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Luke Smitherd
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The Stone Man - A Science Fiction Thriller: The Stone Man: Book One Kindle Edition

by Luke Smitherd (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 5,470 ratings

THE #1 AMAZON BESTSELLER AND BOOK ONE IN 'THE STONE MAN' SERIES!
"THE STONE MAN is a novel that intrigues, enthralls, horrifies, thrills, and hits the reader with an emotional resonance as only the best stories can."
-Ain't It Cool News
Nobody knew where it came from.
Nobody knew why it came.
When an eight feet tall man made of stone appears in the middle of a busy city centre one July afternoon, two-bit (and antisocial) reporter Andy Pointer assumes it's just a publicity stunt.
Indeed, so does everyone else ... until the Stone Man begins to walk, heading silently through the wall of the nearest building, flattening it and killing several people inside as a result.
As efforts by the local police - and soon, the government - to halt the Stone Man's inexorable progress prove futile, only three questions are on the watching world's lips:
Where has it come from, where is it going, and what does it want?
Andy is determined to be the first person to answer those questions; after all, he was there when it arrived. Surely the headaches and visions he's experiencing are proof of a mental connection to The Stone Man? Clearly his dreams of champagne and notoriety are all about to be fulfilled once he uncovers the truth ... and the scoop of a lifetime.
In a pursuit that carries him the length of the country and the breadth of the Atlantic, Andy uncovers the jagged pieces of an increasingly terrifying puzzle. As the number of lives lost in the wake of the Stone Man reaches grim figures, the terrible results of Andy's blind determination force him to confront the savagery of human nature.
When irresistible forces aren't met by immovable objects, how far is too far? Andy must discover the answer - and find out who he really is - in the shadow of the Stone Man.
----------------------------------------
PRAISE FOR 'THE STONE MAN - A SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER':
"Tagged as both science fiction and a thriller, this is a book that has it all: strong characterization, moral quandaries, mystery, and a whole lot of tense moments all presented through the narration of a fallible, all too human protagonist that you can't help but root for. Reading the final sentence of the The Stone Man was truly a bittersweet moment. " - SFsignal.com, Hugo award-winning website
"If you've read anything else by Luke, you will be wanting to read this. If you've not, then this is as good a place as any to start." - simon211175, Amazon Vine Voice
"Tremendous. I was looking for something completely original and different, this nailed it. Highly recommended." - Neil Novita
"It was one of those books where you tell yourself you will read just one more page, then look at the clock and realise that it's 2 hours later. I would thoroughly recommend it" - Elaine Hosegood
"...so my 5-star review? That's five stars in comparison to REAL books; not just the stuff you'll find self-published on Kindle. The Stone Man is the sort of book that, if I'd splashed ten quid on in an airport or train station, bookstore, I'd have considered it money well-spent." Militant Ginger, Amazon USA Review
"Fantastically written characters who make you care about them right from the off, an
unfathomable villain who defies all understanding and a supporting cast that flesh out the story beautifully."-Andy Pettifer, Goodreads Review
Want to download the first few pages of this book for FREE so that you can try before you buy? Click the 'Send sample now' button on the upper right hand side of this page to do just that!

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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    16 Jan. 2014
  5. File size
    2.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

science fiction and fantasy
science fiction prime reading
science fiction new releases
science fiction books

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AHJIJF2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flying Body Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 16 Jan. 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 5,470 ratings

About the author

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Luke Smitherd

Luke Smitherd

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Luke Smitherd is the author of the #1 bestselling novel THE STONE MAN, shortlisted for Audible Book of the Year 2015, and its sequels THE EMPTY MEN, THE STONE GIANT, and the upcoming MARCH OF THE STONE MEN. He also created the #1 bestsellers IN THE DARKNESS, KILL SOMEONE, THE PHYSICS OF THE DEAD, and THE MAN WITH ALL THE ANSWERS.

A former singer and guitarist, Luke now writes full time for a living. He divides his time between the USA and his home in the UK.

www.lukesmitherd.com

facebook.com/smitherdbooks

@lukesmitherdyall

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
5,470 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this science fiction thriller engaging with a fantastic plot and big narrative reveals. Moreover, the writing style is vivid, and the pacing drives a constantly unraveling mystery. Customers praise the believable characters, particularly the main character Andy, and appreciate the brilliant concept and originality. However, the writing quality receives mixed reviews, with several customers describing it as the "dullest 'prose' ever written."

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Story qualityReadabilityWriting stylePacingCharacter developmentOriginalityConceptWriting quality
913 customers mention ‘Story quality’749 positive164 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, praising its fantastic plot and big narrative reveals, with one customer describing it as a cracking science fiction tale.

