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Gary Gibson
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Extinction Game: The Apocalypse Duology: Book One Kindle Edition

by Gary Gibson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 632 ratings

Extinction Game is a riveting, action-packed post-apocalyptic survival story from master of SF, Gary Gibson.

When your life is based on lies, how do you hunt down the truth?

Jerry Beche should be dead. Instead, he's rescued from a desolate Earth where he was the last man alive. He's then trained for the toughest conditions imaginable and placed with a crack team of specialists on an isolated island. Every one of them is a survivor, as each withstood the violent ending of their own alternate Earth. And their new specialism? To retrieve weapons and data in missions to other apocalyptic versions of our world.

But what is 'the Authority', the shadowy organization that rescued Beche and his fellow survivors? How does it access timelines to find other Earths? And why does it need these instruments of death?

As Jerry struggles to obey his new masters, he begins to distrust his new companions. A strange bunch, their motivations are less than clear, and accidents start plaguing their missions. Jerry suspects the Authority is feeding them lies, and team members are spying on him. As a dangerous situation spirals into catastrophe, is there anybody he can trust?

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Apocalypse Duology
  2. Print length
    353 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Pan
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    September 11, 2014
  7. Reading age
    16 years and up
  8. File size
    1.0 MB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This potent, teeth-gritting SF thriller shows death and love only a shadow away from our ordinary lives."--Publishers Weekly, 10/26/2015, starred review

"High-octane action, terrific future tech and a superbly imagined alien civilisation help to make this a page-turning belter from one of our best exponents of hardcore SF adventure."  —Daily Mail on Final Days

"The sweep of this book is impressive, and Gibson deftly keeps the action going and the reader enthralled right through the unexpected but thoroughly satisfying ending."  —Publishers Weekly starred review of The Thousand Emperors

"Gibson stakes his claim to be considered alongside the leading triumvirate of British hard sf writers . . . A gripping red and a treat for all fans of intelligent space opera."  —Guardian on Nova War

About the Author

Gary Gibson has worked as a graphic designer and magazine editor. His previous novels include the Shoal series, which includes Empire of Light, Nova War, and Stealing Light, as well as the stand-alone novels Against Gravity, Angel Stations, Final Days, Marauder, and The Thousand Emperors.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00M43ZZZG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pan
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 11, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Main Market Ed.
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 353 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0230772717
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Apocalypse Duology
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 16 years and up
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 632 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Gary Gibson

Gary Gibson

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Described by The Guardian as "a master of core sf" and "one of our best exponents of hardcore SF adventure" by the Daily Mail, Gary Gibson's career stretches over fifteen years and nearly twenty books.

His work has been translated and published around the world, including Russia, Brazil, Germany, and France. A long-time resident of Glasgow, Scotland, he relocated a few years ago to Taipei in the Far East and splits his time between editing and working on his own material.

His latest book is a collection of previously published and unpublished short stories and novellas, Butterfly Box and Other Stories, released on 15 November 2024 in ebook, paperback and hardback.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
632 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's writing quality good and appreciate its value for money. The narrative receives mixed reactions, with some finding it interesting while others describe it as a disappointing first-person narrative. The pacing and character development also get mixed reviews, with some praising the pacing while others find the characters somewhat textbook-like.

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Value for moneyEnjoymentWriting qualityNarrative qualityPacingCharacter development
6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be good value for money.

"...The writing itself is just so-so. OK for a paperback." Read more

"Great book, looking forward to the next would make an awesome movie" Read more

"...It is absolutely worth buying, one of his best." Read more

"Everything written by this author has been top notch. This book is no different." Read more

4 customers mention "Enjoyment"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with one mentioning it gets exciting and another enjoying the bee-brains concept.

"...It wasn't a perfect book, but it held my interest and made me want to read more...." Read more

"Enjoyable read with a great premise. Well written and a very unique story. Loved the different post-apocalyptic worlds visited throughout." Read more

"...then gets really slow until the middle, but from there on it gets pretty exciting, with great pacing and cool stuff happening...." Read more

"Its a strait forward story but very entertaining and fast paced. It is absolutely worth buying, one of his best." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one describing it as a really good page turner.

"Enjoyable read with a great premise. Well written and a very unique story. Loved the different post-apocalyptic worlds visited throughout." Read more

"Really good page turner. Very much in the 60s American style and all the better for it...." Read more

"Good writing and an intriguing scenario. I think I've found a new author whose books I can rip through!" Read more

9 customers mention "Narrative quality"6 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative quality of the book, with some finding it an interesting tale while others describe it as a disappointingly dull first-person narrative.

"...characters spewing exposition at each other. The plot twists were pretty well handled and although they were not super original..." Read more

"...Most of the book was tantalizing but not satisfying that way. I like more depth, not just in concept but in character and world building...." Read more

"Enjoyable read with a great premise. Well written and a very unique story. Loved the different post-apocalyptic worlds visited throughout." Read more

"Good writing and an intriguing scenario. I think I've found a new author whose books I can rip through!" Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it great while others describe it as drab.

"...It's a fast paced novel and almost impossible to put down once it builds momentum...." Read more

"I've enjoyed all of Gibson's previous novels but this was a drab effort, lacking pace of plot, interesting characterization or even particularly..." Read more

"...until the middle, but from there on it gets pretty exciting, with great pacing and cool stuff happening. The writing itself is just so-so...." Read more

"...The book has a surprisingly low intensity and there is a sense of detachment in the narrative...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"0 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them somewhat textbook-like, while one customer describes them as written in a dumber way.

"...to play around with them in interesting ways. The characters were somewhat text book..." Read more

"I expected more out of this but the characters were one dimensional." Read more

"...Dumb characters written in a dumber way." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Orin Thomas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great end of multiple worlds action thriller.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Extinction game involves the protagonist joining a secret organization that travels across parallel realities where end of the world events (lots of different types) have occurred. It's a fast paced novel and almost impossible to put down once it builds momentum. Unlike a lot of novels in this genre, everything is tied up by the end (though there is certainly openings left for a future series of books).
    Helpful
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  • Matt Grafton
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting tale in a new world(s)
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I read an exert of this book on Tor.com and was intrigued enough to buy it.

    I really liked the set up of the dystopian alternate realities and the Author was able
    to play around with them in interesting ways. The characters were somewhat text book
    but the main character was interesting and the way his background is revealed is well
    paced.
    There are a few rather large info dump chapters that I think could have been
    handled a little smoother. One chapter that is handled well is a flash back while there
    were a couple later on that were just characters spewing exposition at each other.
    The plot twists were pretty well handled and although they were not super original
    they worked out pretty well.
    There are some plot threads left hanging for sequels but it is a complete story. I was
    glad to not be left with a cliffhanger ending.
    Helpful
     Report
  • M. S. Butch
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not sufficient.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I'm surprised at how negative some of the reviews are. It wasn't a perfect book, but it held my interest and made me want to read more. For me, the primary fault was that the entire narrative felt "sketchy" - like almost all of it could use greater elaboration. Some answers appeared later in the book, and no doubt some ideas were saved for future volumes, but I had too many unanswered questions; at least some of them should have been explained. For example, late in the story we are told that the Authority did explore the rest of the earth in the alternative where their base was on Easter Island but gave up the idea of settling there. What horrors are we not being told about? Are these being saved for a future book or did Gibson just not want to spend time on figuring out that detail? Can they grow food on the island? Does that alternate have animal life? (It must have some, Casey went fishing). The alternate worlds that ARE described are basically assumed to be the same as earth in Jerry's time, and having suffered apocalyptic events at the same time in their history. Why? Is it just that the artifacts for which the Authority is searching (none of which is really identified) are all highly technological? I actually enjoyed the bee - brains, but having invented them, Gibson could have explored the concept more. Most of the book was tantalizing but not satisfying that way. I like more depth, not just in concept but in character and world building. But I will certainly read the sequel, and hope that Gibson starts filling out the universe.
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  • Robert M. Meagher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deserving of a sequel
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I thought this would be a ho-hum post apocalyptic story. Glad I was wrong. It was satisfyingly different. I would read the sequel to see some of the many ideas and characters developed further.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lindsey D
    4.0 out of 5 stars good stuff
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Enjoyable read with a great premise. Well written and a very unique story. Loved the different post-apocalyptic worlds visited throughout.
    Helpful
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  • Eoghan Donnellly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent stuff
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Really good page turner. Very much in the 60s American style and all the better for it. Reminds me of the one step from Earth short stories by Harrison in tone.
    Helpful
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  • Tim Goff
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A multitude of alternate worlds, all facing doom, being explored by expendables.
    Helpful
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  • Wubba Lubba Dub Dub
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Good writing and an intriguing scenario. I think I've found a new author whose books I can rip through!
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • PikField
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nickel
    Reviewed in France on December 10, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Premier livre en anglais pour ma part. Je suis pris dans l'histoire depuis le début. J'ai hâte de le finir.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Das Potential wäre da gewesen....
    Reviewed in Germany on July 14, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    ...schade, dass die Charaktere entweder stereotypisch oder über- bzw. untertrieben handeln. Im ganzen Buch fehlt es mir an Personen, dessen Motive, Gedanken und Gefühle wirklich "real" werden. Das gilt leider auch für den Hautcharakter, der dilettantische Moralapostel, der eigentlich keinerlei Führereigenschaften oder herausragende Fähigkeiten besitzt, dem aber trotzdem alles gelingt, auch sich gegen Ende als Anführer der Truppe zu behaupten.
    Mein Hauptkritikpunkt ist jedoch folgender: Die "Authority" rekrutiert "Pathfinder" um auf postapokalyptischen Alternativerden nach Waffen/Daten/whatever zu suchen. Warum sie aber gerade Jerry und seine Kollegen dafür auserwählt haben, bleibt mir bis jetzt ein Rätsel. Man muss einfach davon ausgehen, dass es zig besser dafür geeignete Spezialeinheiten auf dem Heimatplaneten der "Autority" gibt. Warum sich also die Mühe machen, auf Parallelerden die Pathfinder einzeln aufzuspüren? Ich weiß es bis heute nicht. Der Autor begründet es damit, dass Personen, die eine Apokalypse überlebt hätten, spezielle Überlebenseigenschaften besäßen. Dann hätte er diese auch den Charakteren zuordnen müssen, denn ich sehe in den "Pathfindern" nur eine Gruppe von durchschnittlichen Menschen, allen voran Jerry, der größtenteils hilflos und weinerlich durch die Geschichte stolpert.
    Außerdem enthält das Buch die definitiv schlechteste Romanze, die ich jemals gelesen habe. Es fühlt sich so an, als wolle der Autor eine Liebesbeziehung auf Zwang hineinpacken und das, ohne sich die Mühe machen zu müssen, diese tatsächlich zu schreiben.
    Alles in allem hatte ich das Gefühl, dass das Buch spannend beginnt und dann immer mehr und mehr nachlässt mit einem eher enttäuschendem, moralisch zweifelhaften Ende.
    Es wundert mich selbst, dass ich trotz der Kritik an dem Buch sehr viele Stellen als spannend empfunden habe. Da außerdem die Idee und die Welt, die Gibson erfindet durchaus interessant ist, sind für mich 3 Sterne gerade noch angemessen. Schade allerdings, da sehr viel mehr Potential vorhanden gewesen wäre!
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  • N
    1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother.
    Reviewed in Australia on November 24, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Slow, boring and a plot full of huge holes.
    Report
  • Bernard A
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable but flawed
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The storyline carried me over the numerous plot holes without too much pain. It's an enjoyable alternate worlds story (if you don't look too closely).
    Report
  • Donald Maciver
    4.0 out of 5 stars I thought this looked pretty boring on first glance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I thought this looked pretty boring on first glance, but I really really enjoyed it. Plenty of action and interesting ideas. Little on the short side, and not terribly deep, but its a snappy read and you won't be disappointed if you like this sort of thing. Hopefully the first of a series, plenty of leg room in the ideas for more books.
    Report

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