Two years have passed since humankind faced extinction: Cousins, Brian and Steven, are leaving the protection of their underground bunker for the first time, after a cataclysmic war and unrelenting disease ravaged the earth. On the other side of North America, a young survivalist is leaving the seclusion of his cabin deep in the woods, traveling with his aging canine companion, Winston. For individual reasons, these men are traveling east, facing the terrible wake of civilization left to prowl the landscape.
Semi Finalist
Assessment:
Zenner's engrossing, brilliantly-written work -- which is reminiscent of The Stand -- follows main characters Brian, Steven, and Simon as they travel across the country to reunite with loved ones after a devastating illness wipes out most of the population. Their journeys are long, hard, and absorbing. The central theme of good versus evil permeates the story, as the main characters find themselves having to choose between the right thing to do and what they need to do to survive in this version of civilization. Character development is strong, the prose is top notch, and the plot sucks the reader in up to the last paragraph.
Date Submitted: August 19, 2016
"A post-apocalyptic story that takes the reader on a hazardous and harrowing journey across North America where civilization has collapsed and anarchy seems to reign. From the beginning, Zenner surprises the reader."
"Zenner has woven a gritty narrative of a future all too terrifyingly possible for us."
"Zenner's description of the post-disease world captivated me ... His creativity and attention to detail were excellent."
"I couldn't put this book down ... Sleep is good, but books are better."