"...The story is generally told in retrospective first person narrative although the occasional asides - a bit like this one except much longer and..." Read more

"...It sustains an intriguing premise with a strong sense of purpose, and hooks the reader with a slow dance of seven veils, gradually revealing more of..." Read more

"What a genre-defying book...part sf, part horror, philosophy, psychology and a brand of humour that must be a midlands thing...or maybe a Coventry..." Read more

"...and Pauls' central relationship is funny, moving, powerful and rooted in reality, and the mysterious Straub has potential for a book all of her own..." Read more

788 customers mention ‘Readability’772 positive16 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic, refreshing, and thoroughly enjoyable read.

"...I found the characters flawed enough to be believable and this made their choices towards the end of the book much more interesting...." Read more

"...This was an interesting read: it’ll be interesting to see what Luke Smitherd can do as he hones his talents in future books. My suggestion?..." Read more

"...nt read Physics of The Dead you are one lucky reader as it is staggeringly good...." Read more

"...Bit of a pet hate, that. All in all, well worth a read. It reads easily and I think time will see the author get better and better." Read more

467 customers mention ‘Writing style’348 positive119 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, noting its vivid descriptions and chatty explanations of the author's creative processes.

"...I liked the writing style, which meant I was hooked from the first few pages and remained that way until the end...." Read more

"...able to tell i just finished it...blown away...and the author notes at the end are fantastic...plus the final page is a gift no authors ever do so..." Read more

"...The description is vivid and engaging, and I found myself lapping up the pages hungrily, savouring each moment yet desperate to find out what..." Read more

"...In fact, it’s a verbose, lengthy novel which is one of those slow-burn stories that takes its time to build tension and deliver the goods...." Read more

257 customers mention ‘Pacing’194 positive63 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, describing it as a constantly unravelling mystery that is thought-provoking, with one customer noting how the feeling of dread builds at a steady pace.

"...The pace was good - steady and relentless, which was perfect given the storyline...." Read more

"...rewarding: the creature itself and the very credible explanation for its strange behaviour...." Read more

"What a genre-defying book...part sf, part horror, philosophy, psychology and a brand of humour that must be a midlands thing...or maybe a Coventry..." Read more

"...There was little expansion or explanation of the science (hence science fiction) of The Stone Man it's method of travel, construction, communication..." Read more

247 customers mention ‘Character development’215 positive32 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them believable and four-dimensional, with one customer noting how well the author captures their emotions.

"...I found the characters flawed enough to be believable and this made their choices towards the end of the book much more interesting...." Read more

"...The characters are four dimensional - fully devolped and changing with time/events...." Read more

"...The descriptions are nice and vivid and liked the character of Andy...." Read more

"...from most other authors is his ability to draw real, believable, human characters. None of his protagonists are particularly sexy...." Read more

114 customers mention ‘Originality’114 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's originality, describing it as a unique concept and something different.

"...An original and engaging scifi story...." Read more

"I personally thought this to be very original , whether or not there is something out there that's similar I'm not aware of it ...." Read more

"An intelligent, original and carefully thought-out SF novel. I bought the Kindle version on impulse due to the low price and the good reviews...." Read more

"I thought this novel was a pretty good read. It was original and thought provoking, though it would have been improved by a more conclusive ending -..." Read more

103 customers mention ‘Concept’97 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the book's concept, describing it as brilliant and innovative, with one customer noting how it plays on the imagination.

"What a genre-defying book...part sf, part horror, philosophy, psychology and a brand of humour that must be a midlands thing...or maybe a Coventry..." Read more

"...The main themes of ambition, heroism, isolation and friendship shine through in the narration, and the change of first person narrator later in the..." Read more

"...The author succeeds in giving away just enough detail and story progression chapter-by-chapter, whilst maintaining a healthy level of suspense and..." Read more

"...What's good about it is that the reader can visualise an virtually infinite range of possibilities and outcomes, what's bad..." Read more

93 customers mention ‘Writing quality’8 positive85 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book to be poor, describing it as boring, repetitive, and dull.

"...In fact, it’s a verbose, lengthy novel which is one of those slow-burn stories that takes its time to build tension and deliver the goods...." Read more

"...At first this was engaging, a mystery, but as the novel dragged on it became tiresome...." Read more

"...I ended up skim reading these parts just to get through it. The repetition of words, the over use of ellipses, starting sentences and not finishing..." Read more

"...is it does have a few errors in the text which leaves it feeling a little 'Unpolished'...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • ADVB69
    5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a page turner!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it on my journeys to and from work and I was always disappointed that the journey was over (very sad when it was the journey home!).

    The pace was good - steady and relentless, which was perfect given the storyline. I liked the writing style, which meant I was hooked from the first few pages and remained that way until the end. Yes, as some people have pointed out, there are a few typos but not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book. The book is a full length novel (a nice change for a low cost eBooks) and, believe me, any real issues with style or typos would have made me give up well before the end. As it is, I hardly noticed the occasional type as I was fully engrossed in the story.

    I found the characters flawed enough to be believable and this made their choices towards the end of the book much more interesting. Similarly, the reaction of the authorities to the events in the book are nicely balanced. I could see the government making those choices.....

    The story is generally told in retrospective first person narrative although the occasional asides - a bit like this one except much longer and running to several sentences at time - did interrupt the flow a bit. However, I often let my own sentences wander off a bit that way in real life, so I accept that it did made the narrative feel like a real stream of consciousness from the main character, Andy. The whole narrative style gave the book a filmic quality. It could easily translate onto the small or big screen.

    Interestingly, the author offers a synopsis of an alternative ending at the end of the book but I think the ending he chose was the right one. (Don't worry I'm not going to give any spoilers!) The basis of most horror is the fear of the unknown and it would be trite and unsatisfying if everything was wrapped and resolved on the last page. Both endings leave some questions unanswered but the one is more satisfying than the other.

    I have already downloaded "The Physics of the Dead" (or TPOTD as the author would like us to call it) and would be very surprised if I didn't move on to his other novels. Keep up the good work Luke!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rowena Hoseason
    4.0 out of 5 stars A rough beast, slouching towards Jerusalem?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 April 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Although this is billed as a sci-fi thriller, there’s not so much of the science fiction about it. The action is firmly grounded in the here-and-now, on earth. In England. Mostly in the Midlands. The protagonists are entirely humdrum human. They’re facing an implacable alien with an unknown – probably hostile – agenda, but this is speculative fiction, not star-spanning science fantasy.

    Similarly, The Stone Man isn’t really a thriller. It sustains an intriguing premise with a strong sense of purpose, and hooks the reader with a slow dance of seven veils, gradually revealing more of the Stone Man’s unpleasant purpose. But it’s far from non-stop thrills, spills and plot twists. In fact, it’s a verbose, lengthy novel which is one of those slow-burn stories that takes its time to build tension and deliver the goods. After investing an unusual amount of hours (for me) in its extensive passages of description, the payoff was reasonably rewarding – a satisfying conclusion to a substantial story.
    There are several aspects to The Stone Man which are particularly rewarding: the creature itself and the very credible explanation for its strange behaviour. The female senior soldier – it’s unusual to see a woman character being given a role of gravitas and not merely used as the next victim in line. The clean, easy to read text – it’s not 100% perfect but it’s better prepared than many indie ebooks.
    on the other hand, the blow-by-blow, step-by-step minutiae slowed the pace too much for my liking. An editor could’ve trimmed the text by 30% and it probably would’ve made the book twice as enjoyable to read.
    There’s a substantial amount of back-matter or bonus material in here, so if your ereader displays the remaining pages then be aware that the final 20% at least is afterword, sample chapters and – I liked this bit – an alternative ending.

    Grouses aside, the author is to be applauded for realising an original idea in fine style. This was an interesting read: it’ll be interesting to see what Luke Smitherd can do as he hones his talents in future books. My suggestion? Less would be more.
    7/10
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stone me! Another winner!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2012
    Verified Purchase
    What a genre-defying book...part sf, part horror, philosophy, psychology and a brand of humour that must be a midlands thing...or maybe a Coventry thing...or maybe a Luke Smitherd thing. Its a slow burn book - starts out as a bit of a lark really - and then it gets darker, creeping up on you as relentlessly as the stone man and you just can't get away until without realising it you are living in the land of dread. Its the ramifications of the plot that make it so hideously believable...the detail and the nitty gritty of what must follow from what is on the face of it a simple plot: what do you do about something that cannot be stopped -it really and believably can't - and it's comming to get ya!

    The characters are four dimensional - fully devolped and changing with time/events. You may not always like them but that just makes them real...and the hero does not have all of the answers...there is a twist at the end of the novel that i have never seen pulled off with such dexterity...and the hero is -so unlike the stone man - human, so human in that to err is human...

    You may be able to tell i just finished it...blown away...and the author notes at the end are fantastic...plus the final page is a gift no authors ever do so openly and honestly and disarmingly.

    This is Luke's second novel -no one hit wonder about him and if you havent read Physics of The Dead you are one lucky reader as it is staggeringly good. So give Luke money - i will - so he can get his books advertised cos this one author who should make it big without the "help" of diluting bland publishers! He tells you how to donate at the end of the novel ... Jfdi!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jay McTyier
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Stone Man Delivers Like King
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 December 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Although not generally a fan of science fiction, I liked this book. I was intrigued because it billed itself as a “sci-fi horror” story in my Kindle search for “free books.” I was a fan of Stephen King before he became synonymous with horror fiction; back when I was an English major at University of Virginia, reading him surreptitiously because no English major wanted to be caught dead reading something “popular.” And some of King’s stuff has sci-Fi elements—like Tommyknockers or Lawnmower Man—so I figured if this told half the tale of one of King’s, then at the price (free), it would certainly be minimal payment for at least some entertainment. So I plucked it from the cloud.

    What carried me in was the King-like narrative voice that conversationally introduces the main event—the appearance of a giant, faceless stone man in a city’s public square on a random weekday afternoon. Smitherd’s narrator, Andy, is like many of King’s characters: the regular guy, with maybe just a little more powers of perception than the average Joe, who senses early on that something really big is afoot. What carried me forward were Smitherd’s almost too clever passages of foreshadowing, a classic narrative device in both horror and science-fiction. Signals like “What we didn’t know then…” or ‘What I found out later…” tease the reader with the promise that it will all make sense in the end. Because Smitherd’s premise—would a nation protect a single man from alien attack, if sacrificing him would save thousands of others?—is so compelling, I picked up the signals and kept on, trying like everyone else in the story, to figure out what was going on. Where was the clue the providing the inference to a rational explanation for why men who touched the stone man were reduced in a moment to functioning vegetables, verbalizing their genetic code repeatedly? And what the hell is that thing coming out of the stone man’s chest?

    But sometimes the foreshadowing gets a bit thick. A couple of times I wanted to say, “OK, Ok, I get it: musings in hindsight. Get on it with, dude. Just tell the story. We can look back and muse when we know what we’re dealing with.”

    By his own admission in the afterward, Smitherd likes telling his tales as a duo, and here Andy the narrator yields to Paul to finish the story, also a King-like device. To have pathos and invoke empathy, a horror story needs to tell a tale of horrible loss to a loved character. If the narrator who started the tale dies as part of his progression, someone must live to tell the tale. Of the two, I liked Paul better, and I think Smitherd means for us to.

    For me stories come alive when I learn enough about the characters to see them as someone in particular: while I read, I cast for the movie. Once the movie is cast, things start cooking. I had a hard time understanding and warming to Andy: he made me think vaguely of a snivelly Seth Green. But from his first appearance, Paul was David Morse who played Brutal in the movie, “The Green Mile,” another King work. Paul, like Brutal, is a gentle giant; a man who radiates quiet strength and dignity. As an American reader of works by English authors, I never know whether the characters will sound like: me or them. In The Stone Man, Andy sounded like an American—maybe more so to me because he sounded like many of King’s narrators; or because I saw him as Seth Green—even when he said “bloke” instead of “guy” or “dude.” But even with David Morse in the role, Paul always sounded British as I read.

    Despite the gripe about a bit too much overuse of foreshadowing, there’s a good mix of storytelling, scary creatures with mysterious origins, editorial comment on larger themes of motivations toward sacrificing and defense of others, and character development here to keep a guy’s attention. There’s even a foray into a dirty little sexcapade.

    All in all, worth the download.
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  • Daniel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book
    Reviewed in Germany on 19 September 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Manages to create the mystery and the suspension of disbelief…enjoyed it a lot, great for escapism…the first person perspective even worked well.
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  • Carmelita Acheson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
    Reviewed in Australia on 4 September 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I've stumbled across this book a bit late, but thoroughly enjoyed it! Loved the concept and couldn't wait to get back to reading it every time I put it down. I'm now really eager to read everything Luke has written as I love his style. I will be downloading all his work onto my Kindle and can't wait to read all of them! Carmelita Acheson
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kath C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best scifi/horror mix I've read
    Reviewed in Canada on 13 April 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Fear of the unknown is what I like the most in a scifi/horror mix, nicely done! Did not know this author but will definitely check out his other books.
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  • chris hutton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Italy on 12 February 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I do not usually like science fiction but must say that i really enjoyed this book
    It was very good, kept me interested all the way through and i liked the ending to,
    Thank you Luke for a really good free kinder book,
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