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Fade-out
Patrick Tilley's brilliant bestselling thriller of humanity's first contact with advanced alien intelligence is a high-tension tour-de-force that will leave you thinking long after you have turned the last page.
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First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 9, 2023
Mostly I remember enjoying this one. I read it a long long time ago and I still recall scenes from it.
Aliens land a single silent ship and all electricity ceases to work in the area around it. As the Americans investigate, the dead-zone steps out exponentially, threatening civilisation.
I add my "review" today because today (2/2/21) was the day that I learned Patrick Tilley died back in 2020 (age 91).
His Amtrak Wars series is excellent.
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
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Aliens land a single silent ship and all electricity ceases to work in the area around it. As the Americans investigate, the dead-zone steps out exponentially, threatening civilisation.
I add my "review" today because today (2/2/21) was the day that I learned Patrick Tilley died back in 2020 (age 91).
His Amtrak Wars series is excellent.
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
.
November 2, 2017
Fade Out by Patrick Tilley. An alien spacecraft has been found partly buried in the earth.
What follows is a race to find out why it is here and does it mean us harm. I found this book very slow and quite complicated and was disappointed in the ending. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my E-copy in exchange for an honest review.
What follows is a race to find out why it is here and does it mean us harm. I found this book very slow and quite complicated and was disappointed in the ending. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my E-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2016
I had my doubts when I started reading this. For a start all the characters where white hetrosexual men. What diversity there was seemed to be based on smoking. Some guys smoked cigarettes, some smoked cigars, some were trying to give up smoking and some had never smoked at all. I checked the pubication date, figuring it must have come out in the 1940s 0r 1950s, but no it was written mid 1970s and rewritten in the late 1980's. Well I hate giving up on a book so I read on. And on. And on. In fact I was soon hooked on this slow burning, page turning, mind blowing piece of work.
The story switches back and forth from different locations as white guys try figure out what is goiong on. The two main places are Crow's Ridge, Montana - where a large alien object has been discovered - to the White House and the president and his security chiefs. There are other places too, military bases and science research labs where white guys try to figure out what is that thing, where did it come from and what to do about it? The object is responsible for a series of escalating fade outs of all radio signals and elecronic communication. Civilisation is under threat. But is the object malign? Is it perhaps a blessing? But a blessing from where? As the white guys ponder over this, they experience doubt, deceit, deniel and flashes of insight.
All the time the president is worrying that the Soviet Union may take advantage of the fade out to destroy capitalism. But turns out the reds have found an object too and all their white guys (smoking and non-smoking) are trying to figure out what's happening too. Some of the Americans go to Moscow, remarking on the way that the young Soviet airforce pilots look just like young American airforce pilots. Turns out the reds are just like us - the smokers among them even smoke American cigarettes! All the while tension mounts as the US military tries to keep the object a secret, while evacuting the surrounding countryside in preperation for possibly dropping a nuke on it. All these decisions involve lies, mistakes as well as honour and bravery.
There's a lot of boy's toys in the story, from hammers to military jets to nuclear weapons systems, but I really got into those descriptions. In a sense this was one huge big bromance, as men reflected on their place in the world, their relationships with each other, and their fears for the future. And all the time that object was getting bigger and the options facing the president getting narrower. In summary this is essentially an adventure story for boys, but a really cool, well paced, riviting adventure story. Reading it, I really tuned into my white hetro male side. I rooted for the guys, gasped for a cigarette and felt an overwhelming need to join the US military and go save capitalism. Great stuff. I give it five stars!
The story switches back and forth from different locations as white guys try figure out what is goiong on. The two main places are Crow's Ridge, Montana - where a large alien object has been discovered - to the White House and the president and his security chiefs. There are other places too, military bases and science research labs where white guys try to figure out what is that thing, where did it come from and what to do about it? The object is responsible for a series of escalating fade outs of all radio signals and elecronic communication. Civilisation is under threat. But is the object malign? Is it perhaps a blessing? But a blessing from where? As the white guys ponder over this, they experience doubt, deceit, deniel and flashes of insight.
All the time the president is worrying that the Soviet Union may take advantage of the fade out to destroy capitalism. But turns out the reds have found an object too and all their white guys (smoking and non-smoking) are trying to figure out what's happening too. Some of the Americans go to Moscow, remarking on the way that the young Soviet airforce pilots look just like young American airforce pilots. Turns out the reds are just like us - the smokers among them even smoke American cigarettes! All the while tension mounts as the US military tries to keep the object a secret, while evacuting the surrounding countryside in preperation for possibly dropping a nuke on it. All these decisions involve lies, mistakes as well as honour and bravery.
There's a lot of boy's toys in the story, from hammers to military jets to nuclear weapons systems, but I really got into those descriptions. In a sense this was one huge big bromance, as men reflected on their place in the world, their relationships with each other, and their fears for the future. And all the time that object was getting bigger and the options facing the president getting narrower. In summary this is essentially an adventure story for boys, but a really cool, well paced, riviting adventure story. Reading it, I really tuned into my white hetro male side. I rooted for the guys, gasped for a cigarette and felt an overwhelming need to join the US military and go save capitalism. Great stuff. I give it five stars!
October 27, 2016
“The dangers, if any exist, lie beyond those delineated in the dime novel.” John Wyndham meets the 1975 version of “The West Wing”. Half way through this 450 page yarn we’ve got a mechanical spider doing reconnaissance missions outside a half-buried space ship and lots of talk of NORAD and going to Def Con 3 but getting to that point takes an awful lot of chatter from some rather interchangeable characters. It being 1975 the Americans all assume the damn Russkies are behind the so-called electronic, radio and radar “fade out” and vice versa – the Chinese keep their own counsel and are mentioned only in passing – but other period detail is confined to the analogue solutions and some cigaretting in the Oval Office (and the relegation of women to partners, air hostesses and the like). The electronic dead zone the alien visitor puts out definitely has shades of Midwich to it and the image of a buried alien machine drilling its way down through the earth outside a backwater village is very Wyndham-esque. As a narrative this all goes down nice and quick – this is a two or three day read – there’s a couple of nice images and occasionally the characters stop to have a discussion about man’s place in the Universe (rather a nice touch to suggest that knowledge of life elsewhere would actually mean very little for mankind in general, although there’s no comment on how the religiously inclined might respond; militantly, I reckon) but for all its reported status as a classic of the genre “Fade Out” now feels a bit TV movie compared to the widescreen, bombastic thrills someone like Greg Bear would serve up 12 years later in “The Forge Of God”. It’s perfectly passable fair, a slam dunk if you’re on holiday and starved of reading matter of course, but for an alien invasion story “Fade Out” offers only a couple of moments of intriguing cosmic transcendence alongside its large dollops of dreary military and political speak. Points for sticking to its guns at the end though and the lack (so far) of any explanatory sequel.
March 21, 2013
Brilliant account of humanity's first encounter with an alien probe/machine that has landed on Earth.
Competently written with good characterization. Had this book not been so entirely America-centric I would have given five stars.
Competently written with good characterization. Had this book not been so entirely America-centric I would have given five stars.
August 14, 2022
Fade-out by Patrick Tilley.
When an object of undeniably extra-terrestrial origin appears, the world is thrown into panic. Is this alien race harmless or a danger to humanity? Nine weeks later, civilization is on the edge of a total breakdown more devastating than any nuclear war or natural disaster.
A good read with good characters. I did like the cover. 4*.
When an object of undeniably extra-terrestrial origin appears, the world is thrown into panic. Is this alien race harmless or a danger to humanity? Nine weeks later, civilization is on the edge of a total breakdown more devastating than any nuclear war or natural disaster.
A good read with good characters. I did like the cover. 4*.
November 5, 2017
Fade-Out was first released in 1975 and aside from a newish cover this edition remains the same as the original. Whilst the quote on the cover suggests this is about an alien encounter, really the story is set around humanity’s, particularly America and Russia’s, response to the threat. Being set in the Cold War era adds tension to the obviously strained relationship between Russia and America, and how they handle the fact that alien crafts have planted themselves in both nations.
If you go into reading this expecting Indepence Day you will be disappointed. It’s certainly more along the lines of Arrival. Much of the novel is spent with scientists trying to understand the nature of the alien ship and it’s reasons for having arrived on Earth. It’s clear from the outset that ship has a special ability to block out communications and electricity around it adding a degree of difficulty to the task.
I would describe this book not as an action novel, although it does have it’s moments, but more as a psychological thriller with a science fiction bent to it. The author very much focuses on the “what if” questions around an alien invasion. This novel seems to have aged well, and although others have complained about a lack of female characters, to me this seems highly reflective of government forces at the time. Unfortunately this novel lacked a strong ending with clear resolution, instead leaving many questions unanswered; somewhat disappointing after a strong build up in tension. For that reason I’d rate this book as 3 out of 5 stars.
If you go into reading this expecting Indepence Day you will be disappointed. It’s certainly more along the lines of Arrival. Much of the novel is spent with scientists trying to understand the nature of the alien ship and it’s reasons for having arrived on Earth. It’s clear from the outset that ship has a special ability to block out communications and electricity around it adding a degree of difficulty to the task.
I would describe this book not as an action novel, although it does have it’s moments, but more as a psychological thriller with a science fiction bent to it. The author very much focuses on the “what if” questions around an alien invasion. This novel seems to have aged well, and although others have complained about a lack of female characters, to me this seems highly reflective of government forces at the time. Unfortunately this novel lacked a strong ending with clear resolution, instead leaving many questions unanswered; somewhat disappointing after a strong build up in tension. For that reason I’d rate this book as 3 out of 5 stars.
December 14, 2017
I picked up a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review and I am grateful to them for the opportunity, however this book really wasn't for me. This is a re-release of a book first published in 1975 and had I realised that to start with I probably wouldn't have requested a copy. It is very of it's time and given that it's had a small reworking to bring it up to date, I wonder why bother? Women are still reduced to "trolley dolly's" on Airforce 1 or annoyances that simply eat a lot of cake, I found that a lack of a strong female presence was a let down and given that the book doesn't directly specify a year, perhaps something could have been done. That being said though I can appreciate why many have enjoyed it. It it exceedingly well researched and the science element is fascinating but I just couldn't get passed the half way point. It was very slow moving until the DNF point and although there were exciting elements it just wasn't enough to hold my attention any longer.
December 5, 2017
Fade-Out is the first book by Patrick Tilley that I have read, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a well written thriller about first contact with aliens. This book is a standalone. There is violence.
The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that all of that info here. The characters are well written and multidimensional. The author does a good job of keeping a steady pace throughout the book to keep this reader interested. It keeps you guessing what twists and turns will be revealed in the pages ahead. The book was originally published in the 1970s and definitely stands the test of time. It truly is a classic Sci-fi tale. I can’t believe it’s been out there for more than forty years and this is the first time I’ve read it!
The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that all of that info here. The characters are well written and multidimensional. The author does a good job of keeping a steady pace throughout the book to keep this reader interested. It keeps you guessing what twists and turns will be revealed in the pages ahead. The book was originally published in the 1970s and definitely stands the test of time. It truly is a classic Sci-fi tale. I can’t believe it’s been out there for more than forty years and this is the first time I’ve read it!
May 28, 2020
Warning: Questions will not be answered. Its one thing to leave a little mystery at the end, but everything was left hanging. There is no sequel to close the story.
Some interesting ideas and technology, but too many characters and alot of jumping between locations. Might be better as a tv series rather than a book.
Some interesting ideas and technology, but too many characters and alot of jumping between locations. Might be better as a tv series rather than a book.
Read
December 31, 2019Took me a while to get into it, but then I enjoyed it
November 30, 2011
The older and the newer additions are slightly different, the story was updated! Slow to build but still good.
September 10, 2016
Maybe the best book of this kind I ever read!
July 23, 2019
One of the best 'alien contact' sci-fi tales ever written
February 4, 2014
Though enjoyable, this was a little too US-centric and Human, somehow. Great potential, an intriguing ending, but not quite on the ball in terms of action for my liking.
December 16, 2017
The first thing to say is that if you have a major problem with limited omniscient viewpoint, then this one isn’t for you. While there are a number of main characters, Tilley regularly slides out of their heads and into neutral storytelling mode. As it is a classic narrative mode for this genre, I didn’t have a major problem with it and Tilley certainly couldn’t have covered all the angles he wanted to if he’d chosen any other viewpoint option. The next issue that struck me was how male and pale the cast were – no women or ethnic diversity within the higher government circles or the leading scientists brought in to examine what was going on. Given the book was apparently rewritten and updated, I think it is a shame this aspect was neglected.
So, the story. The way it builds up is excellently handled and I love the consequences and cost involved in the alien intrusion. I was also gratified that answers didn’t fall into anyone’s lap. The alien technology and motives are a genuine puzzle and folks are left guessing for a long way through the book. Other readers have mentioned how very America-centric the story is – but I do think that is probably a realistic take on the way things operate at the top in that government these days. What is intriguing is how that viewpoint genuinely hampers their ability to get to the truth of what is going on and the politicking and negotiating around the Russians is both funny and terrifying – as well as being spot on.
This tale is as much about our society and what we value as much as about the aliens. There is much to admire about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed most of it – however given the unhurried pace throughout most of it, I found the abrupt rush in the final pages rather jarring and wondered if this was the first in a series. It appears it isn’t. That said, it is still an interesting read and recommended for science fiction fans who enjoy reading the likes of Clarke and Heinlein. While I obtained an arc of Fade Out from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
So, the story. The way it builds up is excellently handled and I love the consequences and cost involved in the alien intrusion. I was also gratified that answers didn’t fall into anyone’s lap. The alien technology and motives are a genuine puzzle and folks are left guessing for a long way through the book. Other readers have mentioned how very America-centric the story is – but I do think that is probably a realistic take on the way things operate at the top in that government these days. What is intriguing is how that viewpoint genuinely hampers their ability to get to the truth of what is going on and the politicking and negotiating around the Russians is both funny and terrifying – as well as being spot on.
This tale is as much about our society and what we value as much as about the aliens. There is much to admire about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed most of it – however given the unhurried pace throughout most of it, I found the abrupt rush in the final pages rather jarring and wondered if this was the first in a series. It appears it isn’t. That said, it is still an interesting read and recommended for science fiction fans who enjoy reading the likes of Clarke and Heinlein. While I obtained an arc of Fade Out from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
November 6, 2022
Written in 1975, this novel can get away with a few things as it came before “Close encounters of the third kind” but not before 2001 (1968), and boy did I feel there was an influence there! Some of the ideas in here are interesting, but oh dear, the endless middle aged white men talking / performing exposition! Utterly boring, and reminded me strongly of a weaker Tom Clancy or David Webber.
The pacing was also all over the place, with an ending that seemed absurdly rushed. The resolution was also a little a little weak for me, and there were just so many people that I didn’t care about!
I note that this edition was updated in 1985, and I suspect that this was . Amazingly this was not a plot twist that went anywhere.
Points for some originality in ‘75 but not many. My “mission” to finish Patrick Tilley novels has one to go.
The pacing was also all over the place, with an ending that seemed absurdly rushed. The resolution was also a little a little weak for me, and there were just so many people that I didn’t care about!
I note that this edition was updated in 1985, and I suspect that this was . Amazingly this was not a plot twist that went anywhere.
Points for some originality in ‘75 but not many. My “mission” to finish Patrick Tilley novels has one to go.
December 10, 2017
I read a free copy from NetGalley in exhange for an honest review.
This is not the genre that I normally read....but it was extremely well written!!!—Kept my attention despite the time lapse of 40 years. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fade Out is a slow-burn adventure of an extra terrestrial presence and the very realistic political battle for control and secrecy of decisions concerning that presence. This one is for lovers of mystery and those who question the possibility of other existences. Is there a sequel?! (I am shocked that the book is just now being released for my reading pleasure in America, since it was written in 1974. I am also impressed at how it was still amazingly pertinent. Civillian/personal, modern technology such as cell phones, laptops or tablets, were not only unnecessary, but also only slightly missed for the first few chapters.)
This is not the genre that I normally read....but it was extremely well written!!!—Kept my attention despite the time lapse of 40 years. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fade Out is a slow-burn adventure of an extra terrestrial presence and the very realistic political battle for control and secrecy of decisions concerning that presence. This one is for lovers of mystery and those who question the possibility of other existences. Is there a sequel?! (I am shocked that the book is just now being released for my reading pleasure in America, since it was written in 1974. I am also impressed at how it was still amazingly pertinent. Civillian/personal, modern technology such as cell phones, laptops or tablets, were not only unnecessary, but also only slightly missed for the first few chapters.)
December 4, 2017
I didn't enjoy Fade-Out as much as I wanted to. I found the plot to be difficult with which to engage, and the cast of characters to be downright, eye-rolling unlikeable. The science-speak was the only thing with which I was able to relate, and it was the only thing that got me through it. All of that aside, I think it serves as an important reminder of the importance of temperance, patience, diplomacy, and caution in the face of the unknown and the unexpected. It highlights the arrogance of Man (and also the gender) and the dangers, and often-times utter stupidity of aggression and deception in politics.
Read my Full Review here: https://lesbookreviews.wordpress.com/...
Read my Full Review here: https://lesbookreviews.wordpress.com/...
March 1, 2019
Este libro me reafirma en una cosa: si algún día la humanidad hace contacto con vida extraterrestre...espero llevar muerta varios años.
Aquí no encontraremos una invasión o una lucha a lo "Día de la independencia", aquí encontramos muchos debates científicos sobre el origen del universo y la capacidad de los gobiernos del mundo para hacer frente a ese contacto. ¿Vienen a atacarnos? ¿Cómo comunicarnos? ¿A qué nos llevaría un movimiento equivocado? ¿Es mejor para la población no saber que se acerca algo que acabará con la vida como la conocen?
Puede ser aburrido en muchas partes, sobre todo principio, porque tiene momentos muy técnicos y aparecen muchos personajes, pero conforme la historia avanza todo fluye mejor.
Aquí no encontraremos una invasión o una lucha a lo "Día de la independencia", aquí encontramos muchos debates científicos sobre el origen del universo y la capacidad de los gobiernos del mundo para hacer frente a ese contacto. ¿Vienen a atacarnos? ¿Cómo comunicarnos? ¿A qué nos llevaría un movimiento equivocado? ¿Es mejor para la población no saber que se acerca algo que acabará con la vida como la conocen?
Puede ser aburrido en muchas partes, sobre todo principio, porque tiene momentos muy técnicos y aparecen muchos personajes, pero conforme la historia avanza todo fluye mejor.
November 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this.
Sure - you have the old school SciFi attitudes to woman etc but this is a product of the times.
You have to put this aside and enjoy the story.
Which is great. - lots of details about how the military and government would handle first contact. But if your interested in technical info and hardware - well you will like this stuff ( I do!)
Also some interesting musings about the meaning of life and the nature of the universe.
As the other reviewers have pointed out - don't expect a lot of answers... Yes it's one of those novels - not uncommon in SciFi.
I raced to the climax and was bewildered frankly but as the page count reduced to only a couple left - I knew it would be hard to wrap it up neatly.
A sequel? Why was there never one?
It could have been a cracker..
Sure - you have the old school SciFi attitudes to woman etc but this is a product of the times.
You have to put this aside and enjoy the story.
Which is great. - lots of details about how the military and government would handle first contact. But if your interested in technical info and hardware - well you will like this stuff ( I do!)
Also some interesting musings about the meaning of life and the nature of the universe.
As the other reviewers have pointed out - don't expect a lot of answers... Yes it's one of those novels - not uncommon in SciFi.
I raced to the climax and was bewildered frankly but as the page count reduced to only a couple left - I knew it would be hard to wrap it up neatly.
A sequel? Why was there never one?
It could have been a cracker..
March 5, 2022
No me gusto, siento que es demasiado denso me refiero a extenso y detallista en cosas que realmente no son necesarias en todo momento, no genera mejor inmersión si no aburrimiento (en mi caso).
Me gusta el punto de vista que plantea de: "que pasaria si" y como reaccionarian los altos mandos ante tal situación, pero no un libro entero hablando de tales personajes, su vida personal mezcladas por unos segundos y devuelta a lo "principal" que sigue siendo mas politiquería de esa epoca. En fin, salteé paginas para terminarlo (algo que odio hacer) y no cambio en nada el todo del libro asi que siento que fue tiempo ahorrado.
Me gusta el punto de vista que plantea de: "que pasaria si" y como reaccionarian los altos mandos ante tal situación, pero no un libro entero hablando de tales personajes, su vida personal mezcladas por unos segundos y devuelta a lo "principal" que sigue siendo mas politiquería de esa epoca. En fin, salteé paginas para terminarlo (algo que odio hacer) y no cambio en nada el todo del libro asi que siento que fue tiempo ahorrado.
December 18, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After finding this book a little difficult to get into, I found it to be an engrossing read. Human-alien interaction is always a toss-up, in my opinion. Either authors get lost in descriptions and brutal killing, or they seem to lose their thread a lot. This author is neither, giving a well-written book with complex characters and lifelike situations.
After finding this book a little difficult to get into, I found it to be an engrossing read. Human-alien interaction is always a toss-up, in my opinion. Either authors get lost in descriptions and brutal killing, or they seem to lose their thread a lot. This author is neither, giving a well-written book with complex characters and lifelike situations.
January 7, 2018
Great idea for a story, but this was a bit of a chore to read. Don't get me wrong, it appears to be very ably written by a master of the craft, but the pace of it was rather pedestrian and really stole most of the enjoyment. This sadly comes across as a dated and slow execution of a classic idea, which could use a rework into a more modern edition that encompasses more of the world and the people in it. Good idea but far too narrow and slow in the storytelling.
May 3, 2021
Good story but too much philosophy.
An interesting tale of first contact as a mysterious spacecraft is discovered in orbit and then another mysterious object is discovered in Montana. The American leadership is shocked - is it the Russians or someone else and do they need to prepare for war! But there's a lot of waffly dialogue from the numerous scientists, politicians and military officers who are mostly cardboard cutouts. The characters feel almost interchangeable as they philosophise their way through the novel. There's intrigue but few thrills.
An interesting tale of first contact as a mysterious spacecraft is discovered in orbit and then another mysterious object is discovered in Montana. The American leadership is shocked - is it the Russians or someone else and do they need to prepare for war! But there's a lot of waffly dialogue from the numerous scientists, politicians and military officers who are mostly cardboard cutouts. The characters feel almost interchangeable as they philosophise their way through the novel. There's intrigue but few thrills.
November 8, 2019
A kick-ass classic of UFO lore.
Patrick Tilley employs hard science and invokes his airman training to give us a plausible scenario in which aliens arrive (or rather, return). I'd hate to spoil any of the many surprises that await the fortunate readers of these pages. Feasible game-changers abound!
Check it out, you'll thank me ;)
Patrick Tilley employs hard science and invokes his airman training to give us a plausible scenario in which aliens arrive (or rather, return). I'd hate to spoil any of the many surprises that await the fortunate readers of these pages. Feasible game-changers abound!
Check it out, you'll thank me ;)
July 20, 2020
I discovered Patrick Tilley via his Amtrak Wars series. So I was interested to read a standalone work. I was not disappointed. This was an engaging read with an intriguing premise and some very tense moments.
November 14, 2017
3.5/5 - I really enjoyed this, but it took a while to get going, and left a lot of questions unanswered. Full of tension though!
May 14, 2020
I picked this up in a second hand sale. I love realistic and plausible science fiction. This had it in spades. I would so recommend this book. The science is top notch and the premise is great.
October 14, 2024
Had me in the first half
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews