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Senan Gil Senan
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BEYOND THE PALE: the outlander: volume one Kindle Edition

by Senan Gil Senan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
Enter a futuristic city built on the site of Denver Airport. In a vastly underpopulated world, nations have been replaced by densely populated city-states. Immense walls protect the citizens from undesirables outside as well as protecting the outside environment from the citizens inside.
An outlander is taken in by the family of a security officer whose life he had saved. Through his daily interactions with those he meets and by falling in love with his benefactor’s daughter, we get a vision of life inside. Here citizens have traded liberty and self-determination for control and security. The hardships experienced living as an outlander are juxtaposed against the luxuries and comfortable lifestyle within.
His family and the many others from his community are looking for him. Whether he returns is a question of will rather than way. An odyssey of experiences and emotions.
Within the walled citadel, society is at the dawn of a transhumanist transformation that is using technology to master nature. However, some outlanders who remain beyond the pale, feel that nature itself is about to change, and will transform everything in its wake.
Keywords = Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, New Adult, Romance, Dystopian, metaphysical, Visionary, transhumanism, technology, surveillance, Native American.

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Beyond the pale
  2. Print length
    269 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 30, 2014
  6. File size
    778 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Action and dialogue are very well balanced and equally convincing, continually adding to ad driving the story forward...Great book!"Echoesofthepen.com
"Right from the beginning I was hooked, drawn in by the well written narrative. The post-apocalyptic world he has drawn cleverly, without resorting to cliché and it has a feel of originality that I liked." Author Max Power
"Great characters, well-paced and compelling plot, and fascinating settings... it is one of those rare books" Author Jim Murray
"Senan Gil Senan has created a masterpiece, and it deserves acclaim." Author Lesley Hayes

From the Back Cover

In a post apocalyptic world, a young outlander is captured and processed as a new citizen of a dystopian walled city.Unable and unwilling to leave, he soon becomes an unwelcome guest and is faced with compromising his beliefs for a woman he loves. However, there are those on the outside who have not given up looking for him yet. It is a tale of the interaction of two conflicting alternative cultures as exemplified through the interactions between two men who try to appreciate each other's world, and who share joint interests but different values.Society is at the dawn of a transhumanist transformation which is using technology to master nature. However, some outlanders that remain beyond the pale feel that nature itself is about to change and will transform everything in its wake.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00O39BCNS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Senan Gilsenan
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 778 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Beyond the pale
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 65 ratings

About the author

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Senan Gil Senan

Senan Gil Senan

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http://senangilsenan.wordpress.com/

Senan Gil Senan believes that it is the job of a writer to visually transport a reader to a place he or she is unlikely to venture. Then without alienating them, it is to introduce them to a pattern of thought that may differ from their own.

His writing is not typical of the science fiction and dystopian genres. It is more visionary, in that it examines the effect of technology and bio-engineering on future society. He is an adamant believer that humans will integrate more and more with technology in order to keep up with the deluge of technological advances created by the advent of artificial intelligence. He believes that this emergent sentience will be shaped by human interaction, much the same as a child.

His own interests include psychology, noetic science, physics, theology & philosophy and ancient history. He agrees with RR Martin who said that any writer who is looking for an intriguing character, a gripping scenario or plot twist, needs to look no further than the pages of a history book.

He was named Senan, by his father Patrick Gilsenan who thought that the name would look good on the cover of a book. He was an Irish printer who yearned to see his own prose and poetry appear in print. Sadly he died before achieving either ambition. Senan left behind the beauty of Sligo in Ireland to set off for London and oblique strategy of career choices. These included working fourteen years as a computer systems engineer. He has also worked as a self-employed financial trader, a writer, an employment adviser, and as a bar manager. He still lives in South London with his wife and family.

http://senangilsenan.wordpress.com/

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
65 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot engaging, with one describing it as a cracking adventure filled with intrigue. Moreover, the characters are well fleshed out, and the writing is masterfully done. Additionally, the pacing is well-paced, with one customer noting it flows nicely from page to page.

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7 customers mention "Plot"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, finding it intriguing and filled with adventure, with one customer describing it as a stimulating sci-fi action adventure.

