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October Rain
Edition Unavailable. Please refer to "Other Editions" for the latest release.
- GenresScience Fiction
137 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
About the author
Dylan J. Morgan
17 books50 followersNow living and working in Norway, Dylan J. Morgan was born in New Zealand and raised in the United Kingdom. He writes during those rare quiet moments amid a hectic family life: after dark, with limited sustenance, and when his creative essence is plagued the most by tormented visions.
He is the multi-genre author of eleven books, all available exclusively to Amazon. Focusing on Horror, Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia, and sometimes a hint of Science-Fiction, his books cater for those readers who enjoy a dark, terrifying journey into worlds where a happy ending is seldom seen.
If you’re searching for that light at the end of the tunnel then stop looking—you won’t find it here.
He is the multi-genre author of eleven books, all available exclusively to Amazon. Focusing on Horror, Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia, and sometimes a hint of Science-Fiction, his books cater for those readers who enjoy a dark, terrifying journey into worlds where a happy ending is seldom seen.
If you’re searching for that light at the end of the tunnel then stop looking—you won’t find it here.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 2, 2016
October Rain is the second book I’ve read by Dylan Morgan, and I found it to be as captivating as the first. I shall be rushing out to purchase his entire catalogue shortly.
Steele is an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency where he is employed to hunt down the names on a hit list. His ‘work’ is set to a deadline, and once the last name is crossed off that list, Steele and his family will be able to leave and start a new life.
I need to take a moment to appreciate the impressive cover of October Rain. It’s one of my favourite covers of the year so far.
I liked Steele, he was a vivid character who you could bond with immediately. Dylan has a knack for creating beautiful relationships between a father and daughter in his books, and October Rain is no exception. Shauna has a wonderful relationship with her dad, and he is clearly a loving family man to his little girl and wife, Keri. He keeps his job description to himself and works tirelessly to provide a better life for his family.
The novella is well paced, full of action and incredibly descriptive – something that author, Dylan Morgan does exceptionally well. My only criticism is that it’s not a 400-page novel - I want more! I hope this novella is the start of something, and the author writes a sequel. There are enough threads to pick up the story and run with it.
I read October Rain in one sitting. It’s explosive and gripping storyline carries you along at breakneck speed, and Dylan’s description of Mars and the remnants of humankind are fabulous.
I would highly recommend this novella.
I reviewed October Rain as part of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team #RBRT
Steele is an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency where he is employed to hunt down the names on a hit list. His ‘work’ is set to a deadline, and once the last name is crossed off that list, Steele and his family will be able to leave and start a new life.
I need to take a moment to appreciate the impressive cover of October Rain. It’s one of my favourite covers of the year so far.
I liked Steele, he was a vivid character who you could bond with immediately. Dylan has a knack for creating beautiful relationships between a father and daughter in his books, and October Rain is no exception. Shauna has a wonderful relationship with her dad, and he is clearly a loving family man to his little girl and wife, Keri. He keeps his job description to himself and works tirelessly to provide a better life for his family.
The novella is well paced, full of action and incredibly descriptive – something that author, Dylan Morgan does exceptionally well. My only criticism is that it’s not a 400-page novel - I want more! I hope this novella is the start of something, and the author writes a sequel. There are enough threads to pick up the story and run with it.
I read October Rain in one sitting. It’s explosive and gripping storyline carries you along at breakneck speed, and Dylan’s description of Mars and the remnants of humankind are fabulous.
I would highly recommend this novella.
I reviewed October Rain as part of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team #RBRT
February 3, 2016
Reviewed by me as a member of Rosie Amber's Book Review Team
I liked this novella a lot! It takes place many, many years in the future, after Mars has been colonised by the dying Earth, and thousands have moved to artificially constructed cities on the inhospitable red planet. But now life on Mars is coming to an end, too, and the lucky ones are moving out to Titan, a satellite of Saturn.
Government agent Steele has one last mission, before he can join his wife and daughter on the journey to Titan—a dangerous and terrifying one...
I've read quite a few of Dylan Morgan's books, and this one reminded me of The Dead Lands, my favourite, with all its expertly orchestrated suspense and bleak atmosphere. This writer knows how to do 'bleak'! The pace is perfect, the plot unpredictable, the characterisation spot on. It's not for the faint-hearted, or those who want to be assured that everything will turn out all right in the end.
My only complaint is that it's so short, even though it fits perfectly into the length of a novella - I think it could have been a novel, though, or maybe the first in the series - come on, Dylan, surely this can't be all there is??! It's a great idea; made me want to know what happened before, and what will happen after. One of those books that made me want to keep clicking the page turner on my iPad, hoping for more :)
I liked this novella a lot! It takes place many, many years in the future, after Mars has been colonised by the dying Earth, and thousands have moved to artificially constructed cities on the inhospitable red planet. But now life on Mars is coming to an end, too, and the lucky ones are moving out to Titan, a satellite of Saturn.
Government agent Steele has one last mission, before he can join his wife and daughter on the journey to Titan—a dangerous and terrifying one...
I've read quite a few of Dylan Morgan's books, and this one reminded me of The Dead Lands, my favourite, with all its expertly orchestrated suspense and bleak atmosphere. This writer knows how to do 'bleak'! The pace is perfect, the plot unpredictable, the characterisation spot on. It's not for the faint-hearted, or those who want to be assured that everything will turn out all right in the end.
