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Sky City: The Rise of an Orphan #3
Skye City: The Biopunk Generation #3
**Part 3 of the Watty winning series**
'My name is Arturo Basilides. I am an orphan living in the slums of Medio City – the capital of a nation ravaged by a war which was won by extremists. Offered a choice between slavery and disenfranchisement, we exist in an underclass so disconnected we effectively inhabit a different era. Daily life involves scavenging, theft and substance abuse with a bunch of misfits who are somehow still in one piece after years of abandonment. I am a natural born fighter and although I despise warfare, I must witness the downfall of those bastard elites while fulfilling my romantic intentions with the forever unattainable girl of my dreams.'
Skye City is a biopunk adventure set in a world where science is indistinguishable from magic and oppression is near-inescapable. Technology has created a newer, 'superior' form of human and genetically engineered monstrosities are as terrifying as anything encountered in your nightmares. The underclass have been underestimated and as they fight back the boundary between freedom fighter and terrorist becomes increasingly blurred. Meanwhile, the drug-induced haze of a traumatised mind places a question mark over the meaning of reality.
Episode Three of the Trials of Arturo collection sees Arturo return, but can things ever be the same after everything he has gone through? Forced to hide, he is reunited with Myla who seems as scarred as him, and rebuilding their relationship may prove problematic. Their fate is now inextricably tied to the Rebellion, but our heroes are unsure if they want a way out.
'My name is Arturo Basilides. I am an orphan living in the slums of Medio City – the capital of a nation ravaged by a war which was won by extremists. Offered a choice between slavery and disenfranchisement, we exist in an underclass so disconnected we effectively inhabit a different era. Daily life involves scavenging, theft and substance abuse with a bunch of misfits who are somehow still in one piece after years of abandonment. I am a natural born fighter and although I despise warfare, I must witness the downfall of those bastard elites while fulfilling my romantic intentions with the forever unattainable girl of my dreams.'
Skye City is a biopunk adventure set in a world where science is indistinguishable from magic and oppression is near-inescapable. Technology has created a newer, 'superior' form of human and genetically engineered monstrosities are as terrifying as anything encountered in your nightmares. The underclass have been underestimated and as they fight back the boundary between freedom fighter and terrorist becomes increasingly blurred. Meanwhile, the drug-induced haze of a traumatised mind places a question mark over the meaning of reality.
Episode Three of the Trials of Arturo collection sees Arturo return, but can things ever be the same after everything he has gone through? Forced to hide, he is reunited with Myla who seems as scarred as him, and rebuilding their relationship may prove problematic. Their fate is now inextricably tied to the Rebellion, but our heroes are unsure if they want a way out.
ebook
First published August 28, 2014
20 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Hale
12 books302 followersR.D. Hale is a professional writer with no formal qualifications to speak of, hailing from somewhere in the UK. Little is known about him other than titbits, rumours and hear'say.
Some say he is a menace to society, a ghost who has crept into the corporate machine with the intention of bringing down the establishment. Others say he is just an idiot from a council estate and his achievement is somewhat akin to a monkey on a typewriter randomly mashing out the full works of Shakespeare.
One thing is for certain though, he has made a statement which cannot be ignored and his words are going to make a difference to this wretched 'civilisation' we have created!
Some say he is a menace to society, a ghost who has crept into the corporate machine with the intention of bringing down the establishment. Others say he is just an idiot from a council estate and his achievement is somewhat akin to a monkey on a typewriter randomly mashing out the full works of Shakespeare.
One thing is for certain though, he has made a statement which cannot be ignored and his words are going to make a difference to this wretched 'civilisation' we have created!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 5, 2014
We are finally introduced to Sky City after a protracted build up and Hale somehow succeeds in surpassing expectations: inside is a giant mall with androids walking among humans, a pet shop with a talking dog which may or may not be real, a zero gravity night club, and a million other amazing ideas; the dolphin game Arturo and Mila discover is just insane.
Romance and revelations of a painful past alter the carefree complexion, and the introduction of two new friends shows us a glimpse into the mindset of citizens. The second half of this book shows us the dark side of Sky City with some grim and powerful scenes. We begin to see the full extent of the evilness of the religious elite.
This is the best instalment so far.
Romance and revelations of a painful past alter the carefree complexion, and the introduction of two new friends shows us a glimpse into the mindset of citizens. The second half of this book shows us the dark side of Sky City with some grim and powerful scenes. We begin to see the full extent of the evilness of the religious elite.
This is the best instalment so far.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2014
Finally see fabled Sky City- where people seem to think nymphs and fairies come from the holy site of the goddess. I am not buying the perceived view of women being in charge/controlling anything on Eryx - why? Arturo has about no respect/awareness of women - not his mother or sister or girlfriend. And this a technologically advanced world...tied to 'old world' religious fantasy.
October 15, 2014
Book 3 sees Arturo and the object of his affection, Mila, embark on a lifelong dream to Sky City to complete an undercover mission. With money for the first time and opportunities they could only dream of, they of course get distracted from the task at hand. And as they befriend two citizens, they are introduced to the darker side of their fantasy world.
Hale continues to embroider the details of this richly realized world into every segment of the slumdogs’ lives, never getting careless with the stitching. For those who love mixed metaphors: his world comes into focus like a twirling Austrian leaded crystal, one facet at a time, one chapter at a time. By not rushing how much the reader can absorb at any one point, and by having a sixth sense for just how long to linger on any one story element, the story races forward without cheating the reader on any of the world-building that most writers would need several times this page count to convey.
Hale continues to embroider the details of this richly realized world into every segment of the slumdogs’ lives, never getting careless with the stitching. For those who love mixed metaphors: his world comes into focus like a twirling Austrian leaded crystal, one facet at a time, one chapter at a time. By not rushing how much the reader can absorb at any one point, and by having a sixth sense for just how long to linger on any one story element, the story races forward without cheating the reader on any of the world-building that most writers would need several times this page count to convey.
February 10, 2025
Punk at its best.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews