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When the Sky Falls
An in-depth look at fake news, yellow journalism, fictional broadcasts and the psychology behind them, wrapped in a twisted thriller.
In 1938 the War of the Worlds hoax panicked millions of Americans, then in 1988 another fictional media broadcast convinced nearly half of Portugal that sea monsters had risen from the ocean to destroy their cities. A team of CIA agents was sent to study the aftermath of this 6th Skyfall Event in the hope that they could turn it into a weapon of war. When the team consultant turns up dead, everyone scrambles to be the last man standing: the one who will decide if or when the sky falls.
In 1938 the War of the Worlds hoax panicked millions of Americans, then in 1988 another fictional media broadcast convinced nearly half of Portugal that sea monsters had risen from the ocean to destroy their cities. A team of CIA agents was sent to study the aftermath of this 6th Skyfall Event in the hope that they could turn it into a weapon of war. When the team consultant turns up dead, everyone scrambles to be the last man standing: the one who will decide if or when the sky falls.
408 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2017
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288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 5, 2017
DNF
This book is one that just turned out to not be for me at all. The idea behind the story intrigued me so I gave it a shot but didn't make it too far before I just found myself bored and detached. Don't let that put anyone off from giving this a shot if they think it would be their style, just wasn't mine.
This book is one that just turned out to not be for me at all. The idea behind the story intrigued me so I gave it a shot but didn't make it too far before I just found myself bored and detached. Don't let that put anyone off from giving this a shot if they think it would be their style, just wasn't mine.
June 26, 2017
Real rating 3.5 stars.
Plot/idea. Looking at the cover and title I imagined this to be a post-apocalyptic read. It's actually a spy techno thriller about a celestial event known as Sky Fall that influences population belief and awareness. The actual premise or backdrop is quite intriguing. There's a decent amount of psychology and biological sciences thrown in there which seems quite well researched. The ability to modify human consciousness via chemistry strikes a chord with me. Quoting ergot alkaloids, Salem Witches, War of Words, Kafka's metamorphosis is all very impressive to me.
Prose: Bendoski's prose is quite straightforward and usual for this genre. He does seek sanctuary between sections of character dialogue with the description of bodily and facial movements which at times is repetitive. His descriptions lean heavily on the olfactory, which mostly works. I liked the intro of each chapter with italicized passages of a book devoted to Sky Fall although I did notice the airplane fire example was repeated?
Characters/Execution: I suppose if I was to mark this one down it would be the characters. I thought the cast was too wide and it took me a good while to figure out who was who and any motivations. Rendering was quite low and each were mostly stock characters from this genre. A few nice touches: Alice lacing her perfume with oxytocin and Jones having his eyebrows shortened - however, these didn't outweigh some drudgery forcing me to re-read and skim at points.
Bottomline: A great premise with some nice touches but what was going on in the foreground (I thought) was not sufficiently gripping to match the quality of the concept. Worth a patient look.
Plot/idea. Looking at the cover and title I imagined this to be a post-apocalyptic read. It's actually a spy techno thriller about a celestial event known as Sky Fall that influences population belief and awareness. The actual premise or backdrop is quite intriguing. There's a decent amount of psychology and biological sciences thrown in there which seems quite well researched. The ability to modify human consciousness via chemistry strikes a chord with me. Quoting ergot alkaloids, Salem Witches, War of Words, Kafka's metamorphosis is all very impressive to me.
Prose: Bendoski's prose is quite straightforward and usual for this genre. He does seek sanctuary between sections of character dialogue with the description of bodily and facial movements which at times is repetitive. His descriptions lean heavily on the olfactory, which mostly works. I liked the intro of each chapter with italicized passages of a book devoted to Sky Fall although I did notice the airplane fire example was repeated?
Characters/Execution: I suppose if I was to mark this one down it would be the characters. I thought the cast was too wide and it took me a good while to figure out who was who and any motivations. Rendering was quite low and each were mostly stock characters from this genre. A few nice touches: Alice lacing her perfume with oxytocin and Jones having his eyebrows shortened - however, these didn't outweigh some drudgery forcing me to re-read and skim at points.
Bottomline: A great premise with some nice touches but what was going on in the foreground (I thought) was not sufficiently gripping to match the quality of the concept. Worth a patient look.
June 7, 2018
This review is for the Audible audio edition, but there is no footprint for it (yet?) in Goodreads.
When the Sky Falls is an action novel by Joseph Bendoski that keeps a fast pace while delivering the alarming message of the atrocities that can result from the intentional and malevolent perpetration of Skyfall events.
While the novel delivers relevant eye-openers and plenty of other food for thought with regard to manipulation of the public, is it a compelling story in itself? I'm still on the fence about this. It could happen, and apparently has happened, but was this story one that will resonate? Time will tell.
I guess my disappointment lies in the fact that this novel delivers non-stop dialogue and break neck action, but it offers practically no character development, unless you consider the concept of Skyfall to be its main character. We are given little to no background on, or reason to care about, any of the agents, consultants or bad guys as they are introduced into the narrative. For the first half of the book, they all seemed almost interchangeable as they explained the concepts and pitfalls surrounding Skyfall events. I could barely tell them apart while I listened to the predominance of dialogue over characterization. They seemed to serve the sole purpose of providing information about Skyfall events and the massacre the carefully orchestrated events can inflict upon a community or nation.
As for the narration, Bill Nevitt did a fine job but I believe he would be better suited for newscasts or military non-fiction. His declarative voice is too dispassionate and matter-of-fact to effectively deliver a thriller. The narrator here should be bringing the urgency and characters to life, but this comes across more like a business report.
When the Sky Falls is an action novel by Joseph Bendoski that keeps a fast pace while delivering the alarming message of the atrocities that can result from the intentional and malevolent perpetration of Skyfall events.
While the novel delivers relevant eye-openers and plenty of other food for thought with regard to manipulation of the public, is it a compelling story in itself? I'm still on the fence about this. It could happen, and apparently has happened, but was this story one that will resonate? Time will tell.
I guess my disappointment lies in the fact that this novel delivers non-stop dialogue and break neck action, but it offers practically no character development, unless you consider the concept of Skyfall to be its main character. We are given little to no background on, or reason to care about, any of the agents, consultants or bad guys as they are introduced into the narrative. For the first half of the book, they all seemed almost interchangeable as they explained the concepts and pitfalls surrounding Skyfall events. I could barely tell them apart while I listened to the predominance of dialogue over characterization. They seemed to serve the sole purpose of providing information about Skyfall events and the massacre the carefully orchestrated events can inflict upon a community or nation.
As for the narration, Bill Nevitt did a fine job but I believe he would be better suited for newscasts or military non-fiction. His declarative voice is too dispassionate and matter-of-fact to effectively deliver a thriller. The narrator here should be bringing the urgency and characters to life, but this comes across more like a business report.
October 8, 2017
When the Sky Falls is a brilliant tapestry of sociological peculiarities and engaging narrative. I want to say fact and fiction, but I’m not too sure about the fiction part. Is this phenomenon real? Did it really happen? Is it going to happen again? Bendoski’s writing style is so authentic, so convincing I found myself believing in...well, not aliens. I don’t want to give too much away. Suffices to say, When the Sky Falls is more than just a book; it’s a game changer.
Flight of the Cosmonaut
Flight of the Cosmonaut
April 28, 2020
I received a free review copy of this audio book, at my request, and am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review.
I read the synopsis for this book and I was intrigued. It sounded like a mystery mixed with adventure and maybe some conspiracy. I was expecting something like the DaVinci Code. I was hoping for interesting characters and a compelling plot. I was disappointed.
This book is dull. It has a lot of interesting elements and subterfuge, but it is written in such as way that feels more like a text book than a novel. Everything is written matter of factly, and is driven directly by actions and event's rather than the characters themselves.
The biggest problem is flat characters. They are all 1 dimensional. They are written in a way that we don't know what they will do or how sneaky they might be, but they are all 1 dimensional. Their motivations are vague, at best, and we are never really given any insight into their motivation, personality or drives. A few characters are given basic outlines for these things, like want control to liberate their people, but beyond that not really any insight.
This is a real problem with the story, not just because it makes a hollow experience, but because it leaves no one to become invested in. In James Bond, there are a lot of 1 dimensional characters, but Bond himself is at least charismatic. This book has a bunch of old guys, with little personality other than "dick head", and a young guy, who we are supposed to root for, but has no back story, no personality and the charisma of a wet blanket.
I am willing to accept that this could be my inexperience with this type of novel, though. This book was offered to me as Sci-fi. It is not sci fi. It is definitely Fi, but there is no Sci in this book anywhere. This book takes place in 1988 and uses 88 tech and there is nothing sci fi about it.
This book is all about persuasion and manipulation of people and ideas. There is a fake book that is constantly referenced which offers insight and examples of manipulation by media and advertising, etc through out the 20th century. This is a subject that interests me. TV shows like "Adam Ruins Everything" and radio programs like "Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly" peak my interest and I love finding out how modern western culture has been affected by consumerism and money. This book references some of that, but where the TV and Radio use humor or emotion to make the subject matter interesting, the book presents things as dry facts and moves on.
The narrator, Bill Nevitt does a good job with the material he is given. He has a good range of voices, easily distinguishing between male voices. His accents are passable, as well. His female voices I can't speak to. There are only 2 women in the whole book, and 1 is in heavily accented Portuguese. The other is good enough, if a little husky. I suspect with a wider range of characters he could have pulled it off.
All in all this was a dull, emotionless story, full of facts and events but no heart. With no one worth caring about, there is no tension, no reward, no consequences for failure. The narration was fine, but the book, I found boring.
A side note, the intro says that the events in the book are based on real world events, but have been altered to make sense for the narrative. It goes on that the end of the book will have references to the changes made to history. The audio book has the intro promising that, but not the references at the end, that was a disappointment.
I read the synopsis for this book and I was intrigued. It sounded like a mystery mixed with adventure and maybe some conspiracy. I was expecting something like the DaVinci Code. I was hoping for interesting characters and a compelling plot. I was disappointed.
This book is dull. It has a lot of interesting elements and subterfuge, but it is written in such as way that feels more like a text book than a novel. Everything is written matter of factly, and is driven directly by actions and event's rather than the characters themselves.
The biggest problem is flat characters. They are all 1 dimensional. They are written in a way that we don't know what they will do or how sneaky they might be, but they are all 1 dimensional. Their motivations are vague, at best, and we are never really given any insight into their motivation, personality or drives. A few characters are given basic outlines for these things, like want control to liberate their people, but beyond that not really any insight.
This is a real problem with the story, not just because it makes a hollow experience, but because it leaves no one to become invested in. In James Bond, there are a lot of 1 dimensional characters, but Bond himself is at least charismatic. This book has a bunch of old guys, with little personality other than "dick head", and a young guy, who we are supposed to root for, but has no back story, no personality and the charisma of a wet blanket.
I am willing to accept that this could be my inexperience with this type of novel, though. This book was offered to me as Sci-fi. It is not sci fi. It is definitely Fi, but there is no Sci in this book anywhere. This book takes place in 1988 and uses 88 tech and there is nothing sci fi about it.
This book is all about persuasion and manipulation of people and ideas. There is a fake book that is constantly referenced which offers insight and examples of manipulation by media and advertising, etc through out the 20th century. This is a subject that interests me. TV shows like "Adam Ruins Everything" and radio programs like "Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly" peak my interest and I love finding out how modern western culture has been affected by consumerism and money. This book references some of that, but where the TV and Radio use humor or emotion to make the subject matter interesting, the book presents things as dry facts and moves on.
The narrator, Bill Nevitt does a good job with the material he is given. He has a good range of voices, easily distinguishing between male voices. His accents are passable, as well. His female voices I can't speak to. There are only 2 women in the whole book, and 1 is in heavily accented Portuguese. The other is good enough, if a little husky. I suspect with a wider range of characters he could have pulled it off.
All in all this was a dull, emotionless story, full of facts and events but no heart. With no one worth caring about, there is no tension, no reward, no consequences for failure. The narration was fine, but the book, I found boring.
A side note, the intro says that the events in the book are based on real world events, but have been altered to make sense for the narrative. It goes on that the end of the book will have references to the changes made to history. The audio book has the intro promising that, but not the references at the end, that was a disappointment.
May 11, 2018
Should Be Mandatory Reading
This book should be mandatory reading. If it doesn't scare the begeezus out of you, open your eyes and make watch/read the news in a whole new way then you missed the point. In this day where "fake news" seems like a catch phrase this book will reveal it's the truth. Not only is it the truth now, it's been the truth for a very long time.
The book is very well written and the plot is easy to follow. Character devopment is fantastic. I hope to meet Alice and Nichols in future novels. I fell in love with the quirkiness and insanity of Alice. As you read you realize there is more to Nichols than is being said. There is something seething just under the surface.
As with all books there are editing errors that threw me off at times. What I've learned as an avid reader is those errors exist in books edited and released by publishing houses too.
I was drawn into this book and felt like I was going along for the ride with the characters. I had ah ha moments. I questioned my own gulibility, how often I was misled by the press doing the bidding of the powers that be. It confirmed things I believed based on my knowledge and past experience.
After you read this book I dare you to ask yourself "how was I manipulated by the press coverage of the NSA/Snowden affair?" Did you honestly believe NSA was listening in on all American's phone calls? Think about how many people would have to be employed by that agency to accomplish that!
Then consider how much coverage you've seen regarding the Department of Justice and the FBI raiding Trump's attorney's office and carting away files, computers etc. under the guise of the Russia investigation. Consider the precedence this creates and ask yourself how that will effect your right to a fair trial in the future.
Having worked in both intelligence and law I can tell you one matters and the other doesn't. I don't care who listens to my phone calls (not that it was happening) but I do care who listens in on my attorney's phone calls.
This is one of the most timely novels I've ever read. In a entertaining way it teaches us to question what we are being told and what we are being sold. It teaches us to question how our children are being indoctrinated in our schools and colleges.
Bravo to the author. I think this is one of the most important novels ever written if people actually learn and heed it's warning. I not only recommend this novel I believe everyone should have to read it. It might just wake up a population that has been convinced to let the press think for them.
This book should be mandatory reading. If it doesn't scare the begeezus out of you, open your eyes and make watch/read the news in a whole new way then you missed the point. In this day where "fake news" seems like a catch phrase this book will reveal it's the truth. Not only is it the truth now, it's been the truth for a very long time.
The book is very well written and the plot is easy to follow. Character devopment is fantastic. I hope to meet Alice and Nichols in future novels. I fell in love with the quirkiness and insanity of Alice. As you read you realize there is more to Nichols than is being said. There is something seething just under the surface.
As with all books there are editing errors that threw me off at times. What I've learned as an avid reader is those errors exist in books edited and released by publishing houses too.
I was drawn into this book and felt like I was going along for the ride with the characters. I had ah ha moments. I questioned my own gulibility, how often I was misled by the press doing the bidding of the powers that be. It confirmed things I believed based on my knowledge and past experience.
After you read this book I dare you to ask yourself "how was I manipulated by the press coverage of the NSA/Snowden affair?" Did you honestly believe NSA was listening in on all American's phone calls? Think about how many people would have to be employed by that agency to accomplish that!
Then consider how much coverage you've seen regarding the Department of Justice and the FBI raiding Trump's attorney's office and carting away files, computers etc. under the guise of the Russia investigation. Consider the precedence this creates and ask yourself how that will effect your right to a fair trial in the future.
Having worked in both intelligence and law I can tell you one matters and the other doesn't. I don't care who listens to my phone calls (not that it was happening) but I do care who listens in on my attorney's phone calls.
This is one of the most timely novels I've ever read. In a entertaining way it teaches us to question what we are being told and what we are being sold. It teaches us to question how our children are being indoctrinated in our schools and colleges.
Bravo to the author. I think this is one of the most important novels ever written if people actually learn and heed it's warning. I not only recommend this novel I believe everyone should have to read it. It might just wake up a population that has been convinced to let the press think for them.
July 17, 2017
MY THOUGHTS
This book is definitely not for the squeamish. It grabs your attention and as you read you feel the darkness and a bit of evil in the story. If you like things to be all good and iced over, then this book isn't for you. The story is fast paced and the suspense, intrigue and darkness builds as the pages are turned. The author doesn't mince words. He takes the reader right to the terrifying core of the story. It's hard to distinguish who is good and who isn't. The story shows how the mass media can get people to believe almost anything. Inside everyone is that dark hole that usually stays hidden. But that darkness can come out and it's hard to say what or when that will happen. But as we all know, every action has a re-action.
The author gives the reader a variety of characters and you become involved with some of them. There are quite a few and I had a bit of trouble keeping up with who was who and who was doing what. Maybe a few less characters would have helped me. There are times when you may want to turn ahead in the book. There are some scenes that are very hard to read, such as torturing, but they fit in with the story. That is life. I found the chapter introductions to be interesting. The author puts these scenes forth in a matter of face, straight out fashion. I did find a bit of humor in the place where Jones was having his eyebrows shortened. I'm not sure why, but I found that amusing. I found that I had to go back and re-read a few places. The plot is complicated and it takes some thought. It's hard to put this in a specific genre for me. It's a bit spy, thriller, and a possibility of what the future holds. We're talking about an event known as Sky Fall. It's about changing humans through chemistry. This is possible, isn't it?
The question to be answered is, who will be the last man standing? He will have control over whether or not the sky falls. If it does, what will happen? What will the world become? A complete start over from basically nothing? Perhaps but then anything is possible. Isn't it? It's a matter of believing and that lies in the eyes or the mind of the beholder.
I received a copy of this book from the author and PUYB and voluntarily decided to review it.
This book is definitely not for the squeamish. It grabs your attention and as you read you feel the darkness and a bit of evil in the story. If you like things to be all good and iced over, then this book isn't for you. The story is fast paced and the suspense, intrigue and darkness builds as the pages are turned. The author doesn't mince words. He takes the reader right to the terrifying core of the story. It's hard to distinguish who is good and who isn't. The story shows how the mass media can get people to believe almost anything. Inside everyone is that dark hole that usually stays hidden. But that darkness can come out and it's hard to say what or when that will happen. But as we all know, every action has a re-action.
The author gives the reader a variety of characters and you become involved with some of them. There are quite a few and I had a bit of trouble keeping up with who was who and who was doing what. Maybe a few less characters would have helped me. There are times when you may want to turn ahead in the book. There are some scenes that are very hard to read, such as torturing, but they fit in with the story. That is life. I found the chapter introductions to be interesting. The author puts these scenes forth in a matter of face, straight out fashion. I did find a bit of humor in the place where Jones was having his eyebrows shortened. I'm not sure why, but I found that amusing. I found that I had to go back and re-read a few places. The plot is complicated and it takes some thought. It's hard to put this in a specific genre for me. It's a bit spy, thriller, and a possibility of what the future holds. We're talking about an event known as Sky Fall. It's about changing humans through chemistry. This is possible, isn't it?
The question to be answered is, who will be the last man standing? He will have control over whether or not the sky falls. If it does, what will happen? What will the world become? A complete start over from basically nothing? Perhaps but then anything is possible. Isn't it? It's a matter of believing and that lies in the eyes or the mind of the beholder.
I received a copy of this book from the author and PUYB and voluntarily decided to review it.
April 24, 2020
( Format : Audiobook )
"Jones was right: I should have started smoking."
With Bill Nevitt narrating, the book had to be interesting and easy to enjoy. His is a well developed style of performance which enhances all that he reads. And he does full justice to this book, When the Sky Falls.
A very fast paced techno thriller, the story is formed around the concept of Sky Falls (so called by the CIA) , events caused by social media where people's perceptions are altered, sometimes with very spectacular and alarming consequences - like the panic which was initiated by the Orson Wells radio play, War of the Worlds. To be able to cause of control such social reaction is obviously a valuable political weapon and a small team of HIS operatives is sent to Portugal in the same of one such occurrence to investigate it further - just how and why did the large scale reaction occur?
The truths and otherwise are as bound into the story as the Sky Falls Events themselves. Written in a direct, almost journalistic style, with the addition of the instance of conversation, each chapter is preceded by a brief excerpt of a book on the subject purportedly written by the man most knowledgeable about the subject, William Stevenson. That this a a book not yet written, the author points out in a forward to the work, thus adding a double intrigue to the story. Just what, in the writing, is true, what merely fiction? There are some unpleasant developments which make for uncomfortable reading and a long list of protagonists who move in and out of the witing, focusing at first, but settling down later. Unfortunately the character development is slight, further giving the feel of journalistic reporting. But perhaps that is the whole idea.
I received a freely gifted complimentary copy of When the Sky Falls, at my request, from the rightsholder. Thank you so much. It was original and unusual, and illuminated false news in a frightening way.
I very much look forward to further books in this series.
"Jones was right: I should have started smoking."
With Bill Nevitt narrating, the book had to be interesting and easy to enjoy. His is a well developed style of performance which enhances all that he reads. And he does full justice to this book, When the Sky Falls.
A very fast paced techno thriller, the story is formed around the concept of Sky Falls (so called by the CIA) , events caused by social media where people's perceptions are altered, sometimes with very spectacular and alarming consequences - like the panic which was initiated by the Orson Wells radio play, War of the Worlds. To be able to cause of control such social reaction is obviously a valuable political weapon and a small team of HIS operatives is sent to Portugal in the same of one such occurrence to investigate it further - just how and why did the large scale reaction occur?
The truths and otherwise are as bound into the story as the Sky Falls Events themselves. Written in a direct, almost journalistic style, with the addition of the instance of conversation, each chapter is preceded by a brief excerpt of a book on the subject purportedly written by the man most knowledgeable about the subject, William Stevenson. That this a a book not yet written, the author points out in a forward to the work, thus adding a double intrigue to the story. Just what, in the writing, is true, what merely fiction? There are some unpleasant developments which make for uncomfortable reading and a long list of protagonists who move in and out of the witing, focusing at first, but settling down later. Unfortunately the character development is slight, further giving the feel of journalistic reporting. But perhaps that is the whole idea.
I received a freely gifted complimentary copy of When the Sky Falls, at my request, from the rightsholder. Thank you so much. It was original and unusual, and illuminated false news in a frightening way.
I very much look forward to further books in this series.
May 27, 2017
I received a review copy of this book through the World Mysteries and Thrillers group on Goodreads.
It took me a lot longer to finish this book than I thought it would. Part of this might be due to my own rapidly declining attention span, but there were several passages I had to go back and read. But I think there part of it was the book itself.
First, the author writes in quite a unique style. Reminiscent of James Ellroy, he somehow pulls off the story with a very direct writing style, akin to chewing and spitting out the story. I didn't think such a style would work in this genre, but he pulls it off really well.
Second, the genre: the subject matter is quite complex and requires some level of rereading to understand what is going on. But once you understand what is happening, it doesn't take too long to get engrossed. But what genre is his book, really? Sci fi? Historical fiction? Speculative fiction?
Third, it took a bit of time to figure out the cast of characters and their roles and motivations. And this is my only criticism of the book: with a direct writing style, it gets quite difficult to introduce and deal with a diverse cast of characters. And at the end, the cast IS quite diverse - but it takes a while before they grow into their distinctive personas. I therefore had a bit of trouble keeping track of who was who and which side they were on, except for a few who were immediately distinctive like Alice and Alvero.
I realize this is the first book in a series, but not only does it work well as a standalone story, but I also have no idea of where they might go from here. This only makes me anticipate the next part more. It is a really good story and a really good book - definitely worth a read.
It took me a lot longer to finish this book than I thought it would. Part of this might be due to my own rapidly declining attention span, but there were several passages I had to go back and read. But I think there part of it was the book itself.
First, the author writes in quite a unique style. Reminiscent of James Ellroy, he somehow pulls off the story with a very direct writing style, akin to chewing and spitting out the story. I didn't think such a style would work in this genre, but he pulls it off really well.
Second, the genre: the subject matter is quite complex and requires some level of rereading to understand what is going on. But once you understand what is happening, it doesn't take too long to get engrossed. But what genre is his book, really? Sci fi? Historical fiction? Speculative fiction?
Third, it took a bit of time to figure out the cast of characters and their roles and motivations. And this is my only criticism of the book: with a direct writing style, it gets quite difficult to introduce and deal with a diverse cast of characters. And at the end, the cast IS quite diverse - but it takes a while before they grow into their distinctive personas. I therefore had a bit of trouble keeping track of who was who and which side they were on, except for a few who were immediately distinctive like Alice and Alvero.
I realize this is the first book in a series, but not only does it work well as a standalone story, but I also have no idea of where they might go from here. This only makes me anticipate the next part more. It is a really good story and a really good book - definitely worth a read.
August 29, 2017
"This book was given to me for free from the author at my request for my voluntary and unbiased review."
First things first, I love audio books and tend to purchase them based on both genre and reader.
Let me start with the book itself:
I liked the story a lot. It was interesting and well written. There are concepts that are broached that need to be fleshed out in the next book(s), so I am really looking forward to finishing the series if it keeps pace with this first installment. There were parts that I thought could have been explained at greater length, but that is why it is a series and not a stand alone novel. I have read a lot of books though nothing quite like this yet so I want more.
That is the good.
Now for the audio book piece:
Let me begin by saying that I am not a voice actor and can only imagine how difficult it must be to get the feel of a book, the cadence of the story/writing, and get inside the soul of the characters of a story. Not to mention understanding the writer's motivation and end game.
I will follow books read by Scott Brick, Jim Dale, and the late Frank Muller. I have an affinity for the way they capture a story and draw me in it as if I were part of it. I like Bill Nevitt in history reads such as "Six Armies in Tennessee: The Chickamauga and Chattanooga Campaigns", but I didn't think he fit with this narrative. Just like I will not belittle a writer whose style I don't fully appreciate, I won't belittle a voice actor for the work they do. This just wasn't for me. It detracted from the flow of the story and certain characters could have been more likable had they been performed differently.
Overall I give this version a 3.5 - Story was strong, voice acting wasn't to my liking
First things first, I love audio books and tend to purchase them based on both genre and reader.
Let me start with the book itself:
I liked the story a lot. It was interesting and well written. There are concepts that are broached that need to be fleshed out in the next book(s), so I am really looking forward to finishing the series if it keeps pace with this first installment. There were parts that I thought could have been explained at greater length, but that is why it is a series and not a stand alone novel. I have read a lot of books though nothing quite like this yet so I want more.
That is the good.
Now for the audio book piece:
Let me begin by saying that I am not a voice actor and can only imagine how difficult it must be to get the feel of a book, the cadence of the story/writing, and get inside the soul of the characters of a story. Not to mention understanding the writer's motivation and end game.
I will follow books read by Scott Brick, Jim Dale, and the late Frank Muller. I have an affinity for the way they capture a story and draw me in it as if I were part of it. I like Bill Nevitt in history reads such as "Six Armies in Tennessee: The Chickamauga and Chattanooga Campaigns", but I didn't think he fit with this narrative. Just like I will not belittle a writer whose style I don't fully appreciate, I won't belittle a voice actor for the work they do. This just wasn't for me. It detracted from the flow of the story and certain characters could have been more likable had they been performed differently.
Overall I give this version a 3.5 - Story was strong, voice acting wasn't to my liking
December 4, 2017
The main characters are well-rounded and keep the reader's interest in the story high. One of my favorite characters was Nichols. I felt like the story was more about him than any of the other characters. Alice's personality was particularly fascinating. I had a slight problem keeping all the characters straight at the beginning, as we are introduced to several characters at once working on different teams.
The writing style is non-nonsense and to the point. There are no useless words. The plotline moves quickly from one event to the next. It has multiple twists and takes several unexpected turns, which adds to the excitement.
Pertinent psycological information on mass hysteria and manipulation is distilled cleverly through out the story. I greatly appreciated the way the author blended the two. The story raises important questions on manipulation and gives food for thought on children's education. Though the story is not for the faint-hearted, the torture and violence are not unreasonably long. The story gives the reader the opportunity to position himself with respect to torture and violence.
There are a few places where the story could be improved. In the hospital scene, in Portugal, I was confused as to what exactly was going on. I didn't know if they were in the street or back in the hospital room. Sometimes, I feel that useful explantations were left out. There are also a few loose ends that were not tied up, but perhaps they will be in book 2. In any case I'd like to read another book by Joseph Bendoski with the same characters or different ones.
The writing style is non-nonsense and to the point. There are no useless words. The plotline moves quickly from one event to the next. It has multiple twists and takes several unexpected turns, which adds to the excitement.
Pertinent psycological information on mass hysteria and manipulation is distilled cleverly through out the story. I greatly appreciated the way the author blended the two. The story raises important questions on manipulation and gives food for thought on children's education. Though the story is not for the faint-hearted, the torture and violence are not unreasonably long. The story gives the reader the opportunity to position himself with respect to torture and violence.
There are a few places where the story could be improved. In the hospital scene, in Portugal, I was confused as to what exactly was going on. I didn't know if they were in the street or back in the hospital room. Sometimes, I feel that useful explantations were left out. There are also a few loose ends that were not tied up, but perhaps they will be in book 2. In any case I'd like to read another book by Joseph Bendoski with the same characters or different ones.
October 3, 2018
‘When the Sky Falls’ makes you wonder about the news of the world
‘When the Sky Falls’ opens stormily with a catastrophe in Porto, Portugal, set off by mass hysteria, mysteriously caused by an unknown entity. This event appears to be one in a long history of similar occurrences, which are methodically reported by William Stephenson, a CIA consultant. The genius of quoting Stephenson’s research notes at the beginning of each chapter is what makes you question who or what to believe, were it public information, advertising, media and more. Joseph Bendoski, the author skillfully makes you wonder.
In the book, the CIA sends out a team of officers to investigate the Sky Fall Event in Porto. Jay Nicholas, a newbie agent, has been studying Sky Fall Events ever since he was a boy. Two weeks into the job he’s been teamed up with Stephenson. In a fast-paced narrative, different groups of people are chasing the secret that lies behind the Sky Fall Events. Each of the book's characters responds differently on the events and as it turns out the reader cannot fall back on their belief in who’s good or evil. For example, Alice, Jay’s opponent, holds the middle between a loose cannon and a chicaning vixen. What this means for the story you may like to find out for yourself.
In an age when we are bombarded with fake news, ‘When the Sky Falls’ is like an oasis of clarity. I’d say what this compelling thriller makes strikingly obvious is to question everything – what you see is (not) what you get. This book is definitely a must-read for the not faint-hearted.
July 12, 2017
Jay Nichols has been researching Sky Fall events for a really long time. When he writes a paper regarding these events, he is sought out by the CIA.
Two weeks into the job, he lands the perfect assignment. He has been teamed up with William Stephenson, the leading subject matter expert. All thanks to an incident in Portugal.
The first Sky Fall event that received a lot of attention involves the War of the Worlds debacle. It has to do with humanities ability to believe anything.
The CIA wants to know everything they can about how these things happen. They believe the answer lies with William Stephenson, a CIA consultant.
Will Jay unlock the secrets behind the panic?
When The Sky Falls is a mind-bending adventure. It really makes you think about the abilities of the human brain, and it’s capability. I was fascinated by the author’s knowledge regarding the human psyche.
If you are looking for a book that will really make you think, When The Sky Falls is the perfect choice!
Two weeks into the job, he lands the perfect assignment. He has been teamed up with William Stephenson, the leading subject matter expert. All thanks to an incident in Portugal.
The first Sky Fall event that received a lot of attention involves the War of the Worlds debacle. It has to do with humanities ability to believe anything.
The CIA wants to know everything they can about how these things happen. They believe the answer lies with William Stephenson, a CIA consultant.
Will Jay unlock the secrets behind the panic?
When The Sky Falls is a mind-bending adventure. It really makes you think about the abilities of the human brain, and it’s capability. I was fascinated by the author’s knowledge regarding the human psyche.
If you are looking for a book that will really make you think, When The Sky Falls is the perfect choice!
July 17, 2017
The human mind is very easy to manipulate. It has been shown throughout history with events like the 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds. These events are called Sky Falls and Jay Nichols has been researching them for quite a while. He is asked to join the CIA and then to find out what William Stephenson, a CIA consultant knows about these incidents. What is the cause to these events? How can they be used?
There is so much information about people in this story and you can easily see how mass panic from fake news and fictional broadcasts can cause mass panic. The human brain is really fascinating but at the same time scary when you think about how it can be used against us.
There is a lot of action that kept me up late reading and a lot of possibilities for the harnessing of the Sky Falls. This is a great thriller and I can’t wait to read other books by Joseph Bendoski.
I received When the Sky Falls from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
There is so much information about people in this story and you can easily see how mass panic from fake news and fictional broadcasts can cause mass panic. The human brain is really fascinating but at the same time scary when you think about how it can be used against us.
There is a lot of action that kept me up late reading and a lot of possibilities for the harnessing of the Sky Falls. This is a great thriller and I can’t wait to read other books by Joseph Bendoski.
I received When the Sky Falls from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
October 28, 2021
While I enjoyed the book, I found a lot of it hard to follow. Perhaps that had to do with the fact that I listened to the audiobook version, but it took me far too long into the story to be able to separate characters and plotlines. I think better character development at the outset might have made that easier to follow, but the characters felt a little flat to me (wunderkind, wise sage, sassy lady assassin, etc.).
I did like the sky fall themes and thoughtful look at media and the power to manipulate. I found it sufficiently interesting that would read/listen to the next one in the series.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I did like the sky fall themes and thoughtful look at media and the power to manipulate. I found it sufficiently interesting that would read/listen to the next one in the series.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 10, 2017
Bendoski writes like Hemingway, with not a single word wasted. That leaves center stage open for the action. The plot moves quickly, and chapters end continually with another intrigue, which keeps you turning pages as fast as you can. Perhaps the most brilliant part of this novel is the high concept--it's about how mass hysteria can be created and controlled. There's a lot of cool psychology and sociology mixed in, which adds a lot to think about and makes it deeper than a simple thriller. This is an excellent read for all fans of the genre!
April 24, 2020
An intriguing premise, and a very well written thriller. And it's also a good reminder of how easy it is to manipulate us as a social group. So, maybe part fact and part fiction? Probably. Possibly.
This is an action-filled story, with lots of characters of whom we know very little, but then, that's the way of the thrillers *laughs* I think that the main focus in this story is the SkyFall event, its story, its hows and whys. And I found all of it very, very interesting.
And, of course, we have Bill Nevitt's narration, and that's always a plus.
This is an action-filled story, with lots of characters of whom we know very little, but then, that's the way of the thrillers *laughs* I think that the main focus in this story is the SkyFall event, its story, its hows and whys. And I found all of it very, very interesting.
And, of course, we have Bill Nevitt's narration, and that's always a plus.
July 2, 2018
I refused to pay attention to mass media after reading this book! It totally messed with my head...lol. The premise of this book is that media can get people to do just about anything...eerily close to reality. There is a bit if dry humor and lots of action...you won’t be bored. I kept thinking of the War of the Worlds...read-listen...you will not regret it.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2021
With all of the real-life political drama that we are dealing with these days, this book is extremely relevant. But it also provides the fun and intellectual escape you expect from a spy-thriller book. The characters are engaging. The adventure sweeps you into the story and the exploration of how propaganda and misinformation are weaponized hits close to home. This is book is both thought-provoking and entertaining.
September 19, 2017
I received this book free of charge from the author / narrator / publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is an excellent CIA/spy novel with lots of intrigue and action. Excellent character development with just enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes without getting lost.
This is my first intro to this author. But I love his work.
This is an excellent CIA/spy novel with lots of intrigue and action. Excellent character development with just enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes without getting lost.
This is my first intro to this author. But I love his work.
October 3, 2017
Definitely worth reading!
While the style is not the most captivating, the substance of the book is so intriguing and contemporary relevant, that it kept me devouring chapter after chapter. The book is well researched, informative, and, at the same time, an entertaining introduction to social psychology, propaganda and mass manipulation.
While the style is not the most captivating, the substance of the book is so intriguing and contemporary relevant, that it kept me devouring chapter after chapter. The book is well researched, informative, and, at the same time, an entertaining introduction to social psychology, propaganda and mass manipulation.
April 6, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I found the plot/story creative and imaginative with some twists and turns that would jump the plot to the next level. All though the book I was kept guessing if Alice was genuine or was her behavior a front hiding other motives. You will have to read it to find out. I am happy to recommend this book.
October 21, 2021
It was a good story,but just did not hold my interest.The characters were stereotypical.The premise was scarey,yet there was no real build up. It felt like a big you tube prank. .Bill Nevitt was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
May 21, 2017
This was the best debut novel I've read. The climax surprised me, the characters intrigued me, and the premise of Sky Fall events was unique and really well researched. However, at times it seemed pieces were missing in the narrative, leaving me a bit confused.
June 18, 2017
Thank you Net Galley for the free ARC.
I liked the concept behind the novel, that sky fall events are triggered by fake news causing population panic. The actual story has not matched my expectations. Somehow there is too much random bad language, drugs and violence.
I liked the concept behind the novel, that sky fall events are triggered by fake news causing population panic. The actual story has not matched my expectations. Somehow there is too much random bad language, drugs and violence.
September 3, 2020
This is an excellent adventure story with a super interesting idea! Really well written, excellent plot & characters! Grabbed me from the first page & just kept getting better & better! The more I read this writers work, the more I enjoy it! Brilliant!
December 7, 2017
Started out well, interesting concept, but got more and more muddled as it went on. Was glad when it ended, won't be reading the next one.
December 18, 2018
Awesome read
Take a good conspiracy theory and pad it out just so. An engaging read, well worth getting. And surprise twists pop up even at the end.
Take a good conspiracy theory and pad it out just so. An engaging read, well worth getting. And surprise twists pop up even at the end.
November 23, 2019
An interesting story, great flow, and helpful facts.
April 2, 2017
When the Sky Falls by Joseph Bendoski is a thriller that's full of propaganda, psychology, bloodshed, and intrigue. It also has a strong apocalyptic vibe. It's not for the faint of heart.
Bendoski does an excellent job grabbing the readers attention by putting the opening scenes in the eyes of a character that is in the middle of a real life nightmare. From the first page, the reader gets the sense that this is going to be a fast paced, dark story, which is exactly what it turns out to be.
After the initial scene, readers are taken, step by step, through a truly horrifying scenario during which time it's difficult to identify the good guys from the bad.
On the surface, the story is all about the terror plaguing Portugal and the reasons behind it, but there's a deeper theme which explores how everyone has a dark spot within them and what it takes to bring that darkness to the surface and what the consequences of unleashing it are.
While the plot was engaging and exciting, I was more intrigued by the characters and how they responded to specific events. My personal favorite was Alice. She's crazy, unpredictable, and quite dangerous, but also compelling. I'm hoping that as the series goes on, that Bendoski will pen some scenes from her POV.
I have to admit, there were some points when I had to walk away from this story. Not that it isn't excellent, it is, but because the torture scenes, particularly in the second half, got to me. They're appropriate for the story and they're not as over top as some I've read/seen, but they're hard to take. The good news is that while I think they aid the storyline, I also believe that if wanted to skim over them, you be just fine.
When the Sky Falls was beautifully edited and features a solid writing voice. It will be interesting to see what this author does in the future.
Bendoski does an excellent job grabbing the readers attention by putting the opening scenes in the eyes of a character that is in the middle of a real life nightmare. From the first page, the reader gets the sense that this is going to be a fast paced, dark story, which is exactly what it turns out to be.
After the initial scene, readers are taken, step by step, through a truly horrifying scenario during which time it's difficult to identify the good guys from the bad.
On the surface, the story is all about the terror plaguing Portugal and the reasons behind it, but there's a deeper theme which explores how everyone has a dark spot within them and what it takes to bring that darkness to the surface and what the consequences of unleashing it are.
While the plot was engaging and exciting, I was more intrigued by the characters and how they responded to specific events. My personal favorite was Alice. She's crazy, unpredictable, and quite dangerous, but also compelling. I'm hoping that as the series goes on, that Bendoski will pen some scenes from her POV.
I have to admit, there were some points when I had to walk away from this story. Not that it isn't excellent, it is, but because the torture scenes, particularly in the second half, got to me. They're appropriate for the story and they're not as over top as some I've read/seen, but they're hard to take. The good news is that while I think they aid the storyline, I also believe that if wanted to skim over them, you be just fine.
When the Sky Falls was beautifully edited and features a solid writing voice. It will be interesting to see what this author does in the future.
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