My only complaint is that it's so short, even though it fits perfectly into the length of a novella - I think it could have been a novel, though, or maybe the first in the series - come on, Dylan, surely this can't be all there is??! It's a great idea; made me want to know what happened before, and what will happen after. One of those books that made me want to keep clicking the page turner on my iPad, hoping for more :)
February 7, 2016
October Rain is the story of Steele. He is an exterminator, a bounty hunter eliminating undesirables, employed by the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency of Olympia, capital city of Mars. After five years on a slowly dying planet Steele is more than ready to leave and start a new life with his family. He has one last job to complete, in a specified time frame, before he can even hope to give his wife and daughter a better future. But Steele has no inkling of what was to come.
The setting is a distant, dystopian future where Earth is a burned out shell and those who survived have established colonies on other planets in the solar system. Steele knows nothing of Earth other than from the information housed in the Martian Museum of Human History. His ancestors had long since abandoned Earth and Steele was born and brought up on Titan, before coming to Mars.
Steele’s pursuit of his last three targeted criminals takes us from the almost deserted upper reaches of Olympia down to the horrific and deadly tunnels carved, by prisoners, out of the Martian rock below the city.
This is a great example of how believable and well-chosen dialogue between characters can convey details of the story clearly and without being too wordy. The grim environment and the brilliant action scenes are described in vivid, and at the same time, concise detail. The contrast between the atmosphere of hopelessness and decline above ground and the danger lurking in the depths of the dark, menacing tunnels is marked.
Steele is completely focussed on his job, which he keeps from his wife and daughter. The unmistakable difference between Steele at work and when he’s at home with his family is portrayed extremely well and makes him a sympathetic character. I really enjoyed this well paced story, from the compelling prologue to the dramatic and moving ending, which was a complete surprise and not at all what I was expecting.
The setting is a distant, dystopian future where Earth is a burned out shell and those who survived have established colonies on other planets in the solar system. Steele knows nothing of Earth other than from the information housed in the Martian Museum of Human History. His ancestors had long since abandoned Earth and Steele was born and brought up on Titan, before coming to Mars.
Steele’s pursuit of his last three targeted criminals takes us from the almost deserted upper reaches of Olympia down to the horrific and deadly tunnels carved, by prisoners, out of the Martian rock below the city.
This is a great example of how believable and well-chosen dialogue between characters can convey details of the story clearly and without being too wordy. The grim environment and the brilliant action scenes are described in vivid, and at the same time, concise detail. The contrast between the atmosphere of hopelessness and decline above ground and the danger lurking in the depths of the dark, menacing tunnels is marked.
Steele is completely focussed on his job, which he keeps from his wife and daughter. The unmistakable difference between Steele at work and when he’s at home with his family is portrayed extremely well and makes him a sympathetic character. I really enjoyed this well paced story, from the compelling prologue to the dramatic and moving ending, which was a complete surprise and not at all what I was expecting.
April 14, 2016
Review: October Rain by Dylan J. Morgan Publisher: DJM Entertainment; Fourth edition (29th February 2016)
ASIN: B01BAMP4E8
Source: Author provided review copy
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
The human race teeters on the brink of extinction in a solar system choking under the glare of a dying sun. An assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency, Steele has one more assignment to complete before a big payoff and the chance of a new life: a job that will reveal the true horrors of man's futile existence and threaten the very people who make his life worth living. As mankind draws its final breath, what would you do to save your family?
Review:
October Rain is an intelligently written novella that is reminiscent of the author's full length novel The Dead Lands, which I loved. There is great attention to detail, which truly brought the bleakness of the environment to life. The tension of the story builds with each chapter; once I'd started reading, I couldn't stop until I'd reached the conclusion, I simply had to find out what happened to Steele at the end. I'd love this to be the start of a series as Steele is such an interesting character and to find out more about him and his story would be fantastic! Breathtaking.
ASIN: B01BAMP4E8
Source: Author provided review copy
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
The human race teeters on the brink of extinction in a solar system choking under the glare of a dying sun. An assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency, Steele has one more assignment to complete before a big payoff and the chance of a new life: a job that will reveal the true horrors of man's futile existence and threaten the very people who make his life worth living. As mankind draws its final breath, what would you do to save your family?
Review:
October Rain is an intelligently written novella that is reminiscent of the author's full length novel The Dead Lands, which I loved. There is great attention to detail, which truly brought the bleakness of the environment to life. The tension of the story builds with each chapter; once I'd started reading, I couldn't stop until I'd reached the conclusion, I simply had to find out what happened to Steele at the end. I'd love this to be the start of a series as Steele is such an interesting character and to find out more about him and his story would be fantastic! Breathtaking.
March 23, 2016
October Rain is a short, dystopian, science fiction story, set against the backdrop of a less than perfect Mars colony.
The prologue sets the scene for the theme of the book, briefly describing the utter despair of the narrator. Instantly your curiosity is triggered – how can the rain burn? Why is this person’s heart so broken? And what do they not want to remember?
From Chapter One, the narrative jumps the reader into a life on Mars, told through the eyes of our narrator. With little excess description and a confident pace, we are drawn into this life as the job, family and circumstances lead to an unwanted, if not unexpected conclusion.
I enjoyed meeting the ‘hero’ of October Rain, the author has provided sufficient details for me to empathise with the pressures piled upon this weary individual who struggles to cope. His cynicism and attitude are in keeping with overall theme and add to the overwhelming helplessness experienced by the end.
As with all such dystopian science fiction this book both makes the reader despair for our possible future and rejoice that just maybe our humanity will survive when we eventually leave our planet.
I reviewed this book as part of Rosie Amber's book review team.
5 out of 5 stars
The prologue sets the scene for the theme of the book, briefly describing the utter despair of the narrator. Instantly your curiosity is triggered – how can the rain burn? Why is this person’s heart so broken? And what do they not want to remember?
From Chapter One, the narrative jumps the reader into a life on Mars, told through the eyes of our narrator. With little excess description and a confident pace, we are drawn into this life as the job, family and circumstances lead to an unwanted, if not unexpected conclusion.
I enjoyed meeting the ‘hero’ of October Rain, the author has provided sufficient details for me to empathise with the pressures piled upon this weary individual who struggles to cope. His cynicism and attitude are in keeping with overall theme and add to the overwhelming helplessness experienced by the end.
As with all such dystopian science fiction this book both makes the reader despair for our possible future and rejoice that just maybe our humanity will survive when we eventually leave our planet.
I reviewed this book as part of Rosie Amber's book review team.
5 out of 5 stars
February 6, 2021
October Rain by Dylan J. Morgan
5/5 stars
I read a kindle version kindly sent to me by the author - thank you Dylan!
October Rain is written entirely in the first person perspective, from the point of view of bounty hunter Steele, who works for the government’s Interstellar Correction Agency on Mars. This allows us to be right there with him experiencing first hand his tension and fear as the action escalates.
The story is set far in the future on colonized Mars, in the main city of Olympus.
Steele was born on Mars’ moon, Titan in a farming community. He only ever experienced Earth through the city’s Museum of Human History.
This novella contains plenty of thrilling action, gunfights, chases, a fight with a mutant monster in the bowels of Mars’ ice mine, creepy human laboratory experiments and some very unexpected twists and turns to the tale!
Steele, his wife Kari and child Shauna are due to leave Mars that evening to start a new life on Titan, reuniting with Steele’s parents. However, he has to perform three more jobs before his work is done and they can finally leave together.
Mars is becoming emptier as people flee the inhospitable planet - a mass emigration is in progress. Water appears to have been the main problem with colonizing Mars. Ice lies beneath the surface and mines have been developed which are manned by male and female prisoners convicted for any and all crimes on the planet. These mines have not yielded enough ice however and at the time of the novella, the mine area has been abandoned for more than two years.
“The mines of Olympia were the city’s biggest embarrassment despite the project’s success in bringing water to the city. In the past, Olympia contained no prisons. A criminal could expect his cell to be a darkened tunnel beneath the city, and the duration of his purgatory to be spent excavating ice. Now, with changing times and mass emigration in progress, the usual sentence was swift execution—judging by the stories I’d heard, a far better option than the mines.”
The volcanic rain is acidic and since the atmosphere is not conducive to human survival, the people had been living under domes with solar paneling on top of them, providing their energy.
Steele is an interesting character. He kills easily, and justifies those killings to himself:
“I’m a bounty hunter who exterminates criminals and those whose misdeeds have made their lives worthless. I’m not a saint, but I rid this city of its sinners.”
However, he realises this career would be unacceptable to his wife, so his family don’t know what he actually does for a living. He clearly adores his family and wants nothing more than to keep them safe and make a healthier new life for them on Titan, since Olympia is now full of drug dealers and thieves - the dregs of society are all that have been left behind.
The author has thoroughly thought out his location and the narrative is peppered with interesting descriptive titbits of information:
“Martian money contained a crimson hue, the same shade as the dust that coated this planet’s inhospitable landscape. Arranged in neat rows, the bundles were tied together by black ribbons. A quick search told me each note was worth a hundred phobi; the currency named after Mars’s closest orbiting moon. There had to be about eight thousand notes stuffed into the briefcase, more than I could hope to earn during a six hundred and eighty-seven day Martian year.”
Steele locates and dispatches two of his final three targets and then continues his search for his final mark, Pierce, who he finds deep beneath the surface of the planet in the bowels of the ice mine in a horrific government lab, where he has been experimenting on fellow humans. In order to locate Pierce in the mine, Steele had to get past a group of less-than-human creatures and then take on a mutant monster.
“Some people claimed these creatures were former convicts who’d gotten lost in the maze of excavations beneath the city; others said they were simply left behind when the mining operation ceased. Whatever they were, they’d once been human, but generations of a harsh existence had turned them into animals.”
There is a very exciting twist at this point, which I am not going to spoil and the rest of the novella develops into an even faster paced, tense and thrilling race against time for Steele to reach his family in time to save them from certain peril.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and my only complaint is that it was not a full length novel. I would love to see Steele somehow escape from his final predicament and I want to know what happens to his family…
Recommended for fans of SciFi, thrillers and post apocalyptic fiction.
5/5 stars
I read a kindle version kindly sent to me by the author - thank you Dylan!
October Rain is written entirely in the first person perspective, from the point of view of bounty hunter Steele, who works for the government’s Interstellar Correction Agency on Mars. This allows us to be right there with him experiencing first hand his tension and fear as the action escalates.
The story is set far in the future on colonized Mars, in the main city of Olympus.
Steele was born on Mars’ moon, Titan in a farming community. He only ever experienced Earth through the city’s Museum of Human History.
This novella contains plenty of thrilling action, gunfights, chases, a fight with a mutant monster in the bowels of Mars’ ice mine, creepy human laboratory experiments and some very unexpected twists and turns to the tale!
Steele, his wife Kari and child Shauna are due to leave Mars that evening to start a new life on Titan, reuniting with Steele’s parents. However, he has to perform three more jobs before his work is done and they can finally leave together.
Mars is becoming emptier as people flee the inhospitable planet - a mass emigration is in progress. Water appears to have been the main problem with colonizing Mars. Ice lies beneath the surface and mines have been developed which are manned by male and female prisoners convicted for any and all crimes on the planet. These mines have not yielded enough ice however and at the time of the novella, the mine area has been abandoned for more than two years.
“The mines of Olympia were the city’s biggest embarrassment despite the project’s success in bringing water to the city. In the past, Olympia contained no prisons. A criminal could expect his cell to be a darkened tunnel beneath the city, and the duration of his purgatory to be spent excavating ice. Now, with changing times and mass emigration in progress, the usual sentence was swift execution—judging by the stories I’d heard, a far better option than the mines.”
The volcanic rain is acidic and since the atmosphere is not conducive to human survival, the people had been living under domes with solar paneling on top of them, providing their energy.
Steele is an interesting character. He kills easily, and justifies those killings to himself:
“I’m a bounty hunter who exterminates criminals and those whose misdeeds have made their lives worthless. I’m not a saint, but I rid this city of its sinners.”
However, he realises this career would be unacceptable to his wife, so his family don’t know what he actually does for a living. He clearly adores his family and wants nothing more than to keep them safe and make a healthier new life for them on Titan, since Olympia is now full of drug dealers and thieves - the dregs of society are all that have been left behind.
The author has thoroughly thought out his location and the narrative is peppered with interesting descriptive titbits of information:
“Martian money contained a crimson hue, the same shade as the dust that coated this planet’s inhospitable landscape. Arranged in neat rows, the bundles were tied together by black ribbons. A quick search told me each note was worth a hundred phobi; the currency named after Mars’s closest orbiting moon. There had to be about eight thousand notes stuffed into the briefcase, more than I could hope to earn during a six hundred and eighty-seven day Martian year.”
Steele locates and dispatches two of his final three targets and then continues his search for his final mark, Pierce, who he finds deep beneath the surface of the planet in the bowels of the ice mine in a horrific government lab, where he has been experimenting on fellow humans. In order to locate Pierce in the mine, Steele had to get past a group of less-than-human creatures and then take on a mutant monster.
“Some people claimed these creatures were former convicts who’d gotten lost in the maze of excavations beneath the city; others said they were simply left behind when the mining operation ceased. Whatever they were, they’d once been human, but generations of a harsh existence had turned them into animals.”
There is a very exciting twist at this point, which I am not going to spoil and the rest of the novella develops into an even faster paced, tense and thrilling race against time for Steele to reach his family in time to save them from certain peril.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and my only complaint is that it was not a full length novel. I would love to see Steele somehow escape from his final predicament and I want to know what happens to his family…
Recommended for fans of SciFi, thrillers and post apocalyptic fiction.
January 26, 2020
Dang. So this is a really tense novella about life on Mars after the Earth has been destroyed. The world is fully dystopian, and the main character's emotions really come through on every page. He's a family man with a less-than-noble job who comes up against a foe that's a match in more ways than one. I think my favorite element of this book was the world building. On Mars, there's a museum that features exhibits of life on Earth as it was, including the statue of liberty. This museum reminds me of an elegy for fallen civilizations. I don't want to say more lest I spoil the twists, but this is an atmospheric, tense read in sum.
February 3, 2016
This is the second book by Dylan Morgan that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. After reading The Dead Lands I was hooked and I thoroughly enjoy his style. After reading The Dead Lands I remember telling Dylan how much I loved it and asked when the sequel was due. Of course I knew it would be a bit of a wait since it had just been released. Although I spend most of my time reading Horror I still love science fiction so I was thrilled when asked if I was interested in reading October Rain. Again Dylan Morgan gives us a great science fiction thriller this time set on mars in the distant future.
Steele a bounty hunter is sitting at the welcome terminal on Mars. He has three names left on his government contract list to find and eliminate. He sees Charlotte a known druggie and associate of the men he is after. With some quite coxing he extracts the information from her and continues his search before time runs out and the contract expires. Steele needs to find Preston, Hawkes and Pierce and fast, he only has one day left. He learns from Charlotte that Preston is at the Museum of Human History and quickly pursues his target. Dylan fills in the backdrop of Mars with such clarity you can see it easily in your mind. The strange pink glow in the atmosphere and the near dead and dying city that was once a busy place filled with hope and promise. Now all that is left is people looking for another new and thriving place to live. Mars has lost its appeal and only a fraction of citizen remain living here. The city of Olympus is now a shell of its former self, still beautifully constructed but equally empty in comparison of its former days. Dylan builds a picture real enough to walk through while looking out at the strange Martian landscape with its constant storms and tinted red soil. It doesn’t take long for Steele to find Preston but he is just one name on his list and he needs to find Hawkes and ultimately Pierce.
This is the last night on Mars for Steele and his family. They will be leaving for their new home on Titan, a small moon orbiting Saturn. Little does his family know about Steele’s real job, his wife knows he works for the government and his work is top secret. Lucky for Steele he is able to conceal his real profession, killing men for the government who have been deemed a threat. His only goal is to finish this last mission and leave Mars for a new and better life. You can really feel for Steele and the internal conflict he has at having to kill these men while hoping to keep his family remains safe and hoping they never know the truth. Steele hunts down Hawkes and finds the clue he needs to locate Pierce. Steele finds him hiding in the mines of Mars, a deserted place rumored to be extremely dangerous. Shortly after Steele finds Pierce Dylan reveals a major twist in the plot that made this final mission really interesting. I loved the way Dylan turned the tables on Steele and us as the reader. Dylan twists the knife in Steele and rips his heart out. All Steele is left with is crushing desperation and a slim chance to save his family. October Rain is a great fast paced science fiction mystery. If you haven’t read Dylan Morgan yet do so, his stories are filled with action and are fast paced reads. I highly recommend The Dead Lands as well.
Steele a bounty hunter is sitting at the welcome terminal on Mars. He has three names left on his government contract list to find and eliminate. He sees Charlotte a known druggie and associate of the men he is after. With some quite coxing he extracts the information from her and continues his search before time runs out and the contract expires. Steele needs to find Preston, Hawkes and Pierce and fast, he only has one day left. He learns from Charlotte that Preston is at the Museum of Human History and quickly pursues his target. Dylan fills in the backdrop of Mars with such clarity you can see it easily in your mind. The strange pink glow in the atmosphere and the near dead and dying city that was once a busy place filled with hope and promise. Now all that is left is people looking for another new and thriving place to live. Mars has lost its appeal and only a fraction of citizen remain living here. The city of Olympus is now a shell of its former self, still beautifully constructed but equally empty in comparison of its former days. Dylan builds a picture real enough to walk through while looking out at the strange Martian landscape with its constant storms and tinted red soil. It doesn’t take long for Steele to find Preston but he is just one name on his list and he needs to find Hawkes and ultimately Pierce.
This is the last night on Mars for Steele and his family. They will be leaving for their new home on Titan, a small moon orbiting Saturn. Little does his family know about Steele’s real job, his wife knows he works for the government and his work is top secret. Lucky for Steele he is able to conceal his real profession, killing men for the government who have been deemed a threat. His only goal is to finish this last mission and leave Mars for a new and better life. You can really feel for Steele and the internal conflict he has at having to kill these men while hoping to keep his family remains safe and hoping they never know the truth. Steele hunts down Hawkes and finds the clue he needs to locate Pierce. Steele finds him hiding in the mines of Mars, a deserted place rumored to be extremely dangerous. Shortly after Steele finds Pierce Dylan reveals a major twist in the plot that made this final mission really interesting. I loved the way Dylan turned the tables on Steele and us as the reader. Dylan twists the knife in Steele and rips his heart out. All Steele is left with is crushing desperation and a slim chance to save his family. October Rain is a great fast paced science fiction mystery. If you haven’t read Dylan Morgan yet do so, his stories are filled with action and are fast paced reads. I highly recommend The Dead Lands as well.
March 14, 2016
Review of October Rain
By Dylan J Morgan
This dystopian novella is the finest I have read in a long time. Generally, I am not a sci fi fan but have always maintained that good storytelling in any genre can over-ride people’s genre preferences. This is certainly true of October Rain.
What a pleasure it was to read. I could see the world Dylan invented and the people who occupied it. I could hear the hiss as the transport pods pulled away from the concourse.
There were sentences that captured the character and the world around her like this one: No one but me noticed the girl, a young woman who looked as austere as the world around her (5).
What a perfect comparison. We see the environment and the girl in it.
The story centres around Steele who is a government agent. The location is Mars, the world to which people fled when earth became a graveyard for most of its citizens. Now Mars is exploding. The story is about his hunting down the final two people government has ordered him to eliminate and transporting his wife and daughter to a new planet, Titan. The inference is that, like earth, the inhabitants have sucked all the resources out of Mars.
The author creates a very bleak scene indeed.
The twist at the end is stunning and I am saying nothing about it. I do not want to spoil the incredible and unexpected twist.
By Dylan J Morgan
This dystopian novella is the finest I have read in a long time. Generally, I am not a sci fi fan but have always maintained that good storytelling in any genre can over-ride people’s genre preferences. This is certainly true of October Rain.
What a pleasure it was to read. I could see the world Dylan invented and the people who occupied it. I could hear the hiss as the transport pods pulled away from the concourse.
There were sentences that captured the character and the world around her like this one: No one but me noticed the girl, a young woman who looked as austere as the world around her (5).
What a perfect comparison. We see the environment and the girl in it.
The story centres around Steele who is a government agent. The location is Mars, the world to which people fled when earth became a graveyard for most of its citizens. Now Mars is exploding. The story is about his hunting down the final two people government has ordered him to eliminate and transporting his wife and daughter to a new planet, Titan. The inference is that, like earth, the inhabitants have sucked all the resources out of Mars.
The author creates a very bleak scene indeed.
The twist at the end is stunning and I am saying nothing about it. I do not want to spoil the incredible and unexpected twist.
May 12, 2011
This was a fun story! I loved the action scenes and also loved the atmosphere that is created here. Even though we're on a completely alien planet in an unusual world, there is still so much that remains the same. Olympia is a city of death, destruction, and utter abandonment. And the atmosphere reflects this beautifully. Unfortunately I think our protagonist reflects this almost too perfectly. Although he's a fabulous bounty hunter, I think Steele is almost too down and depressing. Sure he has a lot to be upset about, but his wife and daughter are his pride and joy. I wish we could see more of why this is the case. Even around them he doezn't truly feel to appreciate them (as much as he does later). His final mission is action-packed, but a little predictable at after the big reveal.
