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Adam J Smith
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Flames of Apathy: A Dystopian Sci-fi Trilogy: The Neon Sands Trilogy (Book Three) Kindle Edition

by Adam J Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

Far beneath the city’s depths burns far more than the fuel that feeds it. Stuck in the same dead-end job as his father, Rylan drinks himself into oblivion most nights. Better than the oblivion of the Link, everyone around him a slave to virtual reality. At least that’s what he tells himself. His ex, Clarisse, has found herself a new lover, someone with more than a passing interest in him. They have a job for him, and it involves explosives. Best just to drink this one off. Wait it out, until everyone has regained their senses. That’s the trouble though; everyone acts like robots and he feels like the only one with any sense. Any emotion. Emotion that triggers violence when a new friend exposes the wound inside his heart. A sci-fi dystopian adventure beneath the hyper-tech city of Neon, Flames of Apathy is the third book in an epic series that will explore Man’s technological and innate potential, and the search for hope when all looks bleak. Praise for the Neon series: “Neon Sands is sci-fi with conviction, and that conviction displays most evidently in setting. A world built of glorious and alienating sands, both a marvel and irritant. Chocka with filmic interludes, glowing horizons, red dusty skies. This novel quietly won me over.” “It has great tension and some wonderful world building details which hook you in to the claustrophobic existence of the characters.” “The tension really is well maintained throughout and the sense of mystery, high-stakes and justified paranoia that the characters experience is excellently portrayed.” Neon Sands trilogy 3/3 Neon series 3/9

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  1. Book 3 of 7
    Neon
  2. Print length
    306 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    December 6, 2018
  5. Reading age
    13 - 18 years
  6. File size
    2.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 7 books in this series.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07H5RPDS3
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 6, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 3 of 7 ‏ : ‎ Neon
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

About the author

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Adam J Smith

Adam J Smith

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My stories percolate in the shadow of the Malvern Hills in Central England; just a few long strides from a glorious view, though one not so grand or as high as the sand mountain, no doubt. Rain dapples this quaint English town (of course it does) but on clear days you can see for miles as the land ebbs and flows, green and pale fields sliced apart by hedgerow and road. The occasional farmhouse unchanged for decades. Perhaps a boxy Grand Design or two.

This is nothing like Neon, and neither is the town plagued by an overzealous hierarchy. (At least to my knowledge, though fools and kings are so often interchangeable.) So Neon is my escape; while I dream of places like Tokyo and Google the dunes of the Sahara, hoping one day to visit. Who lives here? And what do they do? Why do they do it? These questions I try to answer, pointing the character towards a goal and letting them make their own decisions on the way. I’m often surprised by the result – I hope you are too.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
21 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • E. MacMichael
    5.0 out of 5 stars Degeneration in the domed city.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2019
    Flames of Apathy opens with Rylan, a tech living in one of the lowest underground levels of Neon City. His ex and her new dissident lover tell him they've found the remains of a submersible next to a subterranean waterway down in the pits and want him to help them stir a revolution. Caia, one of the antagonists from book one, re-emerges, hunting the depths of the city for Calix in order to keep him away from Annora, now the prized property of Kirillion and the city's elites.

    This last chapter in Calix's journey sees him struggle to rise unnoticed through the levels of a city full of vapid, complacent people and unyielding, immoral, lethal authority. Accompanied by Elissa, he searches for Annora and ultimately finds unexpected allies and less-than-ideal answers to his dilemma.

    Personally I was quite saddened by the ending. While many threads are resolved with a satisfying flair, I would have liked to see a healthier solution for the protagonists. The nightmare of the domed city lives on and since this trilogy is the first of three in the Neon saga, it is clear that that the author has much more planned for this seemingly stagnant world.

    I'm usually not a fan of anything dystopia. The longer I live, the more it seems we're already living in it, which is probably why we have an entire genre full of it. In this series, the people aren't any more evolved than current humans. The level of technology is pretty much on par with our current state of development. No real human development or new abilities, and nary a psychic ripple. So why did I like these books? Frankly, they're quite an accurate reflection of the depravity of our global elite and the apathetic, electronics/web-addicted masses of our world today. They paint a shockingly vivid picture of a society cut off from its roots and true history, rudderless and wholly content to live in servitude under the tyrannical rule of a few, never standing up to the horror and crimes of the upper crust. After experiencing such a dismal world through the eyes of Calix and the other characters, there is a strong urge to see things set right and, in my opinion, therein lies the real gold of the series: the element of the steadfast heart. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of solutions unfold for the people of Neon, the plains, and the sands.
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  • Rebecca Gransden
    4.0 out of 5 stars Stylish and exciting sci-fi
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019
    Final book in The Neon Sands Trilogy, Flames of Apathy, makes for a satisfying conclusion. The scale introduced in book two of the series, Plains of Ion, is built upon to create an engaging denouement where the rich cast of characters inhabit a world of deliciously stylish sci-fi. The environments are crisply conceived worlds, from the neon bustle of underground street life to the stark and beautiful futurism of the city of the affluent classes. This is science fiction that pays due attention to mood and contrasting atmosphere. The world created fuels the dramatic language of the narrative, each element intertwined and serving the next, leading to a very pleasing escapist experience. Evocative of the noirish and epic loveliness of the dreamscape quality of the best of science fiction on celluloid, the narrative also incorporates a multi-layered dimension with nods to the cold brutalism and relentless action also associated with the heights of the genre. The influences do not overwhelm, as they are justifiably placed as a reflection of the enthusiasm of the author. This is done with love and excitement, and it translates.

    As I’ve said elsewhere about the series so far, it is obvious that the author knows his stuff, and more importantly recognises what is most transcendent and vital about the genre. My only reservation arose when it came to some elements of the plotting, which, when juggling so many character threads, did descend into confusion on occasion, but was never fatal, and I always felt there was enough guidance in the overall arc to get me back on track.

    Overall, a fitting end to the trilogy, and I’m glad to discover the world created for this series will continue to be visited by the author in extended and different ways. Great cover again as well.
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  • Saundra Wright
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great ending for this trilogy!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
    Enter Neon City where things are not as they seem. From the pits to the ring Neon City is ripe for rebellion! Great ending for this trilogy!

    Kindle Unlimited edition
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  • PapaTrain
    5.0 out of 5 stars Flames dance in a neon tube, no?
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2019
    A great yarn, interestingly telling a story of mankind's future so bleak at the beginning and end with possibly no hope for a better tomorrow. BUT, then again maybe there is.
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  • Roger Fauble
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another well-written read from a good author
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2021
    Flames of Apathy: The Neon Sands Trilogy, Book 3, my fourth read from author Adam J. Smith. December seemed to be my month for new authors and January looks to continue the trend. I was given an Audible copy and I'm voluntarily reviewing it because every good books need reviews. 6-hours 23-minutes/306-pages. Steven Miller's narration adds to a good book's excellence. I look forward to more from this author and in this series, Up next is Neon City: A Cyberpunk Trilogy (Neon, Book 4). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
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  • JH & DDDH
    4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying conclusion to the trilogy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2021
    This 3rd book ends the trilogy dramatically and with a satisfying comeuppance for all. It picks up immediately where book2 left off and plunges Cal and friends, and enemies, into a revolution within Neon City. Lots of excellent new characters playing various roles within several plot lines keeps it fresh while bringing "old" grievances to "final" conclusions.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • ★★★★★Pierce E.✅★★★★★
    5.0 out of 5 stars Volle Sterne für eine spannende Geschichte!
    Reviewed in Germany on September 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    "Flames of Apathy" ist eine fesselnde Dystopie-Trilogie, die mich von Anfang bis Ende begeistert hat. Die Geschichte spielt in einer Zukunft, in der die Welt von einer totalitären Regierung regiert wird. Die Menschen sind unterdrückt und haben keine Rechte.

    Die Hauptfigur der Geschichte ist Anya, eine junge Frau, die sich gegen die Regierung auflehnt. Sie ist intelligent, mutig und entschlossen, die Welt zu verändern.

    Die Geschichte ist voller Action, Spannung und Dramatik. Die Charaktere sind gut ausgearbeitet und glaubwürdig. Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und leicht zu lesen.

    Ich kann "Flames of Apathy" uneingeschränkt empfehlen. Es ist ein großartiges Buch, das man nicht missen sollte.
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