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The Afterblight Chronicles #13-15
Journal of the Plague Year: An Omnibus of Post-Apocalyptic Tales
WHEN THE WORLD ENDED...
The Cull swept the world in the early years of the twenty-first century, killing billions and ending civilisation. Only a fortunate few, blessed with the right blood type, were spared. In the chaos of the Afterblight, scientists, priests—even armed robbers—may become leaders, or heroes. Three incredible writers, including the bestselling author of the Shadows of the Apt series Adrian Tchaikovsky, lead us into the apocalypse.
In Malcolm Cross's Orbital Decay, the team in the International Space Station watch helplessly as the world is all but wiped out. Exiled from Earth by his blood-type, astronaut Alvin Burrows must solve the mystery of the "Pandora" experiment, even as someone on the station takes to murdering the crew one by one...
In C. B. Harvey's Dead Kelly, fugitive and convict "Dead" Kelly McGuire returns from hiding out in the Bush to the lawless city of Melbourne. McGuire has three jobs to do: to be revenged on his old gangmates, to confront some uncomfortable truths about his past, and—ultimately—to discover his own terrible destiny...
In Adrian Tchaikovsky's The Bloody Deluge, Katy Lewkowitz and her friend and old tutor Dr. Emil Weber, fleeing the depredations of the so-called New Teutonic Order, take refuge among the strangely anachronistic survivors at the monastery of Jasna Góra in Western Poland. A battle of faith ensues, that could decide the future of humankind...
The Cull swept the world in the early years of the twenty-first century, killing billions and ending civilisation. Only a fortunate few, blessed with the right blood type, were spared. In the chaos of the Afterblight, scientists, priests—even armed robbers—may become leaders, or heroes. Three incredible writers, including the bestselling author of the Shadows of the Apt series Adrian Tchaikovsky, lead us into the apocalypse.
In Malcolm Cross's Orbital Decay, the team in the International Space Station watch helplessly as the world is all but wiped out. Exiled from Earth by his blood-type, astronaut Alvin Burrows must solve the mystery of the "Pandora" experiment, even as someone on the station takes to murdering the crew one by one...
In C. B. Harvey's Dead Kelly, fugitive and convict "Dead" Kelly McGuire returns from hiding out in the Bush to the lawless city of Melbourne. McGuire has three jobs to do: to be revenged on his old gangmates, to confront some uncomfortable truths about his past, and—ultimately—to discover his own terrible destiny...
In Adrian Tchaikovsky's The Bloody Deluge, Katy Lewkowitz and her friend and old tutor Dr. Emil Weber, fleeing the depredations of the so-called New Teutonic Order, take refuge among the strangely anachronistic survivors at the monastery of Jasna Góra in Western Poland. A battle of faith ensues, that could decide the future of humankind...
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First published July 1, 2014
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February 21, 2015
The book was okay. I wouldn't go above and beyond in recommending it to anyone, but fans of post-apocalyptic fiction might dig it; however, there are far better books out there.
Overall, I felt like the first and third story fit together quite well as an anthology. It was an interesting dichotomy between science and religion in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world and I would've liked more of both stories. I would like to point out, just on the side, that there were a number of typos in the third story. I especially loved when "irony" was misspelt as "iron".
Now, what killed this book for me was the second story, "Dead Kelly". And that seems to be the general consensus here on Goodreads. I'd like to really hash out what was so problematic with the story for me . . . so, SPOILER beware.
With "Dead Kelly", we're given this haphazard character that's in some way a tribute to the legendary Australian outlaw Ned Kelly. That was problem 1 for me. Why this reference to Ned Kelly and his 100+ year old iron(?) helmet and chest plate? Imagine, an old makeshift suit of armor against modern weaponry . . . now, the author did state time and again that the armor wasn't very effective against modern weaponry, but was in itself more of a symbol, but I just couldn't grasp the notion that it's a man running around (literally running) with an iron helmet and chest plate! He's running and fighting and climbing with this armor either in his backpack or covering his body. How? Wouldn't the armor have been far too heavy to maneuver around in?
Then there was problem number 2: everyone this man knew has survived the Cull! The whole point of post-apocalyptic fiction is generally centered around themes of isolation. Most of civilization is dead, especially people you knew! But not in "Dead Kelly" . . . oh no, every single member of the main character's criminal gang was alive and well, including the cop who busted his gang before the disease swept across the earth. So there I am, reading this, thinking: damn, everyone in Australia must have the same blood type!
And finally, problem 3: could a fucking writer possibly fucking say "fuck" anymore in a fucking story? I mean, for fuck sakes?! Now, I know they're fucking criminals and generally the stereotype of fucking degenerates is their limited fucking vocabulary, but fucking-A man . . . even the fucking narration was fucking "fuck this, fuck that".
