Stephen Arseneault

Not sure really. It has a fast pace and overall it tempts me to continue the series, but as others have mentioned this first book is more of the frenzied wet dreams of a prepper than a proper dystopian or sci-fi read. Really goes all out in portraying the almost immediate collapse of society and gangs of roving marauders immediately coming out of the woodwork, and “government” sitting on its ass. I can see the Bookclub for Yokels (TM) sitting around guffawing and saying “tol’ ya so” as they listen to the abridged audiobook version. Objectivists will swoon over the hero’s value of self-interest over society. But beside these criticisms the pacing and narrative is ok, maybe even well-crafted at times- the author shows a skill beyond the plot.
One other thing I’d question is there are some bits of dialog that almost, not quite, seem intended to break the fourth wall, in a way- to comment on the predicament they have gotten themselves into. Devices that might work in a screenplay as a breather (“well joe, did you think last week at putt-putt we’d be killing zombies and using their skulls to make freezer pops?”) but are, at best, superfluous non-sequiturs in a book.… (más)