Free book: The Penal Colony by Richard Herley

Richard Herley · 08-16-2010, 11:00 AM

The Penal Colony, a professionally written and proofed 103,000-word thriller, is free to download at Smashwords. It is the basis of the futuristic Ray Liotta movie No Escape – but there is much more to the book than mere adventure, for it also examines the spiritual development of an ordinary man catapulted into extraordinary circumstances.

Here is the cover blurb from the first hardback edition of 1987 (it has been published all over the world and in various languages):

It is 1997. The British government now runs island prison colonies to take dangerous offenders from its overcrowded mainland jails.

Among all these colonies, Sert, 25 miles off the north Cornish coast, has the worst reputation. There are no warders. Satellite technology is used to keep the convicts under watch. New arrivals are dumped by helicopter and must learn to survive as best they can. To Sert, one afternoon in July, is brought Anthony John Routledge, sentenced for a sex-murder he did not commit. Routledge knows he is here for ever. And he knows he must quickly forget the rules of civilized life. But not all the islanders are savages. Under the charismatic leadership of one man a community has evolved. A community with harsh and unyielding rules, peopled by resourceful men for whom the hopeless dream of escape may not be so hopeless after all ...

Some readers' reviews are here, and here is a brief quote from a review by Roger Miller of the Milwaukee Journal:

If I could bring myself to put “perfect” in front of any noun, which I can’t, I’d be tempted to use it here. The Penal Colony came into the office absolutely unheralded, with little promotion or publicity, which usually means the publisher has few hopes for it. I really think this novel is in a class with Walter Miller’s A Canticle for Leibowitz, whose intellectual qualities it shares. I wish for it the same long-lasting fame and respect.

I have made this book available for nothing, like The Stone Arrow, to bring readers to my other books at Smashwords. If you like The Penal Colony, I'd much appreciate a Smashwords review to raise its profile for those browsing the site for free reads!

Bluesman7 · 08-16-2010, 11:10 AM

A very enjoyable and worthwhile read imho.

Kudos to Richard for making it available!

columbus · 08-16-2010, 11:47 AM

I read this some time ago, an excellent and very thought provoking book. A solid 5 stars from me.
(Shame the UK government could not use the idea).

Have also read the rest of the books which are all good reads.

Richard Herley · 08-16-2010, 02:10 PM

Bluesman7, Columbus,

Sparrow · 08-16-2010, 02:21 PM

'The Penal Colony' was possibly the best novel I read last year - it deserves the widest readership it can get, and I too would highly recommend it.

redhead231 · 08-16-2010, 03:22 PM

Thank you, its now on my TBR list. I will review it once read.

JSWolf · 08-16-2010, 03:48 PM

I just downloaded your book and when I finish it, I will post. Thanks!

queentess · 08-16-2010, 04:34 PM

Sounds like a mix of Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Lord of the Flies... And given the high praise in this thread, I'm all over this one. I'll post a review on Smashwords when I'm done. Thank you for sharing!

Richard Herley · 08-16-2010, 05:08 PM

Thank you, everybody, for your interest!

lilac_jive · 08-16-2010, 06:33 PM

Richard, thanks for the freebie. I was actually looking at your smashwords profile yesterday and saw this. I really enjoyed Refuge, and I'm sure I'll enjoy The Penal Colony as well. Just don't offer Tide Mill for free so I can buy that!

Moe The Cat · 08-16-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Just don't offer Tide Mill for free so I can buy that!

The Tide Mill is my favorite of Richard's many wonderful novels and the best book I read all of last year. It's well worth the $2.99 price, lilac_jive!

You should enjoy The Penal Colony, too. It's worlds apart from The Tide Mill (closer in tone to Refuge), but all of Richard's books are thoughtful and carefully crafted and enormously entertaining!

lilac_jive · 08-16-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe The Cat

The Tide Mill is my favorite of Richard's many wonderful novels and the best book I read all of last year. It's well worth the $2.99 price, lilac_jive!

You should enjoy The Penal Colony, too. It's worlds apart from The Tide Mill (closer in tone to Refuge), but all of Richard's books are thoughtful and carefully crafted and enormously entertaining!

It's definitely on my list!

grimo1re · 08-16-2010, 09:49 PM

I read it a while ago (from Manybooks?). Loved it!

Richard Herley · 08-17-2010, 01:11 AM

Wow! What can I say?

SneakySnake · 08-17-2010, 01:15 AM

Thanks Richard, I have downloaded it and look forward to reading it soon.

Cheers

08-16-2010, 11:00 AM	#1
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Free book: The Penal Colony by Richard Herley The Penal Colony, a professionally written and proofed 103,000-word thriller, is free to download at Smashwords. It is the basis of the futuristic Ray Liotta movie No Escape – but there is much more to the book than mere adventure, for it also examines the spiritual development of an ordinary man catapulted into extraordinary circumstances. Here is the cover blurb from the first hardback edition of 1987 (it has been published all over the world and in various languages): It is 1997. The British government now runs island prison colonies to take dangerous offenders from its overcrowded mainland jails. Among all these colonies, Sert, 25 miles off the north Cornish coast, has the worst reputation. There are no warders. Satellite technology is used to keep the convicts under watch. New arrivals are dumped by helicopter and must learn to survive as best they can. To Sert, one afternoon in July, is brought Anthony John Routledge, sentenced for a sex-murder he did not commit. Routledge knows he is here for ever. And he knows he must quickly forget the rules of civilized life. But not all the islanders are savages. Under the charismatic leadership of one man a community has evolved. A community with harsh and unyielding rules, peopled by resourceful men for whom the hopeless dream of escape may not be so hopeless after all ... Some readers' reviews are here, and here is a brief quote from a review by Roger Miller of the Milwaukee Journal: If I could bring myself to put “perfect” in front of any noun, which I can’t, I’d be tempted to use it here. The Penal Colony came into the office absolutely unheralded, with little promotion or publicity, which usually means the publisher has few hopes for it. I really think this novel is in a class with Walter Miller’s A Canticle for Leibowitz, whose intellectual qualities it shares. I wish for it the same long-lasting fame and respect. I have made this book available for nothing, like The Stone Arrow, to bring readers to my other books at Smashwords. If you like The Penal Colony, I'd much appreciate a Smashwords review to raise its profile for those browsing the site for free reads!

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08-16-2010, 11:10 AM	#2
Bluesman7 Book 'em Danno Posts: 156 Karma: 180 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Blue Ridge Mtns, NC Device: Kindle 2	A very enjoyable and worthwhile read imho. Kudos to Richard for making it available!

08-16-2010, 11:47 AM	#3
columbus Wizard Posts: 999 Karma: 5487540 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: In my own imagination. Device: Sony Prs 650, 505	I read this some time ago, an excellent and very thought provoking book. A solid 5 stars from me. (Shame the UK government could not use the idea). Have also read the rest of the books which are all good reads.

08-16-2010, 02:10 PM	#4
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Bluesman7, Columbus,

08-16-2010, 02:21 PM	#5
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	'The Penal Colony' was possibly the best novel I read last year - it deserves the widest readership it can get, and I too would highly recommend it.

08-16-2010, 03:22 PM	#6
redhead231 Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 102 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cambridgeshire UK Device: PRS 505	Thank you, its now on my TBR list. I will review it once read.

08-16-2010, 03:48 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,958 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I just downloaded your book and when I finish it, I will post. Thanks!

08-16-2010, 04:34 PM	#8
queentess Reading is sexy Posts: 1,303 Karma: 544517 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	Sounds like a mix of Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Lord of the Flies... And given the high praise in this thread, I'm all over this one. I'll post a review on Smashwords when I'm done. Thank you for sharing!

08-16-2010, 05:08 PM	#9
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Thank you, everybody, for your interest!

08-16-2010, 06:33 PM	#10
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Richard, thanks for the freebie. I was actually looking at your smashwords profile yesterday and saw this. I really enjoyed Refuge, and I'm sure I'll enjoy The Penal Colony as well. Just don't offer Tide Mill for free so I can buy that!

08-16-2010, 09:49 PM	#13
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	I read it a while ago (from Manybooks?). Loved it!

08-17-2010, 01:11 AM	#14
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Wow! What can I say?

08-17-2010, 01:15 AM	#15
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	Thanks Richard, I have downloaded it and look forward to reading it soon. Cheers