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Fighting Iron #2
Perdition Plains
Barred from crossing the NorthAm border, Clay McAulay, his AI co-pilot Gibbons, and their battle mech, are forced to flee into the warped and twisted territory of the Midlands. A desolate, dreary landscape filled with denizens of questionable character, the Midlands has the reputation of a place folks want to avoid on their travels.
Few ever enter, almost none ever leave.
Clay is quickly embroiled in a conflict between the townsfolk of Perdition Plains and a mad scientist that may have discovered the secrets to immortality. Clay tries to extricate himself from the volatile situation, but as always, trouble keeps its grip on him and he is soon fighting against a foe he'd never thought a mech made entirely of dead flesh!
Few ever enter, almost none ever leave.
Clay is quickly embroiled in a conflict between the townsfolk of Perdition Plains and a mad scientist that may have discovered the secrets to immortality. Clay tries to extricate himself from the volatile situation, but as always, trouble keeps its grip on him and he is soon fighting against a foe he'd never thought a mech made entirely of dead flesh!
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2016
14 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Jake Bible
160 books371 followersJake Bible, Bram Stoker Award nominated-novelist, short story writer, independent screenwriter, podcaster, and inventor of the Drabble Novel, has entertained thousands with his horror, sci/fi, thriller, and adventure tales. He reaches audiences of all ages with his uncanny ability to write a wide range of characters and genres.
Jake is the author of the bestselling Z-Burbia series set in Asheville, NC, the bestselling Salvage Merc One, the Apex Trilogy (DEAD MECH, The Americans, Metal and Ash) and the Mega series for Severed Press, as well as the YA zombie novel, Little Dead Man, the Bram Stoker Award nominated Teen horror novel, Intentional Haunting, the ScareScapes series, and the Reign of Four series for Permuted Press.
Find Jake at jakebible.com. Join him on Twitter @jakebible and find him on Facebook.
Jake is the author of the bestselling Z-Burbia series set in Asheville, NC, the bestselling Salvage Merc One, the Apex Trilogy (DEAD MECH, The Americans, Metal and Ash) and the Mega series for Severed Press, as well as the YA zombie novel, Little Dead Man, the Bram Stoker Award nominated Teen horror novel, Intentional Haunting, the ScareScapes series, and the Reign of Four series for Permuted Press.
Find Jake at jakebible.com. Join him on Twitter @jakebible and find him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 3, 2020
Fighting Iron 2
Perdition Plains
By: Jake Bible
Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett
I haven't read the first book and was worried that I would miss something jumping into book 2 but it didn't matter. This could be a stand alone.
The mech gets washed down and trapped, damaged by a dead herd of buffalo. Once they get out, Clay, the pilot, and the battle mech needs some patching up. Hey also are surrounded by very strange creatures. Not just looks and acts but they only eat rotten meat! The older and the more rotten the better!
To escape from these weirdos, they get help from a scientist and his daughter. But not is all calm and kosher as it seems.
The story had plenty of action, unpredictable situations, good plot, loved the characters (so unique), and the terrific world building! Bible sure has a strange imagination! I love it!
The narration was brilliant!
Perdition Plains
By: Jake Bible
Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett
I haven't read the first book and was worried that I would miss something jumping into book 2 but it didn't matter. This could be a stand alone.
The mech gets washed down and trapped, damaged by a dead herd of buffalo. Once they get out, Clay, the pilot, and the battle mech needs some patching up. Hey also are surrounded by very strange creatures. Not just looks and acts but they only eat rotten meat! The older and the more rotten the better!
To escape from these weirdos, they get help from a scientist and his daughter. But not is all calm and kosher as it seems.
The story had plenty of action, unpredictable situations, good plot, loved the characters (so unique), and the terrific world building! Bible sure has a strange imagination! I love it!
The narration was brilliant!
August 1, 2020
Ummmm, excuse me, but why are there only 2 books in the Fighting Iron series. I need more Clay & Gibbons!
August 21, 2016
Disappointing Followup To First eBook
"Fighting Iron 2: Perdition Plains," was a somewhat disappointing followup to the initial eBook. The first eBook had more complete storyline, following a mech pilot, his AI, and their battle mech, as they made their way though a dystopian, post-apocalyptic, south western, North America.
This eBook, the second, continues the journey, but gets caught up in a shallow, zombie, ghoul, "Frankenstein" morass, that while dark and creepy, is crudely composed. It is too inane, "fantastical", and "comic book-like." The plot lines, devices, are all pretty lame, without depth, and frankly, juvenile. The dialogue between the mech pilot and the AI, while decent in Book 1, is flat, humorless, and boring here in Book 2. It's as if the author had left over concepts from other projects, and cut and pasted some into this storyline.
Other readers might find the horror direction the author has moved this storyline towards, to their liking. I miss the "old school western" elements of Book 1. It had a story driven by characters. There is enough darkness, brutality, and horror in humanity as is, without having to sink to using ghouls and "Frankenstein" mechs. It's lazy, unimaginative, and uninspired writing.
The eBook was fully read via Kindle Unlimited and neutral recommendation.
"Fighting Iron 2: Perdition Plains," was a somewhat disappointing followup to the initial eBook. The first eBook had more complete storyline, following a mech pilot, his AI, and their battle mech, as they made their way though a dystopian, post-apocalyptic, south western, North America.
This eBook, the second, continues the journey, but gets caught up in a shallow, zombie, ghoul, "Frankenstein" morass, that while dark and creepy, is crudely composed. It is too inane, "fantastical", and "comic book-like." The plot lines, devices, are all pretty lame, without depth, and frankly, juvenile. The dialogue between the mech pilot and the AI, while decent in Book 1, is flat, humorless, and boring here in Book 2. It's as if the author had left over concepts from other projects, and cut and pasted some into this storyline.
Other readers might find the horror direction the author has moved this storyline towards, to their liking. I miss the "old school western" elements of Book 1. It had a story driven by characters. There is enough darkness, brutality, and horror in humanity as is, without having to sink to using ghouls and "Frankenstein" mechs. It's lazy, unimaginative, and uninspired writing.
The eBook was fully read via Kindle Unlimited and neutral recommendation.
April 2, 2017
Loved it.
I'm a big fan of Jake Bible and I've not read a book of his that I haven't enjoyed.
Clay and Gibbons are a great pairing, they bounce of each other well and make me laugh, even in the middle of all the blood and gore that they find themselves immersed in.....again.
The antagonists have substance too, though I still wished them grisly ends. An exciting read, can't wait for their next adventure.
I'm a big fan of Jake Bible and I've not read a book of his that I haven't enjoyed.
Clay and Gibbons are a great pairing, they bounce of each other well and make me laugh, even in the middle of all the blood and gore that they find themselves immersed in.....again.
The antagonists have substance too, though I still wished them grisly ends. An exciting read, can't wait for their next adventure.
November 19, 2016
Interesting, unusual and entertaining story. Definitely an unusual and unique story. I have not read the first book in the series but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of this installment. I had no problem following the storyline. It can absolutely be listened to as a stand alone book. I would like to go back and read the first book just for the enjoyment of it.
An unusual world that is a mixture of post apocalyptic, old west, futuristic. Full of humor, action and creepiness. A twisted tale that includes ghouls/zombies, rotten meat, a mad scientist and much more. What cast of characters. Of coarse Clay and Gibbons are great characters. The rest are just creepy. Good but creepy.
Run far and fast from any place that has the name perdition in it.
J Scott Bennett did a fantastic job with the narration as usual. Great character voices. Love the voice for Gibbons. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace. Great delivery with the humor in the story. He just has a way of bringing the characters and story to life.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher
An unusual world that is a mixture of post apocalyptic, old west, futuristic. Full of humor, action and creepiness. A twisted tale that includes ghouls/zombies, rotten meat, a mad scientist and much more. What cast of characters. Of coarse Clay and Gibbons are great characters. The rest are just creepy. Good but creepy.
Run far and fast from any place that has the name perdition in it.
J Scott Bennett did a fantastic job with the narration as usual. Great character voices. Love the voice for Gibbons. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace. Great delivery with the humor in the story. He just has a way of bringing the characters and story to life.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher
March 15, 2021
This one was much better to follow and the story was much better to follow and the characters here are more understandable and much more interesting and stranger. The people in this book hunt buffalo's for meat and the fur they have learned to use the products from the buffalos like the fur, bones and muscles to use to create new machines or repair machines to use in harvesting and transportation and the meat they age till it spoils and have worms and the people survive on eating this meat raw. Then you a father and daughter who lives in a cave complex and have created machines totally made of organic materials. In listening you learn the two different groups of characters are mortal enemies now I can not remember the correct name for them but they live for hundreds of years ut they do have limits and they either have to eat human meat to survive or they keep human body parts in storage to rebuild their bodies when they are damaged or about to die.
Again this story is very interesting and you take a trip much more interesting than book one and I hope you enjoy it for me I do recommend this book.
Again this story is very interesting and you take a trip much more interesting than book one and I hope you enjoy it for me I do recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2017
Macaulay rides again
Jake Bible is rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. If you're a fan of space opera AND a fan of horse opera, you are bound to enjoy these amalgamations. These books are masterfully put together and a total joy to read.
Jake Bible is rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. If you're a fan of space opera AND a fan of horse opera, you are bound to enjoy these amalgamations. These books are masterfully put together and a total joy to read.
April 6, 2020
Mech pilot Clay McAulay and his AI companion Gibbons, again find themselves in deep water as they continue there journey. Nice book, that sees Clay going up against the undead and a different kind of mech.
November 4, 2018
What a fun book and series !
January 21, 2021
Good. Not quite as good as the first fighting iron book but still entertaining
October 24, 2016
I really enjoyed listening to this book. It follows right on the heels of the first book, though gives no indication that there ever really was a book preceding it. I think that's a good thing so that the reader is not left wondering about previous issues that might never be resolved because they don't ever read the first book.
This time, Clay and Gibbons get caught up with some unsavory folks who are certainly more than they initially appear to be. He essentially becomes ensnared again because his mech is torn all to hell and he needs to get it repaired before he can resume his travels. He seems consistently to tear his mech all to hell and winds up losing it (at least temporarily) on a regular basis. He even says so multiple times in the book, somewhat incredulously. He loses his hat and pistol again, but manages to find a way to recover them toward the end.
As a matter of science-fiction, this book is definitely in that realm. Quite unbelievably so in the way that biological matter and metal/electronics are melded together. Through multiple descriptions of the meshing, I felt that the possibility or even feasibility to be complete nonsense and that this book was stretching it too far. But at the same time, I also liked the idea and really enjoyed how it was pulled together for the purposes of the book.
The narrator did a great job on this book as well as the first one. Double thumbs up again!
Overall, I thought this book was good. There are a lot of other ways I imagined this book going, and personally would like to have seen it go in a slightly more believable direction. But it stayed true to the core, Clay and his mech, and I did enjoy it! I hope there is a third book coming out soon.
I received a free copy of this audio book for an honest review.
This time, Clay and Gibbons get caught up with some unsavory folks who are certainly more than they initially appear to be. He essentially becomes ensnared again because his mech is torn all to hell and he needs to get it repaired before he can resume his travels. He seems consistently to tear his mech all to hell and winds up losing it (at least temporarily) on a regular basis. He even says so multiple times in the book, somewhat incredulously. He loses his hat and pistol again, but manages to find a way to recover them toward the end.
As a matter of science-fiction, this book is definitely in that realm. Quite unbelievably so in the way that biological matter and metal/electronics are melded together. Through multiple descriptions of the meshing, I felt that the possibility or even feasibility to be complete nonsense and that this book was stretching it too far. But at the same time, I also liked the idea and really enjoyed how it was pulled together for the purposes of the book.
The narrator did a great job on this book as well as the first one. Double thumbs up again!
Overall, I thought this book was good. There are a lot of other ways I imagined this book going, and personally would like to have seen it go in a slightly more believable direction. But it stayed true to the core, Clay and his mech, and I did enjoy it! I hope there is a third book coming out soon.
I received a free copy of this audio book for an honest review.
November 4, 2016
( Format : Audiobook )
""The hat again? You're obsessed""
The fact that I had not read Fighting Iron 1 didn't matter in the least - the writer drew me instantly into the story as Clay's fighting mech was under attack, damaged and had to force land in a depression in the dessert. Great action, yes, but it was the bantering dialogue between the pilot and his A.I. that held me captive and continued to do so to the very last words. All of this repartee is perfectly caught by the narrator, J.Scott Bennett and I especially enjoyed his variation of Gibbon's speaking as the A.I. transfered out of his mechanical housing and into an alternative 'meatbag' for part of their forced stay in Perdition Plains.
Clay and Gibbons are great characters, and find themselves surrounded by a cast of other oddballs unexpectedly found living, well, sort of, in Perdition. The story has action aplenty, much of it gory and involving numerous body parts put to work in unconventional ways Not for the S.F. purist, probably, but great fun in a dystopian creative zombie sort of way
As mentioned previously, the narration is excellent with Scott Bennett's somewhat unusual voice absorbing and mirroring the story. He is even able to partially obscure the repetitious intrusions of, "he said", and, "he asked" etc. during conversational passages, useful on the printed page but often irritating to hear. Jake Bible's writing is good, the humour sometimes laugh out loud and the protagonists fresh (well, some of them!) and cleverly sculpted. Altogether a great listen. My thanks to the right's holder who gifted me a copy of this book, via Audiobook Boom - I enjoyed it immensely. So much so that I am now off to purchase a copy of the first Fighting Iron audio. And I'm hoping that there will also be a third
""The hat again? You're obsessed""
The fact that I had not read Fighting Iron 1 didn't matter in the least - the writer drew me instantly into the story as Clay's fighting mech was under attack, damaged and had to force land in a depression in the dessert. Great action, yes, but it was the bantering dialogue between the pilot and his A.I. that held me captive and continued to do so to the very last words. All of this repartee is perfectly caught by the narrator, J.Scott Bennett and I especially enjoyed his variation of Gibbon's speaking as the A.I. transfered out of his mechanical housing and into an alternative 'meatbag' for part of their forced stay in Perdition Plains.
Clay and Gibbons are great characters, and find themselves surrounded by a cast of other oddballs unexpectedly found living, well, sort of, in Perdition. The story has action aplenty, much of it gory and involving numerous body parts put to work in unconventional ways Not for the S.F. purist, probably, but great fun in a dystopian creative zombie sort of way
As mentioned previously, the narration is excellent with Scott Bennett's somewhat unusual voice absorbing and mirroring the story. He is even able to partially obscure the repetitious intrusions of, "he said", and, "he asked" etc. during conversational passages, useful on the printed page but often irritating to hear. Jake Bible's writing is good, the humour sometimes laugh out loud and the protagonists fresh (well, some of them!) and cleverly sculpted. Altogether a great listen. My thanks to the right's holder who gifted me a copy of this book, via Audiobook Boom - I enjoyed it immensely. So much so that I am now off to purchase a copy of the first Fighting Iron audio. And I'm hoping that there will also be a third
August 5, 2016
Welcoming back Clay has never felt so good. I absolutely loved Fighting Iron and was beyond ecstatic to learn there was a sequel. I will say...this story was so not what I was expecting. Jake Bible brings his classic writings of zombie mechs into play in this post apocalyptic western. Clay and Gibbons have just finished fighting off 2 sadistic nut jobs and can't imagine finding anyone else that could have a candle to their antics. Boy...they are wrong. Now they're fighting against a horde of the not quite dead alongside a father and daughter of the not quite originally intact using a mech that's made from more, organic material. I finished the book in about 48 hours and I was so bummed. It was a fantastic story and I was even more elated that Gibbons was more of a main character than before. Fans of post apocalyptic stories, the living dead, westerns, and technology will appreciate the adventure Clay has unwillingly been sucked into this time.
October 22, 2016
This is a great second audiobook in the Fighting Iron series. It is funny, exciting, has great action, engaging characters and an inventive storyline. The humorous repartee between Clay and Gibbons continues to be entertaining and makes you laugh out loud. The narrator does a marvellous job of the various accents and easily allows the listener to feel the humour, action and creepiness in the story. This story has a zombie/Frankenstein theme to it that is both creepy and unusual. The mix of old time Western with futuristic AI's and giant Mech's fits well together. It builds on the story from book one while still being a stand alone story. It reveals more of why Clay and Gibbons are wandering around the plains in a fighting Mech, while still leaving many questions to be answered in future books. I received this audiobook at no cost and under no obligation.
