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A review by toggle_fow
The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was good.
Seven strangers wake up in different places to find that the world is now deserted of people and overgrown with wildlife. There's not much after that I can tell you, because the plot is a) survival and b) figuring out what happened to the world. I did NOT predict the outcome at all.
I think the most notable artistry the author shows in this book is a masterful navigation of tone. Waking up to find your former life - family, goals, identity - all completely gone, is a horrible trauma. Surviving in an urban wasteland overrun by predators and threatened by the more prosaic problems of starvation, sickness, injury, and the elements, is also horrible. However, this is NOT a story of death and dismemberment.
The tone of the story is irreverent, pragmatic, and hilarious. The author's narrative voice is unique and entertaining; I laughed out loud at least four times, and I am not usually an easy touch for humor. The characters all have their own quirks and skills, and overall remain reasonable and cooperative and funny. There wasn't a single character I disliked. But this book isn't a total wacky genre parody, either. Instead, it's a work of finesse that keeps an upbeat, ironic tone but doesn't lose sight of the fear and real emotion of the situation, either.
Overall, I enjoyed the whole experience. This book is interesting, fun, and an all-around good ride. I hope it's a hit when it comes out.
Seven strangers wake up in different places to find that the world is now deserted of people and overgrown with wildlife. There's not much after that I can tell you, because the plot is a) survival and b) figuring out what happened to the world. I did NOT predict the outcome at all.
I think the most notable artistry the author shows in this book is a masterful navigation of tone. Waking up to find your former life - family, goals, identity - all completely gone, is a horrible trauma. Surviving in an urban wasteland overrun by predators and threatened by the more prosaic problems of starvation, sickness, injury, and the elements, is also horrible. However, this is NOT a story of death and dismemberment.
The tone of the story is irreverent, pragmatic, and hilarious. The author's narrative voice is unique and entertaining; I laughed out loud at least four times, and I am not usually an easy touch for humor. The characters all have their own quirks and skills, and overall remain reasonable and cooperative and funny. There wasn't a single character I disliked. But this book isn't a total wacky genre parody, either. Instead, it's a work of finesse that keeps an upbeat, ironic tone but doesn't lose sight of the fear and real emotion of the situation, either.
Overall, I enjoyed the whole experience. This book is interesting, fun, and an all-around good ride. I hope it's a hit when it comes out.