Fallen City

Rating:
Summary: A Fun Read: Fallen City
Review: "'Our city is," she said, her voice subdued, "humankind's last chance. Because of it our descendents will walk again on the Earth's surface, and you will be the fathers of the vessel that will carry our genes forward whilst all life on the surface dies. The city I have named Sanctum will be a place of absolute isolation for, I fear, many centuries. . .'"

In the year 2728, what is left of humankind has lived for over 700 years below ground in the city called Sanctum. Buried beneath the Earth's surface in Australia, the underground city was devised to allow at least some to survive as the world collapsed due to overpopulation, food scarcity, pollution and nuclear war. However, the city, which is ruled by the Fulberth, has become a prison instead of a sanctuary. The Fulberth are desperate to remain comfortably in power despite knowing the truth about the surface as well as the fact that after 700 years critical systems are failing in Sanctum.

Within the city, one of the ones that most desperately wants to get out is a Mazeplayer by the name of Jarret St. John. He wants more than anything else in life to go to Top World, as it is known to Sanctum's inhabitants. As leader of the best team in Mazeplay, he is somewhat untouchable. But he soon pushes the ruling class once too many times and is marked for death. But, the rulers make a fundamental mistake and St. John and his team elude the trap that has been set for them. Not only do they escape but they discover the existence of humans living safely on the surface.

The surface people whose ancestors survived the cataclysms and St. John and his team soon unite to bring humankind back to the surface once and for all. Like many adventure novels of this type, this book relies solely on the action in the work to move the story forward. Character development is very limited with the focus being solely on adventure. Don't read this one expecting depth and deep insight into the human condition. Instead, read it for what it is, a fun adventure read. As such, it is highly entertaining and the first entry in a planned trilogy featuring these same characters.

Rating:
Summary: Fallen City
Review: Post apocalyptic adventure, where the protagonist claims back a revitalised Earth's surface. Fast passed but character driven story which I thoughly enjoyed. Great original gladitorial sport is portrayed through the story.
Very well written.

Rating:
Summary: FallenCity
Review: This adventure SF details the strivings of two disparate bands of rebels on a previously decimated Earth's surface. A technolgy based group breaks out of an underground shelter, a sanctuary where the remnants of humankind survived the Decline. The breakout is bought about by the other group, part of a tribe that had survived the ecological catastrophe above ground. This band ventures down into the centuries old city, Sanctum, but is repelled by automen designed to keep sub levels clear of intrusion.
Greg Austin has kept this 200 page book at a good pace, it is well plotted and has some surprising twists and spontaneous humor throughout it. The conclusion leads to a sequel that sounds like it would be just as promising. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
SD