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The Apocalypticon Series #1
Apocalypticon
Three years have passed since the Jamaicans caused the apocalypse, and things in post-Armageddon Chicago have settled into a new kind of normal. Unfortunately, that "normal" includes collapsing skyscrapers, bands of bloodthirsty maniacs, and a dwindling cache of survival supplies. After watching his family, friends, and most of the non-sadistic elements of society crumble around him, Patrick decides it's time to cross one last item off his bucket list.
He’s going to Disney World.
This hilarious, heartfelt, gut-wrenching odyssey through post-apocalyptic America is a pilgrimage peppered with peril, as fellow survivors Patrick and Ben encounter a slew of odd characters, from zombie politicians and deranged survivalists to a milky-eyed oracle who doesn't have a lot of good news. Plus, it looks like Patrick may be hiding the real reason for their mission to the Magic Kingdom...
He’s going to Disney World.
This hilarious, heartfelt, gut-wrenching odyssey through post-apocalyptic America is a pilgrimage peppered with peril, as fellow survivors Patrick and Ben encounter a slew of odd characters, from zombie politicians and deranged survivalists to a milky-eyed oracle who doesn't have a lot of good news. Plus, it looks like Patrick may be hiding the real reason for their mission to the Magic Kingdom...
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2014
837 people are currently reading
2379 people want to read
About the author
Clayton Smith
22 books149 followersClayton Smith is a writer, teacher, and entrepreneur based in Chicago. He is an assistant professor of instruction in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department at Columbia College Chicago, and he is the co-founder of Media Empire Media. His work includes the novels Apocalypticon, Anomaly Flats, and Na Akua and the comedic plays Death and McCootie and The Depths.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
February 27, 2018
3,35/5
This is so much better than I expected.
Of course, it's not a modern classic in the making, but is has its perks. The main characters are likeable after you get used to them and by the end of the book I really liked those guys. Smith has imagination and humor and even if there are some big-ass holes in the plot, at times I chose to just go with it. Also, I really enjoyed the ending, it was a huge plus for the story.
Aaaaand look at that beautiful cover. I really dig it ;)
I will for sure check out Smith's other works.
This is so much better than I expected.
Of course, it's not a modern classic in the making, but is has its perks. The main characters are likeable after you get used to them and by the end of the book I really liked those guys. Smith has imagination and humor and even if there are some big-ass holes in the plot, at times I chose to just go with it. Also, I really enjoyed the ending, it was a huge plus for the story.
Aaaaand look at that beautiful cover. I really dig it ;)
I will for sure check out Smith's other works.
August 23, 2016
This is a fun and adventurous story about 2 guys who, since they've run out of food 5 years post-apocalpyse, decide that they have nothing better to do than take a road trip to Disneyworld. The main character, Patrick, reminds me of a less-socially-awkward Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. I think it’s mainly his dialogue style and physical description that’s Sheldon-like. He’s witty, fearless, and determined to get to Disneyworld at all costs. “Don’t think of this as certain suicide!” Patrick tells his sidekick, Ben. “Think of it as an exciting adventure that’s only also certain suicide.” He also says things like “Oh good Christ, that is cold! It’s like ice daggers in my leg souls!” And who doesn’t love a character that has leg souls?
I never could quite get a grasp on the sidekick’s personality, but the two interplay well like guys who’ve been friends for years. It’s the interaction between these two and their crazy adventures that make this book so fun. I love how they’re guys who’ve grown up enjoying the post-apocalyptic and zombie genre and now appreciate their place within one. They spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find the perfect weapon for their Disneyworld journey and try to figure out how to carry and use their weapons without killing themselves or just looking silly. Their adeptness at weaponry vacillates between these 2 scenes:
Exhibit A:
Patrick shouldered his backpack and twirled the baton in his hand. "Well. We should get going." The baton spun out of control and clattered to the ground. “I am excellent at this.”
Exhibit B:
“Awesome,” [Ben] breathed.
“What? What, what, what?” Patrick cried.
“You’re standing amid a jungle of wrecked cars on a deserted bridge holding a giant blade over your head with a curtain of greenish-yellow fog behind you.”
“Yeah? And?”
“You look like an anime hero.”
“I do?!” Patrick squealed.
“Seriously. I’m gonna call you Patku from now on.”
For every peril, Patrick has a plan. He finds himself amazed from the beginning that “the dumb fucking plan had actually worked, which meant similarly dumb fucking plans were going to be encouraged in the future.” The book is filled with such plans. Part of the way through the book, they meet a fortune-teller who tells them that they will encounter a light bringer, a running man, a butcher, a mummer, a demon’s daughter, a siren, a fire drinker, Ubasti Tom, and a hollow man. And each one of these obstacles require a dumb plan to get through them. And most of the dumb plans do actually work.
This book's got the feel of a Simon Pegg movie. If you’re in the mood for a fun romp through the apocalypse with some witty adventure-loving guys, this book is waiting to be one of your next favorites.
Later Edit:
You know a book did its job when, over a year later you drive through an area where the book takes place and start looking for villains. #highway78
I never could quite get a grasp on the sidekick’s personality, but the two interplay well like guys who’ve been friends for years. It’s the interaction between these two and their crazy adventures that make this book so fun. I love how they’re guys who’ve grown up enjoying the post-apocalyptic and zombie genre and now appreciate their place within one. They spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find the perfect weapon for their Disneyworld journey and try to figure out how to carry and use their weapons without killing themselves or just looking silly. Their adeptness at weaponry vacillates between these 2 scenes:
Exhibit A:
Patrick shouldered his backpack and twirled the baton in his hand. "Well. We should get going." The baton spun out of control and clattered to the ground. “I am excellent at this.”
Exhibit B:
“Awesome,” [Ben] breathed.
“What? What, what, what?” Patrick cried.
“You’re standing amid a jungle of wrecked cars on a deserted bridge holding a giant blade over your head with a curtain of greenish-yellow fog behind you.”
“Yeah? And?”
“You look like an anime hero.”
“I do?!” Patrick squealed.
“Seriously. I’m gonna call you Patku from now on.”
For every peril, Patrick has a plan. He finds himself amazed from the beginning that “the dumb fucking plan had actually worked, which meant similarly dumb fucking plans were going to be encouraged in the future.” The book is filled with such plans. Part of the way through the book, they meet a fortune-teller who tells them that they will encounter a light bringer, a running man, a butcher, a mummer, a demon’s daughter, a siren, a fire drinker, Ubasti Tom, and a hollow man. And each one of these obstacles require a dumb plan to get through them. And most of the dumb plans do actually work.
This book's got the feel of a Simon Pegg movie. If you’re in the mood for a fun romp through the apocalypse with some witty adventure-loving guys, this book is waiting to be one of your next favorites.
Later Edit:
You know a book did its job when, over a year later you drive through an area where the book takes place and start looking for villains. #highway78
October 30, 2016
I found this disappointing. I am fine with campy B movie story lines. In fact I was looking for something end of the world, but with some humor. How can one not find Jamaica ending the world kinda funny. It had it's moments I guess. If the writing had been a bit better, the story a little more pulled together, and the ending...well, that just sucked. Really. ?? I read all that for, that? This was a let down. It's too bad, it could have been really well done. I was willing to go all the way to Disney World.
October 15, 2015
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
Clayton Smith's Apocalypticon is incredibly easy to summarize -- it's what a post-apocalyptic novel would look like if written by Joss Whedon -- and what you think of it is going to directly reflect what you think of that idea, of basically the storyline of Mad Max as seen through the eyes of a couple of goofy slackers who are slightly autistic and have an obsessive love of throwaway pop culture. (It's no surprise that the framing device for this novel is our heroes' obsessive quest to make it from Chicago to Disney World for a nonsensical "end of the world vacation.") And although I'm on record as not particularly liking actual Joss Whedon projects, I have to admit that I gleefully enjoyed this book a lot more, primarily for the go-for-broke sheer silliness of this absurdist plot and even more absurdist characters, and the way it agreeably clashes with the super-serious and violent world that our Raimi-esque narrators blissfully traipse their way through. A surprisingly thoughtful look at what a post-apocalyptic Chicago run by murderous gangs might actually look like, an especially big bonus for a local like me, this will be right up the alley of people who liked The Road but didn't think it had enough fart jokes, which believe it or not I actually mean as a compliment.
Out of 10: 8.5, or 9.5 for Joss Whedon fans
Clayton Smith's Apocalypticon is incredibly easy to summarize -- it's what a post-apocalyptic novel would look like if written by Joss Whedon -- and what you think of it is going to directly reflect what you think of that idea, of basically the storyline of Mad Max as seen through the eyes of a couple of goofy slackers who are slightly autistic and have an obsessive love of throwaway pop culture. (It's no surprise that the framing device for this novel is our heroes' obsessive quest to make it from Chicago to Disney World for a nonsensical "end of the world vacation.") And although I'm on record as not particularly liking actual Joss Whedon projects, I have to admit that I gleefully enjoyed this book a lot more, primarily for the go-for-broke sheer silliness of this absurdist plot and even more absurdist characters, and the way it agreeably clashes with the super-serious and violent world that our Raimi-esque narrators blissfully traipse their way through. A surprisingly thoughtful look at what a post-apocalyptic Chicago run by murderous gangs might actually look like, an especially big bonus for a local like me, this will be right up the alley of people who liked The Road but didn't think it had enough fart jokes, which believe it or not I actually mean as a compliment.
Out of 10: 8.5, or 9.5 for Joss Whedon fans
December 30, 2015
Read 7/21/14 - 7/23/14
4 Stars - Strongly Recommended to those who don't mind laughing in the face of the apocalypse
Pages: 338
Publisher: Dapper Press
Released: January 2014
A post-apocalyptic novel that makes fun of itself and every book or film that's ever come before it? Uh, yes please!
Clayton Smith knocks it out of the park - The Magic Kingdom's parking lot, to be exact - with this hilarious tale of two BFF's who've managed to survive the apocalypse (which was brought about by Jamaican 'Flying Monkey Missiles' if you can believe it) by apparent sheer dumb luck. After holing up in an apartment building for the past three years, Patrick panics when his food-to-pudding ratio finally reaches a critical low, and convinces his neighbor and ole college buddy Ben to pack up his belongings and hoof it all the way down to Florida with him. His bucket list has only one item on it and he'll be damned if he's gonna die before taking a trip out to Disney World. After much bickering and some super-intense backpack repacking, the two besties head out on a POST APOCALYPTIC ROAD TRIP!
Prepared for the worst, though they're not exactly sure what that might be, they leave their Chicago digs behind and trudge through the yellow dust fog that blankets the entire United States, with Patrick leading the way as his buddy reluctantly follows.
The road they travel is ripe with danger and sticky with the melted bodies of those who were not immune to the Flying Monkey Dust. Armed with a bunch of weapons (chosen for their cool factor), their witty banter, and unique sense of humor, these guys meet up with some of weirdest end-time characters I've ever come across - a milky-eyed soothsayer who foresees a world of trouble for the traveling duo; zombie-like running men who will stop at nothing to eat the flesh of the uninfected; a cuddly buffalo named Ponch; tree-dwelling monks who drink frog blood in the hopes of spontaneously switching genders; a crazy family of four who act as though M-Day (Monkey Day, the day Jamaica bombed with US) never happened, and more.
Time and time again I found myself wishing I could hop inside Clayton's world and tag along with these guys. Their "laugh in the face of danger" attitude and incredibly poorly timed curiosity made APOCALYPTICON an edge-of-your-seat fun house ride. There was no situation Patrick and Ben couldn't get out of. I swear, these two had nine lives. Screw survival of the fittest! In this post-apocalypse, those who take the craziest risks and don't take themselves too seriously will inherit the earth. Well, whatever's left of it, anyway. Of course, it's not all laughter-and-happy-tears for these two. The dark humor pulls back at just the right times and let's the gory-goodness-of bashing-in-heads-with-baseball-bats and extremely poignant, bittersweet moments shine through. You can't survive an apocalypse on sarcasm and inside jokes alone, now that's just plain cuckoo.
Sprinkled throughout with pop culture references and served with a heaping dose of well written dialogue, I'm naming APOCALYPTICON the must-read book of 2014 for fans of post-apoc literature. Give yourself a break from all the end-of-the-world doom and gloom, and get your read on with this insanely incredible post apocalyptical novel with a huge heart. And HELLO?! Have you seen the cover? If my review's not enough to make you pick this thing up.... that cover sure as hell should be!
4 Stars - Strongly Recommended to those who don't mind laughing in the face of the apocalypse
Pages: 338
Publisher: Dapper Press
Released: January 2014
A post-apocalyptic novel that makes fun of itself and every book or film that's ever come before it? Uh, yes please!
Clayton Smith knocks it out of the park - The Magic Kingdom's parking lot, to be exact - with this hilarious tale of two BFF's who've managed to survive the apocalypse (which was brought about by Jamaican 'Flying Monkey Missiles' if you can believe it) by apparent sheer dumb luck. After holing up in an apartment building for the past three years, Patrick panics when his food-to-pudding ratio finally reaches a critical low, and convinces his neighbor and ole college buddy Ben to pack up his belongings and hoof it all the way down to Florida with him. His bucket list has only one item on it and he'll be damned if he's gonna die before taking a trip out to Disney World. After much bickering and some super-intense backpack repacking, the two besties head out on a POST APOCALYPTIC ROAD TRIP!
Prepared for the worst, though they're not exactly sure what that might be, they leave their Chicago digs behind and trudge through the yellow dust fog that blankets the entire United States, with Patrick leading the way as his buddy reluctantly follows.
The road they travel is ripe with danger and sticky with the melted bodies of those who were not immune to the Flying Monkey Dust. Armed with a bunch of weapons (chosen for their cool factor), their witty banter, and unique sense of humor, these guys meet up with some of weirdest end-time characters I've ever come across - a milky-eyed soothsayer who foresees a world of trouble for the traveling duo; zombie-like running men who will stop at nothing to eat the flesh of the uninfected; a cuddly buffalo named Ponch; tree-dwelling monks who drink frog blood in the hopes of spontaneously switching genders; a crazy family of four who act as though M-Day (Monkey Day, the day Jamaica bombed with US) never happened, and more.
Time and time again I found myself wishing I could hop inside Clayton's world and tag along with these guys. Their "laugh in the face of danger" attitude and incredibly poorly timed curiosity made APOCALYPTICON an edge-of-your-seat fun house ride. There was no situation Patrick and Ben couldn't get out of. I swear, these two had nine lives. Screw survival of the fittest! In this post-apocalypse, those who take the craziest risks and don't take themselves too seriously will inherit the earth. Well, whatever's left of it, anyway. Of course, it's not all laughter-and-happy-tears for these two. The dark humor pulls back at just the right times and let's the gory-goodness-of bashing-in-heads-with-baseball-bats and extremely poignant, bittersweet moments shine through. You can't survive an apocalypse on sarcasm and inside jokes alone, now that's just plain cuckoo.
Sprinkled throughout with pop culture references and served with a heaping dose of well written dialogue, I'm naming APOCALYPTICON the must-read book of 2014 for fans of post-apoc literature. Give yourself a break from all the end-of-the-world doom and gloom, and get your read on with this insanely incredible post apocalyptical novel with a huge heart. And HELLO?! Have you seen the cover? If my review's not enough to make you pick this thing up.... that cover sure as hell should be!
March 18, 2014
If the world came to an end, and I decided that I needed to go an adventure... oh let's say, to Disney World... I'd want to take that adventure with Patrick and Ben! We know little about what their relationship was pre "M-Day" (that's the day that the Jamaicans released their flying monkey look-alike missles - M-Day... Monkey Day...and basically ended life in the United States as we know it), except for the fact that they knew each other in college; but their post M-Day relationship cracks me up! Their banter was hilarious and the characters they came in contact with during this adventure... priceless!! Who knew monks could be so entertaining?! I really had to wonder throughout the book if the "monkey dust" affected Patrick more than he thought... because he really did seem off his rocker and most of his decisions made no sense (who would willingly put themselves into danger if you had the opportunity to just walk away?); but, of course there would have been no story had they run away from the danger at every turn. This book has a little bit of everything (ok, so maybe not everything, but a lot of things at least)... zombies (runners... or politicians as Patrick calls them), crazy, milk eyed fortune tellers, religious zealots, entertaining monks, families in denial, gangs, kindred spirits, and trains... we can't forget the trains! Even with all the adventure and laughs, I shed a tear at the end. The Bulldog or The Mouse Hunter... one will not make it; at least that is what the crazy, milk eyed fortune teller tells Patrick. Seriously, you will love this book!
February 6, 2017
This Douglas Adams'ish post-apocalyptic road trip is pretty bonkers, but fun as long as you just roll with it and don't question things like world-ending Jamaican monkey bombs or frogblood-drinking and rhyme-battling monks, too much.
As there is not much else to do but somehow survive in this world where 95 % of the population has been wiped out, Patrick and Ben decide to cross one thing of their bucket list: Disney World!
All the way from Chicago to Florida they run into a lot of either sadistic psychopaths or proper nutcases and sometimes a combination of these two. Never one to miss the opportunity for a joke, Patrick and Ben are wisecracking their way through the country and meet some rather odd groups of survivors.
Cue "Hilarity ensues!"
Besides a lot of jokes, this book contains some gore and violence and even some borderline sappiness (but hey: Disney is supposed to be the final destination, so it makes sense), but all of it firmly grounded in a big mashup of American pop culture references.
3,5 stars!
As there is not much else to do but somehow survive in this world where 95 % of the population has been wiped out, Patrick and Ben decide to cross one thing of their bucket list: Disney World!
All the way from Chicago to Florida they run into a lot of either sadistic psychopaths or proper nutcases and sometimes a combination of these two. Never one to miss the opportunity for a joke, Patrick and Ben are wisecracking their way through the country and meet some rather odd groups of survivors.
Cue "Hilarity ensues!"
Besides a lot of jokes, this book contains some gore and violence and even some borderline sappiness (but hey: Disney is supposed to be the final destination, so it makes sense), but all of it firmly grounded in a big mashup of American pop culture references.
3,5 stars!
October 12, 2016
Apocalypse is so many things...stereotypically depressing, dark, sad...and in Clayton Smith's hands funny. Very funny, occasionally hilarious post apocalyptic road trip of a story with two pals determined to make it to Disney World (and why not) after 95% of the population is no more and the remainder has turned almost uniformly weird, although we're talking about a wild gamut of weird, from zombie like creatures to cult to forced 50s quaintness (believe me, equally scary) and so on. I've read Anomaly Flats before, sort of had an idea what to expect here and wasn't disappointed. Smith's books are just so enjoyable to read, pure entertainment, very imaginative. For a lighter sunnier side of the dystopian street, this is a very fun ride. Recommended.
March 14, 2014
An Apocalypse book worth the…laugh. I will admit, I was a little freaked out, by the thought of going to Disney after the apocalypse, but now I’m all for it.
With a dwindling supply of pudding, yes pudding, Patrick and his side kick, Ben decide on a small adventure before they die. What should you do after you survive the Apocalypse? Why head to Disney that’s what!! The journey from Chicago to Disney in Florida isn’t easy. There are certain hoops one must jump thru just to make it out of the city. And then the travel, man nothing like it. Open road, zombies, crazy ass survivalists, and other nut jobs. Sign me up! What happens once they reach Disney? And was their really a point to going to Disney? I mean other than running low on pudding.
I may sound sarcastic, but I’m not. I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t your typical dark, depressing apocalypse book. Mr. Smith put fun moments in, moments of pure laugh my ass off and think, yep, after 3 years of craziness this is how you’d be. It was nice that not everything was doom and gloom. Don’t get me wrong there were things that made me cringe and reminded me that I am reading an apocalypse book.
All in all I loved this book. I loved the host of characters and their oddness. The writing style was a little lengthy at times, but not enough that I was annoyed. I will definitely be watching Mr. Smith closely for more books by him.
Thank you for the free book!!
With a dwindling supply of pudding, yes pudding, Patrick and his side kick, Ben decide on a small adventure before they die. What should you do after you survive the Apocalypse? Why head to Disney that’s what!! The journey from Chicago to Disney in Florida isn’t easy. There are certain hoops one must jump thru just to make it out of the city. And then the travel, man nothing like it. Open road, zombies, crazy ass survivalists, and other nut jobs. Sign me up! What happens once they reach Disney? And was their really a point to going to Disney? I mean other than running low on pudding.
I may sound sarcastic, but I’m not. I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t your typical dark, depressing apocalypse book. Mr. Smith put fun moments in, moments of pure laugh my ass off and think, yep, after 3 years of craziness this is how you’d be. It was nice that not everything was doom and gloom. Don’t get me wrong there were things that made me cringe and reminded me that I am reading an apocalypse book.
All in all I loved this book. I loved the host of characters and their oddness. The writing style was a little lengthy at times, but not enough that I was annoyed. I will definitely be watching Mr. Smith closely for more books by him.
Thank you for the free book!!
June 21, 2019
We Thot You Was A Toad.
In my warped, and buggered up opinion, it seems that Apocalypticon might be yet another parody of Homer's Odyssey. Or maybe it's a parody of the Cohen's “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” which was a parody of Homer's Odyssey. Or maybe....hmm...I lost my train of thought. Doesn't matter 'cos that train was headin' for a ravine and the bridge is out. Oh wait...that's it...The Griswold's had Wally World and Zombieland's Tallahassee and Columbus had Pacific Playland. In this ditty, Ben and Patrick from conventional post-apocalyptic Chicago, aim for the conventional Disneyworld.
I liked that Pat and Ben were so diametrically opposed, not just in looks, but in demeanor. One tall and skinny (like Cosmo Kramer ex Seinfeld) with an incorrigible and at times, annoyingly positive outlook on life. The other short and stocky with a huge head (like Newman ex Seinfeld) and the eternal pessimist. I liked that they weren't handsome like George Clooney, nor as ugly as a bucket of monkey's bums; somewhere in between. The villains were colorful and interesting, and more importantly, unpredictable. In fact, Clayton Smith has made all the characters interesting and spicy.
Yes it's another “not about the destination, but about the journey” stories, but it's a good one. One well worth reading...and digesting. You'll laugh out loud, you'll have moments of sadness, and the ending will have you sobbing, laughing or both at the same time.
What I didn't like: nothing.
Favorite quotes: (Pat) “My addiction to movies and television has left me entirely unprepared for the harsh realities of post-apocalyptic life.”
(Pat) “What, you think I'm gonna sit there and get peed on every night? No, thank you. Who am I, Charlie Sheen?”
In my warped, and buggered up opinion, it seems that Apocalypticon might be yet another parody of Homer's Odyssey. Or maybe it's a parody of the Cohen's “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” which was a parody of Homer's Odyssey. Or maybe....hmm...I lost my train of thought. Doesn't matter 'cos that train was headin' for a ravine and the bridge is out. Oh wait...that's it...The Griswold's had Wally World and Zombieland's Tallahassee and Columbus had Pacific Playland. In this ditty, Ben and Patrick from conventional post-apocalyptic Chicago, aim for the conventional Disneyworld.
I liked that Pat and Ben were so diametrically opposed, not just in looks, but in demeanor. One tall and skinny (like Cosmo Kramer ex Seinfeld) with an incorrigible and at times, annoyingly positive outlook on life. The other short and stocky with a huge head (like Newman ex Seinfeld) and the eternal pessimist. I liked that they weren't handsome like George Clooney, nor as ugly as a bucket of monkey's bums; somewhere in between. The villains were colorful and interesting, and more importantly, unpredictable. In fact, Clayton Smith has made all the characters interesting and spicy.
Yes it's another “not about the destination, but about the journey” stories, but it's a good one. One well worth reading...and digesting. You'll laugh out loud, you'll have moments of sadness, and the ending will have you sobbing, laughing or both at the same time.
What I didn't like: nothing.
Favorite quotes: (Pat) “My addiction to movies and television has left me entirely unprepared for the harsh realities of post-apocalyptic life.”
(Pat) “What, you think I'm gonna sit there and get peed on every night? No, thank you. Who am I, Charlie Sheen?”
August 11, 2014
As reviewed by M.A.Leibfritz for writocracy.blogspot.com
Patrick and Ben, survivors in post-apocalyptic Chicago, set out for Disney world. Weird things happen.
This story is a little heavier on comedy than I like my post-apocalyptic stories, at least at first. Through excellent use of oddball characters, it becomes plain that after the end of civilization, things get strange.
I rode the fence for most of this book, while lots of accurate locations are used, there is often more name dropping than setting. When the setting is described it's excellent. The humor is odd, sometimes predictable, but almost always funny. I laughed aloud when Patrick started snorting coffee grounds. I swear it makes sense in context.
At not quite the halfway point, things change. Before there had been hints of darkness, brief sequences of death and blood. Now things get dark, and the mood takes an abrupt shift. Then slides from dark to eerie. The humor is still present, but less important. The incredibly detailed segment on butchering a deer was excessive, if accurate. Then things swing to the absurd again, followed by incredibly dark. This book has a major case of mood whiplash. It swung a little too far for me, between the serious and absurd, but it was a solid read.
Patrick and Ben, survivors in post-apocalyptic Chicago, set out for Disney world. Weird things happen.
This story is a little heavier on comedy than I like my post-apocalyptic stories, at least at first. Through excellent use of oddball characters, it becomes plain that after the end of civilization, things get strange.
I rode the fence for most of this book, while lots of accurate locations are used, there is often more name dropping than setting. When the setting is described it's excellent. The humor is odd, sometimes predictable, but almost always funny. I laughed aloud when Patrick started snorting coffee grounds. I swear it makes sense in context.
At not quite the halfway point, things change. Before there had been hints of darkness, brief sequences of death and blood. Now things get dark, and the mood takes an abrupt shift. Then slides from dark to eerie. The humor is still present, but less important. The incredibly detailed segment on butchering a deer was excessive, if accurate. Then things swing to the absurd again, followed by incredibly dark. This book has a major case of mood whiplash. It swung a little too far for me, between the serious and absurd, but it was a solid read.
February 13, 2017
This is a 'cute' little book about a couple of pop-culture loving friends wandering the countryside from Chicago to Florida after an apocalyptic event. It's meant to be funny and show how insane everyone would go (and not always in the typical 'kill everyone' kind of way, but there is a bit of that). It was a nice easy read before I head back into the worlds of literary fiction, horror, and current events. The end is less than satisfying, but you know it will be no matter what about 2/3rd into the book.
June 25, 2017
This was a geektastic road trip through hell that broke my heart at the end. I loved every minute of the ride! Well worth the tears. You seriously don't want to miss out on this gem of a read.
March 20, 2016
I picked up my copy of Apocalypicon by Clayton Smith at Chi-Fi this year where I had the opportunity to bond with Clayton over our shared love of Disney. You see Apocalypticon takes places in the United States in a world similar to The Walking Dead and chronicles the journey of 2 best friends as they travel from Chicago to the Happiest Place on Earth, Walt Disney World. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for things connected to Disney. I worked at a Disney Store for 2 years before is was abruptly closed with little notice. I've been to WDW 4 times and it truly is magically. So I have a soft spot for things connected to Mickey. And I guess, if the world was ending, why not head to the Happiest Place on Earth, right?
I struggled with Apocalypticon. I struggled with the plot, the characters, and as I write this post, I have to look at the cover of the book just to spell the name of the novel. It read like a bad buddy cop movie with not enough history given about the two main characters, Ben and Pat, to understand how they hooked up and why they stay together. They had inside jokes that I didn't understand. And for most of the book, they seem to dislike each other and I wondered why they continued to stay together.
The passage of time or rather how quickly Ben and Pat travelled bothered me as well. The first part of the journey made sense as a train travels relatively quickly. However, once Ben and Pat moved to the river and then to walking, they seems to move awfully quick between adventures. It seemed to take them only a day to cross hundreds of miles. And the villain of the novel, appears briefly at the start, disappears and miraculously is back on the their tails and travels at astounding speed on foot as well.
So why did I keep reading? Pat had some really touching moments. A note from his young daughter, who died during the event that caused the apocalypse, was driving him to get to Walt Disney World. Smith craftily brings out the note, during Pat's most trying moments and I would see a glimmer of hope and humanity. Each time I was ready to put the book down and abandon it, the note would get whipped out, my heart would ache and I would continue reading. Smith waits to reveal what was in the note, and I had to know what was in the note!
There were some moments that made me laugh, too. About half way through the book, Ben and Pat are scavenging through cars trying to find supplies. They have a conversation about a scene from The Walking Dead that was very similar to their current situation.
"There was this one episode, I think it was season 2, when they needed medical supplies, so they dug through all the abandoned card on the highway. Just like we're doing. Except you know what they found? ... Everything. ... They got everything. And me? I got this bag of plastic toothpicks," he [Pat] said, holding it up.
Ben shrugged. "Fiction is bullshit. What can you do?"
"My addiction to movies and television has left me entirely unprepared for the harsh realities of post-apocalyptic life."
Overall, I wasn't a fan of Apocalypticon by Clayton Smith. The pacing was off and the story takes a lot of common zombie and apocalyptic tropes and throws them together. For me, there wasn't any thing new and ground breaking. I only read to the end because I wanted to know what was in the note driving Pat to get to Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, Apocalypticon by Clayton Smith gets a thumbs down.This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews.
I struggled with Apocalypticon. I struggled with the plot, the characters, and as I write this post, I have to look at the cover of the book just to spell the name of the novel. It read like a bad buddy cop movie with not enough history given about the two main characters, Ben and Pat, to understand how they hooked up and why they stay together. They had inside jokes that I didn't understand. And for most of the book, they seem to dislike each other and I wondered why they continued to stay together.
The passage of time or rather how quickly Ben and Pat travelled bothered me as well. The first part of the journey made sense as a train travels relatively quickly. However, once Ben and Pat moved to the river and then to walking, they seems to move awfully quick between adventures. It seemed to take them only a day to cross hundreds of miles. And the villain of the novel, appears briefly at the start, disappears and miraculously is back on the their tails and travels at astounding speed on foot as well.
So why did I keep reading? Pat had some really touching moments. A note from his young daughter, who died during the event that caused the apocalypse, was driving him to get to Walt Disney World. Smith craftily brings out the note, during Pat's most trying moments and I would see a glimmer of hope and humanity. Each time I was ready to put the book down and abandon it, the note would get whipped out, my heart would ache and I would continue reading. Smith waits to reveal what was in the note, and I had to know what was in the note!
There were some moments that made me laugh, too. About half way through the book, Ben and Pat are scavenging through cars trying to find supplies. They have a conversation about a scene from The Walking Dead that was very similar to their current situation.
"There was this one episode, I think it was season 2, when they needed medical supplies, so they dug through all the abandoned card on the highway. Just like we're doing. Except you know what they found? ... Everything. ... They got everything. And me? I got this bag of plastic toothpicks," he [Pat] said, holding it up.
Ben shrugged. "Fiction is bullshit. What can you do?"
"My addiction to movies and television has left me entirely unprepared for the harsh realities of post-apocalyptic life."
Overall, I wasn't a fan of Apocalypticon by Clayton Smith. The pacing was off and the story takes a lot of common zombie and apocalyptic tropes and throws them together. For me, there wasn't any thing new and ground breaking. I only read to the end because I wanted to know what was in the note driving Pat to get to Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, Apocalypticon by Clayton Smith gets a thumbs down.This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews.
November 21, 2018
“I remember a time when a man could go to Disney World without fear of being eaten by savages.”
“You obviously never flew American.”
There you are, friends: the funniest joke (imho) in the entire mess of a book that is 'Apocalypticon', a book that desperately tries to be funny ... but fails utterly to do so.
This book - and it pains me to give it that distinction - is as close to a 'DNF' as I've had in years and easily one of the 2 or 3 worst books I've read in 2018. Even if I were able here, I still can't give this book 0 stars as it passes my 1 star test of not being all that poorly written, grammatically and spellcheckily speaking. However, do note with utmost clarity that a well-written book is far, far away from necessarily being a good book. Exhibit A, if you please, Your Honor! Feel free to keep my copy as needed...
Never mind that the ending is so extremely obvious that you can skip the last 30 to 40 pages and not miss a thing (other than a crude insult in what appears to be Polish but even google translation services wasn't sure about that). Never mind that if while picking out this book you also went ahead and read the synopsis for the second book and therefore TOTALLY RUINED THE OUTCOME (seriously? Who TF does that?)! Never mind that there is not one iota of believable, well, ANYTHING in this book to carry it forward (yes, people have blown up bridges and more but good golly the rails are in tip-top shape for the trains) and you'll be getting close to understanding from whence I'm coming ...
No, none of that is enough... let's see how could I best describe it...
- this book is the equivalent of passing an accident of unbearable horror but somehow you are unable to look away. You keep reading, thinking 'It can't get any worse, can it?' And yet, even when faced with the gory reality, you still stare, gobsmacked and disturbed to your core, yet no doubt somewhat awed by getting to see your first detached eyeball out on the asphalt;
- this book seems to be cobbled together short stories that were most likely invented in scenarios where great amounts of low-grade but strong alcohol had been (or were being) consumed. It is literature's answer then to 'hold my beer and watch this...' leading no doubt then to another scenario as described in my first point;
- this book reads like someone googled 'Top 100 Worst Dad Jokes' and then tried to cobble them together into a book about the damn apocalypse. Seriously, death all around you and it's like fart jokes without having to pull any fingers. Where do I sign up for more?
- oh and SPOILERS - the fact that (apparently) only one of the main protagonists dies at the end was extremely disappointing (and this for two guys that would realistically probably die before even stepping out of their own apartments if this were true). Trust me, you will never find another book where you're pulling more for the 'they're not zombies but they kind of are but whatever' than you will here. Even the blood-thirsty leprechaun was more charming.
Ye gods, that was awful. And no, I will not be reading the second book nor any further books by this author. Life is both too short and too precious to do this to myself again...
“You obviously never flew American.”
There you are, friends: the funniest joke (imho) in the entire mess of a book that is 'Apocalypticon', a book that desperately tries to be funny ... but fails utterly to do so.
This book - and it pains me to give it that distinction - is as close to a 'DNF' as I've had in years and easily one of the 2 or 3 worst books I've read in 2018. Even if I were able here, I still can't give this book 0 stars as it passes my 1 star test of not being all that poorly written, grammatically and spellcheckily speaking. However, do note with utmost clarity that a well-written book is far, far away from necessarily being a good book. Exhibit A, if you please, Your Honor! Feel free to keep my copy as needed...
Never mind that the ending is so extremely obvious that you can skip the last 30 to 40 pages and not miss a thing (other than a crude insult in what appears to be Polish but even google translation services wasn't sure about that). Never mind that if while picking out this book you also went ahead and read the synopsis for the second book and therefore TOTALLY RUINED THE OUTCOME (seriously? Who TF does that?)! Never mind that there is not one iota of believable, well, ANYTHING in this book to carry it forward (yes, people have blown up bridges and more but good golly the rails are in tip-top shape for the trains) and you'll be getting close to understanding from whence I'm coming ...
No, none of that is enough... let's see how could I best describe it...
- this book is the equivalent of passing an accident of unbearable horror but somehow you are unable to look away. You keep reading, thinking 'It can't get any worse, can it?' And yet, even when faced with the gory reality, you still stare, gobsmacked and disturbed to your core, yet no doubt somewhat awed by getting to see your first detached eyeball out on the asphalt;
- this book seems to be cobbled together short stories that were most likely invented in scenarios where great amounts of low-grade but strong alcohol had been (or were being) consumed. It is literature's answer then to 'hold my beer and watch this...' leading no doubt then to another scenario as described in my first point;
- this book reads like someone googled 'Top 100 Worst Dad Jokes' and then tried to cobble them together into a book about the damn apocalypse. Seriously, death all around you and it's like fart jokes without having to pull any fingers. Where do I sign up for more?
- oh and SPOILERS - the fact that (apparently) only one of the main protagonists dies at the end was extremely disappointing (and this for two guys that would realistically probably die before even stepping out of their own apartments if this were true). Trust me, you will never find another book where you're pulling more for the 'they're not zombies but they kind of are but whatever' than you will here. Even the blood-thirsty leprechaun was more charming.
Ye gods, that was awful. And no, I will not be reading the second book nor any further books by this author. Life is both too short and too precious to do this to myself again...
March 17, 2014
If you ever wanted to know what The Three Stooges were thinking, this book's a keeper! Never again will you have to say, "what were they thinking?!" because now you will know. And if you can stop laughing long enough to catch your breath, you will encounter narrative that transports you into the middle of the setting, anxiously rooting for a couple of class clowns who have captured your heart like the "cowardly lion".
Apocalyptic fans need not fear. Though there are scenes that will make you laugh out loud, and descriptions that will make you stop thinking and start "seeing" the story, there are plenty of dark reality events and mishaps. The unlikely heroes run into far greater problems than whether to shove a machete or bat into their weapon sack.
BOOK BLING gives this novel 4 Stars!
Apocalyptic fans need not fear. Though there are scenes that will make you laugh out loud, and descriptions that will make you stop thinking and start "seeing" the story, there are plenty of dark reality events and mishaps. The unlikely heroes run into far greater problems than whether to shove a machete or bat into their weapon sack.
BOOK BLING gives this novel 4 Stars!
June 1, 2014
Apocalypticon is post apocalypse in the Evil Dead vein. (The original Evil Dead with Bruce Campbell; the funny one.) With tongue firmly in cheek, Smith takes us on a road trip through the American Wasteland that is left after a devastating strike from Jamaica. This is a story about 2 buddies who will walk into certain danger for the sake of a punch line, both in the story and out. If Cervantes had written them, they would definitely be from La Mancha.
Gallows Humor is king in a book with no place for logic or seriousness. Well there is one bit of seriousness at the end, but by the time we get there, we're willing to let it slide.
The moral I took away from this book is that if we knew what kind of apocalypse was coming to take us out, it wouldn't be much of an apocalypse now, would it.
Gallows Humor is king in a book with no place for logic or seriousness. Well there is one bit of seriousness at the end, but by the time we get there, we're willing to let it slide.
The moral I took away from this book is that if we knew what kind of apocalypse was coming to take us out, it wouldn't be much of an apocalypse now, would it.
November 17, 2017
What a fun read! This is a more light-hearted/humorous take on the post-apocalyptic genre with two friends traveling across the country on a trip to Disney World. This author has a fantastic grasp on fun banter--the conversations between the two main characters had me laughing out loud on a regular basis. Additionally, once they get fully on their adventure, they meet some of the most over the top characters ever. The absurdity of these characters and situations they run into kept me hooked and continuously entertained. I would love to read more from this author.
March 28, 2015
Oh, this was a riot!!!
Lots of pop culture references, which may date this one. But I laughed my ass off throughout most of the book. And the ending? Little heart wrenching.
A couple errors, like Ben talking in one paragraph and "still sleeping" in the next, and a few grammatical ones, but really not enough to diminish my enjoyment. the ending seemed rushedd after a great build up.
Recommended for PA lovers and people who like to laugh.
Lots of pop culture references, which may date this one. But I laughed my ass off throughout most of the book. And the ending? Little heart wrenching.
A couple errors, like Ben talking in one paragraph and "still sleeping" in the next, and a few grammatical ones, but really not enough to diminish my enjoyment. the ending seemed rushedd after a great build up.
Recommended for PA lovers and people who like to laugh.
March 30, 2014
Hilarious. Flipping hilarious. I laughed out loud in parts. Between the hippies and the buffalo, it was awesome. I don't normally read these kind of books because I fear bleak existentialism from the genre. But there's something about the characters and their outlook on life that keeps you smiling even in the face of enormous adversity. Plus I love Disney World, so I understand this man's quest.
April 27, 2024
"Apocalypticon" is a wild ride through a post-apocalyptic America, ravaged by "monkey bombs" launched by Jamaica that decimated most of the population. Imagine Mad Max mixed with Monty Python, and you'll get a sense of the dark humour and outrageous situations thrown at readers.
The story follows Patrick and Ben, friends who embark on a seemingly suicidal road trip from Chicago to Disney World. Their reasons for this unusual destination are slowly revealed as they encounter a world gone mad. Survivors have formed strange and often hostile groups, clinging to remnants of the old society or descending into violence and chaos.
Yes, the characters are one-dimensional, but the camaraderie is good fun. While the banter is predictable, even the bleakest situations provide quite a few "laugh out loud" moments. "The Road" directed by the Zucker brothers.
Overall, this is a darkly humorous adventure for those who enjoy a wacky, fast-paced story. If you can embrace the absurdity and don't mind some gore, this post-apocalyptic road trip is a lot of fun.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
The story follows Patrick and Ben, friends who embark on a seemingly suicidal road trip from Chicago to Disney World. Their reasons for this unusual destination are slowly revealed as they encounter a world gone mad. Survivors have formed strange and often hostile groups, clinging to remnants of the old society or descending into violence and chaos.
Yes, the characters are one-dimensional, but the camaraderie is good fun. While the banter is predictable, even the bleakest situations provide quite a few "laugh out loud" moments. "The Road" directed by the Zucker brothers.
Overall, this is a darkly humorous adventure for those who enjoy a wacky, fast-paced story. If you can embrace the absurdity and don't mind some gore, this post-apocalyptic road trip is a lot of fun.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
January 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ Ok. Here me out. If you put Zombieland, From Dusk Til Dawn (w/o the vamps) and Shaun of the Dead in a box. Shake it up and pull out a book. This is it. And only Shaun of the Dead because Ben reminds me of Shaun with his idiotic ways.
Hey Patrick and Ben you survived the Apocalypse, what do you want to do? "We're going to Disney World."
The book follows these two as they make their way south. They come across some interesting characters. They make questionable decisions. They fight their way South with hammer and machete learning new things about each other as they go.
The one liners and chaotic way these two move forward makes this a hilarious read. There are a few holes that confuse you for a brief moment. But then you're back to the laughs.
If you're looking for some comedic relief with some quirky characters this book is for you.
Hey Patrick and Ben you survived the Apocalypse, what do you want to do? "We're going to Disney World."
The book follows these two as they make their way south. They come across some interesting characters. They make questionable decisions. They fight their way South with hammer and machete learning new things about each other as they go.
The one liners and chaotic way these two move forward makes this a hilarious read. There are a few holes that confuse you for a brief moment. But then you're back to the laughs.
If you're looking for some comedic relief with some quirky characters this book is for you.
September 14, 2017
Similar sort of concept to the Zombieland movie in a number of respects - not sure if they are directly related. There's something here I haven't quite got my hands on, but like this: life is a choice, whatever our circumstances, even after the Apocalypse. We can choose adventures or relationships or crusades, avoidance or even death. Choose butterscotch pudding choose Disneyworld, choose life! Oops. Mixing up my movies there :)
December 14, 2017
Dark and cute
The best way to describe it is a fusion of TWD with Shawn of the Dead, and a little bit of Black Adder thrown in for absurd humor.
Should require a warning label though about drinking while reading.
The best way to describe it is a fusion of TWD with Shawn of the Dead, and a little bit of Black Adder thrown in for absurd humor.
Should require a warning label though about drinking while reading.
June 24, 2017
I laughed, I felt sad, I laughed again, I felt queasy, I laughed some more, and finally I cried.
March 11, 2018
Loved
There a re few copy editing errors in this Kindle version but the story itself is really fun while also having a poignancy that brings a deeper meaning. Great read.
There a re few copy editing errors in this Kindle version but the story itself is really fun while also having a poignancy that brings a deeper meaning. Great read.
February 12, 2017
Flying Monkeys brought the apocalypse. Yeah, flying monkeys, it made me nuts for about the first third of the book until it was finally expained. Needless to say, it will make sense once you read it. There's a yellow dust that the previously mentioned flying monkeys spread across the US and in all probability the world. It melted people - literally. Only a handful of survivors (globally speaking) were immune and now make their lives in the aftermath. As the protagonists note at one point - just about everyone left is batsh*t crazy and really to some extent so are the protagonists.
It starts in Chicago when one of our heroes decides that they must quest to Disney World. Thus begins a cross country journey that is one part Odyssey and one part Abbott and Costello meet the apocalypse.
It's full of fun jokes and banter - really the banter is the thing that makes the book good. The story is pretty simple but the characters make it worth reading to the bitter end.
It's a good read, a nice take on the apocalypse and I highly recommend it. I saw an advert at the back of the book for another of the author's stories, have to go get that. If it's half as fun as this one, it will be worth the purchase.
It starts in Chicago when one of our heroes decides that they must quest to Disney World. Thus begins a cross country journey that is one part Odyssey and one part Abbott and Costello meet the apocalypse.
It's full of fun jokes and banter - really the banter is the thing that makes the book good. The story is pretty simple but the characters make it worth reading to the bitter end.
It's a good read, a nice take on the apocalypse and I highly recommend it. I saw an advert at the back of the book for another of the author's stories, have to go get that. If it's half as fun as this one, it will be worth the purchase.
December 15, 2017
This book perhaps deserved another star, because it was cute. And strange. To be fair, I read this in very choppy but frequent segments. I've noticed this affects how I perceive a book. I usually read in great long draughts.
The two characters were endearing in their enthusiastic doofiness, but never quite delivered comedic laugh-out-loud lines.
What did come through was the bro-like affection through callous meanness! It was cute...I've seen guys relentlessly torment each other in the name of friendship often!
The dynamic between the two was really the point of the book. The plot line was....well, odd. Outlandish and violently gruesome stuff happened and you definitely worried that they wouldn't make it through but everything felt very forced. I wonder if this book received some heavy-handed editing against the authors will!
Their journey was sped from one incident to another with a few sentences connecting them. I would have liked to read a bit more description of "3 years later" landscape of America.
I don't know...every reader will have a very different perception of this book.
My main and unshakable assertion is that the author tried to write a Christopher Moore book. If you liked this book at all, you absolutely MUST start reading early Christopher Moore books!
The two characters were endearing in their enthusiastic doofiness, but never quite delivered comedic laugh-out-loud lines.
What did come through was the bro-like affection through callous meanness! It was cute...I've seen guys relentlessly torment each other in the name of friendship often!
The dynamic between the two was really the point of the book. The plot line was....well, odd. Outlandish and violently gruesome stuff happened and you definitely worried that they wouldn't make it through but everything felt very forced. I wonder if this book received some heavy-handed editing against the authors will!
Their journey was sped from one incident to another with a few sentences connecting them. I would have liked to read a bit more description of "3 years later" landscape of America.
I don't know...every reader will have a very different perception of this book.
My main and unshakable assertion is that the author tried to write a Christopher Moore book. If you liked this book at all, you absolutely MUST start reading early Christopher Moore books!
March 24, 2014
Apocalypticon is another well-crafted story from author Clayton Smith. The elements which made his short stories successful in "Pants on Fire: A Collection of Lies" are woven together to form a longer narrative.
Smith demonstrates writing skills beyond that of a debut novelist. Throughout the novel he deftly balances humor, suspense, action, and sorrow (sometimes all within the same passage).
The dialogue is tight and well written. The witty banter between two of the characters, Patrick and Ben, provides many a laugh.
Smith peppers his book with pop culture references. Some references are explained in detail and other are so subtle they’re like an inside joke between the author and the reader.
Overall Apocalypticon is a captivating story which allows the reader to enjoy a post-apocalyptic journey without leaving the comfort of their couch.
Smith demonstrates writing skills beyond that of a debut novelist. Throughout the novel he deftly balances humor, suspense, action, and sorrow (sometimes all within the same passage).
The dialogue is tight and well written. The witty banter between two of the characters, Patrick and Ben, provides many a laugh.
Smith peppers his book with pop culture references. Some references are explained in detail and other are so subtle they’re like an inside joke between the author and the reader.
Overall Apocalypticon is a captivating story which allows the reader to enjoy a post-apocalyptic journey without leaving the comfort of their couch.
May 26, 2017
I did not expect to like this book and, frankly, was ready to stop reading after the first chapter or so. It's just not normally my style of writing or a genre I'm fond of. But I'm glad I stuck with it. The adventures of the two main characters definitely kept my interest. The ending broke my heart! The way new characters were introduced confused me a bit -- when a new name was mentioned I kept thinking, have I met this person in this story before? I'm also a bit disappointed that we don't know what happens to some of those more "minor" characters in the book. But overall this was a good read!
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