Who loves the "Hunger Games?" If you do, you are in a real treat with today's BOOK OF THE DAY, "Out of Kilter" by Sandy Hyatt-James. This book has all the makings of an action-packed thriller science-fiction film in a dystopian world. Take a look.
Out of Kilter
Linden Tallis, a
champion archer, unwillingly becomes the custodian of R311, a deadly biological
agent, courtesy of her scientist brother. MI6 officer Jack Ormond tries to take
the agent from her to keep it out of the hands of Colonel John March, a fascist
dictator who plans to take over the country. But Linden doesn’t trust Jack, and
as a consequence, the Colonel manages to take the R311.
Linden, Jack, the
Prime Minister, and several others team up in an attempt to retrieve the R311 from
the Colonel, who will use the agent to gain, and keep, control. Enduring hunger
and hardship in their quest to remove the Colonel from power, and knowing they
are no match for his fighting machine, their quest seems hopeless… until, using
wits and courage, they embark on an outrageous offensive that just might
succeed.
‘It’s a substance called R311…a new killing agent’ – Terror, recognizable unfortunately!
Reviewed
in the United States on August 21, 2020
Verified
Purchase
British
author Sandy Hyatt-James earned her degree from Ruskin College, Oxford and
worked as a child protection social worker before moving to Bulgaria to teach
English as a second language. Her focus is now on writing and to date her
novels include SABINE DOLLS, A GAZE OF FLINT, BEYOND THE CHECKPOINT, and now
OUT OF KILTER. Her chosen genre is science fiction dystopian tales and she
weaves them well!
Creating a strange world that could be credible to readers is a something that
now, with the world deeply scarred by the pandemic and its manifestations,
protests, ongoing political chicanery, etc. Seems almost like a contemporary
situation. Her opening lines describe a world not unlike the present: “Linden
walked across the supermarket’s car-park, and kept her head down. The last time
she came, fights broke out and she didn’t want to be dragged into any more.
There were fewer people about, much fewer than her last visit. Although this
meant she was safer, it wasn’t a good sign…Her inner voice chanted…I hope
there’s still something left. Please don’t let all the edible food be gone…’
Sandy’s imaginary world feels all too familiar.
One of the author’s keen gifts is her ability to adroitly share the scope of
the novel with a succinct synopsis: ‘Britain – sometime in the future. Law and
order has broken down and people are fighting each other for the country's
dwindling supply of food. Most members of the British government have decamped
to the Scilly Isles to avoid the riots. Linden Tallis, a champion archer,
unwillingly becomes the custodian of R311, a deadly biological agent, courtesy
of her scientist brother. MI6 officer Jack Ormond tries to take the agent from
her to keep it out of the hands of Colonel John March, a fascist dictator who
plans to take over the country. But Linden doesn't trust Jack, and as a
consequence the Colonel manages to take the R311. Linden, Jack, the Prime
Minister and several others team up in an attempt to retrieve the R311 from the
Colonel, who will use the agent to gain and keep control. Enduring hunger and
hardship in their quest to remove the Colonel from power, and knowing they are
no match for his fighting machine, their quest seems hopeless...until, using
their wits and courage, they embark on an outrageous offensive that just might
succeed.’
Sandy’s brisk pace makes this relatively short novel one fine choice for an
evening’s read, if you’ve a mind to. Keep the lights on…Recommended. Grady
Harp, August 20
Reviewed
in the United States on August 22, 2020
Verified
Purchase
Out of Kilter by Sandy Hyatt-James is a science fiction novel all about a bleak future that has much of the United Kingdom falling into ruin and despair. Linden is a deadly archer who has a brother who is a scientist. He has created a pathogen that he is now trusting to Linden. Wanting to help her brother and not trusting of the government, Linden tries to protect the pathogen on her own. But, a wicked Colonel who is bent on taking over the country manages to get the pathogen away from her. Now, Linden must team up with those that she does not trust to try and get the pathogen back before the Colonel uses it to further destroy the country and take complete control for himself.
I would love to call this science fiction, but really this one felt much more like reality just a few years down the road. The COVID pandemic that has twisted and devastated many different aspects of life around the world has some strong similarities to this story. The members of parliament hiding in a safe place away from the masses in the book, our president hiding behind massive barriers in Washington in real life, food shortages in the book, shut down meat plants in reality, a pathogen that could devastate the planet in the book, a virus that is changing the planet in real life, rioters in the book, and rioters in real life. The connections give the read a sense of urgency because none of us want to see this sort of a future become our reality. Fans of science fiction will enjoy this along with anyone who enjoys reads that are connected to the pandemic. This one has something for just about everyone.
Sandy
Hyatt-James
Biography
Sandy is an English woman currently living in Bulgaria, where she used to teach English as a second language. Sandy left school at fifteen with no qualifications. After realising the folly of not studying at school, she educated herself, and finally won a two-year scholarship for Ruskin College Oxford. Here she gained a Higher National Diploma in Literature.
Sandy spent another two years in higher
education, in social work training. She spent the following eleven years in the
child protection part of the profession, rising eventually to junior
management.
Now living in Bulgaria with her husband,
(and four dogs), Sandy has taught herself to speak fluent Bulgarian. In her
spare time, she plays bridge and partakes in tenpin bowling.
Although regretting not getting an education at a young age, Sandy believes that her experience at 'the bottom of the pile' has helped to tint her writing with honesty, grittiness and humour.
