The Bridge

by Ian Hornett

Two worlds. Four reincarnated souls. One bridge... one last chance.

Scavenging in the ruins of London, Fen is used to independence and surviving on meagre resources. But her life is thrown into uncertainty by the brutality of her group’s leader towards a needy new arrival, and she finds herself in the middle of a conflict that she did not seek. Yet, it is a conflict she has fought many times before in many places, in many lives.

The alien stone she has found – a quarton block from the dark energy powered Garial Bridge, built to connect two planets – has lured Fen into its domain. There are others who have been sucked in too, all of them with equally confusing pasts, all of them desperate to claim the last quarton.

Fen is soon travelling a path which was set for her long ago. She has some tough decisions ahead which will test her resolve and make her question whose side she is really on. What started as a battle for personal survival has become a battle to decide the future of two very different worlds.

If you like compelling sci-fi with powerful themes and a sweeping, unique plot, then you’ll love Ian Hornett’s gripping Quarton trilogy.

Buy The Bridge today, and be hooked into a scintillating new sci-fi adventure series that will blow your mind.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 19, 2019

About the author

With absolutely no inkling that he wanted to be an author, Ian was born in Colchester in 1964. Aged 19, he did a degree, which involved 3 years of playing around with sports equipment, before joining Customs & Excise. This job, alas, involved more serious adult behaviour and a lot less sporting fun. At 40, he became a primary teacher where he hoped to rekindle his love affair with sport. This did happen, even if a lot of time was spent tidying the P.E. shed. Teaching children how to write in an exciting way was an inspiration, however, and he still teaches.

As well as the Quarton Trilogy, Ian has just released a comedy series about Maggie Matheson, a retired octogenarian who is recalled into the Secret Service. He writes 100 word stories for a local radio station and has appeared many times on Essex Radio reading his comedy blogs.

Ian is married with two grown-up children who tease him relentlessly about how long it takes him to text.

Quarton: The Bridge was Ian's first published novel. The sequels, The Coding and The Payback, are available

Follow Ian on his website and through his various social media platforms through Linktree - @buzzian

Reviews

[Lucas W Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind bending Sci Fi fun

Before I started reading this and I read the blurb I had Cloud Atlas in mind but this is so much more. So if you are a fan of Sci Fi like Cloud Atlas, that deals with reincarnation you will love this. Taken place over a period of 7000 years it jumps between an alien planet and Earth and where the majority of action takes place in 2067 London, a grim war torn city. The narrative features around four humans who unbeknownst to most of them are inexplicably linked through a millennia of lives. If these four humans come into contact it could signal a cataclysmic chain of events that do not bode well for Earth. Marston who has prior knowledge of all his lives whereas the others don’t is trying to manipulate the others while at the time locate a mysterious black box in the ruins of London. But best laid plans and all that. There are twists and turns aplenty including the final startling one that had we screaming “Whatttt” The story flowed well and I was fully invested in it. So much so that I will be getting the second book as soon as I have finished writing this review.

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing and well-written science fiction tale of what happens when an amoral dictator on another world attempts to build a bridge to ours with the intention of colonisation. That is only the beginning of the story though, because something goes monumentally wrong and the four key players in both the plan, and the resistance to the plan, are somersaulted to our world and sent far back through time to live many lives over, and over again, always with the subconscious drive to locate the keystones of the bridge – the quartons – and either restore or destroy them.

It’s a fascinating premise, and the characterisation of the four main characters is both three-dimensional and well rounded. Although the characters do need to be vivid, there is a lot of switcheroony shenanigans in this book, and I would strongly advise against attempting to read it when you are tired or distracted. This is a read that demands your full concentration, or you’ll end up re-reading passages in order to grasp what has just happened.

Focusing on the main character of Fen – a young female scavenger in Earth’s very near dystopian future – she is strong and principled, and one can’t help but like her and be on “her side” right from the very beginning. She is definitely the “good guy”, and the opposing figure of Marston is likewise the “bad guy”. After that, the definitions blur and here the author has done something a little bit clever.

Fen’s co-conspirator in the plot to stop Marston’s evil plans is Klavon and he is a thoroughly nasty piece of work. So, even though he is technically on the side of good, you really don’t like him. Likewise, Marston’s partner-in-crime the young and idealistic, Pella, brother to the aforementioned Fen, is on the wrong side – but Is still a very likeable character.

All in all, a fun and enjoyable read for all sci-fi fans everywhere, and I already have the next two books lined up on my kindle to read.

[Barbara Lennox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in what promises to be an exciting trilogy of sci-fi novels. Epic in scope, the settings range from prehistory to a post-apocalyptic London, and from one end of the Universe to the other. Four souls, originally from the distant world of Garial, are doomed to be reincarnated over and over in an elemental battle to build - or destroy - a bridge between worlds.

In the present incarnation, Fen, a young scavenger in a futuristic post-war London, finds herself pitted against, and allying with, the other reincarnations from her distant past, all the time unaware of who she has been and what she's supposed to do.

This is a page-turner of a novel, sweeping in scope and with a gripping and satisfying ending that leaves a few questions unanswered. Fortunately there are two books to follow. This is a sci-fi novel that will appeal to YA and adult readers alike. Highly recommended.

[Caroline Noe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The planet of Garial is dying from ecological ruin. Grand Overseer Arrix engages young scientist Pella to create the Quarton Bridge, with the intent of colonising an unsuspecting Earth. Racing to stop them, Pella's sister Rana and the vengeful Klavon cause an explosion that rips apart the quartet, throwing them into multiple times and bodies, perpetually locked into their roles as they search for the Quarton blocks throughout the centuries.

Meanwhile, in post apocalyptic London, young Fen wrestles with the increasingly violent leader of a scavenger gang. But who is she really? And who's everyone else around her?

Hornett's complex, weaving sci fi reminds me of Crouch's Dark Matter in that it requires high levels of concentration. The narrative leaps back and forth in time and location, building layer upon layer of character and gradually filling in the gaps.

Stick with it. All will become clear in due course.

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quarton: The Bridge is epic science fiction with a diverse cast of characters set in a post-apocalyptic London in the nearish future. It's a well-written adventure combining a classic SF sensibility with contemporary issues.

Across two planets and time, the characters are driven by the mysterious quarton and engaged in a struggle through cycles of reincarnation to seek understanding and resolution. The author deftly weaves a complex narrative with different character POVs that flows well and makes for compelling reading. I liked the narrative back and forth between Fen and Sal and the story line on Garial.

[Bruce Spydar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often read Sci-Fi … but now I might start to read a few more.
While it took me a little while to get into it and begin to understand the four main characters, the plot soon got me hooked. Planet Garial is running out of resources, and one of its leaders, Arrix, believes the solution is bridging across to colonise Earth using dark energy and Quarton technology. Three other main characters, Pella, Rana and Klavon, all have specific motivations to support or oppose Arrix’s vision.
It’s a tale of opposing ideologies, power and corruption, and the warping of time and space which sees these characters crop up again and again over the centuries. The Bridge is a wonderfully constructed opener to the trilogy. I am intrigued to learn what happens next.

[Alexander Lound · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing like a sci-fi which transports you from the mundane here-and-now, into a world where anything is possible.

Quarton: The Bridge does exactly that. From the first page, Hornett offers an enticing plot, with exceptional depth and detail. Overall, I was particularly impressed by how well thought out the novel was. There are as many as eight main narrators throughout this book, but the author managed to intertwine all of them successfully, without losing any gravity to the story arc. An excellent feat. Furthermore, although the book transports us to somewhere else: in this case, a different Earth, it is still exceptionally relevant.

In sum, I would definitely recommend.

[Angela Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not usually my genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting book. I love the idea of a conflict so powerful, it is fought out over centuries with the protagonists locked into their struggle through numerous reincarnations. Fascinating the changes in point of view throughout the book with each character developing their unique voice and my sympathies shifting as I empathised with or grew to dislike each one more.
Ian Hornett's clever introduction of themes concerning political morality, climate change and environmental issues, added interest and depth without being heavy handed.
my boys were avid YA readers and would have loved this. Look forward to the next in series.

[CW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quarton: The Bridge offers readers a different perspective on interlinking sub-plots, as characters strive to reach their goals.

Using different backdrops, intricate storytelling weaves through time and space to create a sense of drama and intrigue.

Hornett’s use of different character viewpoints allows for a greater understanding of motives, as well as giving the reader clues along the way.

Looking forward to the follow up book.

[Nannette Kreitzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Quarton: The Bridge, book one of the Quarton Trilogy, is fascinating and well conceived. Hornett weaves an imaginative tale, impressive in scope and content, whisking me to different places and times while I grew to love (or hate!) his characters. This is a throughly entertaining read and book two, The Coding, is on my TBR!

[Paul Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing story set in our near future but with alien twists. London seemed very familiar. Quite dark and keeping track of the various protagonists in different bodies kept my brain busy. Needed and wanted to read it in one long session. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

[AMC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this action packed book. Lots of twists to keep me guessing. Looking forward to the next one in the series...

Merged review:

Loved this - transported me to another world with some mind bending twists. Lots of characters to get to know so I found the appendix listing useful.

[Adam Dykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next one! Took a while to fully understand, but it was worth sticking with it. A really clever and refreshing concept, interesting characters, and a good cliifhanger at the end.

[Rachel Churcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more YA reviews, visit my blog - Unsupervised in a Bookstore .

A clever sci-fi novel with an intriguing premise, the first book in the Quarton series sets the scene for an enduring interplanetary and intergenerational conflict.

On a dying planet, a group of scientists races to build a bridge across space. The plan is to escape from environmental disaster by sending colonists to other worlds using Quarton blocks to harness Dark Energy. But not everyone wants to see the bridge succeed, and an attack at the completion ceremony sees the destruction of the project, and the arrival of four aliens on Earth 5,000 years ago.

But they didn't come alone, and the surviving Quarton blocks are scattered across the planet. As each block is discovered, the alien refugees are reborn to continue the search. Two of them are scientists from the team that created the bridge, and two of them are the terrorists behind the attack. Each of the four characters lives multiple lives, always remaining true to their original convictions. The mastermind and the engineer, fighting to rebuild the bridge and return home, and the rebels, seeking to destroy the Quartons before they can be used.

The story begins in 2067 in a war-ravaged London. Fen is a scavenger, searching for anything useful in the ruins. Her group pools their resources and trades them for food and other essentials. It's a hard life, not helped by the cruel leader of her scavenging gang. But Fen has a secret - a block of stone that glows, and gives her dreams of other lives and other places.

Fen doesn't remember who she is, or that the stone is calling the others to London - and she has no idea how her life is about to change.

It's a great premise - alien technology, reincarnated characters, and a central relationship that plays out in every generation. Sometimes the blocks are saved, and sometimes the rebels destroy them, but all four players are trapped by the Quartons and compelled to risk everything to find them. Keeping track of which character is which can be a challenge as we glimpse previous lives and previous conflicts. The author warns us up front that this is the case, but he also reassures us that everything will be clear in the end. It is a testament to his strong characterisation and storytelling that this is, indeed, the case. It might be confusing at times, but everything falls into place in the final action-packed pages.

This is an original and ambitious story, and the author skilfully steers us through the important events across time, space, and multiple reincarnations. Bring on Book Two!

[Еся · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author used to be my substitute teacher in year 4, I have a signed copy