October 23, 2016
I was really excited to get this book, as I really enjoyed the first book. While this book was really entertaining, I didn't think it quite measured up to the level of the first book. I really enjoyed the "western" setting of the previous book, and was hoping for more of the same in this one, but this one took a different direction. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoyed it. There is the same humor that I loved in the first book, and great descriptions of things. I'm glad the author kept the narrator, J. Scott Bennett, on the Audible audio version that I listened to. He has a great voice for the characters of the book. He really brings the characters to life.
August 7, 2016
Clay and Gibbon's are at it again!
After getting chased away from the North Am border, or favourite battle Mech and pilot find themselves trapped in Perdition Plains and must find a way to escape the ghouls who run the place before it costs them their souls.
Really enjoyed book 2... already looking forward to book 3!
After getting chased away from the North Am border, or favourite battle Mech and pilot find themselves trapped in Perdition Plains and must find a way to escape the ghouls who run the place before it costs them their souls.
Really enjoyed book 2... already looking forward to book 3!
April 29, 2017
Mix Frankenstein with Neon Genesis Evangelion and put it in the Wild West. What a follow up! Another great story about Clay, Gibbons, and their fifty foot tall battle mech. It would be easy to pick up the series with this book and read the first after you get hooked. Both Fighting Iron novels stand on their own two feet.
Clay and Gibbons finally made it out of Mexicali and into the hellish midlands. An apocalyptic no man’s land. They run into a feud between the Perdition family and a mad scientist in control of a mech made entirely of dead buffalo. We learn a couple more tidbits about the larger mission of the series, the mysterious coordinates that were programmed in the mech. The ones neither Clay nor Gibbons know a thing about. We also get a couple clues about why Clay and the mech are the best there is.
I loved all the scenes involving the scientist’s lab and reanimating parts. It gave the book a creepy vibe. If I got a chance to pilot a giant meat machine, I think I’d take it! Running around like some kind of a skinless gorilla would be fun. It would make traffic go a lot smoother, too.
I was happy with how different a direction the sequel took. We the reader are bound to see anything imaginable in the following books. I think Bible did a great job balancing a serial adventure series with an overarching story here. I get frustrated with an epic series that simply delivers a hunk of chapters rather than completing a story between each set of covers. I’m looking forward to finishing the series.
I received a free audible code in exchange for a review. Any review. That fact that it’s a good one is because the book is good. Which has nothing to do with how awesome I am. You’ll have to find that out for yourself @S_Shane_Thomas on Twitter.
J Scott Bennet did a terrific job narrating, as usual. Not only does each character have a distinct voice, but Gibbons goes through a well portrayed roller coaster and Bennet’s voice work took it to the next level!
Clay and Gibbons finally made it out of Mexicali and into the hellish midlands. An apocalyptic no man’s land. They run into a feud between the Perdition family and a mad scientist in control of a mech made entirely of dead buffalo. We learn a couple more tidbits about the larger mission of the series, the mysterious coordinates that were programmed in the mech. The ones neither Clay nor Gibbons know a thing about. We also get a couple clues about why Clay and the mech are the best there is.
I loved all the scenes involving the scientist’s lab and reanimating parts. It gave the book a creepy vibe. If I got a chance to pilot a giant meat machine, I think I’d take it! Running around like some kind of a skinless gorilla would be fun. It would make traffic go a lot smoother, too.
I was happy with how different a direction the sequel took. We the reader are bound to see anything imaginable in the following books. I think Bible did a great job balancing a serial adventure series with an overarching story here. I get frustrated with an epic series that simply delivers a hunk of chapters rather than completing a story between each set of covers. I’m looking forward to finishing the series.
I received a free audible code in exchange for a review. Any review. That fact that it’s a good one is because the book is good. Which has nothing to do with how awesome I am. You’ll have to find that out for yourself @S_Shane_Thomas on Twitter.
J Scott Bennet did a terrific job narrating, as usual. Not only does each character have a distinct voice, but Gibbons goes through a well portrayed roller coaster and Bennet’s voice work took it to the next level!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews