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Thrown Away #1-7

In a Fallen World

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The first part in a post-apocalyptic saga.
This isn't a Young Adult Dystopian tale. It's not romance. It's not cuddly.

No one knows how the world died.
They only know that it happened centuries ago.
Among the remnants of mankind - the people that live and die scavenging in the ruins - it is thought that the strangers who live behind the barrier, inside their protected city, may still hold that secret.

But no one taken by the hunters from the city ever comes back.

For Jack Avery, living among the ruins of the outer zone and scavenging to survive is not the worst of nightmares. Something haunts him far more than any hunter patrol. In one short moment, two years before, something happened that changed him. This story is about his journey through the apocalypse, but also through his own regrets and doubts.
Are there second chances?
Can Jack find the answer to his torment among the shattered ruins of the past?

73 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2014

815 people are currently reading
389 people want to read

About the author

Glynn James

92 books477 followers
GLYNN JAMES is an author of science fiction, post-apocalyptic, dark fantasy, horror, and dystopian fiction. His love of science fiction began when he was eight years old after discovering HP Lovecraft and Richard Matheson, and then later on Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, James Herbert, Clive Barker, and Stephen King.

In addition to being author of the “ALTERLIGHT” supernatural mystery thriller series, he is author of the dark sci-fi series "DIARY OF THE DISPLACED", the post-apocalyptic "THROWN AWAY" series, and co-author of the "ARISEN" series and the “DUSTFALL” series.

More info on his writing and projects can be found at -
Website - www.glynnjames.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/glynnjamesfi...
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/GlynnJames

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5 stars
350 (43%)
4 stars
274 (34%)
3 stars
130 (16%)
2 stars
24 (3%)
1 star
22 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Keith.
200 reviews14 followers
July 17, 2016
2.5 Stars....

This was just OK. It is the first part of a story split into five parts. The problem is that nothing of interest really happens during this portion of the story. Part one is mostly character development with some world building, and it begins, near the very end, to set the stage for the conflict that, I presume, will be the main focus of the remainder of the story. The writing is good and the setting description is well done. However, this portion of the story was mostly flat, and gives little incentive to continue until the very end. I think the author may have dinner himself a disservice by releasing this in the parts, as opposed to a full length novel. Part one just didn't pack enough "umph" to stand on its own.

The story goes back and forth between the present moment (which is literally just a matter of minutes), and a period of time a few years back. These flashbacks help explain the main character's choices at the end of this portion of the story. I see that there an omnibus for parts 1-4 available on Kindle unlimited, with accompanying audible narration. It's hard for me to stop a story once I've begun, so i'll continue the story on Audible because there are too many other books I'd prefer to read.

Profile Image for Netanella.
4,726 reviews38 followers
November 26, 2017
"Thrown Away: In a Fallen World" is the first part in a serialized novel that reminded me of "Wool" and "Zero Hour" by Eamon Ambrose. It's dark, both post-apocalyptic and dystopian, and it's primarily set in the head of the main protagonist. Lots of introspection from our main character, who's hiding from Hunters in the desolate environment outside of the barrier, as he recalls the events of his life and his year-long journey with a small boy he encountered two years earlier. I'm intrigued, and I'm off to read the next part.
Profile Image for Byron.
73 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2021
What a gem! Author Glynn James created an excellent read in "Thrown Away". The characters are well developed. The plot is engaging and unpredictable. The scenes are artfully painted as word pictures. I'm surprised and pleased to have found this page-turner.

In general, I've been reading more apocalyptic fiction than anything else but so much of it is "prepper" oriented and fairly predictable. "Thrown Away" borders somewhere between quite bleak dystopia and believable science fiction. I encourage readers to add this one to their "must read" lists.
16 reviews
August 10, 2015
This post apocalyptic story is short but packed full of wonderful descriptions of the world Mr. James has created, the characters come to life, and the plot is very intriguing. I was turning page after page wondering what would cone next, and I was not disappointed. This series is unlike anything you have read before, and I definitely suggest reading every book in this series.
Profile Image for Fermentum.
517 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2015
a little choppy but liked it anyway. I wish it had explained WHY and WHAT HAPPENED to society. WHY the division in status between the haves and haves not. And I have a sneaky suspicion that the "night roamers" will turn out to be Zombies. ..... I don't do Zombie.
Profile Image for Randy Harmelink.
934 reviews257 followers
February 28, 2015
I found this to be a bit of a chore to get through. Mildly interesting, but not really engaging. Then, just as I was starting to get into the story, and it got more interesting, it suddenly ended.
Profile Image for TP.
1,039 reviews48 followers
June 2, 2020
I really liked this book.
Although the writing style could improve.

I never was a fan when a story isn’t told continuously. This back and forth in time to be honest, for every chapter a different time span, was aggravating.
Not that the story isn’t interesting, the opposite in fact, but it presents a slow pace for the main storyline. Not to mention that I am completely absorbed in it, which shows great writing talent, but Slam!, suddenly someone slaps me awake because the next chapter is again some reconnaissance of the past, that rips me viciously from the present story I was so engrossed in. Either make the present story chapters longer or incorporate some memories into it instead of presenting them as a new chapter interrupting the reading flow.
I hope it all fuses together soon before it gets unbearable, because I really like this book series otherwise.

It would have been nice to have at least a chapter about how Ryan and Jack reconnected and arranged their living together in the junktown for the time being.
As Jacks plot thread revolves mainly around the search for Ryan, I would have liked a dedicated chapter to finish this plot thread properly.
The author jumped right into another thread.

One thing that bugged me during the whole book was that I felt the author didn’t grapple properly with the fact that the InnerZone characters had the mindset that abducting and enslaving innocent people over centuries, using them for their own gain is acceptable. They know that they doom the slaves to a very short and miserable life span.
And then suddenly it isn’t anymore and they change sides. That was a given and not really a believable development. And not mention how the slave characters didn’t even treat them differently or with any animosity for their actions.

Still, the male characters were interesting and the author has the ability to suck me into the story which is rare. That’s why I gave it a fourth star.
62 reviews
September 14, 2019
My first introduction to this author was the first book in this series. The depth of his character is amazing, never showed a defect or a misstep. His world is familer and understandable but jarringly wrong. Where is this going? That was the driving force behind looking for more and I am not a big fan of authors that need multi books to tell a simple story! Entering in to this world I discovered a mystery and suspense tale. It only took two books and I jumped straight to this collection. No need to review each individually. I am not that nit-picky, this keept me from chores and sleep. I started to bring me e-book everywhere and read ten minutes at a time. How could this low action, gray background setting pull you in so quickly? Then as you read the next book; the characters and story of individuals start to intertwine. Showing backstory and current events pulls the whole thing along.There was no feeling of missing puzzles you hope are fixed in separate books. The best story I have read in the last two years.
Profile Image for Kavita Favelle.
272 reviews2 followers
April 28, 2020
An enjoyable read, with characters I warmed to and worried about. A future world that's not much different to many we've read about before, but no less a decent read because of that. The main focus is on the experiences of those at the bottom of society, those who search the vast junk piles and abandoned urban landscapes for anything they can eat or trade for necessities, while the rich live in enclaves, buying tickets to go into space to a planet that is essentially new earth.

I sometimes found the switches into different times quite disorienting, though at the same time, it have an immediacy to the telling of Jack's past that would be lost if told from the current day perspective.

It's worth being aware of page count, this entire series is about 500 pages, so each of those 7 "books" is a basically a short novella, certainly not a story in its own right; personally I'd classify this entire series as a single book, not 7.
288 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2020
Evil, good, bad, sad,love, lost and found

Very interesting series about excess and fighting-leaving many many have nots and few have some and fewer that have more. The world this is based in is mostly filled with junk, garbage and things that became forgotten and unused as well (it seem)as what’s left after people have over used abused their world and self destructed set hundreds of years later with some tech but very little ability to manufacture new so the many have nots are forced to dig through massive junk mountains to find recyclables there’s abuse on many. Very well written I came to love hate and root for different characters and some became like friends that is the sign to me anyway of an excellent book looking forward to find out more about Jack,Ryan , first man and the many others I now add to my “book friends” and hope there will always be more about them all
84 reviews6 followers
April 18, 2020
Mad Max Meets The Cthulhu ?

It's very hard for me to not finish a story once I've started it, but in all honesty, I came so close to doing so, many times. This series was extremely difficult to read, even to understand why I continued to tolerate it at all. It's nothing close to any other apocalyptic story I've ever read & enjoyed, & I have hundreds of them in my library. I suppose it's just not my style; I'm sure many others have enjoyed this book, & I really don't mean to demean it or the author. I do apologize for any harsh feelings inferred. Perhaps the next continuation will make more sense.
1,218 reviews
March 29, 2025
This riveting adventure immerses the reader in a dangerous post-apocalyptic world filled with decades of trash and rubble and the few resourceful survivors that refuse to give up on our world. Jack Avery and his boy, Ryan, were both outstanding characters that brought out the humanity in most of the people that they encountered, a quality that was discarded by the majority of the population. I absolutely feasted on this tale. It was thrilling, captivating with a touch of mystery, and very addictive! I will never forget this book and will put it on my read again list. Five Hugh Fat Stars!!!!!
Profile Image for Allison Evarts.
201 reviews5 followers
October 30, 2020
I liked this ok. It was more of a 2.5 stars for me. I thought it would be a longer read considering the way it is billed as a series 1-7, so when it ended, I was surprised. I assumed I had further to go. There wasn't anything wrong with the writing, it just wasn't anything special to me either. Not sure I will pick up the 2nd portion.
239 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2021
My second apocalyptic series!!!!!

My second apocalyptic series, and it didn't disappoint. It pulled me in from the beginning and I loved the flow and character development. I was so glad to see there is a second set of books the pick up where this stopped. Will be reading more of James' books.
1 review1 follower
May 30, 2022
I'm old, it's just too much

I cannot reccomed this book. I think I managed to get 35% of it read before I just gave up. There was a whole lot of back and forth between now and then the present and past. I can't do all that. It's too much for me. I'm sure plenty of people can do it and quite enjoy it, 8ts just not for me.
3 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2019
Good read

All seven parts together make a good story. Character development is ongoing. The story unfolds gradually and it’s hard to put down. I gave it four stars due to the numerous typos.
Profile Image for Marcie Pfeifer.
132 reviews3 followers
July 10, 2019
I liked it.

It kept my interest. There were only a few typos and I was invested in the characters. The ending seemed a bit abrupt but as my grandpa would say, that's the way things go then they're going that way!
3 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2019
Thrown!

This book series trundled along at a good pace and I got behind the characters. I have given it a 3 star rating because I was thrown by the abrupt ending. I wanted to know what would happen next having followed them through the story and it spoilt it for me.
Profile Image for Michael Martin.
Author 3 books6 followers
July 29, 2019
Epic

A jewel of an epic tale, with lots of facets. Reminiscent of Dune and Mad Max, set in an apocalyptic future Earth full of the collapsed, abandoned remains of our civilization. Well crafted, well written and thoroughly captivating.
564 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2019
Engaging dystopian and emotionally satisfying

Excellent rendition of a classic adopted parent and adopted child learning, lost, found, endangered, and triumphant. This is a sad future, and the characters all know it. Victories are celebrated at all levels.
16 reviews
Read
February 14, 2020
Keeps you interested for sure.

This story gives you a new perspective on how our world works down to the oppressed. This story keeps you engaged and hanging on the edge of your seat.
Profile Image for Mattie Hyde.
86 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2020
.Great story

I enjoyed reading this book. Different take on a dystopian future. There is a hint of zombies but no major interaction. The characters are decently flushed out. Didn't care for the back and forth with histories, but it worked for the storytelling.
Profile Image for Peggy Pancherz.
1,173 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2019
Good book

Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Storyline continues to grow and develop. Characters are realistic and get better and better.
9 reviews
May 28, 2019
Great read

Enjoyed the who,e book from beginning to the end a great mix of technology and survival look forward to th3 next one
1 review1 follower
June 20, 2019
Brilliant

5 stars. A real page turner. Non stop from the beginning right through to the end. I read a lot of sci fi and this is one of the best
1 review
June 24, 2019
Fast ,action packed

Interesting without relying on offensive language and sex scenes. Heart warning relationship between main characters . Highly recommended to young teens
11 reviews13 followers
August 9, 2019
Immediately engaging.

The characters are wonderful the world interesting. Lots to learn on the sly while enjoying a good read. I will be searching out this author for more.
Profile Image for iainascot.
267 reviews
September 2, 2019
Not bad

Books should have a start a body and. an end. They do not hold back and forward like a drunken flea other than assorted typos,bad spelling and grammar, this is a good read
1 review1 follower
September 6, 2019
A good story and very entertaining. However dont be misled by the picture. This is not a 7 book series. It is simply 1 fairly short book with 7 chapters. Disappointed with the subterfuge.
Profile Image for Julie Powell.
Author 72 books324 followers
September 23, 2019
Another amazing series by this author. Well-written, fast-paced, great characters and plot. I loved it! I have reviewed each part separately.

Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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