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Apocalypse Survivors - Jack #2
Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor 2
This is an alternate cover edition - ASIN: B01N411B4C
“I thought I had already seen the best and worst of humanity. But I was wrong.”
When a rogue comet smashed into Earth, Jack Baldwin’s life changed forever. In a single night of carnage, the vast majority of the world’s population was obliterated, while those who survived were all but sent back to the Stone Age. The lucky ones? They don’t necessarily see it that way. Especially Jack, whose dreams of a happily ever after – well as happily ever after as Armaggedon gets – were shattered in a senseless act of violence. With everything and everyone he fought to build and protect now gone, Jack is left truly and utterly alone. And with food supplies growing ever scarcer, and fellow survivors getting more desperate and aggressive by the day, it’s going to be a long way back from the brink. Can Jack find himself again, find new purpose and carve out a way forward? Maybe. But first he’s going to have to ask himself the biggest question of all: Why?
“I thought I had already seen the best and worst of humanity. But I was wrong.”
When a rogue comet smashed into Earth, Jack Baldwin’s life changed forever. In a single night of carnage, the vast majority of the world’s population was obliterated, while those who survived were all but sent back to the Stone Age. The lucky ones? They don’t necessarily see it that way. Especially Jack, whose dreams of a happily ever after – well as happily ever after as Armaggedon gets – were shattered in a senseless act of violence. With everything and everyone he fought to build and protect now gone, Jack is left truly and utterly alone. And with food supplies growing ever scarcer, and fellow survivors getting more desperate and aggressive by the day, it’s going to be a long way back from the brink. Can Jack find himself again, find new purpose and carve out a way forward? Maybe. But first he’s going to have to ask himself the biggest question of all: Why?
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
213 pages, ebook
Published November 1, 2017
52 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Matt J. Pike
26 books54 followers*Matt donates money from each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition his youngest daughter has*
Like the legendary R M Williams, Matt was born in Jamestown in rural South Australia. But that’s where the remarkable similarities between these two end. While Reginald went from bushman to world renowned millionaire outback clothing designer, Matt is a complete dag who was lured by the city lights of Adelaide. Kindergarten in the big smoke was a culture shock, but it is here he first discovered his love of storytelling.
In high school that love found an outlet in a series of completely unflattering cartoons about fellow students and teachers alike. He survived long enough to further his art into a successful career in multimedia design but, like a zombified leech, the lure of the written word gnawed at him, forcing him to pen his first novel, the award-winning sci-fi comedy epic, Kings of the World. It was followed the next year by Amazon Australia dystopian sci-fi best-seller Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor.
Matt donates part-proceeds of each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition the youngest of his three children, Abby, has. As a gorgeous Rett angel, Abby cannot walk, talk or use her hands in a meaningful way. So, not only is each of your book purchases a ticket to fantastically rounded, character driven, hilarious and poignant sci-fi awesomeness, it wraps you in a warm feeling that you’ve made a difference to people who deserve your help the most. Like the zombified leech it’s a no-brainer.
Like the legendary R M Williams, Matt was born in Jamestown in rural South Australia. But that’s where the remarkable similarities between these two end. While Reginald went from bushman to world renowned millionaire outback clothing designer, Matt is a complete dag who was lured by the city lights of Adelaide. Kindergarten in the big smoke was a culture shock, but it is here he first discovered his love of storytelling.
In high school that love found an outlet in a series of completely unflattering cartoons about fellow students and teachers alike. He survived long enough to further his art into a successful career in multimedia design but, like a zombified leech, the lure of the written word gnawed at him, forcing him to pen his first novel, the award-winning sci-fi comedy epic, Kings of the World. It was followed the next year by Amazon Australia dystopian sci-fi best-seller Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor.
Matt donates part-proceeds of each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition the youngest of his three children, Abby, has. As a gorgeous Rett angel, Abby cannot walk, talk or use her hands in a meaningful way. So, not only is each of your book purchases a ticket to fantastically rounded, character driven, hilarious and poignant sci-fi awesomeness, it wraps you in a warm feeling that you’ve made a difference to people who deserve your help the most. Like the zombified leech it’s a no-brainer.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 22, 2018
a very much needed improvement from the first book and this book was really good and i'm surprised i enjoyed it so much because i'm very picky with my apocalypse stories.
there are a few mistakes that could have been edited better and it does take my head out of the story when i was reading it but overall it didn't destroy anything for me just annoyed me a little bit.
The second one is grittier and shows how much more humanity is becoming worse by the day and i love how evolved the characters have become in the world their in now. This one delves more into how bad humanity can change so quickly and how different people change in this situation which was good to see play out while reading.
i think i liked the second book more then i did the first one!
always love to support australian authors!
there are a few mistakes that could have been edited better and it does take my head out of the story when i was reading it but overall it didn't destroy anything for me just annoyed me a little bit.
The second one is grittier and shows how much more humanity is becoming worse by the day and i love how evolved the characters have become in the world their in now. This one delves more into how bad humanity can change so quickly and how different people change in this situation which was good to see play out while reading.
i think i liked the second book more then i did the first one!
always love to support australian authors!
April 27, 2020
After the shock of the last book we pick up Jack's story again to find him shattered, lost and losing all hope. Is there still a chance for our favourite survivor? How do you come back from so much suffering, the fact that anyone is still going is a miracle, depending on which way you look at it.
Join Jack on Part 2 of his journey through the impossible. If you thought that last book sucked you in, here is another book you'll be unable to put down. The only time you'll stop is to ask yourself, what would I do in that situation?!
Join Jack on Part 2 of his journey through the impossible. If you thought that last book sucked you in, here is another book you'll be unable to put down. The only time you'll stop is to ask yourself, what would I do in that situation?!
January 21, 2017
I’ve been anticipating this sequel since the moment I finished reading book 1 in this series, and I was not disappointed (now eagerly awaiting book 3)!
Diary of a Survivor 2 picks up shortly after where it left off at the end of the first book, which was a heartbreaking ending. Jack has learned a bitter lesson, and it’s clear that he’s done a lot of growing up. He’s grittier, and more cautious, though just as smart as ever.
Potential spoilers
Matt Pike does a beautiful job of conveying Jack’s emotions, and I felt almost as heartbroken as him whenever he thinks of Fi. Yet, in order to survive, he must continue to be resourceful and brave and move on. Not easy, though Jack’s pain seems to lessen a bit over time, and he takes some steps when he can to work through his grief (over what he lost even just after the apocalyptic event).
His world has expanded, out of necessity. Jack knows he can’t keep living in the house he grew up in—too many people are poking around, and the food in the area won’t last forever. Plus after his tragedy, Jack feels the need to connect with people he knew in his old life.
He has far fewer light moments, and he doesn’t play games as much, but he still manages to be a teenager. He even gets to role play a bit, when he tries to find out what happened to his family friends. (Maybe his games have moved into the real world?) And he keeps coming up with great ideas (though some are risky) that in the long run could improve his life.
The author manages to deftly weave together the intense survival moments with the mundane moments that come with living in a post-apocalyptic world (fighting over food, but having no easy entertainment). There are also a few bittersweet moments, such as when Jack looks through old photos of his family, remembering both the good and bad moments.
Through it all Jack emerges as a leader. He learns the importance of alliances, and how to think strategically. Still, life is all about change, and situations can change very quickly in a post-apocalyptic world. Jack learns another hard lesson. I love this quote, which sums up Jack’s world beautifully:
“This world never fails to surprise. Just when you settle on a path forward, something new gets thrown in to the mix to make you question everything, or shove you in a totally different direction, or just plan mess with you.”
Matt Pike is a wonderful writer, able to take his readers on very emotional journeys with complex characters. He’s one of my favorite writers, and I can’t wait to read whatever he writes next.
Diary of a Survivor 2 picks up shortly after where it left off at the end of the first book, which was a heartbreaking ending. Jack has learned a bitter lesson, and it’s clear that he’s done a lot of growing up. He’s grittier, and more cautious, though just as smart as ever.
Potential spoilers
Matt Pike does a beautiful job of conveying Jack’s emotions, and I felt almost as heartbroken as him whenever he thinks of Fi. Yet, in order to survive, he must continue to be resourceful and brave and move on. Not easy, though Jack’s pain seems to lessen a bit over time, and he takes some steps when he can to work through his grief (over what he lost even just after the apocalyptic event).
His world has expanded, out of necessity. Jack knows he can’t keep living in the house he grew up in—too many people are poking around, and the food in the area won’t last forever. Plus after his tragedy, Jack feels the need to connect with people he knew in his old life.
He has far fewer light moments, and he doesn’t play games as much, but he still manages to be a teenager. He even gets to role play a bit, when he tries to find out what happened to his family friends. (Maybe his games have moved into the real world?) And he keeps coming up with great ideas (though some are risky) that in the long run could improve his life.
The author manages to deftly weave together the intense survival moments with the mundane moments that come with living in a post-apocalyptic world (fighting over food, but having no easy entertainment). There are also a few bittersweet moments, such as when Jack looks through old photos of his family, remembering both the good and bad moments.
Through it all Jack emerges as a leader. He learns the importance of alliances, and how to think strategically. Still, life is all about change, and situations can change very quickly in a post-apocalyptic world. Jack learns another hard lesson. I love this quote, which sums up Jack’s world beautifully:
“This world never fails to surprise. Just when you settle on a path forward, something new gets thrown in to the mix to make you question everything, or shove you in a totally different direction, or just plan mess with you.”
Matt Pike is a wonderful writer, able to take his readers on very emotional journeys with complex characters. He’s one of my favorite writers, and I can’t wait to read whatever he writes next.
June 7, 2018
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor 2
Author: Matt J. Pike
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 21
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 21 readers:
21 would read another book by this author.
21 thought the cover was good or excellent.
21 felt it was easy to follow.
21 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
18 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
21 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
21 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is gritty stuff. Loved every page.’ Boy, aged 14
‘Jack is a very interesting hero for this story. He’s a little bit sentimental but I understand that, he’s been through a lot!!! The world he’s in is tough, nasty, even cruel. The author’s very good at describing the setting. The plot is exciting with a few highs and a lot of lows. A good story.’ Girl, aged 15
‘Scary in a good way. I mean the thought of this happening is scary. I really enjoyed watching Jack trying to survive, finding food and other people he can trust. The atmosphere was chilling and well-written.’ Girl, aged 15
‘Frightening setting brilliantly described. Lots of pace too particularly towards the end. Characters had tons of depth.’ Boy, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘An intense story set in a terrible, apocalyptic world. YA will love it. A bronze medal winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor 2
Author: Matt J. Pike
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 21
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 21 readers:
21 would read another book by this author.
21 thought the cover was good or excellent.
21 felt it was easy to follow.
21 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
18 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
21 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
21 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is gritty stuff. Loved every page.’ Boy, aged 14
‘Jack is a very interesting hero for this story. He’s a little bit sentimental but I understand that, he’s been through a lot!!! The world he’s in is tough, nasty, even cruel. The author’s very good at describing the setting. The plot is exciting with a few highs and a lot of lows. A good story.’ Girl, aged 15
‘Scary in a good way. I mean the thought of this happening is scary. I really enjoyed watching Jack trying to survive, finding food and other people he can trust. The atmosphere was chilling and well-written.’ Girl, aged 15
‘Frightening setting brilliantly described. Lots of pace too particularly towards the end. Characters had tons of depth.’ Boy, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘An intense story set in a terrible, apocalyptic world. YA will love it. A bronze medal winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
June 24, 2017
A perfect follow on from the first book. Once again so easy to immerse yourself in the world that is being painted around you. It's very easy to get caught up in the emotions of characters in the book, I grieved when they grieved, feared when they feared and celebrated when they celebrated. I loved the tales told and was lost to another world whilst reading and am left pondering the unspoken future of the characters. An obviously well researched, and well written book. If tales of the apocalypse and dystopian world survival are your thing then this is the book for you.
June 27, 2017
Matt Pike is a gem. For a guy like myself who admittedly is not much of a book person, I read both books in this series within 10 days, which is unheard of for me. A genuine page-turner from start to finish with climax after climax; never a dull moment. Love the book, love the series, can't wait for number 3.
March 9, 2018
Great story continues, needs better editing
I'm sorry to deduct a star for poor editing. There were a lot of little irritating errors. These were not a problem in the first book in the series. Enjoyed the story enough to stick with it despite the distractions. Will buy the next book of one becomes available.
I'm sorry to deduct a star for poor editing. There were a lot of little irritating errors. These were not a problem in the first book in the series. Enjoyed the story enough to stick with it despite the distractions. Will buy the next book of one becomes available.
July 16, 2024
When writing Book 1’s review - I said I wanted more action and Book 2 definitely delivered.
It bought the action, we saw more of Phoenix the hovercraft, we met a bunch of new characters, it bought the start of rebuilding life post apocalypse and the building of a new community and most importantly it bought all the hot spots of where to find the best food stashes in Adelaide and a great location to stay safe and bunker down - definitely noting this all down for future reference😅
I liked how we got to see more raw emotions from Jack, showing that he is human and this whole end of world, losing friends and family and rebuilding and staying safe is hard on everyone, no one is immune.
Can’t wait to get into Book 3 and see where it takes us - will they breed ducks and grow crops, will they be able to sustain their community, will things stay civil among them, will they face the Norwood crew again? I’m keen to find out!
It bought the action, we saw more of Phoenix the hovercraft, we met a bunch of new characters, it bought the start of rebuilding life post apocalypse and the building of a new community and most importantly it bought all the hot spots of where to find the best food stashes in Adelaide and a great location to stay safe and bunker down - definitely noting this all down for future reference😅
I liked how we got to see more raw emotions from Jack, showing that he is human and this whole end of world, losing friends and family and rebuilding and staying safe is hard on everyone, no one is immune.
Can’t wait to get into Book 3 and see where it takes us - will they breed ducks and grow crops, will they be able to sustain their community, will things stay civil among them, will they face the Norwood crew again? I’m keen to find out!
July 6, 2023
I enjoyed the second book as much as I enjoyed the first. I read it in 2 days, just couldn't put it down. I live in Adelaide and, once again, I enjoyed all the local references (they are very accurate). I have worked in TTP for 9+ years and have been to the Modbury Hospital several times, so the story felt really personal to me.
I like that the "good guys" aren't all good and that not everything works out nicely. It makes it seem more plausible. I'm looking forward to the next book.
I like that the "good guys" aren't all good and that not everything works out nicely. It makes it seem more plausible. I'm looking forward to the next book.
June 8, 2023
Enjoying this book Series
At 1st I was real unsure of it but it has sucked me in to an apocalyptic event beyond imagination. The writer has been very imaginary and paints a very Grimm future for young man to face it only 17. Despicable lords being against them jack learns to depend on others and build a new life.
At 1st I was real unsure of it but it has sucked me in to an apocalyptic event beyond imagination. The writer has been very imaginary and paints a very Grimm future for young man to face it only 17. Despicable lords being against them jack learns to depend on others and build a new life.
November 7, 2023
Once again a strong entry from the series. Loved the direction taken in moving away from the small setting of the house and branching out to see the devastation on the city. Inspired me to keep up with my own journal after not doing so for years (you never know when the apocalypse hits ;).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews