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Elements of the Apocalypse
Four tales drawn from the classic Greek elements show the end of the world in ways you've never imagined! EARTH: Chaos erupts when Mother Earth begins to purge the sickness that is mankind. AIR: In a hopeless future, humanity has moved underground to escape the poisonous air that fills the atmosphere. WATER: Humanity is plunged into desperation when all the water in the world suddenly evaporates. FIRE: Ashes fill the sky as cases of spontaneous human combustion erupt on a world-wide scale.
- GenresApocalypticHorror
276 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2010
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
D.L. Snell
43 books58 followersD.L. Snell is a writer and freelance editor at Permuted Press. He edited Dr. Kim Paffenroth twice, John Dies at the End once, and provided a constructive critique to Joe McKinney on his next major novel after Dead City. He has also edited Permuted’s Undead series.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 31, 2012
Anthologies are usually hit or miss. A handful of the stories are great while others have you wondering why they were accepted which is why I usually stay away from them. But, the four novellas in Elements of the Apocalypse were amazing. I devoured them in a couple of days. The book is a fairly easy read- easy in the sense that it's short.
The stories themselves are more than a little disturbing. They're brilliantly written but disturbing. Outside of books by Bentley Little, these are the only modern horror stories I've read that had any kind of effect on me. Like most long time Horror lovers, it's difficult to find books that actually scare me. The fear of the characters never infects me. The last novella in Elements of the Apocalypse about all the water of the world drying up- I could really feel what the characters were feeling. I was getting super thirty.
It was amazing how detailed the authors got. They certainly did their homework and they were brutal with their characters. You didn't know who would live or die. The endings were far from predictable- they weren't all rainbows and sunshine. The authors had a great balance between character and plot. The novellas were about the apocalypse but they still focused on the characters- even the one told from several POVs. The character weren't simply tools to show us what was going on, they personalized the situation. I can't think of a thing I didn't like about this book.
The stories themselves are more than a little disturbing. They're brilliantly written but disturbing. Outside of books by Bentley Little, these are the only modern horror stories I've read that had any kind of effect on me. Like most long time Horror lovers, it's difficult to find books that actually scare me. The fear of the characters never infects me. The last novella in Elements of the Apocalypse about all the water of the world drying up- I could really feel what the characters were feeling. I was getting super thirty.
It was amazing how detailed the authors got. They certainly did their homework and they were brutal with their characters. You didn't know who would live or die. The endings were far from predictable- they weren't all rainbows and sunshine. The authors had a great balance between character and plot. The novellas were about the apocalypse but they still focused on the characters- even the one told from several POVs. The character weren't simply tools to show us what was going on, they personalized the situation. I can't think of a thing I didn't like about this book.
November 24, 2016
Elements of the Apocalypse is a collection of four short stories/novellas that deal with the end of the world. Unlike a lot of Permuted Press titles, there are no zombies to be found here. Instead, each author serves up an elemental theme that brings life on Earth to an end. The four stories are:
Remains - In this story by D.L. Snell (Pavlov's Dogs), fire is the fatal element. College student Dylan is taking the bus home to see his girlfriend when the driver literally bursts into flame. He's not the only one, either. Spontaneous human combustion is quickly wiping out all life on the planet, but all Dylan cares about is seeing his girl before he goes up in flames. It's a fascinating story, more for the depth of the characters Snell introduces than the actual apocalyptic stuff (though that's good too). It seems like an accurate depiction of human behavior when everyone knows the end is near. 4/5
Silence in Heaven - In this story by John Sunseri, it's the air that proves toxic to humanity. An alien invasion has poisoned the planet, and it's up to the last remnants of humanity, living deep beneath the Earth), to make a desperate attempt to reclaim the surface world. Sunseri puts forth some interesting concepts alongside some sci-fi staples, and for the most part it works. The ending seems a bit rushed, and was fairly predictable, but getting there was fun. 3/5
Phrenetic - R. Thomas Riley (The Monster Within Idea) has the Earth itself rise up against the pestilence that is humanity. Mother Earth - or Gaia - starts by having the animals kill a large chunk of the population, and that's just the beginning. This is the one story in Elements of the Apocalypse that reads most like a typical zombie story, only it's lions and, um, prairie dogs, that are trying to devour the living, not the undead. It started with an interesting premise, but soon went off in a weird direction that just didn't work. It didn't help that the characters were so one-dimensional. 3/5
With a Face of Golden Pleasure - Ryan C. Thomas (Hissers) kills the world with water, or more specifically the lack of water. Almost overnight, the Earth's water starts disappearing. All over the world the plants are drying up, sealed bottles are suddenly depleted and the oceans are disappearing. Where it's all going is anybody's guess, but it doesn't take long for society to completely break down in a desperate search for the one element no one can survive long without. Thomas spends as much time on character development as he does the main events, and while that might seem odd in such a short format, it really pays off. 4.5/5
I really liked the idea behind this book, and for the most part the stories were all enjoyable and well-executed. There are some very interesting concepts here, and some unusual characters and perspectives as well. It reminded me a lot of Eric Shapiro's Stories for the End of the World, which also had an offbeat look at the apocalypse. If you're a fan of apocalyptic stories, particularly the kind that Permuted Press is so well known for, Elements of the Apocalypse is well worth the price of admission.
Remains - In this story by D.L. Snell (Pavlov's Dogs), fire is the fatal element. College student Dylan is taking the bus home to see his girlfriend when the driver literally bursts into flame. He's not the only one, either. Spontaneous human combustion is quickly wiping out all life on the planet, but all Dylan cares about is seeing his girl before he goes up in flames. It's a fascinating story, more for the depth of the characters Snell introduces than the actual apocalyptic stuff (though that's good too). It seems like an accurate depiction of human behavior when everyone knows the end is near. 4/5
Silence in Heaven - In this story by John Sunseri, it's the air that proves toxic to humanity. An alien invasion has poisoned the planet, and it's up to the last remnants of humanity, living deep beneath the Earth), to make a desperate attempt to reclaim the surface world. Sunseri puts forth some interesting concepts alongside some sci-fi staples, and for the most part it works. The ending seems a bit rushed, and was fairly predictable, but getting there was fun. 3/5
Phrenetic - R. Thomas Riley (The Monster Within Idea) has the Earth itself rise up against the pestilence that is humanity. Mother Earth - or Gaia - starts by having the animals kill a large chunk of the population, and that's just the beginning. This is the one story in Elements of the Apocalypse that reads most like a typical zombie story, only it's lions and, um, prairie dogs, that are trying to devour the living, not the undead. It started with an interesting premise, but soon went off in a weird direction that just didn't work. It didn't help that the characters were so one-dimensional. 3/5
With a Face of Golden Pleasure - Ryan C. Thomas (Hissers) kills the world with water, or more specifically the lack of water. Almost overnight, the Earth's water starts disappearing. All over the world the plants are drying up, sealed bottles are suddenly depleted and the oceans are disappearing. Where it's all going is anybody's guess, but it doesn't take long for society to completely break down in a desperate search for the one element no one can survive long without. Thomas spends as much time on character development as he does the main events, and while that might seem odd in such a short format, it really pays off. 4.5/5
I really liked the idea behind this book, and for the most part the stories were all enjoyable and well-executed. There are some very interesting concepts here, and some unusual characters and perspectives as well. It reminded me a lot of Eric Shapiro's Stories for the End of the World, which also had an offbeat look at the apocalypse. If you're a fan of apocalyptic stories, particularly the kind that Permuted Press is so well known for, Elements of the Apocalypse is well worth the price of admission.
December 24, 2010
Elements of the Apocalypse, as the title suggests, gives the reader four stories using the classic elements to show us how the apocalypse will occur. I thought it was a creative take on apocalyptic stories from the standpoint of using this theme. Fire, Air, Earth, and Water are the means to our destruction, and a different author took a swipe at each particular element.
The first story, by DL Snell, gives us fire as the source of our destruction. Dylan Bradley is minding his own business on a bus ride home from school for spring break when the bus driver bursts into flames. Rather quickly, most of the people around him are doing the same, as spontaneous combustion takes hold as the means to our end. Dylan races home with several other characters as madness takes a hold of the few remaining survivors, in an effort to find his girlfriend.
The second story, by John Sunseri, deals with aliens invading our planet and placing huge atmospheric generators on earth, which make our air unbreathable for humans. Thirty years later, a team from New America, the last surviving lair of humans, has created a device that might help them fight back. Led by Bess, the toughest survivor left, they climb out of their underground hideout and make their way to one of the alien's air processing stations with the device in tow. Since the atmosphere is polluted not only with unbreathable air, but with "demons" and "diggers", both servants to the aliens who crave the oxygen inside human blood, making the trek is somewhat like traversing one of the nine planes of hell.
The third story, by R. Thomas Riley, has the animal kingdom in revolt against humanity when Gaia decides that we are poor caretakers of our planet and she needs to start over. Animals don't just turn on us, they become smart and vicious servants of their earth mother. But Gaia has a plan, and that includes enslaving some of the humans to do more of her dirty work.
The final story, by Ryan C. Thomas, has water the entire world over disappearing in a rapid fashion, leading to a desperate scramble to find the cause and find the last remaining sources of drinkable water on the planet. Cam, an estranged husband and father, has to work with Scott, his scientist brother in law, in an attempt to discover the cause of this catastrophe, while at the same time trying to find water for his infant son as he lay dying from dehydration.
Each story has individual merits, and I give credit to each author for giving us compelling characters that made each story more than just simple doom anthems. I grew attached enough to the characters that I found myself rooting for them to find a miracle despite knowing how most of these types of stories end. I am not going to pick out a favorite here, because I really don't think any of them missed the mark, and there were parts of each tale that resonated for me. If you enjoy reading stories about our destruction that lean toward the fantastic, than this book is a entertaining choice I highly recommend.
The first story, by DL Snell, gives us fire as the source of our destruction. Dylan Bradley is minding his own business on a bus ride home from school for spring break when the bus driver bursts into flames. Rather quickly, most of the people around him are doing the same, as spontaneous combustion takes hold as the means to our end. Dylan races home with several other characters as madness takes a hold of the few remaining survivors, in an effort to find his girlfriend.
The second story, by John Sunseri, deals with aliens invading our planet and placing huge atmospheric generators on earth, which make our air unbreathable for humans. Thirty years later, a team from New America, the last surviving lair of humans, has created a device that might help them fight back. Led by Bess, the toughest survivor left, they climb out of their underground hideout and make their way to one of the alien's air processing stations with the device in tow. Since the atmosphere is polluted not only with unbreathable air, but with "demons" and "diggers", both servants to the aliens who crave the oxygen inside human blood, making the trek is somewhat like traversing one of the nine planes of hell.
The third story, by R. Thomas Riley, has the animal kingdom in revolt against humanity when Gaia decides that we are poor caretakers of our planet and she needs to start over. Animals don't just turn on us, they become smart and vicious servants of their earth mother. But Gaia has a plan, and that includes enslaving some of the humans to do more of her dirty work.
The final story, by Ryan C. Thomas, has water the entire world over disappearing in a rapid fashion, leading to a desperate scramble to find the cause and find the last remaining sources of drinkable water on the planet. Cam, an estranged husband and father, has to work with Scott, his scientist brother in law, in an attempt to discover the cause of this catastrophe, while at the same time trying to find water for his infant son as he lay dying from dehydration.
Each story has individual merits, and I give credit to each author for giving us compelling characters that made each story more than just simple doom anthems. I grew attached enough to the characters that I found myself rooting for them to find a miracle despite knowing how most of these types of stories end. I am not going to pick out a favorite here, because I really don't think any of them missed the mark, and there were parts of each tale that resonated for me. If you enjoy reading stories about our destruction that lean toward the fantastic, than this book is a entertaining choice I highly recommend.
November 20, 2013
Four stories by D.L. Snell, Ryan C. Thomas, John Sunseri, and R. Thomas Riley that foretell four apocalyptic scenarios, each involving the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water). An interesting and original idea.
The first two stories Remains by D.L. Snell (air) and Silence in Heaven by John Sunseri (air) were okay. They featured interesting scenarios, but weren't as enjoyable as the last two stories. However, they were interesting enough to make the purchase of this book worth it. And I'm sure others will get more enjoyment out of them than I did. Forgive me for not being more detailed about what they are about.
Remains deals with people beginning to spontaneously combust. Silence in Heaven deals with people living underground and trying to survive the polluted air and the limited oxygen supply they have.
The last two stories: Phrenetic by R. Thomas Riley (earth) and With a Face of Golden Pleasure (water) were amazing.
Phrenetic dealt with animals (under the direction of the Earth herself) rebelling against humans. We follow several different characters who eventually wind up in the same place, trying to figure out how to survive this new world order. You quickly come to care about the characters and what they are going through. And if you think about it, if a similar scenario ever occurred, humanity wouldn't stand a chance. Even the most docile of creature (such as a prairie dog) could do some real damage, especially if dozens of them attacked at once.
With a Face of Golden Pleasure was easily my favorite of the stories. It deals with water suddenly drying up everywhere for no explicable reason. We focus on one guy in particular, Cam. But we also get to know his estranged wife, Becky, their son, Cobalt, and his brother-in-law, Scott. We witness their struggle to stay alive and figure out how to find water. And they witness the world dying around them.
Of all the things in this world, water is the most essential. We use it for so much, beyond drinking it: cooking, washing our clothes, washing dishes, showering, flushing the toilet, watering the lawn, washing the car. We truly take it for granted. Riots and wars have broken out in other countries over access to water. In California, who gets how much water and where it goes is tightly regulated. Water, more than anything, makes the world go round. And water is essential to keep our bodies working. People die everyday from a lack of water or from drinking polluted water.
Because of all that, Ryan C. Thomas's scenario is the scariest and potentially the most realistic. If water started to disappear what would you do to survive?
The last two stories make the money spent on this book worth it. And you might enjoy the first two in a way that I didn't. Give it a shot. You won't regret it.
The first two stories Remains by D.L. Snell (air) and Silence in Heaven by John Sunseri (air) were okay. They featured interesting scenarios, but weren't as enjoyable as the last two stories. However, they were interesting enough to make the purchase of this book worth it. And I'm sure others will get more enjoyment out of them than I did. Forgive me for not being more detailed about what they are about.
Remains deals with people beginning to spontaneously combust. Silence in Heaven deals with people living underground and trying to survive the polluted air and the limited oxygen supply they have.
The last two stories: Phrenetic by R. Thomas Riley (earth) and With a Face of Golden Pleasure (water) were amazing.
Phrenetic dealt with animals (under the direction of the Earth herself) rebelling against humans. We follow several different characters who eventually wind up in the same place, trying to figure out how to survive this new world order. You quickly come to care about the characters and what they are going through. And if you think about it, if a similar scenario ever occurred, humanity wouldn't stand a chance. Even the most docile of creature (such as a prairie dog) could do some real damage, especially if dozens of them attacked at once.
With a Face of Golden Pleasure was easily my favorite of the stories. It deals with water suddenly drying up everywhere for no explicable reason. We focus on one guy in particular, Cam. But we also get to know his estranged wife, Becky, their son, Cobalt, and his brother-in-law, Scott. We witness their struggle to stay alive and figure out how to find water. And they witness the world dying around them.
Of all the things in this world, water is the most essential. We use it for so much, beyond drinking it: cooking, washing our clothes, washing dishes, showering, flushing the toilet, watering the lawn, washing the car. We truly take it for granted. Riots and wars have broken out in other countries over access to water. In California, who gets how much water and where it goes is tightly regulated. Water, more than anything, makes the world go round. And water is essential to keep our bodies working. People die everyday from a lack of water or from drinking polluted water.
Because of all that, Ryan C. Thomas's scenario is the scariest and potentially the most realistic. If water started to disappear what would you do to survive?
The last two stories make the money spent on this book worth it. And you might enjoy the first two in a way that I didn't. Give it a shot. You won't regret it.
September 30, 2011
Elements of the Apocalypse is a compilation of 4 novella’s by authors R. Thomas Riley, John Sunseri, D. L. Snell, and Ryan C. Thomas. The four tales are taken from the Greek elements Earth, Air, Water and Fire bringing upon the world’s ultimate destruction.
Remains by author D.L. Snell brings forth the element of fire as people all across the world begin to spontaneously combust.
In Silence in Heaven by John Sunseri the world has been over taken by alien creatures that have changed the Earth’s atmosphere to make it unbreathable. Humanity has moved underground to escape the unlivable conditions, but a small group sets out in an attempt to set things right.
R. Thomas Riley brings us Phrenetic. Gaia, also known as Mother Earth, is tired of the way humanity has been treating her. So she sets forth her minions of animals to purge mankind.
With a Face of Golden Pleasure by Ryan C. Thomas shows the desperation of a world that’s entire water supply has evaporated.
Elements of the Apocalypse was a very interesting read. While having various elements be the cause of the destruction of the world is not a new concept to write about, the authors of each novella created some very interesting and entertaining tales. Fire, Air, Earth and Water were all used in a way that created a suspenseful atmosphere for the characters to attempt to overcome. The characters in each novella were all very well written. I feel like there was enough information given to give me the knowledge of whether I should care about the characters or dislike them. The settings were all unique and well placed given the various situations each novella depicted.
The world in D.L. Snell’s Remains would definitely be a nightmare for anyone with pyrophobia. Just knowing that you or anyone around you could spontaneously combust at any given moment would be utter mental torture. The ending of Silence in Heaven by John Sunseri was my favorite by far of the 4 novellas. It was the ending that I had hoped for and I was pleased with its delivery. Phrenetic from author R. Thomas Riley gave me chills by just putting the thought into my head of my dachshund going feral and ripping my guts out while I slept. Finally the desperation of a world without water that Ryan C Thomas was able to show in With a Face of Golden Pleasure was very tangible and a bit scary to consider.
Overall, Elements of the Apocalypse was thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking. I would definitely suggest picking up a copy for your shelves.
Remains by author D.L. Snell brings forth the element of fire as people all across the world begin to spontaneously combust.
In Silence in Heaven by John Sunseri the world has been over taken by alien creatures that have changed the Earth’s atmosphere to make it unbreathable. Humanity has moved underground to escape the unlivable conditions, but a small group sets out in an attempt to set things right.
R. Thomas Riley brings us Phrenetic. Gaia, also known as Mother Earth, is tired of the way humanity has been treating her. So she sets forth her minions of animals to purge mankind.
With a Face of Golden Pleasure by Ryan C. Thomas shows the desperation of a world that’s entire water supply has evaporated.
Elements of the Apocalypse was a very interesting read. While having various elements be the cause of the destruction of the world is not a new concept to write about, the authors of each novella created some very interesting and entertaining tales. Fire, Air, Earth and Water were all used in a way that created a suspenseful atmosphere for the characters to attempt to overcome. The characters in each novella were all very well written. I feel like there was enough information given to give me the knowledge of whether I should care about the characters or dislike them. The settings were all unique and well placed given the various situations each novella depicted.
The world in D.L. Snell’s Remains would definitely be a nightmare for anyone with pyrophobia. Just knowing that you or anyone around you could spontaneously combust at any given moment would be utter mental torture. The ending of Silence in Heaven by John Sunseri was my favorite by far of the 4 novellas. It was the ending that I had hoped for and I was pleased with its delivery. Phrenetic from author R. Thomas Riley gave me chills by just putting the thought into my head of my dachshund going feral and ripping my guts out while I slept. Finally the desperation of a world without water that Ryan C Thomas was able to show in With a Face of Golden Pleasure was very tangible and a bit scary to consider.
Overall, Elements of the Apocalypse was thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking. I would definitely suggest picking up a copy for your shelves.
June 26, 2012
alright stories. i liked the second and fourth stories the best.
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