"...The book ends with intriguing hints of the events that will be explored in the next book in Senan’s Outlander series, and I look forward to reading..." Read more

"dystopic and articulate. A good read, an interesting collection of events leads to a 'wild native' entering into a panopticon future city...." Read more

"...encounters a young man craves, and what you end up with is a fairly well rounded story that covers all the bases, and is as character driven as it..." Read more

"...has the full roster of emotions, all wonderfully presented in an interesting plot, skilfully written. A real pleasure to read." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that they are well fleshed out, with one customer highlighting the personal relationships between closely connected characters.

"...Senan's characters are well fleshed out, which is a trait that I have come to admire in many Indie authors...." Read more

"...rounded story that covers all the bases, and is as character driven as it is plot driven...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the character of Audrina in her glorious teenage tantrums and petulance, her stormy emotions, her fierce anger and love; I thought she was..." Read more

"...The main character, for me, was a very likable individual and I desperately wanted him to survive and succeed in his endeavours...." Read more

6 customers mention "Enjoyment"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable.

"...by the author is interesting and well developed, providing enjoyment from beginning to end as new details are revealed along the way...." Read more

"...A good read and articulate writing. If you can suspend your disbelief while reading and swallow the spiritual mumbo-jumbo you will like this book...." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story opens well, and I found myself drawn straight in, intrigued by the future it described...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this book and the more I got into the story the more I wanted to rush to the end to find out what lay in store...." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, finding it well-paced and cleverly drawn, with one customer noting that it flows nicely from page to page without any speed bumps to slow it down.

"...The pacing is swift, and the events that occur carry the plot forward naturally rather than feeling contrived simply to keep the action alive...." Read more

"...has a strong narrative voice: "Beyond the Pale" flows nicely from page to page with no speed bumps to slow it down...." Read more

"...This novel has the full roster of emotions, all wonderfully presented in an interesting plot, skilfully written. A real pleasure to read." Read more

"This book ticked all the boxes for me. Great characters, well-paced and compelling plot, and fascinating settings...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as master storytelling that is well conceived and articulate.

"...the world that is imagined by the author is interesting and well developed, providing enjoyment from beginning to end as new details are revealed..." Read more

"...A good read and articulate writing. If you can suspend your disbelief while reading and swallow the spiritual mumbo-jumbo you will like this book...." Read more

"...Senan also has a strong narrative voice: "Beyond the Pale" flows nicely from page to page with no speed bumps to slow it down...." Read more

"...most of all, the character of River stands out as an example of master storytelling, a piece of excellence in its complexity and subtlety...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Andrew Updegrove
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fascinating Brave New World (this time with a happy ending)
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Beyond the Pale is a skillfully conceived and executed variation on the dystopian novel theme, echoing Aldous Huxley’s device of experiencing his brave new world through the eyes of a stranger. In this case, the protagonist is an “Outlander” named River, and happily for the reader (a sequel is promised), it ends better for River than it did for Huxley’s Mr. Savage.

    The tale begins when the lives of River and Nathan Carlson, a Citadel intelligence officer, intersect. As in Huxley’s story, River is a member of an isolated Native American remnant population living beyond the pale of modern society. In this case, they have refused to live in one of the 250 idyllic “Citadels” that now house the whole of humanity, and also harbor others that are similarly disposed.

    The Citadels are enormous walled cities created not to protect their inhabitants from the dangers of the world outside, but to guard the recovering landscape from the hinted at but undescribed environmental depredations that humanity unleashed prior to the book’s opening.

    The parallels with Brave New World continue throughout the book, although Senan’s treatments generally oppose rather than agree with the slants taken by Huxley. For example, while Huxley allowed the elites of the The World State to visit Native American villages out of curiosity, in Senan’s world Native Americans are pursued and captured, and then either integrated into Citadel life or destroyed.

    Similarly, River’s father, like John Savage’s, is a member of mainstream society. Butwhile River is eventually reconciled and assisted by his father, John remains estranged. Population is strictly controlled in both worlds, and in Huxley’s book it drives the aprents apart. But in Senan’s story, it brings the parents together and sets up the plot for the next book in the planned series.

    I was particularly impressed with the depth of Senan’s awareness of Native American customs and the landscape upon which the story plays out. The descriptions ring true and support the story in a natural way rather than appearing convenient and contrived. References to Native American belief systems and lifeways were largely subordinated, however, to descriptions of a spirituality system based more on yoga and Eastern thought, evidently the contributions of the non-Native Americans that have sought refuge in hidden canyons with their traditional inhabitants.

    Like all good dystopian literature, the world that is imagined by the author is interesting and well developed, providing enjoyment from beginning to end as new details are revealed along the way. The pacing is swift, and the events that occur carry the plot forward naturally rather than feeling contrived simply to keep the action alive.

    The book ends with intriguing hints of the events that will be explored in the next book in Senan’s Outlander series, and I look forward to reading it when it becomes available.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • christopher neitzert
    4.0 out of 5 stars a dystopic adventure in the man vs. nature vs. technology genre.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    dystopic and articulate. A good read, an interesting collection of events leads to a 'wild native' entering into a panopticon future city. A good read and articulate writing. If you can suspend your disbelief while reading and swallow the spiritual mumbo-jumbo you will like this book. I will read Senan Gil Senan's works again.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Mike Billington author of Murder in the Rainy Season
    5.0 out of 5 stars A novel that is not only enjoyable but also intellectually stimulating
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    There is a great deal to like about this dystopian novel that explores what happens when two wildly different cultures come into contact with one another.
    Those who live in New Denver are technologically advanced. They rely on computers to do virtually everything from shopping, to navigating the city, to even entering their own homes. They are also rigidly monitored, allegedly for their safety but that might not be the only reason.
    By contrast, those that live Outside rely on their senses. They grow their own food, or hunt it, have no technology beyond the wheel, and are much more finely tuned to the earth and its rhythms than are city dwellers. To those who live in the city, Outsiders are savage primitives who are either captured and forced to live in New Denver or simply killed because they are seen as a threat to the city and its highly regulated society.
    Anyone who has studied the history of indigenous peoples in North America is familiar with that mindset. In both the United States and Canada, native peoples were either massacred or forced to watch as their children were forcibly placed in residential schools where they were forbidden to speak their own languages, were not allowed to observe their customs and traditions, could not practice their own religions, and were frequently abused.
    In "Beyond the Pale," author Senan Gil Senan has fashioned a story in which a young Outsider rescues a badly injured city dweller. His act of kindness is rewarded by arrest and he is forced to live in the city where efforts are made to assimilate him into the artificial culture of New Denver.
    I am not going to delve deeply into the plot except to say that it does not go well.
    There is a temptation, I suppose, to compare "Beyond the Pale" to Huxley's famous "Brave New World" and, on the surface, there are some similarities. However, I think Senan has taken his story into new territory. For example: His protagonist - the Outsider known as "River" - is not the John Savage of "Brave New World." He is, I think, more spiritual and much more pragmatic. He does not adapt easily to life in the city, however, he does learn to make his way around on his own and actually comes to appreciate some of New Denver's amenities. He is more balanced than John Savage, I think, and more willing to learn.
    Senan's characters are well fleshed out, which is a trait that I have come to admire in many Indie authors. The men and women that River comes into contact with read as "real" and are not simple caricatures to be easily dismissed or forgotten.
    Likewise, the world that River and the other characters in this fine novel inhabit is also well conceived. The striking difference in the cultures is clearly defined and the descriptions of the physical attributes of both Outside and the city are nicely written. Senan also has a strong narrative voice: "Beyond the Pale" flows nicely from page to page with no speed bumps to slow it down. There are some editing issues - a few dropped words here and there and some misspellings - but not enough to hinder the story.
    As in all great stories, "Beyond the Pale" asks the reader to confront some important questions.
    Why, for example, do technologically advanced cultures think of themselves as superior to those that are not?
    Why do so many societies fear "the others" who do not live, work, or worship in the same way? (That question is particularly relevant today with the UK's decision to leave the European Union as a means of strictly controlling immigration and the United States Presidential campaign in which the Republican candidate is constantly declaring that he will prevent certain immigrants from coming to America.)
    Do all cultures have an intrinsic value?
    Can different cultures co-exist on an equal footing?
    Considering these and many other questions that crop up made reading "Beyond the Pale" not only enjoyable but also intellectually stimulating.
    And I, for one, cannot ask for more than that.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • RuddersReviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb glimpse into a divided Dystopian future...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book that really hits the ground running, and in this case, quite literally. In the opening chapter we see two of the central characters, each one a valued member of their respective communities, come together when one comes to the aid of the other. The older of the two comes from a walled in society that has embraced and relies on advanced technology to enhance its citizen’s lives, yet at the same time monitoring every aspect of their existence, whilst the other lives in one of many small native communities, reliant instead on nature and the environment, and with a polar opposite view of man and his surroundings. This heralds the start of an adventure for the younger of the two that leads to a whole new world of advanced technology, unexpected friendships, violence, some explicit sex, romance, and indeed love, all intertwined with the ultimate goal of a return to his own people. There is a good introduction and preface to the book, giving a comprehensive outline of how the world came to be the way it is, eliminating the need for too much contrived dialogue to convey the same information in the body of the book, relying instead on passing comments and throw away references to fill in the gaps. Action and dialogue are very well balanced and equally convincing, continually adding to ad driving the story forward. An added bonus, and totally in keeping with a Sci-Fi theme there is an accompanying website link to the book, the author’s own wordpress blog, giving lots of additional background and explanatory information to the world and technology in which events take place.

    Although a Sci-fi novel, this is not what I would call ‘hard’ sci-fi in the sense of an Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke novel; it doesn’t entirely rely on immersing the reader in far flung advanced technology or totally alien concepts, concentrating instead on developing the characters and what they’re doing, giving the book a real depth to it. The time period being set in the relative near future ensures that the technology and science, although highly advanced and with a definite sci-fi feel to it, are still very much rooted in the science of today thereby giving the book an added authenticity. Some of the themes will be familiar to sci-fi fans, namely the Dystopian concept of an enclosed technology based society surrounded by a less (technologically) advanced native population and the almost paranoid and obsessive monitoring and control of its citizens, having already been explored in both print and on screen – there are definite echoes of Brave New world, Shape of Things to Come, Nineteen Eighty Four, and Logan’s Run to name but a few, but the author treats these concepts with an original approach and with the added hindsight of current advancements and the potential of the emerging technologies of today.

    I did feel however that the period in which the novel s set, i.e. circa 2060, was a tad too early considering where we’re at in society today and the immense engineering challenges the new world in habitants would have faced, not to mention the time it would have taken for society to recover from its original collapse. There were a couple of very minor typos and grammatical issues that might well have been picked up by one last line by line edit but certainly not so much of an issue to diminish my enjoyment or my 5 star rating. Overall though, this was a totally believable Dystopian sci-fi story, exceptionally well researched in relation to the native culture and background of the ‘outlanders,’ as well as the financial machinations that might well yet lead to the sort of collapse as befell the society of the book. The story is well concluded, providing a comprehensive round up of events, as well as a brief glimpse beyond – and best of all, the conclusion begs for a sequel, which I will surely be reading when it comes out. Great book!
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  • Lisa Cox
    5.0 out of 5 stars It is also a love story. It explores the natural ecology of the ...
    Reviewed in Australia on December 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    'Beyond the Pale (the Outlander)' is an interesting tale of life after the effects of climate change. The story pits the outlanders, those who choose a life on the land and who trust to the spiritual evolution of nature against the controlled Orwellian society of the city. It is also a love story.
    It explores the natural ecology of the Rockies and how it is experienced by someone from the city and, conversely, the experience of an 'Outlander' in the city. In the city it is technology that is evolving. The rich have everything at their fingertips while the poor are controlled with the easy gratification of sleaze and gambling.
    So, what to choose: freedom of thought and movement but without the ever advancing benefits of technology or a life of luxury in the cradle of technology but without the freedom of thought or movement?
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  • Bibliophagist
    5.0 out of 5 stars Where's my rough rider?
    Reviewed in Canada on July 15, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Beyond the Pale is a great story and a great introduction to what could, and probably will, be a fantastic series. The characters are diverse and well crafted and had me caring about their personal plight throughout the book. The story has a great dynamic between ancient and spiritual people, the outlanders, and the technology driven (and dependant) city dwellers. The descriptions of the city brought back memories of reading 1984 with its 'big brother' surveillance and societal oppression, but at the same time forced me to draw parallels with our current world affairs. Although this is a work of fiction, there are references throughout to make you wonder how much of this fictional future we can look forward to.
    I've already purchased the second in the series and look forward to finding out where the story goes. Several things crept onto the pages in the later part of this book, that (I hope) foreshadow what is in store for the rest of the series.

    Beyond the dread of our society going the way of New Denver, I will be happy to spend my midlife crisis speeding around on a 'rough rider.' This and many more technologies presented in this novel sent my mind racing between chapters. This book was engaging and kept my interest without resorting to pointless action in place of real story.
    A science fiction treat that deserves five stars
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  • Lizzie Dee
    4.0 out of 5 stars The author has created a credible future world.
    Reviewed in Germany on February 20, 2015
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    The author has created a future world in which humans live in protected cities. After a cataclysmic event, most of the inhabitants have been moved to live in a controlled environment. It is easy enough to imagine this world where everyone and everything is monitored. People are given their roles which are suited to their level of expertise. We see a society with all its layers, including a substrata of crime, prostitution and fraud. Although the inhabitants are closely monitored, they still enjoy certain freedom and leisure activity. They have adapted to this new world, for the most part. But not all of the inhabitants of that part of the U.S. (near Denver) have been integrated into the new system. When River, a Native American of the Hopi tribe, is captured by Nathan, a military man of the New World who is enjoying a leisure day outside the compound, two world collide. Nathan is involved in an accident and River, the young native comes to his rescue. So, although Nathan takes River back to his world, under the dome, as I like to think of it, he has a soft spot in his heart for the young native. We see, through River’s eyes, how different their worlds are as Nathan and his family introduce him to their society. The author’s ability to create a world ruled by technology without making it sound too alien is convincing. In fact it all seems credible, especially in light of the increased spying and control in today’s society. The author’s attention to every single little detail is remarkable, although I sometimes found myself skipping some of these details in order to return to the story. This is one of my only criticisms of the book. Nathan has taken River captive, but also takes him under his wing to live with his wife and two children. He has to get him registered and decked out with a security bracelet and all the other paraphernalia required for residents. River’s medical data shows anomalies to that of the rest of the inhabitants and his body rejects implants. There is also the love aspect as River is seduced by Nathan’s daughter. The girl is not backward in coming forward. She is sexually liberal and River is hooked, although he finds her behaviour confusing and contradictory at times. Her brother, who becomes friends with River, is a computer whiz and he turns out to be valuable to River when he finally decides to leave the compound with his Hopi brother who has found a way in through an elaborate tunnel system. I won’t spoil the story by giving away too much information, but there was a nice little twist at the end of the book that I would have liked to see further explored. The good news is that it will be further explored as the author, I believe, is working on a sequel.
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  • Tom
    4.0 out of 5 stars Science Fiction that reads like fact
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2014
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    If you are a Sci-Fi fan, or like me, you want to have a peek at such a world then this is a good portal. I enjoyed this epic tale of a possible future Earth from the outset. The story is based on Denver but using the author's imagination could quite easily have been created anywhere.
    The characters are well-drawn and the imagery is good. The dialogue is good and although the narrative and dialogue sometimes sounded stilted, I thought it added to the futuristic nature of the story. By `stilted' in this context I mean as if it were people speaking English as a second language.
    Why then did it work for me? Simply because in a post-apocalyptic world I imagine there would be so much re-learning and adapting by many cultures and sub-cultures. I believe language and dialect would be affected.
    Why 4* and not 5*? Perhaps as a fellow writer I am continually aware of typos and grammar and on a few occasions these made me pause. I believe that with another edit, the minor issues I discovered would have been spotted, but I know the feeling myself.
    Those things aside, within this tale you will find adventure, love, friendship, deceit and self-sacrifice and a lot more besides. Relationships are formed and maintained, while emotions are taken on a roller-coaster ride in some cases. Human traits are kept alive however far into the future this story has leapt. I was particularly pleased to see the Native American influence being utilised.
    Apart from those superb areas I have already mentioned, I think this story worked for me because there were sections of incredible detail and in several areas. This points to personal experience or good research and for that I applaud the author. For me, detail and sense of place help to transport the reader to the world of the characters. That makes for good fiction.
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