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“DOWN TO DIRT is YA hard science fiction with an attitude, full of technical details as engaging as the characters. I was immediately drawn into the story.” ~ Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of ETERNITY’S MIND
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[Science Fiction: Young Adult, Hard, Alternate History]
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The stars belong to the Space Service. The Space Service launched the first fusion rockets, put cities on the moon, set giant space stations in their orbit, colonized Mars, and is constructing deep-space exploration vessels in its shipyards above the red planet. The future is full of opportunities for those who meet the Space Service’s criteria for living in space. But there are no bright futures for those deemed unfit for space: the unintelligent, the diseased, the mentally ill, the emotionally unstable, the sociopaths, and the criminals are condemned to life on dirt, a place everyone knows but no one mentions.


Every family has members who are condemned to life on dirt, and sixteen-year-old Mara Duval’s is no different.


Mara, born and raised on Tombaugh Space Station, is training to be part of humanity’s first mission to the moons of Jupiter. But her parents are determined for her to understand her family’s past before she embarks on her future in deep space. She must meet those she is leaving behind, her relatives who have failed. She must go down to dirt.
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Evolved Publishing presents the first book in Dirt and Stars. This young adult science fiction series features an alternate history adventure sure to keep you glued to the page. [DRM-Free]
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Watch for Book 2 in the series, "Living on Dirt," to release in November 2016.
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MORE GREAT SCI-FI FROM EVOLVED PUBLISHING:
"The Children of Darkness" (The Seekers - Book 1) by David Litwack
"Two Moons of Sera" by P.K. Tyler
"The Silver Sphere" by Michael Dadich
"Shroud of Eden" by Marlin Desault

ebook

First published October 26, 2013

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Kevin Killiany

58 books14 followers

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5 stars
28 (33%)
4 stars
30 (36%)
3 stars
20 (24%)
2 stars
3 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Lex Allen.
Author 26 books65 followers
September 19, 2016
In Kevin Killiany’s sci-fi novel, “Down to Dirt,” mom and dad have decreed that daughter Mara, born in space, must spend her vacation with relatives on Dirt (that would be the future planet Earth). Mara, her cousin Beth and best friend Jael, tell the story through their individual diary entries. As an African-American girl, Jael is among the lowest of the low denizens on Dirt. In this future world, blacks suffer indignities beyond what people of this race suffered in years past. Still, she’s Beth’s best friend and Mr. Killiany capitalizes on the positive and negative themes such a friendship would create. Mara, with multiple prejudices concerning Dirt, tries to fit in to her new environment and Killiany adeptly weaves each of these strands together with a critical look for how our world could look in the future. As Mara works through issues concerning a new school, developing a relationship with Beth and Jael, along with the typical boy/girl ups and downs; she also has to learn to handle weather changes and the ever present gravity. The three teenage girls soon develop a bond and work together to make their lives and the lives of the citizens of Dirt better.

There are wordsmiths who craft amazingly accurate sentences that read like a delicious chocolate mousse on the tongue and then, there is Kevin Killiany. There are great storytellers who succeed despite their reversal of the “show, don’t tell” rule and then again, there is Kevin Killiany. I generally have a hard time reading stories where events are more told than shown, but “Down to Dirt” was such an entertaining and effortless read, that I am pleased to admit I’ve seldom read a novel this close to perfection. Everything you could want in a YA, coming of age, sci-fi, dystopian world drama is here, put together for your reading pleasure by a talented and masterful writer. Do yourself a favor and read “Down to Dirt” by Kevin Killiany.
Profile Image for Carol.
Author 19 books7 followers
August 9, 2017
Mara was born and raised on Tombaugh, a space station inhabited only by the brightest and best humans and where these humans live uncontaminated by earth’s gravity, sun, and polluted atmosphere. So she’s very unhappy when her parents force her to spend time with her aunt, uncle, and cousin on Earth, or Dirt, as it’s called on Tombaugh.
Mara, her cousin Beth, and Beth’s best friend Jael take turns narrating the story of their adjustment to the new school they all attend, new relationships, and each other. Their perspectives are different-Mara scornful, Beth idealistic, and Jael pragmatic. The author is male but he is able to voice each girl’s perspective distinctly and realistically for the most part. It’s often touching, occasionally funny, and always entertaining. The story is complex but not complicated as it touches on themes of acceptance, relationships, date rape, self image, racsism, and more.

This is a science-fiction, subtly dystopian YA novel, but like all good novels, it’s ultimately about the characters and readers who are not huge science fiction fans will find much to enjoy in the story.

