Customer Reviews

Eternity Falls

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Intense, riveting, and fast paced. I was breathless by the end of the first chapter, needed to sit back and draw a breath before continuing. I felt that way several times during the book. The author has a great gift of putting the reader right in the middle of the action and doesn't give much away until necessary. The ideas of how religion fails to thrive in the future through governmental processes and lack of personal day-to-day involvement in faith is extrapolated from today's trends and makes perfect sense in the story. Rick Macey's doubt in his faith and his client's disbelief in God although posited in the future are definitely a timeless conflict that the author has used to great advantage. Very well written.

Eternity Falls stars Rick Macey, a private detective who excels in using the neural technology of the day. When Macey is called to investigate the cause of a movie star's death, he finds the woman had been receiving GenTec's Miracle Treatment, designed to reverse the aging process and enable someone to live forever. Only, GenTec's marketing guru Sheila Dunn is afraid that the Miracle Treatment might be construed as the cause of death, and she wants Macey to prove that there was a different killer.

Several obscure clues lead Macey to the underpinnings of a deadly plot. What's worse (besides falling in love with Sheila, no matter how hard he tries not to) is that he's sure he knows the mastermind. Macey is forced to confront his past and his faith as he fights to stop the plotters.

The book is written in sharp, biting way that matches PI Macey's personality. Author Kirk Outerbridge does an excellent job pacing the plot, sprinkling a few slower scenes in between chases, explosions, and shootouts--you know, all the stuff of a good hard-boiled cyber-thriller. There were times I felt as if I'd barely caught my breath before Macey and Sheila took off again. The technology is believable and easy to understand without long explanations.

The characters were well-developed with understandable motivations, and the plot was familiar enough to make me comfortable, but new enough to keep me interested. Some of the theology interplay and thought processes of the characters really intrigued me, and one of the biggest questions in the book--would God approve of treatments that allowed someone to live forever--gave me food for thought for several days afterward.

That said, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under 16. My reasoning for this lies in the blatant references to questionable lifestyles, homosexuality and hard-core partying being just a couple. I understand that the author did this to show the depravity of a largely anti-Christian, bored culture (I say bored because everyone who has been given the Miracle Treatment lives pretty much forever, so they quickly begin indulging themselves in whatever they want), but I would have preferred less information than what he gave.

Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge is a worthwhile, thought-provoking, exciting read nonetheless. Four stars.

This book is simply amazing! I was transported to a new world with infinite possibilities. Outerbridge fascinated me with his style and ease of storytelling! The book moved very, very fast, which was awesome! What I was hesitant to decide at first, however, was how Christians were portrayed. All I saw was Virgil representing Christians, hoping there was an alternative, and then there was! About two-thirds of the way through, it became crystal clear, despite being surreal for a short time. Of course, I can't reveal much, so go ahead and read it yourself! You'll be very glad you did!

Marcher Lord Press is a new publisher that has only been around for a year, but is taking the speculative fiction genre by storm. They have had 3 sets of titles release so far and with each set they release 3 books. This most recent set included "Eternity Falls" by Kirk Outerbridge. I have read 3 other MLP books so far and have been very impressed with the quality of books they are publishing, but Eternity Falls is a Cyberthiller... say what? Hmm, Cyberthriller. Well, if Eternity Falls is an example of a Cyberthriller than I think I have a new favorite genre.

Eternity Falls sets us in the future where a new genetic formula is being used by the public called "Miracle Treatment" which alters the dna back to a younger you, so an 85 might look 25. This is very popular among the rich and famous but then one of their spokespeople, actress Greta Darling dies, of natural causes... except of course that is not possible because she is a Miracle Treatment user. One of the heads of Gentec, Sheila Dunn, hires Rick Macey to figure out what happened since she is sure that the treatment itself could not have failed.

We set out on a trip to the truth with Macey and Sheila as they try to determine whether it is a religious conspiracy, espionage, or murder and who is behind trying to ruin Sheila. People start dying and the past comes back to haunt Macey, his secrets start rearing their ugly heads and in the midst of everything can he remember Who has been there for him all along?

Great book and an excellent addition to the Marcher Lord Press releases to date.

From the very first page of "Eternity Falls," you know that Rick Macey is no one to mess with. A private investigator with a military and anti-terrorism background, he always gets his man. And now he must use every bit of that background to help him track down the truth. You see, there is a drug that lets you live forever. But a rich customer has died - a supposed impossibility. The startling revelations keep coming until the read - and Macey, for that matter - no longer know whom they can trust.
Kirk Outerbridge's debut novel is a rock-and-roll ride full of action, mystery and suspense. It is also a thoughtful look at whether living forever on this Earth is something we should yearn for or avoid at all costs.
Hats off to Outerbridge for a fascinating book, and here's hoping more adventures of Rick Macey are forthcoming.

First off, don't let all the talk about cyber-this or techno-that fool you (or scare you off.) Eternity Fallls is primarily a mystery/action/adventure novel wrapped in the guise of hi-tech. Here the "cyber" and the gadgets are similar to those used in Chris Nolan's Batman movies--extra sauce atop an otherwise thoughtful and satisfying story.

There are some fascinating questions being asked here: What if we could stave off death indefinitely? How would that change the way we see our world and others? Affect our views on eternity and the divine?

Aside from all that though, the book is heavy on fun factor. And surprises! Altogether it makes for an interesting and enjoyable read. Well done, Mr. Outerbridge!

Kirk's debut novel provides a new take on the genre. Here we have a future where cyborgs are common - human brains, and characters and souls, inhabiting bodies that are mostly artificial and have superhuman capabilities. In reading we are eased into these concepts as the puzzle pieces are revealed one by one.

Rick Macey, a retired undercover agent, is hired by a genetics company to investigate the death of one of their clients who had undergone life-extending treatment and should have remained alive indefinitely. In the face of a stock value crash if the treatment proves worthless, PR gal Sheila Dunn is desperate to prove other forces were at work in the death.

Other forces are indeed at play. In a densely twisted plot of betrayals and counter-betrayals we delve into the complexities of a huge power struggle that has implications for many, many people. Along the way there are more than a few surprises as clients become friends and enemies turn out to be brothers, while erstwhile allies are in fact deadly opponents.

This is large-scale cyberpunk action like you've always wished for, up close and personal - rooftop battles, hacker tricks, gravity-defying leaps, oh and let's not forget the shoot-outs, car chases and wrecks. Combine all this with a good dose of straight-up preaching and you begin to see the uniqueness of this tale. It's about the cyber, but it's also about the people - and their personal journeys as events unfold, changing their lives forever.

First off, let me say that Eternity Falls was a fun read, a fast-paced cyberthriller that I could easily see running through my imagination as if it were a movie. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this sci-fi adventure to any guy looking for a good read. While this might not be a book that some of the ladies in my book club would prefer, it's right up my alley. I love a good suspenseful story that will hold my attention and keep me turning the pages, one after another.

And yet, Eternity Falls goes beyond many suspenseful sci-fi adventures in that a couple of profound themes are woven deep into the plot. Themes of: self-righteous judgement; how difficult it can be sometimes to determine what God's perfect will is; and when righteous anger is righteous versus when it is misdirected.

And one of my favorite quotes from Eternity Falls sums it all up: "It's never too late-never, before eternity falls-to regain your soul."

I don't think I've ever read a cyberpunk novel before. At least, I can't remember any. I don't think this one will be forgettable. Outerbridge created a very realistic world with a definite history and inner logic that hangs together quite well. The Los Angeles of the late 21st century is a strange mixture of glitz and desolation with colorful denizens and plenty of problems.

The theological underpinnings of the story were fascinating. I won't go into those either. But Outerbridge skirted a fine line and didn't fall over the edge with this one and I really appreciated what he did.

But most of all, this book was a fun read! Lots of adventure, action, and good humor.

My only complaint is that the romantic subplot seemed a bit tacked on. At the very least, the shift into it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. But that's a minor thing.

You can't go wrong with this one.

Definitely worth the read if you like cyberfiction. Good story and interesting characters as well. I'm looking forward to the next book about Rick Macey.