Maxine Unleashes Doomsday

by Nick Kolakowski

The United States has collapsed. Bandits stalk the highways, preying on the weak and unaware.

In order to transport goods between heavily fortified cities, companies hire convoy escorts. Maxine is the best of these new road warriors: tough, smart, and unbelievably fast. But she also has a secret: She’s the niece of New York’s most notorious outlaw, a man hunted by what’s left of the nation’s law enforcement.

Maxine wants to live a normal, upstanding life. But a bad incident on the road leaves her mauled, penniless… and fired. If she wants to survive, she’s going to need to embrace her outlaw roots - and carry off the biggest heist that the post-apocalypse has ever seen. It’s a journey that will take her through obstacle after obstacle to the edge of death itself - and beyond.

Maxine Unleashes Doomsday smashes the gritty frenzy of Mad Max: Fury Road with the top-notch suspense of a crime saga like Heat. It’s a brutal thriller that offers a terrifying glimpse of our future.

Genres: Horror

ebook

Published November 4, 2019

About the author

Nick Kolakowski is the author of several horror and crime novels, including “Absolute Unit” (Crystal Lake Publishing) and “Where the Bones Lie” (Datura Books). His short stories and nonfiction essays have appeared in various anthologies and magazines, including House of Gamut, Mystery Magazine, Shotgun Honey, Rock & A Hard Place, and (upcoming) Best American Mystery & Suspense 2024. He lives and writes in New York City.

Reviews

[Lel Budge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the tale of the history of Maxine’s life, taken from old records after the world has been practically destroyed in the Collapse. Global warming and rising sea levels have flooded large areas of the US. Food is scarce, towns are dead and people are scratching a living the best way they can. Various clans control areas and are constantly battling each other for control.

Maxine lives in a poor area, her mother is an addict. So Maxine looks after everything including her younger brother, Brad. She also has an uncle, The Preacher, a well known criminal. She has an agreement with him, that she will finish college before she joins him in his ‘activities’….

But, she decides to do a job of her own…..she gets hurt and her friend becomes paralysed…warned off, she ends up in a job in a convoy…which is how goods are transported….in a heavily armed convoy….

Maxine, is a chaos magnet and obviously things go wrong…she loses an arm and finds out she has cancer…she needs drugs to help and so a big raid is planned and she meets PIG, an AI computer…..will she be cured? Why is her life so interesting to the future world?

I love this book, from its clever little pop culture references, Heisenberg Blue, SkyNet, sick sticks and droogs, (which appeal to the geek in me), to the dystopian world building. Maxine is a strong, intelligent female character, flawed but determined and likeable. A compelling, imaginative, brutal dystopian read and I can thoroughly recommend it.

Thank you to the author, Nick Kolakowski, for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Beau Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I like a book, I usually end reviews with this: fun was had! With Nick Kolakowski's Maxine Unleashes Doomsday, I think I'll put it at the start. Why? Could be the mashup of genres I just read. Could also be the dystopian (not so distant) future it involved. Or maybe it was only Maxine herself (who for some reason I envision as Natasha Lyonne, she of the show Russian Doll and owner of one very smoky voice), and how badass she was. Or maybe it was none of those things, and maybe, by words alone, Nick is continuing to do what he does best. Yes, I'm thinking it's that. Go forth. Seek out. Purchase and enjoy. And just in case I forgot to mention: fun was had!

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon on Sci Fi and Scary

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hum... I can't exactly chastise this book for not being original. It's a weird and gleeful mix of many tropes that usually don't go together like the outlaw family, post-apocalyptic society, post-humanism, etc. I can't chastise it for not being fun either, because it's rip-roaring, non stop action from cover to cover.

What is it about this book that I just couldn't get enthusiastic about?

Maybe it's the outlaw family thing that I thought was a little edgeless. Maxine and her friends/family are pretty badass, but nobody in this book feels dangerous and unpredictable except maybe for Preacher but he is in a fun loving way. Maybe it's the action and the superficial political statement that covered character depth that just didn't have the space to unfold?

I don't know, Nick Kolakowski is obviously talented. He's got more style and storytelling skills that most I've read. There's not outward trouble with MAXINE UNLEASHES DOOMSDAY. It just feels a little disposable? I feel like a nit-picking jerk saying it, but you know me. I keep it real.

[Hobart]

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader, where the The Irresponsible Readerauthor also participated in a Q&A with me.
---

“You know the trick to surviving? The one thing you got to do?”

“What’s that?” Maxine asked.

“You got to treat every day like an adventure. Like it’s fun, or a challenge, even when everything’s crappy. Especially when it’s crappy. Because otherwise, it’s all going to crush you.”

“I feel like I spent my whole life being crushed.”

“Well, that’s your fault. A normal job, trying to live a normal life, it’s just inviting people to stomp you. And they do.”

“Yeah.”

“But at least in my line of work, sometimes you get to stomp back…"

In case the author's name looks familiar to you, yeah, you've seen me use it a few times this year—3 novellas, 1 short fiction collection, and now this novel, Maxine Unleashes Doomsday. It occurs to me now, that he was the first author I read this year, and he did a pretty good job setting the tone for 2019's reading. This book is his first step out of Crime Fiction and into Science Fiction—dystopian SF, to be precise (that really should be obvious to anyone familiar with him, I don't think he's got a utopian novel in him).

That said, there's enough of a Crime Fiction flavor to this SF novel, that fans of either genre will have enough of their drug of choice to be satisfied.

This is set in the near-future, at various points along the fall of the US/Western Civilization. While there are plenty of other characters to keep an eye on, our focus throughout is on Maxine. After a rocky start to life with a drug-addicted mother, and an unsuccessful academic career (although she tried for a little bit), she tries to follow her uncle's example and become a criminal. She has some success in that, but a large failure resulted in life-threatening injuries to a friend and the loss of one of her arms. Following that, she tries to live a non-criminal life, she gets a job, settles down with a guy and has a kid. But her heart's not in it, and she ends up dabbling in thievery. At some point, she abandons that life and sets her eyes on a criminal career.

Maxine is one of my favorite characters this year—she's flawed (not as flawed as she thinks), she's a fighter (not as good as she thinks), self-destructive, optimistic, and driven. She takes a lot of (metaphorical and literal) punches, and while she may not get up right away after them, she doesn't stop moving forward. Ever. I love reading characters like that.

Her uncle, who goes by Preacher, is one of the most significant criminals in the New York area—and has some cops dedicated to taking him down, and any number of civilians supporting him. Off and on throughout her childhood, Preacher tried to get Maxine's mother to leave her addictions behind to provide for and care for her kids. Between his power and influence on the one hand, and being just about the only adult to look out for her and her brother, it's no wonder that Maxine will want to be part of his life. Readers of Kolakowski's Main Bad Guy will enjoy playing a compare/contrast game with Preacher and Walker.

There are a number of other characters that greatly influence Maxine's life and desires, but none so much as her uncle. And to get into them would just push this post beyond the length I want (and would end up spoiling stuff to really talk about).

By and large, this is the story of Maxine's journey from a struggling public school student to being a wanted criminal (and beyond). But that's not everything that's going on. For the first chapter, you get the impression you'll be reading a book about rival groups fighting for supplies in mid-apocalyptic New York. But then you'll realize that's not it at all, it's a story about how Maxine became the tenacious gun-fighter and would-be criminal mastermind that she is. Eventually you discover that yeah, both of those are true, but Kolakowski's really writing a different story—and boy howdy, you feel pretty clever when you suss it out, and it's such a brilliant way of telling this story that you don't mind being wrong about what the book is trying to accomplish. But even then, you won't really understand everything until the last line of the book (I'm not sure I actually pumped my fist when I read it, but I probably thought about it pretty hard).

Yes, it's a pretty violent book (this too, should really be obvious to anyone familiar with Kolakowsi), but most of the truly horrible stuff happens "off-screen," making it a lot easier to take. The prose moves quickly and assuredly, the writing is sone with a strong sense of style and savoir faire. Frankly, it's too lively and enjoyable to keep the most readers who aren't into gunfights, etc. from being turned off by the violence.

It's a well-realized dystopia, one that's easier to imagine happening than say, Panem. Kolakowski does a wonderful job of littering this book with little details that tell you so much about the world his characters live in and entertain the reader. Hitting both of those notes regularly is a difficult task. For example:

“Someday I want to go to California,” Michelle told Maxine. “Did you know it used to be a state?”

and

This far north, the concept of local government grew teeth and claws. If you stuck to the highway, you would cross into territory controlled largely by the New York Giants, which had expanded beyond its origin as one of the nation’s most consistently mediocre sports teams to control a big swath of towns northeast of Buffalo.

One of the conceits of the book is that the material is a result of an academic study about Maxine. It's one of the best moves that Kolakowski makes in this book (and it's full of great moves). Don't skim over these notes, you'll be rewarded for your attention.

Oh, I should warn you: This book might put you off popcorn for a while. I'm just saying...

Rob Hart wrote one of the endorsements for this: “Take one of Richard Stark’s Parker novels and throw it in the blender with DVDs of Mad Max and The Warriors. Guess what? You just broke your blender. Find solace in this book, which is what you should have done in the first place.” I repeat that for a couple of reasons—1. I love the last two sentences. 2. He's right, and says everything in 4 sentences that I tried to above. You should listen to one of us. Kolakowski has outdone himself with this one, it was a pleasure from end to end. You really need to read it.

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this novel by the author in exchange for this post and my honest opinion. My opinions are my own, and weren't influenced by this.

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the world seems to be on fire every day and the new normal of society is borderline chaos, Nick Kolakowski’s new book, Maxine Unleashes Doomsday has a lot of relevance to the here and now. He builds on that and extrapolates into a near future that is all too plausible. Part crime fiction, part dystopian thriller, and with violence on nearly every page, this is a complicated read that is very good.

A little over one hundred years now, climate change has wreaked havoc through sea level rise and more. Major cities such as New York are flooded and ravaged. Foods are in short supply and local government as we know it now is gone. The United States has fractured with various areas controlled by local mob style bosses as the federal government tries to hang onto their last grasp of power. That fracturing of everything trickles down all the way to the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn who are locked in a battle for control.

They are not the only ones locked in territorial battles as there are groups everywhere fighting over the dwindling amount of resources in a world that is getting worse and worse. On a very personal level, there is the personal battle of survival of Maxine Hardwater. Unfortunately, beyond the fact of her age and gender being perceived by some as ways to control and marginalize her, she also has to battle her drug addicted mother to try and keep family and home together. She also has to battle her Uncle, a notorious criminal known as “Preacher,” who is really good at barely rescuing her from a current problem and then promising real and meaningful help in the times to come.

Maxine learns again and again that the word of family means often less than the word of strangers. With very few options in a world going downhill as society crumbles more and more, she is left to fend for herself by use of her brains, brawn, and fatalistic courage. As such, there is a noir style flavor to the read that has a steady drum beat of the original Mad Max and Terminator movies style vibe to it.

Along with occasional flashes of dark humor--- of course the New York Giants have evolved beyond football to a full scale criminal enterprise--- and social commentary, Nick Kolakowski fractures time and a linear storytelling style throughout the book. He does so by creating a complex story based on an artificial intelligence compilation of various source materials. A historical record of sorts is compiled covering segments of the life of Maxine Hardwater. That record comes from many sources and includes academics that sometimes argue with the artificial intelligence about the record.

Despite that storytelling angle, the read never becomes preachy as it delves into many topics such as poverty, climate change, politics, technology with its good and bad side, and many others. In fact, one has to pay close attention because things come and go in a read that, likes the world that it depicts, is fractured in many different ways.

While dystopian fiction has not been a staple of my reading tastes since 9/11 when everything changed in so many ways, this one is quite a bit different than the usual fare I have seen over the many years I have been a reader. Maxine Unleashes Doomsday by Nick Kolakowski is a mighty good read. It also presents a world that could very easily happen and one I really do not want to see.

eBook ARC provided by the author with no expectation of a review.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2020

[Tess Makovesky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a refreshing change - a dystopian novel that manages to be quirky and even, dare I say it, fun! Maxine is a feisty yet practical heroine; when life deals her a bag of spanners she uses them to customise her latest armoured car or upgrade the prosthetic arm she wears after one too many accidents. It's nicely written and unlike some science-based books, the author really seemed to understand the tech he was describing. In particular, I loved the explanation for the surprisingly jaunty tone of the AI reports that frame the action. The only downside is that there isn't more - I'd have liked more detail about Maxine's eventual fate (not to mention how, exactly, she unleashes the doomsday of the title), and would have loved to go on reading about her. It'll be interesting to see if the author can stretch to a sequel!

[Murder in Common · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Maxine, taking on the world around her is a lesson in survival. It's a world that doesn't generally care if she lives or dies, but is only concerned with her ability to deliver on her commitments. Her Uncle Preacher helps from time to time, in the best way he can. But it's Maxine's determination to make it on her own in that moves this book forward.

The pace of this book is fast and consistent. Excellent character development, and structure. Highly recommended!

~June Lorraine

[Jessica Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Move over Tank Girl and Mad Max make way for the new outlaw queen Maxine! Awesome tale of the evolution of a dystopian outlaw! The end action scenes were some of my favorite I’ve read in a long time.

[Joe Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of a bleak dystopian world are nearly as ubiquitous as reality TV. In fact, some would argue that this little democratic experiment called America is quickly reaching its own terminal velocity and falling into a realm that not too long ago would have been laughable science fiction. So while healthcare and social security are still tangible services, it's nice to enjoy some rock ‘em-sock ‘em post-apocalyptic prose. Maxine Unleashes Doomsday is a sarcastic, biting read that tempers action and humor into a clever escape from the anxiousness of the outside world.

Nick Kolakowski introduces the world to Maxine, a poor kid from the poorest side of town somewhere in northwestern New York state. When her mother dies of an overdose, Maxine calls on her uncle, the rural outlaw known as Preacher, for relief. He sends her away to college but instead of learning the underlying system and all William Wallace crafty, she loses her right arm in a college stunt/blatant act of robbery. With no education and, really, no future, Maxine joins a security detail for a shipping company convoy. Perhaps more frantic than delivering pizzas like in Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, but Kolakowski jams on that outcast vibe and makes it unique. Maxine learns that life on the open road is full of backstabbing and bullets. And Kolakowski wouldn’t want it any other way.

Kolakowski’s Maxine Unleashes Doomsday is a breeze of a read. She is funny and tough and, often enough, the quickest draw in the room. Kolakowski has fun with her. In a method on par with current day AI capabilities, she adapts, she learns, and, oh yeah, makes plenty of mistakes. Half the fun of Maxine Unleashes Doomsday is witnessing her interact in a rough and tumble environment that is part George Miller, part Brian Keene. Wanting her to succeed. Knowing that she doesn’t have a chance in hell.

Kolakowski then goes on to mainline Paul Verhoeven and perfectly plays with the concept of using science fiction as a metaphor. Social issues abound and are only-slightly skewed to fit the ravaged earth only a few decades in the future. Healthcare, over-population, AI, and the Republican Party are all fair game to Kolakowski’s pen as he presents a populist’s view of resistance and exaggeration blended with perfectly-timed comedy. He also presents a helluva idea for a viking funeral that I need to add to my will.

While Maxine Unleashes Doomsday might not hit the orbital limits of innovation, Kolakowski is an Apollo 13 level engineer who makes perfect use of the tools around him. Whether in pulp fiction or gonzo sci-fi, Kolakowski is an outstanding writer who deserves attention.


This review and many others are all rolling around at Read @ Joe's. Armed convoy not needed.

[Rob Enderle · Rating 5 out of 5]

You really got to know Maxine very well as this book progressed. I typically like a less troubled hero but the book held me. The end felt a tad rushed but that was OK as I could figure out what was likely to happen by that time anyway and had the author drawn the ending out, I expect, the book would have felt too long. Enjoyed the read, nothing over the top and the outcomes all seemed both likely and probable. It would have been interesting to see a picture of Maxine at the end but I'd recommend this book. Nicely done!

[Todd Morr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxine Unleashees Doomsday is a gritty sci-fi noir mashup that wears it's Mad Max/Road Warrior influences proudly. This action-packed post-apocalyptic crime story follows her from her misspent youth into her misspent adulthood while the world around her slowly crumbles. It's a hell of a ride. The book's only drawback might be it flaunts the Mad Max influence a little too blatantly (the lead character is named Max after all). If you love or even like the Road Warrior though, you'll dig Maxine.
Honestly, I'm hoping this is the beginning of a series.

[SmallPressPicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the on-the-road, Mad Max-like thrills of his novel. But my favorite aspect of the book was its exploration of the ways in which artificial intelligence begins to surpass human intelligence. This angle of the novel left me chilled, especially given the increasing use of AI in the real world.

For my full review of the book, see https://smallpresspicks.com/maxine-un....

[Laura Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recieved this book in a giveaway. I really enjoyed the mad max style writing and how the author is piecing together maxines life story far in the future. The characters and the post apocalyptic world were well written which kept me invested.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, but I wanted to love it.

[Dwayne McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Kolakowski creates a world that seems familiar and what end of times fiction usually offers. Waring clans, tight supplies. All perfectly logical.
The twists and world building are well done. The book demands you keep reading to figure out what is going on. Which makes it hard to put down.