"Summer of the Apocalypse" by James Van Pelt

[Bill Hicks]

I loves me some end-of-the-world fiction, which is probably why I eventually found my way to LATOC for the real thing.  Ever since I first laid eyes on "The Stand" and "On the Beach" while in high school, I've been hooked.

That said, many end-of-the-world books are poorly conceived and poorly written, in other words pure shite.  But every now and then a superior example of the genre comes around (check out "World War Z" by Max Brooks for instance).

I just recently finished "Summer of the Apocalypse," and let me say James Van Pelt knows how to string some sentences together.  The story unfolds over a 60-year stretch following a virus that wipes out most of humanity.  The depictions of society crumbling, as seen through the eyes of a teenaged boy, are chillingly believable.  Intertwined is the story of the boy at the other end of his life trying to keep the flame of civilization alive.  He embarks on a journey through the changed world, finding some things that might be expected (a crazed militia) and some unexpected (a tribe evolved from feral children). 

For all of the death and destruction, however, this is a surprisingly humane novel, and it builds to the kind of emotional climax that only "On the Beach" has achieved within the genre.  Anyone who wants to know more can follow the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Apocalypse-James-Van-Pelt/dp/0974657387/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204426568&sr=1-1

[pamplemousse]

Thank you for the recommendation, it's in my shopping cart now!
Pam

[jimvanpelt]

Thanks for the nice comments.  I'm glad you enjoyed the book.  I blog about writing and teaching topics at http://jimvanpelt/livejournal.com.  You're welcome to drop by.

[Bill Hicks]

Mr. Van Pelt:  Thank you for the invitation, I will drop by your blog.  Keep up the good work!