Quite a roller coaster of a read, but the few peeves I had with it forced me to take off a star. I'll definitely be checking out more of his books in the future though! He certainly knows his action scenes.
Quite a roller coaster of a read, but the few peeves I had with it forced me to take off a star. I'll definitely be checking out more of his books in the future though! He certainly knows his action scenes.
February 27, 2016
This is the second book I've read by Dylan Morgan - the first was a horror novel that grabbed me from the first page and this sci-fi thriller novella was no different.
The author paints a bleak picture of a dying city and his descriptions of an uninhabitable planet are vivid and creative and made me believe it's entirely possible to live on Mars. This story takes off from the first page and is easily read in one sitting - and trust me, that's a good thing because you won't be able to put it down.
Initially, Steele appears to be a stone cold hitman without an ounce of compassion - but then we meet his family and learn his wife and daughter are his whole life. I really liked Steele and if there was anything about this novella I didn't enjoy, it was the length. I'd love to read more about this compelling character and see his story continued.
If you enjoy suspenseful reads that offer unpredictable twists, October Rain is your book - highly recommend! I received a copy of this novella from Rosie's Book Review Team.
The author paints a bleak picture of a dying city and his descriptions of an uninhabitable planet are vivid and creative and made me believe it's entirely possible to live on Mars. This story takes off from the first page and is easily read in one sitting - and trust me, that's a good thing because you won't be able to put it down.
Initially, Steele appears to be a stone cold hitman without an ounce of compassion - but then we meet his family and learn his wife and daughter are his whole life. I really liked Steele and if there was anything about this novella I didn't enjoy, it was the length. I'd love to read more about this compelling character and see his story continued.
If you enjoy suspenseful reads that offer unpredictable twists, October Rain is your book - highly recommend! I received a copy of this novella from Rosie's Book Review Team.
March 1, 2016
The action takes place on Mars, but all is not well with the planet, and only a small percentage of the original Earth survivors remain, awaiting transport to a new home. We are introduced immediately to Steele, ruthless, and a cold fish, except when it comes to his wife and child. His mission to assassinate a list of terrorists provided by the government carries this action thriller along at a cracking pace from the word go. The author communicates not only the notion of imminent danger at every turn, but also the desperation of a man who longs to spend time with his family and live a normal life. It’s easy to root for Steele as he faces challenges against the odds, encountering a range of adversaries in some of the harshest environments possible.
The only downside? I didn’t like the ending. But endings are so personal, and I’m not going to give away any spoilers here!
Suffice it to say that I read this accomplished novella in a couple of sittings, was never tempted to skip ahead, and would definitely read more if a sequel were in the offing.
The only downside? I didn’t like the ending. But endings are so personal, and I’m not going to give away any spoilers here!
Suffice it to say that I read this accomplished novella in a couple of sittings, was never tempted to skip ahead, and would definitely read more if a sequel were in the offing.
April 17, 2011
Dylan Morgan unleashes some serious top-notch writing in his sci-fi/thriller October Rain. Set to the bleak but always entertaining backdrop of a dying Martian metropolis, Morgan wastes no time in plunging the reader into the shoes of government agent/bounty hunter, Steele, as he tracks down three targets that have been marked for death. From the high levels of the main city, Olympia, to the heat-choked mines beneath the Martian surface, danger lurks around every corner. The action of the story is punctuated with Morgan's subtle commentary on politics and leadership, and the prose and wording makes for smooth reading from start to finish. And just when you think you can guess what's coming next he surprises you with a new twist. Like the other reviews mention, this story leaves you wanting more---but in a good way. There's easily enough story here for a sequel. I agree: bring back Steele and show us what comes next!
February 22, 2013
'October Rain' is the story of bounty hunter Steele who has one last job to complete before he leaves Mars with his wife and daughter.
This is an action packed sci-fi novella set against a dystopian back drop. It's very atmospheric and the fight scenes are gripping and tense. The short scenes of Steele with his family were nice and made me sympathise with Steele who otherwise comes across the detached professional for the most part. There were a couple of interesting and unexpected twists to the plot and it comes complete with a shock ending!
I would have liked a little more back story on some of the characters. That said, with it being a novella this might have slowed the pace down. Overall this was an interesting and satisfying action sci-fi read.
This is an action packed sci-fi novella set against a dystopian back drop. It's very atmospheric and the fight scenes are gripping and tense. The short scenes of Steele with his family were nice and made me sympathise with Steele who otherwise comes across the detached professional for the most part. There were a couple of interesting and unexpected twists to the plot and it comes complete with a shock ending!
I would have liked a little more back story on some of the characters. That said, with it being a novella this might have slowed the pace down. Overall this was an interesting and satisfying action sci-fi read.
December 23, 2012
October Rain
by Dylan J. Morgan
The main character in this short novella is a bounty hunter employed by the Mars colonial government in a far off bleak future. He scrambles for his goal of moving his family to another place with more hope and less crime. The tale is reminiscent of those written by Phillip K. Dick with a less hopeful view of things, the books and short stories not the movies. I found it to be a quick and enjoyable read.
by Dylan J. Morgan
The main character in this short novella is a bounty hunter employed by the Mars colonial government in a far off bleak future. He scrambles for his goal of moving his family to another place with more hope and less crime. The tale is reminiscent of those written by Phillip K. Dick with a less hopeful view of things, the books and short stories not the movies. I found it to be a quick and enjoyable read.
