Definitely as good as the book.

The narration is good but a more varied accent for different characters would be better. A good story though, compliments the book.

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"Taking out the trash"

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This, the second book in R.E.McDermott's excellent Disruption series, is even better than the first. Set in America following a solar f!aring which has destroyed most of the world's electrical systems and with them, much of the basis of our means to preserve our elaborate civilization, it is the story of people trying to survive. This is a post apocalyptic tale terrifying in it's reality. No zombies, and without the usual vicious cannibalistic roaming gangs, it presents ordinary people trying to save lives and restore some semblance of normality and hope where so much has been taken away. And also those who see the potential to gain from other's losses.
There are a lot of people in this book. Many, but not all, were introduced in volume one, and all are three dimensional characters, living, breathing actors we come to care about.. They plan both to build safe havens and protect the many homeless, desperate others - or to grab wealth or power for themselves. And the two disparate types of groups cannot coexist.
There is action aplenty, much of it in very realistic ambush and murder, small group fighting or gigantic violent confrontation of small army size. But there is also action of the more peaceful type with later found survivors recruited to help and assist, problems overcome and survival information tried and tested. It could become tedious but, instead, it is riveting drama. As the author mentions in a short note at the end, he writes and rewrites until the 'polished scenes' emerge. And it shows.
The whole is enhanced by the narrator's reading of this encompassing book - and reading it is, not a dramatisation. In a clear, steady voice, Kevin Pierce recounts the story with a perfect pace, allowing the individuals to speak out on whichever side they fall as well as furthering the ongoing action.
The characters are real, in a plausible, even likely, scenario. I feel that I know them. I have feared for them. I learnt a lot from them. I will miss them - until the.next book.
Definitely recommended.

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No Resistance to Push Back

This is an impressive follow-uo to continue R.E. McDermott’s Disruption series and I shall definitely be looking forwards to the concluding book. The premise here is not some fantastic supernatural event causing disaster but something relatively credible coupled with the inherent fragility of modern civilisation where infrastructure is designed primarily for profit motives rather than sensible levels of resilience. The scope is wide too as the book covers multiple groups of characters as they explore McDermott’s stark, powerless US landscape. The size of the cast and the depth many of the characters are given is impressive and brought to mind the epic scale of books like The Stand by Stephen King.

One thing that does stand out is that this is an author who has thought much more about the logistics and realities of an apocalyptic future than most. Lots of practical problems and logical solutions, some of which work and others that aren’t as successful. He doesn’t make it easy for his characters, they can’t just go adventuring! Rather they must work out the practicalities first which he represents with authenticity and detailed knowledge. Perhaps on occasion this is a little overdone, one or two too many conversations about fuel and distances but given this is a self-publishing author a little over-exhuberance here not tempered by editing is more than forgivable. This logical side does add a different angle to the books which can be quite fascinating and I suspect one or two other authors may be squirming a little over McDermott’s precision compared to the liberties they permit their characters!

Don’t let that observation fool you into thinking this is some dull plod across rough terrain though. This book is full of action including individual combat and a couple of quite titanic battles. The mayhem is impressive and the author pulls no punches in terms of the depths to which people can sink including the use of human shields and all manner of weapons and violence. There is some fairly impressive innovation in the combat too, just how deadly can a coke can be?

In summary this is a near-epic scale adventure with lots of action and a love of problem solving characters. It is set in a country whose terrain the author clearly has a deep knowledge and affection for. He tells us to expect the final instalment some time next year, something to look forwards to!

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