Aftermath

by LeVar Burton

The United States of 2019 is a very different place. Economic depression, an enormous earthquake, and the assassination of a black President-elect have turned the country into a war zone. Four people, each as different and troubled as the next, are the nation's last hope. But can they overcome the devastation and build a new world?

A novel on an America torn by race wars where black people are kidnaped to serve as body-part donors. The heroine is a woman who invents a machine that increases the body's immune system to the point where disease is conquered.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Audiobook, Thriller

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Levardis Robert Martyn "LeVar" Burton Jr. is an actor, director, and educator who has been an icon for more than 35 years. He was the host and producer of the influential television program Reading Rainbow for more than three decades, and starred in the TV miniseries Roots and on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He lives in Sherman Oaks, California.

Reviews

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure the reason I am the voracious reader that I am today can easily be traced back to LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow , which he hosted. Thank you, PBS, for years of my childhood being devoted to that show. And, okay, thank you Parental Units for letting us watch it and encouraging us to be readers.



Then later, after having outgrown Reading Rainbow, there were the years of Star Trek: Next Generation where Burton played Geordi LaForge, the blind guy with the banana clip over his eyes to help him see. Somewhere around that time I also had to read Alex Haley's Roots for school leading up to that long period of time we spent watching the miniseries in class - because nothing says LEARNING like watching TV.

It's sort of like LeVar Burton was everywhere in my life for a good chunk of my formative years. So it was surprising to me when recently I came across Aftermath in the library. Who knew he wrote a book? Apparently my brother did, though why he failed to share this knowledge with me is a serious issue that we may need to brawl about later. In any case, I needed a book like Aftermath in my life, so I checked it out. Let's just take a quick peek at the first paragraph of the dust jacket:

A.D. 2000-2019: The first African-American president-elect is assassinated... a massive earthquake levels the Midwest... the economic and social fabric collapses in a second civil war... the government dissolves, leaving a continent of homeless refugees and armed militias... This is the... AFTERMATH.

Okay, brilliant. I am hooked already. Aftermath was published in 1997 and the subtitle calls this book A Novel of the Future. It's not so futuristic now, is it? It's 2010, already ten years into Burton's story, and not that far off track really. Actually pretty relevant to how many things have turned out so far, which is just sort of spooky.

It was really the "massive earthquake levels the Midwest" that drew me more into the story than the rest of the story itself. Anyone who lived in the Midwest in the early 90s such as myself will probably recognize the name Iben Browning. He somehow got it in his head that a pretty severe earthquake would occur sometime in early December, 1990. I don't remember the details of his prediction (the whys and wherefores other than the New Madrid fault was apparently way overdue), but I do remember the freaking widespread panic that occurred due to his prediction. I do remember there being gallons of water in every classroom just in case the earthquake hit and we got stuck in the rubble of our collapsed school, and I do remember the earthquake drills we were subjected to routinely. I remember being scared to death about this god-awful earthquake that was going to happen on December 3rd, 1990. I was convinced that Missouri - the bloody hell-hole I was forced to live in with my family - was going to fall into the bowels of the earth which sucked all the more because of how unhappy I was there to begin with.

Turns out there was no earthquake on December 3rd, 1990. Iben Browning died in 1991, and I've managed to get away from Missouri unscathed. Last I heard Missouri is still there. I think about that stupid prediction every December 3rd and probably will always sort of get that crazy panic-attack feeling in my chest on that day, no matter where I live. Effing Iben Browning.

But back to the book! This book really isn't that bad! I'm not sure why I'm surprised. LeVar Burton is an intelligent guy and has a lot of important things to say. The story is a bit rough around the edges - a lot of vague issues going on that are sort of resolved very easily and cleanly, but I read this all with a grain of salt anyhow so I thought it was a fun bit of a read. I'm surprised this is the only book Burton has written - the epilogue leads up to the possibility of there being a second book, and maybe that was the plan, but it evidently never came into fruition. Sadly, I think. I would love to see where Burton went with the story. He could even write it now and it would still be relevant. I'm not sure why this book isn't more popular than it is - it's not the best science fiction novel out there, but it's worth reading. It's similar to Octavia Butler in a lot of ways, a comparison I think is pretty favorable. So... a fun read this was, and a quick one as well, perfect for a day of drinking wine and not moving from the couch. But remember:

[Corvus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read Aftermath after reading an excerpt in the scifi collection "Octavia's Brood" not knowing what to expect from this Star Trek actor and Reading Rainbow host. This book is not the best writing and is full of cliches and plot holes. But, at the same time it brings a diverse set of likeable characters, an atypical post apocalypse story, lots of good ideas, and lots of nods to radical movements and struggles faced by more than the usual white male protagonists in sci fi. I couldn't decide whether to give it 3 or 4 stars. It was reading rainbow, not writing rainbow, for a reason. But I'm glad Burton wrote this book anyways.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book in 1998, and it sat on my to read pile until October of 2020... I believe it's a more interesting read now in 2020, than it would have been back in 1998.

The book is set in the year 2019, and so sets up the story by recounting significant events that took place over the previous 20 years. None of those events took place in real life, and most of them we should be happy never took place, but there are a couple of eerie similarities that resonate more with dangers today than with events at the close of the 20th century. (The book speaks of a second American Civil War from 2015 to 2018.)

The book is well written, better in fact than many more recent publications. The book speaks to the issues of race and race relations. This is something I expected, as Mr. Burton explains in his forward that as much as he enjoyed the works of the science fiction masters growing up, he never seemed to find characters who "looked like him."

Ultimately, the book fails as a work of fiction not because most of the characters are black, (I've enjoyed many books where the characters aren't even human) but because the book portrays most whites as violent racists, and all minorities as oppressed.

I found it interesting that some of the dialog is quite politically incorrect in 2020. It's not that Mr. Burton was being insensitive, he wasn't, he was merely using conventions of speech that were common at the time. Young readers today might not be able to place the language in proper context.

There are a number of small errors I could point out but really, there's no need. If you are a reader interested in how blacks in america perceive white people, you will find this book quite enlightening.

[Amadeaus Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, first - I adore LeVar Burton; I grew up with him reading books in Reading Rainbow, loved him on Star Trek TNG, Roots, etc.
But this book feels like a rough first draft. The premise is interesting, but the execution needs more development, more finessing. That's the nicest I can say it. Sorry.

[Frank Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly a post-apocalypse tale, more of a post-diaster story. There are four protagonists in play all with very separate lives that become connected as the story progresses. It's a tragic and dramatic set up for this story.

Leon discovers a connection between space flight and a series of devastating weather events around the globe and despite the fact that it will jeopardise his own career, he makes the results public. NASA is almost instantly canned and with an assassination of America's first black president it isn't long before things get way out of hand on little old Earth. The book starts with a chronology of these events that will get you up to scratch.

A figure of some disrepute now that he has basically killed NASA, Leon's home gets a molotov through the window which kills his family. It's all a bit much for the reader to swallow in just a few pages, but imagine being poor Leon and living through it. Lost and alone Leon winds up homeless and that's where he enters the narrative.

Another scientist working for a small research organisation has developed a "neuro-enhancer" which seems to be a cure all device that works by increasing the brain's functioning capacity but her research becomes an issue of contention and this serves as the main driving element of the plot.

I especially liked the thread which followed the young lady Amy, a homeless girl seeking her misplaced mother. The naivety of her thoughts in desperate situations made it all the more dramatic.

The fourth main character is a medicine man named Joseph who hears the call of The White Buffalo Woman which sends him on a pilgrimage to Chicago and that's how he gets involved in the events over there.

It's hard not to draw any connections to Star Trek, but a few familiarities were noticeable. There's a Chakotay like father and son relationship, where the son had left the reservation to pursue his studies. There's also a telepathic element which emerges as a side effect of the neuro-enhancer treatment, it's super long distance like the after effects of a Vulcan bonding. Probably the most significant connection is that the weather problems caused by Space shuttle launch and reentry rang a little similar to the problem of Warp Drive damaging subspace.

The story is a brutal one with rape and robbery and racist violence a common fear on the post-financial-collapse American streets and not at all avoided in this plot, contrary to what one might expect from the friendly face of Reading Rainbow. Don't expect a comfortable read.

The story leaned into psychological horror when Leon made a pretty staggering mental leap. He'd been hearing a voice talk to him in his mind, then when he could hear the voice even as it was talking to someone else he began to fear that he would eventually be unable to separate his own thoughts and feelings from hers. All very exciting stuff but practically empty supposition on Leon's behalf.

It's written pretty well although with a few lazy lines and pitfalls, in particular the ending is a bit of a non event and includes a completely unnecessary celebratory sex scene. I think I would have expected something a bit more from LeVar Burton but I did thoroughly enjoy the story. The plot is engaging and hopeful despite the grim setting and there's a lot of meaning in the writing.

