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Dark Future #2
The Right Path
Fifteen-year-old Abraham "Ham" Jones, a cripple, and Zia Slate, a fourteen-year-old tomboy with an attitude, find themselves unlikely partners in this post-apocalyptic tale of survival. It is decades later since the world blew itself apart. Life is harsh; gangs rule the streets, and the system cops keep the peace any way they can. Being a kid in this world isn't easy; being a cripple is about the worst sentence handed down. Being a girl with no protection is only slightly better.Ham and Zia's lives are irrevocably changed when they meet a mysterious old man bearing gifts - a cane for Ham and a knife for Zia. But, nothing is as it seems. Everyone wants something, and no good deed goes unpunished. Forced into a desperate encounter, they must fight for their lives when it's discovered they now have possession of two of the legendary memory weapons, the very weapons that ultimately destroyed the world. THE RIGHT PATH is ~13,500 words. Also available in the Dark Future series 3-pack, THE PATH, which includes Path to Destruction, The Right Path and Zia's Path.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2010
4 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Debra L. Martin
28 books250 followersDebra has been writing fantasy/science fiction with her co-author, David W Small, since 2010.
An elite assassin, children of prophecy, and a Black Witch Coven who wants to control their magic is the theme in the WITCH STONE PROPHECY trilogy--ASSASSIN'S CURSE, WITCH'S CURSE, and the final book, STONE'S CURSE.
If you like paranormal vampire romance, THE SILVER CROSS (Vampire Nightlife) along with the exciting conclusion, SILVER DOUBLE CROSS are available on amazon. Detective Lacey Gardner is the best vampire hunter on the Boston Fringe Team. When she meets hunky bartender Damon Harte, she feels she's met her soul mate until she learns his devastating secret. Now she knows what she must do--kill the man she loves.
They have published 2 novels, QUEST FOR NOBILITY and THE CRYSTAL FACADE in the "Rule of Otharia" series. The 3rd and final book, THE KING'S LAST WORD is due to be published in 2025.
Debra also writes romance under the pen name, Debra Elizabeth.
She lives in the Greater Boston area with her husband and enjoys gardening, motorcycle rides, and playdates with her granddaughter.
An elite assassin, children of prophecy, and a Black Witch Coven who wants to control their magic is the theme in the WITCH STONE PROPHECY trilogy--ASSASSIN'S CURSE, WITCH'S CURSE, and the final book, STONE'S CURSE.
If you like paranormal vampire romance, THE SILVER CROSS (Vampire Nightlife) along with the exciting conclusion, SILVER DOUBLE CROSS are available on amazon. Detective Lacey Gardner is the best vampire hunter on the Boston Fringe Team. When she meets hunky bartender Damon Harte, she feels she's met her soul mate until she learns his devastating secret. Now she knows what she must do--kill the man she loves.
They have published 2 novels, QUEST FOR NOBILITY and THE CRYSTAL FACADE in the "Rule of Otharia" series. The 3rd and final book, THE KING'S LAST WORD is due to be published in 2025.
Debra also writes romance under the pen name, Debra Elizabeth.
She lives in the Greater Boston area with her husband and enjoys gardening, motorcycle rides, and playdates with her granddaughter.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 17, 2011
“The Right Path” is a novella in the Dark Future series. It begins with an old man helping a young man (Abe or Ham) to his feet; Abe had been beaten by a gang, who had stolen the food he had managed to scrounge for himself that day. The old man (whose name we never learn) then gives Abe, who is crippled, a very nice cane, asking nothing in return, and walks away. As Abe watches, bemused, a young girl is thrown from a car. The old man helps her to her feet and gives her a knife, then walks away, pushing his shopping cart.
When Abe is attacked by the same gang again, the girl (Zia) shows up to help him, and they form an alliance.
The future shown in this novella is bleak – the city in which these kids live is a burnt-out shell. People are forced to do whatever they need to survive, and the streets are crawling with children – orphaned, thrown out, etc. The story is well-written and the descriptions are amazing. Fans of dark fantasy, and those reading the Dark Future series, will want to be sure to check this story out.
When Abe is attacked by the same gang again, the girl (Zia) shows up to help him, and they form an alliance.
The future shown in this novella is bleak – the city in which these kids live is a burnt-out shell. People are forced to do whatever they need to survive, and the streets are crawling with children – orphaned, thrown out, etc. The story is well-written and the descriptions are amazing. Fans of dark fantasy, and those reading the Dark Future series, will want to be sure to check this story out.
February 23, 2012
Good novella I found on www.amazon.co.uk for free.
Rather clichéd scenario and world-building when it comes to describing post-apocalyptic surroundings but other than that a fun story with well-rounded characters.
Reading this I was reminded of 'Warehouse 13' and the artefacts they have to find in the show. Memory weapons are such a good and cool idea!
I look forward to more of this world to be released, hopefully as a full length novel.
Rather clichéd scenario and world-building when it comes to describing post-apocalyptic surroundings but other than that a fun story with well-rounded characters.
Reading this I was reminded of 'Warehouse 13' and the artefacts they have to find in the show. Memory weapons are such a good and cool idea!
I look forward to more of this world to be released, hopefully as a full length novel.
July 26, 2011
“The Right Path” is a novella in the Dark Future series. It begins with an old man helping a young man (Abe or Ham) to his feet; Abe had been beaten by a gang, who had stolen the food he had managed to scrounge for himself that day. The old man (whose name we never learn) then gives Abe, who is crippled, a very nice cane, asking nothing in return, and walks away. As Abe watches, bemused, a young girl is thrown from a car. The old man helps her to her feet and gives her a knife, then walks away, pushing his shopping cart.
When Abe is attacked by the same gang again, the girl (Zia) shows up to help him, and they form an alliance.
The future shown in this novella is bleak – the city in which these kids live is a burnt-out shell. People are forced to do whatever they need to survive, and the streets are crawling with children – orphaned, thrown out, etc. The story is well-written and the descriptions are amazing. Fans of dark fantasy, and those reading the Dark Future series, will want to be sure to check this story out.
Says they saw the body of the gang leader, but at the end of the fight no one was dead and the gang leader threatened them before the whole gang ran away. Then later “Ham” thinks to himself that he’d never killed anyone in his life … something needs to be changed!
When Abe is attacked by the same gang again, the girl (Zia) shows up to help him, and they form an alliance.
The future shown in this novella is bleak – the city in which these kids live is a burnt-out shell. People are forced to do whatever they need to survive, and the streets are crawling with children – orphaned, thrown out, etc. The story is well-written and the descriptions are amazing. Fans of dark fantasy, and those reading the Dark Future series, will want to be sure to check this story out.
Says they saw the body of the gang leader, but at the end of the fight no one was dead and the gang leader threatened them before the whole gang ran away. Then later “Ham” thinks to himself that he’d never killed anyone in his life … something needs to be changed!
September 4, 2011
Fantasy Entanglement
A difficult world produces strong characters - and that is the case with The Right Path. Martin introduces three: two fighting to survive, one elusive and magical. Oh, and there are characters you love to hate. An entertaining read, a world you can get to know and look forward to meeting other characters in. The Right Path is a short, effective foundation for other books, one I recommend reading. It will enrich your experience in later adventures.
A difficult world produces strong characters - and that is the case with The Right Path. Martin introduces three: two fighting to survive, one elusive and magical. Oh, and there are characters you love to hate. An entertaining read, a world you can get to know and look forward to meeting other characters in. The Right Path is a short, effective foundation for other books, one I recommend reading. It will enrich your experience in later adventures.
October 15, 2011
The Right Path was a quick read. Granted, it was dark, gruesome, and violent--it was good for the length it was. Ham and Zia were interesting characters and they seemed to be well formed and I've just read The Right Path--so I don't know how they are in the other book: Zia's Path.
Couple of Caveats: Zia, especially, has a filthy mouth--along with the other characters. The violence is extreme and there's talk of prostitution. Definitely a mature YA book, if even higher.
Couple of Caveats: Zia, especially, has a filthy mouth--along with the other characters. The violence is extreme and there's talk of prostitution. Definitely a mature YA book, if even higher.
December 8, 2010
In the stereotypically war-torn land is a man with a shopping cart full of odd items. For reasons known only to himself, he chooses to give a cripple a cane and a possible prostitute a blade. As one of the local gangs descend upon these two teens, they discover that the fancy but otherwise useless gifts are actually anything but - they are "memory weapons," ones that allow Abe and Zia to defend themselves and one another against the bullies in question.
The advice from the old man with the cart, both at the beginning and at the end of the novelette, reminds me of the very basic concept of "paying it forward." What he preaches is altruism, a noble mentality that has all but vanished in this survival-based society. It's a simple message, and while I shook my head alongside the protagonist at the seeming impracticality of it, the authors manage to deliver the words without making it feel as if the reader is being preached at or condescended to.
Then there is the concept of the memory weapons themselves. The basic idea is that unlocking them releases the ability to fight, though there are repercussions for their use. Perhaps I've read too much manga over the years, but the idea of a tool giving one the ability to fight is one that is frequently utilized and thus quite familiar. Still, it isn't nearly as prevalent in literature, and it is interesting to think that the ability to fight can be locked into an innocuous-looking item only to be unleashed with the push of a button. Thanks to Lois Lowry's The Giver, the concept of passing on memories is much more easily believed, however impossible it would be to achieve. All the same,the idea of the memory weapon rendering a cripple's leg functional was still a bit much for me without the introduction of some fantastical explanation (like magic). Maybe I'm just thinking too hard.
The language of the novelette is accessible without being overly simplified. I did grow weary of the word "twerp," however, and longed for a different epithet for Zia by the time that I was a third of the way through the book. There were a few other instances of redundancy, though for the most part, Small and Martin were able to keep this to a minimum. The purposeful use of incorrect grammar in dialogue was wholly appropriate and made the characters seem more undereducated and therefore much more credible. It simply makes sense for them to value food over phrasing, as demonstrated by the frequent references to hunger and minimal mentions of learning. To this end, the authors succeeded in bringing the story to life and keeping it that way.
In some ways, The Right Path feels more like a teaser than a book, which may have been the point. It serves as a good lead-in for whatever else is coming, though the last page feels more like the end of a chapter than the end of a novelette. I finished and felt both curious and a bit dissatisfied. Curious, because I wanted to see what would happen, and dissatisfied because the story ended on a sort of cliffhanger. The fact that my interest was piqued indicates the book's potential to draw a person into this make-believe world. A great deal of possibility lies ahead for this series if The Right Path is any indication of future success.
Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews
The advice from the old man with the cart, both at the beginning and at the end of the novelette, reminds me of the very basic concept of "paying it forward." What he preaches is altruism, a noble mentality that has all but vanished in this survival-based society. It's a simple message, and while I shook my head alongside the protagonist at the seeming impracticality of it, the authors manage to deliver the words without making it feel as if the reader is being preached at or condescended to.
Then there is the concept of the memory weapons themselves. The basic idea is that unlocking them releases the ability to fight, though there are repercussions for their use. Perhaps I've read too much manga over the years, but the idea of a tool giving one the ability to fight is one that is frequently utilized and thus quite familiar. Still, it isn't nearly as prevalent in literature, and it is interesting to think that the ability to fight can be locked into an innocuous-looking item only to be unleashed with the push of a button. Thanks to Lois Lowry's The Giver, the concept of passing on memories is much more easily believed, however impossible it would be to achieve. All the same,the idea of the memory weapon rendering a cripple's leg functional was still a bit much for me without the introduction of some fantastical explanation (like magic). Maybe I'm just thinking too hard.
The language of the novelette is accessible without being overly simplified. I did grow weary of the word "twerp," however, and longed for a different epithet for Zia by the time that I was a third of the way through the book. There were a few other instances of redundancy, though for the most part, Small and Martin were able to keep this to a minimum. The purposeful use of incorrect grammar in dialogue was wholly appropriate and made the characters seem more undereducated and therefore much more credible. It simply makes sense for them to value food over phrasing, as demonstrated by the frequent references to hunger and minimal mentions of learning. To this end, the authors succeeded in bringing the story to life and keeping it that way.
In some ways, The Right Path feels more like a teaser than a book, which may have been the point. It serves as a good lead-in for whatever else is coming, though the last page feels more like the end of a chapter than the end of a novelette. I finished and felt both curious and a bit dissatisfied. Curious, because I wanted to see what would happen, and dissatisfied because the story ended on a sort of cliffhanger. The fact that my interest was piqued indicates the book's potential to draw a person into this make-believe world. A great deal of possibility lies ahead for this series if The Right Path is any indication of future success.
Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews
October 5, 2010
The Good News…
The good news about Martin and Small’s Right Path: Dark Future series is that it is so well written. My first and foremost criteria for an enjoyable read is that the characters have a voice. In this work, both “Ham” a young cripple and Zia, a scrappy girl who has suffered abuse, are on their own in a terrifying new dystopic world where food is scarce and civility non-existent. Then they meet up with an old man who changes everything for them – and maybe the world as they know it. These authors are obviously talented. Giving believable voice to teenagers is no small feat. The ‘bad’ news is that this is a short-story and ends all too soon. Definitely recommended.
The good news about Martin and Small’s Right Path: Dark Future series is that it is so well written. My first and foremost criteria for an enjoyable read is that the characters have a voice. In this work, both “Ham” a young cripple and Zia, a scrappy girl who has suffered abuse, are on their own in a terrifying new dystopic world where food is scarce and civility non-existent. Then they meet up with an old man who changes everything for them – and maybe the world as they know it. These authors are obviously talented. Giving believable voice to teenagers is no small feat. The ‘bad’ news is that this is a short-story and ends all too soon. Definitely recommended.
February 27, 2016
A 15-year-old boy in the ruins of a city has been beaten and robbed, then gets aided by an old man. The old man also helps a young girl. The boy can't figure out why the man is doing that, but the old man just wants to help people.
There are gangs of bullies all around the town. The boy and the girl team up to escape the first group. Both were given memory weapons, weapons which allowed the user to use them in an expert fashion. Her name is Zia Slate. His is Abraham Jones.
The danger with the weapons is that they both drain the user, and can take over the mind of the user if the person using it isn't careful.
There are gangs of bullies all around the town. The boy and the girl team up to escape the first group. Both were given memory weapons, weapons which allowed the user to use them in an expert fashion. Her name is Zia Slate. His is Abraham Jones.
The danger with the weapons is that they both drain the user, and can take over the mind of the user if the person using it isn't careful.
June 29, 2011
I think this is a very interesting premise. The writing was pretty good, and I found myself being pulled into the storyline and characters despite its short length. There really was not much going on in this story, but it does provide readers with a good launchpad from which to get involved in future novels with these characters.
July 7, 2011
Free Kindle download. Described by the authors as an "apocalyptic novelette."
In the aftermath of a devastating war how can humanity get back on the right path of caring for others? I wasn't very impressed. Supposedly, there will be more stories to follow featuring the main characters, Ham and Zia.
In the aftermath of a devastating war how can humanity get back on the right path of caring for others? I wasn't very impressed. Supposedly, there will be more stories to follow featuring the main characters, Ham and Zia.
June 26, 2011
This is a very good novella. The story is post-apocalyptic and traces the lives of two teenage survivors who meet a helpful old man.
I enjoyed the story and recommend it to anyone who likes a light story.
I enjoyed the story and recommend it to anyone who likes a light story.
September 26, 2012
This book was was very middle of the road for me. I really can't pick out anything I disliked about it, but I also wouldn't say I necessarily enjoyed it. When I downloaded it it was free (it isn't anymore) so I'm glad I didn't pay for it. I do not plan on reading the next book.
October 8, 2011
Young adult short story. A magic man gives a young girl and boy gifts that make them whole and healthy again. It really wasn't great but it was a pretty quick read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews