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The Extinction Odyssey #1
Survival Aptitude Test: Sound
What if humanity's survival was riding on a single test?
Daoren and Heqet face the unthinkable. Like every 19-year-old in their society, they must take the Survival Aptitude Test.
Only the smartest pass the S.A.T. and earn the right to live.
The rest are harvested for food.
That's the grim reality on the dying Earth, 700 years after mass extinctions have erased every other life form.
Fortunately, Daoren and Heqet may hold the answers for saving their species. There’s only one problem—and it isn’t the S.A.T.
Human greed and personal treachery might kill them first.
Get Book 1 of the complete 6-book series today!
-----------------------------------------
Fans of classic dystopian tales like Soylent Green and Logan's Run will love this modern twist on humanity's last gasp.
“Best I’ve read since Brandon Sanderson.”
“Amazing action-filled science fiction...”
“A modern-day Soylent Green, but infinitely more relatable.”
“I see a movie in the future.”
“I’m a big fan of alternate-timeline and dystopian-future stories, and this is one of the best I’ve read in a long while!”
Daoren and Heqet face the unthinkable. Like every 19-year-old in their society, they must take the Survival Aptitude Test.
Only the smartest pass the S.A.T. and earn the right to live.
The rest are harvested for food.
That's the grim reality on the dying Earth, 700 years after mass extinctions have erased every other life form.
Fortunately, Daoren and Heqet may hold the answers for saving their species. There’s only one problem—and it isn’t the S.A.T.
Human greed and personal treachery might kill them first.
Get Book 1 of the complete 6-book series today!
-----------------------------------------
Fans of classic dystopian tales like Soylent Green and Logan's Run will love this modern twist on humanity's last gasp.
“Best I’ve read since Brandon Sanderson.”
“Amazing action-filled science fiction...”
“A modern-day Soylent Green, but infinitely more relatable.”
“I see a movie in the future.”
“I’m a big fan of alternate-timeline and dystopian-future stories, and this is one of the best I’ve read in a long while!”
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2016
514 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Mike Sheriff
15 books17 followersMike Sheriff writes accessible science fiction for readers with curious minds and a taste for tension. Besides The Extinction Odyssey series, he also publishes short and snappy sci-fi stories under the LIGHTBURST imprint.
When he’s not writing, you’ll find him mangling Rory Gallagher riffs on his Fender Strat or fending off high cholesterol through (yawn) diet and exercise. He lives in London, Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 1, 2017
A very good story about humanity surviving after the last nuclear wars. It was interesting that it was set in what used to be China where everything in civilization is silica based. North America is only briefly mentioned as being across the acid sea. If a civilization survived there, I wonder what it would be based on?
August 30, 2017
Overall, this was an amazing book.
It was a little hard to get into because of a few problems. First, the concept of using a mixture of people and sand as the sole food source for a growing population makes absolutely no sense at all. And the idea that literally everything in the whole empire is built almost exclusively from sand makes no sense either. You need other materials to make the advanced technology they supposedly have. These two issues are ridiculous, but pretty easy to get past if you just suspend your disbelief and don't think about it that hard.
However, the biggest issue with the book is that Mike Sheriff is great at world-building, but terrible at world-explaining. He starts in right away with his newly invented terms, which mean absolutely nothing to the reader at first, without giving any explanation of what they mean. You catch on eventually, but it takes some work because he keeps doing this throughout.
For these reasons, I was pretty sure I was going to hate this book, but I decided to keep going, and I am so glad I did. I really didn't want to like this book, but I couldn't put it down! The plot is so excellently devised, and Sheriff does an exceptional job of doling out various pieces of the puzzle.
This book is highly worth the read, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't prepared to also get the second one.
It was a little hard to get into because of a few problems. First, the concept of using a mixture of people and sand as the sole food source for a growing population makes absolutely no sense at all. And the idea that literally everything in the whole empire is built almost exclusively from sand makes no sense either. You need other materials to make the advanced technology they supposedly have. These two issues are ridiculous, but pretty easy to get past if you just suspend your disbelief and don't think about it that hard.
However, the biggest issue with the book is that Mike Sheriff is great at world-building, but terrible at world-explaining. He starts in right away with his newly invented terms, which mean absolutely nothing to the reader at first, without giving any explanation of what they mean. You catch on eventually, but it takes some work because he keeps doing this throughout.
For these reasons, I was pretty sure I was going to hate this book, but I decided to keep going, and I am so glad I did. I really didn't want to like this book, but I couldn't put it down! The plot is so excellently devised, and Sheriff does an exceptional job of doling out various pieces of the puzzle.
This book is highly worth the read, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't prepared to also get the second one.
January 26, 2018
The first book of this series starts with two main characters who shortly have to sit their SAT (Survival Aptitude Test) which is somewhat different to what our current youth might experience. This test means the difference between celebrating their next birthday or being culled and harvested!
This is supposed to be the only way that the remaining society can survive, but if you are rich, it seems the rules are very different. If you are one of the smartest, this should be your way of staying alive and possibly getting a good job and future.
Children are sent to study in the Library from a very early age, just to succeed with their SAT’s. Most of the remaining civilization are poor and malnourished, only the rich and higher class are overweight, showing off their wealth with their size and glass body modifications.
Daoren and Heqet have both had tragedy within their families and Daoren is too intelligent to believe his problems are down to his family and not someone rich trying to manipulate matters. He picks up on what is happening and with Heqet and her grandfather, a head Librarian, they have to work out what to do to survive as odds are now against them.
A great start to the series and I can’t wait to see what happens as they sit their test. Lots of detail in the characters and the book keeps your attention the whole way through. An interesting interpretation of the rich and ‘normal’ folk and the degree to which the rich will always do anything to be richer – never mind the rest of humanity.
This is supposed to be the only way that the remaining society can survive, but if you are rich, it seems the rules are very different. If you are one of the smartest, this should be your way of staying alive and possibly getting a good job and future.
Children are sent to study in the Library from a very early age, just to succeed with their SAT’s. Most of the remaining civilization are poor and malnourished, only the rich and higher class are overweight, showing off their wealth with their size and glass body modifications.
Daoren and Heqet have both had tragedy within their families and Daoren is too intelligent to believe his problems are down to his family and not someone rich trying to manipulate matters. He picks up on what is happening and with Heqet and her grandfather, a head Librarian, they have to work out what to do to survive as odds are now against them.
A great start to the series and I can’t wait to see what happens as they sit their test. Lots of detail in the characters and the book keeps your attention the whole way through. An interesting interpretation of the rich and ‘normal’ folk and the degree to which the rich will always do anything to be richer – never mind the rest of humanity.
January 9, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read the next. The writing is a bit complex and uses many uncommon words, just as a warning to people who don't have the highest reading comprehension, but the Amazon reading app has a downloadable dictionary function if that's an issue for you. If anything, you'll probably learn a few words even if you have an impressive vocabulary... or at least be reminded of words you haven't seen used in so long you forgot they existed.
At times the writing can seem overly descriptive if you aren't the type to enjoy books like the LotR series which took a full page to describe an ent's beard, though the author never reached such a level of descriptiveness. It can take getting used to at the very start of the book if you usually read simpler novels, but you should quickly get used to it and come to very much enjoy the vibrant picture such details paint in your mind.
The story and characters are beyond original, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from here in the rest of the series.
At times the writing can seem overly descriptive if you aren't the type to enjoy books like the LotR series which took a full page to describe an ent's beard, though the author never reached such a level of descriptiveness. It can take getting used to at the very start of the book if you usually read simpler novels, but you should quickly get used to it and come to very much enjoy the vibrant picture such details paint in your mind.
The story and characters are beyond original, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from here in the rest of the series.
March 31, 2018
I debated between three and four stars, but decided 4 is just too much.
I liked a lot about this book. The world could have been better developed, but eventually it mostly made sense. The characters did not make a lot of sense. (The best developed character is the evil leader...) Some characters are named, but nothing is done with them for a while. However, the book is an enjoyable read, and I kept wondering what would happen next.
And then there is the end. Or rather, what passes for the end, as the "end" is a cliffhanger for book 2. (Although reading the description of book 2 does answer one of the things that was left open.) I was afraid that was how the book would end, as I noticed as I got near the end that a lot still had to be resolved. I understand the idea of encouraging people to buy your next book, but the best way to do that is write a really great book that makes people want to read more - not write part of a story and make people buy the next book to see what happens.
I liked a lot about this book. The world could have been better developed, but eventually it mostly made sense. The characters did not make a lot of sense. (The best developed character is the evil leader...) Some characters are named, but nothing is done with them for a while. However, the book is an enjoyable read, and I kept wondering what would happen next.
And then there is the end. Or rather, what passes for the end, as the "end" is a cliffhanger for book 2. (Although reading the description of book 2 does answer one of the things that was left open.) I was afraid that was how the book would end, as I noticed as I got near the end that a lot still had to be resolved. I understand the idea of encouraging people to buy your next book, but the best way to do that is write a really great book that makes people want to read more - not write part of a story and make people buy the next book to see what happens.
July 8, 2018
I do enjoy reading these post apocalyptic stories. I just skimmed a review by another individual, and one idea I would like to put forth is that I don't think the story is actually set in China, I think the overwhelming Chinese influence is actually because prior to the apocalyptic event China was the major world power. There were parts of the story that discussed the setting of the library building and I got the distinct impression that it may have been closer to the bottom of Europe than to Asia. Because I read on a Kindle and my phone it is too difficult to go back to find the passages that gave me that idea, but I am speculating that might be the case.
Again, I did like the characters & character development, though in this case I am puzzled by how anyone could believe that the leader's niece and son could have gotten such remarkable scores on the test given that that they appear to be somewhat mentally unsound. In any case it did more than once make me think of our situation in the USA today!
Again, I did like the characters & character development, though in this case I am puzzled by how anyone could believe that the leader's niece and son could have gotten such remarkable scores on the test given that that they appear to be somewhat mentally unsound. In any case it did more than once make me think of our situation in the USA today!
December 17, 2016
Kept me on my toes
Wow. Extremely different type of book. Well written. You love the characters. You have to think when you read this book. I love that. I'm so glad that I found Mr Mike Sheriff, he is definitely an author to follow. I'll be on the lookout for more of his books. The only negative thing I could say, it was too short. But because of things not really being expanded on you can open it up in other books, And not repeating things over and over and over again like we can't remember what happened previously and everyone is dumb like a lot of other writers do . There are so many ways he can go. It exciting because you really can't guess where it's going. That's awesome! Survival Aptitude Test: Sound, will be tough to top. I'm really excited to find out what happens. Can't wait for more. Thank you Mr Sheriff for a brain provoking read, there's not many other there.
Wow. Extremely different type of book. Well written. You love the characters. You have to think when you read this book. I love that. I'm so glad that I found Mr Mike Sheriff, he is definitely an author to follow. I'll be on the lookout for more of his books. The only negative thing I could say, it was too short. But because of things not really being expanded on you can open it up in other books, And not repeating things over and over and over again like we can't remember what happened previously and everyone is dumb like a lot of other writers do . There are so many ways he can go. It exciting because you really can't guess where it's going. That's awesome! Survival Aptitude Test: Sound, will be tough to top. I'm really excited to find out what happens. Can't wait for more. Thank you Mr Sheriff for a brain provoking read, there's not many other there.
June 13, 2018
Somewhat interesting concept of most of the products used by the society being made of silica (for some reason that's not clearly explained other than the abundance of sand. I guess all the stone, metal ores, etc, are all used up?) Add in a ruling class that is abusing (no way!) the socialist distribution of food/currency "grool" ("Soylent green, it's people") by requiring low scorers on the, you guessed it, survival aptitude test (which is just a question and answer exam taken while secured to your chair so you can't run away) to be the next batch of grool, and selling/swapping test scores to the wealthy/inept, and you have the basic gist of the story. It was hard to stay interested if I'm honest. I won't be reading any more of the series. There are too many other better books out there vying for my reading time.
November 9, 2017
I just finished reading the current 4 books in this series with more to come. A future where the earth is sand and dead seas, a few cities remain where they can't grow food, so their only source is grooll, which is synthesised from children/young adults who fail the aptitude test. Grooll is the only food, and also the only currency. In comes Daemon who manages to escape the grooll machine, overthrow the corrupt and greedy 'king' and brings in a new era without grooll. Of course the previous rich people resent this because their grooll currency is now worth nothing. A good series with a very different idea on survival in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2017
Although this book took a ton of time world building I can honestly say I enjoyed it. The dystopian future of earth looks bleak and the only way to survive is to pass your SAT. Daoren is the most intelligent boy in the country but passing is more than just taking a test...
Murder and deceit abound and keep you wanting more, which I do. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
Murder and deceit abound and keep you wanting more, which I do. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
May 5, 2017
SAT - Sound
I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into with this story and had a bit of trouble with the characters at first. However, I was able to push through my doubts and warmed to the characters and the story. This was well written and intriguing, enough to warrant letting slip the episodic cliff hanger to want to read on to the next book.
I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into with this story and had a bit of trouble with the characters at first. However, I was able to push through my doubts and warmed to the characters and the story. This was well written and intriguing, enough to warrant letting slip the episodic cliff hanger to want to read on to the next book.
May 17, 2018
Disturbing Premise
I had a love hate relationship with this book. The plot was kind of creepy and very unsettling but I could not put down the book wanting to know what would happen. It is scary to be required to take a test to determine your survival. I guess I will have to read the next one in the series.
I had a love hate relationship with this book. The plot was kind of creepy and very unsettling but I could not put down the book wanting to know what would happen. It is scary to be required to take a test to determine your survival. I guess I will have to read the next one in the series.
February 8, 2020
Not an easy read
This was not an easy read by any stretch but was definitely worth the effort.
It was frightening in its similarity to real life and potential for the future despite being science fiction. The ending was fast paced, scary and exhilarating and I'm heading straight over to read the second book to find out what happens next.
This was not an easy read by any stretch but was definitely worth the effort.
It was frightening in its similarity to real life and potential for the future despite being science fiction. The ending was fast paced, scary and exhilarating and I'm heading straight over to read the second book to find out what happens next.
July 15, 2017
Good read
Once I understood that it was based on a caste system, the story made much more sense. Overall I had to set this one down a few times and pick it back up the next day or so, however, it is a good book and I look forward to seeing where the story goes.
Once I understood that it was based on a caste system, the story made much more sense. Overall I had to set this one down a few times and pick it back up the next day or so, however, it is a good book and I look forward to seeing where the story goes.
July 26, 2017
Loved the novel take on the world after an apocalypse! I can't wait to read the next novel in the series and find out what will happen to Heqet and Daoren, and see if they are able to fix the grooll shortage caused by the Unum.
October 18, 2017
Received free for review:
I was a little slow getting into this, May be because the culture and names were so different to me.
But as i kept reading, it got better and better!
Now that I've finished it, I want more!
Hope the next book keeps going!
I was a little slow getting into this, May be because the culture and names were so different to me.
But as i kept reading, it got better and better!
Now that I've finished it, I want more!
Hope the next book keeps going!
March 23, 2018
Interesting
I found myself engaged in this story, and caring about the characters. My only criticism would be an overuse of language made up specifically for the story that doesn’t really serve a purpose - rasplaughing, cacklebracking, it was really overused.
I found myself engaged in this story, and caring about the characters. My only criticism would be an overuse of language made up specifically for the story that doesn’t really serve a purpose - rasplaughing, cacklebracking, it was really overused.
May 13, 2018
I was hoping for a bit more information about how society reached this point, but instead it turned into a bunch of political intrigue involving characters I didn't really care about. Someone else might like it, but I didn't.
July 7, 2018
Quite enjoyable!
Great first book in this series. Characters are likable (or unlikable in some cases), the story flowed well and I’m looking forward to starting the next book ASAP.
Great first book in this series. Characters are likable (or unlikable in some cases), the story flowed well and I’m looking forward to starting the next book ASAP.
July 4, 2019
Mr. Sheriff has done a great job. He was a little overzealous on setting the imagery stage, that is why I rated the book as four stars and not five. No editorial mistakes that I can see. The different factions of people is hard to keep track of but overall it is a good book!
February 4, 2017
I really had a hard time liking the story line at the beginning but the further along I got the more interesting it became. Now I have to see what happens to Daomen and his girl in the next book.
May 8, 2018
Blah
Lame, over written, tedious story line. Not worth reading. Disappointed that I wasted as much time as I did on it.
Lame, over written, tedious story line. Not worth reading. Disappointed that I wasted as much time as I did on it.
January 8, 2019
Wow loved it! If you like sci-fi with a mix of intrigue & suspense then this is for you. It took a bit of getting used to terminology but then I couldn’t put it down until I finished.
February 28, 2019
Too dark for me.
March 25, 2020
I enjoyed the book and for me it was a different take than other dysotipan stories I have read.
February 9, 2017
Couldn't finish it. Started well enough and then went downhill rapidly with plagiarisms from Soylent Green and others. Pbbbbt.
May 10, 2017
If you read it as a standalone and assume that the ending is just the way it is, without reading the teaser for Book 2 (available now via email for most people who can install the app) you'll be a happy camper, like I was.
Our poor hero takes a beating and keeps on ticking, and I was mildly disappointed he didn't get the big payoff after all that, which of course would have really made this a standalone, right? Since there is an obvious Book 2 that shouldn't count as a spoiler. It would be illogical for a Book 2 had there been any other result.
Since it was "FREE" and I am technologically skilled enough to get it without the app, I have Book 2, but haven't started it yet. Not sure if I prefer just riding along with the ending of Book 1 or not yet.
Our poor hero takes a beating and keeps on ticking, and I was mildly disappointed he didn't get the big payoff after all that, which of course would have really made this a standalone, right? Since there is an obvious Book 2 that shouldn't count as a spoiler. It would be illogical for a Book 2 had there been any other result.
Since it was "FREE" and I am technologically skilled enough to get it without the app, I have Book 2, but haven't started it yet. Not sure if I prefer just riding along with the ending of Book 1 or not yet.
December 23, 2016
My first love is scifi/fantasy and I nabbed a copy of this during a promotion. The cover got me and so did the genre, but I had no idea what I was in for! Good heavens, this is some read! Firstly the descriptions are amazing, you definitely ‘see’ this place and time. Secondly, the premise is truly imaginative. A ‘Survival Aptitude Test (S.A.T.)? Where failure is death (a ghastly one at that!)? I’m not giving more away – go and find a copy right now! Brilliant writing, fantastic story, you won’t be able to stop reading!
January 9, 2017
Excellent Dystopian Sci-fi
"SOLVENT GREEN" w/Charlton Heston, was made when I was a teenager and I thought then how could we as humans, get to that point. Then I realized that our survival someday, might be what gets us there. We are a renewable resource, right? Mike, this is a great book and I thank you for bringing it to us, Danny Scott.
"SOLVENT GREEN" w/Charlton Heston, was made when I was a teenager and I thought then how could we as humans, get to that point. Then I realized that our survival someday, might be what gets us there. We are a renewable resource, right? Mike, this is a great book and I thank you for bringing it to us, Danny Scott.
January 25, 2017
Disturbing S.A.T.s
A horrific but necessary system for humanity to live. Unfortunately there are always people who will choose to profit at the expense of others.
Fascinating, yet sickening, the story is riveting. It's reminiscent of Soylent Green, though in this case they know what they are eating.
A horrific but necessary system for humanity to live. Unfortunately there are always people who will choose to profit at the expense of others.
Fascinating, yet sickening, the story is riveting. It's reminiscent of Soylent Green, though in this case they know what they are eating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews