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Brink of Extinction
A STAND ALONE ZOMBIE NOVEL A drifter in a savage wasteland, up against the evil that has risen from the ashes of the zombie apocalypse. In a brutal unforgiving world one man will be called upon to take up a fight to save those who remain. He thought his last war had been fought in the trenches against the zombie hordes. Now there is one more bloody battle that must be won. But the enemy is no longer undead, it is much worse than that... A full length stand alone novel.
213 pages, Paperback
Published February 24, 2016
39 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Ryan
20 books86 followersTo keep up to date with all the latest Nicholas Ryan news and new book release information visit him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nickryanauth...
You can contact Nick directly at nicholasryanpublicist@gmail.com.
You can contact Nick directly at nicholasryanpublicist@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 15, 2019
Gideon, OM, is evil personified. What is his motive for the havoc he is wreaking? He is brutal. Is it because of what happened to him? Does he blame the world and is going to take out is revenge of it? Whoa, it’s like someone opened the doors of the insane asylum and the inmates are running wild.
And the author…how deep did he dig to come up with these savage scenarios? I am only at 10%. I can see why the world is on the Brink of Extinction if these are the kind of people holding the power, running wild in the streets.
It has been thirty years since they faced off against the zombies. The apocalypse brought them to the Brink of Extinction. Now…to survive the human danger. Man’s true colors are exposed when their lives are on the line. Will they sacrifice for others? Are they out for all they can get for themselves, killing for sport? What happens when the Army can’t hold the line?
Nicholas Ryan has taken a great angle with Brink of Extinction. This is not your usual zombie story. An original, refreshing, down right frightening take on zombie apocalypse and what comes after. It’s hard to not give away some of the elements I feel would be best you find out for yourself.
You need eyes in the back of your head and your head on a swivel, because every step you take could lead towards capture for the slave auction or death.
A man and a boy on a journey that will bring them both to where they are meant to be by the end of the story. The journey is eye opening, brutal, dangerous and live affirming and I loved walking every step with them.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Brink of Extinction by Nicholas Ryan.
See more at fundinmental
And the author…how deep did he dig to come up with these savage scenarios? I am only at 10%. I can see why the world is on the Brink of Extinction if these are the kind of people holding the power, running wild in the streets.
It has been thirty years since they faced off against the zombies. The apocalypse brought them to the Brink of Extinction. Now…to survive the human danger. Man’s true colors are exposed when their lives are on the line. Will they sacrifice for others? Are they out for all they can get for themselves, killing for sport? What happens when the Army can’t hold the line?
Nicholas Ryan has taken a great angle with Brink of Extinction. This is not your usual zombie story. An original, refreshing, down right frightening take on zombie apocalypse and what comes after. It’s hard to not give away some of the elements I feel would be best you find out for yourself.
You need eyes in the back of your head and your head on a swivel, because every step you take could lead towards capture for the slave auction or death.
A man and a boy on a journey that will bring them both to where they are meant to be by the end of the story. The journey is eye opening, brutal, dangerous and live affirming and I loved walking every step with them.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Brink of Extinction by Nicholas Ryan.
See more at fundinmental
August 2, 2016
If you're after a fast paced read that offers more than your usual zombie novel does, then Nicholas Ryan’s book, Brink of Extinction, might be just the thing you are looking for. Brink of Extinction is set in America post the zombie apocalypse and aspects of it reminded me of the films Mad Max mixed with The Road.
Ryan’s opening scene will grab your attention. It is not just a fast paced action sequence, it is also brutally violent and it serves to introduce the novel’s arch villain, Gideon Silver. I don’t object to violence in literature, in fact I love a good action novel, however I felt that the length of this scene could have been shortened by a third or half and still have had the same effect. I could predict where this scene was heading, so I was not shocked. However, what served to show Gideon’s depravity ended up becoming gratuitous and the only reason I can think for the length of this scene was to create shock value in some readers. Fortunately, this is the only scene where I felt this way.
The other main characters in the novel are “The Man” and his son, “The Boy”. The choice of leaving these two characters unnamed is an interesting one. For some writers this choice would run the risk of alienating the reader from the characters; often we need a name to help us relate to the character in more depth. Ryan manages to avoid this and the reader becomes quite involved in the lives of these two characters. The choice would seem to reflect the fact that both the man and the boy are in essence lost souls, like so many after this war, or for that matter any war. The father is forcing the boy on a journey, a kind of pilgrimage, with him in the hope that the destination will restore their relationship. It does far more than that. By the end of the book you will understand and fully appreciate the significance of leaving “The Man” unnamed - I thought it was a very nice touch - though maybe I’m sentimental about these things. All I will say is that the man represents so many soldiers. I think that leaving them unnamed adds to the cyclical nature of certain aspects of the story.
The characterisation of Gideon Silver is a shallow one - he is a caricature. We never see beyond the scarred, depraved, violent, uber villain. However, he serves his purpose well within the narrative as he is. The reader’s main focus should be, and is, on the father-son relationship and all that is revealed about them and the society in which they live.
Their journey takes them to the Museum of the Apocalypse. This segment really makes up the guts of the novel. Each section of the museum documents the zombie apocalypse and the war against them. I was worried that these sections would become as overindulgent in gore and gruesome detail as I had felt opening scene did. However, the timing of the shift from one exhibit to the other was well done and Ryan struck a delicate balance here between recounting brutal action in some sections and poignancy in others. Only once did the cynic in me rear its head and cry, "Oh the pathos!"
Zombies aside, aspects of this museum and the emotions it invoked in the characters reminded me of my visits to various war memorials — in particular sections of the Australian War Memorial. So despite its setting, this felt very real.
Of course, the man and the boy's journey has brought them to the attention of Gideon Silver and they have become entangled in his schemes. The novel’s climactic scene is action packed and the conclusion is very satisfying.
There were technical aspects of the writing that I felt needed improving, mainly in the initial sections of the novel and at this point I was doubtful that I would give the book more than a three star rating. However as the story gained momentum these issues dropped by the wayside and I enjoyed some sections so much that that I changed my opinion.
This is a zombie novel so my expectation was that this would be action packed, which it was, but not necessarily much more. Yet, there are many themes touched upon in this novel: the plight of refugees, the physical and emotional cost of war, the nature of sacrifice, duty and honour. In the end I heartily enjoyed this book on levels far deeper than I expected to. If you want a zombie novel that is just that bit more than a shallow action adventure novel then I that I strongly recommend that you read Brink of Extinction.
Four Stars!
Ryan’s opening scene will grab your attention. It is not just a fast paced action sequence, it is also brutally violent and it serves to introduce the novel’s arch villain, Gideon Silver. I don’t object to violence in literature, in fact I love a good action novel, however I felt that the length of this scene could have been shortened by a third or half and still have had the same effect. I could predict where this scene was heading, so I was not shocked. However, what served to show Gideon’s depravity ended up becoming gratuitous and the only reason I can think for the length of this scene was to create shock value in some readers. Fortunately, this is the only scene where I felt this way.
The other main characters in the novel are “The Man” and his son, “The Boy”. The choice of leaving these two characters unnamed is an interesting one. For some writers this choice would run the risk of alienating the reader from the characters; often we need a name to help us relate to the character in more depth. Ryan manages to avoid this and the reader becomes quite involved in the lives of these two characters. The choice would seem to reflect the fact that both the man and the boy are in essence lost souls, like so many after this war, or for that matter any war. The father is forcing the boy on a journey, a kind of pilgrimage, with him in the hope that the destination will restore their relationship. It does far more than that. By the end of the book you will understand and fully appreciate the significance of leaving “The Man” unnamed - I thought it was a very nice touch - though maybe I’m sentimental about these things. All I will say is that the man represents so many soldiers. I think that leaving them unnamed adds to the cyclical nature of certain aspects of the story.
The characterisation of Gideon Silver is a shallow one - he is a caricature. We never see beyond the scarred, depraved, violent, uber villain. However, he serves his purpose well within the narrative as he is. The reader’s main focus should be, and is, on the father-son relationship and all that is revealed about them and the society in which they live.
Their journey takes them to the Museum of the Apocalypse. This segment really makes up the guts of the novel. Each section of the museum documents the zombie apocalypse and the war against them. I was worried that these sections would become as overindulgent in gore and gruesome detail as I had felt opening scene did. However, the timing of the shift from one exhibit to the other was well done and Ryan struck a delicate balance here between recounting brutal action in some sections and poignancy in others. Only once did the cynic in me rear its head and cry, "Oh the pathos!"
Zombies aside, aspects of this museum and the emotions it invoked in the characters reminded me of my visits to various war memorials — in particular sections of the Australian War Memorial. So despite its setting, this felt very real.
Of course, the man and the boy's journey has brought them to the attention of Gideon Silver and they have become entangled in his schemes. The novel’s climactic scene is action packed and the conclusion is very satisfying.
There were technical aspects of the writing that I felt needed improving, mainly in the initial sections of the novel and at this point I was doubtful that I would give the book more than a three star rating. However as the story gained momentum these issues dropped by the wayside and I enjoyed some sections so much that that I changed my opinion.
This is a zombie novel so my expectation was that this would be action packed, which it was, but not necessarily much more. Yet, there are many themes touched upon in this novel: the plight of refugees, the physical and emotional cost of war, the nature of sacrifice, duty and honour. In the end I heartily enjoyed this book on levels far deeper than I expected to. If you want a zombie novel that is just that bit more than a shallow action adventure novel then I that I strongly recommend that you read Brink of Extinction.
Four Stars!
July 14, 2016
This is the first time I have ever read a zombie book. I have seen shows like The Walking Dead, but Ive never read books of this subject matter. I was actually surprised at how much I liked it.
Brink Of Extinction covers the world 20 years after the zombies take over. Gangs have began to take over the new world and day to day life is a fight to survive and not be captured. A father and son are on a path to enlightenment. The boy filled with hate, the father just wanting his son to know the truth. Together they see the world as it was and now as it is. In a world gone mad together they must fight.
This book was written very well and was full of action from the first page. It sucked me in quick. It told a chilling tale of death, fear, endings, and hope for a better future. It was really a good read...Stormi
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Brink Of Extinction covers the world 20 years after the zombies take over. Gangs have began to take over the new world and day to day life is a fight to survive and not be captured. A father and son are on a path to enlightenment. The boy filled with hate, the father just wanting his son to know the truth. Together they see the world as it was and now as it is. In a world gone mad together they must fight.
This book was written very well and was full of action from the first page. It sucked me in quick. It told a chilling tale of death, fear, endings, and hope for a better future. It was really a good read...Stormi
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
March 2, 2016
A very interesting take on the time after the zombie apocalypse.
February 29, 2016
An excellent zombie book without any zombies, if that makes sense. This book tells the story of the world that survived a zombie apocalypse (The Great War). Although the zombies were defeated, a lot of the cities are ruled by lawless gangs/criminals. A great storyline with good characters. A solid 5 stars.
March 8, 2016
'Brink of Extinction' is an unusual novel. It's the first book in Nicholas Ryan's vast body of work I have read, so it may not be unusual for him. But I've never really read a book like this in the apocalyptic/ zombie apocalyptic genre.
The simple idea of a stand-alone novel is rare in a genre where there are a good number of series that cover eight or ten volumes, and a trilogy seems to be the bare acceptable minimum. Secondly, the book is narrative intense. To the extreme. You can open it to about any point and find eight, ten, or a dozen pages with no dialogue at all. Page after page is filled with dense blocks of text describing a setting or character. And finally, a third of the book is the protagonist and his son touring a museum. Yeah- a museum.
But the thing is, it works. It works extremely well.
All that narrative achieves the function of inserting the reader into the story. You see the barren, snow-covered landscape in front of you. You see the gaunt and hungry characters. You're there to observe the hideous and evil Gideon and the wretched soul he captures to take to slave auction, and you feel that soul's anguish as his wife is gang-raped before him.
You are there with the man and his son as they tour a museum dedicated to the history of the zombie invasion. You turn your eyes in revulsion at the video of a crazed mob of zombies attacking a family. You stand in the mud and the muck with the army as they retreat again and again in the face of the zombie horde. You smell the blood and piss and fear in the trenches and stand in blood up to your ankles as the final, terrible procedure that the medical team comes up with to stop the zombie virus from spreading works, but at a terrible cost. You feel the hatred the boy has toward his father for leaving the boy and his mother in one of the infamous refugee camps, where often times death was preferable to living. And you feel the helplessness, the consternation, the dread the man has as he struggles to find a way to reach the boy.
Brink of Extinction does a better job than perhaps any book I've ever read of putting the reader in the novel. Ryan engages all five senses as he lays out incredibly descriptive scenes and builds complex and realistic characters that he describes with intricate detail. Entwined in the narrative are sudden and senseless acts of violence, until the reader begins to wonder if it may have been better for the zombies to wipe out the continent.
And then it all builds to a satisfying climax that restores your faith in mankind.
I'm off to read more of Ryan's work. If you haven't read Brink of Extinction I suggest you put it at the top of your to-read list.
The simple idea of a stand-alone novel is rare in a genre where there are a good number of series that cover eight or ten volumes, and a trilogy seems to be the bare acceptable minimum. Secondly, the book is narrative intense. To the extreme. You can open it to about any point and find eight, ten, or a dozen pages with no dialogue at all. Page after page is filled with dense blocks of text describing a setting or character. And finally, a third of the book is the protagonist and his son touring a museum. Yeah- a museum.
But the thing is, it works. It works extremely well.
All that narrative achieves the function of inserting the reader into the story. You see the barren, snow-covered landscape in front of you. You see the gaunt and hungry characters. You're there to observe the hideous and evil Gideon and the wretched soul he captures to take to slave auction, and you feel that soul's anguish as his wife is gang-raped before him.
You are there with the man and his son as they tour a museum dedicated to the history of the zombie invasion. You turn your eyes in revulsion at the video of a crazed mob of zombies attacking a family. You stand in the mud and the muck with the army as they retreat again and again in the face of the zombie horde. You smell the blood and piss and fear in the trenches and stand in blood up to your ankles as the final, terrible procedure that the medical team comes up with to stop the zombie virus from spreading works, but at a terrible cost. You feel the hatred the boy has toward his father for leaving the boy and his mother in one of the infamous refugee camps, where often times death was preferable to living. And you feel the helplessness, the consternation, the dread the man has as he struggles to find a way to reach the boy.
Brink of Extinction does a better job than perhaps any book I've ever read of putting the reader in the novel. Ryan engages all five senses as he lays out incredibly descriptive scenes and builds complex and realistic characters that he describes with intricate detail. Entwined in the narrative are sudden and senseless acts of violence, until the reader begins to wonder if it may have been better for the zombies to wipe out the continent.
And then it all builds to a satisfying climax that restores your faith in mankind.
I'm off to read more of Ryan's work. If you haven't read Brink of Extinction I suggest you put it at the top of your to-read list.
February 27, 2016
Brink of Extinction is an amazing tale of a man and his son on a journey in a post apocalyptic world. A world where every minute of every day can be a desperate fight for survival. The descriptions and details are painted so vividly, it felt more like I was actually seeing the desolate landscape, there as a character, rather than reading a book. I could see each detail clearly in my mind and could feel the intense emotions of each character as the story unfolded. Nicholas Ryan has the unique talent of drawing the reader into the story as if they were a character, seeing and feeling the action and suspense as if it was happening to them, the reader! I have been a long time fan of Ryan's, since his first novel, Ground Zero, which actually got me hooked on this genre, and this story was no disappointment. The story he weaves is full of action, suspense, violence and extreme emotions across the gamut. Once I started reading this book, I was hooked and could NOT put it down!! I dare say this is his best novel yet! Nicholas Ryan never disappoints!
February 20, 2016
With the author’s acute attention to detail, his heart-pounding action sequences and characters that each share a unique and distinctive quality you can be assured that once you start reading Brink of Extinction you won’t want to put this book down.
The storyline was intriguing, written with realism, fear, strength and determination. The characters were presented with such color, so vivid and at times haunting. Brink of Extinction felt more like a journey I had taken than a book I had read. I found myself so engrossed in the details, the reaction of the characters, and the shock and surprise of the unknown. The tempo of the storyline and the locations of the story were perfect.
The one thing that keeps me coming back to this author is that with each new book he releases I know I am guaranteed a fresh, intense, realistic story. If you enjoy a story that combines fear, some of the most badass baddies around, the sheer determination to survive and a roller coaster ride of emotions with a unique twist you will love Brink of Extinction.
The storyline was intriguing, written with realism, fear, strength and determination. The characters were presented with such color, so vivid and at times haunting. Brink of Extinction felt more like a journey I had taken than a book I had read. I found myself so engrossed in the details, the reaction of the characters, and the shock and surprise of the unknown. The tempo of the storyline and the locations of the story were perfect.
The one thing that keeps me coming back to this author is that with each new book he releases I know I am guaranteed a fresh, intense, realistic story. If you enjoy a story that combines fear, some of the most badass baddies around, the sheer determination to survive and a roller coaster ride of emotions with a unique twist you will love Brink of Extinction.
March 13, 2016
Nicholas Ryan is author of several Amazon bestsellers and a writer of unforgettable books in the genre. 'Brink of Extinction' is not your typical full length stand alone novel in the zombie genre. One of the many reasons I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.
With his writing of ‘Brink of Extinction’ comes a vivid, intelligent, and nostalgic journey of a father and son in a post apocalyptic world. In the book there is tension, suspense, father vs son, the evil character, action, pride, and emotion. I was so disappointed when the journey came to an end and wanted to read it again as soon as I finished.
I look forward to whatever Nicholas Ryan has in store for us in the future. I know that he will always provide his readers with a unique story that will leave you wanting more from him.
Highly recommend ‘Brink of Extinction’!
With his writing of ‘Brink of Extinction’ comes a vivid, intelligent, and nostalgic journey of a father and son in a post apocalyptic world. In the book there is tension, suspense, father vs son, the evil character, action, pride, and emotion. I was so disappointed when the journey came to an end and wanted to read it again as soon as I finished.
I look forward to whatever Nicholas Ryan has in store for us in the future. I know that he will always provide his readers with a unique story that will leave you wanting more from him.
Highly recommend ‘Brink of Extinction’!
March 31, 2016
I was there!
I was frightened by Gideon. He shows me the cruelty which humans are prepared to do.
Then I visit the Zombie-Apocalypse-Museum accompanied by the man and the boy. Nameless heroes acting for countless soldiers and victims of every war. Some memories make me cry, the generation gap touched me because it seems insoluble.
Nicholas Ryans writing is powerful, graphical and forceful. It let me hide from Gideon, smelling the misery at the evacuation camps and trudging the snow for the rescue of the boy.
An exciting adventure at a new genre makes me curious for more.
I was frightened by Gideon. He shows me the cruelty which humans are prepared to do.
Then I visit the Zombie-Apocalypse-Museum accompanied by the man and the boy. Nameless heroes acting for countless soldiers and victims of every war. Some memories make me cry, the generation gap touched me because it seems insoluble.
Nicholas Ryans writing is powerful, graphical and forceful. It let me hide from Gideon, smelling the misery at the evacuation camps and trudging the snow for the rescue of the boy.
An exciting adventure at a new genre makes me curious for more.
April 3, 2016
The zombie apocalypse has ended with the living winning the battle. Life is now as dangerous if not more so with no authority presence. Brutal gangs now roam everywhere and running into them could be fatal. A father and son who are called the man and the boy in this story have escaped from their clutches once. The whole purpose of their journey is to reach The Museum that has displays depicting the zombie war. This book is fast paced with lots of action and a great final battle . I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the zombie/war genre.
April 16, 2016
Wow! Unbelievable book! This story, this journey of a man and a boy in an apocalyptic world is absolutely amazing. I have to say honestly that it rivals the raw beauty and prolific emotions of 'The Dark Tower' series.
An outstanding book with such pain and agony with a true feeling of a kind of purpose. This was an excellent read written in the most breathtaking way. An unforgettably poignant story from an incredible author. I highly recommend this!
An outstanding book with such pain and agony with a true feeling of a kind of purpose. This was an excellent read written in the most breathtaking way. An unforgettably poignant story from an incredible author. I highly recommend this!
February 27, 2016
Love the storyline and the details in this book. The story kept me intrigued with every detail. I love this authors books. Not only does he give such amazing detail, he will keep you well interested in the story. Full of action and suspense. A must read, along with his other books!
June 10, 2016
Well worth the read..
I'm giving this book a very solid 5 Star rating. For me , the storytelling was very vivid and truly captured my imagination and senses in a way that absorbed me into the book.
Anxious to read more from author Nicolas Ryan.
I'm giving this book a very solid 5 Star rating. For me , the storytelling was very vivid and truly captured my imagination and senses in a way that absorbed me into the book.
Anxious to read more from author Nicolas Ryan.
March 24, 2016
Review
This was the first time reading this author's books and I was very impressed. I will have to look for his others
This was the first time reading this author's books and I was very impressed. I will have to look for his others
June 7, 2016
Good story, interesting take on the Zombie Apocalypse. Not fantastic, but a worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews