In this "magical, terrifying, and whimsical debut" (Publishers Weekly starred review), a biological disaster reverberates in Ohio Amish country long after the near-extinction of humankind. A young woman must try to save what remains of the human race. "Crafty surprises abound" (Kirkus Reviews) in this end-of-the-world adventure that's "nothing short of a storytelling masterwork." (BlueInk Review in Booklist)
Root is...different.
Though raised in a fearful society that reveres tradition and conformity, she’s irreverent, outspoken, and deeply curious. Her congenital blindness sets her even further apart.
Centuries after the Reckoning, a global biotech disaster, savage chimeras still threaten human survival. After Root hears a voice that no one else can hear, she flees into the wilderness. Outcast and hunted, she must confront a dire threat to her people--and unravel the mystery of who she really is.
- Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Winner, Science Fiction Novel (2020)
- Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards: Finalist, Science Fiction Novel (2019)
- Eric Hoffer Award: 1st Runner-Up, Commercial Fiction Novel (2020)
- Eric Hoffer Award: Finalist, Grand Prize (2020)
This magical, terrifying, and whimsical debut is a genuinely original and immersive take on post-apocalyptic SF. Several generations after an illness called the Nothing turned people into chimeras and destroyed civilization, only Amish culture has survived. Root, the blind daughter of the village weaver, asks too many questions and is often suspected of being infected with the Nothing. She grudgingly accepts her otherness within her regimented life until a tragedy in the community causes her to hear a voice that no one else can. Pushed to her limits and forced to question everything she has been taught, Root finds herself solely responsible for the fate of the world. In a departure from tales of grim technological nightmares, this not-quite-dystopian novel focuses on folk storytelling—with Root at its center, now old and recounting her life story to future generations—and the personal nature of questioning what is normal. Every word is placed as carefully as a quilt square. This is a welcome breath of fresh air and calm after the apocalyptic storm. (BookLife)
"[I]mpossible to put down…[S]eamlessly blends elements of science fiction, dystopian fiction, horror, and mystery…[F]ans who enjoy grand, end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it narratives, such as Stephen King’s The Stand, Justin Cronin’s Passage trilogy, and Walter M. Miller Jr.’s A Canticle for Leibowitz, will find Giesler’s debut nothing short of a storytelling masterwork."
"[R]eaders will be delighted by the fresh, original take of this end-of-the-world saga, and will find The Nothing Within and its progression unexpectedly original, refreshingly revealing, and a standout compared to the usual dystopian exploration."
"Clarion Rating: 5 out of 5...In every way, this eye-opening post-apocalyptic tale is a true page-turner…The Nothing Within is a fresh and ingenious take on the post-apocalyptic novel…[A] densely woven futuristic tale that maintains suspense from its first page to its last."
"Crafty surprises abound in this debut novel…[P]henomenal worldbuilding…An often mesmerizing end-of-the-world adventure."
