The Solitary Man

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solitarymanThe Solitary Man is Ron Foster’s latest adventure into a post-electric, post apocalyptic world. Ron’s protagonist Donald is quite similar to David from the Prepper’s Trilogy. He is an expert in emergency management that has spent a considerable amount of his time and resources preparing for a collapse of civilization following a solar storm or coronal mass ejection (CME).

While The Solitary Man does not have as many of the laugh out loud moments that were ever-present in the Prepper’s Trilogy, it does convey a new sense of urgency. Apparently, Ron Foster believes that we are getting very close to large solar event entering into 2012-2013 during what is called the solar maximum period. In fact he references the upcoming solar maximum period specifically numerous times. In the epilogue he even suggests that the next book in the series might never be released due to this impending solar event. The premise of The Solitary Man is certainly plausible but I found the plot and fictional aspects to be a little thin. It’s almost as if the story was secondary to the information contained within the book. As always though, Ron Foster, for whom I have much respect, includes some very solid advice on preparing for any type of widespread disaster. You can get it through the link below:

 

Falling Skies

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falling skies

Hostile aliens now control the planet as Falling Skies enters its second season. TNT has created an enjoyable apocalyptic tv show that follows a large group of refugee survivors as they struggle against their alien invaders. While their intentions are not perfectly clear yet, the aliens of Falling Skies have killed almost all of the adult human population and have made the children into their slaves using some type of parasitic lizard. One of the interesting aspects to this series is that the alien invaders do not consist of one particular type of alien. It seems that there is some type of hierarchy of alien beings that are led by creatures that are similar in appearance to “the greys” that have become the typical portrayal of aliens in our modern civilization. Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), is a former college history professor who lost his wife in the invasion and struggles to raise his 3 children alone in the post apocalyptic landscape while providing some historical perspective and guiding the survivors in their struggle. Falling Skies has plenty of action and while some of the acting is a little overly dramatic, it is your best bet for alien invasion apocalypse and science fiction television this summer.

If you need to catch up on the series, The complete first season is available on DVD through the link below:

Cell

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Over the years, Stephen King has created a number of fascinating apocalyptic tales. Indeed, most of his stories lead to the end of the world for somebody. It is as though he has some unworldly insight into the apocalyptic realm. Though the specific circumstances may change, his novels frequently share in his apocalyptic vision. For example, Randall Flagg, a character that appears in many of Stephen King’s stories, has a mysterious involvement in the apocalypse. While Randall Flagg is not a specific character in Cell, Stephen King once again shares his unique vision of the end of modern civilization through one of mankind’s most prized possessions, the cell phone. An event that comes to be known as “the pulse” somehow wipes clean the minds of those using a cell phone and transforms them into a type of telepathic zombie that is intent on eliminating those that have been left unchanged. The zombies in Cell share the viciousness of your typical zombie but are able to communicate telepathically and seem to be developing a common agenda. Cell is certainly an enjoyable read and will be quite satisfying for those of you that share in this strange apocalyptic preoccupation.

Also available in audio on Audible through the link below:

Cell (Unabridged)

The Darkest Hour

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A business trip to Moscow goes from bad to worse for two friends that get caught in the middle of an alien invasion. First, all of the electronic devices are disabled by a massive microwave pulse from space. Then the aliens start floating down to Earth, at times they glow orange, but they are mostly invisible to the human eye. These aliens are not interested in communication, they simply want to eliminate humans from the planet so that they can harvest the Earth’s resources. This is a decent adventure story. Some of the special effects are interesting, for example, when we get to see the alien’s perspective. It has a decent amount of action. Due to its larger budget, it is slightly better than a SyFy prime time apocalypse movie, but the acting and plot is mediocre at best. Don’t expect The Darkest Hour to blow your mind, but it will serve as entertainment if you have a couple of hours to kill and nothing good is on tv.

Alas Babylon

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Alas Babylon

Perhaps one of the best known post apocalyptic novels, Alas, Babylon, written by Pat Frank and released in 1959, paints a grim picture of what life might be like after a full-scale nuclear war between the US and former USSR.

The protagonist, Randy Bragg, a relatively carefree bachelor, is forced to take a leadership role in the survival of his Florida town, Fort Repose, which narrowly escapes destruction from the ultimate in nuclear catastrophes.

Surprisingly, many of the issues presented in Alas, Babylon, over 50 years ago, are still very relevant today. For example, Frank’s writing is clearly influenced by the Civil Rights movement that was gaining momentum during the time that this book was written. Alas, Babylon frequently references the still widespread segregation and racist sentiment that still existed in parts of the southern US during the 1950’s. The book portrays the complete collapse of civilization as the ultimate “leveling” of human beings, as each survivor shares in the struggle to stay alive, regardless of skin color, ethnic origin or social class. Though the Civil Rights movement has certainly altered the landscape of the US in a number of ways, racial tensions continue to be high today, especially with the recent death of Trayvon Martin.

From a survival perspective, the issues associated with a total breakdown of civilization remain the same. Without electricity, public water, law enforcement, medical treatment, transportation, fuel, etc, people are forced to accept more personal responsibility for the safety and survival of their families.  

Nuclear tensions have changed in some ways since the end of the Cold War but with more countries in possession of “the bomb” than ever, the risk for a nuclear conflict continues. Alas, Babylon may be a little optimistic in terms of its somewhat “happy ending” but it serves as a reminder to us that we were once very close and that we are never very far away from the ultimate destruction of civilization.

Buy the audiobook through the link below:

Alas, Babylon (Unabridged)

Cathartes Aura and the Apocalypse Zoo

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turkey vulture

Fantastic! Watch the apocalypse through the eyes of a turkey vulture! Cathartes Aura and the Apocalypse Zoo is truly a “one of a kind” post apocalyptic story, written entirely in verse and told from the perspective of a turkey vulture.

The orderly world of caged animals falls into chaos when the zoo is left unattended. The turkey vulture is left to discover its true purpose as nature’s perfectly adapted scavenger, surviving on the death and destruction that is the apocalypse.

Cathartes Aura, written by Eighty Six, stands as a testament to human imagination, which is most certainly one of our few redeeming qualities.

World War Z

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Welcome to the zombie apocalypse. World War Z shows the progression of a zombie apocalypse through a series of interviews that explore the experiences of survivors from around the world. Each interview or chapter further develops the story to paint the larger picture of a worldwide catastrophic event. Zombie fans and those that like post apocalyptic fiction in general will enjoy this book. You could substitute “zombies” for any number of apocalyptic events. It just so happens that zombies are the perfect enemy. A zombie acts on instinct alone, has no fear or conscience and will never stop until their brain is destroyed. World War Z (WWZ) is unique in a number of ways. First of all, the story is conveyed through a series of interviews and shows a wide variety of perspectives from people with different cultures and geographic locations. Unlike most stories in the genre, World War Z is not confined to one geographic location. Max Brooks takes us all over the world from China, Russia, Britain, Siberia, US and even to the ocean’s floor. Another unique feature of WWZ is that it covers the entire war, from the early stages of the outbreak right up until the end where humans develop efficient ways to destroy the zombie hordes and take back much of the planet. WWZ also proposes some interesting ideas. For example, government authorities conclude that they cannot save everyone and that in order to save some people, others must be sacrificed. Although one could criticize the way in which the author proposes that “government authorities” would find and implement a solution for the vast majority, the harsh, pragmatic decision is logical in the context of this post apocalyptic scenario. WWZ is a unique, well written and exciting tale that I highly recommend you add to your list of “must read” post apocalyptic fiction.

World War Z is also available as an audiobook through the link below:

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 13 Beside the Dying Fire

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The greatest post-apocalyptic tv show ever made, AKA, The Walking Dead ends Season 2 with the farm being overtaken by a massive herd of zombies. Along with the farm, our weary group of survivors must abandon any hope that they had for a semi-normal life. While I hate to see the end of Season 2, (it is basically the only show I watch on tv and it gives me something to look forward to on a weekly basis) the season finale does give us a glimpse of what season 3 has in store and it looks excellent! Among other things, we are introduced to a new “kick ass” character and get to see a sneak preview of the group’s new post-apocalyptic safe haven. As with any good show, we are given just enough information in The Walking Dead Season 2 Beside the Dying Fire to keep us coming back for more. It’s a good thing I’m reading World War Z now or I might be going through some type of zombie fighting withdrawal! 😉 Watch the Season 2 Finale of The Walking Dead Beside the Dying Fire through the link below.

The Walking Dead, Season 2, Episode 12: Better Angels.

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We see the demise of another major character in this episode of The Walking Dead called Better Angels. I have to admit I was a bit surprised at how this one turns out. They are about to wind up the season and it looks like some major trouble is on the way. Post-Apocalyptic TV doesn’t get any better than this! Watch it through the link below.

The Walking Dead, Season 2, Episode 11: Judge, Jury, Executioner

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Wishing for the good old days turns deadly for one of the main characters in this episode. Some people are unable to accept the new reality of the zombie apocalypse. Unfortunately, when life and death decisions need to be made on a daily basis, there is little time for deliberation. As the title of this episode implies, in the absence of a justice system, people are forced to act quickly, often without the opportunity to share their decisions with others. How do you do suggest that we deal with those that are deemed dangerous criminals that pose a threat to your family in the post-apocalyptic world? Keeping them as prisoners really isn’t a very good option when food supplies and resources are limited. It certainly is food for thought…if you have any ideas please post a comment. Watch the episode through the link below:

The Prepper Trilogy by Ron Foster

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preppertrilogyWho knew that an EMP wiping out the electric grid could be so much fun!  Ron Foster creates a truly unique world that is down right hilarious at times. In this post-apocalyptic journey, an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) that is caused by a solar flare has destroyed the modern world as we know it, disabling almost everything with electronic components.

The protagonist, David, provides the very unique and often humorous perspective that makes this post-apocalyptic world so much fun.  David doesn’t take himself too seriously and likes to have a good time. He’s no fool though. In fact, he’s a military veteran with a keen sense for survival.

Along with frequent laugh out loud moments, The Prepper Trilogy has a lot of great ideas and practical prepping tips. For me, the laid back, conversational style of the story makes it easy, fun reading. These are very entertaining books. If you can appreciate some “down home”, southern survival fun with a ton of laughs and practical knowledge, the Prepper Trilogy is for you. Ron Foster reminds us that a good sense of humor is an excellent asset in any crisis situation.  

It is refreshing to see some fun and humor in the post-apocalyptic landscape. Let’s not take ourselves too seriously. After all, isn’t laughter part of what makes survival worthwhile in the first place?

The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 10: 18 Miles Out

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Their fight to the death is interrupted when Rick and Shane unwittingly unleash a horde of starving zombies. Episode 10: 18 Miles Out has plenty of zombie fighting action and gives us a few hints about the nature of the infection. If you missed this week’s episode of The Walking Dead, you can watch it on Amazon through the link below!

The Last Pilgrims

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The Last Pilgrims by Michael Bunker is a well constructed, detailed account of a hypothetical post-apocalyptic future. The story follows the development of two apparently ethically opposed groups the Vallenses and the Ghost Militia, as they struggle to survive twenty years after the collapse of modern civilization in a post-apocalyptic Texas. The Vallenses are peaceful farmers while the Ghost Militia is made up of a group of military men that in many ways are descendants of present day special forces. While they share a similar belief in God and a self-sufficient lifestyle, they fundamentally differ in their beliefs on how to survive. The Vallenses are pacifists. The Ghost Militia are soldiers. In many ways, The Last Pilgrims plays out an internal conflict that I am sure many of us share. While we may long for a peaceful, agrarian lifestyle, it is hard to imagine a world in which such a society could exist without pressure from the more violently-inclined portion of humanity. As it turns out, the Ghost Militia and the Vallenses have formed an unspoken alliance in which the Ghost Militia protects the Vallenses from the more hostile, violent elements and in return the Vallenses share their abundant food and resources. In the new Dark Age of mankind, The Vallenses and Ghost Militia are under constant threat from The Kingdom of Aztlan which is ruthless in its quest to expand its territory, influence and resources. War, spies, traitors and assassins…give a warm welcome to Michael Bunker, the new Tom Clancy of post-apocalyptic fiction.

The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 9: Triggerfinger

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The post-apocalyptic mayhem continues in AMC’s second season of The Walking Dead with Episode 9, Triggerfinger. An encounter at the “town tavern” with another group of survivors turns ugly and Rick finds that he has another war on his hands, as if a world full of flesh eating zombies and dealing with Shane’s obsession with his pregnant wife weren’t enough trouble. While it’s difficult to side with Shane due to his morally questionable actions, his keen sense for reality can’t be denied. As is often the case in post-apocalyptic scenarios, ethical matters that were once black and white often take on a certain shade of grey, especially when it comes to protecting those that you love. Great episode! Watch it through the link below:

The Walking Dead Season 2 Midseason Premiere Nebraska

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The best show on TV is back and you can watch it for free through the AMC website until February 28th! The walkers are out of the barn and the raw, violent, post-apocalyptic fury returns to The Walking Dead!  AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I won’t spoil it for you, watch it through the link below:

The Walking Dead Season 2, Midseason Premiere: Nebraska. ***no longer available for free through AMC.

update 3/7/12 This episode is no longer available for free but you can get it through Amazon at the link below. Also, for those of you wondering what the song is at the end of this episode it is The Regulator by Clutch. Rock on!