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S F Chapman
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On the Back of the Beast Kindle Edition

by S F Chapman (Author), Mark S Chapman Ph.D. (Editor), Christina E Chapman (Editor), Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 66 ratings
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Everyone knew it was coming but no one was sure just when it would happen.

It had been over a hundred years since the last big earthquake had decimated the San Francisco Bay Area and another massive tremor was long overdue. The slumbering beast that is the Hayward Fault finally awoke on an ordinary October morning, catching the 7 million people of Bay Area by surprise as they tended to their routine affairs.

Will seventeen-year-old Kayla Hendley, airline pilot Burt Weaver, precocious second grader Gwen Mills and many others live through the convolutions of the angry earth? Surviving the savage pummeling will have more to do with blind luck than any careful preparations.

The lives of ordinary people will be forever changed by the colossal natural disaster that is The Beast.
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  1. Print length
    186 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 27, 2013
  5. File size
    394 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A lifelong Northern Californian, S F Chapman traded his construction job for the more docile profession of novelist in 2008 when the economy faltered. The tireless author has since written eight books. His first, "I'm here to help" (published by Striped Cat Press in July of 2012), is a literary fiction novella about a teenage daughter looking for answers to some troubling inconsistencies in her birth certificate. "The Ripple in Space-Time" (published by Striped Cat Press in February of 2013) is Chapman's second book. It is an exciting science fiction detective adventure set in a moldering and corrupt future controlled by greedy warlords. Other completed works awaiting publication are the post-apocalyptic soft science fiction MAC Series consisting of "Floyd 5.136", "Xea in the Library" and "Beyond the Habitable Limit" and a recently completed sequel to "The Ripple in Space-Time" entitled "Torn From On High." Chapman is currently writing a rough and tumble literary fiction novel about homelessness called "The Missive In The Margins."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DQJSYAK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Striped Cat Press; 1st edition (November 27, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 27, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 394 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 186 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 66 ratings

About the author

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S F Chapman

S F Chapman

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A lifelong Northern Californian, S F Chapman traded his construction job for the more docile profession of novelist in 2008 when the US economy faltered.

The tireless author has since written eight books. His first, “I'm here to help” (published by Striped Cat Press in July of 2012), is a literary fiction novella about a teenage daughter looking for answers to some troubling inconsistencies in her birth certificate. “The Ripple in Space-Time” (published by Striped Cat Press in February of 2013) is Chapman's second book. It is an exciting science fiction detective adventure set in a moldering and corrupt future controlled by greedy warlords. The author’s third novel “On the Back of the Beast” is an action-packed Contemporary Fiction tale about a massive earthquake that destroys the San Francisco Bay Area. It will be published by Striped Cat Press in the summer of 2013.

Other completed works awaiting publication are the post-apocalyptic soft science fiction MAC Series consisting of “Floyd 5.136,” “Xea in the Library” and “Beyond the Habitable Limit;” and a recently completed sequel to “The Ripple in Space-Time” entitled “Torn From On High.”

Chapman is currently writing a rough and tumble literary fiction novel about homelessness called “The Missive In The Margins.”

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
66 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Heather
5.0 out of 5 stars A good quick read revolving around a very real fear for those living in the area the book is set in.
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2013
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed the book and its many characters. The focus was not just on a few lead characters, it also has a cast of background characters that you can also get to know as the story progresses. Living in the Bay Area growing up all of my live here I remember as a child my friends and I discussing the exactly what this story discusses. As I read the story it became harder and harder to put down. I felt like I could relate to the story and characters, Having grown up with the fear of this happening since I was little. I feel the author wrote it in a way that it would be enjoyable to all ages, and backgrounds.This book is extremely well written and I would recommend it to friends and family.
6 people found this helpful
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zugor
4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the read if you live in earthquake prone area or wonder what it's like
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015
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This was a good, if too short novel about some of the things that are likely scenarios of what might happen when the Hayward Fault in the East Bay of San Francisco ruptures. For a truly scary write up of how bad things will be read the long two part article in the East Bay Express:

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/its-not-our-fault/Content?oid=1076729 and

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/its-everybodys-fault/Content?oid=1076793.

This article was written a decade ago and helped me realize just how serious the impending disaster will be. I lived and worked in Oakland from 1973 until 2005 and my regular route work work passed under the double decker Cypress Freeway which collapsed.

Just as the New Orleans area is still not fully recovered from Hurricane Katrina 10 years after the fact I think the Bay Area will suffer such extensive damage to infrastructure that recovery will be a very long, painful process. If this book results in even just a few more people making serious disaster plans for themselves, their neighborhoods and workplace it will be a good thing. Time for me to send another donation to the National Search Dog Foundation, they will need all hands and paws on board after a major earthquake in the Bay Area or further north in the Seattle area.

My one criticism of the story is that I think the airliner would have been better off diverting to Travis AFB which mostly likely would have been allowed due to the severity of the situation.
One person found this helpful
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GTeller
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars For Effort, But Not For Content
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2015
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This would be a good story if it was written by a young person and for younger people. It is stilted and childish in style. The characters are not the least bit likable or fleshed-out. I didn't feel a relation to any of them and about half way through the book, I just wanted the story to wrap up. The teacher, Mr. Newman seemed creepy and uncaring to me, that he would let a child go into the rubble to look for survivors.
This book needs more editing. Glaring errors in spelling.
I gave this story three stars because I appreciate the effort of any author, but if you're looking for stories about San Francisco or the next big earthquake, stick with non-fiction or scientific books.
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Dorothy E Ingram
5.0 out of 5 stars Earthquakes And Then Some
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2015
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On The Back Of The Beast by S.F. Chapman is a very well written, very good story about a disparate group of people living on top of the Hayman fault in California.

The day starts normally, with families going to work and school suddenly finding themselves struggling to survive the massive earthquake that strikes, and trying to find out if the other members of the families survived.

If you like a story filled moments of sheer terror, and courageous people who have the skill and ability to help themselves and others survive, this is the one for you.
One person found this helpful
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pjcole
4.0 out of 5 stars On the Back of the Beast
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2013
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Being a lifelong Texas resident that is completely unfamiliar with my ground moving, I found this book very interesting. I have weathered hurricanes and seen extreme wind and water damage but I find I can't process earthquakes in my mind at all. I would have liked more story from the event to anniversary but enjoyed what was given. Short but good read.
3 people found this helpful
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J. Helter
3.0 out of 5 stars Quick, believable read
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2014
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Living in CA myself, I found most of the story line believable. Some of it even made me stop and think; I, myself, have not thought about some of these things that can happen during a disaster: i.e. planes having to be sent elsewhere to land and worrying about gas, what happen to children who are stuck at school or lose both parents, how it's almost impossible to travel around in a car, etc.. This is a quick read and it did keep me interested. The characters were developed to a point I could cheer them on or feel bad for them. It would make a good story for younger (teen) readers. All-in-all well written and likable.
3 people found this helpful
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ilbob
2.0 out of 5 stars Some of it is more or less plausible
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2014
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A short work (maybe long enough to be called a novella) I got for free as a Kindle download almost a year ago and just got around to reading.

It tells a story of the aftermath of a major earthquake in San Francisco California.

As self published works go, it is not too bad in the writing errors department. There are some typos here and there and some strange word usage, but nothing that destroys the book.

It starts out with a bio of sorts on all the characters in the book, and then goes on with the tale of what happens to them during and immediately after the earthquake.

Some of it is more or less plausible, although much of the time I felt like it was something oriented toward the so called young adult reader. It kind of reminded me of a Hardy Boys book.

It did not do much for me, but I read the whole thing and that alone gets it a minimum of 2 stars in my personal reviewing system. I was unable to give it any more than that. It just did not appeal to me all that much.

If you like books that sugarcoat things, even mass deaths and destruction, you may appreciate it more. By the end, the sheer sweetness of the story was starting to grate on my nerves.
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Gail Remillard
5.0 out of 5 stars Life in the balance
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2013
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I highly recommend this fast paced adventure which depicts the very real and life changing possibilities that could occur in the event of a major earthquake in the Bay Area. The author details the events of everyday people whose life's are interrupted and forever changed when the land under their feet buckles and quakes leaving destruction and chaos in their path. The characters are interesting and easy to identify with. This book is a fast and enjoyable read.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Laura of Lurking
5.0 out of 5 stars Humans striving at their best and worst
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2013
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The biggest earthquake I have experienced was a 2.1 (probably considerably less where we were as the epicentre was a good fifteen miles away). I have hypersensitive nerve damage which I think allowed me to feel it as most of our sleeping neighbours were clueless. So earthquakes have always fascinated me, even if I never want to be in one even that big again!

I thought this was a fascinating collection of intertwining lives of the average Joes who live on a fault line yet never think of it. This really showed the best of people helping each other out, doing their best to save lives, but also the ne'er do wells who loot and take advantage.

I was hooked from the start, I think the young girls stole the show.
One person found this helpful
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Charlie-B
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written & entertaining
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2013
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I found this book to be a really good read and enjoyed it from start to finish.
The story follows the lead up to a major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area and the devastation which is caused by the event.
We follow the lives (and deaths) of a variety of residents in the area as they go about their daily routines and as the story unfolds, different aspects of human nature are revealed.
Although the book is quite short, it is enough to give the reader an idea of what havoc such a disaster can cause and how people are able to cope with this kind of crisis.
I enjoyed the character development of Gwen, the 8 year old student, who shows great determination coupled with a desire to help others, I felt that the author captured her spirit extremely well.
Having read `A Ripple In Space Time' from the same author, which I also enjoyed, this book didn't disappoint! Although the books are completely different, both are well written and entertaining and I look forward to reading more from this author.
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AlyseGarner
3.0 out of 5 stars An easy and pleasurable read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2013
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With an extensive and well worth reading introductory section On the Back of the Beast is an interesting and insightful exploration of the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

With an ensemble of characters, all of whom are reasonably well written, though none too imaginative or boundary pushing, the novel depicts the way in which a group of San Francisco locals fight to survive the quake.

Overall the book was very easy to read and I did so quite quickly, partly because of its surprisingly short length and partly because of the fluid nature of its writing. Though full of action On the Back of the Beast is certainly not the tensest book I have ever read, I did care about the outcome of the various characters however and felt as though the picture of their situation painted for you by the author was both an accurate and alarming one. I would find it hard to recommend this book as anything other than light entertainment, but I would encourage anyone who is considering purchasing the novel to do so as, at its current price, its entertainment value is worth the money.
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Anthony Rodden
4.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Shattering Look at The Human Condition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2014
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This is the second novel by S.F Chapman that I have read and can strongly recommend their work to be read.

A truly compelling piece of writing that focuses on the events leading up to the catastrophic earthquake that ravaged the San Francisco Bay Area and the aftermath that followed.

Very much a real look at the human condition and the effects that tragic natural disasters of this magnitude have on individuals and the society as a whole due to Chapman's attention to the average lives of the residents and their subsequent deaths.

A fairly short novel that can be read easily in one sitting, however, what Chapman lacks in length, more than makes up for in earth-shattering content that is guaranteed to keep the pages turning on their own.

A beautiful written and developed character that one can place themselves within and empathise with the situation whole-heartedly due to Chapman's welcoming writing style.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Earth-shaking. This is a good one.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2013
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I visited the Bay area myself some years ago, and marvelled at the diversity of life and geography there. Yet, I was also aware that the city had been rocked by an earthquake many years back, and wondered how people managed knowing that they lived life on a knife-edge.
Chapman's excellent "On the Back of The Beast" offers a reminder and shocking glimpse of the massive earthquake most scientists agree will wreak havoc once again in this area.

This is far from a dry scientific warning of what's to come. Instead, using his storytelling skills, Chapman vividly describes the dramatic scenes that can follow an earthquake, and the trauma it can leave behind. While this story might not be strong on originality, there is great merit in this book, and Chapman narrates it very well. For people looking for a novel with some drama, and who like tales of earthquakes, this one is for you.
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