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Ian W. Sainsbury
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Children Of The Deterrent (Halfhero Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Ian W. Sainsbury (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,588 ratings

★★★★★"Unputdownable, totally unputdownable."★★★★★

What if a super human turned out not to be so super...or even human?

Britain's superhero, The Deterrent, was unveiled to the world in 1979, and disappeared two years later. The truth about his origins has never been revealed. The rumours about his children—those that survived—and their mysterious abilities have never been confirmed.

Until now.

Armed with a diary that reveals everything about The Deterrent’s early years, Daniel Harbin—discovering powers of his own—finds himself dragged into the same secretive government department his famous father worked for.

Can a halfhero be a better superhero than his father, or is Daniel making a terrible mistake?

When the wrong people know what you’re capable of, no matter how powerful you are, you're still in danger…

★★★★★"Shockingly good."★★★★★

★★★★★"Blown away by this book."★★★★★

★★★★★"Ian W Sainsbury is fast becoming one of my favourite reads."★★★★★

★★★★★"If you love science fiction and a story that happens 'outside the box' - then you'll love this."★★★★★

★★★★★"Mixing the awe of sci-fi/fantasy/superheroes into the lives of normal people... then topping it off with a fantastic plot."★★★★★
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Halfhero
  2. Print length
    356 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    December 15, 2017
  5. File size
    1.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born at an early age, Ian W Sainsbury quickly learned to talk about himself in the third person, meaning a career in the arts was all but inevitable. In 1987, he ran away from university to join the circus, playing in a band providing accompaniment for monkeys riding on pigs.

Finding it hard to match such early success, Ian played piano on cruise ships before spending over a decade singing in European piano bars. He also ran (and still does) a choir or two, singing pop stuff in a pub.

The next career move was obvious, and no one was surprised when Ian spent five years as a stand-up comic. He also began writing music and material for ventriloquist Paul Zerdin, including co-writing Zerdin’s Vegas show in 2016.

After music, circuses, puppets, comedy and choirs, Ian pooled his earnings to date and was able to buy a palatial two-man tent and a skateboard. It was at this point that he decided the world might be ready for a novel or two.

Since The World Walker appeared on Amazon in 2016, Ian has—to his amazement—found he is one of those people who does what he loves for a living without having to sell a kidney.

He lives in East Anglia with Mrs S, two daughters and a flatulent dog.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B077GCCFNP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (December 15, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 15, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1983440965
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,588 ratings

About the author

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Ian W. Sainsbury

Ian W. Sainsbury

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Winner of the Kindle Storyteller Award 2019 for The Picture On The Fridge

Born at an early age, Ian W Sainsbury quickly learned to talk about himself in the third person, meaning a career in the arts was all but inevitable. In 1987, he ran away from university to join the circus, playing in a band providing accompaniment for monkeys riding on pigs.

Finding it hard to match such early success, Ian played piano on cruise ships before spending over a decade singing in European piano bars. He also ran (and still does) a choir or two, singing pop stuff in a pub.

The next career move was obvious, and no one was surprised when Ian spent five years as a stand-up comic. He also began writing music and material for ventriloquist Paul Zerdin, including co-writing Zerdin’s Vegas show in 2016.

After music, circuses, puppets, comedy and choirs, Ian pooled his earnings to date and was able to buy a palatial two-man tent and a skateboard. It was at this point that he decided the world might be ready for a novel or two.

Since The World Walker appeared on Amazon in 2016, Ian has—to his amazement—found he is one of those people who does what he loves for a living without having to sell a kidney.

He lives in East Anglia, UK, with Mrs S, two children, and a flatulent dog.

Email ianwsainsbury@gmail.com, and/or visit ianwsainsbury.com

(Thanks for reading - I've loved reading all my life, and my ambition is to write the kind of books that readers can get lost in. Ian.)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,588 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great escapist read with excellent pacing and enjoy the author's writing style. They appreciate the character development, with one customer noting it's a good take on the alien hero.

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19 customers mention "Readability"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging, describing it as a great escapist read with an interesting story.

"...But, this is fun and a good take on the alien hero.idea." Read more

"...That way you can have a completely seamless literary experience, unlike us poor souls sucked in from the get go having to wait an interminable 48..." Read more

"...he is obviously British, he speaks world, space, humanity, and wonderful sci-fi, very well...." Read more

"...genre but this was reallt good, building real caracters and a intelligent storyline i didn't expect when downloading it, also got it with audio...." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"9 positive0 negative

Customers praise the pacing of the book, with one customer noting it's better than the author's first series.

"...British, he speaks world, space, humanity, and wonderful sci-fi, very well...." Read more

"I've read some books in this genre but this was reallt good, building real caracters and a intelligent storyline i didn't expect when downloading it..." Read more

"Just finished reading the final book in this trilogy, and it was most excellent. I really enjoyed it...." Read more

"...Well done!" Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the author's writing style.

"...Okay, great book, unpretentious writer, delightfully original ideas, yada yada yada. Here is my suggestion for you...." Read more

"Yes, Mr. Sainsbury is the epitome of a Whole Writer...." Read more

"Well written and edited. Story moves along well and actually leaves the reader with a sense of positivity. Well done!" Read more

"Thanks to the author for continuing to write interesting, exciting stories about impossible things - really enjoyed this one, looking forward to the..." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one noting the good portrayal of the alien hero.

"...But, this is fun and a good take on the alien hero.idea." Read more

"I've read some books in this genre but this was reallt good, building real caracters and a intelligent storyline i didn't expect when downloading it..." Read more

"The story and the characters are powerful at times, but seems out of focus sometimes and hard to follow...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very different spin on.an.alien superman.and his impact.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    When the British government.is alerted to what some.think.is an unexplode.bob buried in London the World.changes,.forever. The bombs in fact a metal womb. Filled with an amorphous blob of slime, aka Able and when exposed to.blood.it grows.in a.superman. not a super human. Not in the least.
    Of course the government must have secret plans, all nefarious of course. Government ts.aren't allowed.to have any.other plans..Amiright? Anyway,.they.brainwash the superman.and misuse him. But.by.mistake.they forget to.keep.a.close.eye.on him and bingo,.he.knocks up every woman.he meets. So?.super.kids which is where Daniel comes.in.
    So it is Superman.and Superboy.and boy of boy does it get strange from there. But, this is fun and a good take on the alien hero.idea.
    Helpful
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  • Portista
    4.0 out of 5 stars What is the Deterrent?
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    There is— something— in a large cylinder found deep in the ground, as the story begins. The cylinder itself is made of some sort of clear substance harder than any metal, and cannot be opened or even marked. Some sort of pea green slime seems to shift inside it.

    Things became still stranger when a few drops of a scientist’s blood are inadvertently splashed onto the cylinder— a body begins to form, apparently taking nourishment from the cylinder itself. Eventually the cylinder is absorbed, and a perfect, seven foot tall man is present in the lab, only with the knowledge of a newborn. His skin is proof against puncture, his strength is enormous, and the Colonel in charge of the secret facility where he’s being studied sees the perfect super-soldier.

    Recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Flying tinbasher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unstoppable
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Oh good grief he’s written another one already. I searched Amazon on the off chance he had written something earlier and turns out Half Hero had been published one day prior. I so enjoyed his previous series, I was Jonesing for more. Okay, great book, unpretentious writer, delightfully original ideas, yada yada yada. Here is my suggestion for you. Read the World Walker series first. It’s a totally different story but it’s fantastic. Then read this Half Hero book one. So, say it takes you 28 days non stop to read all six books. (Be warned, once you get into it, you will read them non stop) in those 28 days he will most likely have written the rest of this series. That way you can have a completely seamless literary experience, unlike us poor souls sucked in from the get go having to wait an interminable 48 days for a new fix. May have slightly exaggerated there, but only slightly.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • Densable
    5.0 out of 5 stars Much Better Than A Halfwriter
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Yes, Mr. Sainsbury is the epitome of a Whole Writer. Even thought he is obviously British, he speaks world, space, humanity, and wonderful sci-fi, very well. If I ever get the gumption to write, I hope to be at least half the writer that he is. I am sure that even half would do well. Thank you, sir!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    It is a rather difficult task to come up with a novel idea when it comes to superheroes and build a thrilling adventure around them but Ian Sainsbury did it! One more time!
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Surpriced by this book, really good
    Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I've read some books in this genre but this was reallt good, building real caracters and a intelligent storyline i didn't expect when downloading it, also got it with audio. I highly recommend it to anyone that could swallow a good story with supernatural elements
    Helpful
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  • Michael D. Tirpak
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story but disjointed
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The story and the characters are powerful at times, but seems out of focus sometimes and hard to follow. I enjoyed the story, but found it a little lacking......
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  • Christopher Hoadley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Series!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Just finished reading the final book in this trilogy, and it was most excellent. I really enjoyed it.

    My first experience with this author was his "The World Walker" series, and it left me wanting more stories. I am always on the lookout for more from Ian W. Sainsbury so I can get my fix.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Australian Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superman move over for the Deterrent.
    Reviewed in Australia on May 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I have always loved super heroes stories but I think this is my favourite, mostly and ironically, because it is so full of humanity. In this era when it’s hard to find a movie that isn’t a Marvel tale or about superheroes of some sort, it was a comfortable and familiar topic but managed to never be boring. I read it on Kindle, and swapped to listening to it through Audible when I had something to do and I would recommend that as a way to really enjoy the book. The English female narrator was excellent. My favourite part of the novel though was the news story from the drug taking English music magazine reporter. No spoilers - you will know the bit when you get to it. I read the chapter once, then listened to it to hear the delightful accent from the narrator and then played it to my husband who hadn’t even read any of the novel. He loved it too. So entertaining! Highly recommend. And thank goodness- refreshingly not a boys club novel.
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  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not disappointed
    Reviewed in Italy on March 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Another wonderful book of yours, enjoyed it as much as the other series(the world walker) . Writes in a superbe way
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  • Customer since 2001
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Just finished this book and enjoyed it very much. An interesting storyline and fast paced and am looking forward to seeing how the story develops in book 2
    Report
  • Testpapa
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a great read.
    Reviewed in Germany on February 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Can't even remember which Amazon rabbit hole I went down for this to pop up in the recommendations list, but I'm super glad it did (probably some where between the categories of sci-fi, geek, comic book, super hero). The story runs along at a good pace but always kept me gripped. The book is complete in itself but of course leaves lots of doors open for follow up books. I would recommend this book to any comic book hero fan.
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  • MacGowan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great start to the series
    Reviewed in Germany on July 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed reading this one. Can't wait to read the rest. Well worth the money and the time put in.
    Report

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