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The Fallen World #7
Blue Crucible
Justice lives, even when society dies.
The end came fast for Lieutenant Nathan Ward. One moment he was participating in an international convention of mounted police officers, the next he was in a command bunker watching the world’s two biggest Corporations—Obsidian and Teledyne—destroy it in an exchange of nuclear hellfire.
While Columbia, Missouri was spared a direct strike, a near-miss EMP fried most of the vehicles and the electrical grid. Then the Corporations started a shooting war in the streets, and they didn’t care who got caught in the crossfire. But Columbia was one of the last cities still standing, and Nathan and his fellow officers weren’t going to give it up. Even if it meant facing the worst the Corporate militaries could throw at them.
The Corporations had no intention of giving up the city, either, and Obsidian called in reinforcements to match Teledyne’s Specialist, a woman with the power to defeat a company of soldiers all on her own. Both Corporations intended to reign supreme and were willing to crush anyone who got in their way. In the post-apocalyptic world, there was only one law—theirs—and not the one with a badge.
The world may have fallen, but the Thin Blue Line’s battle is only beginning.
The end came fast for Lieutenant Nathan Ward. One moment he was participating in an international convention of mounted police officers, the next he was in a command bunker watching the world’s two biggest Corporations—Obsidian and Teledyne—destroy it in an exchange of nuclear hellfire.
While Columbia, Missouri was spared a direct strike, a near-miss EMP fried most of the vehicles and the electrical grid. Then the Corporations started a shooting war in the streets, and they didn’t care who got caught in the crossfire. But Columbia was one of the last cities still standing, and Nathan and his fellow officers weren’t going to give it up. Even if it meant facing the worst the Corporate militaries could throw at them.
The Corporations had no intention of giving up the city, either, and Obsidian called in reinforcements to match Teledyne’s Specialist, a woman with the power to defeat a company of soldiers all on her own. Both Corporations intended to reign supreme and were willing to crush anyone who got in their way. In the post-apocalyptic world, there was only one law—theirs—and not the one with a badge.
The world may have fallen, but the Thin Blue Line’s battle is only beginning.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2020
68 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 14, 2020
After a corporate nuclear war, a group of police officers from all over the world find themselves in Colombia, Missouri. Will the world collapsing around them they are the last chance for law and order in the This Fallen World.
Overall... meh.
The story is very linear with 2D characters that really have no motivation or agency beyond their good-guy, bad-guy archetypes. But archetypes are all that is left In This Fallen World!
The cops are the good guys (YAY!). They are on the corporate payroll before the war but for no discernable reason they turn on their corporate masters and lead a rebellion against them. Because they are the only good guys in the Fallen World!
The corporations, Obsidian and Teledyne are the bad guys. (Boo!) They nuked the entire world for no discernable reason. And they are soulless greedy bastards who have no goals except the wholesale enslavement and slaughter of the entire town. But what else do you expect in this Fallen World!
The book read like it was trying hard to be an action movie. It was honestly hard to figure out why anyone was fighting in between the constant battles and explosions and (semi-) thrilling heroics. But that's what one needs in this Fallen World.
And listen, I'm all for action-packed thrillers but I want the characters to have some depth. And I didn't get it from this book. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters and so they just became interchangeable names for me and I could never settle in and enter that movie of the mind that really gets me into a book. But, perhaps there is no place for character development in this Fallen World.
Also if constantly repeating This Fallen World is annoying. Join the club. It's at the end of every chapter. It almost reads as a desperate attempt to force a bit of drama and tension in a story that is simply lacking any. Don't know why the author insisted on going with this gimmick but it is about the only thing I will remember about this book.
Overall... meh.
The story is very linear with 2D characters that really have no motivation or agency beyond their good-guy, bad-guy archetypes. But archetypes are all that is left In This Fallen World!
The cops are the good guys (YAY!). They are on the corporate payroll before the war but for no discernable reason they turn on their corporate masters and lead a rebellion against them. Because they are the only good guys in the Fallen World!
The corporations, Obsidian and Teledyne are the bad guys. (Boo!) They nuked the entire world for no discernable reason. And they are soulless greedy bastards who have no goals except the wholesale enslavement and slaughter of the entire town. But what else do you expect in this Fallen World!
The book read like it was trying hard to be an action movie. It was honestly hard to figure out why anyone was fighting in between the constant battles and explosions and (semi-) thrilling heroics. But that's what one needs in this Fallen World.
And listen, I'm all for action-packed thrillers but I want the characters to have some depth. And I didn't get it from this book. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters and so they just became interchangeable names for me and I could never settle in and enter that movie of the mind that really gets me into a book. But, perhaps there is no place for character development in this Fallen World.
Also if constantly repeating This Fallen World is annoying. Join the club. It's at the end of every chapter. It almost reads as a desperate attempt to force a bit of drama and tension in a story that is simply lacking any. Don't know why the author insisted on going with this gimmick but it is about the only thing I will remember about this book.
July 27, 2020
I usually don't read military/combat heavy dystopian literature, but this was a fun read. Of course, Blue Crucible has tons of action and a quick pace. I also found it funny at times, especially because I got the feeling the author wanted the mood to be like one of those wholesale destruction films. There's lots of chaos and heroic moments that would be glorious on screen. I also appreciated how the police were the good ones in the book. In light of recent events in my country, this was refreshing.
August 7, 2020
Action-packed adventure
This book is a real thrill ride. The pace is rapid and the characters are likeable, or despicable, in the right kinds of ways. It's a fun romp through the collapse of a futuristic world with a different take on things by following the mounted police. There's some great touches if what may be to come and the author is constantly ratcheting up the tension. Character arcs make sense and the twists and turns keep you gripped! Looking forward to finding out more about this fallen world.
This book is a real thrill ride. The pace is rapid and the characters are likeable, or despicable, in the right kinds of ways. It's a fun romp through the collapse of a futuristic world with a different take on things by following the mounted police. There's some great touches if what may be to come and the author is constantly ratcheting up the tension. Character arcs make sense and the twists and turns keep you gripped! Looking forward to finding out more about this fallen world.
August 18, 2020
Really good!
A slightly other take of this Fallen world: what happened right at the Fall and who tried to protect civilization...
Really enjoyable book from Benjamin Tyler Smith, fitting the world, with one big exception: the main protagonist is neither an agent nor a specialist, just a cop with a big heart and an even bigger sense of duty!
A slightly other take of this Fallen world: what happened right at the Fall and who tried to protect civilization...
Really enjoyable book from Benjamin Tyler Smith, fitting the world, with one big exception: the main protagonist is neither an agent nor a specialist, just a cop with a big heart and an even bigger sense of duty!
July 9, 2020
Blue Crucible is an entertaining read. There is much action. Although this is book seven in the “Fallen World” series, the story is chronologically near the beginning basically at the “Fall.” The firefight scenes were written with a sense of realism. If you like action, you’ll enjoy this book.
July 6, 2021
Good story
I was happy for this book, it gives all of the history before the nuclear war. Besides it being a good story, it introduces a lot of new characters that are very interesting. Good read.
I was happy for this book, it gives all of the history before the nuclear war. Besides it being a good story, it introduces a lot of new characters that are very interesting. Good read.
November 21, 2022
Great action/dystopian read!
I love The Fallen World universe! The characters are always interesting and the universe is packed with surprising twists and action. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
I love The Fallen World universe! The characters are always interesting and the universe is packed with surprising twists and action. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
July 16, 2020
Another great story from the Fallen World. I really liked the main characters and the plot was fast paced.
October 26, 2020
Another great Fallen World story. I really liked the main characters and the interaction with the various police agencies.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews