[(Tree of Freedom)] [By (author) Nelson Lowhim] published on

When Gods Fail #1

by Nelson Lowhim

Exploring a cave, Tom finds himself trapped when a series of earthquakes seal the cave entrance. Weeks later, he pulls himself out.He can't believe his there's nothing but ashes for miles.A forest fire?He sets out to find help, or maybe a phone to call his wife, but there's still nothing but ashes.When he finds people, he learns a terrible the world as he knows it is over... destroyed.Tom tries to pull this world towards a new civilized order, but he soon realizes that in a fight for survival he cannot do what he wants. What he discovers instead is something that will horrify and change him forever.[Entire ebook available at GoodReads, click 'read book']

Genres: Horror, Fiction

Paperback

First published February 7, 2012

About the author

Writer, Artist, Photographer & Veteran. I have Short stories, Non-fiction & Art Published in:
Red Rock Review, Adbusters, BlazeVox, Tayo Literary Magazine (upcoming!), Talking Writing, Flyway Journal, Omni, Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Bread & Beauty Literary Magazine, Nine Line Anthology, Vet Lit: How We Remember War, Vet Lit II: So it Goes, SF Books, LA Review of LA, Seattle Poetic Grid, The Mantle, Intersections International, Medium, ItsComplicated.vet, Aaduna, Artists Studios & Afterwords (& accepted at Callaloo!). With many novels out there to include: CityMuse, The Struggle, When Gods Fail & Labyrinth of Souls

BIO:
Born in Tanzania, of Indian and Seychelles and Euro background. Lived in India for a year. At age 10 moved to the States (all over) and currently live in Seattle with my wife. Oh, it doesn't really end there, but that should be good for now. Since some people tend to ask: yes I served in the US Army. I like to think that my writing has been influenced by... no, no, I won't go there. I read and I write. What else to say? Enjoy
For more look me up at:
twitter: @nlowhim

Medium: medium.com/@nlowhim
http://www.intersections.org/nelson-l...
nelsonlowhim.blogspot.com

Peace Out

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Otra visión (más, que no nueva) del postapocalipsis.-

Género. Novela corta.

Lo que nos cuenta. El terremoto que tuvo lugar mientras Tom estaba explorando unas cuevas al sur de Portland le dejó encerrado durante varias semanas. Cuando consigue salir el exterior está arrasado, por lo que el terremoto puede que fuese algo más, y cuando entra en contacto con otros seres humanos descubre que la guerra y la radiación han terminado con el mundo que conocía. Primer volumen de la serie When gods fail.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Echo · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reads like a violent misogynists wet-dream. It started off like an under-dog comes out on top story, but devolves into revenge and mindless killing paired with a little bit of female objectification and rape-justification.

[donna backshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit I struggled with this review, and sat on my thoughts for a couple weeks, hoping to wrap my head around this novella's true message. I fear I've still allowed my offense at the protagonist's actions and denials to color my review, but maybe that's okay. The author's effort to make this as unapologetically realistic as possible is evident, but I can still jump up and state the obvious: "If this is how the average man would react in an apocalyptic situation, we're all (literally, if you're a female) screwed."

We follow a man as he finds the world in ruins, and though his mental transformation from welterweight wimp to self-designated Savior of the Species is more than abrupt, we watch him handle his new situation more or less as we'd expect. He tries to be smart and to use his skills and know-how. He attacks others in self-defense. He goes in search of his wife, only to find out she must be dead. And then...WTF...he encounters women and assumes each should wish to repopulate the species with him immediately and thankfully. He self-talks through embracing the caveman inside him.

This is where I lost focus. He murders one woman's family, and then hopes she'll promptly forgive him and want to have sex with him. She tries to kill him, and he kills her, not once feeling perhaps it's his fault for creeping on her. He obsesses over the people he's killed. Then he murders another girl's family, and rapes her, a virgin. He never worries that he's raped her, he is still fully ruminating on the murders and hoping his god will forgive him. She is petrified of him, yet he believes she should be thankful as he molests her again and again. From that first rape forward she is catatonic, and finally she commits suicide rather than face him, yet even then, he assumes it's the apocalypse she cannot handle.

Is the message that all men unapologetically turn into rapists at the world's end? I can see how some rules of civilization may change, but the re-emergence of Old Testament, women-as-possessions stuff isn't the first place my mind goes, or wants to go. Perhaps this is all resolved in When Gods Fail II? I want to read to find out, but I fear I'll discover the apocalypse isn't what my nightmares should be made of, but rather the (cave)men who survive it.

[Kristin (Blood,Sweat and Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

All said I think this novella had promise and for the most part I enjoyed it. However, I wish the character hadn't broken down so quickly as it made him rather unlikable by novellas end. In the beginning it seemed like he was just a normal guy who'd survived the horrors above by chance due to being spelunking. I think he was more relatable that way. Maybe though he was always a mysoginistic prick and societal norms kept those feelings in check. It wouldn't surprise me if it turned out he was on meds before shtf. Anyway, It will be interesting to see how his character evolves in the next installment. I just hope I like him more as time moves on.

[Rich Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and realistic post-apocalyptic tale, without a single zombie. Well-written and has good characterization, putting it a parsec ahead of the usual story in this overdone genre. It shows how men rapidly lost the trappings of civilization, and their humanity, once every thing breaks down.

[Gordon Sleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an astoundingly unlikeable protagonist. I couldn't deal with it anymore even if it's only a novella.

[Jason Mckinsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit, I waffled between a ** and *** rating. I think the story is a great idea. It's interesting to consider what happens during the transition of the apocalypse, what happens when we shift from a modern society to a post-apoc society?

The reason I waffled between ratings was I feel our hero shifted into gear a bit too quickly. Within a day or two there were deep-rooted changes to his persona that should have taken weeks. And he didn't mourn at all- not for the people he knew, not for his society, not even for the person he had been. That being said, I think the story itself is original and combined with the writing quality deserves three stars.

[Gabe Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quick read for sure but I liked it well enough. I still have a lot of questions that I would like answered but I assume the second book will handle those???

Definitely worth the time invested into reading it and I would like to read the second book to see where this all goes.

The main character was likeable but I am having hard time swallowing the wimp to superhero transformation but putting that aside I enjoyed his internal struggles.

Would have liked to seen the young girl live a little longer but I saw her death coming... too much pain in that head of hers.

[Leo Huang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the initial atmosphere and character development, but from a certain point onwards it just felt monotonous and predictable, and in a bad way. I feel like there could have been so much more, even for a short story. I do however understand that this is a series of 3 books, but as the first book i feel it failed to grab my attention to even try attempt reading the other two. Still props to the author on the setting and context in which the character develops.

[Aragorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

The prose is mostly written well enough, but the plot doesn't hold together very well and the characterisation, while frequently engaging, is rather inconsistent. The non-ending of this single book chopped in thirds didn't help it either as it leaves the reader with neither a sense of fulfillment nor a sense of wonderment--nor, for that matter, much of a desire to move on.

[Wolfgang Ruetz · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only thing that failed here big time was the author