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A World Gone Dark #1
A World Gone Dark
What would you do to survive the apocalypse?
What begins as a beautiful summer day ends in disaster when a massive solar flare strikes the Earth, burning out all electronic devices around the planet and plunging the world into darkness.
Kirstie and her high school friends are stranded at an amusement park in southern New Hampshire with no way to return to their homes outside of Concord. Her mother, Danielle, is trapped in Boston when the disaster strikes; rather than seeking shelter in the city, she begins the long and dangerous journey home to find her daughter. Kirstie’s uncle, Shawn, the shift supervisor at the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, must find a way to prevent the reactor from melting down before millions die of radiation poisoning.
As society collapses, each family member must find a way to stay alive, even if it means doing things they never imagined themselves capable of.
Can they survive the first five days of the apocalypse? Will they ever see each other again?
"In typical Baker fashion, the action hits hard and fast in this very plausible apocalyptic disaster scenario. Following the actions of three people as they watch society collapse all around them, the pace never lets up. A teenager has to grow up fast. A mother in the city has to find a way out. And the supervisor at a nuclear power plant must find a way to prevent an even bigger disaster. Time is short. When there is no police or military to step in and help keep order, society breaks down quickly." -- David Simpson, author of The Solar Tsunami and Zombie Road series
What begins as a beautiful summer day ends in disaster when a massive solar flare strikes the Earth, burning out all electronic devices around the planet and plunging the world into darkness.
Kirstie and her high school friends are stranded at an amusement park in southern New Hampshire with no way to return to their homes outside of Concord. Her mother, Danielle, is trapped in Boston when the disaster strikes; rather than seeking shelter in the city, she begins the long and dangerous journey home to find her daughter. Kirstie’s uncle, Shawn, the shift supervisor at the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, must find a way to prevent the reactor from melting down before millions die of radiation poisoning.
As society collapses, each family member must find a way to stay alive, even if it means doing things they never imagined themselves capable of.
Can they survive the first five days of the apocalypse? Will they ever see each other again?
"In typical Baker fashion, the action hits hard and fast in this very plausible apocalyptic disaster scenario. Following the actions of three people as they watch society collapse all around them, the pace never lets up. A teenager has to grow up fast. A mother in the city has to find a way out. And the supervisor at a nuclear power plant must find a way to prevent an even bigger disaster. Time is short. When there is no police or military to step in and help keep order, society breaks down quickly." -- David Simpson, author of The Solar Tsunami and Zombie Road series
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2025
41 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Scott M. Baker
58 books147 followersScott M. Baker was born and raised in Everett, Massachusetts and spent twenty-three years in northern Virginia working for the Central Intelligence Agency. He has traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, many of the locations and cultures becoming incorporated in his stories. Scott is now retired and lives outside of Salem, New Hampshire, with his dog Fred and two cats who treat him as their human servant.
Scott is currently writing the Nurse Alissa vs. the Zombies and The Chronicles of Paul sagas, his latest zombie apocalypse series, as well as his paranormal series. Previous works include The Deadliest Breed of Assassins, his first techno-thriller involving North Korea; Operation Majestic, his first science fiction novel described as Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Back to the Future – with aliens; Frozen World, his first non-zombie post-apocalypse novel; the Shattered World series, his five-book young adult post-apocalypse thriller; The Vampire Hunters trilogy, about humans fighting the undead in Washington D.C.; Yeitso, his homage to the giant monster movies of the 1950s that he loved watching as a kid; as well as several zombie-themed novellas and anthologies.
Blog: https://scottmbakerauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11627...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vampire_hunters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottmbaker...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Ay...
You can also sign up for Scott’s newsletter which will be released on the 1st and 15th of every month. He promises not to share your email with anyone or spam the recipients. The newsletter will contain advance notices of upcoming releases/events and will soon contain short stories from the Alissa, Paul, and Tatyana universes that will not be available to the public. You can sign up by clicking the link below.
Newsletter: mailchi.mp/0b1401f1ddb2/scott-m-baker...
Scott is currently writing the Nurse Alissa vs. the Zombies and The Chronicles of Paul sagas, his latest zombie apocalypse series, as well as his paranormal series. Previous works include The Deadliest Breed of Assassins, his first techno-thriller involving North Korea; Operation Majestic, his first science fiction novel described as Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Back to the Future – with aliens; Frozen World, his first non-zombie post-apocalypse novel; the Shattered World series, his five-book young adult post-apocalypse thriller; The Vampire Hunters trilogy, about humans fighting the undead in Washington D.C.; Yeitso, his homage to the giant monster movies of the 1950s that he loved watching as a kid; as well as several zombie-themed novellas and anthologies.
Blog: https://scottmbakerauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11627...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vampire_hunters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottmbaker...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Ay...
You can also sign up for Scott’s newsletter which will be released on the 1st and 15th of every month. He promises not to share your email with anyone or spam the recipients. The newsletter will contain advance notices of upcoming releases/events and will soon contain short stories from the Alissa, Paul, and Tatyana universes that will not be available to the public. You can sign up by clicking the link below.
Newsletter: mailchi.mp/0b1401f1ddb2/scott-m-baker...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 21, 2025
Scott Baker’s A World Gone Dark is a gripping story that blends elements of horror and dystopian fiction. It’s an intense and immersive story.
A World Gone Dark follows three storylines: Kirstie and her high school friends who are stranded at an amusement park. Kristie's mother, Danielle, is trapped in Boston and we follow her journey home to find her daughter. Kirstie’s uncle, Shawn, is at a Nuclear Power Plant, and must find a way to prevent the reactor from melting down.
The most notable issue is its classification as young adult. The book contains graphic violence towards women, and very detailed imagery of rape and feels a bit gratuitous. Another point of critique is the characterization. It's hard to believe teenagers would so easily see the violence Kristie and her friends witness and seem to brush it off so easily. My favorite of the story lines is the uncle at the nuclear power plant.
I enjoyed this read, and the storylines keep you interested. I think it’s important for potential readers to be aware that it leans heavily into horror and extreme violence, making it a challenging read for those expecting a standard YA experience since that’s how it’s categorized. The book might not be suitable for all young adult readers.
A World Gone Dark follows three storylines: Kirstie and her high school friends who are stranded at an amusement park. Kristie's mother, Danielle, is trapped in Boston and we follow her journey home to find her daughter. Kirstie’s uncle, Shawn, is at a Nuclear Power Plant, and must find a way to prevent the reactor from melting down.
The most notable issue is its classification as young adult. The book contains graphic violence towards women, and very detailed imagery of rape and feels a bit gratuitous. Another point of critique is the characterization. It's hard to believe teenagers would so easily see the violence Kristie and her friends witness and seem to brush it off so easily. My favorite of the story lines is the uncle at the nuclear power plant.
I enjoyed this read, and the storylines keep you interested. I think it’s important for potential readers to be aware that it leans heavily into horror and extreme violence, making it a challenging read for those expecting a standard YA experience since that’s how it’s categorized. The book might not be suitable for all young adult readers.
February 14, 2025
Conflicted
I am conflicted with how i liked this story. I do think the story itself is a great one, but I agree with some of the other reviewers on the graphic sex scenes, especially toward women. Unfortunately, I do believe it would be a reality we would face if the world would come to such an abrupt end.
What I did not understand, as did the other reviewer, was the lack of emotions a person would experience witnessing such horrific and graphic violence. I would think the average person would not be able to handle seeing such gore and death. Most people would be vomiting all over the place. And most people would not be able to handle it. Especially a persons life. Yeah I do believe in survival instincts but the way the people in this book handled it sounds like it was a normal day for them.
Lastly, the ending confused me. Is this particular story line going to continue? It just…ended.
So in my opinion the story was ok. I am definitely going to continue because there are authors involved I love. I am looking forward to the rest.
I am conflicted with how i liked this story. I do think the story itself is a great one, but I agree with some of the other reviewers on the graphic sex scenes, especially toward women. Unfortunately, I do believe it would be a reality we would face if the world would come to such an abrupt end.
What I did not understand, as did the other reviewer, was the lack of emotions a person would experience witnessing such horrific and graphic violence. I would think the average person would not be able to handle seeing such gore and death. Most people would be vomiting all over the place. And most people would not be able to handle it. Especially a persons life. Yeah I do believe in survival instincts but the way the people in this book handled it sounds like it was a normal day for them.
Lastly, the ending confused me. Is this particular story line going to continue? It just…ended.
So in my opinion the story was ok. I am definitely going to continue because there are authors involved I love. I am looking forward to the rest.
January 8, 2025
This is a piece of exceptional apocalyptic fiction, but it is absolutely not for younger audiences! There are several instances of adolescent girls and women being brutally sexually assaulted. Don't get me wrong, given the scenario, such assault is almost inevitable and though it is intimated in other books, this one goes into much more detail. Balancing out the sexualized violence are flawed and relatable characters who go out of their way to help others and sacrifice themselves to save the lives of strangers. With the unique way this series is set up, with a wide variety of authors writing in a shared apocalyptic universe, I don't know what to expect from additional installments, but many of them are very well known in the apocalypse fiction, and favorites of mine, my hopes are high for the rest of the series.
February 12, 2025
Off to a good start!
This is the first book I’ve read in the shared story line this group of authors have created. Scott’s book gets us off to a good start. Three members of a single family, all in different locations when the world as they know it comes to an end. Mom is in an office building in Boston, Uncle is in a nuclear power plant, and daughter is miles away from both, stranded at the top of a giant Ferris wheel. Their trials and tribulations trying to get home, trying to find a place of safety, and trying to stop a reactor meltdown are enough to make your hair stand on end.
Great job Scott on the start of your series!
This is the first book I’ve read in the shared story line this group of authors have created. Scott’s book gets us off to a good start. Three members of a single family, all in different locations when the world as they know it comes to an end. Mom is in an office building in Boston, Uncle is in a nuclear power plant, and daughter is miles away from both, stranded at the top of a giant Ferris wheel. Their trials and tribulations trying to get home, trying to find a place of safety, and trying to stop a reactor meltdown are enough to make your hair stand on end.
Great job Scott on the start of your series!
January 13, 2025
Good premise
I enjoyed the book overall but I felt there was a too harsh of a focus on sexual exploitation of women and young girls.
I also felt like there was unreal presentation of young girls that have never fired a gun being able to shoot people easily and make their mark.
I liked that the neighborhood came together to pull their resources and skills.
I'm not sure how and where this next book in this series of different authors take this but I hope for something a bit less unrealistic.
I enjoyed the book overall but I felt there was a too harsh of a focus on sexual exploitation of women and young girls.
I also felt like there was unreal presentation of young girls that have never fired a gun being able to shoot people easily and make their mark.
I liked that the neighborhood came together to pull their resources and skills.
I'm not sure how and where this next book in this series of different authors take this but I hope for something a bit less unrealistic.
January 4, 2025
The fall of society
This new series is a "shared world" saga. Scott Baker gives it a great start with A World Gone Dark. It has the usual cast of characters and we follow a family that is separated, each going through their own trials.
It will be interesting to see where the next author takes us.
This new series is a "shared world" saga. Scott Baker gives it a great start with A World Gone Dark. It has the usual cast of characters and we follow a family that is separated, each going through their own trials.
It will be interesting to see where the next author takes us.
February 23, 2025
After a massive solar flare devastates the Earth everyday people have to find a way to survive. Some come together to help their neighbours while others decide to rape, murder and steal other's supplies as there is no law to stop them. This story covers the horror and determination of a mother, her daughter and uncle go through to survive and hopefully reunite.
January 3, 2025
very exciting!!!
What!!! I’m reading and the book just ends!!! Omg!! Very good!! There are a few name errors here and there but the book is good!! I like all of the characters and can not wait to find out what happens next!!!
What!!! I’m reading and the book just ends!!! Omg!! Very good!! There are a few name errors here and there but the book is good!! I like all of the characters and can not wait to find out what happens next!!!
April 12, 2025
Baker you crazy truthsayer
This is the truth of what can and will happen when the lights go out… if your smart you’ll treat this has non-fiction prediction of a real world scenario.
This is the truth of what can and will happen when the lights go out… if your smart you’ll treat this has non-fiction prediction of a real world scenario.
April 19, 2025
There was a bit too much jumping around between characters for me. It was a bit jarring. While I don't love reading about sexual violence especially when it comes to underage girls, it fit this kind of story. It is a possible outcome if we were to ever face the total collapse of society.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews