What do you think?
Rate this book
American Sulla #1
May Day
When the unthinkable happens … what happens next?
A nuclear weapon destroys Lower Manhattan. A million people die. Millions more flee from a gigantic, deadly cloud of fallout.
The crisis has only begun.
President William Orwell Steele and his cabinet labor to cope with the aftermath of an unprecedented terrorist attack, while a host of ordinary Americans struggle merely to survive in a world where everything has changed. From the corridors of power to the squalor of refugee camps, from world capitols to the lawless frontiers of Pakistan, from economic collapse to armed rebellion, the impact of the May Day attack swiftly spreads to every aspect of society and every corner of the globe.
Thoughtful, intelligent, and wildly entertaining, May Day – Book One of American Sulla solidly establishes author Thom Stark as the master of disaster. The most ambitious thriller in decades, the first book in the American Sulla trilogy will leave you cheering the debut of a major new talent.
A nuclear weapon destroys Lower Manhattan. A million people die. Millions more flee from a gigantic, deadly cloud of fallout.
The crisis has only begun.
President William Orwell Steele and his cabinet labor to cope with the aftermath of an unprecedented terrorist attack, while a host of ordinary Americans struggle merely to survive in a world where everything has changed. From the corridors of power to the squalor of refugee camps, from world capitols to the lawless frontiers of Pakistan, from economic collapse to armed rebellion, the impact of the May Day attack swiftly spreads to every aspect of society and every corner of the globe.
Thoughtful, intelligent, and wildly entertaining, May Day – Book One of American Sulla solidly establishes author Thom Stark as the master of disaster. The most ambitious thriller in decades, the first book in the American Sulla trilogy will leave you cheering the debut of a major new talent.
703 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2013
17 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Thom Stark
2 books20 followersThom Stark, author of May Day - Book One of American Sulla, has been a professional writer since 1995. He is best known as a columnist and feature writer for the late, great Boardwatch Magazine. Mr. Stark currently lives in Chillicothe, Ohio, with his wife Judy and their lovable mutts Wanda and Watson. He is hard at work on War – Book Two of American Sulla.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 27, 2014
I started reading May Day (the prequel) on a whim, stepping out of my comfort zone into a genre about which I know nothing. I am thus unable to comment on the specialized matters: how it compares with other futuristic, apocalyptic works, for example. I can comment on the universals, however. I can talk about the excellence of the writing, the imaginative power of the author, and the realism of the new and dark world into which the reader is drawn. One of the reasons I read very little fiction is because I generally find it so difficult to suspend my disbelief. I had no such problems here. I believed every word. It was all too horribly real for comfort. Thom Stark paints on a massive canvas - and this is a work of enormous ambition. Fortunately he has the ability to pull it off.
March 18, 2015
I will start this review with the disclaimer I read it as part of a book club, and it’s not my usual reading material.
So, we start with a nuclear bomb detonating in NY. The cut scenes are frantic and it all feels ever so confusing, as is fitting given the event.
However, this manic scene changing continues throughout the book. To be honest, the initial stages certainly left me feeling I’d not identified with any of the characters yet, and I wondered “do I care what happens?” But I persevered regardless. I did start to get to know the characters eventually, but I never got any real emotion or affinity with them. It could just be me, but it felt a bit ‘statement of fact’, like a series of highly detailed events. I personally would have liked less detail and more emotion.
The mid section of this book really dragged as (again, personally speaking) I found the level of detail was too high, and caused some unnecessary ‘scene changes’.
The author starts by saying he’d verified the accuracy of this novel. I have to say I thought some major points were highly improbable (e.g. a VIP kidnap scenario just wouldn’t happen in the way it was described). I don’t want to include spoilers so will leave that vague. And your average Joe Bloggs reading this book probably won’t see these points, and I won’t spoil things by detailing too much. I guess it’s OK to gloss over them, as a lot of reviewers have bought into the believability, and a lot of the situations are not too far fetched.
However, putting what would probably ‘actually’ happen aside, it is still a good book. I realise this sounds like a contradiction given what I’ve just written. But if you get through the initial stages of inertia, there are some very good plot lines. I would just have liked to have had a few threads concentrated on and developed. It just felt like too much was trying to be covered (which towards the end it does settle down to doing). As part of a trilogy I would expect a shorter book. It was very ambitious.
In the main, it is well written. Enjoyable would be the wrong word, as some horrific things happen. But ‘good reading’ probably covers it. It certainly makes you wonder what would happen should such an attack occur.
Will I read book 2? Probably not, but if this is your type of book I’m sure you will. I just prefer at least some glimmer of happiness along with my tragedy.
So, we start with a nuclear bomb detonating in NY. The cut scenes are frantic and it all feels ever so confusing, as is fitting given the event.
However, this manic scene changing continues throughout the book. To be honest, the initial stages certainly left me feeling I’d not identified with any of the characters yet, and I wondered “do I care what happens?” But I persevered regardless. I did start to get to know the characters eventually, but I never got any real emotion or affinity with them. It could just be me, but it felt a bit ‘statement of fact’, like a series of highly detailed events. I personally would have liked less detail and more emotion.
The mid section of this book really dragged as (again, personally speaking) I found the level of detail was too high, and caused some unnecessary ‘scene changes’.
The author starts by saying he’d verified the accuracy of this novel. I have to say I thought some major points were highly improbable (e.g. a VIP kidnap scenario just wouldn’t happen in the way it was described). I don’t want to include spoilers so will leave that vague. And your average Joe Bloggs reading this book probably won’t see these points, and I won’t spoil things by detailing too much. I guess it’s OK to gloss over them, as a lot of reviewers have bought into the believability, and a lot of the situations are not too far fetched.
However, putting what would probably ‘actually’ happen aside, it is still a good book. I realise this sounds like a contradiction given what I’ve just written. But if you get through the initial stages of inertia, there are some very good plot lines. I would just have liked to have had a few threads concentrated on and developed. It just felt like too much was trying to be covered (which towards the end it does settle down to doing). As part of a trilogy I would expect a shorter book. It was very ambitious.
In the main, it is well written. Enjoyable would be the wrong word, as some horrific things happen. But ‘good reading’ probably covers it. It certainly makes you wonder what would happen should such an attack occur.
Will I read book 2? Probably not, but if this is your type of book I’m sure you will. I just prefer at least some glimmer of happiness along with my tragedy.
July 7, 2018
This book! Wow. This book is a political thriller that takes place in the United States after a terrorist nuclear attack on New York City. The President declares Martial Law and begins to try to fix his country after this devastating attack. This book is really long but well worth the read. You go through the points of views of different characters, including The President, as they work through what has just happened to the country they love and call home. It ends on a cliffhanger and unfortunately there is no sequel and the author is currently taking a break from writing the sequel, so don't read this if you're not ready to live with a cliffhanger for who knows how long! If you're okay with that, then read away! Excellent read, kept me up late into many nights trying to finish it!
November 27, 2013
This is an amazing story and incredibly well written. I've never read anything that gives me the imagery of slow motion like in a film. Don't get me wrong there – the pace is not slow. The pace changes perfectly with the scenes and is a credit to this author's talent.
Storywise – It is written from a different angle than most books of this type. Rather than the build up to the event, it is more the aftermath. It's very clever, but I won't spoil it for you. I recommend you read it and find out for yourself. This is a book for everyone to read and take heed from, not just the usual readers of this genre.
Storywise – It is written from a different angle than most books of this type. Rather than the build up to the event, it is more the aftermath. It's very clever, but I won't spoil it for you. I recommend you read it and find out for yourself. This is a book for everyone to read and take heed from, not just the usual readers of this genre.
September 14, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! Great writing, fast paced action, good characters in the midst of the destruction of Manhattan by an atomic bomb, millions fleeing from fallout, make this exciting and plausible! Looking forward to meeting up with these characters in the next installment. Bravo!
Wow! Great writing, fast paced action, good characters in the midst of the destruction of Manhattan by an atomic bomb, millions fleeing from fallout, make this exciting and plausible! Looking forward to meeting up with these characters in the next installment. Bravo!
March 15, 2015
May Day - Timely, believable and scary. Gritty realism and wonderfully developed characters. Well written and nicely edited, this is a book that will make you think. Nice job Thom. May Day (American Sulla, #1).
October 21, 2016
An atomic bomb has fallen on Manhattan and the consequences which follow are seismic in the extreme.
A masterclass of writing.
Highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Stark realities via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
A masterclass of writing.
Highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Stark realities via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
July 31, 2014
May Day (American Sulla, #1)by Thom Stark is a very engaging read!
A real page-turner kept me reading to the very last pages and wanting more! Excellent writing by this author!
A real page-turner kept me reading to the very last pages and wanting more! Excellent writing by this author!
July 31, 2014
This post-apocalyptic tale has it all - relentless pacing, gritty realism, and complex characters. It all plays out in tantalizing fashion.
August 5, 2014
Nuclear attack. A fall out. Political struggles. A nation destroyed.
I knew I would love this story and when I closed the last page I was not disappointed, one little bit. Sorry, no spoilers here.
I knew I would love this story and when I closed the last page I was not disappointed, one little bit. Sorry, no spoilers here.
July 31, 2014
I love apocalyptic tales and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
July 2, 2018
Starts with a bang (sic), with considerable detail on the many consequences of a 20 kiloton blast. The author has done a lot of homework in presenting some plausible scenarios, which I appreciated. This is a good read to suggest how a single nuclear weapon could wreak havoc over a large area, though "nukemap" suggests his estimates of fallout damage are overstated. I also felt some of his main characters were unsympathetic low-lifes whose presence seemed unnecessary. A lot of characters, too, with a 16 page appendix listing them all. But all in all, a competent readable Indie effort.
June 7, 2017
I could not put this book down...started it one day, finished it the next.
Parts of it made me uncomfortable (as I think it was supposed to) - the situations, the language, the story - but it was extremely engaging and the multiple characters kept me interested in seeing what happened next. Definitely page turner.
I found this very enjoyable, and am looking forward to book 2!
Parts of it made me uncomfortable (as I think it was supposed to) - the situations, the language, the story - but it was extremely engaging and the multiple characters kept me interested in seeing what happened next. Definitely page turner.
I found this very enjoyable, and am looking forward to book 2!
January 13, 2023
Excellent book can't wait for the new one to be released. Great job Thom.
July 2, 2024
This book left me impressed. It's a story full of emotions and surprises that kept me hooked from start to finish. I definitely recommend it.
March 15, 2014
This is a book that makes me wish I still belonged to a book club, because I desperately want to talk about it for hours. It's the type of book that makes me wish the others in the three-book set are complete, because I really want to immerse myself in the story once again. It's the type of book that also makes me wish I could give it more than five stars because my enjoyment of this book goes way beyond, well... enjoyment. I finished reading the book a day ago, but I can't get it off my mind. I feel deeply affected by not only the story, but by the questions raised within the pages of this well-written book.
Stark raises questions most of us never consider. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, I think most people have some idea of the havoc created by such an event. I think most people can even puzzle out what might happen after a nuclear attack. But, how many people stop to consider the ripple effect such an event might cause? What happens to those who survive the blast, only to discover their homes will remain uninhabitable for generations to come? Where do all those people go? And, how does a government that is barely holding up under crushing debt manage to find the resources to support millions of refuges? What happens when the economy begins to crumble, or when insurance companies file bankruptcy?
This book is well-researched and raises issues most readers have never considered. It's thorough, factual, and remarkably unbiased. Stark writes in a very straightforward manner and keeps his own political opinions from interfering with the story. What really sets this book apart, though, is the author's ability to go way beyond the obvious environmental, economic, and political repercussions of a nuclear terrorist attack. He also looks at our country's deep-seated prejudices. He shows us the ugly side of humanity and people who seek to profit from disaster, and shows us those who use tragedy as an excuse to let lawlessness run rampant. He introduces us to a conspiracy theorist who has the ability to tap into the fears of like-minded individuals who are willing to act on their hatred. He also delves into the psyche of a man who is forced to harness almost unlimited power while under immense pressure and personal grief.
May Day is a multifaceted read that kept me glued to my e-reader. It's a thought-provoking, well-written book I would recommend to everyone over 18. It isn't often that I can recommend a book to all readers, regardless of the type of book they like to read. But, in this case, I can make an exception. The book is highly readable--the type of book that should be made into a movie. Read it and really think about the question, "What if?"
Stark raises questions most of us never consider. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, I think most people have some idea of the havoc created by such an event. I think most people can even puzzle out what might happen after a nuclear attack. But, how many people stop to consider the ripple effect such an event might cause? What happens to those who survive the blast, only to discover their homes will remain uninhabitable for generations to come? Where do all those people go? And, how does a government that is barely holding up under crushing debt manage to find the resources to support millions of refuges? What happens when the economy begins to crumble, or when insurance companies file bankruptcy?
This book is well-researched and raises issues most readers have never considered. It's thorough, factual, and remarkably unbiased. Stark writes in a very straightforward manner and keeps his own political opinions from interfering with the story. What really sets this book apart, though, is the author's ability to go way beyond the obvious environmental, economic, and political repercussions of a nuclear terrorist attack. He also looks at our country's deep-seated prejudices. He shows us the ugly side of humanity and people who seek to profit from disaster, and shows us those who use tragedy as an excuse to let lawlessness run rampant. He introduces us to a conspiracy theorist who has the ability to tap into the fears of like-minded individuals who are willing to act on their hatred. He also delves into the psyche of a man who is forced to harness almost unlimited power while under immense pressure and personal grief.
May Day is a multifaceted read that kept me glued to my e-reader. It's a thought-provoking, well-written book I would recommend to everyone over 18. It isn't often that I can recommend a book to all readers, regardless of the type of book they like to read. But, in this case, I can make an exception. The book is highly readable--the type of book that should be made into a movie. Read it and really think about the question, "What if?"
September 9, 2014
May Day - Book One Of American Sulla by Thom Stark is a well-written book that will make you think, What if?".
Stark raises questions most never think. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, most people have an idea of the chaos which followed the event. There are other attacks we think of, but what about the events after the attacks or catastrophes? What happens to those people who survive? How does a government find resources to support millions of refuges? What happens when the economy begins to erode under the strain?
May Day is complex and raises these questions. Thom Stark writes in a way which keeps his political opinions from the story. What makes this book different, is the author's ability to go beyond the general expectations of a nuclear apocalypse. He gives the reader the the ruthlessness of human nature - people will look for the money to be made from a disaster. We get a look into the wortst aspects of human nature as tragedy and lawlessness runs riot. We meet a conspiracy theorist who can use the fears of people who are willing to act out their hatred. We peek into the psyche of a man who is has the ability to leverage great power while feeling stress and personal grief.
May Day is a complex read that kept me glued to my e-reader. It's a thought-provoking, well-written book for readers over 18. May Day is a readable creation--the type of book that should be made into a movie. Read it and you will think, "What if?"
I borrowed this book via Kindle Unlimited.
Stark raises questions most never think. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, most people have an idea of the chaos which followed the event. There are other attacks we think of, but what about the events after the attacks or catastrophes? What happens to those people who survive? How does a government find resources to support millions of refuges? What happens when the economy begins to erode under the strain?
May Day is complex and raises these questions. Thom Stark writes in a way which keeps his political opinions from the story. What makes this book different, is the author's ability to go beyond the general expectations of a nuclear apocalypse. He gives the reader the the ruthlessness of human nature - people will look for the money to be made from a disaster. We get a look into the wortst aspects of human nature as tragedy and lawlessness runs riot. We meet a conspiracy theorist who can use the fears of people who are willing to act out their hatred. We peek into the psyche of a man who is has the ability to leverage great power while feeling stress and personal grief.
May Day is a complex read that kept me glued to my e-reader. It's a thought-provoking, well-written book for readers over 18. May Day is a readable creation--the type of book that should be made into a movie. Read it and you will think, "What if?"
I borrowed this book via Kindle Unlimited.
August 9, 2014
Wow, What did I like about this book?
Well for a long book, which can be daunting, I loved the punchy detailed chapters, some of which are primarily dialogue led, which offers action packed ‘showing not telling.’
The character development is well paced and not forced. The environment and events are realistic and obviously the result of intensive and thorough research.
The visual imagery is excellent and reading chapters of May Day is like watching episodes of a television series, I can easily imagine this an action packed film. The graphic detail is delicately woven into the chapters in such away that it haunts you long after you finish reading.
The craft and skill involved in maintaining so many characters in numerous settings throughout this epic book which covers just a few days in time is skillfully done.
The story is convoluted taking many twists and turns during the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the World Trade Centre in America. However, it is not your standard disaster scenario of merely hunting down the perpetrators. May Day takes you deep into the impact the events have on a variety of different people in various locations. The physical, psychological and financial events that make up the story are cleverly designed to keep the reader attention. I am looking forward to the second book which no doubt will be equally entertaining and dramatic.
Well for a long book, which can be daunting, I loved the punchy detailed chapters, some of which are primarily dialogue led, which offers action packed ‘showing not telling.’
The character development is well paced and not forced. The environment and events are realistic and obviously the result of intensive and thorough research.
The visual imagery is excellent and reading chapters of May Day is like watching episodes of a television series, I can easily imagine this an action packed film. The graphic detail is delicately woven into the chapters in such away that it haunts you long after you finish reading.
The craft and skill involved in maintaining so many characters in numerous settings throughout this epic book which covers just a few days in time is skillfully done.
The story is convoluted taking many twists and turns during the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the World Trade Centre in America. However, it is not your standard disaster scenario of merely hunting down the perpetrators. May Day takes you deep into the impact the events have on a variety of different people in various locations. The physical, psychological and financial events that make up the story are cleverly designed to keep the reader attention. I am looking forward to the second book which no doubt will be equally entertaining and dramatic.
September 3, 2016
May Day by Thom Stark. This book was terrifying in being so realistic and plausible. With the tensions in the world today, this could be our future. This is only the first in a series! Hope Mr Stark is a fast writer.
Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
August 1, 2014
A nuclear weapon destroys Lower Manhattan. A million people die. Millions more flee When the unthinkable happens . . . what happens next. A gripping story with a great title from a talented author. Recommended a great read!
August 3, 2014
A nuclear weapon destroys Lower Manhattan. A million people die. Millions more flee from a gigantic, deadly cloud of fallout. Thom Stark has been a professional writer since 1995. A super exciting read. Timely and believable. Well done !!!
July 31, 2014
When the unthinkable happens . . . what happens next? I needed to know! This is a must read. No putting this one down!
July 31, 2014
Great apocalyptic offering!
July 31, 2014
This is the nightmare we all live under. Great book.
August 1, 2014
A fast paced, well written story that will leave you to think. Excellent read!
September 9, 2016
I'm fascinated with Sulla of ancient Roman times, so this caught my attention!!
July 31, 2014
An interesting look at what chaos can be brought in such a short time!
July 31, 2014
As good as any of Grisham's work - brilliant story.
August 15, 2014
Incredible book.
July 31, 2014
The mushroom on the cover should already tell you what a cataclysmic tale you can expect when you read this. Stark definitely did not disappoint!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews