Long ago the United States fractured into warring nations, peaceful times a fleeting thing and mistrust the only constant. Texas is the worst of them all, a cruel and totalitarian nation where crime is punished not with prison, but with a tattoo. For each crime a strike is marked upon the offender’s neck. At five strikes… death.
Karas Quick is sixteen and already holds a strike, which doesn’t bode well for a long life. Unlike the elites, people like Karas can expect to be dealt with harshly. Any accident might be labeled a crime. Even so, she’s carved out a life with friends she loves and a decent meal every day… well, most days.
When the elite guy she’s crushed on since forever risks his strike-free neck to help her out of a jam, everything goes wrong. Not only will her life be forfeit, but so will his. Even worse, every friend who knows what she’s done is equally doomed.
They are left with only one option, the last option. They can try to escape Texas, they can go Striker. If they’re caught, they’ll die. The prize if they succeed is something they never imagined: freedom.
Karas and crew are free, but freedom is relative for a striker. Never sure when trouble might find them, they’ve spent a year trading along the great river and exploring the world they’ve only just discovered is real.
It’s a good life, but life on the sea is a treacherous thing. When a hurricane traps them between open ocean and the mysterious land of Florida - a place from which no visitor returns - they find themselves in greater danger than ever before.
Safely hidden away in the Eastlands, Karas and the surviving Strikers train for the day when they can finish the task they were always fated for: Infiltrate Texas.
With each passing year, their immunity to the bioweapons Texas uses against the world diminishes. They’re running out of time. Over a hundred years of war and destruction could end, but only if the Strikers can achieve the impossible before their bodies betray them.
Epidemiologist Giselle Quick is a happy woman. After being lured away from the CDC to work in the private sector, she now has it all: fulfilling work, a great paycheck, and time to spend with her sons. And seriously, who wouldn’t like getting paid to play diabolical games all day? That those games save lives makes it perfect.
Inside the BG Group’s laboratories, Giselle and her team game out all the possibilities of biological warfare and natural pandemics. Her Red Cell makes sure they’re prepared should the worst happen. It may be for profit, but it’s good work.
There’s only one small thing to mar this perfect job and life, but it’s beginning to make Giselle nervous about BG’s intentions... they’re getting far too interested in the results of her games.
"What a joyous find, when I discovered this author quite accidentally via a free Kindle book. Ann Christy is a recently retired Naval officer and this book of hers has me hunting down the rest of her work avidly. Strikers is the best kind of dystopian novel: strong central character, interesting ethical dilemmas, hints but not giveaways about the nature of the world and its collapse, thoughtful details, NO LOVE TRIANGLE (Thank you Ms. Christy for that), and an ending that, while satisfying, leaves me ready for book two. It is both a novel exploring the right role of government, a journey tale, and a coming of age story, all wrapped together."
"An excellent story with well-thought-out characters and a smoothly written narration. This is a book I highly recommend."
"A large percentage of dystopian fiction these days is also YA fiction, with mixed results. Strikers is one of the best that I've read in the past year, at least. I found it refreshingly different in several ways, starting with the noticeable lack of similarity to The Hunger Games and Divergent. Not that I didn't enjoy those books, but variety is a good thing."
"Highly Recommended! Read this if you like strong female characters, young adult literature, dystopian fiction, adventure/survival theme stories, and/or coming-of-age stories."
"Strikers was one of those books I couldn't put down, even when I had other responsibilities. What are they going to do to me? Give me a strike? That isn't a real thing, right, Ann Christy? Right?! Regardless, the secretaries at my office that are stationed nearest to the bathroom probably thought I had some sort of issue that day. By the end of the day, I wasn't even attempting to hide my Kindle underneath my desk or pretending to work on my computer with a "I'm busy" expression plastered on my face. That is how much Strikers pulled me into Karys' story. She was relatable, but not a victim. She just wants a better life and a chance at happiness with family that cares about her. I loved her internal monologues about how she felt about Joven. It was so real, in an awkward-teenager sort of way, which was very relatable. It was funny though because this internal struggle with her feelings is happening while she and her group fight for their lives. The concept of Strikes and the entire world Ann Christy built was believable and easy to follow. I love it. Read this. Now."
Amber
August 1, 2019 - 3:51 pm ·Hi Anne,
Any update on Outlands?!
Scott A Davis
February 8, 2019 - 11:54 pm ·Ann, Ann, Ann… WHERES OUTLANDS??? I DYING here. I have read every single thing you’ve published, and I’m on a total jones for more of Karas’ story.
Kathy
October 3, 2018 - 9:22 pm ·Phew I was panicking when I couldn’t find it !
Pete
September 6, 2018 - 6:50 am ·Hi Ann. I just go wished Eastlands, love the story, but is now September 2018 . Am curious what has happened to Outlands ?
Ann Christy
August 28, 2019 - 1:26 pm ·Outlands is coming on October of 2019! ARC readers being selected now. Best, Ann
Ann Christy
August 28, 2019 - 1:23 pm ·Oh yes! There is news on Strikers: Outlands! It’s done and I’ve just put out the call for Advanced Review Copy readers. Slated for October release. Yay! Ann
Ann Christy
August 28, 2019 - 1:24 pm ·Scott – Good news! Outlands is complete and slated for an October release. I’ve just put out the call for Advanced Review Copy readers too. Stay tuned (or join the VIP List) because I’ll do a quiet launch for the VIPs so they can get it at 0.99 for a couple of days before the public launch. Happy Reading! Ann
Vic
May 2, 2018 - 6:49 pm ·Hi Ann, when will the outlands be published? So excited!
Ann Christy
June 5, 2018 - 5:28 pm ·Hi Vic!
I had Outlands almost done when I realized I’d made a HUGE error during the traveling portion. I spent a good amount of time last year traveling the route taken in the book (to include losing my hip-waders in some seriously deep mud) and I’m re-working it now. Don’t worry, everyone on my list will get a chance to read it first. Best, Ann
Ann Christy
March 31, 2017 - 12:38 pm ·So glad you liked Eastlands! After all the editing and all of that…can you believe that slipped? It’s supposed to be winter 2017!
I needed a winter between releases for field research for the book. Fun fact…there is really sticky mud on the Mississippi river even up in the Midwest. Even more fun fact…if you decide to see if you can walk in it (despite your guide saying not to get out of the boat), you’ll inadvertently litter by having to be heaved out of your hip-waders by those same guides. While they laugh. It gets better. If you see what happens in jeans, you’ll be laughing so hard that snot will come out of your nose while the guide tries to pull off jeans that have turned into some form of superglue from the mud.
Yay, research!
I wanted to make the “trip” in the Outlands as it was planned in the book. So far, its been a total secret and no one knows. Now you do and you have a hint!
John Brennan
December 4, 2016 - 4:03 pm ·Ann. JUST FINISHED Eastlands, loved it. So excited for Outlands.
Ann Christy
July 25, 2016 - 2:55 pm ·Sometime this winter. My editor’s heavy red pen will determine how early in the winter that winds up being. 🙂
Marcy
July 25, 2016 - 2:29 pm ·When will the 3rd book come out?
Mike Billlington
May 29, 2016 - 10:23 pm ·I was a reporter for almost 50 years so I write mostly mysteries… I’ve also written a Steampunk adventure and an historical fiction novel based on the parable in Matthew about the Third Servant… I always wondered what happened to him after he was “cast into the night” for not increasing his masters wealth and so I wrote my version of his later life… currently working on two more mysteries, as well as a dystopian novel about a group of military men and women who steal an aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine because they see the balkanization of the entire world coming, and another Steampunk adventure… great thing about being retired, I can write all day every day if I want to 🙂
Ann Christy
May 27, 2016 - 3:54 pm ·Thank you so much! I very much appreciate it. Indies unite…but separately and in different rooms. LOL. Just kidding. Thank you again. What books do you write? Ann
Mike Billlington
May 27, 2016 - 3:24 pm ·Hi – just finished “Strikers” and really enjoyed it. As an Indie myself, I know how important reviews are and so I’ll post mine on Amazon and Goodreads and then use Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. to let folks know where they can see it.
Mike
Ann Christy
April 2, 2015 - 8:43 pm ·That’s great Lisa! I can’t wait to see it! Sequel should be out by the end of the year (if the editor remains available for our time)! Let’s hope that one is as likable.
Lisa Graziano
April 2, 2015 - 7:57 pm ·I didn’t forget to give Strikers a review. I had a family emergency and plan to reread this weekend so I can make notes. I love the book and can’t wait for a sequel.
Ann Christy
March 31, 2017 - 12:39 pm ·So glad you liked Eastlands! After all the editing and all of that…can you believe that slipped? It’s supposed to be winter 2017!
I needed a winter between releases for field research for the book. Fun fact…there is really sticky mud on the Mississippi river even up in the Midwest. Even more fun fact…if you decide to see if you can walk in it (despite your guide saying not to get out of the boat), you’ll inadvertently litter by having to be heaved out of your hip-waders by those same guides. While they laugh. It gets better. If you see what happens in jeans, you’ll be laughing so hard that snot will come out of your nose while the guide tries to pull off jeans that have turned into some form of superglue from the mud.
Yay, research!
I wanted to make the “trip” in the Outlands as it was planned in the book. So far, its been a total secret and no one knows. Now you do and you have a hint!
Rebecca
November 21, 2014 - 4:46 am ·I just finished Strikers and its about 10:30pm on the last school night before Thanksgiving Break. My whole body is buzzing and I know there’s no sleep for me for a while, also I probably won’t be able to focus for school tomorrow because my head will be full of border fences and secret smugglers. So, of course, as any dedicated fangirl would, rather than make any half hearted attempts to sleep when I know I’ll only end thinking about this book somemore, I had to ask you: “WHEN WILL THE NEXT BOOK COME OUT!?” Because there absolutely has to be a next book. You can’t leave the story hanging. I’ve read books that never had sequels and they still haunt me! I can’t think of nothing more terrible than an unfinished story. It’s like the tragically short life of someone who died young. Okay I’m only kidding! It’s just because you really have to write another book. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. I’m very interested in hearing more about this little Quinton and of course, more about Karas and loverboy (getting together is really only half the battle). This story was incredibly moving, as most stories are when one takes the time to listen. Thank you for writing it and for shaping my heart and mind just a little bit more. I hope you can tell that I have been as sincere, dramatic, overbearing, annoying, heartfelt, and tacky as I possibly could! It’s all in hopes that you will reply.Thanks for writing, but mostly thanks for reading (this comment and all the books that led you here). Stay free. 😉
Sincerely and emphatically,
A fan.
Ann Christy
November 21, 2014 - 12:50 pm ·I’m so glad you liked it! And I hope it’s not too difficult during the day since you stayed up late to read. 🙂 I’m working on a second book, but that one takes time since I’d like it to be tight and the story really move along. And there’s soooo much going on inside the story, I really don’t want to disappoint those who liked Strikers. Thanks for commenting! Ann
Katie
March 12, 2015 - 1:32 pm ·Yes! Reading that you’re working on a sequel made my day! Although I found it had a satisfactory ending and could be a great stand alone, I crave more! I stayed up way to late last night devouring every last word! I loved it!
Ann Christy
March 12, 2015 - 2:41 pm ·I’m so glad you liked it! Strikers books are long projects so it will take a while. I wrote it so that it could be a stand-alone and I’m thrilled to hear that worked. Right now I’m releasing book two of another series (Between Life and Death series) and will finish up the third in May, so Strikers: Eastlands is going slowly, but surely. Best to you, Ann
Katie
March 30, 2017 - 8:38 pm ·I just finished Eastlands and it was great! Now I’m looking forward to Outlands – any idea when it will be released? The end of Eastlands said Winter 2016!
Ann Christy
December 4, 2016 - 4:33 pm ·I’m so glad you liked it! Those books are the hardest ones I’ve ever written. They take forever! But, it’s all worth it when I hear something like this. Best to you! Ann
liz
June 9, 2014 - 12:42 pm ·Fantastic beginning …I.want more!!
Cathy
April 22, 2014 - 5:17 am ·Awesome start. I read obsessively but rarely do reviews. I enjoyed your Silo books enough to do one and now you have me writing another. BRAVO!!! I look forward to reading more of your work
Ann Christy
April 22, 2014 - 10:40 am ·So glad you liked the Silo 49 series and this sneak peek! Thanks for writing the reviews. They do wonders for indie authors. Best, Ann
Jordan Bennett
March 29, 2014 - 8:43 pm ·Ahhh it is completely awesome!!!! I need more!
Ann Christy
March 29, 2014 - 8:44 pm ·So glad you liked it! Notice the name of the father?