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The Wasteland Saga #1-3
The Wasteland Saga
Nick Cole sends us on a suspenseful odyssey into the dark heart of post-apocalyptic America in this three-part adventure
Forty years after a devastating thermonuclear Armageddon, mankind has been reduced to sal-vaging the ruins of a broken world. In a style that's part Hemingway and part Cormac McCarthy's The Road, The Wasteland Saga chronicles the struggle of the Old Man, his granddaughter, and a mysterious boy as they try to survive the savage lands of this new American Dark Age.
With the words of the Old Man's most prized possession--a copy of Hemingway's classic The Old Man and the Sea--echoing across the wasteland, they journey into the unknown through three incredible tales of endurance and adventure in a land ravaged by destruction.
Compiled for the first time in print, The Wasteland Saga comprises Nick Cole's novels The Old Man and the Wasteland, The Savage Boy, and The Road is a River.
Forty years after a devastating thermonuclear Armageddon, mankind has been reduced to sal-vaging the ruins of a broken world. In a style that's part Hemingway and part Cormac McCarthy's The Road, The Wasteland Saga chronicles the struggle of the Old Man, his granddaughter, and a mysterious boy as they try to survive the savage lands of this new American Dark Age.
With the words of the Old Man's most prized possession--a copy of Hemingway's classic The Old Man and the Sea--echoing across the wasteland, they journey into the unknown through three incredible tales of endurance and adventure in a land ravaged by destruction.
Compiled for the first time in print, The Wasteland Saga comprises Nick Cole's novels The Old Man and the Wasteland, The Savage Boy, and The Road is a River.
672 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2013
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973 people want to read
About the author
Nick Cole
183 books622 followersNick Cole is a working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can often be found as a guard for King Phillip the Second of Spain in the Opera Don Carlo at Los Angeles Opera or some similar role. Nick Cole has been writing for most of his life and acting in Hollywood after serving in the U.S. Army.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 7, 2014
Thank you to Kate at Harper Collins for randomly sending me this terrific book.
Forty years after a devastating thermonuclear Armageddon, mankind has been reduced to salvaging the ruins of a broken world. In a style that’s part Hemingway and part Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, The Wasteland Saga chronicles the struggle of the Old Man, his granddaughter, and a mysterious boy as they try to survive the savage lands of this new American Dark Age.
This novel is made up of three interconnecting stories – The Old Man and the Waste Land, The Savage Boy and The Road is a River. Originally released separately, I was lucky enough to have all three in one go – Thank heavens!
As far as post apocalyptic fiction goes this is at the top of the game – Brilliantly involving, a realistic scenario and some tremendously well drawn characters make it a terrific read for fans of this genre and indeed anyone with a love for storytelling art. The author picks you up and puts you into a different world, paints you a picture and leads you through an amazing landscape where you will need all your senses.
I was bereft when I got to the end of Part one. I thought Part two could not possibly match it. Then I was bereft when I got to the end of Part Two and thought…well, you get the point.
This will have added depth if you have read Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” which I also loved and also suffers inevitable comparison to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road (a book incidentally that I hated with every fibre of my being, an opinion that often gets me into trouble!) but the tone and the feel of it for me was more “The Stand” which anyone who knows me well will be aware is my favourite book of all time. Since that novel only Justin Cronin with “The Passage” has come close to evoking the same emotional response in me – and now Nick Cole with this tale. That is perhaps the highest compliment I can pay and probably the easiest way to say how good I thought it was.
There is excitement and adventure here – occasionally an adrenalin rush – but tempered with periods of quiet contemplation and insight. The world the characters inhabit is a harsh one, but there IS hope here. It is a wonderful read. Thats about all I can say.
Happy Reading Folks!
Forty years after a devastating thermonuclear Armageddon, mankind has been reduced to salvaging the ruins of a broken world. In a style that’s part Hemingway and part Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, The Wasteland Saga chronicles the struggle of the Old Man, his granddaughter, and a mysterious boy as they try to survive the savage lands of this new American Dark Age.
This novel is made up of three interconnecting stories – The Old Man and the Waste Land, The Savage Boy and The Road is a River. Originally released separately, I was lucky enough to have all three in one go – Thank heavens!
As far as post apocalyptic fiction goes this is at the top of the game – Brilliantly involving, a realistic scenario and some tremendously well drawn characters make it a terrific read for fans of this genre and indeed anyone with a love for storytelling art. The author picks you up and puts you into a different world, paints you a picture and leads you through an amazing landscape where you will need all your senses.
I was bereft when I got to the end of Part one. I thought Part two could not possibly match it. Then I was bereft when I got to the end of Part Two and thought…well, you get the point.
This will have added depth if you have read Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” which I also loved and also suffers inevitable comparison to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road (a book incidentally that I hated with every fibre of my being, an opinion that often gets me into trouble!) but the tone and the feel of it for me was more “The Stand” which anyone who knows me well will be aware is my favourite book of all time. Since that novel only Justin Cronin with “The Passage” has come close to evoking the same emotional response in me – and now Nick Cole with this tale. That is perhaps the highest compliment I can pay and probably the easiest way to say how good I thought it was.
There is excitement and adventure here – occasionally an adrenalin rush – but tempered with periods of quiet contemplation and insight. The world the characters inhabit is a harsh one, but there IS hope here. It is a wonderful read. Thats about all I can say.
Happy Reading Folks!
June 4, 2023
This series was well done. The first book in the series, The Old Man and the Wasteland, was definitely my favorite of the three.
October 17, 2013
I previously read The Old Man and the Wasteland and The Savage Boy. I just happened to notice Nick Cole was releasing The Road is a River a couple of weeks ago while I was browsing around Amazon. I liked the first two books so much, I decided I would just buy the Wasteland Saga to throw the author a little extra money. I signed up for an advanced purchase and it hit my Nexus 7 a few days ago. To say I was overjoyed is an understatement. I tore through the book in a day and a half.
This book picks up where the other two books left off. As I have said in other reviews of Nick Cole's books, he just has a way of sucking me in. I am in that post-apocalyptic wasteland. I am taking that journey with the characters. I even brought up Google Maps to trace their routes.
The author apologizes for the darkness in The Savage Boy book. I for one think that the darkness and pain in that book were very necessary to carry everything through to The Road is a River. Rarely does a book move me to emotion, but this book most certainly does at one key point. I just can't recommend this series enough.
I sure hope the author decides to write more books for this universe. Maybe a book about King Charlie, more stories about The Boy, or stories from a different area of the US after the apocalypse. I'm really looking forward to whatever Nick writes next. Keep them coming.
This book picks up where the other two books left off. As I have said in other reviews of Nick Cole's books, he just has a way of sucking me in. I am in that post-apocalyptic wasteland. I am taking that journey with the characters. I even brought up Google Maps to trace their routes.
The author apologizes for the darkness in The Savage Boy book. I for one think that the darkness and pain in that book were very necessary to carry everything through to The Road is a River. Rarely does a book move me to emotion, but this book most certainly does at one key point. I just can't recommend this series enough.
I sure hope the author decides to write more books for this universe. Maybe a book about King Charlie, more stories about The Boy, or stories from a different area of the US after the apocalypse. I'm really looking forward to whatever Nick writes next. Keep them coming.
February 7, 2014
This review is for The Road is a River. Please see my separate reviews for Old Man and the Wasteland and the Savage Boy.
Oh my. I loved the Road is a River as much as the Reapers are the Angels and On the Beach. And that is high praise indeed.
I was hooked from the first Chapter:
"The worst is when you imagine the grief of your loved ones after you have gone."
"that is the love of staying when you know you must go."
This theme of letting it go and taking it with you is brilliantly woven through the entire story -- the Boy, the Old Man. What a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Beautiful, just beautiful. I cried and am now crying again.
I cannot recommend this novella and trilogy enough. It is only available as part of the published trilogy. Go out and buy it today.
Oh my. I loved the Road is a River as much as the Reapers are the Angels and On the Beach. And that is high praise indeed.
I was hooked from the first Chapter:
"The worst is when you imagine the grief of your loved ones after you have gone."
"that is the love of staying when you know you must go."
This theme of letting it go and taking it with you is brilliantly woven through the entire story -- the Boy, the Old Man. What a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Beautiful, just beautiful. I cried and am now crying again.
I cannot recommend this novella and trilogy enough. It is only available as part of the published trilogy. Go out and buy it today.
January 16, 2017
I've already reviewed the "Old Man and the Wasteland" and "The Savage Boy" (which I highly recommend you read) so I'll just review "The Road is a River" here.
As with the previous books it's as much an adventure of what happens to the main character as with his internal struggle. By reading his thoughts constantly you can understand him better, his fears, his strengths and how he evolves to become a better man.
Comparing it to "The Savage Boy" it feels a little lacking of action and it's definitely less dark, but it's perfectly fine. I enjoyed the whole book and particularly the ending.
As I did with this and the previous book, I intend to preorder whatever this author releases next.
As with the previous books it's as much an adventure of what happens to the main character as with his internal struggle. By reading his thoughts constantly you can understand him better, his fears, his strengths and how he evolves to become a better man.
Comparing it to "The Savage Boy" it feels a little lacking of action and it's definitely less dark, but it's perfectly fine. I enjoyed the whole book and particularly the ending.
As I did with this and the previous book, I intend to preorder whatever this author releases next.
February 27, 2014
INTRODUCTION | The world as we knew it ended forty years ago. A wave of low-yield nuclear bombs targeting many large American cities and then a subsequent invasion changed the landscape forever. Survivors have no idea what is going on as they battle radiation, starvation, and a complete breakdown of American society. It’s the new dark age.
The Wasteland Saga is comprised of three short novels and each focuses on a different challenge. The first, The Old Man and the Wasteland, begins in a small village located in a former processing plant in the Sonoran Desert. The village is on the edge of the Wasteland. The Old Man is a scavenger and he’s been out of luck. The villagers are starting to think he is “curst.” He sets off on a journey to find the largest scavenge he can. The second book, The Savage Boy, is set largely in the southwest as The Boy tries to complete a mission set by his now deceased guardian, Staff Sergeant Lyman Presley. Presley has spent the last 40 years on a mission for the Army, traversing America trying to find out if anything is left. The Boy must get to Oakland to report back on what he found. The third book, The Road is a River, weaves the first two stories together as The Old Man meets The Boy and they go on an adventure together in a desperate attempt to redeem themselves and show that there is still good in the world. The combined saga tests the endurance of humankind and its morality.
REVIEW (minor spoilers) | I fear that as I start my review, the wrong impression will be given. Thus I will start with this statement which should be kept in mind throughout the rest of the review: I enjoyed the combined novels, and The Road is a River was certainly a great read. That said, a soldier is “someone who never gives up” (p. 548) says The Boy to the granddaughter. In that regard, I am most definitely a soldier because the story plods like the half-dead characters in the desert, missing some undefinable and driving “but what’s next?” quality. STOP! Don’t click off the review yet; I’m not done. This style fits in with the storyline and gives ambience to the mental imagery. However, this really isn’t a book for when you’re looking for a quick-paced action-driven novel. This is a story of survival written with slow detail-by-detail precision. I looked forward to each ending of the short stories so that I could take a break and re-group to gear up for the next.
Cole’s strength is in working through an interesting and plausible narrative (and it really was interesting), but his weakness is in creating distinct characters with their own voices. Each – the Old Man, the Boy, the two soldiers – all seemed somewhat interchangeable if not for age and the scant details. This did, also, lend a beaten down feeling to the novel as though each character is no longer distinct or individual because they just don’t have the energy after their daily work for survival. There were two short segments that also seemed somewhat jarring in which Cole switched to the viewpoint of a pride of lions and a pack of wolves.
I had some of the most fun in a segment in The Savage Boy wherein one of the characters who was alive Before started telling stories about her life – and the realization quickly set in that she was describing movies. Matching up each description with its title was fun, and Cole slipped in little hints that made me smile. The Savage Boy is otherwise a depressing story of overwhelming loss. The loss of love, family, friends, and identity. The Boy is completely unknown to even himself. He has no idea who he is or should be; his entire life has been that of Presley’s mission, and he doesn’t even know where he came from. Cole recognizes this sorrow and apologizes in his author bio at the end, which was a nice touch.
The Road is a River likewise had several parts which made me cry. The novel in general didn’t seem to have much in the way of answers and instead reflected the uncertainty of all our lives. It ends on a bittersweet high note, though, with a hope for better and a redeeming glimpse that some people, even in a post-apocalyptic world, might just do right. They might just be good.
CONCLUSION | I would recommend this book to anyone who likes post-apocalyptic novels with a slower-paced story that is easy to read. Cole has a straightforward writing style reminiscent, as the back-of-the-book summary states, of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. I’m going to let you know a shameful secret: I have never read Hemingway. The novel has a lot of tie-ins to The Old Man and the Sea that I didn’t understand since I haven’t read that novel. However, it is still understandable and interesting, although I have a nagging feeling that I missed out on a lot of the depth. (I bet you can guess what book is going on my to-read pile.)
A note for the author: thank you for writing a book that reinforces that people are people. There isn’t necessarily a dichotomy of pure good and evil, and people make choices, even when they’re scared (nice reinforcement of the lesson on bravery that I learned in basic training) and in a state of deprivation, to do good and be brave purely because it is the right thing to do. This was refreshing to see in a post-apocalyptic storyline.
Thank you Mr. Nick Cole.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The Wasteland Saga free from Harper Voyager US. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. The opinions I have expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The Wasteland Saga is comprised of three short novels and each focuses on a different challenge. The first, The Old Man and the Wasteland, begins in a small village located in a former processing plant in the Sonoran Desert. The village is on the edge of the Wasteland. The Old Man is a scavenger and he’s been out of luck. The villagers are starting to think he is “curst.” He sets off on a journey to find the largest scavenge he can. The second book, The Savage Boy, is set largely in the southwest as The Boy tries to complete a mission set by his now deceased guardian, Staff Sergeant Lyman Presley. Presley has spent the last 40 years on a mission for the Army, traversing America trying to find out if anything is left. The Boy must get to Oakland to report back on what he found. The third book, The Road is a River, weaves the first two stories together as The Old Man meets The Boy and they go on an adventure together in a desperate attempt to redeem themselves and show that there is still good in the world. The combined saga tests the endurance of humankind and its morality.
REVIEW (minor spoilers) | I fear that as I start my review, the wrong impression will be given. Thus I will start with this statement which should be kept in mind throughout the rest of the review: I enjoyed the combined novels, and The Road is a River was certainly a great read. That said, a soldier is “someone who never gives up” (p. 548) says The Boy to the granddaughter. In that regard, I am most definitely a soldier because the story plods like the half-dead characters in the desert, missing some undefinable and driving “but what’s next?” quality. STOP! Don’t click off the review yet; I’m not done. This style fits in with the storyline and gives ambience to the mental imagery. However, this really isn’t a book for when you’re looking for a quick-paced action-driven novel. This is a story of survival written with slow detail-by-detail precision. I looked forward to each ending of the short stories so that I could take a break and re-group to gear up for the next.
Cole’s strength is in working through an interesting and plausible narrative (and it really was interesting), but his weakness is in creating distinct characters with their own voices. Each – the Old Man, the Boy, the two soldiers – all seemed somewhat interchangeable if not for age and the scant details. This did, also, lend a beaten down feeling to the novel as though each character is no longer distinct or individual because they just don’t have the energy after their daily work for survival. There were two short segments that also seemed somewhat jarring in which Cole switched to the viewpoint of a pride of lions and a pack of wolves.
I had some of the most fun in a segment in The Savage Boy wherein one of the characters who was alive Before started telling stories about her life – and the realization quickly set in that she was describing movies. Matching up each description with its title was fun, and Cole slipped in little hints that made me smile. The Savage Boy is otherwise a depressing story of overwhelming loss. The loss of love, family, friends, and identity. The Boy is completely unknown to even himself. He has no idea who he is or should be; his entire life has been that of Presley’s mission, and he doesn’t even know where he came from. Cole recognizes this sorrow and apologizes in his author bio at the end, which was a nice touch.
The Road is a River likewise had several parts which made me cry. The novel in general didn’t seem to have much in the way of answers and instead reflected the uncertainty of all our lives. It ends on a bittersweet high note, though, with a hope for better and a redeeming glimpse that some people, even in a post-apocalyptic world, might just do right. They might just be good.
CONCLUSION | I would recommend this book to anyone who likes post-apocalyptic novels with a slower-paced story that is easy to read. Cole has a straightforward writing style reminiscent, as the back-of-the-book summary states, of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. I’m going to let you know a shameful secret: I have never read Hemingway. The novel has a lot of tie-ins to The Old Man and the Sea that I didn’t understand since I haven’t read that novel. However, it is still understandable and interesting, although I have a nagging feeling that I missed out on a lot of the depth. (I bet you can guess what book is going on my to-read pile.)
A note for the author: thank you for writing a book that reinforces that people are people. There isn’t necessarily a dichotomy of pure good and evil, and people make choices, even when they’re scared (nice reinforcement of the lesson on bravery that I learned in basic training) and in a state of deprivation, to do good and be brave purely because it is the right thing to do. This was refreshing to see in a post-apocalyptic storyline.
Thank you Mr. Nick Cole.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The Wasteland Saga free from Harper Voyager US. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. The opinions I have expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 4, 2014
The Road Is a River: A Satisfying Completion of The Circle for Cole’s Wasteland Saga
In this review I’m largely focusing on the third book in Cole’s Wasteland Saga, The Road Is a River. I’ve reviewed the first two books in separate posts. Road was a comfortable book for me. What I mean by that is that it returned me to the Old Man’s world and perspective (after Savage Boy’s change in focus), and that felt like putting on an old pair of shoes—not only comfortable but reliable. I found Road to be a book I could stretch out with and walk around in and simply enjoy the experience of reading a great story. I wanted to keep turning pages, whatever the hour, because the story was just that good. As its title implies, Road takes us back to the “moving quest” we experienced in The Old Man and the Wasteland, and we’re on that quest along with the Old Man and his fellow “knights errant.” We invest ourselves in the story by projecting ourselves into our particular Santiago’s shoes—and that’s what makes the story so personally poignant. For fear of introducing spoilers, I won’t describe other characters specifically here, but I will say that Cole’s careful weaving together of plot elements and characters rewards readers of the earlier Saga books and entices those who start with Road to go back and see what they’ve missed.
Cole’s gift for narrative is evident, as it has been throughout the Saga, and his execution so deft that his weaving in and out of first- and third-person viewpoint—even across character perspectives—wasn’t a problem for me. “The Writing Manual” says that’s a no-no; too distracting; “not good form.” Whatever. Cole’s excellent storytelling ability breaks those rules in an engaging way that makes reading his prose an exercise in joy for the reader. We not only lose ourselves in the Old Man’s inner dialogue, we can find ourselves as fellow human beings by doing so. He is the Everyman in all of us: full of self-doubt, physically frail at times, but transcendently noble.
And that’s what makes these novels such good stories. A major theme from Mark Twain goes something like (and I’m paraphrasing, based on my own reading of Twain): “Much of the world sucks and many of the people in it are bastards, but I hold out hope for the human race based on my observation of a few noble souls who do the right thing anyway.” You can see that hope like a road itself running through the heart of Cole’s trilogy. If everyone in the dystopia of tomorrow were as noble, loyal, and caring as Cole’s heroes and heroines, the Apocalypse wouldn’t be all bad. In short, the Wasteland Saga is a spare narrative style overlying a deep tale of enduring the human experience while learning to thrive through the process of self-discovery. Hemingway would approve.
In this review I’m largely focusing on the third book in Cole’s Wasteland Saga, The Road Is a River. I’ve reviewed the first two books in separate posts. Road was a comfortable book for me. What I mean by that is that it returned me to the Old Man’s world and perspective (after Savage Boy’s change in focus), and that felt like putting on an old pair of shoes—not only comfortable but reliable. I found Road to be a book I could stretch out with and walk around in and simply enjoy the experience of reading a great story. I wanted to keep turning pages, whatever the hour, because the story was just that good. As its title implies, Road takes us back to the “moving quest” we experienced in The Old Man and the Wasteland, and we’re on that quest along with the Old Man and his fellow “knights errant.” We invest ourselves in the story by projecting ourselves into our particular Santiago’s shoes—and that’s what makes the story so personally poignant. For fear of introducing spoilers, I won’t describe other characters specifically here, but I will say that Cole’s careful weaving together of plot elements and characters rewards readers of the earlier Saga books and entices those who start with Road to go back and see what they’ve missed.
Cole’s gift for narrative is evident, as it has been throughout the Saga, and his execution so deft that his weaving in and out of first- and third-person viewpoint—even across character perspectives—wasn’t a problem for me. “The Writing Manual” says that’s a no-no; too distracting; “not good form.” Whatever. Cole’s excellent storytelling ability breaks those rules in an engaging way that makes reading his prose an exercise in joy for the reader. We not only lose ourselves in the Old Man’s inner dialogue, we can find ourselves as fellow human beings by doing so. He is the Everyman in all of us: full of self-doubt, physically frail at times, but transcendently noble.
And that’s what makes these novels such good stories. A major theme from Mark Twain goes something like (and I’m paraphrasing, based on my own reading of Twain): “Much of the world sucks and many of the people in it are bastards, but I hold out hope for the human race based on my observation of a few noble souls who do the right thing anyway.” You can see that hope like a road itself running through the heart of Cole’s trilogy. If everyone in the dystopia of tomorrow were as noble, loyal, and caring as Cole’s heroes and heroines, the Apocalypse wouldn’t be all bad. In short, the Wasteland Saga is a spare narrative style overlying a deep tale of enduring the human experience while learning to thrive through the process of self-discovery. Hemingway would approve.
September 6, 2021
I loved this saga and didn't want it to end. I've read a lot of PA novels but I think this series will stay in my memory and be one of the few that I'll remember for a long time. It's comparable in some ways to Earth Abides, another all-time favourite of mine.
I like when PA novels are more about the people than "stuff". How society evolves and how people act in extreme situations, rather than about buildings, technology, politics, economics, etc. This saga is indeed about a wasteland, both physical and moral, and how people adapt to it.
I read all three novels of The Wasteland Saga consecutively, so it felt like one novel in three parts, that all fit and follow beautifully. The world building is superbly done, totally convincing. You feel you are right there with the characters, feeling the heat on your face and the dust in your eyes. I loved the way it was written, especially the technique of writing in both the first person and third person. I felt that in the third person I was closely observing the characters' experience, and in the first person I was in their head, feeling it. I've never seen this done before and it pulled me in very effectively. (Maybe this is a technique used in The Old Man and the Sea - I haven't read it.)
The characterisation is very strong for some of the characters (especially the old man, the boy, Horse), while others didn't really come alive for me, such as the granddaughter. But that didn't really matter as the old man and the boy are the ones through whom you live the story. If anything, the fact that you almost see the other characters through a veil just serves to heighten the sense of isolation. The situation regarding General Watts is deftly handled, with the reveal coming at just the right time and with a terrific impact.
But what I liked most about these books was the mood and atmosphere. Moving, melancholy, even desolate but also hopeful and uplifting.
My only quibble is about time.... It is "only" 40 years after the world was destroyed but the way some groups of people behave would seem more appropriate after a lapse of many generations. It seems too soon to have such a level of social change. But I guess the author needed to keep the time short in order for some of the plot elements to work. Anyway, it was not enough to bother me much.
Like this review? Why not check out my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews?
I like when PA novels are more about the people than "stuff". How society evolves and how people act in extreme situations, rather than about buildings, technology, politics, economics, etc. This saga is indeed about a wasteland, both physical and moral, and how people adapt to it.
I read all three novels of The Wasteland Saga consecutively, so it felt like one novel in three parts, that all fit and follow beautifully. The world building is superbly done, totally convincing. You feel you are right there with the characters, feeling the heat on your face and the dust in your eyes. I loved the way it was written, especially the technique of writing in both the first person and third person. I felt that in the third person I was closely observing the characters' experience, and in the first person I was in their head, feeling it. I've never seen this done before and it pulled me in very effectively. (Maybe this is a technique used in The Old Man and the Sea - I haven't read it.)
The characterisation is very strong for some of the characters (especially the old man, the boy, Horse), while others didn't really come alive for me, such as the granddaughter. But that didn't really matter as the old man and the boy are the ones through whom you live the story. If anything, the fact that you almost see the other characters through a veil just serves to heighten the sense of isolation. The situation regarding General Watts is deftly handled, with the reveal coming at just the right time and with a terrific impact.
But what I liked most about these books was the mood and atmosphere. Moving, melancholy, even desolate but also hopeful and uplifting.
My only quibble is about time.... It is "only" 40 years after the world was destroyed but the way some groups of people behave would seem more appropriate after a lapse of many generations. It seems too soon to have such a level of social change. But I guess the author needed to keep the time short in order for some of the plot elements to work. Anyway, it was not enough to bother me much.
Like this review? Why not check out my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews?
November 4, 2013
Closing to the Wasteland series... not sure if the portion I'm reviewing (The Road is a River) is even available as a stand-alone book? I purchased the full saga (3 parts), just so I could get to this one, which I hadn't read yet. Anyway, these comments pertain only to this final portion. See my other reviews for the other two.
The author gives an apology of sorts up front for what happened in the second book The Savage Boy but in my view, no apology needed. Grim times, grim things happen. No apologies needed if the story is "true."
This portion of the story finds the Old Man and the Boy meeting up and then heading on a joint quest to help a community in dire need... maybe creating the chance for humanity to rise again?
There was a lack of details on King Charlie and the Fool , and the Fool seems to be able to race around at supersonic speeds towards the end... sometimes even with the Old Man, sometimes far ahead of him, sometimes far behind.
I also had some serious confusion with Sgt. Major PRESTON vs. Sgt. PRESLEY. Am I the only one who found the name and rank of these characters deliberately confusing? I'm guessing anyone who hasn't been in the US Army doesn't get the distinction between a "Sgt." and a "Sgt. Major". Thematically, it seemed like they should have been the same person. Did I miss something here?
Finally last part of the book seemed to bring up some continuity issues with what happened with the Old Man in the first book... specifically, the epilogue. I thought he was found with his tank in some kind of shrine? Am I wrong on that?
So, taking off a star for those minor issues, but having said all that, well written, poetic ending with the Old Man and the Boy, especially liked how they assumed the burden (blessing?) of either other's life mottos.
The author gives an apology of sorts up front for what happened in the second book The Savage Boy but in my view, no apology needed. Grim times, grim things happen. No apologies needed if the story is "true."
This portion of the story finds the Old Man and the Boy meeting up and then heading on a joint quest to help a community in dire need... maybe creating the chance for humanity to rise again?
There was a lack of details on King Charlie and the Fool , and the Fool seems to be able to race around at supersonic speeds towards the end... sometimes even with the Old Man, sometimes far ahead of him, sometimes far behind.
I also had some serious confusion with Sgt. Major PRESTON vs. Sgt. PRESLEY. Am I the only one who found the name and rank of these characters deliberately confusing? I'm guessing anyone who hasn't been in the US Army doesn't get the distinction between a "Sgt." and a "Sgt. Major". Thematically, it seemed like they should have been the same person. Did I miss something here?
Finally last part of the book seemed to bring up some continuity issues with what happened with the Old Man in the first book... specifically, the epilogue. I thought he was found with his tank in some kind of shrine? Am I wrong on that?
So, taking off a star for those minor issues, but having said all that, well written, poetic ending with the Old Man and the Boy, especially liked how they assumed the burden (blessing?) of either other's life mottos.
May 10, 2014
This review covers the third novel in the Wasteland Saga, The Road is a River. I've reviewed the first two parts, Old Man and Savage Boy separately.
I’m a fan of the series and of the author. Even though this is the third part, Nick saves the best for last. In my humble opinion, Road is the best because it follows the Old Man and the Savage Boy and their entwined story, finishing their journeys.
But it’s the beauty through the destruction that is most remarkable. Through the lawlessness, through the savagery, there is still a remnant of individuals that realize there is more to the bombed-out life than the immediate situation. There are still things in the world worth sacrificing self for, and there are still some individuals that deem other lives more valuable than their own. Nick’s story weaves the idea of self-sacrifice into Road, making for a compelling read, one that transcends a typical post-apocalyptic story.
Every story should end with the message Nick has put into Road.
If you’re considering purchasing the Wasteland Saga, then take the plunge and pick it up, no matter the cost. It will be money well spent.
I’m a fan of the series and of the author. Even though this is the third part, Nick saves the best for last. In my humble opinion, Road is the best because it follows the Old Man and the Savage Boy and their entwined story, finishing their journeys.
But it’s the beauty through the destruction that is most remarkable. Through the lawlessness, through the savagery, there is still a remnant of individuals that realize there is more to the bombed-out life than the immediate situation. There are still things in the world worth sacrificing self for, and there are still some individuals that deem other lives more valuable than their own. Nick’s story weaves the idea of self-sacrifice into Road, making for a compelling read, one that transcends a typical post-apocalyptic story.
Every story should end with the message Nick has put into Road.
If you’re considering purchasing the Wasteland Saga, then take the plunge and pick it up, no matter the cost. It will be money well spent.
June 7, 2014
The final book in this trilogy, The Road is a River, is only available when when you buy this set. All three are really good but The Savage Boy was my favorite. I have posted my reviews separately for each story so I won't re-post them here but I will leave the links (if I managed to do this right):
The Old Man and the Wasteland. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Savage Boy. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Road is a River. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This was a phenomenal series and I'm so glad I read it but so sad there isn't more of it. I highly recommend it!!
The Old Man and the Wasteland. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Savage Boy. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Road is a River. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This was a phenomenal series and I'm so glad I read it but so sad there isn't more of it. I highly recommend it!!
January 12, 2014
This was an exceptional collection of stories. I bought the book because I'm a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, but this was far more satisfying, in every respect. This was well written and multi-layered which any fan of good fiction will appreciate.
As one other poster suggested, I was compelled to read Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" after reading the first story "The Old Man and the Wasteland." Not only did I enjoy that story, but it helped in understanding the internal dialogue between the Old Man and Santiago that permeates much of the first and third books. I also realized that Sgt. Preston was The Boy's Santiago, as well.
There are some crushing moments of sadness in these books, but there is also something profound about the indestructibility of the human spirit that the worst that mankind can throw at you can be survived.
This was good stuff.
As one other poster suggested, I was compelled to read Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" after reading the first story "The Old Man and the Wasteland." Not only did I enjoy that story, but it helped in understanding the internal dialogue between the Old Man and Santiago that permeates much of the first and third books. I also realized that Sgt. Preston was The Boy's Santiago, as well.
There are some crushing moments of sadness in these books, but there is also something profound about the indestructibility of the human spirit that the worst that mankind can throw at you can be survived.
This was good stuff.
September 10, 2016
The book that non apocalyptic genre fans could and should read.
This is a slow but relentless post apocalyptic book (without zombies or aliens) which feels more realistic than many others out there. It's set 40 years after WW3 when nuclear warheads hammered the earth into the dark ages. After 2 years of nuclear winter, disease, starvation - humanity is or has remained the monster. But there is a glimmer of hope.
This is the omnibus of 3 books, "Old Man and the Wasteland, "The Savage Boy" and "The Road is a River". The books are written like a stream of consciousness when we live through the thoughts of the Old Man and The Boy. You follow the thoughts, hopes, fears and getting to know what brought them to where they are and what changes them into what they are at the end.
I loved everything about it except the epilouge.
This is a slow but relentless post apocalyptic book (without zombies or aliens) which feels more realistic than many others out there. It's set 40 years after WW3 when nuclear warheads hammered the earth into the dark ages. After 2 years of nuclear winter, disease, starvation - humanity is or has remained the monster. But there is a glimmer of hope.
This is the omnibus of 3 books, "Old Man and the Wasteland, "The Savage Boy" and "The Road is a River". The books are written like a stream of consciousness when we live through the thoughts of the Old Man and The Boy. You follow the thoughts, hopes, fears and getting to know what brought them to where they are and what changes them into what they are at the end.
I loved everything about it except the epilouge.
October 8, 2014
THIS is mindblowingly good.
You don't have to love dystopian/apocalyptic literature to love this book. All you need is to love good literature. Because this is really and honestly one of the best books I've ever read.
The Old Man and The Savage Boy are fantastically created characters with enormous depth. You really want to follow them until the end, even though you know it won't end well. Or will it? Yes it will. And no it won't.
Of the three, I think Old Man and the Wasteland is a notch above the other two, but that might be because I've spent so much time with Fallout3. AND because I love Hemingways Old Man and the Sea.
Just read this!
You don't have to love dystopian/apocalyptic literature to love this book. All you need is to love good literature. Because this is really and honestly one of the best books I've ever read.
The Old Man and The Savage Boy are fantastically created characters with enormous depth. You really want to follow them until the end, even though you know it won't end well. Or will it? Yes it will. And no it won't.
Of the three, I think Old Man and the Wasteland is a notch above the other two, but that might be because I've spent so much time with Fallout3. AND because I love Hemingways Old Man and the Sea.
Just read this!
July 13, 2014
I've already reviewed the "Old Man and the Wasteland" and "The Savage Boy" (which I highly recommend you read) so I'll just review "The Road is a River" here.
As with the previous books it's as much an adventure of what happens to the main character as with his internal struggle. By reading his thoughts constantly you can understand him better, his fears, his strengths and how he evolves to become a better man.
Comparing it to "The Savage Boy" it feels a little lacking of action and it's definitely less dark, but it's perfectly fine. I enjoyed the whole book and particularly the ending.
As I did with this and the previous book, I intend to preorder whatever this author releases next.
As with the previous books it's as much an adventure of what happens to the main character as with his internal struggle. By reading his thoughts constantly you can understand him better, his fears, his strengths and how he evolves to become a better man.
Comparing it to "The Savage Boy" it feels a little lacking of action and it's definitely less dark, but it's perfectly fine. I enjoyed the whole book and particularly the ending.
As I did with this and the previous book, I intend to preorder whatever this author releases next.
November 5, 2013
Although a bit miffed that I couldn't get The Road is a River as a stand-alone since I had already purchased the first two (ended up reading the last through the library), I really enjoyed this last installment. Wish it would go on...
July 23, 2016
I really enjoyed the three stories and the characters within them.
The ideas that Nick Cole managed to portray were clever, interesting and compelling.
I'd recommend these books to anyone! Amazing read.
The ideas that Nick Cole managed to portray were clever, interesting and compelling.
I'd recommend these books to anyone! Amazing read.
March 12, 2014
Amazing book that looks at life after the world has been destroyed. Heart wrenching and gripping, page after page. Pick this book up if you get the chance!
April 17, 2014
It was so good, I had dreams about it. I didn't want it to end.
July 21, 2014
Amazing. Loved these books. I'm totally hooked on this author.
September 21, 2014
Excellent tale of post apocolyptic society and survival. I really liked the internal monologes the main characters had.
November 19, 2015
Without a doubt the most memorable book I have read in decades. Filled with stories within the story. Belongs in all Public Libraries.
June 6, 2016
love this book. I could really connect with the characters. I hope there is more to the series.
November 2, 2013
Very nice ending to the series.
April 25, 2014
The Wasteland Saga is a post-apocalyptic trilogy with a difference. Where other authors perhaps concentrate on the interesting question of: What if there was a nuclear war? Or perhaps: There has been a nuclear, what now? What Nick Cole does is look back, introspectively. Feelings of guilt, anger, regret and hopelessness are fully explored throughout the Wasteland Saga. Sounds depressing? Not at all. Cole’s realistic narrative was not only a breath of fresh air but a brilliant exploration of the human condition, after the bomb has dropped.
In the first part/novel we follow the Old Man on his journey across the Wasteland. The reason for his solo road trip? To rid himself of his curse. Whilst other members of his small community are able to find salvage, for nearly a hundred days, the Old Man returns to the village empty handed. He feels a burden and useless. This journey of exploration has him dealing with his feeling and making discoveries along the way. He proves to be a resourceful character and one thing I must stress is the emotional intelligence Cole weaves into his characters. You get so involved. This novel felt special in a way that very few novels do – it gripped me, it made me feel his emotions. I could almost feel the hot desert wind on my cheek.
Yet, this is not just a dry emotional journey, it’s an adventure story too. I don’t tend to give away plot points in my reviews so I’ll leave it there for part one.
The second part deals with Savage Boy. The boy is unsure of his heritage, all he knows is that he was raised by a US Soldier, Sergeant Presley, now dead. There is much more action in this novel but again a lonely introverted narrative – the boy is joined by the voice of Father figure Presley, who lives on in the boy’s thoughts. Again, Cole concentrates on the human story and we feel the aching loneliness of life in this terrible, poisoned world.
I can’t say a great deal about the third novel without giving away a few things so I’ll just say this – you’ll be moved to tears by the expert story telling of this fantastic author who combines elements of the first two novels in a dramatic conclusion. This novel will be hailed as a classic landmark of the genre.
In the first part/novel we follow the Old Man on his journey across the Wasteland. The reason for his solo road trip? To rid himself of his curse. Whilst other members of his small community are able to find salvage, for nearly a hundred days, the Old Man returns to the village empty handed. He feels a burden and useless. This journey of exploration has him dealing with his feeling and making discoveries along the way. He proves to be a resourceful character and one thing I must stress is the emotional intelligence Cole weaves into his characters. You get so involved. This novel felt special in a way that very few novels do – it gripped me, it made me feel his emotions. I could almost feel the hot desert wind on my cheek.
Yet, this is not just a dry emotional journey, it’s an adventure story too. I don’t tend to give away plot points in my reviews so I’ll leave it there for part one.
The second part deals with Savage Boy. The boy is unsure of his heritage, all he knows is that he was raised by a US Soldier, Sergeant Presley, now dead. There is much more action in this novel but again a lonely introverted narrative – the boy is joined by the voice of Father figure Presley, who lives on in the boy’s thoughts. Again, Cole concentrates on the human story and we feel the aching loneliness of life in this terrible, poisoned world.
I can’t say a great deal about the third novel without giving away a few things so I’ll just say this – you’ll be moved to tears by the expert story telling of this fantastic author who combines elements of the first two novels in a dramatic conclusion. This novel will be hailed as a classic landmark of the genre.
June 25, 2015
I read first book, "The Old Man And The Wasteland" a couple of years ago and loved it. Read it twice. It remains my favorite "apocalypse genre" book. Just finished the second and third books of the series and really liked them, too. The Savage Boy takes you on a new path with different characters than the first book (with slight overlap - not gonna spoil, though). This book still continues the saga of life after society as we know it is no more, with more interpersonal (?) relationships and great character development - including those formed with animals. I cared about "Horse" almost as much as I cared about what happened to Boy (and Jin). Life in the portrayed times is rough, really rough, and man's inhumanity to man continues to be a theme (although not so gut - wrenching as that of Cormac McCarthy ' s The Road). Boy, raised by a tough-as-nails, but kind mentor-soldier must strike out on his own, using all the survival skills ingrained through their travels across the barren and nuclear blasted US. Boy finds horrible things and wonderful things and eventually ... well, let's just stop there.
The last book "The Road Is A River" takes up about where "The Old Man..." left off. The Old Man and his granddaughter leave their (new cozy) village on a rescue mission. There are survivors trapped in the mega - bunker of NORAD and there are some bad guys trying to break in. Our hero and little heroine must make a convoluted route to get to the bunker, picking up needed supplies along the way. They also encounter some interesting folks - but, I ain't gonna spoil.
Again, the characters are clearly drawn. It's one of those "can't put the book down" things. You wanna know what's happening to your friends.
There are some surprises, some great survival lore, some real angry moments, and yep, (I gotta use a cliche here, ugh-) tears and laughter.
Do they make it? Does Boy enter the picture? Surely the Old Man can't make it through another book?!
Ahhhh, reading. Takes you to other worlds, right? Even trashed, burnt out worlds are interesting when story - tellers like Nick Cole get ahold of them.
The last book "The Road Is A River" takes up about where "The Old Man..." left off. The Old Man and his granddaughter leave their (new cozy) village on a rescue mission. There are survivors trapped in the mega - bunker of NORAD and there are some bad guys trying to break in. Our hero and little heroine must make a convoluted route to get to the bunker, picking up needed supplies along the way. They also encounter some interesting folks - but, I ain't gonna spoil.
Again, the characters are clearly drawn. It's one of those "can't put the book down" things. You wanna know what's happening to your friends.
There are some surprises, some great survival lore, some real angry moments, and yep, (I gotta use a cliche here, ugh-) tears and laughter.
Do they make it? Does Boy enter the picture? Surely the Old Man can't make it through another book?!
Ahhhh, reading. Takes you to other worlds, right? Even trashed, burnt out worlds are interesting when story - tellers like Nick Cole get ahold of them.
April 30, 2015
This book was a remarkably good read. The Wasteland Saga is a compilation of three interconected stories by Nick Cole which include The Old Man and the Wasteland, The Savage Boy and The Road is a River. The Wasteland Saga follows the journey of "The Old Man" and the "Boy" in a post apocalyptic world some 40 years after a nuclear war.
I found the writing stlye of the author somewhat difficult to read at the beginning but once I got into the first story I could not put it down and found his style to be quite ingenious. The story is well written and the characters are developed at a great pace. After reading the Old Man and the Wasteland and then moving onto the second story, The Savage Boy, at first I thought it was an unrelated story just set in the same world. Just keep reading and all will make sense. The three stories are placed in their order for a reason and it will make sense and makes the book all the more enjoyable.
I loved this novel and reccommend to anyone that enjoys post apocalyptic or scifi.
I found the writing stlye of the author somewhat difficult to read at the beginning but once I got into the first story I could not put it down and found his style to be quite ingenious. The story is well written and the characters are developed at a great pace. After reading the Old Man and the Wasteland and then moving onto the second story, The Savage Boy, at first I thought it was an unrelated story just set in the same world. Just keep reading and all will make sense. The three stories are placed in their order for a reason and it will make sense and makes the book all the more enjoyable.
I loved this novel and reccommend to anyone that enjoys post apocalyptic or scifi.
January 4, 2014
I read the Old Man and the Wasteland in 2012 and really enjoyed it. I didn't realize it was a series until I met Nick Cole at the Long Beach Comic and Horror Con last month. I went home and bought it that night. So glad I did! This is an epic tale that draws on many classic apocalyptic themes. I really enjoyed the geographic scope of the plot and was familiar with most of the landmarks described. The hardware, even years into the apocalypse, was also realistic. What sets this book apart from the crowd is how the author gets into the mind of his characters. I could easily relate to the main characters, which were well developed, and really appreciated the author's technique of sharing their thoughts more than their dialogue. By telling the story from two perspectives, one old and one young, we get a full picture of apocalyptic adventure, hope, despair and possible salvation. Five Stars!
July 29, 2016
If you like Post-Apocalyptic fiction, I strongly recommend “The Wasteland Saga,” by Nick Cole, which contains three novels in one volume, available in both hard copy and as an eBook. I read the Kindle edition, published by Harper Voyager.
These three books will tug on your heartstrings and the stories and characters, the actions, emotions, and sacrifices will stay with you for a long time. I would love to see more stories that take place in this thermonuclear wasteland, but regardless of whether or not Nick returns here or not, I am definitely a fan, as I absolutely love the way he tells a story.
Nick, you brought me the gamut of emotions over the last few weeks, from joy to sorrow to elation, as I read this trilogy. That is what great storytelling is all about. I hope your writing career lasts a long time!
These three books will tug on your heartstrings and the stories and characters, the actions, emotions, and sacrifices will stay with you for a long time. I would love to see more stories that take place in this thermonuclear wasteland, but regardless of whether or not Nick returns here or not, I am definitely a fan, as I absolutely love the way he tells a story.
Nick, you brought me the gamut of emotions over the last few weeks, from joy to sorrow to elation, as I read this trilogy. That is what great storytelling is all about. I hope your writing career lasts a long time!
September 18, 2016
Listen...if You like post-apocalyptic literature in any way, You need to read ALL of Nick Cole's books. I bought this Saga, and didn't sleep much for three days as I read them all. Nick writes so You can lose Yourself in the story, and You get invested in the characters. I really don't want to give any of it away, but let's just say that it is a deeply satisfying read. He manages to be 'realistic' (and bad things certainly happen)...without making You lose hope or wish You had not read them when You are done. They will make You think, and put Yourself in the story...and wonder how You would do in the same situation. Nick has a really great grasp of human nature, and he uses this to make his characters believable and flawed...even as they pursue redemption of some kind in a world that offers little. I thoroughly enjoyed this story...I bet You will too.
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