Here are sixteen quotes (verbatim, typos and all) from recent Amazon reviews of The Penal Colony.
1. Unfortunately upon reaching the end I felt unsatisfied due to the author leaving numerous loose ends. This ruined the enjoyment for me.
2. (And with a satisfying ending, too)
3. the ending left a lot to be desired, very open ended and a bit of a disappointment.
4. I always like a happy ending.
5. Not a bad story, would've been quite a bit better if it had been edited better. Also the ending, abruptly one page. C'mon...
6. Great read and loved the ending.
7. The only downside I could find was that the ending of the book was a little too quick for me and I had to read the last chapter a couple of times to see if I had missed something hence I only scored it 4 stars.
8. Well done from beginning to end.
9. I wanted more information about the end the the trip. Without giving spoilers I wanted more of the end . How the trip went. What happened ? The author could have given more there and didn't . It was an ending without a real ending if you like that sort of thing
10. It had a good ending, it was smart, and it spoke to redemption.
11. I felt short changed at the end, but enjoyed it overall.
12. A wonderful story allowing for great character development throughout and the inkling of "I wonder how he fared" at the end.
13. This was an interesting read and the first half is great but by the end it was like, enough already.
14. it is a good story though and has a pretty good ending.
15. I was glad I stuck with it, but have to say that the ending was a bit of a let down!
16. I also want to go on the record and say can you teach other authors to write endings? Yours was damn near perfect and there were no silly cliffhangers or any such nonsense, just a beautiful ending. I just don't get to read but one a year.
See also here.
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
28 March 2014
15 October 2008
My Godawful Life
The estimable Michael Kelly has scored a bullseye with his new book, My Godawful Life, a parody of Misery Lit.
A satisfied reader writes:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly the funniest book I've ever read, by Mr. Niall Cooney (Dublin) (REAL NAME)
It's dangerous to read this book in public. The people around you will see you reading what looks like another abusive childhood story. However, the loud snorts of disbelief, peals of laughter and table banging will confuse and appal them immediately. From prostitution to Tourette's via necrophilia, anorexia and autism, this is easily the funniest book of the decade. Amazingly it gets funnier as it goes on, and the last few chapters are amongst the funniest in history.
So far I have read this tome four times in a week and still find something I've missed. It's safe to say that I'll be recommending this book to everyone with a sense of humour.
I liked another review better:
0 out of 5 stars
Please don't buy this book, by J. Crow (UK) (REAL NAME)
I have read several "bad start, makes good" books over the years and enjoyed experiencing the tales of how people have overcome great tragedy in their lives and gone on to become rounded people who achieve highly. Possibly stupidly, I assumed this book to be one of those books. There is no clue on the cover or back page to suggest that this is anything other than an honest tale of a harrowing life. Upon purchasing it and reading the first page I realised that it was indeed a parody of such books. I feel that the author has acted appallingly in writing this book. He clearly feels that those who make money from selling their stories are worthy of mocking (perhaps he has a point), but forgets that they are indeed human beings who have suffered greatly. I am no prude, but was disgusted by this book. From the first page to the "adverts" at the back (a cookbook written by a boy locked in a cellar for instance) it is truly horrible. Please do not buy this book and put money into the hands of these people.
In the comments made about Mr Crow's review, Mark Philpott says:
I work in a bookshop and the staff all thought this was hilarious, particularly as almost a third of our biography section now consists of "misery memoirs", all with similar -- forlorn child -- covers and titles. We're quite sick of them and it's impossible not to laugh when the latest tale of woe turns up trying to be more miserable and awful than any before it.
If ever a genre needing lampooning it's these books and "Sunny McCready" does a fantastically funny, imaginative and, yes, just plain wrong take on them.
We were wondering if it was possible that anyone would buy it thinking it was genuine. We thought not. Plainly we were wrong.
Not wishing to upset the reviewer but the clues are writ fairly large on the front AND back. All those mentioned in the previous comments and the mention in the blurb that, at one point in his horrendous life, Sunny has "a baboon's arse grafted onto his face".
I think the clues are there...
A satisfied reader writes:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly the funniest book I've ever read, by Mr. Niall Cooney (Dublin) (REAL NAME)
It's dangerous to read this book in public. The people around you will see you reading what looks like another abusive childhood story. However, the loud snorts of disbelief, peals of laughter and table banging will confuse and appal them immediately. From prostitution to Tourette's via necrophilia, anorexia and autism, this is easily the funniest book of the decade. Amazingly it gets funnier as it goes on, and the last few chapters are amongst the funniest in history.
So far I have read this tome four times in a week and still find something I've missed. It's safe to say that I'll be recommending this book to everyone with a sense of humour.
