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Retribution Falls [Paperback]

Chris Wooding
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 26, 2011
Sky piracy is a bit out of Darian Frey’s league. Fate has not been kind to the captain of the airship Ketty Jay—or his motley crew. They are all running from something. Crake is a daemonist in hiding, traveling with an armored golem and burdened by guilt. Jez is the new navigator, desperate to keep her secret from the rest of the crew. Malvery is a disgraced doctor, drinking himself to death. So when an opportunity arises to steal a chest of gems from a vulnerable airship, Frey can’t pass it up. It’s an easy take—and the payoff will finally make him a rich man.

But when the attack goes horribly wrong, Frey suddenly finds himself the most wanted man in Vardia, trailed by bounty hunters, the elite Century Knights, and the dread queen of the skies, Trinica Dracken. Frey realizes that they’ve been set up to take a fall but doesn’t know the endgame. And the ultimate answer for captain and crew may lie in the legendary hidden pirate town of Retribution Falls. That’s if they can get there without getting blown out of the sky.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Short-listed for the 2010 Arthur C. Clarke Award


"If Robert Louis Stevenson and Patrick O'Brian had teamed up to write a rollicking fantasy, Chris Wooding's Retribution Falls would be the result.  Pirates, sky-ships, and golems are just the trappings for a far-flung adventure of stunning imagination and brilliant craftsmanship.  I've already booked passage for the next flight of the Ketty Jay...long may she sail!"
--James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Altar of Eden


"Beautifully crafted prose and some remarkably imaginative scenes ...and Wooding's sprawling, multifaceted world and rough-and-tumble action will delight steampunk fans." -Publisher's Weekly, starred review


"Retribution Falls picks you up, whisks you swiftly and entertainingly along, and sets you down with a big smile on your face." –Joe Abercrombie, author of The Last Argument of Kings

 
"A fast exhilarating read . . . the kind of old fashioned adventure I didn’t think we were allowed to write anymore, of freebooting privateers making their haphazard way in a wondrous retro-future world." —Peter Hamilton, author of The Temporal Void

 
"This is a wonderful book." –New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris

 
"Retribution Falls is an inventive, high-flying adventure full of secrets, sky pirates, and suspense, complete with cocky heroes and daring escapes.  Fans of Joss Whedon's Firefly will love it." –Christopher Golden, co-author of The Secret Journeys of Jack London

 
"Engaging characters, interesting world, a story that moves -- what more can you ask for?" –Troy Denning, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Abyss

"If Robert Louis Stevenson and Patrick O'Brian had teamed up to write a rollicking fantasy, Chris Wooding's Retribution Falls would be the result.  Pirates, sky-ships, and golems are just the trappings for a far-flung adventure of stunning imagination and brilliant craftsmanship.  I've already booked passage for the next flight of the Ketty Jay...long may she sail!"--James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of Altar of Eden

 
"If masterful plotting were the book's only attribute, then Retribution Falls would still be a first-rate read. What makes it exceptional is the psychological insight rare in fast-paced, adventure SF…On every level, Retribution Falls is a triumph." –Guardian (UK)

“A sky pirate adventure that features quirky characters—including a mechanical golem and a bad-tempered cat—witty dialog, and enough fast-paced action to please fans of swashbuckler fantasy.” –Library Journal


"If any book can be given its own genre then this would surely fall under the heading of fun…and alongside Phillip Pullman’s superlative Dark Materials trilogy this is one of the best Steampunk novels out there." –Fantasy Book Review

 
"One of the best pieces of fun I’ve read in a long while…a whip-cracking pace and with characters you care about…If you’re looking for a book where the pages just fly in reading, then look no further - this is a great read." –SFFWorld
"So what's not to love in this book - fast action, great characters, great setting and superb one-liners? Highly, highly recommended and another notable SFF novel of 09 for me" –Fantasy Book Critic

 
"If you are looking for a fun, page-turning scifi read, then Retribution Falls is for you. If Joe Abercrombie ever wrote a science fiction book, this is the sort of thing he'd come up with." –Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist

 
"From the dialogue with supremely funny re-joiners to the a world  that is so well realized, Retribution Falls is a can't miss novel. The fast and furious Retribution Falls is a staggeringly and ridiculously good page turner" –Booktionary

 
"This is an exciting story and the misadventures and foolhardy escapades of this crew are extremely amusing. As in all good pirate stories, terrific battles between ships abound" –ReadPlus

 
"I’d recommend [Retribution Falls] to anyone who’s after a dose of rip roaring adventure." –Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review

"Retribution Falls is an excellent novel" --SFCrowsnest

About the Author

Chris Wooding is in his early 30s and has already signed his first Hollywood film deal and won several awards for his writing. He is the author of, amongst others, the Broken Sky series, which has sold over 200,000 copies in the US alone, and THE HAUNTING OF ALAIZABEL CRAY, which won the SILVER SMARTIES AWARD. He has travelled extensively, plays bass and guitar, has recorded several albums with various bands and toured in Europe. His books have been published all over the world and translated into 19 languages. He is currently working on two movies with a top Hollywood director. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Spectra (April 26, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345522516
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345522511
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
(32)
4.3 out of 5 stars
Each member of the crew has a back story and most of them go on their own character arcs. Richard Finn  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
I thoroughly recommend this book as a fun and fabulous read. Widget  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Fun September 29, 2009
Format:Paperback
This is great fun, fast moving and entertaining fantasy.

I would not suggest that this is anything overly fresh or new, but it is put together very well and as the book and the characters grow, the book sucks you in deeper and deeper.

Imagine a blend of the TV SF series "Firefly", a bit of Captain Jack and the Pirates from "Stardust". Here we have a crew of a kind of airship (the Ketty Jay) all of whom have their hidden secrets and background and are using the Kitty Jane as a bolt hole - a kind of marriage of convenience until something better comes along. A bit of smuggling and piracy, the crew step over the line a lot and live on the edge and hand to mouth. This changes when they are framed for the destruction of another ship carrying a VIP. Can the crew pull together to help clear their names before they are hunted down and killed?

This is not deep and thoughtful fantasy, it is pure escapist fun. Having said that, it is a far better written book then you imagine it will be. You come to the end with regret and a satisfied grin on your face and the hope that Wooding will write a follow up.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars I have a confession to make about this book. December 19, 2009
Format:Paperback
My confession about this book is that I really didn't like it for about the first 100 pages. And I really wanted to like it because a friend had gone to a lot of trouble to send the book to me. He liked it, a lot. So what was wrong? I picked it up and put it down three different times. I didn't like the characters, not a single one of the motley crew of dysfunctional malcontents. My favorite characters so far were Bess the golem and Slag the cat. Not a ringing endorsement there. I didn't see much sense in where the story was headed, mainly because I didn't see WHERE the story was headed. It just seemed to ramble and wobble around, getting the crew in and out of one scrape after another. Then something happened. For me it was that the author made me interested in the captain of the aircraft, Darian Frey, and I began to wonder why he had been set up to take the blame for something he had not done. From then on, the action in this book simply flew. The mish-mash of disconnected characters began to come together into a cohesive unit to try to help each other out of the troubles they were constantly landing in. They began to seem like people who deserved to be liked, people who had to clear up this terrible wrong by whatever means was at their disposal.

I ended up absolutely loving this book. The crew went from one disaster after another and yet they were always focused on their final objective, which was to prove their innocence. With their awful luck, success was never a certainty. The author, Chris Wooding, created quite an unusual mixture in his fantasy world. The aircraft in the story, including Frey's Ketty Jay, were the most otherworldly things in the book while the pirates still fought with cutlass, knife, pistol, and shotgun. There didn't seem to be very much high technology present for these fictional characters to use. That was a little surprising, but it still worked for me after I stopped looking for all the fancy fantasy equipment to show up. And the gold tooth, well, the tooth was a real hoot!

There is nothing deep, intellectual, or subtle about this book. What you get is a rollicking, fast moving (for me after about 100 pages!), adventure story. If what you want is to escape into a fantasy world with swashbuckling pirates then this will be a wonderful book for you. Just try to remember, if it starts out a little slowly for you too, the action really begins to ramp up and it just never slows down from then on.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Retribution Falls has been called everything from a Steampunk Firefly to Jack Sparrow in a sky ship, both of which just ooze thoughts of wild adventure. I can now say unequivocally that Retribution Falls deserves every good word said and many more. Retribution Falls starts on a compelling high note and never lets up. It'll have you holding your breath in anticipation dozens of times. Retribution Falls has already been recently named for the Arthur C. Clarke Award shortlist of just 6 titles.

Retribution Falls is a hard book to classify. It has classic elements of Fantasy, but with Sci-Fi tech akin to Steampunk yet I hesitate to put it in that camp as it is much more advanced. Retribution Falls is much more than a Firefly riff as it is like an entire season without one lull compressed into less than 375 pages of complete and utter bliss. I do wonder if it would exist without the influence of Joss Whedon, but either way Wooding does an incredible job of creating a group of the most compelling characters I've found in sometime and he makes you care about nearly each and everyone of them right down to the sleep asphyxiating cat.

Darian Frey is the captain of the Ketty Jay, who is quite the sordid ne'er-do-well to the nth degree. Frey's only cares are that he own the Ketty Jay and that no other may posses or even pilot her. His crew has been a revolving door for years, where few of stayed or lived long enough to decide if they want to stay. The ship's doctor is a drunk. The mechanic a virtual mute. The Ketty Jay also has two out-fliers, which are smaller aircraft that provide support, reconnaissance, and much needed gun power on their run, but they are piloted by a very loathsome young man and another who is so war-beaten he can't part with his ship. There is also a mysterious passenger with access to some very unusual science/magic, especially with his dutiful metal monstrosity at his beck and call. And not to forget their brand spanking new female pilot with a puzzling pass and a secret that could mean her ostracization at any moment. Each and every character is larger than life and grow on you more and more. The character's back stories were released a perfect points and really nailed where the character came from and the motivation or lack thereof for their current situation.

From the dialogue with supremely funny re-joiners to the a world that is so well realized, Retribution Falls is a can't miss novel. It is touching in all the right places and a non-stop adventure from start to finish. I feel like I'm gushing a bit on this, but it is without a doubt one of my favorite books this year. I only wish I got to it sooner, but than the wait for book two would be even longer. But not to worry, there is a clear resolution for the story and most of the crew of the Ketty Jay except for one character who will probably need a whole book in and of itself to properly address. The whole plot is intricately and smartly laid out that all quarters are covered.

The fast and furious Retribution Falls is a staggeringly and ridiculously good page turner. The quality of the writing is close to that of Scott Lynch and has left room for so many more immersive stories for the crew of the Ketty Jay. I give Retribution Falls 9.5 out of 10 hats. This is the first time I can remember pre-ordering the second book in a series before even finishing the first. It is that good. The sequel The Black Lung Captain will be released this July in the UK and it can't get here soon enough for me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars LOST meets Firefly in a Steampunk Pirate Adventure
I adored this book, but not for the reasons I thought I was going to. A few people on the Sword & Laser Goodreads forums had recommended it as a nice way to scratch the "I still... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lady Bourbon
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant fun!
With an eclectic ensemble of swashbuckling misfits on the run in a believable and beautifully imagined steampunk world, this is one of the best and most fun books I've read in some... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Daniel Walls
5.0 out of 5 stars A schizoid masterpiece!
I've always been a sucker for a good rogues tale, and after finishing Gaebrel's Gamble (The Nine Suns) by Zackery Arbela, I was in need of another pirates of the skies kind of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jon Connington
5.0 out of 5 stars Really like this series
As a longtime fan of Science fiction/ fantasy when I am reading a new author I look for several things; good character development, a good overall picture of this new world I have... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nate
4.0 out of 5 stars A Spirited Romp
There's nothing particularly new here. You've got your lovable scoundrel of a captain, a crew of colorful if shiftless degenerates, and a dilapidated ship. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rodney Meek
4.0 out of 5 stars Its a good read
My son gave me all 3 books in the series. I've now finished the first two and reading the third. If you are looking for great literature this is not it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Dukes Sheep
4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable story
I look forward to reading more in the series.
It would make a good movie as well.
Its not a copy of Firefly. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars Great adventure/fantasy, perfect for Firefly fans for example.
Great adventure fantasy, perfect for Firefly fans for example. Great characters, fun dialoge and good depth in woodings world. A good old pirate adventure with modern twists.
Published 8 months ago by aji
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome adventure!
I loved "Retribution Falls"! It's a fun read, and not too weighty or serious. It was like reading a really good cowboy/pirate adventure movie. A good vacation read. Read more
Published 10 months ago by V. Wiggin
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and straight F U N!
Make no mistake, a lot is going on between the covers of this book. Even though there are two primary viewpoint characters and a few secondary, each supporting character is given a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Adam R. Callaway
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