Stage 3 (Book) - 9/8/2017 2:27:12 AM
This is an edge of the seat read from its dramatic opening, through its cityscape of horrors, and on to its compelling ending. Our hero, Mason, is on the rebound and this amplifies his natural disinterest in other people. We meet him as a reluctant hero on an aircraft with blind pilots, but heroics are not his thing and he spends the next week in self-indulgent isolation. Even at this early stage, we know that something is far from right, yet Mason has to emerge before it begins to register. When he does he’s in trouble up to his neck, yet he rationalises the situation, thinking that things can’t be that bad. He quickly finds out how wrong he is.
Ken Stark then takes us on a hellish journey, at first all about Mason, but very quickly about Mackenzie – a 10 year old, sight-damaged child. Mature beyond her years, she increasingly gets into Mason’s heart. Maybe for the first time in his life, he puts himself second and commits to helping Mackenzie in her quest to be reunited with her aunt. The girl’s inherent humanity slowly forces Mason to modify his attitudes and we’re left with some real optimism for him and the girl he’s chosen to protect at all costs.
Ken handles the frequent conflict situations brilliantly with each situation having its own particular – and in the spirit of the genre – gruesome challenges. You really do wonder what can possibly go wrong next!
This is a great book, well written, and full of engrossing exploits, all heavily flavoured with the central characters’ imperative to survive whatever is thrown at them. Highly recommended read.
