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The Weller

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Matt Freeborn, a weller by trade, is traveling across the Midwest, now a post-apocalyptic wasteland. While his violent past haunts him, his present is consumed by savage road pirates, grotesque mutants, and private armies. He is fully prepared to handle any of them, but there are still things even the weller fears: the boogeymen of the wastes… distillers.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2010

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81 people want to read

About the author

Adam J. Whitlatch

13 books56 followers
Adam J. Whitlatch is the author of "The Weller," "The Weller - Fear of the Dark," "War of the Worlds: Goliath," "Birthright," and "Vengeance For My Valentine," as well as dozens of short stories and poems spanning the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

A fantasy enthusiast from a young age, his interest in science fiction was first sparked at the age of ten when his father played the infamous 1938 Orson Welles War of the Worlds radio broadcast for him on Halloween. It's a tradition Adam carries on to this day.

Adam lives on a small farm in southeastern Iowa with his wife and their three sons.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for BookLoversLife.
1,838 reviews9 followers
November 24, 2015
The cover initially drew me in for this book, but it was the description that hooked me. The idea that water is a thing that isn't freely available was fascinating.

Matt Freeborn is a Wellar. It's his job to find clean water in a world devastated after a nuclear war. It's a thankless and deadly job. He is constantly on alert for road pirates, cannibals, mutants and even private armies, but the one thing he dreads above all are the distillers. These "people" literally drain whatever water a body holds and uses that as their water. Matt has never encountered these but on his current journey, he not only faces them, but he has to escape from them.

This. Was. Freaking. Awesome!!!! Not at all what I was expecting but absolutely brilliant. I love anything post apocalyptic or dystopian and this has a bit of both in it. It's also a really unique and entertaining story. I loved the overall Mad Max feel of the desert chases with the pirates, they were action packed and engrossing!

The plot was interesting and gripping. I absolutely hated the distillers yet they sent a shiver down my spine every time they were mentioned. They are a terrifying and quite disgusting thought but it added to the overall feel of the book.

The characters are all well written and developed and I loved each one. Matt is a no nonsense, kick ass man with a very cool weapon! He doesn't take any prisoners and isn't afraid to do what's needed!!

Everything about this entertained me and I really really hope we see more set in this world and these characters. It's a fast paced and delightful read and one I'd recommend highly!!

A.W. Miller did a great job with the narration. He had the right tone at the right time and was able to ramp up the tension when needed. I will have to check out more by this narrator!

*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review, via Audio Book Blast. This in no way affects my thoughts."
13 reviews3 followers
April 19, 2020
If you like Mad Max or Book of Eli, you’ll love this post apocalyptic story. Lots of car chases and fight for your life events. Can’t wait to see how it continues.
Profile Image for MontiLee Stormer.
Author 27 books20 followers
June 16, 2013
When we think of the Apocalypse you think about the necessities – food, water, shelter. Adam Whitlatch gives us a post-nuclear world where the most valuable resource is water and the men that can get it for you have the most dangerous job in the world. It’s a dystopian future so it's not supposed to be pretty or happy. It's full of fallout, mutants, and broken communities.

Now I’ll say this to get out of the way – it’s not a perfect read, but the majority of the errors are the kind of thing other writers tend to fixate on (I would have re-worded that, you’re using that adverb *again*, etc) and the ending was a little too neat for my tastes. It's a fast read, and that's important because any flaws that surface in this world in the hands of a less skilled writer would have become problematic.

Matt Freeborn is a man that can find water in the aftermath a war that has reduced anything green and sustaining to dust, yet we never really got to see him in action doing the thing he’s known to do. He does outrun pirates, fire a really big gun, and drive an awesome car but if I have a wizard on his way to the store, being chased by Bad People but the most he does is whisper “abracadabra” once or twice, I lose the reason for having a wizard. There are points where I felt that Matt Freeman was just a guy with a lot of a commodity people needed who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time instead of a man who had skills that could be exploited. If there are more Weller stories, I hope I get to see him in action as a weller.

Having said that, it was fun to read, immensely enjoyable and I never had a chance to wonder when it was going to end. There is lots (lots) of action, exactly 1 hot woman, and a gritty landscape so dry you’ll feel thirsty turning the pages. I liked to nomadic aspect of the story, felt the stark loneliness and desperation of the characters, and relished the action. Regardless, these were feelings after the fact. I enjoyed the read as it was happening and I look forward to reading more from Whitlatch and of The Weller.
1 review
June 26, 2019
The Weller is a good introduction to a unique enigmatic hero and provides a hint of the dystopian world he lives in. There is a blend of hero/anti-hero in the protagonist without trying too hard to fit into one mold or the other. The author provides backstory for the world and characters using the main character's mind for the most part, but avoids the overuse of extended flashbacks and interrupting the flow of the narrative. Freeborn's interpretations are obviously based on his experience and personality; the reader realizes that he is not omniscient or always right. Most of the connections between the past and present communicate the familiar message "the old ways are the best" that permeate this genre of fiction.

The premise of water as a commodity provides the initial introduction to the world and the main character, but the story does not get bogged down by that idea. The fact that areas exist where other forms of currency are preferred over water reflects realistic economics, and suggests that this is only a small slice of the world that the Weller inhabits. With such an intriguing introduction I was surprised that the book did show him performing his "profession," and he is classified as a pirate as soon as he is identified as a Weller.

When I finished the book I wanted to learn more about the characters and the world they lived in, and felt there were plenty of stories to be told. That is the feeling that leads to binge-watching entire seasons on Netflix, and dedicating entire bookshelves to Lovecraft, Heinlein, Moorcock, and Tolkien.
Profile Image for Anna.
127 reviews
August 15, 2013
I bought an autographed copy of this book at CONvergence after attending the Post-Apocalypse Survival panel. So I have met the author and I have learned some background information about the book. This was the third of three apocalypse panels I have attended at CON, with the author on the two last panels. The first panel was not literature-related.

I am enjoying the book thus far- it is a really fast-paced book with plenty of character depth. I went to college in Iowa so it is exciting to read the parts about Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. My only criticism is that there are few female characters and the ones that exist are either background characters or they aren't treated well. For instance, the very first scene depicts a woman only known as "the whore" and she dies almost right away. Had I not known about this book in the context I know it, I probably would have thrown this book across the room and not continued reading.

I keep thinking kids would love this, but unfortunately I don't think it could ever go into a school library as it is a book for adults. Perhaps Mr. Whitlatch could start writing books for kids- that would be cool.

I would suggest not reading this book too late at night- the mutant cannibals are scary! So are the distillers!

The best part is when we meet Phoenix. Great character! So there *are* good female characters- it just takes a while to get there.
Profile Image for Evan.
167 reviews12 followers
June 11, 2015
Loved it! What a fantastic apocalyptic romp through the wasteland! I was reminded of the post-nuke books I couldn't get enough of back in the 80's. The only difference being that The Weller was actually a great story with great characters, characters you come to care about.

I'm a big fan of postapoc "fantasy" - that is to say, stories that aren't of a "prepper" nature. If you are a fan of Mad Max style postapoc fiction, this is one fits the bill.

Although it could be a stand-alone story, I really, really hope that Mr. Whitlatch continues with these characters and gives us more!
Profile Image for Daniel Stine.
1 review
May 16, 2013
I enjoyed this book so much I read the whole thing in one day, while working no less. Thank god I am my own boss. I like the soundtrack and the of course the car, wont give away too much. There was adventure, humor and some cool scenery, I also note there is another book in the Weller series. Gonna read that one soon.
Profile Image for Dennis Green.
Author 7 books104 followers
December 15, 2013
Adam Whitlach spins an outstanding tale of a post-apocalyptic midwest in The Weller. Never making the mistake of over-explaining the world he has created, Whitlach slips Matt Freeborn's back story out in drips and drabs, just like the arid desert he travels. Part Dark Tower, and part Road Warrior, The Weller is a fast-paced story full of action and fights (not to mention giant mutant opossums).
Profile Image for Jori Hendon.
3 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2014
Started the book Tuesday at Jury Duty, made myself finish the "at home" book before continuing reading The Weller at home... stayed up way too late two nights in a row to finish The Weller.... and am sad there are no more Matt Freeborn books....at this time.
Profile Image for Lennox Randon.
Author 3 books7 followers
August 4, 2015
I downloaded the sample pages and I knew within five pages that I would have to buy the darned book. Snappy dialogue and beautifully descriptive writing kept me involved from page one. I also loved the gritty, realistic action. I await the further adventures of The Weller.
Profile Image for Erik Therme.
Author 11 books612 followers
November 1, 2016
The Weller is fast-paced from beginning to end, drawing homage from Mad Max, old westerns, and too many “post-apocalypse” 80’s movies to name. An all-around fun read!
Profile Image for Chris Steele.
29 reviews
January 21, 2023
I enjoyed this read. Could have read it all in one go. Action! Grit! Cool vehicles!
There’s a place in the story I’m tempted to visit if it’s a real museum.
Profile Image for Terrance Shaw.
Author 33 books9 followers
July 29, 2025
This gritty, post-apocalyptic fantasy is full of explosive, non-stop action that kept me on the edge of my seat, breathless to know what would happen next. Lots of reviewers have compared this tale to the Mad Max movies, and that’s not unfair; but there’s a good deal more to Whitlatch’s storytelling than shootouts, crazed hooligans, and car chases across vast stretches of broken Midwest highway. The dark, brooding, epic atmosphere of these near-future wastelands put me in mind of Stephen King’s ‘The Gunslinger’ (probably my favorite King novel, so skillfully mashing up familiar tropes from classic Western fiction with post-apocalyptic angst). Whitlatch’s bad guy and his henchmen would be right at home in ‘The Stand,’ and there’s a bit of genuine horror in ‘The Weller’ that could even give King a run for his money! There’s nothing shallow about Whitlatch’s eponymous main character—I hesitate to call him the ‘hero’ or even an ‘anti-hero’—he seems to be a creature of the classic Western mythos, an archetype drawn from the deep well of our collective cultural memory; an icon come to life, yet with a poignant backstory, an everyday, down-to-earth authenticity that compels us to care about his story.

Five stars! I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series.
Profile Image for Rachel Aukes.
Author 66 books407 followers
May 6, 2019
The Weller is Mad Max for a new generation.

The Weller introduces us to an American apocalyptic wasteland where fresh water has become a rare commodity. Matt Freeborn's job is to locate fresh water, but to do so, he must venture into lands terrorized by people who've long since lost their humanity. Even though he doesn't set out to do so, Freeborn becomes the hero people desperately need. He's tough, smart, and perseverant.

This was the first book I've ready by Adam Whitlatch, and won't be the last.
Profile Image for S.P..
Author 4 books16 followers
May 14, 2022
Th Weller is a fun romp from beginning to end. It begins smack dab in the middle of a messy situation that lets readers know what sort of book this will be. It carries characters and readers from one adventurous scenario into another. Reminiscent of a Mad Max world, readers should be ready for a page turning easy read. I wish the ending had been a little more solid with me, but in a sense it's only an ending to a part one. Definitely ready to delve into another adventure in the world of the Weller
Profile Image for Melissa Dally.
556 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2020
This is another reread to treat myself. Still love it! What a ride! Decades after we nuked the hell out of ourselves, drinkable water is a valuable commodity, hard to come by. Enter: wellers, folks who travel the American wasteland in search of water. Is it dangerous? Yes! This is the story of one such weller and the dangers he must deal with in what we become after the nukes drop. Basically one non stop thrill ride!
3 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2019
I could not out this book down. Action, adventure, monsters, grit, smartassery, this has it all. Adam's imagery is so visceral I found myself sipping so much water while reading. His worldbuilding skill is impressive. The good guys are not perfect and the bad guys are SO bad. I am excited to read The Weller 2 when it comes out!!
Profile Image for David Pedersen.
Author 12 books39 followers
August 23, 2021
This is a fantastic post apocalyptic novel that brought back memories of watching Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Road Warrior a thousand times as a kid. Whitlatch delivers the action in this page turner. His gritty, reluctant hero, Matt Freeborn does not disappoint. The Weller left me thirsty for more.
3 reviews
December 28, 2019
Great for fans of Fallout games

This book came recommended by a friend. I have played the fallout series and this book feels like it could be part of that universe. A quick, very engaging read. Lots of fun!
Profile Image for Chi.
35 reviews5 followers
June 19, 2018
Good start. Has sparks of good prose and nice post-apocalyptic details. Reads like a western. Looking forward to more.
Profile Image for Emeline Pico.
122 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2019
Such a great story of devastation of the world. Survival will become the priority for all. Well written I had to finish the story during the day with other folks around.
Profile Image for Sarah.
14 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2022
A fun post apocalyptic romp. Nice woman character rep near the end. I'm from Iowa so I appreciated all the local references.
1 review
June 15, 2025
My introduction to post apocalyptic books.
I love the Weller series, fun, exciting and humorous.
Profile Image for R.M. Krogman, Dark and Epic Fantasy Author.
Author 11 books50 followers
December 26, 2025
"The Weller" by Adam J. Whitlatch was a fast-paced dystopian adventure with a likable, no-nonsense main character. I enjoyed the worldbuilding that reminded me of Mad Max mixed with The Maze Runner, but in the Midwest! I think Whitlatch nailed the vision of how brutal a post-apocalyptic world would be, how values would change and society would collapse, and what remnants there would be for someone one generation too young to remember where it all came from.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,735 reviews39 followers
May 8, 2016
The Weller by Adam J. Whitlatch Set in a post-apocalyptic world, much of the land is a waste. Food, water, shelter, and decent people are in short supply. Matt Freeborn lost his parents young and his granpa raised him to be a Weller, one who can find clean water.  While his existence with his granpa is tough, there is also joy satisfaction in it. Sadly, that won’t last because this is a book about how Matt gets scammed and beat up and shot and left for dead. He’s in for a tough time of it.
There’s lots that I really liked about this book, and one thing I didn’t care for. So, let’s get that out of the way – Dude! Where are all the women? You can’t repopulate the world without women! There’s several no-name ladies scattered throughout the book and one (count her exactly – 1) woman named Phoenix who has a plot relevant role. I want more women in this gritty, harsh world. The author can write female characters, as he proves with our lone female character or note.
This book was a joy to read. It had that mix of action, and desperate every day fight to live, and the nostalgia of better days lost. Our hero, Matt, is quite a mess. He’s decent enough, given the circumstances, but he’s going to make some bad decisions that give him a world of hurt. I really enjoyed that not all went his way all the time. I like to watch the heroes suffer and fight for what they want, and of course, overcome and be victorious. However, in this water barren world, ‘victorious’ might only get you a tiny tub bath of cold, undrinkable water.
I’m really hoping the author returns to this world and gives us another book. He’s created this rich backdrop in which we could have more adventures, with or without Matt. I’m sure the Distillers (folks who aren’t above stealing water out of people) have an interesting story or two to tell. They were quite chilling and ruthless in this book.
I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost from the author (via the Audiobooks GoodReads Group) in  exchange for an honest review.
 
The Narration: A. W. Miller was a good choice for this book. He had this kind of old cowboy voice that was full of gravel for Granpa. I also liked his younger voice for Matt. He did a great job of getting Matt’s emotions across. 
Profile Image for Nathan Tullis.
49 reviews
September 15, 2016
*I received a free copy of this audio book for review via Audiobookreviewer.com*

After seeing the cover with a man clad in trench coat, goggles, and head-wrap, I assumed it was some sort of post-apocalyptic scenario. Upon reading the synopsis my guess was all but confirmed. I was intrigued by the premise of a world without readily available water and the obstacles one must overcome to live in such a world

Following the 12-minute war, most of the world’s water became unfit for consumption. Matt Freeborn is a Weller with a no BS attitude. In a world devastated by war and tainted my radiation, water is gold. He seeks out and wells drinkable water, offering it for trade. Matt goes up against mutated creatures, realizations of the past, and worst of all…Distillers. After a group of pirates steal the car of Matt’s friend, Radar, they follow the trail to a town that is under the thumb of a greedy and spoiled man; a distiller. Freeborn despises distilling and, having heard stories from the residents, decides it is time to put an end to the man’s despicable acts. Too bad it was easier said than done…

It’s a book that blends a Mad Max style post-apocalyptic backdrop (complete with car chases and road bandits), with a “Spaghetti Western” style plot that was popular in the 60’s and 70’s, and a dash of Dirty Harry for good measure. I was very pleasantly surprised with this story. It’s an action-packed tale of an unwitting hero that forces it’s characters to make tough choices, and live with the consequences. Follow Adam J. Whitlatch as he takes you on journey through a future that could have been, and a past that can’t be changed.

It was A.W. Miller’s job to add voice to that journey, he did great. This was my first book by the narrator and I was very pleased with the performance. He’s talented with voices and reads at a great pace. His inflections and reactions fit dialogue well, and made the story more engrossing. The great production quality, mixed with a very good performance by Miller, makes this a book I’m extremely happy I stumbled across, and him a narrator I will be keeping and ear out for.
Profile Image for t'Sade.
Author 8 books3 followers
March 2, 2014
The Weller is a post apocalyptic novel with a snarky sense of humor and a fast-moving plot. This book reminds me a lot of Wasteland (the game), a bit of Judge Dredd, and Tank Girl. I could say bits and pieces were taken from a score of other books and movies, but it fits well together into a story that drew me in and kept me reading. I do like the attention to details, mostly the entire idea of driving around a wasteland in the car; it is actually related to the plot of wasting gas or having to make choices.

The main character is interesting, mostly from how he responded to the cast that he encounters. His love for muscle cars and BFGs definitely adds to the appeal. What really stole it for me was his smart-assed responses to being shot or tortured, or even just learning about music.

I also enjoyed how the main character is flawed. He gets scammed, he gets shot, he doesn't always win. However, even with everything that goes wrong, being in a radioactive wasteland and probably going to die, he has a chipper attitude that really carries the story.

It was a short read, about two hours. I attribute most of that to a fast-moving plot that touches on points and doesn't dwell on the tedious bits. It didn't feel choppy, though, despite how fast the story moved.

The editing was well done and I saw no flaws. The only complain I had about the narrative was the head-hopping. I'm not fond of it and there were a noticeable amount of it in the beginning and a trifle at the end. Nothing to ruin the story but still notable.

In the print version, the typography was decent but nothing really exciting. I found the line spacing to be very generous for a small press book and the font size, even if was a bland choice, to be readable.
Profile Image for Kathryn Theulen dailey.
71 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2015
"Looking for book 2"
What made the experience of listening to The Weller the most enjoyable?
I really liked the story line. I thought it was interesting to listen to. Mark is a Weller. A Weller finds clean water for people after a nuclear war. It's a dangerous life for the Weller's on the road always looking for clean water and trading with the people that are left from the war. Mark has many run ins with the people he comes across. So the book never seems to really slow down.
This is a great book. I recommend listening to the Weller. Hopefully the author makes this in a series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Weller?
When Mark had seen his friend in trouble and decided to enter into the fight to one save his friend. Than after to help his friend. Things got very crazy for a while. I was on edge when they were captured by the distillers.

What about A.W. Miller’s performance did you like?
Great voice for The Weller. I don't think I've heard another of A W Miller's performance's before. So this was new and different to me.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
When Mark runs into cannibals with his grandfather. I was sad that he was losing his grandfather but I felt his need to fight and take care of business when he got away from the cannibals.

Any additional comments?
I was provided this audio book at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com
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