3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Aftermath, a debut novel by Gary Gaudin, is an epic tale of survival and self-discovery in a collapsed world setting.
The protagonist Ryan is well equipped with both the tools and skills necessary for survival. He has survived worldwide societal collapse and the resulting dystopia-dotted landscape by hiding in the woods and carefully considering when or whether to help others. This consideration mostly involves a preference for self-preservation over helping others and gives reasons why Ryan had survived alone for so long. Though he has all the attributes of an alpha hero Ryan remains modest and reluctant to accept praise.
Ryan zigzags across the country on a never ending road trip, avoiding the slave traders and cannibal gangs that have sprung up following the collapse. Nowhere is safe. Everything is a trap. He meets a blind man who gives him the title of Paladin, a sort of white knight and defender of the weak. Ryan dismisses this title, but begins to wonder if he could be a Paladin. Ultimately he isn’t given a choice when the blind man spreads tall tales about the Paladin to everyone he meets. Ryan’s carefully considered helping of others generates true stories which spread and change like a bad game of Chinese whispers.
He takes on a lost girl who becomes both friend and apprentice. This girl, and the Paladin stories Ryan hears from others, shape who he becomes.
There is a lot to like about this novel. The premise is great and the characters well developed with clear or eventually clear motivations. As a very reluctant hero Ryan makes a likeable and refreshing protagonist for the dystopian genre, where alpha heroes without modesty usually reign. The dystopian setting is reasonable and appropriately horrifying.
The writing style is straightforward and easy to follow with lots of A then B structure. There are some surprises though with elegant similes used to explain things like the traps Ryan encounters. One such trap is compared to the carnivorous pitcher plant, whose slippery sides and jug like structure make it inescapable to insects. Ryan and the blind man’s ongoing discussions on why society can’t rebuild itself are deep and well-reasoned.
I didn’t like the plot. Stories involving long journeys have a tendency to drag on and lack direction, which this one certainly does. This works well as a road trip story that is also a self-discovery story, but overall the plot could be more concise and better linked. That being said the episodic structure of Ryan’s adventures would translate well to a TV series.
The spelling and grammar really lets this novel down. There are their and they’re mix ups and words with letters missing. A professional edit is needed.
Overall an impressive first novel that will appeal to most. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
******
Aftermath
View: on Bookshelves
Like Guppy's review? Post a comment saying so!
