Near Total Eclipse: Solar Plexus 2

by Victor Zugg

Finding the resources needed to survive will be tough. Holding on to those resources will be tougher.Three weeks after the mother of all solar storms, power is out, communications are down, and transportation is mostly non-existent. Fear and panic run rampant. Resources run scarce. Looting, rioting, and general mayhem advance as the dark side of humanity takes hold.Retired Air Force Major Sam Pratt, along with his best friend, Chet Stevens, their recent traveling companion, Tiffany Conway, and her parents double down on their plan to wait out the apocalypse at Sam’s cabin in the foothills of Tennessee. Food is the first order of business. They’ll need plenty to survive the two years or more they expect it will take for the lights to return. Should Sam and his friends make do with what the land provides, or claim their fair share of what food remains?Security is the second order of business. To defend against an expected onslaught of hungry people, Sam and his cadre form an alliance with the nearby town of Townsend. The population is small, manageable, and led by a select few with military experience. They anticipate no shortage of marauders willing to kill for what the town has. And Townsend, Tennessee, with its access to fresh water and miles of remote forest teeming with game and fish, is prime real estate for seemingly everyone with a gun. Sam and his friends have a decision to make. Stand and fight with the town, fall back to the cabin, or fade into the mountains?Decisions have consequences, and mistakes are often counted with lost lives. Is survival in this post-apocalyptic world even feasible?

Genres: Post Apocalyptic

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2018

About the author

Victor Zugg is a former US Air Force officer and OSI special agent who served and lived all over the world. Writing has always been a big part of his life, no matter what the job. While serving in the military most of his writing was job related. But he also found time to publish a number of nonfiction magazine articles, all historical in nature. He traveled great distances to research the material first hand. More recently he’s turned his writing skills to fiction, to the type he enjoys reading—largely dystopian and survival adventures. Given his extensive travels and opportunities to settle anywhere, it is ironic that he now resides in Florida, only a few miles from his hometown of Orlando. He credits the warm temperatures for that decision.

Reviews

[Brandon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't finish this one. The decision making of the group's "leader" is just terrible. Aside from constantly leaving a trail of live murderous enemies at their backs, they go through all this trouble of trying to get food from a distribution center. In doing so, they let the AB gang who previously claimed it continue to clean it out. They have a group and two towns to feed and they only take a couple truck-fulls and leave the rest for the gang, who they set free prior to leaving. Then, when they get the food back to town, the police chief is killed and the food is stolen for the one town. They get their own share back to the cabin and immediately decide they should give some of it to their nearby town. Gracious, sure; but, they already said they'd have to supplement with game and fish. Not sure if they realize, but you're not likely to catch/kill an abundance of game in the freeze of winter. So, why would you give away such hard fought for food when you're very likely going to NEED it to survive the winter. Let alone, crops don't just magically sprout up at the dawn of spring. You still have to plant, let grow and harvest them. And, most people's first attempts at farming don't always go so well. These characters are just stupid, and I'm done with this one.

[Lisa Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one, too

OK, let me give you the bottom line, up-front: I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK, even more than the 1st in the series.

The author knows how to craft a plot, develop characters and keep the action moving.

The only "But..." I have is that I don't think some of the technical details of the impacts of a sun-driven CME matches up with the consequences described. For example, wristwatches and small electronics shouldn't be affected, UNLESS connected to the electrical grid.

Also, many more vehicles should have survived the CME type of EMP. Why? Becauses solar CMEs drive their energy into the earth's magnetic field in much, much longer wavelength bands. Many of the newer vehicles would have died, but should have restarted. Vehicle radios probably would be toast, but they'd be drivable.

Technical details are too extensive to cover here, but that is my understanding of the differences between solar CME-driven EMPs vice human (read:nuclear devices) driven EMPs.

My one other critique is the constant reiteration that both diesel fuel and gasoline would be pretty well unusable within 6-9 months. That is true for untreated gas, but fuel stabilizers available at Walmart, Target, auto part shops and most gas stations would extend the viable life out to 3-4 years.

Diesel also stores better than gasoline, and probably would be good, even if untreated, for 2-3 years if stored an underground tank. Stabilizers and algaecides for diesel fuel are also widely available, so in theory diesel fuel could last as long as 4-5 years.

Those technical distinctions understood -- I think it is okay that this author ignored the likely CME impacts. Perhaps a big enough CME could reach into the smaller electronics -- the scientists won't know for sure until we actually encounter in our modern electronic world.

Ignoring the diesel/gasoline stabilizers does accelerate the narrative of the story, and only dedicated preppers are going to be storing much of them.

In the end, though, I STILL REALLY, REALLY LIKE this book and series. The skilled writing, plotting and character makes up for the technical shortcomings. I only mention them here to prompt those serious about prepping to prepare appropriately.

I also liked that this book continues on the "clean writing" path. No sex scenes, and very clean language. These days, that is rare but very much appreciated.

So, enjoy this book, and the series; don't sweat the prepping and technical details. It's an enjoyable read, and I'm really getting attached to the main protagonists. I think others will, too.

[Wynne Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is not a problem to be solved...

...but a reality to be experienced.
– Soren Kierkegaard
The quote is how I felt after reading this book. The author is self-published. For me that usually means awkward dialog, plenty of glaring typo's/grammar issues, and way, way, way too much detailed descriptions about the weapons used and the carnage. Not so, for this book (series).

What I especially enjoyed: the camaraderie and easy friendship among the veterans. I felt very much at home and truly miss the special bond. It was well portrayed here. I like that Sam didn't always have answers, or easy solutions. That he took time to think it over.

I liked that there wasn't overly sexualized scenes - you know...way to much detail - like a bodice-ripping romance novel.

I really like the portrayal of how the author envisions the world after a massive solar strike. It resonated with me as ... just right.

If you enjoy dystopian fantasy - and are tired of all the YA versions - this book is the perfect solution.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing has improved quite a bit from the first book. I like that the cabin group is also trying to forge a relationship with the town even though it would seem to be a difficult task to defend it. While I get that the AB gang were a group of concern and designed to be the bad guys, at the warehouse, they didn't seem to be terribly nasty and in fact, could make a case that they had as much right to at least some of the contents as Sam's outside group. Attacking and dislodging them approved to be costly. I do think the breakdown of the towns was pretty realistic especially the larger town where distribution of a little food to so many people was going to have a predictable outcome.

[John Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disappointed with the second book. First of all, you had two men over fifty running around all over the place firing their guns and easily killing more than Rambo did in all his movies combined. Their trigger fingers would have fallen off. Trish did not say one word about the young man who she lost at the end of the first book. The whole book was one big fight or preparing to fight. Also at the end of this book, they just surrendered to a bunch of drug-induced hippies who stole all the food. This was supposed to be a town but no mention what so ever of the women and children affected by all the shooting. Sorry, this book was ill-timed and pretty bad.

[HOLLY · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason I gave it only 4 stars is that if you come across a gang of thugs and you are taking there food away from them also kill some of their gang members and you just tie them up and give them their cars back instead of killing them and using their cars to supply your town with food you will need for surviving the winter. What do you expect them to do and say thanks and not try to fine you and kill you? Stupid.

[Hanna Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Enjoyed the read. Hope people wouldn't be that bad but at todays news and what is happening in the United States this could be possible. I felt I was left hanging and would like a third installment, to see what's happened with Hank and Jimmy. In the human brain there is always the will to seek family no matter what. Toby and his gang need to be resolved, and what happens with Sam ,Chet and Todd's family.

[Uncle Dave Avis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this is another fine book in this series. The scenarios move the action right along and the main characters do their thing well. I wish there was more hope in this series, a little more romance with Tiff, and a well trained dog would be nice.
The author is a very good wordcrafter and I recommend this book to you.

[CHRISTINE WORKMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apocalyptic

Great start with book 1 and 2 to a new series. I love the three main characters and... I love that they defer to Tiff on some decisions. Very good story line and characters are well put together.. Very good Series and I hope book 3 is coming soon.

[Phyllispurvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survival of the fittest.

Sam, Chet and Tish, are surviving one attack after another. The strongest or better armed people will survive first. The once nice people, will turn on you and take what you have.

[Eugene W Hoch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believable story

Mr. Zugg does a good job of writing a believable story of what could happen if an EMP took out all the power and how people would react to that and how they would try to survive Really enjoyed reading the story

[Joyce Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series

This is a new author for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The action came fast and furious while the characters were well fleshed out and quickly involved the reader. I will most certainly read more of Mr Zuggs books and certainly recommend him to other readers.

[Mary E. Schumacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Was waiting for this book and didnt disappoint. Love Tff, Sam and Chet. Now have to wait again for the next book

[Jeff Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense

It starts fast and never lets up all the way to the end. If you like end of the world as we know it books you will enjoy.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

It is one of the better written novels from this genre. It has a strong,realistic female character and it doesn't get bogged down in the details

[joyce h quilantan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Bernie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Near Total Eclipse review

Near Total Eclipse: Solar Plexus is the second post apocalyptic EMP survival book in this series written by author Victor Zugg.

[Ken]

Both books are awesome!! I am so glad the author left it so he could write another continuation book

[Bernadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Very good read!

[Niel Sturtevant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading

If you have a enjoy the thought of what would happen if the world went bad you can live that fantasy through this book.

[Jorge3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good paced story

This is a good paced story about good guys winning. The characters are familiar and plot is engaging to read.

[Coral Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total eclipse

Two book both very good reads Twobooks both very good reads. Two books. Both very good reads I enjoyed them

[Hayden J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Good storytelling and well defined characters, enjoyed the various plot twists. Looking forward to a follow up story about this series.

[Karen Edgecombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Near Total Eclipse

This was a good story, but a lot of repitition. Very happy with the ending, as I grew attached to the main characters.