Bad Metal 01 Wrecked eBook Robert Black
Download As PDF : Bad Metal 01 Wrecked eBook Robert Black 
In 2031, a viral pandemic swept the globe, indiscriminately devastating all forms of complex life. The human and animal populations were decimated within months. The developed nations of the world each blamed one another for releasing a bio-weapon, either out of malice or incompetence. In 2035, the world saw its first nuclear war.
The decade that followed saw the human race desperately trying to survive. A new generation inherited a world poisoned by nuclear and chemical weapons. Only with the aid of automatons - highly advanced robotic laborers - was mankind able to recover and begin to rebuild.
However, the automatons were not perfect. For years malfunctions had become more and more common. Units would shut down, or exhibit unusual behavior. In rare cases, automatons might endanger human life. And while some of these cases could be attributed to tampering or sabotage, the cause behind the vast majority remained a mystery.
In 2074, the City-State of Chicago in cooperation with The Company - which produced most of the world’s automatons - authorized the formation of “Wrecking Crews." Part cop, part garbage man, the Wreckers would be responsible for dealing with the aberrant machines, and investigating the cause of their malfunctions.
Among the Wreckers, an automaton that attacks a human is referred to as “Bad Metal”.
Wrecked is the story of Gibson, a young man down on his luck. With no job, no prospects, and little hope, things seem grim for Gibson. But when the automaton landlord that runs Gibson's apartment complex begins murdering the tenants, Gibson's fortunes take a surprising turn...
Robert Black is a science fiction author. Bad Metal 01 Wrecked is his first published work.
For more about the author, please visit http//www.facebook.com/badmetalseries
Bad Metal 01 Wrecked eBook Robert Black
Bad Metal is a very quick read, both being a novella and a quick-paced book. I found the first 20% or so to be a little slower, but of course it was the setup and background for Gibson, the main character. Also, the world itself had to be built, at least as a framework.Gibson, while being an "everyman" character, and supposedly having the good luck that goes with it, certainly does not start that way. He is out of work, ready to be evicted. However, he seems to have a very laid-back attitude about his bad luck, seemingly brought about from experience as an orphan growing up. One thing that Gibson does have that it seems like few other common citizens have is a willingness to help out and protect others by acting in a dangerous situation. I was amazed at how many of the ancillary characters did not get involved when danger first appeared.
Because of that trait, and his ability to be quick-thinking, he gets offered a job as a "wrecker". This whole scene brings to mind the one in MiB1, when J first shows up for an interview. In fact, much of this book has at least a taste of being somewhat like MiB, along with "I, Robot" and a few others. However, Mr. Black has definitely created his own world here.
What I didn't like? The length. I'm glad I got it on a free offer, because $2.99 seems a little high for such a short book, even though the literary quality is there for a decent price. Also, there were only two primary action sequences to the book, with limited interplay between secondary characters and Gibson after the first one, and none after the second.
The book, though part of an obvious series, has almost everything tied up by the end. You could imagine the closing sequence to be a double shot of Gibson and his partner walking away, talking about how different this situation was than any before. In the distance you see (and hear) an ambulance carting off in injured party to safety. Then you pan to a dark area nearby Gibson, and in the shadows a close-up occurs of the bad guy that got away (but that they don't even know exists), staring with evil intent at Gibson. Cue the closing music.
Especially as a first work, this book earns all five of its stars, which I don't often award. I look forward to going on in this series; it is not long on sci-fi description and details, and definitely full of action. I just hope there is some future significant interaction with the police detective (Jane Palmer)and the retired cop (Mr. James).
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Bad Metal 01 Wrecked eBook Robert Black Reviews
This was fun to read. It's a rather lighthearted story about Robots Gone Bad, set in the not too distant future. Gibson, the main character, is having a hard time. No job, no prospects, and he's about to be evicted from his apartment. This news is delivered to him by the building superintendent, a robot.
This same robot goes berserk a little later, setting up the story.
Results fast read, not too deep, likable characters.
Fast paced, well-written start to a series set in a post-apocalyptic world where automatons number about 1/3 of the population. Gibson, the protagonist, is a typical young man (like Sam in Transformers) who ends up fighting renegade robots (the "bad metal" of the title) after tangling with one in his own apartment building.
The world-building is interesting and well-thought out. The characters are mostly individuals. The plot isn't anything new, but the book is engaging and entertaining enough to read in one sitting.
Full disclosure I know the author's father and he told me about this book. But I don't know the author himself. You'll have to settle for my assurance that this is an impartial review.
I think this is Black's first book and if I graded on the curve I'd probably rate it a 5 because...
1. The characterization is very good. Gibson, the main man, is a very likable, Everyman type of hero. He's brave and resourceful but still self-deprecating and knows he's a flop with chicks. The other characters are well drawn and believable, too; Black has a nice touch for this. The only complaint here is that the book's so short that many characters don't get all the development they could use.
2. The dialog is not only entertaining but shows a writer who has a feel for how people talk. It's very convincingly written.
3. The plot pacing was good and the story was believable (for sci-fi). The pace was never overwhelming but it was never boring either. This story's paced like a thriller and when I hit the end, I was disappointed there wasn't more to read. Three cheers again.
4. Finally, I was relieved that it wasn't just another piece of post-apocalyptic sci-fi angst. It opens with a description of a somewhat devastated world, so I was a little apprehensive. But no worries while it's not Roses & Sunshine, neither is it Gloom & Despair.
I had a little bit of trouble swallowing "The Company" line. No matter how many billionaires survive the apocalypse, I don't think they could re-industrialize a sparsely-populated world in only a few decades. (Not to mention that they probably wouldn't *remain* billionaires after an apocalypse -- not unless they're land barons or Scrooge McDuck types with bunkers full of gold coins. An apocalypse can destroy your brokerage account balance pretty good.)
So with all those excellent qualities, why not a 5? Two reasons.
1. This book needed an editor. It's a good book but it could be a *very* good book with a little guidance. The storyline was pretty minimal it carried the plot and developed the characters very sparely. Often, I think authors are too wordy. Bad Metal 01 was the opposite case. A little more exposition and explication would have been a good thing.
Then there are the usual Indie-author usage & grammar faux pas. The possessive of the third-person singular neuter pronoun needs no apostrophe. It's "its", Mr. Black. I overlook this when it happens on a random basis (who wants to be a grammar Nazi?) but when I see it 10 times in 15 pages, then it gets tattooed on my brain. (Ouch!) Writers are supposed to know all those silly rules.
2. Black makes no secret that this is the "first in a series." (I guess it's sort of like the First Annual Whatever.) But I was left with the feeling that he could have put a little more into this one instead of saving so much for the sequel(s). As I said, I was left wanting more. With basically only two primary episodes, this book's a bit too short - especially for the first in a series which ought to leave a lot of dangling ends for future development.
Bad Metal is a very quick read, both being a novella and a quick-paced book. I found the first 20% or so to be a little slower, but of course it was the setup and background for Gibson, the main character. Also, the world itself had to be built, at least as a framework.
Gibson, while being an "everyman" character, and supposedly having the good luck that goes with it, certainly does not start that way. He is out of work, ready to be evicted. However, he seems to have a very laid-back attitude about his bad luck, seemingly brought about from experience as an orphan growing up. One thing that Gibson does have that it seems like few other common citizens have is a willingness to help out and protect others by acting in a dangerous situation. I was amazed at how many of the ancillary characters did not get involved when danger first appeared.
Because of that trait, and his ability to be quick-thinking, he gets offered a job as a "wrecker". This whole scene brings to mind the one in MiB1, when J first shows up for an interview. In fact, much of this book has at least a taste of being somewhat like MiB, along with "I, Robot" and a few others. However, Mr. Black has definitely created his own world here.
What I didn't like? The length. I'm glad I got it on a free offer, because $2.99 seems a little high for such a short book, even though the literary quality is there for a decent price. Also, there were only two primary action sequences to the book, with limited interplay between secondary characters and Gibson after the first one, and none after the second.
The book, though part of an obvious series, has almost everything tied up by the end. You could imagine the closing sequence to be a double shot of Gibson and his partner walking away, talking about how different this situation was than any before. In the distance you see (and hear) an ambulance carting off in injured party to safety. Then you pan to a dark area nearby Gibson, and in the shadows a close-up occurs of the bad guy that got away (but that they don't even know exists), staring with evil intent at Gibson. Cue the closing music.
Especially as a first work, this book earns all five of its stars, which I don't often award. I look forward to going on in this series; it is not long on sci-fi description and details, and definitely full of action. I just hope there is some future significant interaction with the police detective (Jane Palmer)and the retired cop (Mr. James).
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