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Trevor Smith has a pretty good idea of the razor's edge modern society walks, with the vast majority of people completely dependent on reliable sources of electricity and gas, and everything shipped to them at the last possible instant. When a major attack cripples the US's oil refining capabilities and destroys a significant portion of US fuel reserves, the nation practically runs out of gas overnight. It's time to see if the preparations he and his cousin Lewis Halsson have made in their hometown of Aspen Hill are enough to carry them through the disaster.
His friend Matt Larson isn't quite so fortunate, caught unprepared and unaware of the grim reality of the situation when a society completely dependent on fuel runs out. He finds himself struggling to adjust as everything falls apart around him, fleeing one step ahead of the chaos to reach Aspen Hill. Now he must depend on his own strength and ingenuity and the help of family and friends to see him through.
Yet even Matt can consider himself lucky compared to most. The vast majority of people living in the nation's cities are on the move, fleeing population centers in all directions with no food and nowhere to go as starvation looms. Meanwhile emergency services scramble to stay ahead of the disaster with insufficient resources, faced with the impossible prospect of aiding tens or even hundreds of millions of desperate refugees.
A number of those refugees are making their way to Aspen Hill, which presents a crisis of its own for a town that has nothing to spare and is struggling to care for its citizens.
His friend Matt Larson isn't quite so fortunate, caught unprepared and unaware of the grim reality of the situation when a society completely dependent on fuel runs out. He finds himself struggling to adjust as everything falls apart around him, fleeing one step ahead of the chaos to reach Aspen Hill. Now he must depend on his own strength and ingenuity and the help of family and friends to see him through.
Yet even Matt can consider himself lucky compared to most. The vast majority of people living in the nation's cities are on the move, fleeing population centers in all directions with no food and nowhere to go as starvation looms. Meanwhile emergency services scramble to stay ahead of the disaster with insufficient resources, faced with the impossible prospect of aiding tens or even hundreds of millions of desperate refugees.
A number of those refugees are making their way to Aspen Hill, which presents a crisis of its own for a town that has nothing to spare and is struggling to care for its citizens.
- GenresFictionPost Apocalyptic
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2015
292 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Jones
31 books31 followersMy name is Nathan Jones. I write mainly in the post-apocalyptic and science fiction genres. My most recently completed project is The Challenge, first book of the post-apocalyptic No More Content series, a collaboration with my brother Seth Jones. My next project is Mythas, first book of the fantasy adventure series Band of Outcasts.
I've been a longtime reader of post-apocalyptic fiction, and like to explore various scenarios in which disasters could occur. One interest has been observing just how fragile our modern life is, and how little it would take to send us back to a low tech existence that people in general no longer possess the knowledge or skills to survive in. That interest inspired me to write and publish my completed post-apocalyptic series Best Laid Plans, comprising the five books Fuel, Shortage, Invasion, Reclamation, and Determination, and to build on that story with the completed Nuclear Winter series, which begins shortly after Best Laid Plans ends and includes the four books First Winter, First Spring, Chain Breakers, and Going Home, as well as the standalone novel Fallen City.
Outside the Best Laid Plans world I've written the completed post-apocalyptic Mountain Man series, with the novels Badlands, Homecoming, Homeland, Mountain War, Final Stand, and Lone Valley. I also have the completed post-apocalyptic Isolation series with Shut In, Going Out, Starting Anew, and Holding On. My current post-apocalyptic series is No More Content, with the recently released first book The Challenge.
I've also been a longtime reader of Science Fiction and Fantasy, with an equally deep love of those two genres. This has inspired multiple projects, the most recently completed being my science fiction novel Caretakers, Book Two of the Stag Privateers series, sequel to Last Stand. My other science fiction story is Boralene, Book One of the Stellar Merger series.
The stories I've written in the Young Adult Fantasy genre have now been moved over from another pen name to be available alongside my other books. These books include the completed The Watchers trilogy with Undying Heights, Ithel's Library, and Deep Dwelling, the completed The Protectorate series with Corsairs, Revenants, Invaders, and Shipwrights, and the standalone children's fairy tale Firefly Girl.
I've been a longtime reader of post-apocalyptic fiction, and like to explore various scenarios in which disasters could occur. One interest has been observing just how fragile our modern life is, and how little it would take to send us back to a low tech existence that people in general no longer possess the knowledge or skills to survive in. That interest inspired me to write and publish my completed post-apocalyptic series Best Laid Plans, comprising the five books Fuel, Shortage, Invasion, Reclamation, and Determination, and to build on that story with the completed Nuclear Winter series, which begins shortly after Best Laid Plans ends and includes the four books First Winter, First Spring, Chain Breakers, and Going Home, as well as the standalone novel Fallen City.
Outside the Best Laid Plans world I've written the completed post-apocalyptic Mountain Man series, with the novels Badlands, Homecoming, Homeland, Mountain War, Final Stand, and Lone Valley. I also have the completed post-apocalyptic Isolation series with Shut In, Going Out, Starting Anew, and Holding On. My current post-apocalyptic series is No More Content, with the recently released first book The Challenge.
I've also been a longtime reader of Science Fiction and Fantasy, with an equally deep love of those two genres. This has inspired multiple projects, the most recently completed being my science fiction novel Caretakers, Book Two of the Stag Privateers series, sequel to Last Stand. My other science fiction story is Boralene, Book One of the Stellar Merger series.
The stories I've written in the Young Adult Fantasy genre have now been moved over from another pen name to be available alongside my other books. These books include the completed The Watchers trilogy with Undying Heights, Ithel's Library, and Deep Dwelling, the completed The Protectorate series with Corsairs, Revenants, Invaders, and Shipwrights, and the standalone children's fairy tale Firefly Girl.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 13, 2017
I liked the idea of this book as it was a bit different from other apocalypse books and focused on how quickly fuel would run out after a terrorist attack on the oil supplies. A war between Iran and Israel has halted all supplies from leaving the Middle East and the President is allowing consumers to keep using at the same level, consuming all the oil reserves. This proves a catastrophe in the making when Gulf refineries are attacked and production ceases.
Trev and his cousin Lewis have been preparing for a disaster of some kind for years, stockpiling food in their home town. Trev is at college and has stockpiled his own supplies there so he can either hole up or use the provisions to get home safely. When they see what is unfolding on the news, Lewis tells his cousin to get moving and back to their town to wait things out. The opening few chapters were pretty good and I thought I was going to like it. Trev is getting ready to leave and trying to get his friends to listen to his warnings about what is coming and the story was being set up nicely.
And then the stupidity of the MCs started to wreck the story. Trev and Lewis claim to be preppers but Trev's journey proves that he is just an idiot. He has a full tank of fuel, supplies at his college dorm, supplies that Lewis is guarding at home...yet he decides to waste hours driving around town trying to get fuel AFTER the President has announced that fuel will only be given to emergency vehicles! He should have left when Lewis told him to and he would've been home before all the chaos began. Only then does he decide to get ready to leave, packing all his supplies in his car in broad daylight, causing an attempted armed robbery by another student. Jeez Trev, where are your brains??? Matt doesn't believe him and waits an extra week before heading for the same town, getting caught up in looting and riots.
Finally Trev gets on the country road leading home-and runs out of fuel a third of the way there. Lewis can't drive out to collect him because the fuel he stockpiled has gone bad as he didn't treat it or keep replenishing the stock. Either Trev can't count or wasted too much driving around town but now he faces days of walking and he can't take all the supplies with him. After burying his stuff in a cache to keep it safe, he heads off with a pack that is too heavy and walks in the dark, leading to him doing his ankle in. Oh jeez I was tearing my hair out. On the whole journey home over many days, he saw one car I think on the road. Walk in the day when you can see, take cover if you hear a car, sleep at night you idiot! It's a quiet road so the chances of being seen were remote. What he is carrying of course doesn't include painkillers or a first aid kit...
Back in town when Trev finally gets there, he and Lewis argue that the refugees coming to the town must be turned away as resources will not stretch to all the strangers. Yet after they seal the borders, who is the first one to fall for a sob story and let a scheming liar into the community? Oh yes that would be Trev! What is wrong with the guy?
Frankly I just got tired of all Trev's stupidity, I hated the scheming refugee who lied to everyone and nobody in town was smart enough to even check on what she was saying. I have a low tolerance for dumb characters and I just had enough.
Trev and his cousin Lewis have been preparing for a disaster of some kind for years, stockpiling food in their home town. Trev is at college and has stockpiled his own supplies there so he can either hole up or use the provisions to get home safely. When they see what is unfolding on the news, Lewis tells his cousin to get moving and back to their town to wait things out. The opening few chapters were pretty good and I thought I was going to like it. Trev is getting ready to leave and trying to get his friends to listen to his warnings about what is coming and the story was being set up nicely.
And then the stupidity of the MCs started to wreck the story. Trev and Lewis claim to be preppers but Trev's journey proves that he is just an idiot. He has a full tank of fuel, supplies at his college dorm, supplies that Lewis is guarding at home...yet he decides to waste hours driving around town trying to get fuel AFTER the President has announced that fuel will only be given to emergency vehicles! He should have left when Lewis told him to and he would've been home before all the chaos began. Only then does he decide to get ready to leave, packing all his supplies in his car in broad daylight, causing an attempted armed robbery by another student. Jeez Trev, where are your brains??? Matt doesn't believe him and waits an extra week before heading for the same town, getting caught up in looting and riots.
Finally Trev gets on the country road leading home-and runs out of fuel a third of the way there. Lewis can't drive out to collect him because the fuel he stockpiled has gone bad as he didn't treat it or keep replenishing the stock. Either Trev can't count or wasted too much driving around town but now he faces days of walking and he can't take all the supplies with him. After burying his stuff in a cache to keep it safe, he heads off with a pack that is too heavy and walks in the dark, leading to him doing his ankle in. Oh jeez I was tearing my hair out. On the whole journey home over many days, he saw one car I think on the road. Walk in the day when you can see, take cover if you hear a car, sleep at night you idiot! It's a quiet road so the chances of being seen were remote. What he is carrying of course doesn't include painkillers or a first aid kit...
Back in town when Trev finally gets there, he and Lewis argue that the refugees coming to the town must be turned away as resources will not stretch to all the strangers. Yet after they seal the borders, who is the first one to fall for a sob story and let a scheming liar into the community? Oh yes that would be Trev! What is wrong with the guy?
Frankly I just got tired of all Trev's stupidity, I hated the scheming refugee who lied to everyone and nobody in town was smart enough to even check on what she was saying. I have a low tolerance for dumb characters and I just had enough.
March 30, 2016
Wow! I loved this book! There was a few people that left bad reviews saying it was unrealestic, or boring but I couldnt put it down, I gave it a five star & I havent done that in a while. It movtived me and thats what I look for in a prepper book, I ran out to get gas lol....If your looking for a hero, a super soldier prepper, a smart Prepper that does no wrong, then no you will hate the book, if your looking for realestic people that make stupid mistakes, that you want to shake them, but the author will try to correct it saying what they did wrong then you will enjoy this book. The events of how it happened well that could be debated, but I think its worth the read.
December 4, 2018
When I read a book about zombies, I wanna read about zombies. Not people. When I read post-Apoc, I like to read about the disaster or catastrophe. And not so much thur people affected by disaster. That changed with this book. Fuel is about people affected by America running out of gasoline. And it's good. Good setting. Good story. Good writing. And, surprisingly to me, good characters who are believable and interesting 4 stars. I will be reading Shortage soon. Recommend.
December 11, 2018
Hope
The thing I like about this author is not getting bogged down with endless descriptions of guns and ammo. It’s more about the people none of whom are all bad or all good; just real people trying to survive. The characters could use some help from Jack Reacher but alas. Eager now for book 2.
The thing I like about this author is not getting bogged down with endless descriptions of guns and ammo. It’s more about the people none of whom are all bad or all good; just real people trying to survive. The characters could use some help from Jack Reacher but alas. Eager now for book 2.
June 16, 2021
Very good post apocalypse series
This type of fiction is usually poorly written or the story seems too farfetched or maybe worst of all characters you don't care about. Fuel is well written, makes sense logically and I like the characters enough I'm going on to Book 2
This type of fiction is usually poorly written or the story seems too farfetched or maybe worst of all characters you don't care about. Fuel is well written, makes sense logically and I like the characters enough I'm going on to Book 2
April 6, 2023
Pretty good story decent read
In my view I would never be allowed a friend jeopardize me like the roadblock. I Don't trust anyone that well. The story is good and enjoyable overall. Most of the characters are either likable or interesting. So a pretty good story.
In my view I would never be allowed a friend jeopardize me like the roadblock. I Don't trust anyone that well. The story is good and enjoyable overall. Most of the characters are either likable or interesting. So a pretty good story.
May 30, 2018
Great story!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only critique is the term Chamber In The Round. It should be Round in the chamber. Can't wait to start next book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only critique is the term Chamber In The Round. It should be Round in the chamber. Can't wait to start next book.
October 4, 2018
Fuel review
Fuel is the first post apocalyptic book in the Best Laid Plans series written by author Nathan Jones. This story has an unusual beginning for this genre.
Fuel is the first post apocalyptic book in the Best Laid Plans series written by author Nathan Jones. This story has an unusual beginning for this genre.
November 12, 2018
Well written.
The writer seems very knowledgeable about prepping. Not that I know much. And the story is compelling and solid. I'm anxious to start the next book.
The writer seems very knowledgeable about prepping. Not that I know much. And the story is compelling and solid. I'm anxious to start the next book.
November 25, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. Already started "Shortage" which is the 2nd book in the series.
August 4, 2018
I was interested in reading this book when I saw it took place in Utah, a place where I have lived for 25 plus years. Although not of the dominant religion there, I do know that Mormons are fond of preparing for end times and was a little worried there might be an overflow of religion in the plot. Thankfully, there was no religion at all. This also is a man-made disaster (extreme fuel shortage) that is different from the EMPs et that are so common in literature now. Unfortunately, the preppers of the cast of characters, Trev and Lewis, were about the worst prepared preppers ever. Trev has a lot of gas until he hears that gas will no longer be sold except to officials, he decides to drive around just to see if he gets some and therefore runs out of gas before he can reach his small town home. He also has no idea how to pack a good bug-out bag and nearly cripples himself hiking. Lewis, the "master" prepper has let his gas sit for so long it is not usable and cannot rescue Trev. Their friend Matt foolishly decides to leave the small town haven to rescue his sister and her husband in the massive chaos of the city and Trev, predictably and more foolishly, goes with him. All of these crazy decisions rather spoiled this book for me. It also needs a good editor to clean up the non-plot related problems with grammar etc.
January 26, 2016
David Brin's The Postman is one of my favorite books, and this story gives a glimpse into what happened in the early days of the collapse of the U.S. Government. This story will haunt me for a while as I consider what if? What would I do?
Fuel is a story about what might happen if the U.S. lost access to foreign oil, and it follows the connected stories of one "prepper" and his friend. The author weaves a story of human perseverance and selfishness that will make you feel both proud and mortified by human nature.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed The Postman or Station Eleven. This was an excellent dystopian read!
Fuel is a story about what might happen if the U.S. lost access to foreign oil, and it follows the connected stories of one "prepper" and his friend. The author weaves a story of human perseverance and selfishness that will make you feel both proud and mortified by human nature.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed The Postman or Station Eleven. This was an excellent dystopian read!
January 24, 2016
I stopped reading
When I read "If that was the case no public official never admitted it and the story never touched the mainstream media."
I knew it would only go downhill from there.
When I read "If that was the case no public official never admitted it and the story never touched the mainstream media."
I knew it would only go downhill from there.
July 13, 2016
Insightful
This story is well told and also informative. It shows the good and bad in humans. It makes me glad I'm elderly and afraid for my children and grandchildren's future. This story is very possible and probable because of the condition our world is in.
This story is well told and also informative. It shows the good and bad in humans. It makes me glad I'm elderly and afraid for my children and grandchildren's future. This story is very possible and probable because of the condition our world is in.
December 16, 2016
It was not for me. From the start that was irratintingly slow and filled with tepid characters, I felt like I was in a class that would never see recess. We all have different likes in books, and this was not for me.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews