Too long to many loose ends and the killer fog just vanishes come on BS ( )

If I hadn't already read 3 of his previous books, I'd have thought this was his first one. The writing started out very uneven, not up to par with what I would think the author of 3 other published novels would be capable of. As the book went on, however, the writing got much better. I ended up getting riveted by the story. ( )

John Birmingham’s latest novel wastes no time launching its premise: on March 14, 2003, as the world awaits the impending start of the Iraq War, a massive energy bubble appears in North America, instantly wiping out every lifeform within it. In the weeks that follow, the world faces the consequences of the loss of the world’s sole superpower. The military attempt to preserve order in the unaffected remnants of the United States, Saddam launches an attack on the now-stranded American forces, and a cloud of pollution created by the burning of hundreds of U.S. cities wreaks untold environmental damage.

The unfolding story makes for a sharp contrast with Birmingham’s previous work. His “Axis of Time” trilogy told of the story of a near-future battlefleet suddenly transported into the midst of the Second World War with a tinge of levity. As in the earlier series, he tells of events through a collection of strongly defined characters: a spy, a civil engineer, a pair of military commanders, a smuggler, and a reporter. Unlike his earlier works, however, the humor is absent as he takes an appropriately grimmer tone in detailing the unfolding horror of a world facing disorder and collapse.

The events that follow make for a gripping read. Birmingham’s novel develops a fresh premise in the alternate history genre into a well-realized tale of people caught up in the chaos of disaster. The global response he envisions is both well-reasoned and plausible, embodying the old adage of being careful of what one wishes for. He ends the novel with an appropriately dramatic revelation, one that offers great promise for a follow-up volume. If his last series is any guide, readers can expect it to be a promise fulfilled. ( )

Would be a good movie. Kicked of picked the ending. Wasn't really the kind of book I like so that rating is t reflective of the author, more me and my silly choices. But I do want to read the next
One at some point. For me a lot of the war reporter and the Paris stuff wasn't interesting at all and seemed to go through a lot of boring stuff than progressing plot. But maybe that's just me. ( )

Would be a good movie. Kicked of picked the ending. Wasn't really the kind of book I like so that rating is t reflective of the author, more me and my silly choices. But I do want to read the next
One at some point. For me a lot of the war reporter and the Paris stuff wasn't interesting at all and seemed to go through a lot of boring stuff than progressing plot. But maybe that's just me. ( )