"Footprints" is a story that twists you around and around and deposits you in the most unexpected place.
Scott Hrdinsky and his Uncle Joe live on a quiet farm in rural America in the not too distant future. When Scott was eight years old, he received a unique dog named Dozer as a gift from a family friend. When Dozer, a cross breed of an android and a cybernetic organism, fails to wake up one morning, Scott and Uncle Joe embark on a secret mission to save him. Scott and Uncle Joe end up in a tactical, science fiction adventure as they confront Commander Manson Kurse, the supreme leader of the Lancaster Science and Research Facility. Throughout the mission, Scott's eyes are opened to the covert activities and governmental conspiracies that are hidden in plain sight all around him. Mentored by Uncle Joe, Scott learns to cope with the circumstances in his life and comes to the realization of what is really most important.
Excerpt
Without the communicator we could hear Kurse as his voice boomed from the military vehicle outside. “You may be thinking that it would have been much quicker for me to just collect my property and forgo all of the theater and introductions. But I will rather enjoy watching your panic and terror as I describe to you the manner in which I will end your life. Likewise, in a few seconds the only one you will be able to repeat this information to, will be your god. First things first. I will now appropriate my property.”
After his last words an apparatus began to extend from the top of the Barghest. It extended straight into the air about ten feet and then started to lean over toward the gas station. The apparatus took on the mechanical movements of a giant octopus tentacle and employed a slight swimming motion as it moved toward the station. Within a few seconds we heard a loud thud on the roof above us as the tentacle had reached the roof of the gas station.
The three of us fell back, away from the counter and looked toward the ceiling with panic. We pointed our weapons at the ceiling above us and Uncle Joe yelled. “Fire on sight. Fire on sight.”
Then a loud screeching noise that grew in volume and frequency could be heard above us. My eyes shot left and right expecting something to pop through the ceiling at any second. The building shook and the noise became even higher pitched as the tentacle above us drilled its way through the roof of the gas station. Within a few seconds the tentacle had made it through the roof and punched its way through the plaster ceiling. The three of us tried to protect ourselves the best we could as dust and wooden debris flew in every direction. The tentacle had lowered itself a foot or two below the level of the ceiling, exposing an opening about four feet in diameter.
All three of us began to unload our weapons on the mechanical intruder above us. Each deafening blast from our pulse rifles destroyed major sections of the roof around it but produced no damage to the tentacle itself.
Then a light flashed from the opening of the tentacle and quickly scanned left and right through the plaster dust hanging in the air. Once the light had detected our position it moved in our direction. The light was a part of an optic system that was attached to the wrist of a mechanical arm. On the end of the arm was a three fingered end effector device. The three fingers moved fluently on a number of servo controlled axes like the legs of a spider. As the mechanical arm moved closer to us, Uncle Joe and I continued to unload round after round of pulse energy on the tentacle opening and the mechanical arm to no avail.
The intruder’s optics had identified Neba and the mechanical arm quickly moved in her direction. Neba darted left and right in an attempt to escape but the three fingers of the end effector wrapped around her waist with mechanical precision. She yanked at the fingers in an attempt to free herself but she was unable to.
Professional Reviews
Starts slow but... (4 stars)
The book started out pretty slow but then turned into a real page turner. I would consider this book a near future, military sci-fi story. So most of the "tech" is believable and the story seemed very plausible. For anyone looking for more realism in their sci-fi this book would hit the spot.
I did see this book as a starting point for more books, but I am not sure the author intended that or not. The book did have an ending and it was satisfying but I could see going further with the story.
Hats off to the author on his debut novel, very readable, I felt for the characters and was rooting for them while I wanted the antagonist to lose.
Engrossing (five stars)
The plot was slow to develop at first, but once it gathered momentum it was engrossing and easy to follow. The characters could have used a little more development, but overall it was a good read. I like that the two male protagonists have some moral values so they don't just complete their own mission and forget the rest of what they could do.
I will be following this author in the future. I received this from the author for an honest review. No compensation involved. WELL DONE!
I enjoyed it (four stars)
I enjoyed the book. It did start out a slow but did pick up and hold my interest. I would definitely read another book by this author.
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