I liked another review better:
0 out of 5 stars
Please don't buy this book, by J. Crow (UK) (REAL NAME)
I have read several "bad start, makes good" books over the years and enjoyed experiencing the tales of how people have overcome great tragedy in their lives and gone on to become rounded people who achieve highly. Possibly stupidly, I assumed this book to be one of those books. There is no clue on the cover or back page to suggest that this is anything other than an honest tale of a harrowing life. Upon purchasing it and reading the first page I realised that it was indeed a parody of such books. I feel that the author has acted appallingly in writing this book. He clearly feels that those who make money from selling their stories are worthy of mocking (perhaps he has a point), but forgets that they are indeed human beings who have suffered greatly. I am no prude, but was disgusted by this book. From the first page to the "adverts" at the back (a cookbook written by a boy locked in a cellar for instance) it is truly horrible. Please do not buy this book and put money into the hands of these people.
In the comments made about Mr Crow's review, Mark Philpott says:
I work in a bookshop and the staff all thought this was hilarious, particularly as almost a third of our biography section now consists of "misery memoirs", all with similar -- forlorn child -- covers and titles. We're quite sick of them and it's impossible not to laugh when the latest tale of woe turns up trying to be more miserable and awful than any before it.
If ever a genre needing lampooning it's these books and "Sunny McCready" does a fantastically funny, imaginative and, yes, just plain wrong take on them.
We were wondering if it was possible that anyone would buy it thinking it was genuine. We thought not. Plainly we were wrong.
Not wishing to upset the reviewer but the clues are writ fairly large on the front AND back. All those mentioned in the previous comments and the mention in the blurb that, at one point in his horrendous life, Sunny has "a baboon's arse grafted onto his face".
I think the clues are there...
12 September 2008
The Pagans
Please post your comments or reviews here. This page deals with my Stone Age trilogy considered as a whole: The Stone Arrow, The Flint Lord and The Earth Goddess.
The Penal Colony
I have gathered all the readers' reviews I can find, good or bad, from various places on the web, and reproduce them here at the risk of infringing the reviewers' copyright - if you have written one of these and object, please email me and I'll take it down right away.
If you have landed on this page from a search engine, you may prefer to see the main page for The Penal Colony.
_____
Reviews at Amazon.com
Reviews at Amazon.co.uk
From the Sony Reader Store
This is not the type I would normally choose to read
Posted May 09, 2011 by Nancy, Columbus, OH
I have to admit...I downloaded it because it had 4 stars and was free. I figured that if I didn't have the book I was wanting to read at the time, I may take a look at it...which is exactly what I did. I found myself drawn into the story in a very short period of time and was hooked. I had to know what was happening next. I found it to be the type to project your very own thoughts into. What would I do in this situation? I loved it and have recommended it to friends and family. Thank you for providing this lovely novel.
Good
Posted March 27, 2011 by Rhonda, Englewood, CO
This story kept you wanting to know more. This is a good read and was fast to get through. Kind of graphic but thats good story telling. Loved the ending.
Interesting and thought provoking
Posted February 23, 2011 by Art, Dumont, NJ
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. After 30 pages it pulled me back causing me to not want to put it down. If you spend a bit of time thinking about the characters and their situations, for me at least, it created
many introspective beliefs and thoughts to be challenged and modified. Thanks for the great read.
_____
Tim Danton, PC Pro, 29 December 2011
A gripping read from start to finish, this novel depicts an all-too-conceivable situation where Britain despatches its most dangerous prisoners to remote islands. Think of it as Lord of the Flies for adults. The Penal Colony is based on Sert, where The Village is the pinnacle of island culture: hot water, limited electricity and a direct link with the prison authorities make it the best place to live. But, as our arrogant protagonist Routledge discovers, you have to earn your place: when he arrives, insisting himself innocent of the murder of a young woman he met on a train, he’s told he can only be allowed in if he survives six days on the outside. But it doesn’t take him long to be captured by the biggest psychopath on the island…
_____
James Berghout 16 Mar 2008
The story is one that fascinated me from the start. With the state of the prison system in the U.S., I have naturally wondered what would happen if convicts were placed on an island to work things out for themselves. This is a fascinating study into human nature and the nature of civilization in a vacuum. It also makes one grateful for many significant and insignificant luxuries we live with each day.
As for the writing and the story, you can’t ask for more. Mr. Herley is a writer in charge of his craft. The plot progresses steadily and the characters are developed carefully and expertly. I like a story that has deep and meaningful characters.
_____
Paul Emil 11 May 2011
In the near future, Britain dumps prisoners on a remote island in the north Atlantic and leaves them to fend for themselves. A group of smart prisoners plan an escape from the “inescapable” island, which is under high-tech satellite surveillance. They have to beat the system and the jealous, violent gangs of “outsiders” who live outside of their camp.
This story is a nail-biter. When I finished the last page, I exhaled. I felt like I had just had sex. The sensation was a mixture of pleasure, relief, and satisfaction.
Grade: A
_____
Dan Moore 19 May 2010
Surprisingly few books have approached the idea of prison dynamics with the same ingenuity as Herley in this admirably creative novel which fuses an exciting premise with sophisticated writing and honest characters. It's a sort of Lord of the Flies meets Robinson Crusoe meets Count of Monte Cristo meets Papillon (and a host of others); and yet it carries off its own identity perfectly, promoting a well-cooked idea combined with grounded thematic concepts in a story which bristles with allegory and symbolism. Man vs. nature, instinct vs. reason, captivity vs. freedom, crime & punishment, oppression & redemption, etc. are all played out in the context. The book is worthy entertainment simply as a adventure/survival tale though and should disappoint absolutely no one.
_____
Fictionmonster 18 Aug 2009
Brilliant novel, well worth a read :) Also, you can make a donation to the author at his website http://www.richardherley.com if you liked this and his other books.
_____
cbell2 Aug 2009
I read and enjoyed 'Refuge' and came back here looking for more offerings from Richard Herley. I've now read 'The Penal Colony' (in just 2 sittings). These 2 books stand alone.
I found both books had a similar theme - a man on his own, doing the best he can in situations not of his choosing, finding unexpected strength and forced to make difficult decisions.
The correct order to read The Pagans trilogy is 'The Stone Arrow', 'The Flint Lord', then 'The Earth Goddess'.
If you enjoy these books, stop by the author's website and leave a donation http://www.richardherley.com/
Thanks for making your books available to us as ebooks, Richard!
_____
Charlou 29 Jun 2009
L'histoire commence par le réveil d'un homme plutôt cultivé, John Routledge dans une bicoque rustique. Cet homme est ligoté, attaché, et pense avoir été drogué et inconscient. Un homme lui apprend qu'il se trouve sur l'île pénitentiaire de Sert, une île pour détenus de catégorie Z, la pire. Son histoire lui revient rapidement : une rencontre fugace dans le train avec une femme, retrouvée morte par la suite, des preuves l'accablant. Un procès sans appel, un séjour dans une prison sur le continent avant ce transfert vers Sert par hélicoptère. Il pense être innocent, et se retrouve plongé dans cet enfer.
Il se rend compte qu'il est arrivé dans une sorte de société organisée, le Village, régenté par un homme appelé le Père, et qu'avant qu'il puisse potentiellement en faire partie, il devra passer six jours à l'extérieure de l'enceinte du Village, sans aide, six jours de survie en compagnie des détenus qui eux n'ont pas été admis dans le village, ou en ont été chassés. Il a à peine le temps de récupérer un couteau, une parka, et le voilà à l'extérieur dans la grisaille de l'île britannique, sachant qu'au moins deux autres communautés existent sur l'île... et seraient à éviter.
Et dès cet instant le livre plonge dans une sorte de régression de la société, dans cet univers carcéral coupé du monde où tout se réinvente. On oublie bien facilement que l'histoire est quasi contemporaine, on pourrait croire qu'elle se situe à un âge sombre de l'an mil. C'est en ce sens que j'ai vraiment été passionné par le livre. L'adaptation des détenus, les uns dans un semblant de ville organisée, comme une seconde chance d'être respectables, les autres redevenus à l'état sauvage, ou organisés selon le modèle de la tribu primitive, où la loi du plus fort est la seule qui existe.
L'administration pénitentiaire laisse ces hommes à leur déchéance et leur destin, ne faisant qu'apporter un ravitaillement régulier par hélicoptère à ceux du Village, dans une sorte d'entente tacite, mais leur empêchant quoi qu'il en soit toute fuite possible, à la fois par la rudesse et la difficulté de l'île de Sert et de sa mer elle même, et par un espionnage constant : satellite, radars, hélicoptère. L'île n'en est pas moins un mouroir organisé, hors de tout respect des droits humains.
Bref, cela va être une histoire de survie, un apprentissage et une initiation pour Routledge au respect des autres, de ce qu'ils sont devenus malgré leur passé... et un moyen de garder l'espoir de vivre comme un Homme, et pourquoi pas l'espoir de ne pas finir ses jours sur cette île.
J'ai vraiment apprécié ce livre. Je vous le recommande. Vous pouvez le trouver sur feedbooks, ou sur le site de l'auteur, directement. Sur celui-ci il est possible de faire un don à l'auteur si le cœur vous en dit et si le plaisir a été au rendez-vous, ce que j'ai personnellement fait. Je ne sais pas ce que donne cette politique d'auto édition, il serait d'ailleurs utile que je pose la question à l'auteur, mais la démarche est en tous cas intéressante et je la soutiens.
_____
grimo1re 27 May 2009
*****
I loved this book. The story is great, you will want to keep reading. The characters are well developed and very real. I can definitely recommend this book.
_____
Gilmartin 24 Jan 2009
*****
A dystopian future in the best British traditions of Nigel Kneale, a kind of "Lord of the Flies" with adults, Mr Herley has a firm grasp of all that is wrong with Britain, the "litter-strewn mediocrity" that it has become and the increasing desperation of successive governments as they plunge into ever more drastic "solutions" to these problems.
Incredibly good writing. I will be reading the rest of his output immediately!
_____
reader62 22 Jan 2009
*****
Great book, I could hardly put it down. Mr Herley publishes his books as ebooks because he wants to, obviously not because he has to!! My congratulations to him, his books are great.
_____
JenniferLW 9 Dec 2008
***..
Excellent book. Couldnt put it down. Well done.
_____
Benjamin 24 Nov 2008
*****
The first time I read The Penal Colony was 1998 or so; I spotted a well-used paperback copy in a pile of abandoned belongings at a college dormitory. I took it, began to read, and was instantly absorbed. I was blown away by the story, the characters, and through it all the language: sometimes sharp and precise, other times poetic, always compelling and memorable. I consider myself a fairly well-read person, in terms of classic literature as well as modern best-sellers, and without hesitation, I put The Penal Colony on my "Desert Island List" of ten books that I would take with me to my own exile on Sert.
Up until a few years ago, this book was hard to find: out of print (at least in the USA), and precious little information available on the internet. Now it's here, easy and inexpensive to download, and it's an absolute gem of a book. The ideas, situations and characters will stay with you for life.
_____
cmbs 4 Oct 2008
In this story an innocent man is sent to a penal colony on murder charges. The colony is an island where there is no supervision at all, the prisoners are dropped there and left to fend for themselves. The only time the government takes notice is when something happens that might bring the world's attention to what they are doing with the prisoners.
I liked the book and plan to read some other books by the same author.
_____
whiterabbit 9 May 2008
*****
Excellently written and engaging story. It immersed me in a nightmarish world of violence and devastated hopes. Each dramatic event drags you further into the landscape. When I finally put the book down, I found part of me remained in that landscape for a long time.
It was beautifully written and a very insightful story, delving into the meaning of freedom and what it does to a person when those freedoms we take for granted are ripped away. Also begs the question how free are any of us really? On some levels the character finds himself more free on the island than when he lived in "society". But when all is said and done it is a journey into unbearable lawlesness. Fantastic read!
_____
jamjam 2 Apr 2008
*****
Well as an avid non-fiction reader, I decided to explore some fiction works. I was not disappointed. This was so engaging and immersive I felt as if I was at the penal colony. Amazing book! Well done sir, well done.
_____
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully engaging suspense, November 27, 2000
By A Customer
A great book! If you like just about anything, give this book a try. Great characters, a compelling story, David vs. Goliath! Everything a great book needs...it hits on all cylinders. The sensory descriptions are just about perfect, I feel as though I've been to Sert. If I met John Anthony Rutledge on the street, it's like I know him like an old friend. Get this and read it!
_____
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome read, June 4, 2000
By Mark Lieberman "markdl17" (S.A., TX)
A great futuristic prison book. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. Lots of action and excellent dialogue. The movie No Escape was based on the book. However, the book is tens times better. Enjoy.
_____
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the movie, May 17, 2007
By Vinaya Manmohansingh (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad/Tobago)
A thoroughly gripping story of life in a grim world. Reading it you just slide into the isolation and desperation of the island prison. There was a movie based upon it, No Way Out with Ray Liotta, that wasn't bad, but the book is even better.
_____
From the iTunes store:
Slow starter, worth the wait though
by Laura Martin
Took me a while to get into this book and you can tell the author has an interest in natural history by the sometimes lengthy descriptions of wildlife and/ or landscape. Once the story gets going though I was hooked and finished the last hundred pages at every opportunity as I couldn't wait to see what happened next! There is something of a 'Lost' quality about the story with the men on the island managing to fashion ingenious devices out of the materials available to them. All in all I really enjoyed this book even though as a woman I may not have been the anticipated audience!
Penal colony
by El Malabarista
What a great surprise!! This is a great novel and i would advise all to read it. The author has a great understanding of how desperately thin is this veneer of civilisation we cling to.
Absolutely brilliant
by Lewy12345
Possibly the most well written book I have ever read. I had a genuine lump in my throat and a tear running down my cheek at one point, I just cannot believe it is free!! I would happily of paid for this book. I will definitely be recommending it to friends.
If you have landed on this page from a search engine, you may prefer to see the main page for The Penal Colony.
_____
Reviews at Amazon.com
Reviews at Amazon.co.uk
From the Sony Reader Store
This is not the type I would normally choose to read
Posted May 09, 2011 by Nancy, Columbus, OH
I have to admit...I downloaded it because it had 4 stars and was free. I figured that if I didn't have the book I was wanting to read at the time, I may take a look at it...which is exactly what I did. I found myself drawn into the story in a very short period of time and was hooked. I had to know what was happening next. I found it to be the type to project your very own thoughts into. What would I do in this situation? I loved it and have recommended it to friends and family. Thank you for providing this lovely novel.
Good
Posted March 27, 2011 by Rhonda, Englewood, CO
This story kept you wanting to know more. This is a good read and was fast to get through. Kind of graphic but thats good story telling. Loved the ending.
Interesting and thought provoking
Posted February 23, 2011 by Art, Dumont, NJ
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. After 30 pages it pulled me back causing me to not want to put it down. If you spend a bit of time thinking about the characters and their situations, for me at least, it created
many introspective beliefs and thoughts to be challenged and modified. Thanks for the great read.
_____
Tim Danton, PC Pro, 29 December 2011
A gripping read from start to finish, this novel depicts an all-too-conceivable situation where Britain despatches its most dangerous prisoners to remote islands. Think of it as Lord of the Flies for adults. The Penal Colony is based on Sert, where The Village is the pinnacle of island culture: hot water, limited electricity and a direct link with the prison authorities make it the best place to live. But, as our arrogant protagonist Routledge discovers, you have to earn your place: when he arrives, insisting himself innocent of the murder of a young woman he met on a train, he’s told he can only be allowed in if he survives six days on the outside. But it doesn’t take him long to be captured by the biggest psychopath on the island…
_____
James Berghout 16 Mar 2008
The story is one that fascinated me from the start. With the state of the prison system in the U.S., I have naturally wondered what would happen if convicts were placed on an island to work things out for themselves. This is a fascinating study into human nature and the nature of civilization in a vacuum. It also makes one grateful for many significant and insignificant luxuries we live with each day.
As for the writing and the story, you can’t ask for more. Mr. Herley is a writer in charge of his craft. The plot progresses steadily and the characters are developed carefully and expertly. I like a story that has deep and meaningful characters.
_____
Paul Emil 11 May 2011
In the near future, Britain dumps prisoners on a remote island in the north Atlantic and leaves them to fend for themselves. A group of smart prisoners plan an escape from the “inescapable” island, which is under high-tech satellite surveillance. They have to beat the system and the jealous, violent gangs of “outsiders” who live outside of their camp.
This story is a nail-biter. When I finished the last page, I exhaled. I felt like I had just had sex. The sensation was a mixture of pleasure, relief, and satisfaction.
Grade: A
_____
Dan Moore 19 May 2010
Surprisingly few books have approached the idea of prison dynamics with the same ingenuity as Herley in this admirably creative novel which fuses an exciting premise with sophisticated writing and honest characters. It's a sort of Lord of the Flies meets Robinson Crusoe meets Count of Monte Cristo meets Papillon (and a host of others); and yet it carries off its own identity perfectly, promoting a well-cooked idea combined with grounded thematic concepts in a story which bristles with allegory and symbolism. Man vs. nature, instinct vs. reason, captivity vs. freedom, crime & punishment, oppression & redemption, etc. are all played out in the context. The book is worthy entertainment simply as a adventure/survival tale though and should disappoint absolutely no one.
_____
Fictionmonster 18 Aug 2009
Brilliant novel, well worth a read :) Also, you can make a donation to the author at his website http://www.richardherley.com if you liked this and his other books.
_____
cbell2 Aug 2009
I read and enjoyed 'Refuge' and came back here looking for more offerings from Richard Herley. I've now read 'The Penal Colony' (in just 2 sittings). These 2 books stand alone.
I found both books had a similar theme - a man on his own, doing the best he can in situations not of his choosing, finding unexpected strength and forced to make difficult decisions.
The correct order to read The Pagans trilogy is 'The Stone Arrow', 'The Flint Lord', then 'The Earth Goddess'.
If you enjoy these books, stop by the author's website and leave a donation http://www.richardherley.com/
Thanks for making your books available to us as ebooks, Richard!
_____
Charlou 29 Jun 2009
L'histoire commence par le réveil d'un homme plutôt cultivé, John Routledge dans une bicoque rustique. Cet homme est ligoté, attaché, et pense avoir été drogué et inconscient. Un homme lui apprend qu'il se trouve sur l'île pénitentiaire de Sert, une île pour détenus de catégorie Z, la pire. Son histoire lui revient rapidement : une rencontre fugace dans le train avec une femme, retrouvée morte par la suite, des preuves l'accablant. Un procès sans appel, un séjour dans une prison sur le continent avant ce transfert vers Sert par hélicoptère. Il pense être innocent, et se retrouve plongé dans cet enfer.
Il se rend compte qu'il est arrivé dans une sorte de société organisée, le Village, régenté par un homme appelé le Père, et qu'avant qu'il puisse potentiellement en faire partie, il devra passer six jours à l'extérieure de l'enceinte du Village, sans aide, six jours de survie en compagnie des détenus qui eux n'ont pas été admis dans le village, ou en ont été chassés. Il a à peine le temps de récupérer un couteau, une parka, et le voilà à l'extérieur dans la grisaille de l'île britannique, sachant qu'au moins deux autres communautés existent sur l'île... et seraient à éviter.
Et dès cet instant le livre plonge dans une sorte de régression de la société, dans cet univers carcéral coupé du monde où tout se réinvente. On oublie bien facilement que l'histoire est quasi contemporaine, on pourrait croire qu'elle se situe à un âge sombre de l'an mil. C'est en ce sens que j'ai vraiment été passionné par le livre. L'adaptation des détenus, les uns dans un semblant de ville organisée, comme une seconde chance d'être respectables, les autres redevenus à l'état sauvage, ou organisés selon le modèle de la tribu primitive, où la loi du plus fort est la seule qui existe.
L'administration pénitentiaire laisse ces hommes à leur déchéance et leur destin, ne faisant qu'apporter un ravitaillement régulier par hélicoptère à ceux du Village, dans une sorte d'entente tacite, mais leur empêchant quoi qu'il en soit toute fuite possible, à la fois par la rudesse et la difficulté de l'île de Sert et de sa mer elle même, et par un espionnage constant : satellite, radars, hélicoptère. L'île n'en est pas moins un mouroir organisé, hors de tout respect des droits humains.
Bref, cela va être une histoire de survie, un apprentissage et une initiation pour Routledge au respect des autres, de ce qu'ils sont devenus malgré leur passé... et un moyen de garder l'espoir de vivre comme un Homme, et pourquoi pas l'espoir de ne pas finir ses jours sur cette île.
J'ai vraiment apprécié ce livre. Je vous le recommande. Vous pouvez le trouver sur feedbooks, ou sur le site de l'auteur, directement. Sur celui-ci il est possible de faire un don à l'auteur si le cœur vous en dit et si le plaisir a été au rendez-vous, ce que j'ai personnellement fait. Je ne sais pas ce que donne cette politique d'auto édition, il serait d'ailleurs utile que je pose la question à l'auteur, mais la démarche est en tous cas intéressante et je la soutiens.
_____
grimo1re 27 May 2009
*****
I loved this book. The story is great, you will want to keep reading. The characters are well developed and very real. I can definitely recommend this book.
_____
Gilmartin 24 Jan 2009
*****
A dystopian future in the best British traditions of Nigel Kneale, a kind of "Lord of the Flies" with adults, Mr Herley has a firm grasp of all that is wrong with Britain, the "litter-strewn mediocrity" that it has become and the increasing desperation of successive governments as they plunge into ever more drastic "solutions" to these problems.
Incredibly good writing. I will be reading the rest of his output immediately!
_____
reader62 22 Jan 2009
*****
Great book, I could hardly put it down. Mr Herley publishes his books as ebooks because he wants to, obviously not because he has to!! My congratulations to him, his books are great.
_____
JenniferLW 9 Dec 2008
***..
Excellent book. Couldnt put it down. Well done.
_____
Benjamin 24 Nov 2008
*****
The first time I read The Penal Colony was 1998 or so; I spotted a well-used paperback copy in a pile of abandoned belongings at a college dormitory. I took it, began to read, and was instantly absorbed. I was blown away by the story, the characters, and through it all the language: sometimes sharp and precise, other times poetic, always compelling and memorable. I consider myself a fairly well-read person, in terms of classic literature as well as modern best-sellers, and without hesitation, I put The Penal Colony on my "Desert Island List" of ten books that I would take with me to my own exile on Sert.
Up until a few years ago, this book was hard to find: out of print (at least in the USA), and precious little information available on the internet. Now it's here, easy and inexpensive to download, and it's an absolute gem of a book. The ideas, situations and characters will stay with you for life.
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cmbs 4 Oct 2008
In this story an innocent man is sent to a penal colony on murder charges. The colony is an island where there is no supervision at all, the prisoners are dropped there and left to fend for themselves. The only time the government takes notice is when something happens that might bring the world's attention to what they are doing with the prisoners.
I liked the book and plan to read some other books by the same author.
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whiterabbit 9 May 2008
*****
Excellently written and engaging story. It immersed me in a nightmarish world of violence and devastated hopes. Each dramatic event drags you further into the landscape. When I finally put the book down, I found part of me remained in that landscape for a long time.
It was beautifully written and a very insightful story, delving into the meaning of freedom and what it does to a person when those freedoms we take for granted are ripped away. Also begs the question how free are any of us really? On some levels the character finds himself more free on the island than when he lived in "society". But when all is said and done it is a journey into unbearable lawlesness. Fantastic read!
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jamjam 2 Apr 2008
*****
Well as an avid non-fiction reader, I decided to explore some fiction works. I was not disappointed. This was so engaging and immersive I felt as if I was at the penal colony. Amazing book! Well done sir, well done.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully engaging suspense, November 27, 2000
By A Customer
A great book! If you like just about anything, give this book a try. Great characters, a compelling story, David vs. Goliath! Everything a great book needs...it hits on all cylinders. The sensory descriptions are just about perfect, I feel as though I've been to Sert. If I met John Anthony Rutledge on the street, it's like I know him like an old friend. Get this and read it!
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome read, June 4, 2000
By Mark Lieberman "markdl17" (S.A., TX)
A great futuristic prison book. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. Lots of action and excellent dialogue. The movie No Escape was based on the book. However, the book is tens times better. Enjoy.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the movie, May 17, 2007
By Vinaya Manmohansingh (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad/Tobago)
A thoroughly gripping story of life in a grim world. Reading it you just slide into the isolation and desperation of the island prison. There was a movie based upon it, No Way Out with Ray Liotta, that wasn't bad, but the book is even better.
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From the iTunes store:
Slow starter, worth the wait though
by Laura Martin
Took me a while to get into this book and you can tell the author has an interest in natural history by the sometimes lengthy descriptions of wildlife and/ or landscape. Once the story gets going though I was hooked and finished the last hundred pages at every opportunity as I couldn't wait to see what happened next! There is something of a 'Lost' quality about the story with the men on the island managing to fashion ingenious devices out of the materials available to them. All in all I really enjoyed this book even though as a woman I may not have been the anticipated audience!
Penal colony
by El Malabarista
What a great surprise!! This is a great novel and i would advise all to read it. The author has a great understanding of how desperately thin is this veneer of civilisation we cling to.
Absolutely brilliant
by Lewy12345
Possibly the most well written book I have ever read. I had a genuine lump in my throat and a tear running down my cheek at one point, I just cannot believe it is free!! I would happily of paid for this book. I will definitely be recommending it to friends.
The Tide Mill
I have gathered all the readers' reviews I can find, good or bad, from various places on the web, and reproduce them here at the risk of infringing the reviewers' copyright - if you have written one of these and object, please email me and I'll take it down right away.
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spacecat56 20 Jun 09
A compelling story told in lucid yet lyrical prose. This work is packed with fascinating detail on 13th Century life, technology, and relationships, all contributing to the story. I used to think that Creative Commons novels were mainly for writers whose work was "not quite there yet", but this is a novel of the first rank, a product of considerable talent and skill.
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Paul K. Biba, TeleRead 28 Oct 08
Our contributor Richard Herley describes this book on his website as: In 13th-century Sussex, an illicit love-affair and ruthless power-politics find focus in a masterwork of medieval engineering. Well, it certainly is that.
I decided to download Richard’s books (he is offering them for free on his site and asks you to make a contribution if you like what you’ve read) as I was intrigued by the time frame in which it was set, as well as by the the concept of medieval engineering. The book centers around the attempt of an English Lord to erect a mill that is powered by the tides, rather than by a stream or other watercourse. This is to avoid taxation of the mill by the Church: “A mill driven by the wind or rain, which are held to be sacred. Only the Church can license one. Because [our mill] is driven by the tide, and has no millstream, we say ours falls outside the definition. It must therefore by a molendinium profanum, an ordinary mill. That is the top and tail of the dispute.”
We have, in The Tide Mill, a fascinating exploration of medieval theology and its conflict with the secular administration. As well, we also have an extremely detailed, and absolutely absorbing, foray into medieval engineering. The design of the mill is described in some detail and I must admit that I had absolutely no idea that medieval engineers were so sophisticated. Herley must have done an incredible amount of research into medieval engineering and construction techniques – or he made it all up and is fooling all of us :-)
We also get into medieval economics and law, how a manor run, the relations of serfs, freemen and nobles, clothing (did you know that a “dreadnought” is not only a battleship but also a piece of English foul weather clothing made of heavy woolen cloth?), etiquette, transportation, and everything else that makes 13th century society run. I found it completely absorbing. The only downside of the book, to an American, is that it takes place at the English seaside, and has, of necessity, a fair amount of description of English littoral plants and animals. To be honest, I had to use my Kindle’s dictionary because I didn’t know 80% of the terms he was using as they are specific to the English environment. I did find this a bit annoying, but I don’t know what else he could have done.
Of course there is a love story, and I don’t like love stories. Suffice it to say that I cried at the end. Also, the social morés surrounding the love interest were quite interesting. Illicit love as treason, punishable by death – I guess things have changed a bit.
All-in-all a rousing good read, and I think it could be made into a fascinating movie. I’ll give Richard a rest for a bit and then go on to his next book. Needless to say, I’m happy that I made a contribution.
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Rod 3 Apr 08
****.
Great story and characters, but the end of the book is missing!!! [Fixed]
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spacecat56 20 Jun 09
A compelling story told in lucid yet lyrical prose. This work is packed with fascinating detail on 13th Century life, technology, and relationships, all contributing to the story. I used to think that Creative Commons novels were mainly for writers whose work was "not quite there yet", but this is a novel of the first rank, a product of considerable talent and skill.
_____
Paul K. Biba, TeleRead 28 Oct 08
Our contributor Richard Herley describes this book on his website as: In 13th-century Sussex, an illicit love-affair and ruthless power-politics find focus in a masterwork of medieval engineering. Well, it certainly is that.
I decided to download Richard’s books (he is offering them for free on his site and asks you to make a contribution if you like what you’ve read) as I was intrigued by the time frame in which it was set, as well as by the the concept of medieval engineering. The book centers around the attempt of an English Lord to erect a mill that is powered by the tides, rather than by a stream or other watercourse. This is to avoid taxation of the mill by the Church: “A mill driven by the wind or rain, which are held to be sacred. Only the Church can license one. Because [our mill] is driven by the tide, and has no millstream, we say ours falls outside the definition. It must therefore by a molendinium profanum, an ordinary mill. That is the top and tail of the dispute.”
We have, in The Tide Mill, a fascinating exploration of medieval theology and its conflict with the secular administration. As well, we also have an extremely detailed, and absolutely absorbing, foray into medieval engineering. The design of the mill is described in some detail and I must admit that I had absolutely no idea that medieval engineers were so sophisticated. Herley must have done an incredible amount of research into medieval engineering and construction techniques – or he made it all up and is fooling all of us :-)
We also get into medieval economics and law, how a manor run, the relations of serfs, freemen and nobles, clothing (did you know that a “dreadnought” is not only a battleship but also a piece of English foul weather clothing made of heavy woolen cloth?), etiquette, transportation, and everything else that makes 13th century society run. I found it completely absorbing. The only downside of the book, to an American, is that it takes place at the English seaside, and has, of necessity, a fair amount of description of English littoral plants and animals. To be honest, I had to use my Kindle’s dictionary because I didn’t know 80% of the terms he was using as they are specific to the English environment. I did find this a bit annoying, but I don’t know what else he could have done.
Of course there is a love story, and I don’t like love stories. Suffice it to say that I cried at the end. Also, the social morés surrounding the love interest were quite interesting. Illicit love as treason, punishable by death – I guess things have changed a bit.
All-in-all a rousing good read, and I think it could be made into a fascinating movie. I’ll give Richard a rest for a bit and then go on to his next book. Needless to say, I’m happy that I made a contribution.
_____
Rod 3 Apr 08
****.
Great story and characters, but the end of the book is missing!!! [Fixed]
The Earth Goddess
be1952, 28 Oct 08
this is a good read, there's nothing to actually timeline it to 3000bc on this planet and i found myself looking in an atlas to determine if the place names carried through from folklore. the three books in the series were enjoyable
***** :)
this is a good read, there's nothing to actually timeline it to 3000bc on this planet and i found myself looking in an atlas to determine if the place names carried through from folklore. the three books in the series were enjoyable
***** :)
The Flint Lord
From the iTunes store:
Flint lord
by alisonpay
As a new owner of the iPad I sought a free book to experience reading using a new medium. A lover of the historic fiction I chanced on this book - and what a lucky break for me. I have found myself sitting up to the wee hours to read on to find out what happened next. A historic tale of vengeance which had the flavour of a Movie - fast pace but also strangely educational as you visualised what life must have been like at this time. I am no historian so cannot tell if the author has been True to the era. All I can say is if you like a good plot, don't mind death as a punishment and have an ounce of imagination you will love this. I am off Now to trace other books from the writer. I just hope this is an example not a one off. I will be keeping it on my shelf as this is a book i will reread.
Flint lord
by alisonpay
As a new owner of the iPad I sought a free book to experience reading using a new medium. A lover of the historic fiction I chanced on this book - and what a lucky break for me. I have found myself sitting up to the wee hours to read on to find out what happened next. A historic tale of vengeance which had the flavour of a Movie - fast pace but also strangely educational as you visualised what life must have been like at this time. I am no historian so cannot tell if the author has been True to the era. All I can say is if you like a good plot, don't mind death as a punishment and have an ounce of imagination you will love this. I am off Now to trace other books from the writer. I just hope this is an example not a one off. I will be keeping it on my shelf as this is a book i will reread.
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