Scan barcode
A review by __apf__
Afterwar by Lilith Saintcrow
4.0
White nationalists and evangelical fundamentalists seize power, throwing the U.S. into a civil war with modern weapons. The ensuing horrors are told from the perspective of a ragtag group of soldiers at the end of the war. I found the premise of the book intriguing, but I was left wanting for originality and depth.
Why read it:
— This book brings the worst fears of the critics of the Trump Administration to life, in the extreme. The book was written in 2018 and echoes the fears of the time.
— What *would* a US civil war look like? It’s an interesting thought exercise. I enjoyed the world building.
— The writing itself is engaging and, at times, beautiful.
Why not read it:
— The book rehashes common dystopian themes: the horrors of Nazi Germany are repeated in the US. The line between “good guys” and “bad guys” is fuzzy. There is no new twist or vantage point.
— The characters are one-dimensional, experiencing little growth. I expected more from the main character, who is too traumatized to take much action. She changes very little and acts predictably.
— The book is 400+ pages, and most of the world building is done in the first 100 pages. I could have stopped reading there and guessed the rest of the book.
n.b. “Afterwar” and “Wanderers” share much in common: an American civil war in the near future, reflecting Trump-era anxiety. Between the two, “Afterwar” is a MUCH better book.
Why read it:
— This book brings the worst fears of the critics of the Trump Administration to life, in the extreme. The book was written in 2018 and echoes the fears of the time.
— What *would* a US civil war look like? It’s an interesting thought exercise. I enjoyed the world building.
— The writing itself is engaging and, at times, beautiful.
Why not read it:
— The book rehashes common dystopian themes: the horrors of Nazi Germany are repeated in the US. The line between “good guys” and “bad guys” is fuzzy. There is no new twist or vantage point.
— The characters are one-dimensional, experiencing little growth. I expected more from the main character, who is too traumatized to take much action. She changes very little and acts predictably.
— The book is 400+ pages, and most of the world building is done in the first 100 pages. I could have stopped reading there and guessed the rest of the book.
n.b. “Afterwar” and “Wanderers” share much in common: an American civil war in the near future, reflecting Trump-era anxiety. Between the two, “Afterwar” is a MUCH better book.