In the end, I'd say: Bad Book, Bad Read.
Overall, I felt like the first and third story fit together quite well as an anthology. It was an interesting dichotomy between science and religion in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world and I would've liked more of both stories. I would like to point out, just on the side, that there were a number of typos in the third story. I especially loved when "irony" was misspelt as "iron".
Now, what killed this book for me was the second story, "Dead Kelly". And that seems to be the general consensus here on Goodreads. I'd like to really hash out what was so problematic with the story for me . . . so, SPOILER beware.
With "Dead Kelly", we're given this haphazard character that's in some way a tribute to the legendary Australian outlaw Ned Kelly. That was problem 1 for me. Why this reference to Ned Kelly and his 100+ year old iron(?) helmet and chest plate? Imagine, an old makeshift suit of armor against modern weaponry . . . now, the author did state time and again that the armor wasn't very effective against modern weaponry, but was in itself more of a symbol, but I just couldn't grasp the notion that it's a man running around (literally running) with an iron helmet and chest plate! He's running and fighting and climbing with this armor either in his backpack or covering his body. How? Wouldn't the armor have been far too heavy to maneuver around in?
Then there was problem number 2: everyone this man knew has survived the Cull! The whole point of post-apocalyptic fiction is generally centered around themes of isolation. Most of civilization is dead, especially people you knew! But not in "Dead Kelly" . . . oh no, every single member of the main character's criminal gang was alive and well, including the cop who busted his gang before the disease swept across the earth. So there I am, reading this, thinking: damn, everyone in Australia must have the same blood type!
And finally, problem 3: could a fucking writer possibly fucking say "fuck" anymore in a fucking story? I mean, for fuck sakes?! Now, I know they're fucking criminals and generally the stereotype of fucking degenerates is their limited fucking vocabulary, but fucking-A man . . . even the fucking narration was fucking "fuck this, fuck that".
In the end, I'd say: Bad Book, Bad Read.
September 1, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An compilation of three novella-length stories about the apocalypse/culling set around(and above) the world.
The first story, Orbital Decay by Malcolm Cross, was the strongest of the three, and was very tense. The American and Russian crew of the International Space Station are watching events unfold on the ground, events that are decimating the human race. Additional details and happenings on the ISS (and on the ground) made this a real page turner!
The second story, Dead Kelly by C. B. Harvey, I didn't like at all, and ended up skipping ahead to story #3.
The third story, The Bloody Deluge by Adrian Tchaikovsky, was interesting in that it wasn't set in a "normal" environment: western Poland. Other twists make this a good read, too.
An compilation of three novella-length stories about the apocalypse/culling set around(and above) the world.
The first story, Orbital Decay by Malcolm Cross, was the strongest of the three, and was very tense. The American and Russian crew of the International Space Station are watching events unfold on the ground, events that are decimating the human race. Additional details and happenings on the ISS (and on the ground) made this a real page turner!
The second story, Dead Kelly by C. B. Harvey, I didn't like at all, and ended up skipping ahead to story #3.
The third story, The Bloody Deluge by Adrian Tchaikovsky, was interesting in that it wasn't set in a "normal" environment: western Poland. Other twists make this a good read, too.
October 9, 2015
Post-apocalyptic fiction isn't usually my cup of tea, but I was given a copy of this trio of novellas by one of the authors, Malcolm Cross. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and it was an easy read that kept me turning pages.
Of the three stories, Cross's Orbital Decay was easily the most atmospheric. Confining the action to the International Space Station, with all hell breaking loose on Earth below and a murderer among the crew, makes for a tight, claustrophobic narrative full of menace and quiet horror.
In the other two stories, the horror is painted with a broader brush, in blood, flesh and brains. Dead Kelly (love the title) is a revenge tale set in Australia and soaked in blood, while The Bloody Deluge takes us to a Poland threatened by neo-Nazis.
The three stories form part of the Afterblight Chronicles, set after nine-tenths of humanity has been wiped out by a plague known as the Cull. If I wasn't a great big coward who puts plague pretty near the top of the worst nightmare list, I might read some of the other books in the series.
Of the three stories, Cross's Orbital Decay was easily the most atmospheric. Confining the action to the International Space Station, with all hell breaking loose on Earth below and a murderer among the crew, makes for a tight, claustrophobic narrative full of menace and quiet horror.
In the other two stories, the horror is painted with a broader brush, in blood, flesh and brains. Dead Kelly (love the title) is a revenge tale set in Australia and soaked in blood, while The Bloody Deluge takes us to a Poland threatened by neo-Nazis.
The three stories form part of the Afterblight Chronicles, set after nine-tenths of humanity has been wiped out by a plague known as the Cull. If I wasn't a great big coward who puts plague pretty near the top of the worst nightmare list, I might read some of the other books in the series.
August 1, 2024
Journal of the Plague Year: An Omnibus of Post-Apocalyptic Tales is a good loosely tied omnibus anthology series.
Based on a Pandemic called "The Cull", the three novella length stories look at both the before, during, and after affects.
The first story probably had the hardest time because it was written to try and provide a common thread of what happened and why. It is also a murder mystery. Based on the international space station, the astronauts are helpless while they watch their world dying and the dynamics between them all trying to figure out what to do. It is a great base for the other two stories to work off and tie them together.
The second story is based on the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly and his legend. It helps immensely if you know a little of his story. It also about revenge and what happens when warlords rise and run things.
The third story is based in Poland and is a study of religion and competing visions on how the world should run. This is perhaps the best written story and both a critique and praise of true belief. It is also about friendship and trust.
Based on a Pandemic called "The Cull", the three novella length stories look at both the before, during, and after affects.
The first story probably had the hardest time because it was written to try and provide a common thread of what happened and why. It is also a murder mystery. Based on the international space station, the astronauts are helpless while they watch their world dying and the dynamics between them all trying to figure out what to do. It is a great base for the other two stories to work off and tie them together.
The second story is based on the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly and his legend. It helps immensely if you know a little of his story. It also about revenge and what happens when warlords rise and run things.
The third story is based in Poland and is a study of religion and competing visions on how the world should run. This is perhaps the best written story and both a critique and praise of true belief. It is also about friendship and trust.
October 19, 2019
Two starts for the first story. The rest were pretty awful.
August 26, 2014
Though I’ve read plenty of shared-universe novels, they all have fallen into the media-tie-in category, but I’d been intrigued by titles in the Abaddon catalog and the apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic setting of this “Afterblight” series seemed like something I’d easily enjoy. And this omnibus collection ended up being basically what I expected, nothing flashy or awe-inspiring, but a fresh and varied series of genre stories that keeps the reader entertained.
Each of the three novellas in the omnibus has its positive qualities, but each also came with problems for me. As such, no single story stood out above the others: none exceptional, yet each ultimately satisfying and worth the read. What impresses me most about Journal of the Plague Year is how unique each of the three novellas is. All apocalyptic, each falls into a particular sub-genre.
Orbital Decay has an emphasis on science fiction, and in terms of plot and set-up I found this the most intriguing. The American and Russian crew aboard a space station in orbit of Earth watch in isolation from the rest of humanity as the disease known as “The Cull” begins to spread throughout the world. The physical and psychological stresses of space coupled with international and personal tensions between crew-members become exacerbated as the characters watch the Apocalypse unfold below them to friends and family and some struggle to figure out the disease’s cause and how safe they are on the station.
The strengths of Ross’ contribution to the omnibus center on the characterizations, their individual psychology and interactions. Unfortunately in terms of science fiction, serious errors occur when dealing with biology, with Ross apparently confusing critical differences between viruses and bacteria. The sections dealing with the nature of the disease took me right out of the story into sighs and groans. There are also a lot of technical details in the story, but I can’t really comment how believable or accurate these were.
Dead Kelly is best classified in crime, or horror, being a tale full of degenerate criminals struggling for control and pursuing personal vendettas in the power vacuum following civilization’s collapse. Kelly is the former leader of a group that fell apart when a big heist went sour. Having faked his death, Kelly has been hiding out in the Australian outback, but now returns to his old familiar haunts and colleagues in the new post-Cull world. This story has a lot of raw energy, with a protagonist who is both revolting and compelling depending on the particular passage being read. It is a brutal story of betrayal, justice, and revenge.
And as such it is a lot of fun. Readers that can’t stomach intense situations or unlikable protagonists won’t want anything to do with this. The overall tone of Harvey’s novella as a revenge tale is rather familiar, however. Most of the story proceeds in expected fashion and thereby comes across as too simplistic. But to Harvey’s credit, it does end in a particularly strong fashion that is unexpected, yet ends up feeling just right.
The Bloody Deluge was the deepest of the three novellas, about big ideas of faith versus reason, order versus chaos, freedom versus control, hope versus despair. Here, Tchaikovsky tackles the big issues of what could happen to society and individuals faced with a post-apocalyptic landscape. Set in Eastern Europe, it has a certain novelty of setting, which helps against the familiarity of tackling these sorts of issues in the post-apocalyptic genre. Though the themes are well-worn, Tchaikovsky still has important things to say and handles them in a far more balanced and nuanced manner than I first expected.
This final novella falls into a general adventure genre where a group of individuals on the run from one cult-like community/power ends up falling into the protection/influence of another. The story can be separated into three distinct parts: the chase, the rescue/protection, and an ultimate battle. I found the final portion vastly superior to the opening, which really seemed to drag. I’m glad I stuck with it to read completely, but it would’ve been improved shortened.
In the end this should be a straight-forward decision for anyone considering reading Journal of the Plague Year – it’s safe to judge on its marketing appearance. If apocalyptic sci-fi and adventure stories are a genre you generally enjoy then this is worth checking out. If you are looking for a particular kind of emphasis (sci-fi, horror, or adventure) then you may want to just read a particular novella here rather than them all.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced electronic reading copy of this from Abaddon Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Each of the three novellas in the omnibus has its positive qualities, but each also came with problems for me. As such, no single story stood out above the others: none exceptional, yet each ultimately satisfying and worth the read. What impresses me most about Journal of the Plague Year is how unique each of the three novellas is. All apocalyptic, each falls into a particular sub-genre.
Orbital Decay has an emphasis on science fiction, and in terms of plot and set-up I found this the most intriguing. The American and Russian crew aboard a space station in orbit of Earth watch in isolation from the rest of humanity as the disease known as “The Cull” begins to spread throughout the world. The physical and psychological stresses of space coupled with international and personal tensions between crew-members become exacerbated as the characters watch the Apocalypse unfold below them to friends and family and some struggle to figure out the disease’s cause and how safe they are on the station.
The strengths of Ross’ contribution to the omnibus center on the characterizations, their individual psychology and interactions. Unfortunately in terms of science fiction, serious errors occur when dealing with biology, with Ross apparently confusing critical differences between viruses and bacteria. The sections dealing with the nature of the disease took me right out of the story into sighs and groans. There are also a lot of technical details in the story, but I can’t really comment how believable or accurate these were.
Dead Kelly is best classified in crime, or horror, being a tale full of degenerate criminals struggling for control and pursuing personal vendettas in the power vacuum following civilization’s collapse. Kelly is the former leader of a group that fell apart when a big heist went sour. Having faked his death, Kelly has been hiding out in the Australian outback, but now returns to his old familiar haunts and colleagues in the new post-Cull world. This story has a lot of raw energy, with a protagonist who is both revolting and compelling depending on the particular passage being read. It is a brutal story of betrayal, justice, and revenge.
And as such it is a lot of fun. Readers that can’t stomach intense situations or unlikable protagonists won’t want anything to do with this. The overall tone of Harvey’s novella as a revenge tale is rather familiar, however. Most of the story proceeds in expected fashion and thereby comes across as too simplistic. But to Harvey’s credit, it does end in a particularly strong fashion that is unexpected, yet ends up feeling just right.
The Bloody Deluge was the deepest of the three novellas, about big ideas of faith versus reason, order versus chaos, freedom versus control, hope versus despair. Here, Tchaikovsky tackles the big issues of what could happen to society and individuals faced with a post-apocalyptic landscape. Set in Eastern Europe, it has a certain novelty of setting, which helps against the familiarity of tackling these sorts of issues in the post-apocalyptic genre. Though the themes are well-worn, Tchaikovsky still has important things to say and handles them in a far more balanced and nuanced manner than I first expected.
This final novella falls into a general adventure genre where a group of individuals on the run from one cult-like community/power ends up falling into the protection/influence of another. The story can be separated into three distinct parts: the chase, the rescue/protection, and an ultimate battle. I found the final portion vastly superior to the opening, which really seemed to drag. I’m glad I stuck with it to read completely, but it would’ve been improved shortened.
In the end this should be a straight-forward decision for anyone considering reading Journal of the Plague Year – it’s safe to judge on its marketing appearance. If apocalyptic sci-fi and adventure stories are a genre you generally enjoy then this is worth checking out. If you are looking for a particular kind of emphasis (sci-fi, horror, or adventure) then you may want to just read a particular novella here rather than them all.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced electronic reading copy of this from Abaddon Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2014
1. Not Bad
2. Nope, Why did I waste my time
3. Pretty Good
Basically, The rating is mostly because the 2nd story brought it down that bad. Main character was not likeable.. everything was so predictable.. Gang member wants revenge.. happens by his old gang members who just happen to be leading each group. "Surprise"-- it was me!
2. Nope, Why did I waste my time
3. Pretty Good
Basically, The rating is mostly because the 2nd story brought it down that bad. Main character was not likeable.. everything was so predictable.. Gang member wants revenge.. happens by his old gang members who just happen to be leading each group. "Surprise"-- it was me!
August 2, 2023
Reading this collection in mid-2023 is a total freakout; published in 2014, the book yet feels like the product, not of a throwback to England's mid-17th century Great Plague, but to Coronavirus, which commenced toward the end of 2019 and shook up civilization globally (and which is still affecting life and economy).
JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR collects three stories set during "the Cull," the tremendous pandemic that nearly wipes out humanity and definitely ends "the world as we know it."
"Orbital Decay": Isolation is a recognized psychological factor for the crew of the International Space Station. Worse occurs when all contact with Ground Control is lost, no one can check up on loved ones nor know when a resupply is scheduled. Even worse than that is paranoia and conspiracy and suspicion run rampant: who can be trusted? Then the deaths mount up...
"Dead Kelly": imagine a Mad Max scenario cranked to the max: when civilization collapses, only the soulless will rule.
"Bloody Deluge": And when civilization is gone and survival is all, yet there will be some determined to victimize according to their own skewed views. Why attempt to rebuild civilization when anarchy and murder are so much more exciting?
JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR is an entry in THE AFTERBLIGHT CHRONICLES Series.
JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR collects three stories set during "the Cull," the tremendous pandemic that nearly wipes out humanity and definitely ends "the world as we know it."
"Orbital Decay": Isolation is a recognized psychological factor for the crew of the International Space Station. Worse occurs when all contact with Ground Control is lost, no one can check up on loved ones nor know when a resupply is scheduled. Even worse than that is paranoia and conspiracy and suspicion run rampant: who can be trusted? Then the deaths mount up...
"Dead Kelly": imagine a Mad Max scenario cranked to the max: when civilization collapses, only the soulless will rule.
"Bloody Deluge": And when civilization is gone and survival is all, yet there will be some determined to victimize according to their own skewed views. Why attempt to rebuild civilization when anarchy and murder are so much more exciting?
JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR is an entry in THE AFTERBLIGHT CHRONICLES Series.
January 21, 2022
This book contains three stories set in the same "universe". I liked two of the three very much but mostly skimmed the second one, hence the 4 stars. Picked this up at the Old Book Sale because of the title. I didn't realize that it was three stories set in the world of the Afterblight Chronicles which i had never heard of.
Basically these three stories take place early in a pandemic (The Cull) world. The first story is set in the Space Station where the U. S. and Soviet astronauts are slow to realize what is happening in the world below. The second story was about a thug building his empire in post-pandemic Australia, and I couldn't stomach it. The third story was set in Poland and explored the faith vs. science aspect of the post-pandemic world. As I said I liked the first and third story and will be finding more by those authors.
It was a little chilling to read about pandemic aspects (these were written in 2014) than turned out to be dead on--people not wanting to quarantine, the rise of the radicals, etc.
Basically these three stories take place early in a pandemic (The Cull) world. The first story is set in the Space Station where the U. S. and Soviet astronauts are slow to realize what is happening in the world below. The second story was about a thug building his empire in post-pandemic Australia, and I couldn't stomach it. The third story was set in Poland and explored the faith vs. science aspect of the post-pandemic world. As I said I liked the first and third story and will be finding more by those authors.
It was a little chilling to read about pandemic aspects (these were written in 2014) than turned out to be dead on--people not wanting to quarantine, the rise of the radicals, etc.
May 6, 2019
An interesting trilogy of the aftermath of an apocalyptic plague. Orbital Decay and The Bloody Deluge were both good stories, not based in the usual locations for such tales (The ISS and Poland). Thoroughly enjoyed Dead Kelly set in Australia, a Mad Max style adventure with humour flung in.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
November 10, 2019
Good overall
The first two books were decent enough. The last... you may want to skip a few pages here & there since the author rambles endlessly and boringly. For newbies, start w/ Schools Out Forever first
The first two books were decent enough. The last... you may want to skip a few pages here & there since the author rambles endlessly and boringly. For newbies, start w/ Schools Out Forever first
November 28, 2020
I read the entire first story and found it to be fair. I quit the second story somewhere in the second chapter. I found it uninteresting. I got about halfway through the third story and quit. It seemed confusing and also uninteresting.
October 31, 2023
This was an interesting apocalypse not far from the pandemic we all witnessed but more. From various places and various perspectives. Spanning ideals, religion and mad max mentality. Not a bad read all told.
May 23, 2024
Just ok i suppose, some short stories better than others . Took a while to finally slog through it. Good for airport or plane reading .
June 18, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/06/18...
Publisher: Rebellion
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9781781082461
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.5/5
Publisher Description: WHEN THE WORLD ENDED…
The Cull swept the world in the early years of the twenty-first century, killing billions and ending civilization as we know it. Only a fortunate few, blessed with the right blood, were spared. But in times of need, heroes rise. Leaders, soldiers, rebels – even children – take a stand, to hold back the tide of savagery and set a light in the darkness.
Journal of the Plague Year offers three new tales from across the world of The Afterblight Chronicles, from the International Space Station to the wilds of the Australian Outback and beyond.
Review: Good cover art in an Arthur C. kind of way.
This is a compilation of the three stories set during a world wide pandemic (The Cull). Definitely not dystopian.
Book one is set on a space station where they watch the world crumble from above, and ultimately have to deal with someone on station murdering other astronauts. This was a compelling story, as the characters lives are laid bare along with their emotions. A good solid read. Rating: 3.0/5
Book two follows the life of a murdering psychopath as he moves through the lives and instances of other people and their surviving groups. I thought the premise was good yet the scenes and general story-line verged on fantasy writing. Dead Kelley is made out to be some kind of killing super-hero, where all life or death scenarios, no matter how impossible, he survives. This rated about 2.2/5.
Book three begins by following two scientists fleeing a religious cult (The Order) bent on eradicating anything they deem unholy. Emil has been branded an atheist (which he is) and is set to hang until Katy Lewkowitz manages to rescue him. After a lengthy chase, The Order catches them yet are subsequently saved by, what seems at first, another cult with a slightly different agenda. While the story line and characters were engaging, some of the fight scenes were not realistic. Katy (a biochemist) faces off against a group of the cults warriors, and pretty much gets the best of them until knocked in the head from behind. During a particular scene, she rushes a couple of bad guys. Both of them seem to lack the ability to draw a firearm, or when they do, to get their gloved fingers into firing position. Really? You are post-apoc Joe-badass, and you can’t draw and shoot a firearm. Well, Katy grabs the barrel and the guy shoots his own face, and she burns and bruises her hand in the process. Searing your hand on the barrel of a firing shotgun doesn’t happen btw. There are other not too credible scenes where Katy fights off 3 assassins with a little knife, while they have guns but don’t seem to use them. Ultimately the Abbot should have tossed Emil to The Order in hopes of a temporary respite from hostilities as Emil was an argumentative, thankless turd. Still a good story-line overall. Rating” 2.3/5.
Overall average: 2.5/5
Publisher: Rebellion
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9781781082461
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.5/5
Publisher Description: WHEN THE WORLD ENDED…
The Cull swept the world in the early years of the twenty-first century, killing billions and ending civilization as we know it. Only a fortunate few, blessed with the right blood, were spared. But in times of need, heroes rise. Leaders, soldiers, rebels – even children – take a stand, to hold back the tide of savagery and set a light in the darkness.
Journal of the Plague Year offers three new tales from across the world of The Afterblight Chronicles, from the International Space Station to the wilds of the Australian Outback and beyond.
Review: Good cover art in an Arthur C. kind of way.
This is a compilation of the three stories set during a world wide pandemic (The Cull). Definitely not dystopian.
Book one is set on a space station where they watch the world crumble from above, and ultimately have to deal with someone on station murdering other astronauts. This was a compelling story, as the characters lives are laid bare along with their emotions. A good solid read. Rating: 3.0/5
Book two follows the life of a murdering psychopath as he moves through the lives and instances of other people and their surviving groups. I thought the premise was good yet the scenes and general story-line verged on fantasy writing. Dead Kelley is made out to be some kind of killing super-hero, where all life or death scenarios, no matter how impossible, he survives. This rated about 2.2/5.
Book three begins by following two scientists fleeing a religious cult (The Order) bent on eradicating anything they deem unholy. Emil has been branded an atheist (which he is) and is set to hang until Katy Lewkowitz manages to rescue him. After a lengthy chase, The Order catches them yet are subsequently saved by, what seems at first, another cult with a slightly different agenda. While the story line and characters were engaging, some of the fight scenes were not realistic. Katy (a biochemist) faces off against a group of the cults warriors, and pretty much gets the best of them until knocked in the head from behind. During a particular scene, she rushes a couple of bad guys. Both of them seem to lack the ability to draw a firearm, or when they do, to get their gloved fingers into firing position. Really? You are post-apoc Joe-badass, and you can’t draw and shoot a firearm. Well, Katy grabs the barrel and the guy shoots his own face, and she burns and bruises her hand in the process. Searing your hand on the barrel of a firing shotgun doesn’t happen btw. There are other not too credible scenes where Katy fights off 3 assassins with a little knife, while they have guns but don’t seem to use them. Ultimately the Abbot should have tossed Emil to The Order in hopes of a temporary respite from hostilities as Emil was an argumentative, thankless turd. Still a good story-line overall. Rating” 2.3/5.
Overall average: 2.5/5
September 13, 2014
Abaddon's latest entry in its Afterblight series, offered as a sort of cheeky hommage to Defoe, is a mixed bag.
Perhaps it's rather late in the day to formulate a scientific explanation of how Abaddon's Great Plague operates, and I'm not sure one is really necessary, but Malcolm Cross makes a noble effort––insofar as this very non-science-fictiony reader is able to judge. However, his Orbital Decay is memorable mainly for its intriguing portrayal of the peculiarities of daily life aboard the International Space Station, which is used as a suitably claustrophobic setting for a somewhat orthodox thriller of the the And Then There Were None variety.
C.B. Harvey's Dead Kelly, although lively enough, is even more formulaic––gangster returns from supposed death to wreak vengeance on his betrayer, must eliminate members of his gang one by one in the process, traitor turns out to be the one you least suspect, etc., etc. On top of the hoary plot, Harvey displays an unwholesome enthusiasm for sadism, and evidently expects us to sneakily like his murderous protagonist. I'll pass.
Fortunately, Adrian Tchaikovsky concludes the book with The Bloody Deluge, a good novelette which might have worked even better as a full length novel. He certainly created enough interesting characters to fill a bigger book, and his story has many pleasingly imaginative touches. Particularly noteworthy is his unusual choice of setting: an ancient monastery in Poland, where a motley group makes its stand against The New Teutonic Order, a blend of Nazism, the Evangelical movement, and the mediaeval Teutonic Knights. Now, having an evil religious fanatic as your villain is a pretty worn-out plot device, but Tchaikovskly cleverly balances this by having the besieged good guys led by an "Abbot" who, if not quite what he appears to be, nevertheless serves to show that Christianity might have something to offer after all. Moreover, the plot hinges on an atheistic scientist who has taken refuge in the monastery; although he says all the right things, and makes the most sense, and would ordinarily be the character with whom the reader would be expected to identify, Tchaikovsky complicates matters nicely by making him an insufferably self-righteous nuisance. An intelligent, rather touching story, which far exceeds the demands of pulp fiction in its presentation of complex attitudes toward religion.
Perhaps it's rather late in the day to formulate a scientific explanation of how Abaddon's Great Plague operates, and I'm not sure one is really necessary, but Malcolm Cross makes a noble effort––insofar as this very non-science-fictiony reader is able to judge. However, his Orbital Decay is memorable mainly for its intriguing portrayal of the peculiarities of daily life aboard the International Space Station, which is used as a suitably claustrophobic setting for a somewhat orthodox thriller of the the And Then There Were None variety.
C.B. Harvey's Dead Kelly, although lively enough, is even more formulaic––gangster returns from supposed death to wreak vengeance on his betrayer, must eliminate members of his gang one by one in the process, traitor turns out to be the one you least suspect, etc., etc. On top of the hoary plot, Harvey displays an unwholesome enthusiasm for sadism, and evidently expects us to sneakily like his murderous protagonist. I'll pass.
Fortunately, Adrian Tchaikovsky concludes the book with The Bloody Deluge, a good novelette which might have worked even better as a full length novel. He certainly created enough interesting characters to fill a bigger book, and his story has many pleasingly imaginative touches. Particularly noteworthy is his unusual choice of setting: an ancient monastery in Poland, where a motley group makes its stand against The New Teutonic Order, a blend of Nazism, the Evangelical movement, and the mediaeval Teutonic Knights. Now, having an evil religious fanatic as your villain is a pretty worn-out plot device, but Tchaikovskly cleverly balances this by having the besieged good guys led by an "Abbot" who, if not quite what he appears to be, nevertheless serves to show that Christianity might have something to offer after all. Moreover, the plot hinges on an atheistic scientist who has taken refuge in the monastery; although he says all the right things, and makes the most sense, and would ordinarily be the character with whom the reader would be expected to identify, Tchaikovsky complicates matters nicely by making him an insufferably self-righteous nuisance. An intelligent, rather touching story, which far exceeds the demands of pulp fiction in its presentation of complex attitudes toward religion.
July 29, 2015
This is a book containing three separate stories by three different authors who use the same post-apocalyptic world as their backdrop. I went into this as a stand-alone, because I have not read any of the other books in this series or by these authors, and this book was my first introduction into the post-apocalyptic world of The Cull. Overall, the stories are great post-apocalyptic reads by themselves, but I rated each individually to get an overall four-star rating.
Story 1: Orbital Decay by Malcolm Cross - 4 Stars
This was a strong, well fleshed-out story full of suspense. I loved the unique perspective - a group of astronauts on board the Space Station, watching as the world below slowly falls into chaos because of a spreading pandemic. The characters in this story were interesting and well-written, and the story kept me on edge as things both on Earth and on the space station began to fall apart. There was an issue with over-detailing every little thing and every action of Alvin as he goes through the space station. I found myself skimming technical details and paragraph after paragraph of him just traveling through the corridors. The ending was good, though a bit unbelievable.
Story 2: Dead Kelly by C. B. Harvey - 5 Stars
I loved this story so hard! Kelly was such a dynamic character. You'll hate him, then like him, then hate to love him. He's not a nice guy - but he's real. As Australia falls apart to the plague, Kelly, an ex-gang leader who'd been hiding in the outback, becomes a sort of anti-hero. When the world goes mad, it takes a madman to pull society back together. And the ending... that twist... WOW.
Story 3: The Bloody Deluge by Adrian Tchaikovsky - 3 Stars
Unfortunately, I think Harvey's story raised my expectations as I went into Tchaikovsky's story, which fell flat for me. This story presents a somewhat typical post-apocalyptic theme - Religion vs Science, and the New World Order being built as a New Religion. The story was okay, but it dragged with some back and forth, and the main character felt a bit stiff. There is quite a bit of action which I found hard to follow.
Overall, this is a good collection, and I am now interested in reading anything else within The Cull universe.
*Tracing The Stars received a copy and a request for an honest review.
Story 1: Orbital Decay by Malcolm Cross - 4 Stars
This was a strong, well fleshed-out story full of suspense. I loved the unique perspective - a group of astronauts on board the Space Station, watching as the world below slowly falls into chaos because of a spreading pandemic. The characters in this story were interesting and well-written, and the story kept me on edge as things both on Earth and on the space station began to fall apart. There was an issue with over-detailing every little thing and every action of Alvin as he goes through the space station. I found myself skimming technical details and paragraph after paragraph of him just traveling through the corridors. The ending was good, though a bit unbelievable.
Story 2: Dead Kelly by C. B. Harvey - 5 Stars
I loved this story so hard! Kelly was such a dynamic character. You'll hate him, then like him, then hate to love him. He's not a nice guy - but he's real. As Australia falls apart to the plague, Kelly, an ex-gang leader who'd been hiding in the outback, becomes a sort of anti-hero. When the world goes mad, it takes a madman to pull society back together. And the ending... that twist... WOW.
Story 3: The Bloody Deluge by Adrian Tchaikovsky - 3 Stars
Unfortunately, I think Harvey's story raised my expectations as I went into Tchaikovsky's story, which fell flat for me. This story presents a somewhat typical post-apocalyptic theme - Religion vs Science, and the New World Order being built as a New Religion. The story was okay, but it dragged with some back and forth, and the main character felt a bit stiff. There is quite a bit of action which I found hard to follow.
Overall, this is a good collection, and I am now interested in reading anything else within The Cull universe.
*Tracing The Stars received a copy and a request for an honest review.
December 15, 2015
Orbital Decay by Malcolm Cross:
Was just too dramatic and depressing for me, stopped reading half way. Also this story plays of in the time of the actual apocalypse, not post - which was not what i was expecting and looking forward too.
Dead Kelly by CB Harvey
Was great! I could not put it down. The only reason a rated this a 4/5
The Bloody Deluge by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Was ok, has some nice parts but also some slow parts I was bored with.
Was just too dramatic and depressing for me, stopped reading half way. Also this story plays of in the time of the actual apocalypse, not post - which was not what i was expecting and looking forward too.
Dead Kelly by CB Harvey
Was great! I could not put it down. The only reason a rated this a 4/5
The Bloody Deluge by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Was ok, has some nice parts but also some slow parts I was bored with.
June 30, 2016
The first story in this collection was superb. It was unique and subtle and kept you on the edge of your seat. For that, I would recommend picking up this book. The next two stories were fine, but I found nothing unique about the stories. Worth reading if you're a big sci-fi person, worth skipping if you have high standards.
December 29, 2014
Uh, with the exception of the first story which kind of engaged me the rest is just...nope. I got this on the free table at the BF con. It made me despair that things like the second story could be published by seemingly intelligent people.
July 31, 2014
Will post review when released.
January 3, 2018
I loved this omnibus so much - three dark and powerful stories, each different, each set in different parts of the world (or off it), but all linked by the same apocalyptic event, the Cull.
January 1, 2015
I sort of liked the first story, and it went pretty much to hell from there. The end.
October 17, 2015
l loved the first story, enjoyed the second and was a bit annoyed by the third. I am interested the rest of the seties that this book is a part of, so by that account it worked.
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