Review by SwissKeener -- Going Gone by Abraham Lopez
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[Following is a volunteer review of "Going Gone" by Abraham Lopez.]
What would you do when faced with the end of the world as you know it? How prepared are you to survive in a post-apocalyptic world? Can you defend yourself and your home against vigilante invasion? The various short stories in Abraham Lopez’s anthology, Going Gone, explore how various individuals deal with a dystopian world left behind after the U.S. is attacked by a series of nuclear bombs.
The central storyline is gripping as well as completely plausible. We have seen time and again how one small event can cause a ripple throughout continents, countries, and mankind. For example, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand sparked the beginning of World War I. The bombing of Pearl Harbor provoked the United States into entering World War II. In this particular collection of short stories, the assassination of a well-respected and much-loved Middle Eastern prime minister sets off a chain of events throughout the world.
I honestly liked everything about this book. I particularly liked how, although it was written a couple of years ago, it eerily relates to current events happening right now in our society. There was talk of biological warfare which led to face masks, curfews, and social distancing. This is incredibly familiar as we all currently navigate the Covid-19 virus today. There was also talk of rioting and burning of buildings and businesses in the book. Today we find that businesses are being looted and burned by rioters in so many cities across the United States in the wake of anti-racism protests.
I also liked the range of different characters and scenarios. We are introduced to a rock band struggling with their lead singer while on tour across the U.S. We also encounter Kurt Ramis, a retired Assistant Director of the CIA. Ramis gives the reader a very accurate synopsis and analysis of the prime minister’s assassination. Another role is that of Phil Barr, Hollywood talk show host. Phil becomes trapped in his Hollywood home and must defend himself against looters and rioters. Many other distinct roles are presented throughout the book. The author did a fantastic job of character development within each of the short stories. The chapters may have been small in length but big on depth of description and emotion. The reader could easily become connected to the persons, feel compassion for each, and share in their various sentiments - whether it be fear, anger, or despair.
Finally, I found the references to Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Empire extremely fascinating. The smokescreen and military tactics used by the Khan dynasties were compared to the destruction of this book’s fictional military weapon - the Tangerine Demon. Both were intense in their attack on enemies. Both would deceive their enemies by faking retreat, and then both would deliver catastrophic blows. Finally, both were intent on the destruction of the Chinese.
Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was very well edited, and I did not find any negative aspect to the book. I would highly recommend this anthology to someone interested in dystopian fiction. However, due to profanity throughout the book, I would also recommend it to a more mature audience. Hats off to this young, up-and-coming author!
******
Going Gone
View: on Bookshelves |
What would you do when faced with the end of the world as you know it? How prepared are you to survive in a post-apocalyptic world? Can you defend yourself and your home against vigilante invasion? The various short stories in Abraham Lopez’s anthology, Going Gone, explore how various individuals deal with a dystopian world left behind after the U.S. is attacked by a series of nuclear bombs.
The central storyline is gripping as well as completely plausible. We have seen time and again how one small event can cause a ripple throughout continents, countries, and mankind. For example, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand sparked the beginning of World War I. The bombing of Pearl Harbor provoked the United States into entering World War II. In this particular collection of short stories, the assassination of a well-respected and much-loved Middle Eastern prime minister sets off a chain of events throughout the world.
I honestly liked everything about this book. I particularly liked how, although it was written a couple of years ago, it eerily relates to current events happening right now in our society. There was talk of biological warfare which led to face masks, curfews, and social distancing. This is incredibly familiar as we all currently navigate the Covid-19 virus today. There was also talk of rioting and burning of buildings and businesses in the book. Today we find that businesses are being looted and burned by rioters in so many cities across the United States in the wake of anti-racism protests.
I also liked the range of different characters and scenarios. We are introduced to a rock band struggling with their lead singer while on tour across the U.S. We also encounter Kurt Ramis, a retired Assistant Director of the CIA. Ramis gives the reader a very accurate synopsis and analysis of the prime minister’s assassination. Another role is that of Phil Barr, Hollywood talk show host. Phil becomes trapped in his Hollywood home and must defend himself against looters and rioters. Many other distinct roles are presented throughout the book. The author did a fantastic job of character development within each of the short stories. The chapters may have been small in length but big on depth of description and emotion. The reader could easily become connected to the persons, feel compassion for each, and share in their various sentiments - whether it be fear, anger, or despair.
Finally, I found the references to Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Empire extremely fascinating. The smokescreen and military tactics used by the Khan dynasties were compared to the destruction of this book’s fictional military weapon - the Tangerine Demon. Both were intense in their attack on enemies. Both would deceive their enemies by faking retreat, and then both would deliver catastrophic blows. Finally, both were intent on the destruction of the Chinese.
Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was very well edited, and I did not find any negative aspect to the book. I would highly recommend this anthology to someone interested in dystopian fiction. However, due to profanity throughout the book, I would also recommend it to a more mature audience. Hats off to this young, up-and-coming author!
******
Going Gone
View: on Bookshelves |
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