☀ The Fourth Law: Machine Civilization [1] - Clayton Barnett

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for The Fourth Law, a Science Fiction novel by Clayton Barnett (24 December 2014, Clayton Barnett, 178 pages).

This is the first book in the Machine Civilization series, and it is currently on sale for only 99 pence / cents!

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and excerpt below, as well as details about the next book in the Machine Civilization series.   Read the first three chapters with Amazon Look Inside.

Don't miss out on our Q&A with author Clayton Bernett who will be awarding a $30 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.   Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

Synopsis | Teaser | The Series | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

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Synopsis

In 2026, 23 year-old apprentice nurse Lily Barrett lives in a shattered time. Following its economic collapse, the US has devolved into a group of a few barely-functional smaller states, and vast swathes of barbarian badlands. Her sister has been missing for years, and her father, after earning the opprobrium of most of the world for running a state terror organization, presumed dead.

Two things keep her going: her live-in job at a small, Catholic orphanage in the city of Waxahachie, Republic of Texas, and Ai, her odd, but dear friend, whom she met online: a young woman who only shows herself to Lily as a rendered CG image.

Troubled by her past, haunted by her name, and facing an uncertain future, Lily seeks only a quiet, normal life. But, that past and her present conspire against her. A new Morning has come, and with it, delights and terrors, happiness and adversity.

Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?

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Teaser: Excerpt

With this thought at the forefront of her mind as she walked into the dining hall, she had actually begun to giggle to herself. It was the sudden quiet of a normally raucous breakfast time that brought her back to reality. Fourteen, no, there was Marienne in the doorway to the kitchen, so fifteen pairs of eyes stared into hers, as the children wondered what was up with their Assistant Director. It was Erik, being made of trouble, who broke the silence.
      “You sure look happy about sumthin’, Miss Barrett!” He said. “You get laid last night– ow!”
      This last was as Marienne leaned forward and smacked him with her metal ladle.
      “Shut your dirty mouth, Erik!” She said sharply. “And I doubt a little boy like you even knows what that means!”
      He was about to talk back, but subsided when the older girl raised her weapon again. Lily knew she had to say something, or else that rumor would be all over town by sunset.
      “Since it seems y’all are interested,” several heads nodded, “I’ll tell you: I was visiting my best friend’s place last night, and got to meet some of her family. We had a really... interesting discussion! And, I guess I’m just excited about a few things. That’s all.”
      Emily said quietly, “It’s good to have friends. And, family.” A powerful statement at breakfast in an orphanage.

The Fourth Law
Available NOW! Only £/$0.99

UK: US:

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The Series: Machine Civilization

Click on the book cover to Look Inside the book on Amazon and read an excerpt.

Echoes of Family Lost [2]

Alive! After four years believing her older sister lost and presumed dead in the horrible Breakup of the United States, Lily Barrett gets word from her dear friend, Ai – and Ai’s family of Machine Civilization – that Callie Barrett is very likely alive… but over 900 miles away in Knoxville.

Using the resources of her and Ai’s family, Lily puts together a search party to go find Callie: old, broken, and burnt Orloff – an expert in surviving in the Badlands, Ai’s little sister, Fausta – her machine mind controlling a Combat Android to protect her friend, all together in a cart pulled by their sturdy pony, Clyde.

It’s almost a thousand miles to go, with something very odd trying to limit their ability to communicate over distance and even to cross bridges. A chance meeting along the way in Huntsville, former Alabama, wrecks their plans, and puts all of their lives in danger. [Published 11 July 2015, 216 pages]

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About the Author

One-time design engineer, some time pharmacy technician, full time father and husband, Clayton began writing visual novels three years ago with his 'OTChi Kocchi' series.  He later tried his hand at graphic novels.

Clayton stumbled into writing a traditional novel last November during National Novel Writing Month.  Liking the results, he edited what would become “The Fourth Law” and set about teaching himself self-publishing.

In July of 2015, he released a sequel entitled “Echoes of Family Lost,” in what is now called his Machine Civilization series, and he continues to explore and develop an exciting new world of joys and terrors of the interactions between humans and Machine Civilization.   He is working on a third book – for children – and is making notes for a fourth.

Clayton Barnett lives in central Ohio with his wife, two daughter, and two dogs.

Follow Clayton Barnett:

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Giveaway and Tour Stops

Enter to win a $30 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember to comment to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow The Fourth Law's tour at:

Oct 5: Rogues Angels
Oct 6: Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books!
Oct 7: BooksChatter
Oct 8: Blog of author Jacey Holbrand
Oct 9: Long and Short Reviews
Oct 12: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
Oct 13: CBY Book Club
Oct 14: Unabridged Andra's
Oct 14: Edgar's Books
Oct 15: It's Raining Books
Oct 16: Teatime and Books
Oct 19: Kit 'N Kabookle
Oct 20: Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock - review only
Oct 21: Mixed Book Bag
Oct 22: Room With Books
Oct 23: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews

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