A kinetic, violent and hugely intelligent SF road thriller - a desperate journey through a ruined future world.
Kenstibec was genetically engineered to build a new world, but the apocalypse forced a career change. These days he drives a taxi instead.
A fast-paced, droll and disturbing novel, BARRICADE is a savage road trip across the dystopian landscape of post-apocalypse Britain; narrated by the cold-blooded yet magnetic antihero, Kenstibec.
Kenstibec is a member of the 'Ficial' race, a breed of merciless super-humans. Their war on humanity has left Britain a wasteland, where Ficials hide in barricaded cities, besieged by tribes of human survivors. Originally optimised for construction, Kenstibec earns his keep as a taxi driver, running any Ficial who will pay from one surrounded city to another.
The trips are always eventful, but this will be his toughest yet. His fare is a narcissistic journalist who's touchy about her luggage. His human guide is constantly plotting to kill him. And that's just the start of his troubles.
On his journey he encounters ten-foot killer rats, a mutant king with a TV fixation, a drug-crazed army, and even the creator of the Ficial race. He also finds time to uncover a terrible plot to destroy his species for good - and humanity too.
About the Author
Jon Wallace is a debut author. He lives in London.
Industry Reviews
I found Barricade to be a fast-paced action adventure, full of dilemmas that need to be overcome. The book left me with many questions, two of which were: Why is there always fear of the unknown? Does being logical mean you always know best? * Fantasy Book Review *
Jon Wallace keeps the pace up, delivering inense setpieces alongside plenty of twisted humour and bone-crunching violence * SFX *
A superb, powerful, perfectly-paced debut that I found myself galloping through - clearly a writer we should be keeping an eye on. Hugely recommended * Forbidden Planet International *
Barricade is like one of those clever teachers that manages to educate through fun and amusement. More than that though its a book that can be enjoyed on many levels. You can just enjoy the ride; the crazily constructed story and crafty characters or you can enjoy the messages it subtly imparts * SF Book *
Compelling, fast paced and full of action, some very violent, the story moves through a series of set pieces told in the first person, cleverly from a Ficial's perspective. What makes this book a little different is the dual narrative strands: before and after the journey; a dislocation of time * We Love This Book *
BARRICADE is a refreshingly short and sweet addition to the genre * Reader Dad *
Jon Wallace presents a powerful portrait of a destroyed Britain, full of intriguing landscapes and settlements, as well as glimpses into the world and society that preceded it * Forwintersnights *
Jon Wallace, I warrant, is one to watch * Tor.com *
I'm not looking for a sanitised, clinical apocalypse. I want a writer to bring the world to an end with a BANG, not a whimper. The writing needs to revel in the anarchy and chaos, unleash a bit of mayhem. I'm glad to say BARRICADE manages to do exactly that * The Eloquent Page *
even a machine would find it tough not to enjoy the glee with which Jon Wallace breaks the world apart * Sci-Fi Now *
The fact paced narrative is a big draw...a promising dbut * The Big Issue *
A taxi ride, in Jon Wallace's scintillating debut novel, becomes an epic trek through a near-future Britain ravaged by conflict and nuclear war...the end of civilization has seldom been such gruesome fun * The Financial Times *
