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Down to Dirt

(Chaos Irregulars #1)

Kevin Killiany (Goodreads Author)

3.94 · Rating details · 78 ratings · 10 reviews

“DOWN TO DIRT is YA hard science fiction with an attitude, full of technical details as engaging as the characters. I was immediately drawn into the story.” ~ Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of ETERNITY’S MIND
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[Science Fiction: Young Adult, Hard, Alternate History]
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The stars belong to the Space Service. The Space Service launched the first fusi ...more

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Published June 21st 2016 by Evolved Publishing LLC (first published October 26th 2013)

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· 78 ratings · 10 reviews

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Sep 19, 2016 Lex Allen rated it it was amazing

In Kevin Killiany’s sci-fi novel, “Down to Dirt,” mom and dad have decreed that daughter Mara, born in space, must spend her vacation with relatives on Dirt (that would be the future planet Earth). Mara, her cousin Beth and best friend Jael, tell the story through their individual diary entries. As an African-American girl, Jael is among the lowest of the low denizens on Dirt. In this future world, blacks suffer indignities beyond what people of this race suffered in years past. Still, she’s Bet ...more

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Aug 08, 2017 Carol rated it really liked it

Mara was born and raised on Tombaugh, a space station inhabited only by the brightest and best humans and where these humans live uncontaminated by earth’s gravity, sun, and polluted atmosphere. So she’s very unhappy when her parents force her to spend time with her aunt, uncle, and cousin on Earth, or Dirt, as it’s called on Tombaugh.
Mara, her cousin Beth, and Beth’s best friend Jael take turns narrating the story of their adjustment to the new school they all attend, new relationships, and eac ...more

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Jan 14, 2019 Bob Rich rated it it was amazing

In a fun way, this book is about culture clash. We read entries in the journals of three very different teenage girls. From the first few words, there is a lot of understated humor. For example, “child abuse” very quickly turns out to be inoculations, because a girl born on space station is made to visit relatives on Earth.
The reality this story is set in has a different history. The USA has monopoly in space. Its colonies there were established at a time of out and out racial discrimination. Wh ...more

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Feb 03, 2019 Jessica Bronder rated it it was amazing

The Space Service runs everything relating to outer space, from shuttles to colonizing Mars and such. Those that live on the Tombaugh Space Station are the elite. They are strong, have no illnesses mentally or physically, and are essentially perfect. Those that are born with any problems are deemed unfit for space and sent to live on Earth (Dirt).

Mara was born on Tombaugh and looks down her nose at those on Dirt. Until her parents decide to send her down to Dirt for her break. Mara is throwing a ...more

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Jun 17, 2018 Emily Pennington rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed

Mara was furious with her mother – she was actually going to send her to Dirt (Earth) to get to know the relatives down there! This ruined all of her plans and probably her whole life! Mara lived on Tombaugh Station in space where no disease-infested people were allowed. Sitting in the doctor’s room right now, she was undergoing more of the vaccinations and preventive stuff to help her survive her trip to Dirt! This, to her, amounted to gross child abuse!

Beth, Mara’s cousin, was shopping for clo ...more

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Aug 20, 2018 Ana Sthal rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Esta novela de ciencia ficción para adultos jóvenes es de lo mejor que he leído en el género; no se concentra en los temas clásicos de la ficción juvenil que se sienten ya demasiado manoseados, sino que presenta una visión fresca de valores indispensables para el mundo contemporáneo, entre ellos y como tema principal, la tolerancia. Lo recomiendo muchísimo tanto a jóvenes como a adultos que busquen una lectura amable, ligera, pero no por ello superficial ni irrelevante. Definitivamente es un gra ...more

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Aug 28, 2015 Jesse Kraybill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Bit formulaic, but fun and interesting read.

The story itself had a very noticeable flow to it, which makes sense given how it was written and published. However, the stories themselves made up for it with great action scenes, lore, and interesting locales. All in all, a fun read.

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Jan 25, 2016 Tim Gray rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Have not read a Battletech book since the paperbacks stopped - nice to get back to the groove. Metal mayhem and warrior spirit. Lock and Load.

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Oct 27, 2016 Todd O'bryan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Chaotic writing

Overall it was pretty good. Some nice characters. However, he uses some writing tricks that not a big fan of. Thus the rating of three.

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Dec 31, 2018 Kaila rated it really liked it

this was interesting.. it had mystery and intrigue and a lot of fun things happening. kept me curious to see.. its not genre of choice ill admit but it was well written. i enjoyed it

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