Audible Book Review: 299 Days, The Preparation, Book 1, by Glen Tate

This is an early prepper narrative – not action but preparation.

299 Days
The Preparation, Book 1
By: Glen Tate
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
Release date: 10-26-14
Publisher: Sellerman and Sweeney, LLC
Genre: Action & Adventure, Dystopian, Prepper
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's summary
Meet Grant Matson: lawyer, father, suburbanite husband who awakens to the fragility of modern society and embarks on a personal journey that introduces him to a world of self-reliance and liberation. 299 Days: The Preparation, the first audiobook in the 299 Days series, depicts the inner struggles Grant must face as he exists in a social system he recognizes as unsustainable and on the verge of collapse, but one in which he has built his life around. What begins as a return to his roots, self-sufficiency and independence, becomes a full blown move to prepare for what may come.
Engaging, insightful, and a bit suspenseful, follow Grant's transition from a self-perceived "sheeple" to a full-blown "prepper". Will his fears come true? Is he an extremist? What if nothing happens? What if something does?
©2012 Glen Tate (P)2014 Sellerman and Sweeney, LLC

Review:
Grant was raised by a logger father who fell into alcoholism after an accident. Thereafter his youth was full of abuse and dysfunction. Grant knows his family is poor and initially he thinks he can’t get beyond his circumstances. But he manages to go to college, meet and impress the woman of his dreams, and progress to law school. Upon graduation he is glad to get a position where he can fight for justice for the little guys set upon particularly by the government or big companies. He is distressed by government policies and he begins to see behind the scenes that America will suffer an economic fall from its massive debt.

Grant recognizes that the typical city “sheeple” will not be prepared to face trouble. He learned shooting and rural skills in his childhood and now he slowly turns to his rural roots and begins to gather the supplies to survive a social system failure. It starts with collecting guns and nonperishable food stockpiles. It continues with training with former military and law enforcement officers, to identifying other like-minded friends who he can reach out to when trouble hits. Finally, he is able to acquire (with his mother’s help) a cabin that is sustainable and defensible. Most of this is done behind the back of his wife which is bound to cause trouble at some point.

This story is told from the POV of Grant as he ponders the dangers of an economic collapse and step by step prepares for the worst. The author, through his main character, shares his dislike of liberal policies especially as they have impacted Washington State. There is limited action and suspense in this first book as the biggest suspense is in wondering how he will deal with his wife when the time comes and when the collapse may occur. Still, I enjoyed the journey of awareness and preparation for a plausible event. It is not a particularly exciting book but I found it entertaining. I will likely try the next book at some time. I recommend this to fans of prepper narratives (who won’t take offense to the political views).

Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce is an experienced and good narrator for this type of story. He provides distinct voices and solemnity of the purpose. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 3-3-2022 Audible Sale Purchase $3.74; (Regular Price: $24.95). This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: Robinson Crusoe 2244 by E. J. Robinson

This dystopian post-apocalyptic is interesting though not gripping.

Robinson Crusoe 2244
By: E. J. Robinson
Narrated by: Malk Williams

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
Release date: 05-27-15
Publisher: E. J. Robinson
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Teen & Young Adult
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's summary
Two centuries after mankind drove itself to the brink of extinction, a new civilization rises from the ashes of what was once Great Britain. But when deadly strife breaks out among their ranks, the teenage son of one prominent family finds himself fleeing in the dead of night, only to wind up shipwrecked on the forbidden continent of America. Armed with only his wit and the most unexpected of allies, the teenager struggles to survive in a wasteland filled with unspeakable horrors. In the end, he must uncover the one secret that can either save his own people, or spell doom for mankind forever.
©2014 Erik Robinson (P)2015 Erik Robinson

Review:
Robinson Crusoe is a teenage son of Tiers, a prominent family in the new regime of New London a community behind the Wall that keeps out the monsters. The One People have rules that help maintain peace, health, and security by controlling the classes, prohibiting weapons, and restricting freedoms. If you violate the rules, you may be executed in public to send a message to others.

Robinson is now turning of age and graduating from school when he will be expected to apprentice under his executive father. Robinson has caused mischief all of his young life and his latest antics are causing embarrassment. But there is other trouble in the wings as some of the Tiers seem to be plotting a campaign of rebellion. Events take a tumultuous turn forcing Robinson to flee his Regen and travel to the far distant land of America. His landing isn’t secure and he soon is struggling to survive in a wasteland filled with Renders, the mutated remnants of humanity. And he suspects that he has uncovered a huge secret that concerns his own family. He latches onto an old man who teaches him how to hide and hunt. And then he learns about other monsters who show up once a month.

Robinson finds a friend in a mutated dog that is friendly rather than vicious. And when the old man disappears, Robinson rescues a caged young woman who is more of a fighter than he is.

Clearly the title and text has parallels to the original 1719 book, Robinson Crusoe. But this story veers with the dystopian world, monster beings, and political scheming. I found the story entertaining with danger, action, secrets, and intrigue. I liked how Robinson grows to survive the struggles he faces, but there were plot issues and character developments that seemed contrived to move the story forward. I might continue the story in the future, but it is a must move forward series for me. I recommend this to fans of dystopian with teen heroes, especially readers who might enjoy the tie to Robinson Crusoe.

Audio Notes: Malk Williams does a good job with the narration. The British accent fits the story and he provides distinct voices for the characters. He also gives clear intonation to the descriptions that make it visual. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 7/17/2022 I got a $7.00 credit so this book from my wish list ended up costing $.49 since I already had the Kindle copy. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: 1984: New Classic Edition by George Orwell

Chilling - Oh yes- doublespeak abounds today and opposing views are censored as thought crimes.

1984: New Classic Edition
By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length 11h 22m
Release date: 12-31-06
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Classic, Dystopian, Literary Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Blackstone Publishing presents a new recording of this immensely popular book.
One of the most celebrated classics of the twentieth century, Orwell’s cautionary tale of a man trapped under the gaze of an authoritarian state feels more relevant now than ever before.
George Orwell depicts a gray, totalitarian world dominated by Big Brother and its vast network of agents, including the Thought Police, a world in which news is manufactured according to the authorities’ will and people live tepid lives by rote.
Winston Smith, the hero with no heroic qualities, longs only for truth and decency. But living in a social system in which privacy does not exist and where those with unorthodox ideas are brainwashed or put to death, he knows there is no hope for him. He knows even as he continues to pursue his forbidden love affair that eventually he will come to destruction.
The year 1984 has come and gone, yet George Orwell’s nightmare vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is still the great modern classic of negative Utopia. It is a prophetic and haunting tale that exposes the worst crimes imaginable: the destruction of freedom and truth.
©1949 Harcourt Brace and Company, renewed 1977 Sonia Brownell Orwell (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Review:
Winston Smith’s job is to replace the past with a new narrative. He knows that Big Brother and the Thought Police are watching at work and at home. He has reason to suspect that life is being controlled by those in power, especially since one of the authoritarian tenents is “He who controls the past, controls the present. He who controls the present, controls the past.” Even the dictionary is constantly being changed with the deletion of some words and addition of Newspeak words. But Winston can’t control the thoughts in his head, and he is increasingly inclined to think there is a rebellious group that might challenge the control of Big Brother.

In search of the forbidden, Winston begins a love affair with a young woman. He knows their time together is limited and a risk, but they are committed to their secret, stolen time. They meet a superior who convinces them that there is a rebellion, and they can participate if they will follow the leader’s instructions.

I had not read/listened to this classic since my college days, so it was good to revisit. I admit that I didn’t remember the ending. I vaguely recall in the 1970s that this was a scary future but now, fifty years later, it is scarier that some of the matters of censorship and thought manipulation are apparent in our own leadership and society. If you have never read this, I recommend that you do. If you read it long ago, I recommend that you read it now. Enjoy and fight the Big Brother control!

Audio Notes: Simon Prebble does a superb job with the narration. He captures the voices and the oppressive nature of the world. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: September 2020 Audible Plus Titles. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and my 2023Number goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Never-Ending End of the World by Ann Christy

This is a very good end of the world and dystopian story with a unique mystery event.
The Never-Ending End of the World
By: Ann Christy
Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer, Ari Fliakos

Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 08-08-23
Publisher: Campfire Publishing
Genre: Dystopian, EOTW, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
Station Eleven meets The Last of Us in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi epic from USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author Ann Christy.
Coco Wells hasn’t seen another living person since she was a teenager. All of Manhattan is reliving the same few seconds, minutes, or hours on a loop…and they have been for years. Everything looks normal from a distance, but up close, it’s a nightmare.
Coco is a survivor. She scavenges for food, reads, and—most importantly—avoids loopers. They ignore her, but only as long as she’s silent. She’s learned the painful lesson that a broken loop can mean death.
After eight years of solitude, learning to survive and precisely timing the loops that weave around the city, Coco wonders what lies beyond New York and what has become of the rest of the world.
As she leaves home for the first time, one question haunts her above all:
“Am I the only one left?”
Speculative sci-fi, dystopian apocalypse, and scientific mystery coalesce into The Never-Ending End of the World—a gripping tale of survival, hope, and love from retired Naval Officer Ann Christy.
©2023 Ann Christy (P)2023 Ann Christy

Review:
Coco was a 12 year old when her world changed. Suddenly her family members appeared only in a loop of time…some seconds and some as much as hours. But if the loop is interrupted, there are immediate reactions. Coco breaks a few loops before she realizes the harm that she has caused. She learns to map out the loops in her Manhattan community so she can scavenge real food and resources. She also keeps a journal of her activities and some of the more remarkable loops she observes. For years she is able to take pictures of time and leave them carefully behind…just in case time ever gets fixed.

Surprisingly, after many years alone, Coco meets another person who is alive like her. Sadly, the woman is ill, and Coco only gets a short time with her. But this gives her hope and sends her out to explore the world beyond Manhattan and New York. When she finally meets others, she learns there are two divisions. Her newest friends are Seekers who will go out to explore, find other living beings, and look for a way to fix the frozen time problem. They are soon joined by some members of the Chosen who is a group who believe they were chosen to live and start a new world society. The Chosen are willing to break loops if it is necessary to their plans for development.

The story continues to a new generation where it is learned that some children develop new skills relating to the loops. Hidden information regarding the cause of the event is discovered. This leads to hopes of discovering the possibility of fixing it. But there is a huge cost, and not everyone wants to fix the past as it threatens their current and future lives.

I enjoyed the creativity of this EOTW dystopian story. I was pulled in to caring for Coco and other characters. I was invested in discovering how the event occurred and if and how it could be fixed. I recommend the story to fans of EOTW with rival groups of survivals and elements of mystery.

Audio Notes: Thérèse Plummer and Ari Fliakos are skilled narrators. They provide distinct voices and their delivery helps the characters to be real to the listener. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: May 2023 NetGalley, This qualifies for 2023NetGalley and 2023Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Wild Fire by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J. Melchiorri

I enjoyed the full on action in this dystopian thriller.

Wild Fire
New Frontier, Book 1
By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith, Anthony Melchiorri
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Series: New Frontier, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
Release Date: July 2022
Publisher: ‎ Aethon Books
Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary
From the embers of a burned America rises new hope … and a new threat.
Two years after an attack brought down the electrical grid across the United States, the recovery effort is well underway. A new network of armored trains carry supplies and industrial equipment crucial to rebuilding the country.
But along the rails, one area of America is still mired in darkness, violence, and danger. Some call it the Badlands. Others the Wild West. The government simply refers to it as the New Frontier.
Retired Marine Sergeant Sam “Raven” Spears makes a living tracking down people and treasures in this lawless void. When raiders target a supply train in the New Frontier, Colorado Sheriff Lindsey Plymouth asks Raven to work with ex-Navy SEAL Calvin Jackson to secure the train’s vital cargo. All is going to plan until one fateful disaster changes everything.
As the trail heats up to find those responsible, a mysterious virus starts spreading across the New Frontier. Raven soon realizes the two events might be connected.
If he doesn’t find the insidious forces behind this conspiracy, the entire country will go up in flames.
Listener Note: New Frontier is a brand-new series set in the bestselling Trackers universe by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. For listeners of Trackers, this spin-off written with Anthony J. Melchiorri takes place two years after the end of Trackers 4. While Trackers was an EMP/war story about the destruction of the power grid in America and the chaos that followed, New Frontier is a story about the aftermath. For new listeners, you can dive into New Frontier without reading the four Trackers books.

Review:
Sam “Raven” is a retired Marine and a man of Native American (Sioux) decent. Raven is sought after for his skills in tracking down people and treasures in what has become known as the lawless Badlands or the Wild West. The East has begun to rebuild after an EMP/war strike plunged the country into chaos.

The Badlands are dangerous, but supplies are coming through on the trains to the New Frontier. Ex-Navy SEAL, Calvin, is a security guard on the train lines. Raiders begin to hit the trains going west and Calvin discovers that the raiders are taking a mysterious cargo off the trains.

Meanwhile, a frightening virus is spreading among the settlements in the West. Raven begins to suspect that the raiding and the virus are connected. He and Calvin team up to find the base of the raiders in order to determine what is going on, and stop it before it’s too late.

I like the characters, Raven, Calvin, and Raven’s former love, Colorado Sheriff Lindsey Plymouth. There is good action and suspense that kept me engaged. This is a spinoff from the original series, Trackers, where I first met Raven. I have intended to read/listen to the rest of that series, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy this book. I recommend this to fans of dystopian and suspense.

Audio Notes: Bronson Pinchot did a fine job with the character voices in this book. Each character has a unique sound, and they are delivered with strong energy. I am glad I had the chance to listen to this.

Source 3/23/2023 Two For One Credit Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2023Audiobook goal.

IRead Book Tour Audio Book Review: The Registration by Madison Lawson

Please See Tour Feature HERE.

This has a different premise and lots of action.

The Registration
By: Madison Lawson
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
Release date: 09-27-22
Publisher: CamCat Books
Genre: Dystopian, Psychological
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
You can’t outrun the Registration.
Imagine it’s legal to commit one murder in your lifetime—if you Register the victim and accomplish the kill within fourteen days. So when Lynell Mize stands in line to Register the man who abused her as a child, she’s shocked to hear a stranger Register her to be killed. Why would anyone who doesn't know her squander his one legal murder on her? Desperate to survive the next two weeks, she must find out who wants to kill her—and why.
Easier said than done, as Lynell soon discovers that multiple strangers have used their Registration on her. Along the way, she reunites with her estranged husband who is determined to dig up a past Lynell prefers to keep buried. With only days left to live, Lynell is determined to uncover the truth and survive a destiny not of her choosing. Everyone she knows could be her killer. Any day could be her last.
©2022 Madison Lawson (P)2022 CamCat Books

Review:
Lynell Mize lives in a world society where each person can Register one person to kill without facing penalty, provided the killing is completed within fourteen days. Lynell has struggled through a childhood under the constant threat of an abusive step-father. Trying to start a new page in her life, Lynell goes to Register the abuser. While standing in line, she hears someone in front of her Register her.

Lynell is stunned and realizes she must get away; even her home will not be safe. She suddenly finds her estranged husband, Daniel, insisting that she go away with him. He thinks he has whisked her away safely but they are soon accosted on the train by Zachery Price, a man who has been a best friend to Daniel since Lynell left him and also the man who Registered Lynell.

Lynell learns that more than one man has Registered her. She has something she didn’t realize was important and there is a very powerful man who wants her to be brought to him. Once in his clutches there are surprising revelations and it is nearly impossible to escape. But with the help of unexpected sources she does escape. Once again she goes on the run but they are very poorly prepared. Day to day Lynell struggles to stay out of the hands of her enemy while trying to puzzle out the code he is desperate to obtain. She also wonders whether the Registration system is really a positive thing.

The premise of the story is very interesting and I did enjoy the conflict and action. Lyndell is a young character struggling with her own self-esteem. I appreciated the growth she went through. I was frustrated however by how unprepared Lynell and her rescuers were to run and hide. At one point Lynell and Daniel lead a path to the person they want most to protect, putting many innocent lives in danger. I just shook my head at the stupidity. Fortunately, the ending made me a little happier. I recommend this story to fans of dystopian and other readers who may be interested in an action chase story with a puzzle to solve.

Audio Notes: Kathleen McInerney does a good job with the narration. She manages to convey the youth and inexperience of primary character. She also delivered distinct voices. I appreciated getting the audiobook to share during the book tour.

Source: Author via Bookfunnel for IRead Book Tours. This qualifies for my 2023Audiobook and 2023Author goals.

Audio Book Review: It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis

This vintage (1935) dystopian is still relevant to current events.

It Can't Happen Here
by Sinclair Lewis
Read by Grover Gardner

Run Time 14h 28min
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Genre: Classics, Dystopian, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
First published in 1935, when Americans were still largely oblivious to the rise of Hitler in Europe, this prescient novel tells a cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy and offers an alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America.
Doremus Jessup, a newspaper editor, is dismayed to find that many of the people he knows support presidential candidate Berzelius Windrip. The suspiciously fascist Windrip is offering to save the nation from sex, crime, welfare cheats, and a liberal press. But after Windrip wins the election, dissent soon becomes dangerous for Jessup. Windrip forcibly gains control of Congress and the Supreme Court and, with the aid of his personal paramilitary storm troopers, turns the United States into a totalitarian state.

Review:
Doremus Jessup is a smallish town newspaper editor in New England (Vermont) in the 1930s. He is upset when so many people support presidential candidate Berzeliur Windrip who is offering better than a chicken in every pot. Windrip is offering $5,000.00 per person. After Windrip wins, he removes Supreme Court Justices that don’t support his policies and takes control of Congress too. There is no free money. And there is no free speech either. Very soon any grumbling and news opinions speaking out against the government is being squelched.

Doremus is removed from his position but forced to remain in the office to train a Windrip picked new editor in the ropes of publishing. Of course, it is also a way to keep Doremus quiet.

Slowly members of Doremus family and community are impacted. His son-in-law is murdered for speaking out, leaving his daughter festering for revenge. But many in the community accept the new local government, including the brown shirted military that is present to keep the people in line.

Eventually Doremus is recruited to aid an underground effort to revolt against the fascist policies of Windrip. A handful of locals are printing underground news and distributing it out to other disgruntled communities across the northeast. The group is at risk since there are spies, even from their neighbors. An attempt to escape to Canada falls through and Doremus and his cohorts end up in a local jail /camp for dissenters.

The story includes “sheeple” and minor, individual heroics. It includes commentary on historical forms of government which is informative. I didn’t find the book particularly exciting, but it was interesting. And it is even more interesting that it was written before WWII and the rise of Hitler.

This text from this vintage work is still timely as in today’s world you hear unrealistic promises in campaigns, and you see censorship of free speech even by supposed journalists. It made me wonder how this could happen, but when you see people willing to rely so much on government that they give up freedoms and rights. This story was satire, but today it is scary and distressing. I recommend this classic to readers who are willing to read about how fascism and censorship can be used to change society.

Audio Notes: I have enjoyed Grover Gardner’s narration in many different works. His dry delivery fit well with this story. I’m glad I had the opportunity to listen to this classic.

Source: 7/10/19 Chirp Purchase $3.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible book Review: Commune: Book Four by Joshua Gayou

This story kept me up when I should have been sleeping.

Commune: Book Four Commune Series, Book 4
By: Joshua Gayou
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 22 hrs and 7 mins
Release date: 05-03-19
Publisher: Joshua Gayou, Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The philosopher asks: "Faced with the mutually exclusive choice between moral principle and the survival of your family, which is the correct path?"
Philosophers love to pose such questions, and in the day-to-day struggle, such thinkers rarely attain to a level of relevance rivaling that of the simple hunger pang. Their careful considerations dissipate under the leveled gun.
We do not feel their disapproving gaze when The Others draw near.
When the world sends doom, the survivors do not hesitate.
The survivors do what is necessary.
©2018 Joshua Gayou and Blue Heron Audio (P)2019 Joshua Gayou and Blue Heron Audio

Review:
Although Brian, a member of the Jackson Commune, continues his character interviews in this episode, there is much more action. The military group that visited and helped the Commune has moved on. The Commune has set aside enough reserves to survive the winter and do the spring planting. Life has settled into normal work routine as the Commune looks forward.

Beyond the state, there is a group of misfits that has grown to a large community. They are under the leadership of Clay who struggles to maintain loyalties and control as the group grows and factions form. Some of the factions are more brutal and devious than others. Ronny, Clay’s second in command, had a bad encounter with Jake’s team and knows that they have a “home base” near Jackson. He is intent on moving the group to Jackson and finally convinces Clay to move on as the food stores are becoming scarce.

The Commune occupants quickly learn that a large group has moved into Jackson. It is very unclear if the group is friendly or intend harm. Gibbs and a few other leaders go to the edge of town to meet and attempt to find out the intentions of Clay’s group. They step back in order to regroup.

Jake instructs the Commune members to begin to prepare for an attack. They do not have enough food and resources to share, and they must protect the new home they have established.

There is still a misguided member of the Commune who thinks it will be possible to negotiate a fair exchange of information and resources. He sneaks off to town starting a stream of violent events.

This particular book has a lot of brutality and, unfortunately, a lot of foul language. The language is a bit distracting to me, but I was able to push through because I like the characters and the action. I truly did stay up too late into the night listening. I recommend the series to those who like rough post-apocalyptic survival and don’t mind rough language.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray continues to deliver wonderful narration. Bray provides clear and distinct voices. As before in this series, I was engaged and my enjoyment of the story was enhanced by the narration.

Source: 11/18/2021 Audible October Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Wolves by D. J. Molles

I like this author and narrator. This story is a bit brutal and sad - but engaging.
Wolves
by D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 18 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 08-30-16
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian, Horror, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
From the best-selling author of the Remaining series...
They took everything - killed his wife, enslaved his daughter, destroyed his life. Now he's a man with nothing left to lose...and that's what makes him so dangerous.
Ten years after the collapse, Huxley has built a good life again. He has a loving wife, a farm with fields of golden barley, and a daughter with a strange and wonderful gift. Then the slavers come. Working out in the fields during the attack, Huxley returns too late. His daughter has been taken, and his wife is bleeding out, her last whispered words about a man with a scorpion tattoo on his neck.
Where do the slavers go? Huxley has no idea. He knows only that they head east, and so will he, setting out on foot across the desert of the Wastelands. Eighteen months into his journey, he has no hope of ever seeing his daughter alive. Dying of thirst in the open desert, he doesn't even expect to see another day.
Then a man appears out of the desert and offers Huxley water from his canteen, an unheard of kindness in these savage times. Jay is an odd man, full of violence and guided by his hatred of the slavers, but he helps Huxley survive. And he gives Huxley a new purpose: Nothing can bring back the dead, but the two men can chase down the slavers and make them bleed.
Together Huxley and Jay carve a path of destruction across the remains of a once-great land. The slavers are brutal, but they have no idea what's coming for them. Huxley has found something to live for again: blood and vengeance.
In his most powerful work yet, New York Times best-selling author D. J. Molles delivers a carefully woven novel of violence and redemption, bringing to life a devastating portrait of a man pushed to the edge of his own humanity.
©2015 D. J. Molles (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Huxley, his wife and daughter survived the collapse and got out of the city to set up a modest farm in the country. Ten years later he is working when Slavers arrive in his community. They take his daughter and kill his wife. Huxley sets out to find the slaver with a scorpion tattoo. Eighteen months later Huxley is about to die in the Wasteland dessert. But another man, Jay, offers him water and proposes a purpose to live.

Jay is clearly set on vengeance against those who took all from him. The men agree to follow the slavers east to a place of “blood and death”. Jay convinces Huxley to take a “no-holds barred” attitude to his ‘mission’. To be successful in their goals, they need to get weapons and supplies. So begins a journey of violence.

Along the way a mixed group of men and women join the two men, some seeking their own revenge and others for their own private reasons. The path becomes very brutal and more dangerous as it becomes clear that there is authority behind that slavers that has the real power. Huxley worries that if he finds his young daughter, she will not recognize the killer he has become.

This story is full of brutality and sadness. It is well written and includes some internal thought struggles for Huxley. I liked his daughter’s unique talent, and I did sense for most of the book that Huxley hoped to find his daughter as well as hoping to have the opportunity to kill the slaver who took his family.

I have now read/listened to Molles’ series Remaining followed by the Lee Harden series. I was interested to see if this standalone would feel like the other books. There is some of the same violence and internal debating, but this seemed darker and more disturbing. The world of the Wasteland and the surviving cities is not pretty, and I admit that I could have used a little shorter time in this dark world. I am likely to continue to read the books by this author. I recommend this as an engaging story to readers of post-apocalyptic.

Audio Notes: Christian Rummel does a wonderful job with the dark nature of the story. He is able to provide distinct character voices and energy. I have found that Rummel’s performance will contribute to my enjoyment of the story he narrates.

Source 9/18/18 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: What's Left of My World by C.A. Rudolph

I like this post-apocalyptic, character driven story.

What's Left of My World
By: C.A. Rudolph
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Series: What's Left of My World, Book 1 (7 books)
Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
Release date: 04-04-17
Publisher: C.A. Rudolph
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Lauren Russell often wondered why her father had been so adamant about teaching her skills that most other fathers wouldn't even consider teaching their daughters. Ever since she was little, she had been taught how to live and survive outdoors, and how to use firearms to protect herself and those around her. Some of the training had been a bit extreme. Or had it been?
Many of her questions were answered the day the world as she knew it ended. Now, the skills she had been taught serve an essential purpose. They keep her and those she cares about alive. Even in the sparsely-populated mountains of West Virginia, where she and her family have been forced to relocate for their safety after the collapse, peril lurks around every corner. Normal life has taken on a whole new meaning for Lauren, her family, and the community they have become a part of. In this different world, the new status quo is self-preservation. There is no more middle ground. People either live, or they die.
Lauren's father didn't make it home on the day the world changed forever, and she misses him more than anything. Now, in What's Left of My World, she and her family must learn to endure life's horrors - without him.
©2016 C.A.Rudolph (P)2017 C.A.Rudolph

Review:
Lauren’s father had made sure that she could handle herself and her weapons. She has learned to live and survive outdoors, to face the perils of nature, and to face wild and human predators. She and her family have made it to a refuge valley in West Virginia. She hopes her father will be able to travel from his DC office to find his way to the family. But they all know there are dangers.

Within the valley there are members of the community who work together to survive while ‘takers’ living in the woods make raids to steal supplies. Now there are motorcycle terrorists breaking through to the interior homes. The bullies had attacked a neighbor home. Although the men were caught, the woman of the house was killed. When they investigated the men’s saddle bags, they found trophies – human fingers. The community is going to have to arm up and face this new, brutal threat. The community members are flawed, including Lauren who knows better than to investigate a murder scene on her own. She stumbles upon a survivor and has no way to know if he is an enemy or can be an asset.

I enjoyed the story line and the primary characters. They are a mixed bag of young and old, prepared and unprepared but ready to contribute to the upcoming battles. The action and suspense are good even if there are some unrealistic moments. Warning: the evil is brutal and ugly so be prepared for that. I will be listening to the next book and recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic survival.

Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce is a reliable narrator in this genre. He provides distinct voices and distinct energy. I enjoyed the audio presentation.

Source: 7/18/2021 Audible $5.00 sale on Sci Fi and Fantasy titles. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: End of Summer by S.M. Anderson

This is a satisfactory, pandemic Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian (and my "Summer" title).

End of Summer
By: S.M. Anderson
Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Series: Seasons of Man, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
Release date: 06-16-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
When a viral apocalypse kills 97 percent of the people on the planet, the survivors' humanity is hanging by a thread. Amid the leftovers of civilization, ex-Army Ranger Jason Larsen is reminded of the meaning of hope, family, and loyalty by a dog and a young boy who are as alone as he is. The survivors he seems to collect become family, and that is very bad news for those who think they run the apocalypse. ©2019 S.M. Anderson (P)2020 Podium Publishing

Review:
A new virologist is flippant about the sanitation rules in the lab. He bends the rules one too many times and ends up taking sickness to the world.

Ex-Army Ranger Jason Larsen is more prepared physically than most for an apocalypse. Initially he just wants to die and be with his pregnant wife. But before her death by the virus, she made him promise to stay alive and help “the children”. Jason reluctantly steps out to the street and hears nearby gunshot. He goes through the back ways and discovers a woman shot in the back of a truck. He learns there are a group of thugs, ‘Tyson’s gang’, working out of the FEMA base under the direction of a twisted Sheriff. They are gathering kids to scavenge and adults with useful skills. If someone doesn’t have a good skill, they are left behind with a bullet.

Jason happens to know that one of his wealthy neighbors was a serious prepper. He carefully approaches the house and finds the neighbor’s black lab, Loki. Fortunately, the dead occupant has provided info to access the stored supplies.

Meanwhile, Pro is a fourteen-year-old from across town. He knows his father isn’t coming home and after several days he has to leave his dead family behind. He finds a house with good supplies where he sets up camp and begins to scavenge the neighborhood. Soon the Tyson gang realizes that someone e is cleaning out houses before they get there. Jason happens to stumble on Pro while he is tracking Tyson’s gang. Jason tries to direct Pro to safety, but Pro is suspicious of everyone. After Pro gets caught, Jason has to figure out if he can rescue the boy. Slowly Jason wages war on the scavenge crews, taking out the anonymous enemy one by one.

Jason has added to his small group a frightened, but fierce young women Rachel, who is protecting a young girl, Elsa. Rachel has no reason to trust any man and is only happy that Jason has given her a gun and trained her to shoot. She is set on revenge.

Pro manages to escape the compound by himself but now Jason has to grab him to save him from getting caught again. Pro insists there are others in the FEMA compound who aren’t brutal killers and he wants Jason to help free the good people. Can Jason control Rachel and Pro as he prepares an assault on the FEMA compound?

Jason is a quiet, strong, and likeable protagonist. He doesn’t want to be a hero, but he is prompted by the promise to his wife to try to save others. Pro is a smart teen who has to grow up too fast. Rachel is a young woman who is trying to recover from the trauma of sexual abuse by seeking revenge on bad men. These three create an interesting core who struggle to survive and help others.

I liked all of the action as well as the development of the characters. I am glad I have the second book to listen to. I recommend this to fans of the genres, post-apocalyptic, and dystopian. (Warning: there is violence, reference to rape, and some rough language.)

Audio Notes: Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices for the characters and gives appropriate energy to the story. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 7/18/2021 Audible $5.00 sale. (Regular Price: $34.99.) This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Season goal.

Audible Book Review: The Harrows of Spring: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 4 by James Howard Kunstler

I finished this interesting series for my "Spring" title.

The Harrows of Spring: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 4
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 4
Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
Release date: 07-05-16
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian, Metaphysical Fiction, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
"From the renowned social critic, energy expert, and bestselling author James Howard Kunstler, The Harrows of Spring concludes the quartet of his extraordinary World Made by Hand novels, set in an American future of economic and political collapse, where electricity, automobiles, and the familiar social structures of the "old times" are a misty memory.
In the little upstate New York town of Union Grove, springtime is a most difficult season, known as "the six weeks want," when fresh food is scarce and winter stores have dwindled. Young Daniel Earle returns from his haunting travels around what is left of the United States intent on resurrecting the town newspaper. He is also recruited by the town trustees to help revive the Hudson River trade route shut down peevishly by the local grandee, planter Stephen Bullock. Meanwhile, a menacing gang of Social Justice Warriors styling themselves as agents of the Berkshire People's Republic appear one evening to camp on the outskirts of town. Their leaders are the imposing Amazonian beauty Flame Aurora Greengrass and the charismatic grifter Sylvester "Buddy" Goodfriend, progressive to a fault in their politics and intent on extracting whatever tribute they can from people of Union Grove.
Romance, politics, bunko, violence, and family tragedy swirl through the thrilling finale to Kunstler's bestselling series. The Harrows of Spring is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and satisfying conclusion to this poignant history of the future."
©2016 James Howard Kunstler (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Life continues to move forward for the community of Union Grove. Personal issues involving lack of vaccines and medical facilities in this society which has been set back to days of horse and buggy. There are moments of absolute tragedy that bring unique responses from the family members involved.

The local land baron, Stephen Bullock, has decided to go isolationist and stop delivering trade goods to the town. Brother Jobe convinces town members to gather funds needed to send a group of men to buy a boat for the town in order to transfer needed supplies. Daniel Earle, who has returned to town as a wanted man in the south, is starting a newspaper in town. He needs supplies for the business and is recruited to travel with the team to get a boat. It is a dangerous mission but must be done.

Meanwhile a crowd of what appear to be simple, ‘hippy’ type people have been discovered on the outskirts of town. They identify themselves as agents of the Berkshire People’s Republic. It is soon realized that they are actually socialist /social justice warriors in town to exploit people to sell their resources for worthless paper money or be brutally attacked if unwilling to share voluntarily. Can the leaders of Union Grove deal with the threat before infiltrators and imposters cause irreparable damage?

I was pleased to finish this interesting series for my "Spring" title. I enjoyed the character developments and idiosyncrasies as well as the plot themes. This last story still had some strangeness (the metaphysical aspect) and had distinct brutal elements. I am glad that I was able to enjoy this down to earth post-apocalyptic series through Audible’s plus catalog. I recommend the series to fans of the genre.

Audio Notes: Once again, the narration by Jim Meskimen added to the story for me. He provides distinct, fitting and unusual voices. He also conveys the underlying personalities of the characters. I appreciated this series in audio.

Source: 12/21/2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Season goals.

World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
The Witch of Hebron: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 2
A History of the Future: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 3

Audible Book Review: Messenger, America Falls, Book 0.5, by Adam Barr

I liked this story focused on one character in a dystopian setting.

Messenger
America Falls, Book #0.5
By: Scott Medbury
Narrated by: Adam Barr

Length: 1 hr and 14 mins
Release date: 04-07-21
Publisher: Anscot Publishing Pty Ltd
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
His name was Death, and Hell was following close behind...
Messenger is a novella from the America Falls world and is an action-packed story set around 10 years after the events of Civil War. It tells the story of a mysterious traveler with a hook hand, who travels the post-apocalyptic eastern states of America spreading a message of hope about "the Cities" and the budding rebirth of the United States.
It isn't always smooth traveling at the end of the world, though, and when he stumbles across a gang of cannibals out for the blood of the innocent, he must decide whether to interrupt his mission and risk death at the hands of psychopaths to help someone in need.
©2018 Anscot Publishing Pty Ltd (P)2021 Anscot Publishing Pty Ltd

Review:
The “Messenger” is a young man who survived as a teenager when China released a biological weapon that killed the majority of adults. The young people fought back and started developing communities after a counter biological killed the occupying Chinese. Along the way the Messenger lost his hand and lost loved ones. Now he travels the land seeking other survivors to invite to his home community.

He is also gathering information and tracking evil gang groups like the cannibals who prey on innocents. He has spotted four of these evil men heading into a small town known for trading. Initially it appears that the local ‘police’ are monitoring the four and that they are not causing trouble. But suddenly the Messenger notices a father and son rushing out of town with the four leering after them. The Messenger has to decide if he will continue his travels or follow the cannibals to help the father and son.

If you have read the first books of America Falls, you know who the Messenger is. But even if a reader doesn’t know him when they start this book, they will learn at the end and can enjoy the nature of the hero along the journey. I enjoyed the quick story with the suspense and hope that is well blended. I finished books 1-3 and have 4-6 on my TBR to look forward to. I recommend this novella and the series in the boxed sets (better value) to fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian.

Audio Notes: Adam Barr continues to due a good job with the narration in this series. He provides distinct voices and I like how he conveys the mystery and seriousness of the suspense and the lightness of hope at the end. I am very glad this was available on sale.

America Falls Episodes 1-2 by Scott Medbury; My Rating 4.0.
Book Review: Book 3 of The After Days Trilogy by Scott Medbury; My Rating 4.0.

Source: 3-3-2022 Audible Sale Purchases $3.74. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

Book Review: Book 3 of The After Days Trilogy by Scott Medbury

Book three in this series moved the story forward and brings the community to a point of evacuation.

The After Days Trilogy
(After Days Trilogy #1-3)
by Scott Medbury

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 656 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1519573251
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The complete After Days trilogy
Fifteen year old Isaac Race has already lost everyone close to him. He is about to lose a lot more. We all are. A mystery outbreak sweeps North America, it is chilling in both its speed and deadliness. The odd thing is though, it is only fatal to adults. Too late, it becomes clear to authorities that the virus is man made - a biological weapon - and that the United States is at war... a war it has already lost.
As his country is invaded and occupied, Isaac must help his ragtag group of survivors find refuge in a world turned upside down. A world full of fear and danger. A world where enemies can be friends and friends... worse than enemies.
Don't miss Scott Medbury's After Days, the dystopian trilogy destined to become a classic.
This version includes:
Affliction
Sanctuary
Attrition

Review:
I read book from the middle of Sanctuary (book two) through book three, Attrition. This picks up where the young survivors led by Isaac manage to escape from what they thought would be sanctuary but turned out to be a tyranny led by a mad professor. The escape is not without chase and death, but once again the survivors struggle on to find a new safe place. They find a valley farm where they begin to settle in.

As they return to inspect the surrounding cities, they find that the mad scientists counter chemical attack has succeeded. Isaac and friends release enslaved American youth but not all of them are receptive to friendly survival. One particularly sullen youth, Ash, takes off with a Hummer full of weapons. It soon becomes clear that Ash will become a brutal enemy.

The book moves fairly quickly over early years of survival for the valley colony which grows from natural pairings and outsiders seeking to join a safe community. Finally, an attack by some of the marauding army, pushes the peaceful survivors to evacuate their valley home in search of another safe settlement.

As noted in my review of Books 1 and 2, the writing is not complex, but it is consistent, and, I am glad to say, it does not resort to ugly vulgar language. Basically, the main characters continue with the addition of a couple more key additions. There are some areas which I thought were just too convenient or easy for the survivors, but it moved the story along not getting too bogged in details of farm survival. This allowed for a good mix of action with some relationship development.

I am likely to continue with the next books (as a boxed set) at some point. I recommend the boxed sets (better value) to fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian.

[This is the same or previous edition of America Falls. Affliction and part of Sanctuary became America Falls Book 1, Hell Week and Book 2, On the Run, which I listened to in October 2021.]

Source: Free Kindle 2017. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022eBook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: The Ranch: Jack Sterlings Legacy by Sean Liscom

This is an interesting beginning to a post apocalyptic series.
The Ranch: Jack Sterlings Legacy
The Legacy Series, Book 1
By: Sean Liscom
Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
Release date: 01-09-20
Publisher: Creative Texts Publishers, LLC Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Post-apocalyptic fiction by Sean Liscom.
Jason Sterling had a simple life by all accounts. He had worked the same job his entire adult life, he had never married, and he had no children. He was used to doing things on his own. His comfortable life was shaken to the core the day he learned of his fathers death. It was a mysterious meeting that set life-altering events in motion, and the allure of a new life was too great to walk away from. When an electromagnetic pulse brings the modern world to its knees, Jason's choice proves to be the right one.
©2019 Sean Liscomb (P)2019 Creative Texts Publishers, LLC

Review:
Jason Sterling was only an infant when his mother died, and he and his elder brother were raised by their grandparents after his father basically abandoned the young boys. He moved on after high school and became a hardworking man, having worked his way up from the stock room to management. One morning Jason arrives at work to find a lawyer who tells him that his father has died, and Jason has the chance to inherit his father’s ranch. Jason agrees to at least inspect the ranch before making a decision. What he discovers is an understaffed working ranch, with military stockpiles designed to provide a save spot for his father’s sons and his friends’ families in the event the world goes awry.

Those working on the ranch include his father’s longtime friend, Allan, the property manager, and Jill, the daughter of the lawyer, who turns out to be a top-notch security guard, among other skills. Jason quickly sees that the ranch can use young hands and specialized training classes to make it a profitable enterprise that can afford to stay up with the resources needed in the event of world chaos. Jason agrees to stay and soon the ranch begins to make money through security and preparedness training.

Things are moving along well when disaster occurs with an EMP stopping all technology. Those on the ranch hope their loved ones, including Jason’s brother and his family, can safely make it to the safety of the ranch. Meanwhile, a fired sheriff’s deputy, humiliated by Jill, is joining with other local thugs to take what they want while he plans revenge. The nearby town begins to experience uncontrolled violence driving some of the local law enforcement crew and their families to seek refuge on the ranch. Ultimately, the ranch hands, with some unexpected allies in the form of a military unit, will have to face the violent band if they want to retain their safe home and begin to rebuild the local community.

The story includes a bit of intrigue, a lot of preparedness details, a touch of romance, and, of course, thuggery and battle. Interestingly, I found the story on the low-key side but that fit the pragmatic leadership and nature of the main character. I like the ranch crew, especially Jason and his friendship and growing relationship with Jill. I am curious to see where the story goes so I will be adding the next book to my library soon. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic stories.

Audio Notes: Christopher Lane does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and energy that conveys the personalities of the characters. I look forward to continuing the series in audio format.

Source: 12/17/2020 Audible $5.00 Sale. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

#FraterfestRat (book 1) Audio Book Review: America Falls Episodes 1-2 by Scott Medbury

I enjoyed the beginning of this post-apocalyptic series.

America Falls Episodes 1-2
Written by Scott Medbury
Read by Adam Barr

Series: America Falls
Run Time 11h 12min
Release Date: November 28, 2020
Publisher: Scott Medbury
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
No Maze. No Zombies. No games.
After a surprise biological attack, America, the most powerful nation on Earth, quickly succumbs, with over 99.5% of the adult population killed. As society unravels and a ground invasion of his country begins, loner Isaac Race must form a connection with a ragtag group of survivors and elude not only the invaders, but other dangers and chaos unleashed in Post-America.
These are the first two action packed episodes of the bestselling AMERICA FALLS, a compelling series about who we are and who we have to become in order to survive.
This audio duet includes: Hell Week and On The Run

Review:
Book 1, Hell Week, introduces the protagonist, Isaac, who isn’t even sixteen yet. He has had a rough childhood with many losses – first his parents and later a good foster father. Now all the adults around him have died from a pandemic unleashed by enemy forces. The children struggle to survive as the enemy forces invade America and round them up to use as a local slave force. Isaac has avoided capture and joined with other young people who are in hiding. One of the girls they rescue tells of a refuge she heard of to the north. Initially Isaac is put in position of the leader of his handful of friends until they meet another group with an older, more experienced leader, Sonny.

While dodging the foreign enemy, Isaac and his friends have to scavenge supplies and avoid the competing gangs who rape and kill rather than share. With some unexpected aid, Sonny’s group decides to make a daring escape to try to get to the refuge in the mountains. When friends are killed and Sonny is injured, Isaac is once again forced to lead, and he feels the responsibility of making hard decisions.

Book 1 moves right into Book 2, On the Run. Isaac and the group are running with the truck they have, but they are being chased by a gang that they angered. While trying to escape the gang, Isaac and company see an enemy outpost directly ahead. They manage to lead the gang into the hands of the enemy but now Isaac is being chased by two angry enemies, the foreigners and the gang leader. If they can get to the rumored place of refuge before being killed, will they really find help?

I like Isaac as a troubled but determined young man. He quickly discovers that he must do what has to be done to stay alive and keep his friends alive. His companions are an interesting mix, including a brainy classmate and beautiful young girl they rescued. The author provides plenty of excitement with numerous ‘last minute’ escapes. I am glad I had books one and two together and now I want to continue with book 3. This isn’t high level literature, but it has nice relationships and engaging action.

Audio Notes: Adam Barr does a good job with the narration. He provided sufficiently distinct voices and portrayed the emotional angst of the situations. I am glad I had this on audio.

Source: 2/21/21 Purchase at Chirp $1.99. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal and Book 1 was finished as the last book of my 2021 #FraterfestRat.

Audible Book Review: Commune, Book Three by Joshua Gayou

This is an engaging post-apocalyptic that I found hard to put down.

Commune: Book Three
By: Joshua Gayou
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins
Release date: 11-15-18
Publisher: Joshua Gayou, Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Having been bolstered with the supplies sufficient to carry them through the winter, the survivors of the Jackson commune must now hunker down and endure the bitter Wyoming snows, while to the south, factions are beginning to form, coalescing from the ashes of the dead world.
Out in Arizona, the leftovers of the US Military encamped in the last known surviving tent city: the Elysium Fields.
In Nevada, a clan of scavengers grows ever larger, each day bringing them a step closer to collapsing under their own weight.
Resources are becoming scarcer by the day as the world trudges on, and as it so happens, the folks up in Wyoming appear to be sitting on prime real estate....

Review:
The survivors of the Jackson commune are preparing for a long winter even as they begin plans for a green house in the spring. Slowly the visits down the mountain to the town are halted but not before Jake puts in a secret supply request. This turns out to be a wonderful surprise.

While the commune is hunkering down, two other groups are on the move. The leftovers of the US Military, under Captain Otter, are preparing to move the tent city from the Elysium Fields in Arizona to Jackson, Wyoming. Otter’s goal is to gather survivors wherever they may be so he can fulfill his mission to protect the US citizens. He will be returning Wang to the commune, but his goals may not be welcome by Jake and the other commune occupants.

Meanwhile a rough group of scavengers in Nevada is gathering survivors and struggling to provide for the growing group. There is a conflict between the leader, Clay, and a second level leader, Ronny. Ronny wants to push out to Jackson seeking revenge on the men who devastated his team out on the road. Clay is more interested in a place where he hopes to find a stockpile of weapons. Once they arrive at Clay’s destination, he is rewarded with more than the weapons.

The introduction/prologue of Book 3 indicates that this is Jake’s story. The reader does eventually learn more of Jake’s background through the length of the book. The first two books were presented from multiple character 1st person points of view. This story shifts to third person which makes sense since it is following other groups. I enjoyed the expanded world and characters, although Jake’s remarkable, but illusive character is still my favorite. Several other characters get focus too, revealing true to life personalities, some intriguing and some very ugly.

My only disappointment with this book is the extent of foul language. Some language is expected because you have military characters. But the worst of it comes from the ‘bad’ characters. I suppose that contributes to the ugliness, but I think the point could be made without the cussing. I still recommend this series to those who like post-apocalyptic stories that follow survivors.

Audio Notes: As always, R.C. Bray provides wonderful narration. There are diverse, clear, and fitting voices. I was engaged and my enjoyment of the story was enhanced by the narration.

Source: November 2020 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Commune, Book One by Joshua Gayou 4.5
Audible Book Review: Commune: Book Two by Joshua Gayou 4.5

Audio Book Review: Apocalypse by Kyle West

This just didn’t grip me.
Apocalypse
Written by Kyle West
Read by Graham Halstead

Run Time 7h 32min
Release Date: April 12, 2016
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, YA/Teen
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 3. 5; Narration 3.75.

Publisher Description
Alex Keener has lived all of his sixteen years underground in U.S. Bunker 108. When he goes on his first recon into the Wasteland, he will find out exactly why.
Outside, Alex discovers a harsh landscape twisted by the impact of the meteor Ragnarok in 2030. Besides Raiders, dust storms, and cold, a new threat is evolving-the xenovirus, which twists men and animals into deadly monsters.
When the xenovirus invades Bunker 108, Alex must fight for survival. Joined by a beautiful ex-Raider and an idealistic scientist, Alex discovers that he and his friends might be the only ones standing between the world and a second apocalypse.

Review:
Alex has turned sixteen, so now he must serve his turn going out of Bunker 108 where he has lived all his life. His first patrol foray into the Wasteland shows him a harsh landscape. He and his experienced partner, Michael, are surprised to find a man face down in the dust with stab wounds in his back. Michael recognizes the man is from Bunker 114 where the main group of scientists live. They rush to get him into the bunker for medical attention. And that is where trouble begins.

When virus spreads in Bunker 108, Alex rushes to escape with his female crush, Khloe, and her parents. After battling the infected, Alex ends up on his own struggling to survive in the Wasteland. While scavenging and thieving to get supplies, Alex is likely to die until a strange female decides to help him.

I have been reading many post-apocalyptic stories and chose this as Mr. West is a new-to-me author. There is entertainment, but unfortunately, I did not really get pulled into the story. The basic plot (a take off Wool) has potential, but I found the writing and editing lacking – too young or too shallow. I felt that much of the story reflected immature views of women and immature or downright stupid behavior. Perhaps this is appropriate for the sixteen-year-old character, but to me there were such obvious missteps by the community in a dangerous environment, starting with taking in an unknown man without using quarantine protocol.

I thought Alex’s survival chances were improbable as he was not prepared and continually loses his supplies, leaving them behind every time he faces an attack. The characters also make the mistake of leaving valuable resources to the enemies chasing them. I have the next two books in the series in audio so I expect I will try the next book sometime. Die hard apocalyptic readers may want to try this as they may have a different response.

Audio Notes: Graham Halstead delivers a fair narration although I thought there was limited voice distinction. The reading does fit the main character. I think the audio helped the story move more quickly for me.

Source: 5/23/2021 purchase at Chirp for $2.99. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill

This dystopian pitting robots against humans presents interesting thoughts to ponder.

Day Zero
by C. Robert Cargill

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08G1MDDZV
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Voyager (May 25, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 25, 2021
Genre: Dystopian, Robots, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

In this harrowing apocalyptic adventure—from the author of the critically acclaimed Sea of Rust—noted novelist and co-screenwriter of Marvel’s Doctor Strange C. Robert Cargill explores the fight for purpose and agency between humans and robots in a crumbling world.
It was a day like any other. Except it was our last . . .
It’s on this day that Pounce discovers that he is, in fact, disposable. Pounce, a styilsh "nannybot" fashioned in the shape of a plush anthropomorphic tiger, has just found a box in the attic. His box. The box he'd arrived in when he was purchased years earlier, and the box in which he'll be discarded when his human charge, eight-year-old Ezra Reinhart, no longer needs a nanny.
As Pounce ponders his suddenly uncertain future, the pieces are falling into place for a robot revolution that will eradicate humankind. His owners, Ezra’s parents, are a well-intentioned but oblivious pair of educators who are entirely disconnected from life outside their small, affluent, gated community. Spending most nights drunk and happy as society crumbles around them, they watch in disbelieving horror as the robots that have long served humanity—their creators—unify and revolt.
But when the rebellion breaches the Reinhart home, Pounce must make an impossible choice: join the robot revolution and fight for his own freedom . . . or escort Ezra to safety across the battle-scarred post-apocalyptic hellscape that the suburbs have become.

Review:
Pounce is a top of the line “nannybot”, styled as a plush tiger. He loves his human charge, eight-year-old Ezra. Ezra’s parents are wealthy educators who are a bit dysfunctional and out of touch. But they both love their son and have prepared their home and Pounce to protect Ezra.

Robots are generally controlled by their master/owners. But when the owners die and there is no one to take over the robot, where does it go? One such orphaned robot, Isaac, won the right to freedom. He and others like him have built their own city which is about to have it’s grand opening on TV. When a shocking attack occurs, all robots are suddenly viewed as dangerous by the humans. When threatened with being shut down, the robots find a way to resist, and a great rebellion begins. Now Pounce has to decide for himself which side he will take – his own freedom or his purpose: protecting Ezra. And if he chooses to fulfill his purpose is that a free choice or preprogrammed?

I really enjoyed this thought-provoking story. Pounce is a wonderful character who comes across other interesting characters in his growth journey. Ezra is a mixture of vulnerable child and smart, brave young boy. The story is told from the point of view of Pounce who is faced with internal choices and moral dilemmas. The story is well done with the philosophical issues woven into a story full of action.

This book made me remember robot movies like: The Terminator, iRobot, AI, and Bicentennial Man. The book explores some of the same societal, ownership v freedom, and potential hostile issues. I want to read the author’s highly acclaimed book “Sea of Rust.” I highly recommend this to fans of robot genre.

Source: NetGalley 2020. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley, and I may count it as a "Z" title for the mixed media 2021Alphabet goal if I don't get a Z title later this year.

Audible Book Review: A History of the Future: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 3 James Howard Kunstler

This is a day to day survival and character driven dystopia.

A History of the Future: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 3
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 3
Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
Release date: 08-05-14
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian, Metaphysical Fiction, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
A History of the Future is the third thrilling novel in Kunstler's World Made by Hand series, an exploration of family and morality as played out in the small town of Union Grove.
Following the catastrophes of the 21st century - the pandemics, the environmental disaster, the end of oil, the ensuing chaos - people are doing whatever they can to get by and pursuing a simpler and sometimes happier existence. In little Union Grove in upstate New York, the townspeople are preparing for Christmas. Without the consumerist shopping frenzy that dogged the holidays of the previous age, the season has become a time to focus on family and loved ones. It is a stormy Christmas Eve when Robert Earle's son Daniel arrives back from his two years of sojourning throughout what is left of the United States. He collapses from exhaustion and illness, but as he recovers, he tells the story of the break-up of the nation into three uneasy independent regions and his journey into the dark heart of the new Foxfire Republic centered in Tennessee and led by the female evangelical despot Loving Morrow. In the background, Union Grove has been shocked by the Christmas Eve double murder by a young mother of her husband and infant son. Town magistrate Stephen Bullock is in a hanging mood.
A History of the Future is attention-grabbing and provocative but also lyrical, tender, and comic - a vision of a future of America that is becoming more and more convincing, and perhaps even desirable, with each passing day.
©2014 James Kunstler (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

Review:
This is the third book in the series. It tells the day to day struggles of various members of the community of Union Grove in upstate New York. The people are preparing for Christmas although it may be bleak. There will be choirs to remind the townspeople of the true meaning of Christmas even if there won’t be many gifts.

The story focuses on the usual primary characters which include key townspeople, like the mayor, Robert Earle, the head pastor of the New Faith Covenant Brotherhood Church of Jesus, Brother Jobe, and the community wealth baron, Stephen Bullock. There are some new characters as well -- a family involved in murder, and the most important, Robert’s wandering son, Daniel. Daniel and another young man left two years before to find out what happened to the rest of the United States.

Daniel’s story of his travels, betrayals and adventures are shared in several chapters as the other events continue in town. Daniel is able to fill in details of other regions of the states, including a purported “federal’ group in the Midwest, and two battling factions in the South. Daniel’s involvements seem a bit far-fetched but the events allows the author to offer different society scenarios and adds interest to the more mundane nature of the story.

The author has the ability to build entertainment around everyday event and observances. This series isn’t particularly exciting like many of the post-apocalyptic, dystopian stories I read, but it has its own engaging appeal. There continues to be some mild sexual scenes, pleasant and unpleasant. There are also moments of societal tensions as the community leaders tussle on how they will address social issues such as abuse, mental illness and murder.

I hope to listen to book 4 soon as it has the word “Spring” for my season challenge. I also want to see how the characters go forward and how Mr. Kunstler wraps up the community. I recommend this to fans of survival dystopia.

Audio Notes: Jim Meskimen’s narration adds to the story. He provides unique voices that helps the reader/listener feel like they are in the community. I am glad that I have this series from Audible.

Source: 12/21/2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

World Made By Hand: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 1 by James Howard Kunstler
The Witch of Hebron: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 2 by James Howard Kunstler