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Departure: Post-apocalyptic cultures clash in a dystopian military thriller.
Liam Collins never wanted to be a hero or save humanity; he just wanted to be left alone.
After centuries of war and climate change, the world’s nations have fallen and civilization is on the verge of collapse. Within what was once the state of Colorado, only two walled city-states remain. In the south, Pike City is at war with a loose confederation of rebellious tribes ensconced within the Rocky Mountains, while in the north, Flatiron City strives to remain neutral by selling weapons equally to both sides.
Liam works in Flatiron City developing the technology that is bartered to keep the peace. But his simple life and the delicate balance his city maintains abruptly falters when astronomers predict an impending solar flare that will end all life on Earth.
Under threats of torture and death, Liam is forced to work on an ambitious project to prevent complete human extinction by allowing an elite few to escape to the stars. But should only the worst of us be allowed to survive or is there a more radical option? Working alone against an entire army puts Liam in an untenable position where he must battle brute force with strategy. As he slowly draws and executes his plans, he wonders, is losing our humanity in the effort to save our species too high of a cost to pay?
Departure is the first in a series of five novels that together paint a complex picture of the inevitable end of the human species.
After centuries of war and climate change, the world’s nations have fallen and civilization is on the verge of collapse. Within what was once the state of Colorado, only two walled city-states remain. In the south, Pike City is at war with a loose confederation of rebellious tribes ensconced within the Rocky Mountains, while in the north, Flatiron City strives to remain neutral by selling weapons equally to both sides.
Liam works in Flatiron City developing the technology that is bartered to keep the peace. But his simple life and the delicate balance his city maintains abruptly falters when astronomers predict an impending solar flare that will end all life on Earth.
Under threats of torture and death, Liam is forced to work on an ambitious project to prevent complete human extinction by allowing an elite few to escape to the stars. But should only the worst of us be allowed to survive or is there a more radical option? Working alone against an entire army puts Liam in an untenable position where he must battle brute force with strategy. As he slowly draws and executes his plans, he wonders, is losing our humanity in the effort to save our species too high of a cost to pay?
Departure is the first in a series of five novels that together paint a complex picture of the inevitable end of the human species.
- GenresDystopia
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2018
37 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Ken Barrett
7 books5 followersA miscreant, martial artist, biker, and author. Ken Barrett grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and worked as a Design Engineer for over thirty years in Silicon Valley. He is a lifelong biker (motorcyclist), and an accomplished martial artist with advanced black-belt degrees in Tae Kwon Do, Chinese Kenpo, Hapkido, and Shotokan. He is retired and living in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 2, 2019
Where should I start, where should I start... where should I start?
Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. This is "wife getting up at 4am wondering why I hadn't gone to bed yet" couldn't put it down.
Three cities, Fort Collins, the socialist strong hold, Pike City and the 'neutral' Flatiron City. Scattered around the country and in this area of the former midwestern part of the USA, were the tribes. Flatiron City stayed neutral by producing and selling tech to both the tribes and the socialist. Liam and his sister Rose sole survivors of the annihilation of Fort Collins, by the socialists when they were quite young. As children, they managed to survive and make their way to Flatiron City, their new home, where they were accepted, fostered and educated, and where they now both worked at the University. Liam is an Artificial Intelligence computer scientist and Rose as a history professor, both happy in their adopted city of Flatiron.
Liam has attracted the attention of the Chancellor of Pike City, Mother Margarette as her subjects are fond of calling her. He and another scientist are needed by her, and that other scientist, Ron, sold his soul to Mother in exchange for what he thinks will be a better life for him and his sister Becky. Yep, you guest it, the attack on Flatiron City is on.
The book is great at describing the condition of the world, the global warming, constant rain, the lack of fertile land. The lack of hope. We know that war upon war upon war has been fought, and Liam is even of the opinion that mankind no longer deserves to survive. Of course, he knows deserving people but deserving people are not in charge. That is one of the questions that he wants to resolve with himself, ever cheerily advising people that there is no God. Seemed like it was up to him to decide to save mankind or not.
The book was good. Some of the story telling was predictable, but the plot line, the speed of the action and ending held out to surprise and it’ll capture your interest to the very end.
I got a free ARC in exchange for an interview.
Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. This is "wife getting up at 4am wondering why I hadn't gone to bed yet" couldn't put it down.
Three cities, Fort Collins, the socialist strong hold, Pike City and the 'neutral' Flatiron City. Scattered around the country and in this area of the former midwestern part of the USA, were the tribes. Flatiron City stayed neutral by producing and selling tech to both the tribes and the socialist. Liam and his sister Rose sole survivors of the annihilation of Fort Collins, by the socialists when they were quite young. As children, they managed to survive and make their way to Flatiron City, their new home, where they were accepted, fostered and educated, and where they now both worked at the University. Liam is an Artificial Intelligence computer scientist and Rose as a history professor, both happy in their adopted city of Flatiron.
Liam has attracted the attention of the Chancellor of Pike City, Mother Margarette as her subjects are fond of calling her. He and another scientist are needed by her, and that other scientist, Ron, sold his soul to Mother in exchange for what he thinks will be a better life for him and his sister Becky. Yep, you guest it, the attack on Flatiron City is on.
The book is great at describing the condition of the world, the global warming, constant rain, the lack of fertile land. The lack of hope. We know that war upon war upon war has been fought, and Liam is even of the opinion that mankind no longer deserves to survive. Of course, he knows deserving people but deserving people are not in charge. That is one of the questions that he wants to resolve with himself, ever cheerily advising people that there is no God. Seemed like it was up to him to decide to save mankind or not.
The book was good. Some of the story telling was predictable, but the plot line, the speed of the action and ending held out to surprise and it’ll capture your interest to the very end.
I got a free ARC in exchange for an interview.
May 21, 2021
Solid science fiction and a promising series
The premise of this book stands solid in the most likely outcome of mans future: ruin. The author paints a bleak future where man has devolved into a smattering of warrior tribes dominated by one fairly advanced culture. A culture that views itself as all cultures do “The most superior”
Liam, a brilliant scientist, and our main character, finds himself whisked away by an invading army who has destroyed his city in what was once Colorado. He’s forced to produce a life saving and ground breaking way for his captors to escape earth, which is doomed due to a looming natural extinction event.
Without giving away spoilers, I’ll say that the book drew on several science fiction themes: AI Tech, space travel, political intrigue all under a dystopian umbrella. In some parts I felt it slowed, but overall the plot points and twists at the end were fabulous. I’d recommend for anyone who wants a fairly complex storyline and well fleshed out world that is light on fighting but heavy on science. I’d have to say this was a well crafted mix of dystopian and hard Sci Fi. Read it.
The premise of this book stands solid in the most likely outcome of mans future: ruin. The author paints a bleak future where man has devolved into a smattering of warrior tribes dominated by one fairly advanced culture. A culture that views itself as all cultures do “The most superior”
Liam, a brilliant scientist, and our main character, finds himself whisked away by an invading army who has destroyed his city in what was once Colorado. He’s forced to produce a life saving and ground breaking way for his captors to escape earth, which is doomed due to a looming natural extinction event.
Without giving away spoilers, I’ll say that the book drew on several science fiction themes: AI Tech, space travel, political intrigue all under a dystopian umbrella. In some parts I felt it slowed, but overall the plot points and twists at the end were fabulous. I’d recommend for anyone who wants a fairly complex storyline and well fleshed out world that is light on fighting but heavy on science. I’d have to say this was a well crafted mix of dystopian and hard Sci Fi. Read it.
February 25, 2019
DEPARTURE is Book 1 in the EXTINCTION series, a literate approach to an era of Apocalypse--Post-Apocalypse--Extinction Event which creates a different, unusual, but breathtaking spin on the usual Apocalypse routine. In a world either post-apocalyptic or Dystopian, or both (such as the world identified here), survival is dog-eat-dog or every man for himself without exception. What room is there for culture, ethics, or personal integrity? Well, our Protagonist hero Liam possesses all of those, and amazingly, refuses to be cowed. If life isn't bad enough already (it certainly is), the approaching solar flare/solar storm/EMP threatens effectively to wipe out what remains of the Earth...unless a cadre of humans can escape to the stars. Therein lies the question: can all humans escape? If not, then who? Only the upper class? Read on to find out, and then follow the series.
February 1, 2021
6☆ Impressive & addictive.
This is a top beginning to a 5 book series. At once thought provoking and exciting this is one of the best reads I've had in a long while, in this genre.
Everything felt so real I could completely believe not only the events but the characters and their behaviour. The concept of travelling thru N-space is detailed but not too science heavy as is Lucy and am really hoping there's more about Trappist-1 worlds in the next book !
I most definitely didn't forsee the events in the final jawdropping couple of chapters.
The rest of the series is highly anticipated.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a top beginning to a 5 book series. At once thought provoking and exciting this is one of the best reads I've had in a long while, in this genre.
Everything felt so real I could completely believe not only the events but the characters and their behaviour. The concept of travelling thru N-space is detailed but not too science heavy as is Lucy and am really hoping there's more about Trappist-1 worlds in the next book !
I most definitely didn't forsee the events in the final jawdropping couple of chapters.
The rest of the series is highly anticipated.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 31, 2021
As a person averse to the post apocalyptic genre this book kept my attention and desire to read to the excellent ending with an unexpected reveal that speaks of real talent
No Spoilers here
The development of characters was excellent and the main adversary, truly chilling and believable which adds to your buy in to the story line
Worth a recommendation but deeds speak louder than words here
Ive already bought another book my this author Ken Barret
I received a free copy of this book from a writer forum but have come here to review cause the book is good and the purchase of more is real
No Spoilers here
The development of characters was excellent and the main adversary, truly chilling and believable which adds to your buy in to the story line
Worth a recommendation but deeds speak louder than words here
Ive already bought another book my this author Ken Barret
I received a free copy of this book from a writer forum but have come here to review cause the book is good and the purchase of more is real
January 8, 2021
Great Read
This is a wonderful dystopia sci fi. Liam is smart yet endearing. There are some unexpected turns that work very well in this story. Each characters personalities are easy to see as real people both good and bad. Looking forward to the next book.
This is a wonderful dystopia sci fi. Liam is smart yet endearing. There are some unexpected turns that work very well in this story. Each characters personalities are easy to see as real people both good and bad. Looking forward to the next book.
November 11, 2022
No real plot or story
Rambling story with characters that were hard to care about. I continued until the dreary end and removed the download. Zero interest in any further part of the "saga."
Rambling story with characters that were hard to care about. I continued until the dreary end and removed the download. Zero interest in any further part of the "saga."
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews