Apocalypse: A flash-fiction novella

by Calum Kerr

It's the end of the world as we know it.

Fire is raining from the sky, monsters are rising from the deep., and the human race is caught in the middle.

This collection features 31 flash-fictions in a range of genres and styles, which cross the globe to examine what happens when the planet is faced with ultimate extinction. There is love, excitement, death, mystery, adventure, sex, and humour, all wrapped up in a series of bite-sized stories.

Apocalypse is the latest output from the mind of Calum Kerr, writer of Undead at Heart, Braking Distance, Lost Property and 31.

This book is the first in the 2014 Flash365 series.

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2014

Reviews

[Santino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I write a review for any book before I have actually finished reading it, but with Calum Kerr's Apocalypse I know exactly how much I love this book already. If you want an Apocalypse, then this is the book for you, as I am just over halfway through and we have had earthquakes, meteors, Godzilla and zombies. This book will not disappoint. Buy it and read it now, and again, and again and again!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Idea

I loved how the stories connected and continued throughout. Fast read yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. Give it a shot!

[Debbie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calum Kerr is renowned for his flash fiction, in terms of productivity and creativity, and in this volume he takes it to a new level, bringing together a series of stand-alone very short stories to form a novella. He deals with potentially grim topics - the end of the world and civilisation as we know it, plus a takeover by aliens and zombies - with a twinkle in his mind's eye, playing with the reader's expectations. There is a strong cast of interesting characters, of which my favourites were the Christian and the elderly couple and some laugh-out-loud moments. I like the way the stories take us around the world, too. A highly inventive and satisfying development of the form of flash fiction. A super original idea, great fun and executed with panache and style. More, please!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say this about Apocalypse; it wasn't what I expected and I mean that in a good way. It follows multiple characters, some recurring and others for only a glimpse, as the world ends. It combines all the usual tropes of end of world books, such as zombies, Godzilla like creatures, and even a 'rapture' of sorts but combine them in a way that doesn't sound complete bizarre. It flows in an unexpected way. The reason why I have awarded this novella 4 stars instead of 5 is because I find myself wanting more. I want more details, which I guess defeats the purpose of flash fiction.

[Laura Besley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read previous collections of flash fiction (including "31" by Calum Kerr) it's really interesting to read the first connected one. I really loved the idea that the stories were individual, but also had a common theme and there was progress. Written in his usual easy-to-read manner Calum Kerr has produced yet another fabulous collection to enhance the flash fiction genre.