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Ouroboros Cycle #2
Future's Orphans
This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN: B0147F21K0
Cassidy Nolan is a drug addicted journalist responsible for one of the most iconic photographs of the new millennium.
Fourteen years on from capturing the image, it has become a significant part of the documented experiences of an event that has tipped the world towards the precipice of an uncertain future.
A chance encounter with the sociopathic Paco, a street urchin who deals only in absolutes, will see both of their paths converge on the discovery of a sinister truth about the world in which they inhabit.
Even if they survive long enough to reveal what they have uncovered, there are no certainties that it will change anything in an uncaring world that is long past its expiry date.
Cassidy Nolan is a drug addicted journalist responsible for one of the most iconic photographs of the new millennium.
Fourteen years on from capturing the image, it has become a significant part of the documented experiences of an event that has tipped the world towards the precipice of an uncertain future.
A chance encounter with the sociopathic Paco, a street urchin who deals only in absolutes, will see both of their paths converge on the discovery of a sinister truth about the world in which they inhabit.
Even if they survive long enough to reveal what they have uncovered, there are no certainties that it will change anything in an uncaring world that is long past its expiry date.
- GenresScience Fiction
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2015
5 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
A.K. Alliss
9 books28 followersAK Alliss writes. Anytime. Anywhere. Scifi, Fantasy, Noir and anything else that grabs his attention. Breaking barriers from the mainstream genre tropes and introducing rich and intriguing characters to accompany readers on their adventure.
Author of the Ouroboros Cycle Scifi saga (FR[A]ME, Future's Orphans, and Gravity's Truth), The Pattern Codex Science Fantasy epic (All The Dead Stars) and the domestic psychological thriller, 'Kill Your Darlings'.
His next book is 'Jimmy Dean's Last Dance', coming from Spectrum Publishing.
Want to learn more about the elusive AK? Find him on Social Media or wherever good books are sold.
Author of the Ouroboros Cycle Scifi saga (FR[A]ME, Future's Orphans, and Gravity's Truth), The Pattern Codex Science Fantasy epic (All The Dead Stars) and the domestic psychological thriller, 'Kill Your Darlings'.
His next book is 'Jimmy Dean's Last Dance', coming from Spectrum Publishing.
Want to learn more about the elusive AK? Find him on Social Media or wherever good books are sold.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 9, 2022
This Novel maybe part of a series, but it holds its own weight in storytelling and realism. I've read many book on apocalyptic worlds, but this author really touched on some in depth realistic issues that ruined the world before and after an apocalyptic disaster. Social Media still thrives in this book's world. Politics still control everything. Wealth still pushes the politics agendas. There's a high percentage of drug addiction, and the government is still writing the Rx. There were ways people of color were population controlled by experiments. Now in this book they're making people into idk what that chamber hall is...and they're sterilizing everyone on the patches!
September 1, 2017
unable to finish. the plot wasn't clear, the time frame wasn't clear and was missing details that i needed such as what happened to make everyone live within the walled city. The word F*** appears more often than I cared for.
January 24, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"You still be chasing the puzzle."
Fourteen years before, Cassidy Nolan had been a reputable staff journalist with a promising future. Then she'd posted her iconic photograph, Death in the East, to the internet and all of her future was behind her. Now, living in poverty in the ruins of her world, she eked out her credits selling occasional articles to Michaels, an editor. She wore patches, everyone did, but she was an addict, she needed more. And without any left, the drug effects of her last already fading before the day had even started, she had to get more, fast. Only two ways she could think of to do this, and both possibilities were terrible.
Sent in a dystopian not-too-distant future, the story traces the events of Cass' life as the little stability she had achieved is further snatched from her. Earlier moments are revealed through dream sequences or brief flashbacks. Entwined in her story is also that of a teenage street kid, Paco, who had survived in the uncaring City by cunning and violence. Somehow their destinies seem linked as they run from the authorities and the mysterious and much feared Ouroboros. Betrayal and conspiracy, constant fear and near death situations pursue them through desolate wastelands and the ruined city.
A book of contradictions, Future's Orphans paints a very desolate picture of a world fallen apart, it's peoples buried in hopelessness and desperation. Yet it is almost poetically written. It can be confusing, too, as the point of view changes between different protagonists, often without warning and repeating the same incidents from a different perspective. Same with the dream sequences: the reader is launched into them without prior indication and have to be untangled from the current happenings. However, the whole builds into a very satisfying, if uncomfortable, read. Especially refreshing is the invented street patois used throughout by Paco.
Narration is by Anneliese Rennie. Her voice has a pleasant timbre, well modulated and intoned and she provides good voice differentiation for the characters. Essentially a good performance but marred by a sometimes jerky delivery, with overlong pauses which made this reader hold her breath occasionally wondering if something had gone wrong with the playback.
i was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of the book after I requested it via Audiobook Boom. Future's Orphans is the second volume in the Ouroboros Cycle. Not yet having read the first in the series, I can confirm that it works well as a standalone book. Whether the back history of how the world achieved it's deteriorated state, or introduced readers to the earlier life and character of Cass, I cannot say. Certainly a little more character development would have been appreciated. But it is an enjoyable, intriguing storyline with an excellent evolving relationship element, set in a well defined landscape. Recommended to all who enjoy dystolian, S.F. and conspiracy thrillers. Unfortunately, book one is not yet available on Audible.
"You still be chasing the puzzle."
Fourteen years before, Cassidy Nolan had been a reputable staff journalist with a promising future. Then she'd posted her iconic photograph, Death in the East, to the internet and all of her future was behind her. Now, living in poverty in the ruins of her world, she eked out her credits selling occasional articles to Michaels, an editor. She wore patches, everyone did, but she was an addict, she needed more. And without any left, the drug effects of her last already fading before the day had even started, she had to get more, fast. Only two ways she could think of to do this, and both possibilities were terrible.
Sent in a dystopian not-too-distant future, the story traces the events of Cass' life as the little stability she had achieved is further snatched from her. Earlier moments are revealed through dream sequences or brief flashbacks. Entwined in her story is also that of a teenage street kid, Paco, who had survived in the uncaring City by cunning and violence. Somehow their destinies seem linked as they run from the authorities and the mysterious and much feared Ouroboros. Betrayal and conspiracy, constant fear and near death situations pursue them through desolate wastelands and the ruined city.
A book of contradictions, Future's Orphans paints a very desolate picture of a world fallen apart, it's peoples buried in hopelessness and desperation. Yet it is almost poetically written. It can be confusing, too, as the point of view changes between different protagonists, often without warning and repeating the same incidents from a different perspective. Same with the dream sequences: the reader is launched into them without prior indication and have to be untangled from the current happenings. However, the whole builds into a very satisfying, if uncomfortable, read. Especially refreshing is the invented street patois used throughout by Paco.
Narration is by Anneliese Rennie. Her voice has a pleasant timbre, well modulated and intoned and she provides good voice differentiation for the characters. Essentially a good performance but marred by a sometimes jerky delivery, with overlong pauses which made this reader hold her breath occasionally wondering if something had gone wrong with the playback.
i was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of the book after I requested it via Audiobook Boom. Future's Orphans is the second volume in the Ouroboros Cycle. Not yet having read the first in the series, I can confirm that it works well as a standalone book. Whether the back history of how the world achieved it's deteriorated state, or introduced readers to the earlier life and character of Cass, I cannot say. Certainly a little more character development would have been appreciated. But it is an enjoyable, intriguing storyline with an excellent evolving relationship element, set in a well defined landscape. Recommended to all who enjoy dystolian, S.F. and conspiracy thrillers. Unfortunately, book one is not yet available on Audible.
October 7, 2017
Future’s Orphans is certainly action-packed, with plenty of combat, plenty of running, and plenty of capture/escape scenerios. Through all of this runs a thread of emotion with some romantic and tragic backstories. Plant the whole thing in a future with assorted factions from the oppressive to the hopeful and you've got huge potential.
The story is enjoyable in and of itself, but I fear it may be set in a world rather too complex and without enough opportunity for the reader to get a grasp of the situation. The fact that the various factions are none quite what they first appear, and have connections through various ‘corrupt’ or ‘enlightened’ individuals, just serves to make the background too complicated to follow. I couldn’t work out the good guys and the bad guys (if there were any) or even who was officially in charge of this civilisation.
If you’re happy to accept a degree of mild confusion in return for a decent enough action tale, then Future’s Orphans wouldn’t be a bad purchase. Just don’t attempt to fully understand the backstories or the world that the author has created. Perhaps there will be some new books in the future that give us a little more of Alliss’ vision. It would certainly be a shame if we weren’t to get the full advantage of the imagination behind this version of the future.
My favourite quote comes from the very first chapter: ‘why does everything have to have a title?’. Something to consider in our social media driven lives. There’s more to take from Future’s Orphans but it’s a bit of a challenge to find amongst the multiple themes of the story.
The story is enjoyable in and of itself, but I fear it may be set in a world rather too complex and without enough opportunity for the reader to get a grasp of the situation. The fact that the various factions are none quite what they first appear, and have connections through various ‘corrupt’ or ‘enlightened’ individuals, just serves to make the background too complicated to follow. I couldn’t work out the good guys and the bad guys (if there were any) or even who was officially in charge of this civilisation.
If you’re happy to accept a degree of mild confusion in return for a decent enough action tale, then Future’s Orphans wouldn’t be a bad purchase. Just don’t attempt to fully understand the backstories or the world that the author has created. Perhaps there will be some new books in the future that give us a little more of Alliss’ vision. It would certainly be a shame if we weren’t to get the full advantage of the imagination behind this version of the future.
My favourite quote comes from the very first chapter: ‘why does everything have to have a title?’. Something to consider in our social media driven lives. There’s more to take from Future’s Orphans but it’s a bit of a challenge to find amongst the multiple themes of the story.
December 18, 2017
3.5 Stars. It was clear from my reading of the first title in his AK Alliss' Ouroboros Cycle Series,
Frame
earlier this year, that he had more highly entertaining and thought provoking tales to tell. I was once again impressed by the calibre and credibility of Alliss’ world building in
Future's Orphans
— he displays a real eye for detail in setting a scene, evoking mood and tension. The only weakness in prose, for my personal tastes, is a tendency towards over specification.
Read full review >>
September 10, 2017
This is not an easy book. A junkie journalist and a sociopath kid don't make the best set of leads. An end of the world scenario, a brutal mercenary after them, a world on the verge of collapse. Nope. Not pretty and not easy. But it is indeed action packed and "Blade Runner meets Mad Max" is not a bad tag line for it. I hope our near future doesn't look at all like this cyberpunked mess, but the topic is a good read when presented well. This action packed thriller definitely does that. Definitely recommended.
September 9, 2017
Good, but confusing
I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting and entertaining story. I really like Paco; maybe it was his usebof the word "savvy" a lot. The plot seemed interesting, and the thing with the patches seemed pretty cool and intriguing. There wasn't enough back story though. I was really confused throughout a lot of it. Despite that, I liked it.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving an ARC for free.
I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting and entertaining story. I really like Paco; maybe it was his usebof the word "savvy" a lot. The plot seemed interesting, and the thing with the patches seemed pretty cool and intriguing. There wasn't enough back story though. I was really confused throughout a lot of it. Despite that, I liked it.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving an ARC for free.
May 12, 2017
A thrilling and yet terrifying glimpse into a possible future. This story twists current affairs into a future nightmare were humanity's only hope is in the hands of incredibly flawed characters. All this combines to create a compulsive read that sucks you in and challenges the way you think. Amazing.
December 9, 2018
Audiobook version
August 19, 2020
Well written dystopia
Science fiction dystopia
Allis is a very good writer. Sometimes I find the phrases and sentences almost lyrical. I suspect that if Allis turned his attention to another genre, he would soon make a name for himself. Dystopia tend to be dark and depressing because they are about struggling to live when society is falling apart; it's about the end of a people or civilization. Such is why I don't normally read them. The writing is also well-edited, a rarity with new, independent writers eager to make a living and a name for themselves.
Here the story continues with new characters sharing the same society filled desperate people living much closer to starvation and hopelessness than we are used to encountering. The overall dilemmas remain the same; it's a trilogy after all. The story picks up from the end of the first book with new characters watching the nuclear explosion.
If you like dystopia stories, I think you will enjoy this series. I enjoyed it, but also found it grim. I think Allis is trying to warn us about politicians desperate to keep their power and wealth make decisions that will keep the status quo or increase their control rather than face the desperate social and ecological disasters that face our own society. He paints a work of advanced machines bent on destroying their inferior makers, and making strong inroads to accomplish their goals.
If you like dystopia tales with a sometimes poetic turn of phrase, you will enjoy this series.
Science fiction dystopia
Allis is a very good writer. Sometimes I find the phrases and sentences almost lyrical. I suspect that if Allis turned his attention to another genre, he would soon make a name for himself. Dystopia tend to be dark and depressing because they are about struggling to live when society is falling apart; it's about the end of a people or civilization. Such is why I don't normally read them. The writing is also well-edited, a rarity with new, independent writers eager to make a living and a name for themselves.
Here the story continues with new characters sharing the same society filled desperate people living much closer to starvation and hopelessness than we are used to encountering. The overall dilemmas remain the same; it's a trilogy after all. The story picks up from the end of the first book with new characters watching the nuclear explosion.
If you like dystopia stories, I think you will enjoy this series. I enjoyed it, but also found it grim. I think Allis is trying to warn us about politicians desperate to keep their power and wealth make decisions that will keep the status quo or increase their control rather than face the desperate social and ecological disasters that face our own society. He paints a work of advanced machines bent on destroying their inferior makers, and making strong inroads to accomplish their goals.
If you like dystopia tales with a sometimes poetic turn of phrase, you will enjoy this series.
January 2, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. It has been published in December 2018.
"Future's Orphans" by A.K. Alliss is a vey promising cyberpunk dystopian novel... that really disappointed me.
The plot is confused - a fast-paced jumble of combat scenes and interminable backstories for even the minor characters who are going to be killed off a couple of pages later - and it feels like it's not going anywhere, only rushing pointlessly from one violent murder to the next.
The characters themselves, even the main ones, are stereotyped, completely flat and not relatable at all. I ended up not caring in the least for the insufferable protagonist, even when she was in mortal danger.
The concept is good, and the themes are really interesting, but it could have been handled in a much better way.
I struggled to finish it and will definitely not be reading more by the same author.
"Future's Orphans" by A.K. Alliss is a vey promising cyberpunk dystopian novel... that really disappointed me.
The plot is confused - a fast-paced jumble of combat scenes and interminable backstories for even the minor characters who are going to be killed off a couple of pages later - and it feels like it's not going anywhere, only rushing pointlessly from one violent murder to the next.
The characters themselves, even the main ones, are stereotyped, completely flat and not relatable at all. I ended up not caring in the least for the insufferable protagonist, even when she was in mortal danger.
The concept is good, and the themes are really interesting, but it could have been handled in a much better way.
I struggled to finish it and will definitely not be reading more by the same author.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews