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Adam J Smith
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Neon Sands: A Dystopian Sci-fi: The Neon Sands Trilogy (Book One) Kindle Edition

by Adam J Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 82 ratings

The stars brought life to the planet, and the stars destroyed it.

It was ash on fingertips, and vast. Stepping upon it gave the impression that it had come not from below, buffed by millions of years of wind slicing against rock, but rather from above; that perhaps it had drifted down and settled here.This is the post-apocalyptic sandscape that Calix and Annora must navigate - when they're old enough to join the scavenger crews outside of the domes, that is.

They've spent their entire lives within Sanctum, the domed town that protects them from the dangerous sands that storm against the curved wall. But they are orphans, with questions about their heritage. With a childhood that prepares them to become scavengers. With a father figure in Kirillion who has an agenda all of his own - just what are they searching for when the scavenger crews depart?

All grown up, they join Walker's crew, scouring the sand in giant Crawlers, ready to dig. When an accident unlocks childhood memories and murder, questions arise within the crew about where their allegiances lie, and what their true purpose is. And then their search hits the big time.

A sci-fi dystopian adventure in an inhospitable landscape, Neon Sands is the opening 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 1/3
Neon series 1/9

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  1. Book 1 of 7
    Neon
  2. Print length
    286 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    March 30, 2018
  6. File size
    795 KB
  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 ‏ : ‎ B07BMZYLN6
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 30, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 795 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 286 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1986693752
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 7 ‏ : ‎ Neon
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 82 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

3.8 out of 5 stars
82 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging, with one review highlighting its complex futuristic dystopian setting. They appreciate the character development, with one mentioning the characters are likeable.

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8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one review highlighting its complex futuristic dystopian setting, while another describes it as an engaging sci-fi tale.

"...The narrative is told from multiple points of view which gives depth to the story and color to the protagonists and quirky side characters...." Read more

"A good story line that devolves into wordiness. Could probably be cut down by 30 percent in order to keep the plot from getting lost." Read more

"Interesting futuristic story of Calix and Annora, orphans raised in the domed city of Sanctum, as they fight to survive on a hostile planet plagued..." Read more

"...The storyline develops slowly with a feeling of menace just below the surface...." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the characters in the book.

"...gives depth to the story and color to the protagonists and quirky side characters...." Read more

"...The characters are pretty likeable, but one I liked isn't in the series anymore. I will definitely be picking up the next one...." Read more

"...Great combination of well written characters and intrigue, suspense, twists and betrayal...." Read more

"...Very well written. The characters grabbed me right away. Definitely a great blend of genres that will keep you coming back book after book!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • E. MacMichael
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something under the sand.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Neon Sands launches a gripping trilogy set in a world challenged by a harsh environment and hidden corruption. I highly recommend starting with the prequel novella, Neon Zero, for context and insight into this Earth-colonized planet and the diabolical deeds of the Neon City elite that underlie the action of the entire series.

    In this first book, we are introduced to a small band of people surviving in Sanctum, one of a handful of domed cities in a wasteland of sand under constant cloud cover. The characters and background events are laid out in clearly labeled segments that come together into cohesive, rolling action. The narrative is told from multiple points of view which gives depth to the story and color to the protagonists and quirky side characters.

    Calix and Annora, both orphans raised in Sanctum, join a crew to scavenge the sands for anything worth salvaging. Out in the grimy crawler, Calix begins to realize the depth of his feelings for Annora and an injury triggers memories that indicate a childhood friend was murdered. When their crew uncovers an empty dome with solar hoverbikes and intact underground levels strangely devoid of bodies, events quickly spin into something ugly, orchestrated by individuals among them who are motivated by a hidden agenda.

    Neon Sands is the first chapter in Calix's journey of discovery. He is the heart and soul of the trilogy and his unshakable love for Annora carries through the events of all three books. At the end of this first volume, his world is cracked wide open and he finds his quest has only begun. Neon City isn't even mentioned in this book, but its dark tentacles are distinctly felt. When I finished, I was happy I had Book 2 ready to dive into and as I continued, I found, like Calix, the weirdness just kept coming.
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  • Timothy E.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book. Like the story and setting.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    It was a pretty good book, but halfway through I was really wanting some action and got some plot thickening right about their that was pretty good. Overall it was a good book, I liked neon zero a bit better. The characters are pretty likeable, but one I liked isn't in the series anymore. I will definitely be picking up the next one. If neon zero tells me anything obviously the author got better at writing clenchers and putting in some gun play.

    The ending was a clencher, but the buildup to it was a bit frustrating. At the very end though there was too much detail and stopping and talking, getting too philosophical and attention to small details that made the distance between the beginning and end of the climax frustrating. Walking down a hallway during a fifteen minute rescue operation turned into a few chapters, several flashbacks every step, and long conversations between two grown men sneaking up through dark corridors to rescue a love interest. That was pretty frustrating. When that kind of action kicks in its time to seal the deal and shorten the level of detail, they're not in explore mode anymore :)

    A moderate amount of double printed words and words just not in the right location. Not to much or anything that messes with the build up or leads to confusing details.
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  • Just plain Bob
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good premise but....
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A good story line that devolves into wordiness. Could probably be cut down by 30 percent in order to keep the plot from getting lost.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Barbara B
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Sci-Fi Dystopian Tale!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting futuristic story of Calix and Annora, orphans raised in the domed city of Sanctum, as they fight to survive on a hostile planet plagued by sand storms. Great combination of well written characters and intrigue, suspense, twists and betrayal. I enjoyed the narration of Steve Miller on the audiobook and would definitely recommend it. Enjoy!
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  • JH & DDDH
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Dystopia
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Earth is just a "sandbox" with a few groups barely surviving in underground sanctuaries. Our main protagonists, male & female, were adopted at an early age into one such sanctuary. They are raised by leaders who turn out to quite a bit different from the benevolent "parents" they seem to be. The book is "hard" SciFi with exacting descriptions of everything from the technology (both current and lost over time), the weather, farming techniques, etc. The storyline develops slowly with a feeling of menace just below the surface. Book 1 ends with somewhat of a cliffhanger but at least we find out who the bad guys are even if we don't yet know their motivation. The narrator, for those who choose the audio version, uses the same voice for every character so keep a sharp ear for which character is speaking at any given time.
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  • Saundra Wright
    5.0 out of 5 stars will keep you coming back book after book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a complex futuristic dystopian setting. Very well written. The characters grabbed me right away. Definitely a great blend of genres that will keep you coming back book after book!
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  • Roger Fauble
    4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 star dystopian read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Neon Sands: A Dystopian Sci-fi: The Neon Sands Trilogy (Book One), my first read from author J.D. Allen. December seemed to be my month for new authors and January looks to continue the trend. I prefer mystery and thrillers & this didn't disappoint. I was gifted a free copy back in November of 2018 and lost track of it until I was given an Audible copy of Plains of Ion: A Dystopian Trilogy: The Neon Sands Trilogy, Book Two, and I'm voluntarily reviewing it because every good books need reviews. I look forward to more from this author and in this series, Up next. is Plains of Ion: A Dystopian Trilogy: The Neon Sands Trilogy, Book Two, (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018)
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  • The Lazy Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2019
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    A good dystopian read.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Paul Purcell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is The first book in over 10 years that's has me choosing to read rather than watch telly. It was great... I will be starting neon #2 he second this is posted.
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  • La nouille martienne
    4.0 out of 5 stars Désert, vous avez dit désert ????
    Reviewed in France on December 3, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    L'homme survit à peine dans des dômes sur une planète inhospitalière où le sable est roi, menaçant, engloutissant les hommes Dans le dôme, deux jeunes racontent leur enfance et on les suit jeunes adultes, dans une expédition à la recherche de "trésors perdus" Mais quel est le véritable but de ces recherches ? où est la vérité ? et l'homme ayant tant perdu arrivera t il à éloigner la menace de l'extinction totale ...
    Une histoire qui vous prend aux tripes du début à la fin Un monde dangereux, étrange où l'homme est toujours en danger d'extinction Une survie qui ouvre d'intéressantes questions Des personnages bien typés, attachants Un récit bien écrit, plausible (géographiquement, techniquement et humainement) qui petit à petit dévoile un peu du mystère des dômes ... Bref : enfin un livre qui m'a à la fois surpris et passionné
    Peut-être ma meilleure découverte en 2018 !
    J'aurais mis 5 étoiles s'il s'agissait d'un stand alone ...mais il reste de nombreuses questions sans réponse alors je vais me réserver les suites pour replonger sur cette planète inhospitalière en espérant assouvir ma soif ...
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  • ★★★★★Pierce E.✅★★★★★
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lesenswertes Buch mit tiefgründiger Story!
    Reviewed in Germany on September 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Neon Sands ist ein fesselndes Buch, das mich von Anfang bis Ende fasziniert hat!

    Die vom Autor erschaffene Welt ist beeindruckend und die Charaktere sind gut ausgearbeitet. Die Geschichte ist spannend und voller unvorhergesehener Ereignisse. Ich habe das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen können und gefühlt in einem Zug durchgelesen.

    Es ist ein Sci-Fi-Roman mit dystopischem Charme, den ich jedem empfehlen würde. 5 Sterne!
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  • Alibopo
    4.0 out of 5 stars SF for those that like rich in-depth storytelling.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a society on the edge of collapse and barely surviving in the most hostile of environments, a world covered in an almost endless sea of powdery red sand. Our hero Calix has only known the small town dome he lives in, and the brutal realities of a recycle-everything lifestyle. Struggling to find his place amongst his peers, he grows into young adulthood and joins one of the sand crawler crews. These crews brave the deadly world outside the dome to scratch among the nearby sands for relics of their lost civilisation and anything that can add to the dome’s limited resources. Injured on one such mission, Calix’s crewmates decide to use a mushroom-based hallucinogenic painkiller to make him more comfortable. While under the influence of the drug, a lost memory emerges of the death of a childhood friend, Zia, and the startling possibility that Calix’s mentor, Kirillion, the leader of their domed community, is the man that killed him. This is the first in a series of revelations and discoveries that hint that the world Calix knows is not as it seems.

    There is much to like about this book in terms of world building and the creation of strong believable characters, but I found the actual storytelling to be a little unbalanced for my tastes. With long textual interludes to focus on esoteric scene-setting and soul-searching internalisation, at times the story seemed to edge forward in stops and starts. It mostly came alive for me during the ‘live action’ scenes involving dialogue exchanges. This is purely a matter of personal taste, and I cannot fault the literary endeavours of the book’s author, Adam J. Smith. I know beyond doubt that there is a readership that will find this a rich and engaging work. Book one of a trilogy; it has a strong hanging ending and an unsolved mystery, ready to be taken up in the next book in the series.
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  • Grant
    3.0 out of 5 stars Going in the right direction.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    At last, an author of science fiction with some promise. Not Ian M Banks yet but going the right way. Could do with a decent proof reader though.
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