July 10, 2012
Really liked it, nice unexpected twist in the story.
June 10, 2020
Earlier this year I read Highland Cove, a full length novel by Dylan J. Morgan and really enjoyed it. October Rain was just as gripping and enjoyable!
October Rain is a dystopian sci-fi novel set on Mars. Steele is an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency, with just one more assignment to complete before he leaves with his family for a better life on Titan.
The picture that Dylan paints of Mars is BLEAK. Earth is no more. The capital city on Mars, Olympia, is almost empty and people are leaving, leaving poverty and the inevitable crime behind. There is no water on the planet with no hope of finding more. A news bulletin on the radio informs Mars residents that a mission to Pluto has failed - they have probably starved to death. The museum to Earth commemorates the world, including the animals, culture and history - centered around the Statue of Liberty, rescued instead of a few thousand extra people. The horrors of the world are so well-written - I could feel the hopelessness.
The story itself is short so wastes no time, and cuts to the chase (literally) very quickly. It's very fast-paced and has almost non-stop action. I was pulled into the excitement and hooked straight away! The ending was totally unexpected and I loved it - well, love/hate probably!
This is an exciting, fascinating read that I wholly recommend. And with it just being 79 pages, it won't take you long to read either. I could easily have read another 200+ pages following Steele's story, learning more about what happened to Earth and what happens to Steele next.
October Rain is a dystopian sci-fi novel set on Mars. Steele is an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency, with just one more assignment to complete before he leaves with his family for a better life on Titan.
The picture that Dylan paints of Mars is BLEAK. Earth is no more. The capital city on Mars, Olympia, is almost empty and people are leaving, leaving poverty and the inevitable crime behind. There is no water on the planet with no hope of finding more. A news bulletin on the radio informs Mars residents that a mission to Pluto has failed - they have probably starved to death. The museum to Earth commemorates the world, including the animals, culture and history - centered around the Statue of Liberty, rescued instead of a few thousand extra people. The horrors of the world are so well-written - I could feel the hopelessness.
The story itself is short so wastes no time, and cuts to the chase (literally) very quickly. It's very fast-paced and has almost non-stop action. I was pulled into the excitement and hooked straight away! The ending was totally unexpected and I loved it - well, love/hate probably!
This is an exciting, fascinating read that I wholly recommend. And with it just being 79 pages, it won't take you long to read either. I could easily have read another 200+ pages following Steele's story, learning more about what happened to Earth and what happens to Steele next.
Read
August 2, 2020Full review by Static Movement:
The novella prologue starts out with an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency, Steele, and a rain that doesn't cleanse, but burns. It starts out with action 'Each raindrop tortures me, stinging my bruises and dribbling like acid into open wounds,' making you want to read on to find out what happened, why is the rain like acid?
Mankind teeters on the brink of extinction in a solar system choking under the glare of a dying sun. Steele has one more assignment to complete before a big payoff and the chance of a new life: a job that will reveal the true horrors of mankind's futile existence and threaten the very people who make his life worth living.
With great dialogue and fantastic descriptions, this is a fast paced, edge of your seat story of one who begins his journey with the idea of starting a new life, only to find... well, I can't tell you that, no spoilers here, but this is a fast, enjoyable read. Well done Dylan J. Morgan and the staff at Sonar4publications!
Full review by Liquid Imagination:
Rarely do I do things the way I'm supposed to. I am not a rule breaker, but often I enjoy thinking outside the box. Too many people think inside the box, which is why I'm doing this review different than most. There are other reviewers who will maintain protocol for the status quo, but I am not one of them. At least this time.
I hope you'll indulge me.
When I pick up a book, I don't want a slow intro into the plot. I don't want to guess what's happening or what's going to happen. Please, get me to the action fast because I'm busy (aren't we all?), and I don't want boredom within the first ten pages. Slow starts simply do not excite readers. Unless the story comes from the minds of masters like John Steinbeck or Tanith Lee, whose literary genius inspires me as a writer to become better, or consists of the talent of writers like David Farland, Tracy Hickman or Ray Bradbury, who can write a slow buildups in the beginning of their novels, and unless the novel comes from them, I simply don't want to waste my eyes gradual buildups of action. Beam me up NOW, Scotty!
Which is why I say, Thank you very much, Dylan J. Morgan!
Dylan wastes no time getting to the plot, and I felt as if I were rushing along at light speed (not in a bad way). Rollercoasters come to mind. With that analogy, this story doesn't begin with long lines or even at the point in which the rollercoaster's chains catch beneath the cars, as nervous excitement spreads among those enjoying the ride. No, this story begins at the top of the first hill (according to my metaphor), at the action, as editors have been asking writers to do for decades. Dylan wastes no time getting to the excitement, pulling us through scenes with a sense of danger and excitement.
Dylan J. Morgan did it right! He followed the rules, and Dylan's stamped his main character's personality in this work. Which is why I am publicly thanking him.
"This rain doesn't cleanse my skin nor soothe my battered and broken body. It doesn't hide my tears.
It burns.
Each raindrop tortures me, stinging my bruises and dribbling like acid into open wounds."
That's how October Rain opens, and that's when I recognized that the chances of me enjoying this book were good. As I continued to read, the conversation between characters proved realistic. Tons of information can be delivered through conversation if done in a believable manner, and Dylan does just this.
Another point to consider are the descriptions. The detail is enjoyable, just what's necessary but enough to paint a vivid picture:
She tossed her hair in frustration, but it flopped back into her face. She picked at her dress, leg bouncing, eyes never fixed on one subject for longer than a few seconds.
This is just one short example of Dylan's ability to convey detail, creating a visual landscape of clarity. In the scene above, Steele finds a drug addict and sits by her on a bench, preventing her from leaving. Interspaced through the conversation used throughout the story are descriptions painting realism, making the story believable.
So, now that I'm done praising Dylan, what's the book about?
I thought you'd never ask.
It's about Steele, an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency; rain that doesn't cleanse but burns; mankind on the brink of extinction in a solar system with a dying sun. Steele has one more assignment, one more lucrative job, and if completed successfully, Steele can leave behind his life as an assassin. Yes, a familiar plot, but done with such realistic conversation and vivid descriptions that even the most critical will enjoy it.
You do not want to miss this opportunity! You want to read this book. You just don't know it yet.
The novella prologue starts out with an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency, Steele, and a rain that doesn't cleanse, but burns. It starts out with action 'Each raindrop tortures me, stinging my bruises and dribbling like acid into open wounds,' making you want to read on to find out what happened, why is the rain like acid?
Mankind teeters on the brink of extinction in a solar system choking under the glare of a dying sun. Steele has one more assignment to complete before a big payoff and the chance of a new life: a job that will reveal the true horrors of mankind's futile existence and threaten the very people who make his life worth living.
With great dialogue and fantastic descriptions, this is a fast paced, edge of your seat story of one who begins his journey with the idea of starting a new life, only to find... well, I can't tell you that, no spoilers here, but this is a fast, enjoyable read. Well done Dylan J. Morgan and the staff at Sonar4publications!
Full review by Liquid Imagination:
Rarely do I do things the way I'm supposed to. I am not a rule breaker, but often I enjoy thinking outside the box. Too many people think inside the box, which is why I'm doing this review different than most. There are other reviewers who will maintain protocol for the status quo, but I am not one of them. At least this time.
I hope you'll indulge me.
When I pick up a book, I don't want a slow intro into the plot. I don't want to guess what's happening or what's going to happen. Please, get me to the action fast because I'm busy (aren't we all?), and I don't want boredom within the first ten pages. Slow starts simply do not excite readers. Unless the story comes from the minds of masters like John Steinbeck or Tanith Lee, whose literary genius inspires me as a writer to become better, or consists of the talent of writers like David Farland, Tracy Hickman or Ray Bradbury, who can write a slow buildups in the beginning of their novels, and unless the novel comes from them, I simply don't want to waste my eyes gradual buildups of action. Beam me up NOW, Scotty!
Which is why I say, Thank you very much, Dylan J. Morgan!
Dylan wastes no time getting to the plot, and I felt as if I were rushing along at light speed (not in a bad way). Rollercoasters come to mind. With that analogy, this story doesn't begin with long lines or even at the point in which the rollercoaster's chains catch beneath the cars, as nervous excitement spreads among those enjoying the ride. No, this story begins at the top of the first hill (according to my metaphor), at the action, as editors have been asking writers to do for decades. Dylan wastes no time getting to the excitement, pulling us through scenes with a sense of danger and excitement.
Dylan J. Morgan did it right! He followed the rules, and Dylan's stamped his main character's personality in this work. Which is why I am publicly thanking him.
"This rain doesn't cleanse my skin nor soothe my battered and broken body. It doesn't hide my tears.
It burns.
Each raindrop tortures me, stinging my bruises and dribbling like acid into open wounds."
That's how October Rain opens, and that's when I recognized that the chances of me enjoying this book were good. As I continued to read, the conversation between characters proved realistic. Tons of information can be delivered through conversation if done in a believable manner, and Dylan does just this.
Another point to consider are the descriptions. The detail is enjoyable, just what's necessary but enough to paint a vivid picture:
She tossed her hair in frustration, but it flopped back into her face. She picked at her dress, leg bouncing, eyes never fixed on one subject for longer than a few seconds.
This is just one short example of Dylan's ability to convey detail, creating a visual landscape of clarity. In the scene above, Steele finds a drug addict and sits by her on a bench, preventing her from leaving. Interspaced through the conversation used throughout the story are descriptions painting realism, making the story believable.
So, now that I'm done praising Dylan, what's the book about?
I thought you'd never ask.
It's about Steele, an assassin for the Martian Interstellar Correction Agency; rain that doesn't cleanse but burns; mankind on the brink of extinction in a solar system with a dying sun. Steele has one more assignment, one more lucrative job, and if completed successfully, Steele can leave behind his life as an assassin. Yes, a familiar plot, but done with such realistic conversation and vivid descriptions that even the most critical will enjoy it.
You do not want to miss this opportunity! You want to read this book. You just don't know it yet.
May 13, 2010
Another great sci-fi story from Sonar 4 Publishing. Dylan Morgan joined me on Page Readers to talk about his book, "October Rain" as well as his other projects.
I'm a sci-fi fan, and this book "hit the spot" - and it wasn't one to be all "neat and tidy" - you'll have to listen to the interview to see what I mean. Dylan - this one deserves a part two!!!!
I'm a sci-fi fan, and this book "hit the spot" - and it wasn't one to be all "neat and tidy" - you'll have to listen to the interview to see what I mean. Dylan - this one deserves a part two!!!!
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