What do you think?
Rate this book
Diamond Roads #2
The Outer Spheres
Beautiful young Charity Freestone has it the love of a good man, the revelation of her remarkable identity and her family reunited after their spectacular battle with the Sons of the Crystal Mind.
However, at her moment of triumph Charity is tricked into joining the mysterious New Form Enterprise, whose harsh regime seems designed to break her. Before she can learn their strange purpose, a shocking betrayal brings unique and terrifying freedom.
Cut off from its advanced technology, Charity is hunted through war-torn, subterranean Diamond City by an enemy who is always closer than she thinks. As she struggles to make sense of her inhumanly ruthless pursuers, Charity must confront her own complicity in the nightmare that engulfs her.
And when she does, she discovers there are far worse places than the dreaded Outer Spheres.
Praise for Diamond
‘Fast-paced, clever and beautifully-written’ - Mark Edwards, bestselling author of The Magpies and Follow You Home
‘Packed with sci-fi smarts’ - Anne Charnock, acclaimed author of Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind (Guardian SF Books of the Year) and A Calculated Life (nominated for the Philip K Dick Award)
However, at her moment of triumph Charity is tricked into joining the mysterious New Form Enterprise, whose harsh regime seems designed to break her. Before she can learn their strange purpose, a shocking betrayal brings unique and terrifying freedom.
Cut off from its advanced technology, Charity is hunted through war-torn, subterranean Diamond City by an enemy who is always closer than she thinks. As she struggles to make sense of her inhumanly ruthless pursuers, Charity must confront her own complicity in the nightmare that engulfs her.
And when she does, she discovers there are far worse places than the dreaded Outer Spheres.
Praise for Diamond
‘Fast-paced, clever and beautifully-written’ - Mark Edwards, bestselling author of The Magpies and Follow You Home
‘Packed with sci-fi smarts’ - Anne Charnock, acclaimed author of Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind (Guardian SF Books of the Year) and A Calculated Life (nominated for the Philip K Dick Award)
378 pages, ebook
Published December 4, 2016
About the author
Andrew Wallace
7 books8 followersAndrew writes and performs original, fast-moving science fiction and fantasy. His current novel is Celebrity Werewolf, for which he also narrated the audiobook.
His far-future Diamond Roads science fiction thriller series includes Sons of the Crystal Mind, The Outer Spheres and the forthcoming Beautiful Gun.
Andrew's new fantasy book, Dread & the Broken Witch will be published by Luna Press on 19 February 2021, and his next NewCon Press project is an eight-story collection of Black Mirror-style near-future nightmares called Deviant Database, which accompanies an exciting and innovative solo stage show.
His far-future Diamond Roads science fiction thriller series includes Sons of the Crystal Mind, The Outer Spheres and the forthcoming Beautiful Gun.
Andrew's new fantasy book, Dread & the Broken Witch will be published by Luna Press on 19 February 2021, and his next NewCon Press project is an eight-story collection of Black Mirror-style near-future nightmares called Deviant Database, which accompanies an exciting and innovative solo stage show.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 3, 2017
Kudos to author Andrew Wallace for spinning a gripping adventure tale. The Outer Spheres is an excellent example of cross-genre fiction. Yes, there are certainly science fiction elements, but there is so much more. Mystery, intrigue, suspense, military, political, techno-drama is only an approximation. He blends it all in fast-paced action adventure filled with plot twists.
Charity Freestone is both the hunted and haunted kick-ass protagonist, both a pawn and a major player in a very complex world where power comes from patents and economic success drives a society of winners and losers (mostly the latter from this reader’s perspective).
What I found most appealing about the novel is the incredible imagination showcasing this created world and society. In some ways, this reminds me of Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’—chock full of masterful elements with different factions and shifting loyalties in a complex universe. Buckle up…
Charity Freestone is both the hunted and haunted kick-ass protagonist, both a pawn and a major player in a very complex world where power comes from patents and economic success drives a society of winners and losers (mostly the latter from this reader’s perspective).
What I found most appealing about the novel is the incredible imagination showcasing this created world and society. In some ways, this reminds me of Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’—chock full of masterful elements with different factions and shifting loyalties in a complex universe. Buckle up…
August 4, 2017
The follow up to Sons of the Crystal Minds picks up the story immediately and plunges you straight back into the world and mind of Charity Freestone.
I love Andrew's prose and style of writing, overall he gives you a wild, fast paced adventure populated with fantastic characters.
If one thing stands out in the book it's the characters and the way Andrew has turned them on their heads from book 1 - you never quite know who the good guys are. This is done brilliantly and stops you becoming complacent as you read.
The plot is intricate and character driven, which I like, but for me, the plot becomes a little confused and the central question of Charity's quest is never answered (I'm assuming this is where book 3 comes in).
I love Andrew's prose and style of writing, overall he gives you a wild, fast paced adventure populated with fantastic characters.
If one thing stands out in the book it's the characters and the way Andrew has turned them on their heads from book 1 - you never quite know who the good guys are. This is done brilliantly and stops you becoming complacent as you read.
The plot is intricate and character driven, which I like, but for me, the plot becomes a little confused and the central question of Charity's quest is never answered (I'm assuming this is where book 3 comes in).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews