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The Abscission Zone
Dr. Texie Raynott and Dr. Dock Hatman hope to use their expertise in plant biology to discover new cancer drugs. They never imagined that they would end up fighting a global menace that has deadly implications for the future of humankind.
While examining a tissue sample, Texie falls and cracks her skull. At the same time, Dock uncovers the truth behind a series of mysterious deaths. Earth's green plants have turned violent. Someone or something has begun a new war that could wipe out all of humanity. Mother Nature wants to reclaim the Earth, and there is little we can do to stop her.
While some choose to stay and fight, others elect to establish a new home on another planet. As Texie makes an astounding discovery on Mars, Dock tries to stop the conflict that is ravaging Earth.
Samuel Muggington's science fiction adventure takes readers from the brink of humanity's collapse to the struggles of a newly colonized planet and beyond. His work shows both the fragility and savagery of the natural world and will inspire readers to look more closely at their impact on the Earth's ecosystems.
While examining a tissue sample, Texie falls and cracks her skull. At the same time, Dock uncovers the truth behind a series of mysterious deaths. Earth's green plants have turned violent. Someone or something has begun a new war that could wipe out all of humanity. Mother Nature wants to reclaim the Earth, and there is little we can do to stop her.
While some choose to stay and fight, others elect to establish a new home on another planet. As Texie makes an astounding discovery on Mars, Dock tries to stop the conflict that is ravaging Earth.
Samuel Muggington's science fiction adventure takes readers from the brink of humanity's collapse to the struggles of a newly colonized planet and beyond. His work shows both the fragility and savagery of the natural world and will inspire readers to look more closely at their impact on the Earth's ecosystems.
338 pages, Paperback
Published December 30, 2016
1 person is currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Muggington
7 books16 followersSamuel Muggington has written seven novels and is currently working on the third volume in the Pomroy's World series.
Samuel Muggington's works are listed below:
The Abscission Zone
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBIDXD0
Who's The Lucky Guy?
http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Lucky-Guy-...
Pomroy's World: Arrival
http://www.amazon.com/Pomroys-World-A...
Pomroy's World: Alone
http://www.amazon.com/Pomroys-World-A...
Force for Good http://www.amazon.com/Force-Good-Samu...
Sciurus https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
People of the Stones https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
You can check out a review Force for Good at the following link:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
A review of "Who's The Lucky Guy?" can be found at the following link:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Samuel Muggington has lived in the New York city area for the last two decades and has traveled and lived in various parts of the world. He loves nature, science and keeping up with the latest technology gadgets.
You can follow Samuel Muggington on his blogs and websites listed below.
http://samuelmuggington.com/wordpress/
http://samuelmuggington.com/
http://pomroysworld.com
http://whoistheluckyguy.com
http://theabscissionzone.com
Want to hear the music that inspired Pomroy's world?
Check out this Spotify playlist.
http://tinyurl.com/pomroysworldmusic
Muggington's Music Playlist is growing. Check it out!
http://tinyurl.com/muggingtonmusic
Samuel Muggington's works are listed below:
The Abscission Zone
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBIDXD0
Who's The Lucky Guy?
http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Lucky-Guy-...
Pomroy's World: Arrival
http://www.amazon.com/Pomroys-World-A...
Pomroy's World: Alone
http://www.amazon.com/Pomroys-World-A...
Force for Good http://www.amazon.com/Force-Good-Samu...
Sciurus https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
People of the Stones https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
You can check out a review Force for Good at the following link:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
A review of "Who's The Lucky Guy?" can be found at the following link:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Samuel Muggington has lived in the New York city area for the last two decades and has traveled and lived in various parts of the world. He loves nature, science and keeping up with the latest technology gadgets.
You can follow Samuel Muggington on his blogs and websites listed below.
http://samuelmuggington.com/wordpress/
http://samuelmuggington.com/
http://pomroysworld.com
http://whoistheluckyguy.com
http://theabscissionzone.com
Want to hear the music that inspired Pomroy's world?
Check out this Spotify playlist.
http://tinyurl.com/pomroysworldmusic
Muggington's Music Playlist is growing. Check it out!
http://tinyurl.com/muggingtonmusic
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 23, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will admit I had some difficulty getting into this book. It seemed rushed and too wordy. I also had great difficulty in connecting with any of the characters, perhaps since they are always taking and there is no "fleshing out" of their personalities. The premise is a good one, with Mother Nature in revolution against humanity, using plants to basically wipe us out, but the writing fell short developmentally. Only my opinion.
I will admit I had some difficulty getting into this book. It seemed rushed and too wordy. I also had great difficulty in connecting with any of the characters, perhaps since they are always taking and there is no "fleshing out" of their personalities. The premise is a good one, with Mother Nature in revolution against humanity, using plants to basically wipe us out, but the writing fell short developmentally. Only my opinion.
April 27, 2017
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2017/0...
This is one of the rare cases where I wished I had looked up the reviews or even just the ratings for a book before I requested it. The blurb sounded so interesting that I just couldn't resist.
Instead, I got one of the worst character building I have read, if not the worst, and a story that didn't make much sense.
And the writing... Boy. At times it felt like a pre-teen wrote this book. It was just so underdeveloped.
I cannot begin to tell you how much these characters annoyed me. Every single one of them wanted to do bad things to everyone they came across. And they are such bad-asses in their own minds.
Examples:
Arnie (the boss): I wish you knew my pet name for you: "Dock the Dork."
Dock: I don't want to brag but I do know more about plants than almost anyone alive does.
Texie: After I kick that thing's ass, I am going after you, you stupid (...) asshole. No one pushes me around like this.
And there is so, so much more.
These scientists talk and act nothing like scientists. The first couple of lines of the book were a hint: Texie Raynott raised her eyebrows as she stared into the microscope. Green stuff in cancer cells? That can't be right. Stuff... That didn't sound very scientific.
Throughout the first part of the story, random scientific-ish stuff is thrown out there but it feels more like it is meant to show the author did some research about plants because the characters constantly act like hormonal teenagers, kicking everyone's ass, despite Dock's constant 'who knew I was going to die like this' lines every time he comes across a particularly dire situation.
Some descriptions were quite entertaining and even pretty, but that is about it.
Then in the second part everything changes because for some reason people are able to travel to Mars and actually build a colony there with just 12 people. Things don't improve much in terms of characters, they still act like teenagers, constantly throwing tantrums, pissed off at something or someone all the time, and think the world of themselves. Back on Earth, freaky assassin plants are replaced by freaky mutations and there are a few changes to human society, but there is no depth to anything, bizarre stuff is just thrown out there, for no apparent purpose other than surprise and enthrall the reader.
It didn't work.
The book ends with many questions unanswered, so I imagine there will be sequel(s).
I am afraid I am not in the least curious to know what happens to Earth, Mars and least of all these characters.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is one of the rare cases where I wished I had looked up the reviews or even just the ratings for a book before I requested it. The blurb sounded so interesting that I just couldn't resist.
Instead, I got one of the worst character building I have read, if not the worst, and a story that didn't make much sense.
And the writing... Boy. At times it felt like a pre-teen wrote this book. It was just so underdeveloped.
I cannot begin to tell you how much these characters annoyed me. Every single one of them wanted to do bad things to everyone they came across. And they are such bad-asses in their own minds.
Examples:
Arnie (the boss): I wish you knew my pet name for you: "Dock the Dork."
Dock: I don't want to brag but I do know more about plants than almost anyone alive does.
Texie: After I kick that thing's ass, I am going after you, you stupid (...) asshole. No one pushes me around like this.
And there is so, so much more.
These scientists talk and act nothing like scientists. The first couple of lines of the book were a hint: Texie Raynott raised her eyebrows as she stared into the microscope. Green stuff in cancer cells? That can't be right. Stuff... That didn't sound very scientific.
Throughout the first part of the story, random scientific-ish stuff is thrown out there but it feels more like it is meant to show the author did some research about plants because the characters constantly act like hormonal teenagers, kicking everyone's ass, despite Dock's constant 'who knew I was going to die like this' lines every time he comes across a particularly dire situation.
Some descriptions were quite entertaining and even pretty, but that is about it.
Then in the second part everything changes because for some reason people are able to travel to Mars and actually build a colony there with just 12 people. Things don't improve much in terms of characters, they still act like teenagers, constantly throwing tantrums, pissed off at something or someone all the time, and think the world of themselves. Back on Earth, freaky assassin plants are replaced by freaky mutations and there are a few changes to human society, but there is no depth to anything, bizarre stuff is just thrown out there, for no apparent purpose other than surprise and enthrall the reader.
It didn't work.
The book ends with many questions unanswered, so I imagine there will be sequel(s).
I am afraid I am not in the least curious to know what happens to Earth, Mars and least of all these characters.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 12, 2017
I started this book because I liked the premise and was intrigued to read it.
I regret to say the book did not meet the hype. Stereotypical, dumb characters who should have known better. The book had great potential and I kept hoping it would get better but it didn't. What really got me was that the book could have been so much better. Perhaps the author tried to do too much with one book but with better characters, more realistic dialogue and characters who actually acted at the level of their supposed education and careers it might have fulfilled my expectations.
My advice is to give this one a miss.
I regret to say the book did not meet the hype. Stereotypical, dumb characters who should have known better. The book had great potential and I kept hoping it would get better but it didn't. What really got me was that the book could have been so much better. Perhaps the author tried to do too much with one book but with better characters, more realistic dialogue and characters who actually acted at the level of their supposed education and careers it might have fulfilled my expectations.
My advice is to give this one a miss.
April 2, 2017
I recieved this book as a Goodreads giveaway book. The genre is one of my favorite genres to read. I love reading what I call "what if" books. This book, unfortunately, was one of the worst written books I have ever read.
The premise is wonderful. The lack of continuity and meaningful dialog/storyline destroyed any pleasure I would have gotten from reading it. People dying then coming back to life with no explanation. The science ( both physics and biology) are so incorrectly referenced that it is obvious no research was done by the author in areas he knew nothing about which encompasses pretty much the whole book. He just made it up as he went along. Even if it contradicted what was said previously, sometimes in the same paragraph!
Having an Editor read through it and make corrections would have helped greatly. I am assuming it is a self published book due to all the shortfalls in storyline.
The premise is wonderful. The lack of continuity and meaningful dialog/storyline destroyed any pleasure I would have gotten from reading it. People dying then coming back to life with no explanation. The science ( both physics and biology) are so incorrectly referenced that it is obvious no research was done by the author in areas he knew nothing about which encompasses pretty much the whole book. He just made it up as he went along. Even if it contradicted what was said previously, sometimes in the same paragraph!
Having an Editor read through it and make corrections would have helped greatly. I am assuming it is a self published book due to all the shortfalls in storyline.
March 13, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway (thank you) and I was very excited because I love post apocalypse style novels and this one had a fascinating concept.
This book was a major letdown though. Everything in it was a cool idea (hence 2 stars), the plant war, the underground lab adventure, the space adventure, the post apocalyptic world with freaky monsters. BUT it was too much, this could have been a multi book series. So instead of developing one part at a time the author crammed it all into one short book and you end up skipping massive amounts of what could have been awesome storyline. I wanted to know more about each part of the book. And then BAM they're in Mars 20 years later, she has a kid, Dock has done literally nothing, there's no fancy evacuation or cool war scenes, then BAM they're reunited and make an awesome discovery. And then BAM it's the end, she doesn't save her kid, they don't save the world, the plants are still evil, you don't meet the green man. the end
This book was a major letdown though. Everything in it was a cool idea (hence 2 stars), the plant war, the underground lab adventure, the space adventure, the post apocalyptic world with freaky monsters. BUT it was too much, this could have been a multi book series. So instead of developing one part at a time the author crammed it all into one short book and you end up skipping massive amounts of what could have been awesome storyline. I wanted to know more about each part of the book. And then BAM they're in Mars 20 years later, she has a kid, Dock has done literally nothing, there's no fancy evacuation or cool war scenes, then BAM they're reunited and make an awesome discovery. And then BAM it's the end, she doesn't save her kid, they don't save the world, the plants are still evil, you don't meet the green man. the end
March 1, 2017
I was initially interested in the plot, sounded like the books I usually love to read (fast paced, action with a bit of intrigue and medical thrill aspects thrown in). However this story was really just a shell, and a poorly written one.
• The dialogue felt like it was written for comic books, very predictable and sophomoric.
• The characters were very one dimensional; the author obviously tried to put some thought into them, but it felt off, like he wasn't sure how people typically interact. His use of slang read like a non-native speaker trying out idioms because they sound good together.
• The plot quickly devolved into an unbelievable mess where nothing was left for the reader to figure out, or think about it was all “shown”
• Spoiler alert: while I know that the book is potentially part of a series, the ending was horrible and felt rushed, like the author had to add words to complete a project.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from Netgalley for review consideration, but to sum up my feelings, the whole concept needs to be drastically improved before I could consider recommending this to others.
• The dialogue felt like it was written for comic books, very predictable and sophomoric.
• The characters were very one dimensional; the author obviously tried to put some thought into them, but it felt off, like he wasn't sure how people typically interact. His use of slang read like a non-native speaker trying out idioms because they sound good together.
• The plot quickly devolved into an unbelievable mess where nothing was left for the reader to figure out, or think about it was all “shown”
• Spoiler alert: while I know that the book is potentially part of a series, the ending was horrible and felt rushed, like the author had to add words to complete a project.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from Netgalley for review consideration, but to sum up my feelings, the whole concept needs to be drastically improved before I could consider recommending this to others.
June 4, 2017
Several years ago, The Happening tried to scare us by making us wonder what would happen if plants started to take over and kill people. Now, The Abscission Zone does the same thing. Neither one manages to pull off the concept successfully. Like The Happening, this novel doesn't delve deeply enough into answering how the plants have suddenly become so powerful, so it just feels like a random mystery that no one can solve. This book also tries to cram way too many storylines into a cohesive whole, which leaves a pile of unanswered questions and introduces new ideas toward the end, expecting us to accept them as if they'd been there the whole time. There were several places throughout where the author could have wrapped up and ended the book, or at least wrapped up with the intention of a sequel later, but instead he just kept piling on more until the book finally just ended.
May 6, 2017
I received this from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
This was just an okay read. It seemed oddly disjointed at times. Hopping big spans of time without explanation. Don't get me wrong there were parts that I really liked. I liked the character of medicine man, but he's in the last quarter of the book. Perhaps the other books in the series are better.
This was just an okay read. It seemed oddly disjointed at times. Hopping big spans of time without explanation. Don't get me wrong there were parts that I really liked. I liked the character of medicine man, but he's in the last quarter of the book. Perhaps the other books in the series are better.
April 18, 2019
An OK read. Has a disconnect. A main character Dock is killed and declared dead yet resurfaces 20 years later alive and well with not explanation of what happened.
May 20, 2017
I wanted so much to like this book, but I couldn't connect to the characters and for a while I was really confused by the plot. There were really cool descriptions of the plant and I did learn a few things during reading, which I enjoyed. But for the whole book I was largely confused and unsure how I felt about my protagonists.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
August 3, 2022
Clever ideas, but odd execution?
I thought the idea for this book was great, but a lot of it was just weird. I wondered for a while if I had inadvertently got hold of a horror novel, as this could certainly surprise the reader who, like me, was not expecting some rather gruesome and scary scenes. There were huge hops in time between parts of the book, which did come as a surprise, and the ending was rather sudden - I had wondered why the story hadn't been tidied up a long time before, and as I neared the end I was coming to the conclusion that there must be a dreaded cliffhanger, then suddenly it ended. I would find it hard to recommend this book, unless you like really odd stories. Still, clever ideas.
I thought the idea for this book was great, but a lot of it was just weird. I wondered for a while if I had inadvertently got hold of a horror novel, as this could certainly surprise the reader who, like me, was not expecting some rather gruesome and scary scenes. There were huge hops in time between parts of the book, which did come as a surprise, and the ending was rather sudden - I had wondered why the story hadn't been tidied up a long time before, and as I neared the end I was coming to the conclusion that there must be a dreaded cliffhanger, then suddenly it ended. I would find it hard to recommend this book, unless you like really odd stories. Still, clever ideas.
April 9, 2017
I was looking forward to reading this novel, having won it recently in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Although not my preferred genre, I do enjoy reading them now and again. This was an ok read and did struggle in parts whereby I nearly gave up. I shall be passing this novel on, in the hope that someone will enjoy more than myself.
Although not my preferred genre, I do enjoy reading them now and again. This was an ok read and did struggle in parts whereby I nearly gave up. I shall be passing this novel on, in the hope that someone will enjoy more than myself.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews