E-Day

*Review originally posted on Kendall Reviews* Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: yes, this book is heavily sci-fi. But I will argue with anyone who will listen, and even a few who won’t, that this book is also a straight up horror thriller in the vein of Terminator 2 and Ghost in the Machine. Oh, you don’t think T2 is a horror thriller? Replace “liquid metal guy” with “hockey mask guy” and see if it rings a bell. That movie is a slasher flick of the highest order. I mean, the scene with the milk carton! Sorry, I digress. While Smith is well-known for his multiple, unique takes on apocalyptic stories, this is his first time really getting into a heavy sci-fi future world, but still with the terrifying antagonists we have come to expect. In his Extinction Series, the variants and humans were a constant threat, likewise in the Hell Divers series the sirens and humans were the big bads. Come to think of it, Smith has always done a great job of showing just how horrific humans can be alongside his terrible creations. E-Day follows the story of a squad of “engines” (genetically modified warriors like futuristic samurai, complete with masks and adornments) and their place in the conflict between two great powers, The Nova Alliance and the Coalition. While one side is hoping the advancement of AI will lead to a peaceful future and one where the earth is spared/repaired from humanities awful care of it, the other side sees AI as the destruction of humanity. Their conflict pushed the Nova Alliance to advance AI using a sacrifice from their highest levels. The result is an exceedingly powerful AI who uses its massive calculations to determine outcomes of events, often before they are fully realized. When the Coalition makes some devastating, major attacks on the Nova Alliance, a squad of engines, Shadow Squad, is at the center of the retaliation and aftermath. While dealing with this, an unexpected and unknown event from outside their world becomes a threat to all humanity for which the AI is the only one suited to prepare a defense against. This leads to what will become E-Day, a surprise that few readers will expect, but everyone will wonder what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to the next book, which is already available for pre-order. *Reviewer did not receive a promotional copy*

Nick Smith is a favorite author of mine and I've loved all the sci fi series he's written to date and the start of this new series about Artificial Intelligence set in the not-so-far future is no exception.Earth was been hit by global conflicts in 2070 and almost didn't survive but, with the help of worker droids and other forms of Artificial Intelligence deployed worldwide the Earth and its human population is making a comeback. There is one faction that call themselves the Coalition that believe that AI will be the downfall of mankind.There is non-stop action in this book almost from page one, which, if you've read other books by Smith, won't surprise you. This story, though, really does ramp up action and scatter it throughout different characters and groups of characters in the story.I enjoyed the many Japanese influences and references threaded throughout the story and, as in most Smith books, there are animal characters, which I loved.It looks like this is the first of three planned books in a series with book two coming in Winter 2021 and book three coming in Spring 2022. I like it when Smith self-publishes myself. He gets his books out faster than when going the traditional publishing route. That's a win for me on series books because my memory isn't as good as it used to be and I don't have to wait as long between books.I highly recommend E-Day by Nicholas Sansbury Smith if you like action thrillers, sci fi, or post-apocalyptic books.

OMG! What a wild, riveting, roller coaster ride! Nicholas Sansbury Smith has done it yet AGAIN! He has given us a pulse pounding story in yet another different view as how the apocalypse will occur... and it is indeed scary!!! AI... god... or... evil??? (Yes, I meant "god" and not "good" for a reason...)I won't say any more about the story - grab it yourself! You will be glad that you did!What's great about this book? The author has a different take on the apocalypse, and, as usual, his story is truly original. He is excellent at building the world so that you feel you are there! He captures not only the sights but also the sounds, smells, and FEEL of the environments, people, and machines. You are drawn in... you are captured until the very last word... You feel you are there. You feel along with the main characters as they progress and evolve. You feel the pain, the horror, the terror...Smith is one of my favorite authors because he brings you along in the story! This is an epic length saga - and I STILL hated to reach the final words! The characters and story are memorable! (I love Okami and Kichiro - so loyal and willing to fight with and for Akira!) He makes you think... He is the cause of so many sleepless nights, but I definitely want more!The hardcover is a beautiful book with the artwork! I have also preordered the Kindle version as I love to have great stories in both formats!Ok, I am catching up on sleep... Nick, I am ready for the next book in this series! It's another winner!

Take u'r time. Go slow. Stop for awhile, put it down & keep the story close by. Hell Divers' a bit similar (The machines, devastation, good vs evil...). E Day's an acquired taste for me at 1st. Quickly jumping into E Day II now that the characters are familiar.

I liked it. I read 200-250 books a year, (listen). This one did have a bit of a slow start for me, though. I am glad a stuck with it. The Dr. Cross character had a very Dr. Moreau feel to him. I was less connected to Akira.But, I loved Zachary, Ronin, and Elan. They were the perfect balance to the misery of the ongoing war.Given certain revelations, there is just enough doubt to make me wonder Who REALLY was on the side of humanity. I feel like that was a goal of the the book.