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The Living Hunger
Dr. Dennis F. Larsen presents a Post-Apocalyptic story of struggle, endurance and survival. 'The Living Hunger' is book one in the series with book two projected for early 2014.
A hardened war veteran collides with a venomous leader and rogue assassin, turning Northern Utah into the next great battleground.
Sergeant Farrell Jenson survives a world lost to nuclear and biological warfare only to find his home destroyed and family missing. He joins forces with Gary Merrill, a local business leader, and Major Melanie Ghostkeeper, a Marine Medic, to begin the process of rebuilding. A small group of survivors unite under a banner of freedom and hunker down in Bear River High School. Friendships and love are forged in the hot fires of adversity as they fight for their very lives, amidst a world turned upside down, where death is the new way of life.
A festering evil is combing the land, led by one man, Don Bullock. The rotund, venomous leader spearheads a community with a taboo, underlying secret that will pit good against evil in a dramatic show of force and violence between the two groups. Solomon, a rogue African assassin, launches a one-man assault on the Bear Riverites, seeking blood and retribution to satiate his bloodlust and quench his need for flesh.
Each side gambles all to control a newfound drug with the potential to save mankind. This new ‘currency’ trumps all, where money is worthless and food and women are king. As the struggle escalates and new battle-lines are drawn a host of unwitting participants are pulled into the fray, fighting for all they hold dear.
Book One of The Living Hunger Series begs the question: ‘Which side will render your support and where will your allegiances lie?’
A hardened war veteran collides with a venomous leader and rogue assassin, turning Northern Utah into the next great battleground.
Sergeant Farrell Jenson survives a world lost to nuclear and biological warfare only to find his home destroyed and family missing. He joins forces with Gary Merrill, a local business leader, and Major Melanie Ghostkeeper, a Marine Medic, to begin the process of rebuilding. A small group of survivors unite under a banner of freedom and hunker down in Bear River High School. Friendships and love are forged in the hot fires of adversity as they fight for their very lives, amidst a world turned upside down, where death is the new way of life.
A festering evil is combing the land, led by one man, Don Bullock. The rotund, venomous leader spearheads a community with a taboo, underlying secret that will pit good against evil in a dramatic show of force and violence between the two groups. Solomon, a rogue African assassin, launches a one-man assault on the Bear Riverites, seeking blood and retribution to satiate his bloodlust and quench his need for flesh.
Each side gambles all to control a newfound drug with the potential to save mankind. This new ‘currency’ trumps all, where money is worthless and food and women are king. As the struggle escalates and new battle-lines are drawn a host of unwitting participants are pulled into the fray, fighting for all they hold dear.
Book One of The Living Hunger Series begs the question: ‘Which side will render your support and where will your allegiances lie?’
388 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
1757 people want to read
About the author
Dennis F. Larsen
8 books47 followersDennis F. Larsen was born in a small, northern Utah city just about the time that US boots were put on the ground in Southeast Asia. He was raised in a modest home; his mother, who initially worked at Hill Air Force Base, left the work force to devote her time to her four sons, and a father, who ran a small local Conoco Station.
In his younger years, he dreamed of playing major league baseball and enjoyed watching Sandy Koufax, Willey Mays and other great stars of the day. Summer months and after-school time was dedicated to hour upon hour of 'tennis-ball', the brother's own brand of baseball. Tennis balls ricocheted off of neighbor’s homes with less grumbling from the inhabitants. The neighborhood was their playground; football field in the front yard, tennis-ball stadiums on both sides and in the back, the backyard doubling as a golfer’s driving range as well. Nothing was off limits as the young boys turned the entire block into a 9-hole golf course, complete with greens mowed into the neighbor’s lawns. Permission? Who needs permission?
Dennis loved the time of his youth and the bonds that were forged on the local ball diamonds and in the small and quiet places of his youth. He survived untold and uncounted episodes of pink-belly, supremous-superbous-droppous, and other unimaginable tortures, from his brothers and older boys of the block, just to be included. His brothers and the kids from the old neighborhood are still important players in his life. (If you aren't familiar with the above techniques, write me.)
He attended the schools of Box Elder County graduating from high school in 1977. He went on to Brigham Young University, Utah State University and ultimately Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Optometry.
Along the way he married a beautiful, little blonde, Holly, in 1981 and had four amazing and talented children that inspire him each and every day. His children now grown and mostly on their own have blessed his life with four fun and energetic grandchildren, with another new addition expected in the summer of 2013.
Dr. Larsen took a position with his brother Steve, also an optometrist, when he completed school and the two practiced together in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada until 1997 when Dennis established his own business and Optometric Partnership Practice. He has worked for 26 years in a profession that he loves but has always had a desire to write and thus began the adventure.
His children, all gifted with the ability to write, propelled Dr. Larsen into his computer chair and put his fingers to work creating his first characters and putting them to work. 'With Cruel Intent' began as a short story to prove to his wife that he could write a story that a woman would find romantic. Much coaching was needed from her at the beginning. Apparently sexy and romantic are not synonyms. The story took on an energy and personality that had to get out, and the twists and turns just kept popping up in his head until the manuscript was completed. He ultimately wanted to prove to himself and his children that you can accomplish anything that you pour your heart and soul into.
His greatest wish, beyond having a healthy, happy family, is to have a shelf in his home with a novel located upon it from each of his children.
Follow the blog to learn more about the writing of his first novel, 'With Cruel Intent'.
In his younger years, he dreamed of playing major league baseball and enjoyed watching Sandy Koufax, Willey Mays and other great stars of the day. Summer months and after-school time was dedicated to hour upon hour of 'tennis-ball', the brother's own brand of baseball. Tennis balls ricocheted off of neighbor’s homes with less grumbling from the inhabitants. The neighborhood was their playground; football field in the front yard, tennis-ball stadiums on both sides and in the back, the backyard doubling as a golfer’s driving range as well. Nothing was off limits as the young boys turned the entire block into a 9-hole golf course, complete with greens mowed into the neighbor’s lawns. Permission? Who needs permission?
Dennis loved the time of his youth and the bonds that were forged on the local ball diamonds and in the small and quiet places of his youth. He survived untold and uncounted episodes of pink-belly, supremous-superbous-droppous, and other unimaginable tortures, from his brothers and older boys of the block, just to be included. His brothers and the kids from the old neighborhood are still important players in his life. (If you aren't familiar with the above techniques, write me.)
He attended the schools of Box Elder County graduating from high school in 1977. He went on to Brigham Young University, Utah State University and ultimately Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Optometry.
Along the way he married a beautiful, little blonde, Holly, in 1981 and had four amazing and talented children that inspire him each and every day. His children now grown and mostly on their own have blessed his life with four fun and energetic grandchildren, with another new addition expected in the summer of 2013.
Dr. Larsen took a position with his brother Steve, also an optometrist, when he completed school and the two practiced together in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada until 1997 when Dennis established his own business and Optometric Partnership Practice. He has worked for 26 years in a profession that he loves but has always had a desire to write and thus began the adventure.
His children, all gifted with the ability to write, propelled Dr. Larsen into his computer chair and put his fingers to work creating his first characters and putting them to work. 'With Cruel Intent' began as a short story to prove to his wife that he could write a story that a woman would find romantic. Much coaching was needed from her at the beginning. Apparently sexy and romantic are not synonyms. The story took on an energy and personality that had to get out, and the twists and turns just kept popping up in his head until the manuscript was completed. He ultimately wanted to prove to himself and his children that you can accomplish anything that you pour your heart and soul into.
His greatest wish, beyond having a healthy, happy family, is to have a shelf in his home with a novel located upon it from each of his children.
Follow the blog to learn more about the writing of his first novel, 'With Cruel Intent'.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 10, 2013
Rating: 10.0/10.0
Review: Where do I start with this review? This book will have you laughing, crying, loving, and learning. When I started reading this book I was very happy that the book was a post-apocalyptical story without zombies. The book was VERY well planned out and the descriptions of everything was utterly amazing. The characters in the books were flawed, and it made them so much more realistic because of it. The amount of action in the book was perfect with the amount of necessary information to understand the book in it's entirety. I recommend this book for ANY post-apocalyptic genre fan. I know I'll be re-reading this a few times!
Reviewed by IABookReviews.com
Review: Where do I start with this review? This book will have you laughing, crying, loving, and learning. When I started reading this book I was very happy that the book was a post-apocalyptical story without zombies. The book was VERY well planned out and the descriptions of everything was utterly amazing. The characters in the books were flawed, and it made them so much more realistic because of it. The amount of action in the book was perfect with the amount of necessary information to understand the book in it's entirety. I recommend this book for ANY post-apocalyptic genre fan. I know I'll be re-reading this a few times!
Reviewed by IABookReviews.com
July 24, 2013
My father was a very rough but charismatic man with a strong personality, as well as a tender side. We lost him a few years ago when he was thrown from his horse while preparing to take a grandchild for a ride. I have always wanted to write something that would preserve his unique perspective of life and his wonderful personality, and I hope that I have done justice to his memory with 'The Living Hunger'. He is embodied in the main character, Sergeant Farrell Jenson, and many of the events that take place in the book are true albeit in a different time and place. Another main character, Rod, is patterned after my uncle, a wonderful and caring family man and a somewhat polar opposite of my father. He is the only living sibling from their large family and will be 80 in 2014.
I had a great time writing this story. The locations I know well from my youth and I look forward to advancing the narrative in book two.
I had a great time writing this story. The locations I know well from my youth and I look forward to advancing the narrative in book two.
October 8, 2013
This was the first book I received from the Goodreads First Reads program.
In general, I don't post reviews of books I've read. I find books to be an extremely personal experience and I would hate for my review to alter someone's in any way.
That said, I do find it appropriate to encourage the writing and reading of exceptional stories; The Living Hunger being a prime example. As many have wrote before me, this story, with it's familiar characters and breakneck pace, keeps you glued from the outset. I would be lying if I didn't suspect that the premise would become predictable. I was happy to find however that the writer chose not to go this route; though it does lead to some reader heart ache. Finally, I find that my overall takeaway is what convinced me to comment; be the light in whatever shade of darkness dares come your way.
In general, I don't post reviews of books I've read. I find books to be an extremely personal experience and I would hate for my review to alter someone's in any way.
That said, I do find it appropriate to encourage the writing and reading of exceptional stories; The Living Hunger being a prime example. As many have wrote before me, this story, with it's familiar characters and breakneck pace, keeps you glued from the outset. I would be lying if I didn't suspect that the premise would become predictable. I was happy to find however that the writer chose not to go this route; though it does lead to some reader heart ache. Finally, I find that my overall takeaway is what convinced me to comment; be the light in whatever shade of darkness dares come your way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2013
Amazingly well written!! From start to finish, I could not put it down. Sometimes I found myself so enthralled in the book that I felt as if I were there!! Certain times I laughed, other times I felt the pain and anguish of the people living through those scenarios. I feel like everyone reading this book can somehow relate to atleast one of the characters...whether it's themselves, or someone they know! VERY wonderful work!! I've passed it along to others in my family already to have them read as well! Cannot wait to read the second book.
July 2, 2013
The Living Hunger was an action packed read that I couldn't help but race through. A great deal of description allows the reader to picture the settings that surround the characters. Those characters are well developed and make you either love or hate them. I couldn't help but be drawn into the book and the trials and danger that they encountered. Can't wait for book two!!
July 3, 2013
I absolutely loved reading this novel. I'm always one for a book with a ton of adventure and who doesn't love a little post-apocalyptic mayhem? The characters were so well written and I felt with every turn of the page a greater need to know the outcome. I cannot wait to see what happens in the second book to this series. Fantastic read!
November 10, 2013
Plunder, ravage and kill; the secret works of the repugnant. Since the fall of man and brother killing brother, evil has owned the night." That quote from the book is just one of the many reasons why I loved The Living Hunger. This novel had me laughing, crying and anxiously waiting to see what would happen next. The author has a real knack for writing dialogue. As I read this book the conversations between characters was so natural that it made the story seem very real to me. After reading Dennis Larsen's novels I have decided I love to have a little humour in my books, regardless of the genre. In both this and With Cruel Intent the author has inserted humorous interactions that have enhanced my reading and provided some comic relief among the action. I found The Living Hunger to be fast paced with a different spin on a post-apocalyptic scenario and characters that I became attached to. I can't wait for the second book to come out.
December 30, 2013
This was a book about people after what appears to be a future world war. People are living together in small groups of people trying to survive in a world rack by chemical , atomic and regular weapons.
None of the people have super-human powers just normal people and while the book reminded me a little of Stephen King's "The Stand", it does not have the religious overtones of The Stand.
All in all, a good read and am waiting for book 2 to come out, hopefully real soon.
None of the people have super-human powers just normal people and while the book reminded me a little of Stephen King's "The Stand", it does not have the religious overtones of The Stand.
All in all, a good read and am waiting for book 2 to come out, hopefully real soon.
Want to read
December 28, 2015Post-Apocalyptic stories = I am instantly interested. I entered in a goodreads first reads giveaway and did not win a copy. However, I am definitely going to keep an eye out for this one! It looks promising!!
August 28, 2013
Great book. This is my type to read and it did not disappoint me. I started the book in the afternoon and could not stop in the evening. Sgt. Farrell's travels had me laughing, crying and hoping for the best. Can not wait for the next book!
October 8, 2020
THE LIVING HUNGER Book Review
The Living Hunger by Dennis Larsen is a post apocalyptic novel. Larsen grew up in the shadow of Hill Air Force Base. He has worked as an optometrist for the past twenty-six years. This is his third novel.
The Living Hunger is a realistic post-apocalypse adventure, meaning no zombies which is a refreshing change of pace. War was worldwide and complete. Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons were used. People now live in little pocket communities scraping together and trying to survive. Some people have not settled into communities and look to join or just continue on their way. Most communities are out for their survival and hope to peacefully exist with others. In Utah, one community in particular run by Don Bullock is out for more. He wants control and supplies and will stop at nothing to get them. Bullock has a professional killer in Solomon, an African who has been killing since he was a teen, and a group of soldiers who, for a rather gruesome reason, earned the title of “Harvesters”. The good guys are lead by army veteran Sergeant Farrell Jenson a veteran of the next Korean conflict, and he provides the leadership example for the people of Bear River High School community. Jenson’s brother Rodney, Mel Ghostkeeper their medic, Clayton and Cory, who provide some comic relief, and remains of the Allen family make up the core characters.
The effects of the war have caused problems for the survivors. One of the biggest problems they face is the future survival of mankind. There have been no live, or rather survivable births in the last three years. There is hope from a lab in Colorado that the aftereffects of the chemical and biological warfare might be cured. Now it becomes a matter of which side will get the cure and which side will prevail in the war for freedom or for power.
Larsen writes a believable story of a possible future war. The effects of the warfare seem plausible. Most readers will not have a problem with suspension of disbelief in the story. As a Marine veteran, I did find a detail or two caught my attention, but they either worked well in the story or were not important enough to effect the story. The characters work well together and are all very well developed. The reader may not like the character, but the reader will understand the character and the reason for his actions. The times are grim and there is no “off time”. If you let your guard down, you may not live to regret it. The survivors face real world problems and have real world setbacks. There are no Deus ex machina in this novel.
There are plenty of action novels on the market and most try to go over the top or create super human heroes to carry out the story. Here the people are all very human and all have their failings. Some actions may be seen as heroic, but nothing that is unbelievable. The story is well written and flows smoothly without any jumps in logic. The Living Hunger has all that you would expect in this type of novel. There is plenty of action, strategy, and twists. There is also the day to day dealings of the characters that help keep the story realistic and interesting. A very good read for fans of realistic post-apocalyptic novels.
Book Review by Joseph Spuckler
The Living Hunger by Dennis Larsen is a post apocalyptic novel. Larsen grew up in the shadow of Hill Air Force Base. He has worked as an optometrist for the past twenty-six years. This is his third novel.
The Living Hunger is a realistic post-apocalypse adventure, meaning no zombies which is a refreshing change of pace. War was worldwide and complete. Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons were used. People now live in little pocket communities scraping together and trying to survive. Some people have not settled into communities and look to join or just continue on their way. Most communities are out for their survival and hope to peacefully exist with others. In Utah, one community in particular run by Don Bullock is out for more. He wants control and supplies and will stop at nothing to get them. Bullock has a professional killer in Solomon, an African who has been killing since he was a teen, and a group of soldiers who, for a rather gruesome reason, earned the title of “Harvesters”. The good guys are lead by army veteran Sergeant Farrell Jenson a veteran of the next Korean conflict, and he provides the leadership example for the people of Bear River High School community. Jenson’s brother Rodney, Mel Ghostkeeper their medic, Clayton and Cory, who provide some comic relief, and remains of the Allen family make up the core characters.
The effects of the war have caused problems for the survivors. One of the biggest problems they face is the future survival of mankind. There have been no live, or rather survivable births in the last three years. There is hope from a lab in Colorado that the aftereffects of the chemical and biological warfare might be cured. Now it becomes a matter of which side will get the cure and which side will prevail in the war for freedom or for power.
Larsen writes a believable story of a possible future war. The effects of the warfare seem plausible. Most readers will not have a problem with suspension of disbelief in the story. As a Marine veteran, I did find a detail or two caught my attention, but they either worked well in the story or were not important enough to effect the story. The characters work well together and are all very well developed. The reader may not like the character, but the reader will understand the character and the reason for his actions. The times are grim and there is no “off time”. If you let your guard down, you may not live to regret it. The survivors face real world problems and have real world setbacks. There are no Deus ex machina in this novel.
There are plenty of action novels on the market and most try to go over the top or create super human heroes to carry out the story. Here the people are all very human and all have their failings. Some actions may be seen as heroic, but nothing that is unbelievable. The story is well written and flows smoothly without any jumps in logic. The Living Hunger has all that you would expect in this type of novel. There is plenty of action, strategy, and twists. There is also the day to day dealings of the characters that help keep the story realistic and interesting. A very good read for fans of realistic post-apocalyptic novels.
Book Review by Joseph Spuckler
February 21, 2021
Unfortunately not a book for me - just wasn't into the story or the characters. But what an ending!
August 1, 2016
Author, Dennis Larsen does a fantastic job with the post-apocalyptic thriller. The story is very interesting, entertaining, and fast paced. I enjoyed it a lot, so much in fact; I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were well-developed and, they felt like real people that you'd meet in everyday life.
I can't wait to read The Lasting Hunger (The Living Hunger Book 2).
Chuck
I can't wait to read The Lasting Hunger (The Living Hunger Book 2).
Chuck
Read
April 9, 2017A captivating and emotional roller coaster ride.
War never stops. Even in a post war era where humans destroyed most if civilization, there is still war, a war of survival.
At first, the opening scenes took some thought to piece together and place the setting, but then the book flowed easily and things started moving fast. The book is full of action, humor, and love. I connected very well with the main character.
The book did make me think on what my actions would be in a world like this. A world where you have to decide if you are going to tough it out yourself and become a drifter, or join a community. However, things are not that simple, for you can either join a community that stand together but are at constant threat from communities that have only one goal, survival. These survival groups care for nothing but themselves, and will do anything to keep going, even if it means turning to cannibalism and going on hunting trips to get fresh meat. They have the firepower to fulfill their wishes, and inevitably, a showdown between a human flesh eating savage community and a loving tight knit community has to occur.
The book explodes into action as blood lust and firepower, is pitched against wit and ingenious traps. In the midst of the fighting, characters start to question their resolve, and eventually some give in and change sides, and tip the scale in favor of one of these communities.
A very good read, although a bit of an emotionally draining ending even with the shimmer of hope it gives for a better future.
War never stops. Even in a post war era where humans destroyed most if civilization, there is still war, a war of survival.
At first, the opening scenes took some thought to piece together and place the setting, but then the book flowed easily and things started moving fast. The book is full of action, humor, and love. I connected very well with the main character.
The book did make me think on what my actions would be in a world like this. A world where you have to decide if you are going to tough it out yourself and become a drifter, or join a community. However, things are not that simple, for you can either join a community that stand together but are at constant threat from communities that have only one goal, survival. These survival groups care for nothing but themselves, and will do anything to keep going, even if it means turning to cannibalism and going on hunting trips to get fresh meat. They have the firepower to fulfill their wishes, and inevitably, a showdown between a human flesh eating savage community and a loving tight knit community has to occur.
The book explodes into action as blood lust and firepower, is pitched against wit and ingenious traps. In the midst of the fighting, characters start to question their resolve, and eventually some give in and change sides, and tip the scale in favor of one of these communities.
A very good read, although a bit of an emotionally draining ending even with the shimmer of hope it gives for a better future.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews