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The X: A Novel

Derek Walker (Goodreads Author)

3.55 · Rating details · 33 ratings · 7 reviews

AMERICA, ABANDONED.

Environmental and economic turmoil forces the United States to consolidate its borders, leaving nearly 2/3 of the country abandoned.

One year after moving from Colorado to New Mexico to comply with the Sunbelt Relocation Act, Leo Kline gets the itch to explore abandoned America and convinces his wife, Nova, to join him.

After a surreal day walking the dese ...more

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Published April 30th 2020

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· 33 ratings · 7 reviews

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May 08, 2020 Caroline Steytler rated it it was amazing

The characters are relatable.

The main character’s life is stagnant and when a friend makes a suggestion to go beyond the wall, he makes a decision that will change his life forever.

In an attempt at reclaiming some excitement he suggests a road trip which quickly sours and tragedy strikes.

An enjoyable read and one I’d recommend.

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Jun 01, 2020 Jukka Tanner rated it it was amazing

A refreshing story, well written from start to finish. I rarely get to read books that grip so well I suddenly notice it’s 3 am. The world is fascinating and the author cleverly implements the possibilites such world allows him to. And there’s room for more stories in that world. Thank you mr. Walker.

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May 09, 2020 Mantis Tsai rated it really liked it

The X is a plenty good tale overall, there’s no doubt about that. You can feel the scenes shift as the book progresses; instead of feeling like a movie with rampant jumpcuts and cutscenes, the flow stays unbroken throughout the story. The occasional memories and flashbacks don’t feel out of place despite this though. They’re introduced gently and convincingly rather than shoved down the reader’s throat.
The same, however, cannot be said for the odd philosophical, preachy passages where the protag The X is a plenty good tale overall, there’s no doubt about that. You can feel the scenes shift as the book progresses; instead of feeling like a movie with rampant jumpcuts and cutscenes, the flow stays unbroken throughout the story. The occasional memories and flashbacks don’t feel out of place despite this though. They’re introduced gently and convincingly rather than shoved down the reader’s throat.
The same, however, cannot be said for the odd philosophical, preachy passages where the protagonist, Leo, starts monologuing.

If you want to avoid spoilers, stop here.

You’ve had your warning. Once you pass this line, you will be in the Wild, and no law can save you.

Oh well. Moving on. About Leo’s “deep” monologues.
I get it, an author needs to find a way to insert their ideals and beliefs, and the easiest way is obviously to have the main character ponder these philosophical debates with himself when something just happens to trigger his regret over letting his wife die. Dying when he was the one being shot at, no less! Such loss surely calls for repeated resentment in the rare moments of peace and serenity.
But the problem is, these debates stand in glaring contrast with how he acts normally. He’d go from being a killer willing to give it his all to safe his daughter one moment, to a melancholy, broken man who seems more well suited to be having a coffee with Nietzsche than holding a gun and hunting big baddies with a cross over their eyes the next. While he does go through much character development, it’s this kind of personality inconsistency that sometimes makes him an unrelatable character.
Another issue is the ending. Or rather, the lack of one. Logically, it’s closure alright; by the last one-fifth of the book, Leo had a plan to bust his daughter, Xandra, from the Blue camp. There was much anticipation as to whether or not she was indeed still alive, whether he could run off on his own successfully, whether Zara the surviving church lady could slink into the camp undetected…
…and then she does, and the book ends. It’s anticlimactic, to say the least, and while some would appreciate this kind of ending, it’s not my cup of tea.
That’s not to say the book wasn’t good. Rather, aside from the two peeves mentioned above, The X was a brilliant read that I scarfed down with my dinner.
The action is plenty and gets one’s blood pumping. This ties into what I said much earlier about the flow—since the book flows so smoothly, there’s nothing to stop you from feeling like you’re right there in the middle of the crossfire. Everything is relayed to you, the reader, with just the right amount of detail. The world unfolds as it becomes important, so you’re not bogged down by excessive world-building and can focus on the action instead, then let your adrenaline die down too when all’s said and done and the bodies are no longer moving.
Then there are the emotions. While I did call Leo “sometimes unrelatable” just a few paragraphs ago, his emotions do ring true, and hats off to Mr. Walker for that. You can feel his anger, uncertainty, fear, and joy anytime they pop up. They’re vivid and lifelike, so to speak.
In short, The X is an enchanting thriller. It’s not perfect, but it’s got it where it counts, and at the end of the day, that’s what makes it a satisfying read. ...more

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May 31, 2020 Brynn rated it really liked it

A really fascinating story, especially interesting during these unprecedented times where we are questioning our world’s future. The X is different from typical dystopian tales. I found the whole situation of the United States believable and the characters relatable and interesting. The author’s writing gave them great, unique, believable personalities, which is really important to me in a novel.

I will say, the focus on Leo’s Buddhist beliefs seemed heavy in some parts. Although it was an intere ...more

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May 21, 2020 Bryan Campbell rated it liked it · review of another edition

Good but misguided politics

Good dystopia plot and characters. A little slow in places.

Author felt compelled to throw his liberal political views into character development (gay) which added nothing of value to the story line. Also cast conservatives as the villains because he thinks socialism is a fair, workable economic system, when it is actual a road to dictatorship.

I hope he and other authors can execute their literary art without having to inject their politics in to their fiction so blata ...more

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May 24, 2020 Alice rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Good story with a rather abrupt ending. I was hoping there'll be some resolution in Leo getting his child

I looked forward to some type of ending where Leo is able to get the children out. In a way, the ending leaves the story hanging . Is the author planning a sequel? ...more

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Dec 04, 2020 Ammon rated it really liked it

For a first time author I found this book to be compelling! I found the plot to be intriguing, and I could connect with the characters emotions.

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About Derek Walker

Derek Walker

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Derek Walker credits his passion for horror to his Nana Jo, who, despite being a conservative, suburban mother of six, loved the macabre. He lives in the Salt Lake area with his wife, Amanda and two daughters, Quinn and Maple Jo. His debut novel, The X, is due in 2020.

Follow him at derekwalker.me