For my Read and Loved post this week, I’m again reaching back to 2009 to a book that really tickled my funny bone. Exponential Apocalypse is, bottom line, a quirky and fun book. It’s hilarious, yet intriguing and utterly original. And bonus, since it’s a $0.99 title, it’s a low risk investment in a fun read.
My review:
In Exponential Apocalypse, Eirik Gumeny takes a light and twisted look at the post-apocalyptic genre that is too much fun to be ignored.
In his afterword, he readily admits that the story may have been the result of too much caffeine, possible drugs (no word on whether or not they were illicit) and other assorted bad habits, but in truth, it is pure genius.
The story unfolds as the 23rd apocalypse is shaping up for an appearance. The 22 previous ones were quite bad, but didn’t so much end things as change them. Change as in making the sun no longer very reliable (after all, Mars falling into it is bound to have some effect) or making New Jersey the last really safe place in the former United States. Even better, there are clones of former leaders who can seriously kick buttocks (Taft with a rocket launcher anyone?). Throw in an enhanced, telepathic squirrel with cajones made of pure brass, murderous robots and the slightly more dangerous murder drones, fallen gods with alcohol problems and toilet issues, and a few humans with no discernible differences from other humans and you have this book. Oh, yes, and don’t forget the army of liberal arts majors who wrest control of many states from the former United States and create the Hobo Nation.
Warning: There will be puns. But they aren’t bad ones and you’ll likely laugh out loud and embarrass yourself in public just a wee bit.
This was a quick read not because it is so short, but because it flows so well and absorbs nicely. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Like others have noted and like the author himself admits, it is clear that the writer is much influenced by Douglas Adams and other slightly off writers. But this isn’t a trite rip-off of that style, but rather the first offering of an entirely new style that has some common elements with those other writers. I certainly hope I’ll see more from this author.
NOTE: As always, books I put in the Read and Loved posts are all written by authors I don’t know. I’m reviewing strictly as a reader.
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