"Freedom: The word meant so much to those who didn't have it."

I would be interested in reading more but I've no expectation that we'll be lucky enough to get any more and I'm just pleased to have found this one.

[Mary JL · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some good ideas here and some well written scenes. However, those scenes are few and far between--not enough to create a good book.

There are some serious plot holes. Some are big enough to fly a starship trhough. When Dr. Richards goes to her lab alone, AT NIght, in a devasted city, you find it hard to beleive she is a genius. The private secirity guardshe hires to drive her through the dangerous city--why not pay him to accompany her as well? And with theft and violence a way of life in this devasted future city I find it hard to believe that 1) The research institute has No security at night. Tight budget? You'd cut something else--not security. Also, after all the rioting and disorder described, they still have GLASS doors? Plywood is not that expsensive.

Also, when Amy Ladue escapes St. Louis--I'll give no spoiler details --but when I read it I thought a 10 year Old? A malnourished 10 year old who'd been living on the streets with little physical training? NO WAY! A trained 15 year old athlete--maybe. Okay, feeling really generous--maybe a talented 13 year old. NOT TEN. Too unbelievable.

The story also does not run smoothly. Some parts do not seem to go together; there are certain contradictions. The few good parts just can't carry the whole story.

Not worth your time. There are too many other good books out there.

[Joshua Hair · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this so much. It pains me to say that because of Mr. Burton’s background on Reading Rainbow, but the writing is very amateurish and cliche. That could be excused. Other issues cannot. Every single female character, including a nine year old, is either sexually assaulted or sexual assault is attempted on multiple occasions. All of them. If a female character is in the chapter the word r—e will appear without fail within a few pages. It’s disgusting and unnecessary. Coupled with a host of cliche characters (such as an “Indian” medicine man who smokes a pipe, has visions from a buffalo god, and magically heals a boy with his mind) and an over-the-top approach to certain racial issues, this would have been a rough read even without the sexual assault fixation.
P.S. The trans community doesn’t get left out either. According to the “Indian” in the book, one of the telltale signs of the end of days is when “men become women and women become men”. This is put in alongside such atrocities as global war, planes crashing from the sky, and natural disasters decimating nations.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I respect Lavar Burton. He was remarkable as Kunta Kinte in Alex Hailey's television mini-series "Roots" in 1977. Burton was a 19-year old undergraduate at University of Southern California at the time. His role as Geordi La Forge on television's "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987-1994) was memorable. I appreciated his work as the host and producer of "Reading Rainbow" (1983-2006) on public television. There was doubtless more money elsewhere but he chose to answer a higher call. He was even tested (26-30 July 2021) as a guest host on television's "Jeopardy!" As part of my response to my son-in-law Michael's urging that I read more black authors, I picked up a copy of Burton's "Aftermath." It is the story of America following a civil war based on race and class, which produces an economic collapse. Running through this typical dystopian imagining is a spiritual thread which sets it apart from other similar novels. The author was, at one time, a Roman Catholic seminarian. Unfortunately, the work is horribly marred by cliché -- not one ot two, here and there, but at least one trite, hackneyed, banal phrase on every page. It was difficult to take the story seriously when it was so impaired by this sort of poor writing. Were there no copy editors at Warner Books who could have prevented such an embarrassment!? I really cannot recommend a piece of writing to which I would have assigned a D had I been grading it at university.

[Melody]

DNF. Every woman I met in the first several chapters has been brutally sexually assaulted. WTF, LeVar? I'm out.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book written 24 years ago, it is frightening how it seemed to predict a few things that actually came to pass. Thankfully, not every event portrayed took place but somehow I still feel like we are close to where the book finds us in 2019. After a series of natural disasters, tensions between white Americans and POC have intensified and a majority of the country is living in poverty. Into this a small band of people are called to help a woman they don't know. I liked the concept, though the writing is a bit amateur and I cringed when I read "he screamed like a woman." So while the story and writing could use a bit of polish, it is an interesting story and worth the read.

[John Ready Reader One · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointing. Hoped it was a 4 at least. Just ok. Could have been a 3* but the SJW commentary in the prolog bothered me. So much conjecture and opinion I wasnt into it.

[Ric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a lot more because LeVar Burton is one of my favorite human beings of all time, but this was just okay, probably 2.5 rounded up. Having been written so long ago, a lot of it was prescient with the political climate of today and I enjoyed the post apocalyptic world it was set in. But I didn’t really connect with the characters much, and quite a few of the plot point wrapped up a little too easily.

[lio⭑ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t realize this was written by a man until it was too late

[David Agranoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when it came out but was motivated for two reasons to re-read this dystopian sci-fi novel again. I'll get to those in a bit. First let's talk about the origins of the book. In the 90's many of the actors working in the Star Trek franchises from William Shatner, James Doohan to Jonathan Frankes were releasing co-written sci-fi novels. I am sure they came up with the concepts but they were clearly all mostly written by the hired co-authors. Aftermath however written by actor, director and producer Levar Burton who is most known for playing Geordi Laforge on The Next Generation was different.

Aftermath felt like a book that he clearly wrote himself. I mean it has some signs of being written by a first time novelist, but I actually respect the book even more for that reason. Lavar Burton is a gifted director and anyone who listens to his excellent new podcast 'Levar Burton reads' understands that he knows a thing or two about story. His monologues talking about the stories at the end are a clear highlight of the podcast.

That was the first reason I wanted to re-read this book. I have often told my writing partner on a series of TV scripts we are turning into a novel that Burton would be my dream director for the project's pilot.

The second reason was when I saw that the date of the future this book was set in was one year away. I was interested to see how different it was from our world. When I picked up a copy of the book Trump was elected and racial protests were erupting in Virginia. It is clear that the election of Donald Trump signaled the racists to come out in the clear so a race war doesn't seem so impossible. As far as a story goes Aftermath is a breezy tale set after major collapse has resulted in an American conflict based on race and economic classism.

In this novel the race war is set up by the election of a black president in 2012. That happened by the way, and while the race war has not happened the hatred stirred up by Obama being elected happened. Slower, more subtle than in the events of this novel. In the end it was a racist president getting elected in response that really has stirred the pot. I am sure Levar Burton feels like Ray Bradbury who famously said "I wasn't predicting the future I was trying to prevent it."

Burton tells the story through the lens of multiple characters connected by a psychic link. The main Point of view is a homeless black man Leon Crane who was academic. The story kicks off when the Maguffin in the form of computer disks are given to woman he sees kidnapped. He and few other people scattered around the country with connects to the woman are by the link to follow her to Chicago. The travels of the characters practically Leon on the train are fun and suspenseful.

This feels like The Stand without the epic scope. The setting and the world building is epic, the characters are all really realized. It is impressive much much story is crammed into the short page count. That is a bit of a double edged sword.In fact one of the biggest problems with the book is that it could have been two hundred pages longer. That is something I rarely say. The events of this book come together very fast and if anything too fast. A little more room to develop the characters would have added to an already interesting story and setting. Burton is a good writer and I wanted more.

If there is any other weakness is the story is light on the darkness. I certainly understand why Burton would do so, alot of his readers followed him from Star Trek and Reading Rainbow, but we also know him from Roots. A little more unflinching look at the world would have gone a long way. That is not to say there are not rough moments. The scene where Amy is attacked in St. Louis was effectively done horror.

Really glad to have this on my shelf. Most importantly I would like to say that I want another Levar Burton novel.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

It hurts my heart to give this book one star. LeVar Burton was a pillar in my childhood, and when I saw he’d written a book, *of course* I had to read it!

But that’s where the excitement ended.

Almost every single chapter that had either the woman or 10 year old girl’s perspective, was filled with fear of rape, and one actual attempted rape of the 10 year old. It was constant and repulsive. Women and girls exist in this world not just as vessels of men. The scene with the 10 year old cleaning herself up in the bath was also written in such a way that it made my skin crawl, even though there was nothing explicit written.

The other major problem I had with this book was the lack of emotion by, well, *everyone*. They had previously gone through some pretty horrific life events, and yet none of them seemed to have a single feeling about that, besides one character thinking about his dead family in graphic, and I mean graphic, detail. Everyone in this book reacts, but none of them ever feel.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the choices Burton makes for his characters feel a little dated at times, but on the whole, this novel has aged almost too well. Burton manages to hit all the right sci-fi notes to keep the inner geek happy while also painting a political picture that has become eerily familiar in the last few years. Definitely worth a read.

[Korey Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down! Also, the audiobook narrates by Leave Burton is absolutely compelling. Like many incredible black sci-fi authors, there stories were ahead of their time. This book, published in 1997 feels even more accurate in 2021.

[Heather-Lin · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 12%

An intriguing premise, written and read by a person I deeply respect. But. One of the characters is a street child, and is lured by a man offering her food... Yeah, I don't care if she's saved in time or the man is punished, I'm pissed that Burton would even go there. Lots of authors do it for instant plot trauma/drama, and I resent every single one. This is simply unacceptable. I expected better from you LeVar. Keep writing, and keep learning, Dude.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very fast and easy read, like watching a B-grade sci-fi movie on a Saturday afternoon. But intriguing enough, and the writing is (mostly) not half bad. Interestingly timely even though written more than 20+ years ago, with an interesting take on what a post-2nd-civil racist war USA might look like. Some concepts where a potion of society goes are pretty dark and horrifying.

[Leili V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tbh this book was kinda boring but I just pretended that Geordi was giving me a private reading. I am in awe of some of the things Geordi predicted that came true in real life tho.

[Alicia Birdie and the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Max Snider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads better as if it is LeVar Burton prediction of the future that is now the past than traditional sci-fi. A little cliche but pretty fun.

[L.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars

Aftermath is a post-apocalyptic story based in the near future. I've been reading this book while I've also been watching the coverage of the fires in Los Angeles County...a double nightmare.

SUMMARY: America today is teetering on the edge of the alarming vision presented in LeVar Burton’s debut novel, written more than two decades ago. In 2012, the first African American president is assassinated by a white extremist—just four days after he is elected. The horrific tragedy leads to riots, financial collapse, and ultimately, a full-on civil war. In its aftermath, millions are left homeless as famine and disease spread throughout the country. But from Chicago, a mysterious voice cries out. To Leon Crane, a former NASA scientist now struggling to survive on the streets, the pleas he hears remind him of the wife he could not save—and offer him a chance at redemption. To Jacob Fire Cloud, a revered Lakota medicine man, the voice is a sign that the White Buffalo Woman has returned to unite all the races in peace and prosperity. And to little Amy Ladue, the cries are those of her mother, who disappeared during the devastating St. Louis earthquake—and who must still be alive. These three strangers will be drawn together to rescue someone they have never met, a woman who holds the key to a new future for humanity—one remarkably brimming with hope.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting this to be quite so dark! For anyone considering reading this, it is DARK AS HELL.

With that out of the way, there are plenty of things in the book that hit home effectively. Many parts of the world building are well thought out and realistic, and weirdly prescient.

I have a few issues:
1. Jacob Fire Cloud is an elderly Lakota medicine man who in many ways feels like a walking stereotype. I do not know if LeVar consulted with any Lakota tribe members when writing this character. He is dignified and tough, and definitely a positive character in the book, but he also embodies some tropes I am a little wary of.
2. The premise of dividing the elements among the races and dividing the races into 4 groups as a basis for your worldbuilding in modern America is a little odd. Parts of the story line up, but that concept seems to get dropped after its initial explanation in favor of sort of general mysticism as we approach the end, so the impact of that story is never fully realized.
3. The two female characters definitely have the most difficult stories/travels. I am torn whether that is realistic or whether it's making them too much of a victim. The adult woman contributes to the story constantly and effectively while needing to be rescued, while the 10 year old girl doesn't seem to serve much purpose in the plot, other than to be sympathetic.

Overall, I am torn about the book. It's dark and searing, and it does a lot well. The reality Burton describes in post-apocalypse America seems like only a couple major disasters away. Corporate greed, racism, corrupt medical establishment - they all seem far too familiar for comfort. It also leans on some tropes and some shock value to get the reader to feel what they want. I think I'm a 4 in terms of book quality, and probably a 3 in terms of my actual enjoyment of the book.

CW: There's a pretty brutal and graphic attempted SA of a child about 2 or 3 chapters in, so be prepared. Beyond that, gritty post-apocalypse fueled by racism, so violence, hints at cannibalism, slavery/imprisonment/slaughter of black folks, medical corruption, various references to and threats of SA, though none as graphic as the first one, poverty, hunger, war, body mutilation, illness, and injury, references to sex trafficking, some drug use, etc. Plus the weird stereotypes about the Lakota man, including a character spouting off things like "Well you're an Indian, you must have some way of healing them, right?"

[Ian Mewhinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5: Was glad to stumble on this book while looking for something new, plus was glad to see that LeVar narrated it as well. Loved that it opened with a newer Authors note from 2021 when it was recorded to be open about the civil rights problems in America still relevant today. Great character personalities, world building, and book structure with added quotes for each of the 5 parts of the book. I loved that there were some sound effects used during the audiobook for fun during the "earthquake of 2013" which is the apocalyptic type event for the book. Great thriller action scenes during part one, but also some disturbing ones. Cool opening with the homeless former scientist Leon who published about space travel dangers, causing the downfall of society and death of his family. Dr Rene Reynolds is kidnapped, she claims to have invented a life curing neuroenhancer device, she gives the codes for the device to the homeless Leon in an alley. It turns out she can project her thoughts to Leon. So Leon has her voice calling to him, so he hops some train box cars to hitchhike to Chicago where she is located. There is a third main character named Amy who becomes connected with Rene as well. She was raped by a rich bald man in the beginning, before having to run away from the cops. The repetitive "Help Me" in their minds gets really annoying at times. As expected Leon and Amy cross paths and continue to Chicago together. Rene makes an escape from her attackers/abductors. Then the climax is great with them coming together and witnessing the skin farms and apocalyptic aspects. Great wrap up to the book. Overall despite being a bit repetitive at times, this was a great overall book on plot and sci fi/dystopian universe aspects.

[nimrodiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Levar Burton's books have been the source of much book angst over the years every time we see them in the bookstore. I've picked this off the shelves and put it back so many times rather than be disappointed like some of the other sci-fi books written by Star Trek stars *coughWilliamShattnercough*

I'm glad that I finally got a chance to read this one. It is very reminiscent to the directions that our world has been leaning. The recent economic crisis, on top of the vote next week to see if the country will have its first African-American President, and even the earthquake that happened this spring on the Madrid Fault here in the Mid-West (while not at the scale in this story it was a wake up call that bad things could happen) all popped into my mind while reading through the intro to the story. However, I have faith that discord such as this won't happen in the here and now for the same reasons.

It was a very dark look at the way the world could change just like *snaps* that. While I didn't find it as strong of a story as Octavia Butler's Parable of a Sower it was a very good book. I finished it in two bus trips to and from school and work.

I'm glad to say that this was a good famous author experience and I'm really glad to have read this. Now to see what else he has written *grin*

[Rose Vining · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt drawn to this book for some reason off of my friend's shelf. Maybe it was the white buffalo woman calling me? Anyway, I think it was generally good, with a lot more horror aspects in it than I expected. When I picked the book up, I fully thought it would be a typical post apocolyptic thriller. I did not expect to find a rather believable story about social injustices. It feels a bit odd to read in 2020, after the book takes place (and it was clearly written to be futuristic in the late 1990s), knowing in a bit of dramatic irony that it actually wasn't terribly far off in some aspects. I think my biggest complaint was how some characters got put on the bus, when I really wanted to get to know them better. I feel that the book could have been longer and a bit more detailed in this way. It also definitely felt as though some of the science could have used a bit more explaining.. but perhaps this is my troubles with suspending my disbelief coming into play. I would still say it is a worth a read!

[Brian Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stock story with decidedly mediocre writing.

Aftermath moves best when Burton is writing action scenes. I suspect that his years of acting play a large part in this. However, there are so many trite descriptions, poor word choices, grammatical mistakes, and scientifically absurd ideas that it is difficult to engage with Burton’s story. The space shuttle causes climate disasters? A neural stimulator allows for ESP? An “EKG” machine measures brain waves - come on!

The best written character is the 9 year old girl, although even here there isn’t a lot of character development. In fact, there isn’t a single principal character, just a mix of predictable character sketches. I hate to say it, but as in Star Trek, it’s pretty obvious which character isn’t going to make it. The villain is one-dimensionally evil, although the idea of using skin / grafts as the mechanism of his depravity is a clever twist on the racism that Burton is trying to write about.

Overall, I can’t recommend the book. Rent a Next Generation episode instead.

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook with LeVar Burton narrating. That was actually very good. But the story itself was lacking. It was too simple. And too many words were devoted to description of characters’ thoughts and actions that didn’t really advance the plot. The book’s concept, however, was interesting. Post-apocalyptic world of a US economic failure, or so I gathered as there wasn’t much discussed for why people were trying to survive. Just that a major war happened. There is an emphasis on race, but it’s not clear why as the theme of the book did not tie back to the dedication to constantly point out and remind readers who was black and white. There just wasn’t enough to make me care about the story and the characters; nevertheless, it wasn’t a terrible read/listen. I was engaged in the story, but I think it was because I listened to it. Had I been sitting and reading it, I may not have been able to get through it.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was first published in 1997 with the current time in the book being 2019. Many things specified in his timeline for the book is eerily similar to things that have happened. For instance, in this book the first African-American president was elected in 2010 but was assassinated shortly afterwards sparking huge race riots that ends up into full blown war. There are a lot of orphans. Add in man's frequent trips to space have added damage to the upper atmosphere also causing problems. The economy has collapse and nearly everyone is poor. Funding for public services is non existent resulting in the rich essentially controlling them resulting in police and fire fighters only helping those that can pay. Social inequality led to many of these problems as is corporate greed. I found it a very interesting and thought provoking book with a lot of thriller elements.

Leon Cane is an African-American man who used to work for NASA as a scientist. However, his studies showed the frequent excursions through the atmosphere was triggering violent weather patterns. He tried to warn his superiors who ignored him and as a result he published his work as a warning. The result was losing his job and his home had been torched killing his wife and young child. Like many after the race wars he is no homeless living on the streets in Atlanta. He is just surviving and feels tremendous guilt for not being able to save his family.

Dr. Rene Reynolds is an African-American medical researcher. She has developed a machine she calls the "neuro-enhancer". She has found that by stimulating neurons in a person's brain will trigger the brain to actively heal the body. So far all conditions from cancer to Parkinson's are healed over time. She needs more funding for additional research and she only has one prototype that only works in conjunction with a removable computer chip. During the presentation she is asked if there are any side effects and she lies saying there isn't. However, the truth is that in very rare cases the neuro-enhancer seems to have stimulated the part of the brain causing people to have psychic like abilities usually in the form of sensing impending danger. She has been testing this upon herself and she is one of the rare people where this side effect kicks in.

Rene has been getting "danger" warnings. As she is checking on the neuro-hancer in the lab white men break in. She doesn't want to let the machine fall into the wrong hands and runs with the coded chips required to use the machine. She manages to get out of the building but is incapacitated. There's no-one except an African-American homeless man nearby to help. She pushes the chips into his hands and tells him to run. Then she is captures and taken to a facility in Chicago. She is terrified at what will happen. Turns out her abductor was one of the doctors to see her presentation and he does not want the neuro-enhancer to continue to be researched because it would put him out of work and unable to make money. While meditating in her cell she attempts to utilize the part of her brain only used with the enhancer before to send a cry out for help. She visualizes the homeless man she gave the chips and sends her message and where she is. The message reaches Leon who decides that he will not fail another person and starts rail hopping his way to Chicago to save her.

Amy Ladue is a white child of maybe ten years of age. She's not sure. Her father died during the race wars and her mom is missing. She has been living on the streets in this devestated city along the Mississippi River. There are shelters but they're not well run and often abuse occurs within them. She's vowed to stay on the streets as she views them as safer as long as she's careful. She meets a rich, white man one of the people often called "zebra" because of the use of skin grafts from dark-skinned people to deal with skin cancer. The man attempts to sexually assault her and she fights him off. She eludes him and police by jumping on a coal barge. She hears a woman's voice in her head asking for help and she assumes it's her mother. She starts making the trek getting help from various people along the way.

Jacob Fire Cloud is a Lakota medicine man in South Dakota. Lore has it a third and devestating "shaking" is approaching and unless the White Buffalo Woman returns the world cannot be saved. After fasting and praying he receives a vision. The White Buffalo Woman is returning except this time she is taking the form of an African-American woman. She needs his help so he leaves his son behind and starts out on his bicycle. Realizing this will take too long he prays for assistance and a delivery vehicle comes willing to take him part way. However, when they reach the delivery destination he hijacks the vehicle with a gun and tells the driver to take him all the way to Chicago.

All of them have heard the cry for help and are making their way. Along the way they will have to deal with and avoid the worst society such as bandits, white supremacists, and worst of all the skinners, which are the people that provide physicians with the African-American skin and organs by kidnapping dark-skinned people. While the world is in a dark place now there is also light. The homeless people willingly help each other and often share what they have. Others help the characters along the way willingly not asking for anything in return. While the book depicts the worse humanity can be it also shows the best it has to offer as well. Ultimately, that's the goal for many of the characters . . . to help society and hopefully improve it along the way.