There are a few missteps but overall it's a very interesting read.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Bob Rich.
Author 12 books34 followers
January 15, 2019
In a fun way, this book is about culture clash. We read entries in the journals of three very different teenage girls. From the first few words, there is a lot of understated humor. For example, “child abuse” very quickly turns out to be inoculations, because a girl born on space station is made to visit relatives on Earth.
The reality this story is set in has a different history. The USA has monopoly in space. Its colonies there were established at a time of out and out racial discrimination. While that has eased down in the “dirt,” the Space Agency is thoroughly racist, and brainwashes its children accordingly.
The other two girls are “twins” within their hearts, although one is a freckled redhead, the other “carob color.” The theme is how the visitor from space learns the truth about “dirt,” and about people different from herself. This is a story most youngsters will enjoy, and perhaps they won’t even notice that they are taught lessons.
The only thing I object to is that the baddie is approximately from my part of the world, but I won’t do a spoiler by explaining.
Profile Image for Jessica Bronder.
2,015 reviews27 followers
February 3, 2019
The Space Service runs everything relating to outer space, from shuttles to colonizing Mars and such. Those that live on the Tombaugh Space Station are the elite. They are strong, have no illnesses mentally or physically, and are essentially perfect. Those that are born with any problems are deemed unfit for space and sent to live on Earth (Dirt).

Mara was born on Tombaugh and looks down her nose at those on Dirt. Until her parents decide to send her down to Dirt for her break. Mara is throwing a fit and NOT happy about this development. She stays at her uncle, aunt, and cousin’s place. But life on Dirt is completely different from life on Tombaugh.

This story rotates narration between Mara, her cousin Beth, and Beth’s friend Jael. Each had their own way of looking at this world and conveys their opinions beautifully. I admit that I was not too impressed by Mara when we first meet her throwing a fit about vaccinations and how being sent to Dirt was going to ruin everything for her and how it was child abuse. But I love how all three come together to fight prejudice, typical teenage issues, and better Dirt.

This is a great story for teens and adults alike. It is well written and was so easy to get into. I think that most people that read it will enjoy it and suggest everyone checking it out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
18.6k reviews304 followers
June 18, 2018
Mara was furious with her mother – she was actually going to send her to Dirt (Earth) to get to know the relatives down there! This ruined all of her plans and probably her whole life! Mara lived on Tombaugh Station in space where no disease-infested people were allowed. Sitting in the doctor’s room right now, she was undergoing more of the vaccinations and preventive stuff to help her survive her trip to Dirt! This, to her, amounted to gross child abuse!

Beth, Mara’s cousin, was shopping for clothes with Jael, her best friend. Jael spent a ton of money which Beth might have been jealous about – except she knew she would probably be borrowing most of the clothes. For Jael, her darker skin color usually meant a hassle from sales people, but her mom’s being there made the process go much faster.

The story is told from the POV of these three girls and shines a spotlight on friendship, self-image, prejudice, and many other issues in a coming of age tale. The story is done well, and the characters are good representatives of the types of problems young people would experience, even if they do come from a space station! There is much to be learned if you read between the lines. A very interesting book.
Profile Image for Ana Sthal.
17 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2018
Esta novela de ciencia ficción para adultos jóvenes es de lo mejor que he leído en el género; no se concentra en los temas clásicos de la ficción juvenil que se sienten ya demasiado manoseados, sino que presenta una visión fresca de valores indispensables para el mundo contemporáneo, entre ellos y como tema principal, la tolerancia. Lo recomiendo muchísimo tanto a jóvenes como a adultos que busquen una lectura amable, ligera, pero no por ello superficial ni irrelevante. Definitivamente es un gran inicio para una serie prometedora y que en poquísimo tiempo se ganó mi corazón.
August 28, 2015
Bit formulaic, but fun and interesting read.

The story itself had a very noticeable flow to it, which makes sense given how it was written and published. However, the stories themselves made up for it with great action scenes, lore, and interesting locales. All in all, a fun read.
Profile Image for Tim Gray.
1,076 reviews4 followers
January 25, 2016
Have not read a Battletech book since the paperbacks stopped - nice to get back to the groove. Metal mayhem and warrior spirit. Lock and Load.
Profile Image for Todd O'bryan.
13 reviews
October 27, 2016
Chaotic writing

Overall it was pretty good. Some nice characters. However, he uses some writing tricks that not a big fan of. Thus the rating of three.
5,701 reviews35 followers
January 1, 2019
this was interesting.. it had mystery and intrigue and a lot of fun things happening. kept me curious to see.. its not genre of choice ill admit but it was well written. i enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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