good stand alone story.
April 7, 2017
Quirky, Sordid SciFi Novella Espouses Homosexual Agenda
"Warrior," is a quirky, SciFi novella, that has numerous flaws; most noticeably, the political leftist espousing of a homosexual and bisexual agenda. Additionally, the author, Mr. Mark Kalina, needs a competent editor, to "blue pencil," the numerous rookie writer mistakes.
Story is pretty pro forma: far, far into the future, on a far away planet (post apocalyptic radioactive wasteland), "Anna," a bi-female samurai/ronin type mech warrior, wanders the arid wastelands, protecting a teenage female, who she found near death, left chained to a wagon. Unknown forces now hunt Anna and her charge, as they encounter the mishmash of various inhabitants.
The writing is just ok, nothing special. Editing and proofreading stumble along, and disappear in the final quarter. The whole progressive leftist agenda of espousing bi- and homosexuality, is promulgated fully by the author, a continuing and increasing trend of the indie SciFi author niche. It is all gratuitous, not germane or adding to a story; it is shallow exploitation for potential revenue. He also has Anna copulating fully nude, with a male warrior, on a bench in front of a tavern, in full view of the commoners, and her charge. Later, Anna continually has "wishes" about her young, teenage charge. It is creepy and disquieting, bordering on criminal.
Subtract Mr. Kalina's obsession with the unnecessary, sordid components of his novella, and you have an engaging short story. As is, "Warrior," is not recommended, and was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
"Warrior," is a quirky, SciFi novella, that has numerous flaws; most noticeably, the political leftist espousing of a homosexual and bisexual agenda. Additionally, the author, Mr. Mark Kalina, needs a competent editor, to "blue pencil," the numerous rookie writer mistakes.
Story is pretty pro forma: far, far into the future, on a far away planet (post apocalyptic radioactive wasteland), "Anna," a bi-female samurai/ronin type mech warrior, wanders the arid wastelands, protecting a teenage female, who she found near death, left chained to a wagon. Unknown forces now hunt Anna and her charge, as they encounter the mishmash of various inhabitants.
The writing is just ok, nothing special. Editing and proofreading stumble along, and disappear in the final quarter. The whole progressive leftist agenda of espousing bi- and homosexuality, is promulgated fully by the author, a continuing and increasing trend of the indie SciFi author niche. It is all gratuitous, not germane or adding to a story; it is shallow exploitation for potential revenue. He also has Anna copulating fully nude, with a male warrior, on a bench in front of a tavern, in full view of the commoners, and her charge. Later, Anna continually has "wishes" about her young, teenage charge. It is creepy and disquieting, bordering on criminal.
Subtract Mr. Kalina's obsession with the unnecessary, sordid components of his novella, and you have an engaging short story. As is, "Warrior," is not recommended, and was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews