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The Before
A decade after a man-made virus has swept through the planet, scattered groups of desperate survivors cling to survival.
A virus which was heralded as the savior of humanity turned on its creators, devastating much of civilization, forcing those that survived to return to the ways of their forefathers.
One small group of survivors battle not only the elements but also other dangerous survivor’s intent on taking what they have, by any means necessary. As winter approaches, Dillon and Matt will do whatever it takes to ensure that their family and friends make it through.
Caught between armed groups intent on carving out their own pieces of territory from the chaos, Dillon races against time to prevent the unthinkable from happening.
The Before is a fast-paced, action-fueled race against time, set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a deadly virus.
A virus which was heralded as the savior of humanity turned on its creators, devastating much of civilization, forcing those that survived to return to the ways of their forefathers.
One small group of survivors battle not only the elements but also other dangerous survivor’s intent on taking what they have, by any means necessary. As winter approaches, Dillon and Matt will do whatever it takes to ensure that their family and friends make it through.
Caught between armed groups intent on carving out their own pieces of territory from the chaos, Dillon races against time to prevent the unthinkable from happening.
The Before is a fast-paced, action-fueled race against time, set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a deadly virus.
150 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2016
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Ben Jackson
37 books118 followersBen Jackson was born in Tasmania, Australia, and is a successful indie author that has been writing for over four years. Ben is married to Sam Lawrence, and together they specialize in self-publishing children's books. Ben is also a freelance writer that specializes in writing website content for businesses and a wide variety of different articles, along with running his own company,
Author Services Australia.
They have published a series of children's books called My Little Fart Series and Hockey Wars, as well as If I Was A Caterpillar and several other non-fiction books. Their latest book, Softball Strikeout: The New Girl, is available now on Amazon.
You can connect with Ben & Sam at the following links:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/authorsbena...
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BenandSamAut...
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@authorsbenandsam
Ben has numerous publications in progress, so stay tuned for information on those by following this page or connecting with him on Facebook or Goodreads.
Ben manages a company called Author Services Australia to help Australian authors self-publish their books, and Sam manages a company called Indie Publishing Group, which specializes in assisting Canadian indie authors.
Remember, if you enjoyed one of the books, please leave a review! As indie authors, it really helps out!
They have published a series of children's books called My Little Fart Series and Hockey Wars, as well as If I Was A Caterpillar and several other non-fiction books. Their latest book, Softball Strikeout: The New Girl, is available now on Amazon.
You can connect with Ben & Sam at the following links:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/authorsbena...
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BenandSamAut...
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@authorsbenandsam
Ben has numerous publications in progress, so stay tuned for information on those by following this page or connecting with him on Facebook or Goodreads.
Ben manages a company called Author Services Australia to help Australian authors self-publish their books, and Sam manages a company called Indie Publishing Group, which specializes in assisting Canadian indie authors.
Remember, if you enjoyed one of the books, please leave a review! As indie authors, it really helps out!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 28, 2016
‘Over the years both of them had been forced to kill in self-defense, or to defend someone they knew. Neither liked it.’
Ben Jackson lives in Tasmania, Australia. While working during the week as a Boiler Maker/Welder, specializing in Aluminum Welding, he also writes of a night as Freelance Writer and Author – his books to date: DIVORCE RECOVERY: GUIDE F0R PARENTS & COUPLES, LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS, BEING A MAN, HOW TO SURVIVE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, ITEMS FOR SHTF SURVIVAL and a children’s book THE DAY MY FART FOLLOWED ME HOME co-written with his wife Sam Lawrence. Ben is in a Long Distance Relationship with his wife Sam who lives in Canada, where she works as a full-time formatting professional, publisher, and author. An added bit of info found on his page that is new to this reader, ‘Ben Jackson is a University Lecturer in Modern History at Oxford University and a Fellow of University College. He is the author of Equality and the British Left (2007).’ Doesn’t sound like the Ben Jackson we know, but then he is all over the place with his talent!
Ben now adds to his spectrum of writing talent a true dystopian science fiction thriller, and he surprises us at how very real he can make the implausible seem possible. His ability to engage our attention is evident in the strange atmosphere he presents in the books Prologue – ‘The deer walked through the forest, his large, powerful body imposing on the smaller things around him. Over the last few years, life had been much better for him and his family. The hunters hadn’t bothered them much at all, the large noisy machines even less. That didn’t mean that he had time to relax; the herd still needed his guidance, support, and knowledge. His senses started to fire into his brain, rapidly shooting adrenaline to all points of his body, telling him something wasn’t right in the forest around him. He wasn’t sure exactly what was wrong, but finely tuned instincts took over. Run! his mind screamed, run now!’
But turn the page and we are in the midst of the terror – ‘Damn it. Two hours wasted tracking the deer only to lose it over the hard ground; Dylan was angry at himself. It seemed the animals adapted to change a lot quicker than people. Dylan was a mature twenty year old, big for his age, broad shoulders, well-defined chest and large, strong arms. You had to be in these terrible times; the weak didn’t last long. It had been ten years since everything changed, the Before, that’s what the younger kids were calling it, those too young to remember how easy life had been. One word, Before; it hardly did justice to what had happened and where they all found themselves now. His parents were gone; he looked after his younger brother, Seb, and his sister, Brea. They lived in a compound with a small group of survivors, all decent folk who looked after each other as much as possible.’
The story is rather short but long enough to make us hold our breath because we recognize the threat: ‘A decade after a man-made virus has swept through the planet, scattered groups of desperate survivors cling to survival. A virus, which was heralded as the savior of humanity, turned on its creators, devastating much of civilization, forcing those that survived to return to the ways of their forefathers. One small group of survivors battle not only the elements but also other dangerous survivor’s intent on taking what they have, by any means necessary. As winter approaches, Dillon and Matt will do whatever it takes to ensure that their family and friends make it through. Caught between armed groups intent on carving out their own pieces of territory from the chaos, Dillon races against time to prevent the unthinkable from happening.’
Once again Ben takes on a topic, infuses it with his own style of prose that allows his innate humor to enter surreptitiously despite the terror of the theme (that long lost art of comic relief), and the result is a story worthy of re-reading just to catch the points we may have missed. Ben Jackson is definitely a person of interest and a uniquely fine author.
Ben Jackson lives in Tasmania, Australia. While working during the week as a Boiler Maker/Welder, specializing in Aluminum Welding, he also writes of a night as Freelance Writer and Author – his books to date: DIVORCE RECOVERY: GUIDE F0R PARENTS & COUPLES, LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS, BEING A MAN, HOW TO SURVIVE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, ITEMS FOR SHTF SURVIVAL and a children’s book THE DAY MY FART FOLLOWED ME HOME co-written with his wife Sam Lawrence. Ben is in a Long Distance Relationship with his wife Sam who lives in Canada, where she works as a full-time formatting professional, publisher, and author. An added bit of info found on his page that is new to this reader, ‘Ben Jackson is a University Lecturer in Modern History at Oxford University and a Fellow of University College. He is the author of Equality and the British Left (2007).’ Doesn’t sound like the Ben Jackson we know, but then he is all over the place with his talent!
Ben now adds to his spectrum of writing talent a true dystopian science fiction thriller, and he surprises us at how very real he can make the implausible seem possible. His ability to engage our attention is evident in the strange atmosphere he presents in the books Prologue – ‘The deer walked through the forest, his large, powerful body imposing on the smaller things around him. Over the last few years, life had been much better for him and his family. The hunters hadn’t bothered them much at all, the large noisy machines even less. That didn’t mean that he had time to relax; the herd still needed his guidance, support, and knowledge. His senses started to fire into his brain, rapidly shooting adrenaline to all points of his body, telling him something wasn’t right in the forest around him. He wasn’t sure exactly what was wrong, but finely tuned instincts took over. Run! his mind screamed, run now!’
But turn the page and we are in the midst of the terror – ‘Damn it. Two hours wasted tracking the deer only to lose it over the hard ground; Dylan was angry at himself. It seemed the animals adapted to change a lot quicker than people. Dylan was a mature twenty year old, big for his age, broad shoulders, well-defined chest and large, strong arms. You had to be in these terrible times; the weak didn’t last long. It had been ten years since everything changed, the Before, that’s what the younger kids were calling it, those too young to remember how easy life had been. One word, Before; it hardly did justice to what had happened and where they all found themselves now. His parents were gone; he looked after his younger brother, Seb, and his sister, Brea. They lived in a compound with a small group of survivors, all decent folk who looked after each other as much as possible.’
The story is rather short but long enough to make us hold our breath because we recognize the threat: ‘A decade after a man-made virus has swept through the planet, scattered groups of desperate survivors cling to survival. A virus, which was heralded as the savior of humanity, turned on its creators, devastating much of civilization, forcing those that survived to return to the ways of their forefathers. One small group of survivors battle not only the elements but also other dangerous survivor’s intent on taking what they have, by any means necessary. As winter approaches, Dillon and Matt will do whatever it takes to ensure that their family and friends make it through. Caught between armed groups intent on carving out their own pieces of territory from the chaos, Dillon races against time to prevent the unthinkable from happening.’
Once again Ben takes on a topic, infuses it with his own style of prose that allows his innate humor to enter surreptitiously despite the terror of the theme (that long lost art of comic relief), and the result is a story worthy of re-reading just to catch the points we may have missed. Ben Jackson is definitely a person of interest and a uniquely fine author.
November 26, 2016
The Before is built on a classic premise of a dystopian survivalist novel: a small group of remaining people trying to rebuild their lives and make it through after civilization had been shattered by a deadly virus. The two main protagonists, teenage boys taking on adult responsibilities, are endearing and make the reader root for them and their loved ones.
Having said that, I felt that the book is missing a bit on the three big D's: Detail, Depth and Development. The characters could have been better rounded, with more distinguishing features. The background could have been explored a lot better. This made me knock off one star.
Still, The Before is a nice, fast-paced read, especially for teenage boys who like a good adventure tale.
Having said that, I felt that the book is missing a bit on the three big D's: Detail, Depth and Development. The characters could have been better rounded, with more distinguishing features. The background could have been explored a lot better. This made me knock off one star.
Still, The Before is a nice, fast-paced read, especially for teenage boys who like a good adventure tale.
October 30, 2016
Short and action-packed, The Before is a story about survival. Matt and Dylan are two members of a small band of survivors of a catastrophic virus that ended civilization. They create a small community, where they do everything from hunting to protecting themselves from roving marauders. They hear word of a new government forming and leave the safety of their haven to find information. Jackson creates a bleak world, filled with hard-scrabble existence and equally hard justice. His protagonists are all young, orphaned by the virus, yet they are forced to make adult choices to live in this post- apocalyptic world. He builds a world that is thrown back hundreds of years, and supplies it with people brave and resourceful to make it work.
November 14, 2016
A friend suggested I read this book and I’m glad she did. As a huge fan of all things apocalypse, especially zombies, I decided to give this fast-paced dystopian book a try. It did not take me long to be so swept up in the story that I really did not want to put it down. The story was so well written. I could actually see myself living in the world that Ben Jackson created. A world where struggling to survive and do even the most basic functions we take for granted now, were a challenge.
The story revolves around Dylan and Matt, the best of friends and two of the best hunters in their small survivalist community. The two venture out, just prior to the onset of winter, to do what is necessary to ensure the survival of their small community, which includes Dylan’s sister, Brea, and his brother, Seb.
While out on their mission, they come in contact with both positive and negative situations. They meet people they have to risk trusting all while trying to survive attacks from another group. The dangers are very real and things can truly go either way. I appreciated how quickly the story progressed, I enjoyed the much needed humor in a story with real tragedies. Ben Jackson painted such a realistic picture of how things could go after a cataclysmic event that I could actually imagine things happening just as he described.
Overall I found this to be a great read. Some of the scenes were a bit tough to stomach but that just made the story all the more believable to me. If you like dystopian stories or just want to read a story about survival, this is a great read!
The story revolves around Dylan and Matt, the best of friends and two of the best hunters in their small survivalist community. The two venture out, just prior to the onset of winter, to do what is necessary to ensure the survival of their small community, which includes Dylan’s sister, Brea, and his brother, Seb.
While out on their mission, they come in contact with both positive and negative situations. They meet people they have to risk trusting all while trying to survive attacks from another group. The dangers are very real and things can truly go either way. I appreciated how quickly the story progressed, I enjoyed the much needed humor in a story with real tragedies. Ben Jackson painted such a realistic picture of how things could go after a cataclysmic event that I could actually imagine things happening just as he described.
Overall I found this to be a great read. Some of the scenes were a bit tough to stomach but that just made the story all the more believable to me. If you like dystopian stories or just want to read a story about survival, this is a great read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews