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All the Empty Houses
ALL THE EMPTY HOUSES tells the story of Christopher James, an ex-soldier back from the war in 2008. The America he's come home to feels different than the one he left. Smart phones, social media, two-day shipping... and he can't find a simple tank of gas! Something isn't right. Everything feels too connected somehow. The supply chains are too fragile. He decides to prepare for the worst, gathering food, weapons, and supplies. Only the prepared will survive when it all comes crashing down, and he plans on surviving. He's meticulous, he's trained, and he has everything he needs for the end of the world. Surely there's nothing he's overlooked, no fatal flaw in his strategy. No way in hell.
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2022
68 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Alexander Fedderly
1 book9 followersAlexander Fedderly was raised in Ellicott City, Maryland by parents Karen and Jeff. He is the eldest of their five children. He graduated from Waynesburg University in 2006 with a degree in Communication and has worked in the news industry for fifteen years. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Beth.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 10, 2025
*2.5* There’s no question the writing here is good, sharp and immersive. However, this book leans hard into the idea that communal living is the only path to survival in an apocalypse.
Post apocalyptic
Contemporary world
Prepper H
Tiny romance, off page/closed door
Survival
Terrible ending
Christopher is a character who clearly thrives in solitude. Before the fall of the modern world, he is increasingly uncomfortable around people, and eventually ends up chasing away his friends and his girlfriend.
The world was going fucking crazy. The systems running things were too fragile. Resources were too decentralized, supply chains too brittle. With the right spark, it would all come crashing down.
The author throws every possible hardship at Christopher to make sure he fails. Maybe he was already heading down a dark path and this story was meant to be his shot at a redemption? I’m honestly not sure.
There are plenty of ways for someone to stay sane and keep busy on your own. Gardening, reading, crafting, even just maintaining a homestead. I can understand that medical care is kind of a different story though.
By the time Christopher stumbles into a commune-style group, it felt like the story had lost touch with the dangerous world. The group was bizarrely naive given the circumstances. I understand the author was driving home a theme, but it became repetitive and forced by the end. Yoga, and talk therapy in the apocalypse?
“We all, each and every one of us, chose to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We’ve sacrificed for each other, and we’ve built a place that’s truly special.”
Towards the end of the book, I started thinking that maybe Christopher was imagining this group of survivors, that’s how ridiculous they were.
The ending was such a huge disappointment. It was shocking, and not in a good way.
Post apocalyptic
Contemporary world
Prepper H
Tiny romance, off page/closed door
Survival
Terrible ending
Christopher is a character who clearly thrives in solitude. Before the fall of the modern world, he is increasingly uncomfortable around people, and eventually ends up chasing away his friends and his girlfriend.
The world was going fucking crazy. The systems running things were too fragile. Resources were too decentralized, supply chains too brittle. With the right spark, it would all come crashing down.
The author throws every possible hardship at Christopher to make sure he fails. Maybe he was already heading down a dark path and this story was meant to be his shot at a redemption? I’m honestly not sure.
There are plenty of ways for someone to stay sane and keep busy on your own. Gardening, reading, crafting, even just maintaining a homestead. I can understand that medical care is kind of a different story though.
By the time Christopher stumbles into a commune-style group, it felt like the story had lost touch with the dangerous world. The group was bizarrely naive given the circumstances. I understand the author was driving home a theme, but it became repetitive and forced by the end. Yoga, and talk therapy in the apocalypse?
“We all, each and every one of us, chose to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We’ve sacrificed for each other, and we’ve built a place that’s truly special.”
Towards the end of the book, I started thinking that maybe Christopher was imagining this group of survivors, that’s how ridiculous they were.
The ending was such a huge disappointment. It was shocking, and not in a good way.
March 3, 2022
In All the Empty Houses, Fedderly creates a character that chooses a path of solitude. When the end of the world arrives, Christopher is prepared, gloriously prepared, with water, food, books, and all the supplies to live for years. But what’s living when there’s no one to share it with? After a series of misfortunate accidents, Christopher must seek help or die. His choice takes him into the empty landscape and to a place that feels strange and foreign. His decision brings him to a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. All of the Empty Houses is not just one man’s journey but chronicles the human spirit on a quest for understanding. From one end of the spectrum to the other, the tale weaves a picture of post-apocalyptic earth and what it really takes to survive.
September 3, 2022
I’ve had such bad luck with indie books lately that I was starting to get jaded about the self-pub market. I forgot what a treat it is to stumble across a self-pub book that’s well-edited with good writing. The kind of book that might get overlooked by big publishers because it takes risks.
This is a post-apocalyptic tale with heart. Ex-soldier turned doomsday prepper Christopher James becomes obsessed with self-reliance and preparing for the end of the world. When the unthinkable finally comes, he expects to feel vindicated. Instead, he begins to realize that maybe being alone isn’t the smartest survival tactic.
Great characters, intriguing redemption arc. Nicely done.
This is a post-apocalyptic tale with heart. Ex-soldier turned doomsday prepper Christopher James becomes obsessed with self-reliance and preparing for the end of the world. When the unthinkable finally comes, he expects to feel vindicated. Instead, he begins to realize that maybe being alone isn’t the smartest survival tactic.
Great characters, intriguing redemption arc. Nicely done.
July 25, 2022
This book really surprised me. I have been trying more and more self-published books and it's hit or miss. I'm glad I took a chance on this one. The character transformation in this book was *amazing*, although I won't say much else about that so as not to spoil anything. This was also one of the few post-apocalyptic novels that made me cry - and gave me hope. I would definitely recommend giving this one a read, and I would absolutely read another book by Alexander Fedderly.
March 10, 2022
First off, I love the title, which is perfect for the book, and the cover artwork is also perfect. Seems simple, but it's not always the case.
This was a thought-provoking read. I've always been curious how "doomsday-preppers" went about amassing and maintaining their supplies, and this book answers that question. I liked the way the author eased Christopher James into his position -- very believable. He wasn't some overnight radical, but a real person facing issues without a lot of support.
Fedderly is a talented writer. This book has an interesting plot, good pacing, nice character development, believable dialogue, and good word choices. I think this would be a great book for a book club as the central idea of whether we're stronger as individuals or as a collective could generate some excellent conversations.
A great first novel! Looking forward to more from this author.
This was a thought-provoking read. I've always been curious how "doomsday-preppers" went about amassing and maintaining their supplies, and this book answers that question. I liked the way the author eased Christopher James into his position -- very believable. He wasn't some overnight radical, but a real person facing issues without a lot of support.
Fedderly is a talented writer. This book has an interesting plot, good pacing, nice character development, believable dialogue, and good word choices. I think this would be a great book for a book club as the central idea of whether we're stronger as individuals or as a collective could generate some excellent conversations.
A great first novel! Looking forward to more from this author.
March 27, 2022
I couldn’t put this book down! My attention was right with the main character from the beginning and the book built an interesting suspense . The ending surprised me and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days.
April 1, 2022
If you like post-apocalyptic novels, give this one a shot. The description that keeps coming to mind is that it feels familiar without being derivative. I won't spoil anything, but Alex's take on the apocalypse goes a little differently than most of the genre, and I found it refreshing.
I can't give him five stars, because he has room to grow as a writer. However, his first novel is better than some novels I've read from more seasoned authors. I look forward to seeing more from him.
I can't give him five stars, because he has room to grow as a writer. However, his first novel is better than some novels I've read from more seasoned authors. I look forward to seeing more from him.
July 4, 2022
Apocalyptic tale unlike others
A surprisingly good debut book. I could not put it down. The story did not proceed as I expected and was pleasantly entertained. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.
A surprisingly good debut book. I could not put it down. The story did not proceed as I expected and was pleasantly entertained. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.
May 1, 2022
Turned out to be a good read
I wasn't impressed with the beginnings of this book, Christopher was annoying, made so many stupid mistakes that an army veteran prepper just wouldn't have made, and it was really annoying.
However, I kept going, and as the story unfolded, it got better, and became the story of his redemption and healing, and just got better.
The ending was a shock, with an unexpected turn, and had me in tears.
Much better than it first seemed, so I am glad I persevered past the first third.
I wasn't impressed with the beginnings of this book, Christopher was annoying, made so many stupid mistakes that an army veteran prepper just wouldn't have made, and it was really annoying.
However, I kept going, and as the story unfolded, it got better, and became the story of his redemption and healing, and just got better.
The ending was a shock, with an unexpected turn, and had me in tears.
Much better than it first seemed, so I am glad I persevered past the first third.
March 4, 2022
Very well written, intriguing characters, and a great look at a post-apocalyptic society. The main character has a strong voice, and faces down the end of the world, determined to survive on his own terms. Highly recommend!
April 5, 2022
Prepper and the Peaceful...
Wow! I thought that this eas going to the usual SHTF prepper/survivalist book
What a surprise!
First half was the usual
.
The second half was nothing like I had ever read before... Ayn Rand... perhaps was a muse?
Excellent read!
Wow! I thought that this eas going to the usual SHTF prepper/survivalist book
What a surprise!
First half was the usual
.
The second half was nothing like I had ever read before... Ayn Rand... perhaps was a muse?
Excellent read!
March 12, 2022
End of one World, beginning of another
This isn't your typical dystopian novel. Here Alexander Fedderly has crafted a piece that emphasizes the importance of community even when all hope seems lost. The main character, Christopher, undergoes an arc I did not see coming. Nicely done.
This isn't your typical dystopian novel. Here Alexander Fedderly has crafted a piece that emphasizes the importance of community even when all hope seems lost. The main character, Christopher, undergoes an arc I did not see coming. Nicely done.
July 17, 2022
Sometimes we need a reminder of what it means to be “living”, and this book does just that. Though shelved as a post-apocalyptic book, it is so much more than that! So proud of my Howard High classmate, Alexander Fedderly, for writing this inspiring story! There were parts of this story that reminded me of sitting with him in English class!
April 8, 2022
Very good book. Didn’t expect the ending. Went from super suspenseful to a little slower than expected, but a sweet story of perseverance, excepting help, and being open to change.
September 3, 2022
Couldn’t we just get a good apocalypse book without the morality lesson?🙄
November 15, 2022
First, full disclosure, the author of this book, Alexander Fedderly has been a Facebook friend of mine for several years. That disclaimer out of the way, here's my full, unvarnished, and unapologetic review:
Critique:
There are a few places in the book where I almost craved a bit more fleshing-out. Places where more fleshing-out of the characters, or a bit more backstory for some of them would have been nice to have. Understand that criticisms such as this are purely reader preference. - I'm a detail oriented person, so I like all the details. Realistically speaking, for the sake page count and print deadlines, getting all those details into a manuscript just isn't always possible. So, this is as much a me criticism as it is a criticism of the book.
There were a couple of places where the story transitions felt a bit rushed. I cannot explain this further without spoilers, but even though these transitions felt rushed, they're not really a detraction from overall quality and impact of the work.
Other than those minor criticisms, I LOVED THIS BOOK.
This book is a great read! The setting is gritty, and feels entirely possible. The characters are real, and relatable. The dialogue between characters is fluid, and believable. The journey this book takes you on is both grimily corporeal, while at the same time sublimely spiritual.
Critique:
There are a few places in the book where I almost craved a bit more fleshing-out. Places where more fleshing-out of the characters, or a bit more backstory for some of them would have been nice to have. Understand that criticisms such as this are purely reader preference. - I'm a detail oriented person, so I like all the details. Realistically speaking, for the sake page count and print deadlines, getting all those details into a manuscript just isn't always possible. So, this is as much a me criticism as it is a criticism of the book.
There were a couple of places where the story transitions felt a bit rushed. I cannot explain this further without spoilers, but even though these transitions felt rushed, they're not really a detraction from overall quality and impact of the work.
Other than those minor criticisms, I LOVED THIS BOOK.
This book is a great read! The setting is gritty, and feels entirely possible. The characters are real, and relatable. The dialogue between characters is fluid, and believable. The journey this book takes you on is both grimily corporeal, while at the same time sublimely spiritual.
July 23, 2023
This is a quick read, and you will like the protagonist, Christopher James more at the end of the novel than at the start.
He prepares for the crash of civilization when he returns to the United States from a war in the Middle East where he has lost many friends. He does prepare to live by himself in an underground bunker in his backyard in a neighborhood of single homes with huge backyard. He has storage sheds, a greenhouse, an outhouse, and a gravity shower all hidden from the main road.
There is a disaster that leads most other people to die or flee. But Christopher is fine with his preparations.
A series of personal injuries and property disasters lead him to travel a few miles down the road to a community of people living in an apartment complex.
He becomes part of the community and makes fast friends. In the large community where they do everything together.
People in large groups are happiest and do the best seems to be the message. But those people will be the extroverts. The author must be an extrovert since they do not seem to be aware that not everyone in the community will be happy about that.
He prepares for the crash of civilization when he returns to the United States from a war in the Middle East where he has lost many friends. He does prepare to live by himself in an underground bunker in his backyard in a neighborhood of single homes with huge backyard. He has storage sheds, a greenhouse, an outhouse, and a gravity shower all hidden from the main road.
There is a disaster that leads most other people to die or flee. But Christopher is fine with his preparations.
A series of personal injuries and property disasters lead him to travel a few miles down the road to a community of people living in an apartment complex.
He becomes part of the community and makes fast friends. In the large community where they do everything together.
People in large groups are happiest and do the best seems to be the message. But those people will be the extroverts. The author must be an extrovert since they do not seem to be aware that not everyone in the community will be happy about that.
November 12, 2022
A very easy book to read although the main character "Christopher" can be very annoying and quite unlikable at times, but, for an author to make you feel like that I think, is a good thing. The first apocalyptic book I ever read was many years ago and of course it had to be Stephen Kings "The Stand"
and just the fact that only a few people are left behind wandering through empty cities or towns is to me both frightening and exiting. Not so with Chris, who never really goes much further than a few kilometers away. That doesn't detract from Alexander Fedderly's story though. Christopher isn't your average prepper either, but the mistakes he makes are mainly caused by the stubborn belief that he needs no one else in his life until loneliness begins to really wear him down. I must say I was unprepared for the ending which to be honest didn't exactly make my day.
and just the fact that only a few people are left behind wandering through empty cities or towns is to me both frightening and exiting. Not so with Chris, who never really goes much further than a few kilometers away. That doesn't detract from Alexander Fedderly's story though. Christopher isn't your average prepper either, but the mistakes he makes are mainly caused by the stubborn belief that he needs no one else in his life until loneliness begins to really wear him down. I must say I was unprepared for the ending which to be honest didn't exactly make my day.
April 26, 2022
This one requires a higher than normal suspension of disbelief due, in large part, to the lack of research associated with it. Now, I'm no prepper, but even I know that a lot of the different "preparations" taken by the main character are short term actions, not long term ones. James is a cliche through and through, and I really hoped for more out of this one. That's what I get for reading freakin' facebook ads for books when I'm sleep deprived. Never again! :P
November 6, 2022
Practically unreadable. This story was lacking in depth and left so many questions unanswered. What type of virus caused the end of civilization? How was the virus contracted? Instead of some sort of explanation l, we are forced to follow a prepper wo naively thought that he could survive alone. The main character is annoying and repetitive and lacks critical social skills. Overall I would recommend avoiding this book at all costs.
February 6, 2023
I enjoyed this book quite a lot! There were several times it really got me thinking deep! It even had me googling the best things to have for disasters. I loved the revelations the main character had once he got to the neighborhood with everyone else. This one really gets you thinking about the importance of having others in your circle!
May 13, 2022
I liked it. Nice message of hope. Maybe there could have been a few more hardships or encounters with the darker aspects of what happens when the world ends and starts over. It felt a little self-helpy.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews