Barren

Barren Trilogy #1

by G.P. Burdon

Leaving a dying Earth behind them, the remnants of humanity head towards their new home on a distant planet. However, they never reach it, instead crash landing on a barren and hostile planet that no human was ever meant to survive on. With no water, and no hope, they must find a way to keep the human race alive in the wastelands of Icarus. Mackenzie Miller leaves behind the only life she knows to join the Diviners in their search for water, wandering directly into the greatest dangers Icarus can offer. There’s more to worry about on Icarus than just dehydration. When Mackenzie learns what truly lurks in the deserts, dying of thirst is the least of her concerns.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2016

About the author

G.P. Burdon predominantly writes dark thrillers, taking his inspiration from authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, but has his own delightfully twisted style. Anything can happen in his stories and he revels in shocking his readers, as he aims to provide original tales that readers will love and will haunt them long after finishing the final page.

Burdon currently lives in Hobart, Australia, and has recently gained international recognition after the release of book one of his 'Reaper' series, 'Angel of Death.'

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, you should know this is book one of a series. I didn't know this when I bought it as the only place it seems to be indicated is in the book itself but it's on a page that Kindle skips over as they always start at the beginning of the actual story. Even knowing this, I don't think it had a good ending. It cut out right in the middle of the action.

Chapter one...this is where the author first lost me. Perhaps he thought it was cute to name the spaceship Panspermia, make it a 15KM long cylinder with the nuclear sphere at the end (I kid you not), and then when it looked like it would crash it ejected the evacuees. Seriously. I think the author is actually a 15 year old.

For the rest, I'm just going to mark it as spoiler so I can say whatever I want
After this travesty of an introduction, the story jumps ahead about 40 years. The survivors of the crash are stranded on a desert planet. They have a team of people who travel around trying to locate any underground caches of water. When something is found, rather than gathering the water, they actually move all 100,000 people and their homes to the water.

The number 100,000 is actually very important because this was the amount of people in this community, but we were made aware earlier that around 250,000 were evacuated from the spaceship. Where did all the other people go? No one in this community mentioned it. Were they all so bad at math that they didn't realize there was a hell of a lot of missing people.It isn't likely that survivors wouldn't try to find all the other survivors. I thought this was very odd and it really stood out in my mind. Then as the story progressed, I realized that author was using these other people as the antagonists for the story. Everyone got along until the crash and now it's "us against them"? And the dynamic of this other group was atrocious . Somehow a woman, a sickly woman who has needed multiple organ transplants, rules over everyone else. She has one crazy helper and they have turned the other 100,000 people into slaves. See, now you think I can't add either but I'm even taking into account that there may have been a substantial loss of life during the evacuation. How is it possible that 99,998 people can't overtake their suppressors? Does this not all smell like bullshit to you?

My final point because I'm now tired of talking about this book. The author did the classic "I'm the good guy so I just can't kill the evil guy when the opportunity arises so he can come back and try to kill me again later" move. This is a bad ploy to use because we all see it for what it is - a means to lengthen the story and give it more (fake) drama.

I didn't hate this but the best I can say is that it was OK. I won't recommend it. If you want to read a good story about people on a desert planet with people trying to kill them, read Dune

[Tania Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Found this completely different to the usual apocalypse stories, good storyline and strong characters, bit of a twist to the storyline as well. Will look forward to the next book

[I B Broome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and pleasantly surprised as I was expecting a "Dune" clone. A colony ship on the wrong planet surviving in a hostile enviroment ;needless to say the most vicious predator remains man. With Mackenzie having to deal with the consequences of past and recent choices.

[Andy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good writing but storyline was predictable. Enjoyable read still.

I have read a lot worse than this one!
Recommended although don't expect to be blown away. Well written but the plot miss too predictable.

[I. Reid]

I don't normally leave reveiws, because I feel like people can make up their own minds about books and I don't want to influence opinions, but I want to review Barren because I absolutely loved it and, unfortunately, no one else I know has read it, so I can't talk to anyone about it. It's so thrilling and page turning, I literally couldn't put my kindle down. I was even tempted to call in sick to work so I could keep reading, haha! And it wasn't just thrilling, I found myself really committed to the characters and their plight. There were certainly moments that really hit me hard, parts where I was truly shocked, and other parts where I wanted to just yell out loud.

I honestly can't recommend this book enough, it's a truly great read for lovers of sci fi, adventure, and stories of human survival in seemingly hopeless situations. If you think it sounds like your kind of thing, then definitely give it a go.

[Det Cornforth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorrow

Why do you authors persist in making the main characters so stupid. Survival is one of the strongest instincts known to humanity. It is sadly disappointing to read so many books, where the "hero" is made to look a fumbling idiot. This book was a good idea and a good read, and I would have given a five star rating had the main character not been so badly portrayed the way you did.

[nick eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting

When I started to read this U thought "another post apocalyptic story " but as I persevered I turned into a really exciting book and now I need to follow to the next in the series. A great read

[Robert Lovell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horrible ending ruins a good story

I will make this short. This was actually a good book until the end. There were some issues with the plot. Such as twice the main character had one of the most reprehensible individuals ever in a position to eliminate and refused to do so. Until the end, SPOILER ALERT!!!

As she and her team mates are making a ridiculous escape that should never have gotten past the planning stages, MacKensie Miller (the heroine) is climbing a ladder into the escape craft that just suddenly appeared. Predictably, the bad guy has jumped up and caught the ladder. Climbing faster than her, he has her by the legs. The weapons expert has a gun handed to him, but instead of taking the shot, drops the gun to Mackensie who just happens to catch it just right to turn and shot the bad guy... Ok, that is improbable enough. BUT, the bad guy falls some distance onto an explosive type of rock deposit. Which starts a chain reaction that supposedly blows everything to hell, including 1 bad guy. Well guess what? In the epilogue, said bad guy is not dead but instead horribly disfigured a la Revenge of the Sith. They even plan to put him in some kind of mech! Really? Darth Vader rip off!!!
For me the final 10% of this book ruined the rest. There were issues, but they were forgiveable. The end is not! Do not bother with this book. ( I do not say that often...)

[Tony Duxbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a well thought out and written novel. The survivors of the wrecked vessel that left Earth before it blew apart had an unplanned landing on a very hostile planet. Mackenzie is the descendent of the last captain. Their greatest problem is finding water on the desolate world, not to mention all the vicious and deadly wildlife. Mackenzie wants to do more to help and against the wishes of her father, volunteers to become a Diviner, those who brave the wilds in search of water. This leads to shocking revelations and a desperate struggle for survival. It turns her whole world upside down. I liked the character of Mackenzie, a quietly determined girl, who likes to think well of others. Although her outlook changes because of her adventures and her capabilities blossom, she still stays the basically decent person she was when she started out. All the characters were well portrayed. I would recommend this to any sci-fi buff.
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[Gasbag · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started out being very interesting with good characters and story line. At about 40% into the book I quit reading. The story deviated into very visual and disturbing scenes of graphic violence.
Some will say it was a necessary part of the story. I say it was not necessary and somewhat gratuitous. It could have been told quite adequately without the minute details of people's throats being ripped out, dismembered etc. The story went dark rather abruptly. I read for entertainment, not to be grossed out. I am sure many will disagree however for me
it made me lose interest completely.

[Philippe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting story. After a sabotage of a interstellar ship the full crew end-up stranded on a barren planet.
From then you follow a few characters in their exploration of the planet to find water.

All seems good until you realise that there are some dark secret.

There is a lot of violence and the main characters always seem to survive against all odds wiht can be tiring sometimes.

Still I really like the story and am hoping that there will be a sequel (the end seems to indicate it!)

[Karen Kyrychenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, but wheres 2&3

This was a really good sci fi story. One off the better ones that's for sure. Really enjoyed it but I am a bit annoyed as it was supposed to be a trilogy. But there is no sign anywhere of books 2&3. If I had known this before hand, I would not have bought the first book. I like to have a good ending in the books i read, but am left feeling totally dissatisfied. That is why I only give this four stars. Apologies if there is number 2 on its way.

[DeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thrilling Ride!

And horrifyingly real. Desperate people will do desperate things to get what they long for, live for. In Barren, you will read of both hope and despair; gratitude and backstabbing; bravery and the challenges faced to survive a harsh planet. This is a science fiction thrill ride that won't let you rest for a minute, as it takes you into a desert of lost dreams and drops you back home looking forward to the future. What a book! Way to go G.P. Burdon!

[Bríd McGrath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, good characters.

The editing is quite poor with lots off typos and grammatical errors.
The writer has a great imagination but is inclined to be a little lacking in ways to describe feelings without resorting to cliched descriptions that come across as amateurish.
A good read though. I will finish the trilogy.
G.P. get a good editor please.

[Debra H. Wruble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Well written story about a future in a distant planet and a town that has to send a group of dividers out to search for water. Wonderful characters and imaginative dangers and battles.

[Michelle cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping well written.

Gave Barren five stars the story kept me reading didn't want to put my kindle down. If you like adventure its a must read.

[Geoff Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

End to End thrill ride, good plot lines expansive good baddies and a good heroine . Well written look forward to book two.

[D J Hoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barren

Good reading sci-fi,a great story line in the hunger games genre and I for one am looking forward to the follow up .

[Mezzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually a brilliantly written science fiction book. Give it a whirl.

[Patsy Oaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book

I could not put this book down, can't wait for the next one. I hope Ethan gets him a girlfriend.

[J.D. Schechter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Aside from the occasional melodrama and pomposity, an intricate plot and some well developed characters not only keep you reading, but anticipating what comes next

[Dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the time

Engaging story line, grabs your attention from the beginning and doesn't let up. Minor typos, but for the price one can't complain.

[Heather Samsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good. The story line was sci-fi believable