This is analogous to those straight-to-video movies that end up in the $3 bin at Big Lots. Somehow, they are produced, written and made; but in so many cases, you end up wondering...what were they thinking?

In this case, the author seems to have stitched together a ponderous book with a plot line that simply makes no sense. Earth's ozone layer has failed, evidently causing a caste system in which some unspecified "elite" end up in domes, and the rest of humanity ends up...not in domes, evidently too stupid to stay indoors. To try to make this all plausible, the author creates a new kind of radiation: One that apparently deteriorates concrete, steel and brick so that it crumbles. Not the domes, of course: somehow, THOSE materials are impermeable.

Scratching your head yet? How about these little gems:

--The futuristic military is ultra-smart, ultra-mechanized, and ultra-equipped...except when they have to go somewhere in the dark. Then, they fumble and stumble around because in this universe, night vision goggles were never invented.

--The outside-the-dome citizens are emaciated, radiation-ravaged and prone to bleeding and dying at a moment's notice...except when the citizens are related to the main character. Then, they perform superhuman feats over several days with various injuries and little food with no apparent problems.

--In a world where all the land is described as arid, lifeless and barren, half the characters drown their sorrows with a good cigarette. Which is made of tobacco. Which is grown...where exactly?

--The author has decided that virtually every noun deserves an adjective and every verb deserves an adverb. Glass never breaks - it breaks softly. Honestly. No one ever stares - they universally stare coldly or hotly, and both words are apparently interchangeable to the author. I daresay there are 3,000 completely superfluous words in this novel attributable to useless adjectives and adverbs.

Indeed, there are whole passages that are redundant and serve to do nothing to advance the story. In this universe, military men conduct 20-minute long conversations to debate the pros and cons of helping a stranded soldier in the middle of an epic battle, and the dialogue is incessant in its repetition.

Even with an editor and a halving of the story (and believe me, it would be easy to cut this novel in half), there is simply no character development that makes you want to root for the hero or his family. Oh...and the sequel? It contains virtually no ties or links to the initial story.

All in all, this is one hot mess of a book. With so many other quality independent titles and authors out there, I can't recommend this even at its current zero price. Your time is still worth something; spend that time in something more fulfilling.
This is analogous to those straight-to-video movies that end up in the $3 bin at Big Lots. Somehow, they are produced, written and made; but in so many cases, you end up wondering... what were they thinking? In this case, the author seems to have stitched together a ponderous book with a plot line that simply makes no sense. Earth's ozone layer has failed, evidently causing a caste system in which some unspecified "elite" end up in domes, and the rest of humanity ends up... not in domes, evidently too stupid to stay indoors. To try to make this all plausible, the author creates a new kind of radiation: One that apparently deteriorates concrete, steel and brick so that it crumbles. Not the domes, of course: somehow, THOSE materials are impermeable. Scratching your head yet? How about these little gems:

--The futuristic military is ultra-smart, ultra-mechanized, and ultra-equipped... except when they have to go somewhere in the dark. Then, they fumble and stumble around because in this universe, night vision goggles were never invented. --The outside-the-dome citizens are emaciated, radiation-ravaged and prone to bleeding and dying at a moment's notice... except when the citizens are related to the main character. Then, they perform superhuman feats over several days with various injuries and little food with no apparent problems. --In a world where all the land is described as arid, lifeless and barren, half the characters drown their sorrows with a good cigarette. Which is made of tobacco. Which is grown... where exactly? --The author has decided that virtually every noun deserves an adjective and every verb deserves an adverb. Glass never breaks - it breaks softly. Honestly. No one ever stares - they universally stare coldly or hotly, and both words are apparently interchangeable to the author. I daresay there are 3,000 completely superfluous words in this novel attributable to useless adjectives and adverbs. Indeed, there are whole passages that are redundant and serve to do nothing to advance the story. In this universe, military men conduct 20-minute long conversations to debate the pros and cons of helping a stranded soldier in the middle of an epic battle, and the dialogue is incessant in its repetition. Even with an editor and a halving of the story (and believe me, it would be easy to cut this novel in half), there is simply no character development that makes you want to root for the hero or his family. Oh... and the sequel? It contains virtually no ties or links to the initial story. All in all, this is one hot mess of a book. With so many other quality independent titles and authors out there, I can't recommend this even at its current zero price. Your time is still worth something; spend that time in something more fulfilling.