Cataclysm: The Divide: Book1

by Tommy Clark, Dabecka Kirk (Editor), Jon Stubbington (Illustrator)

Cataclysm is the first of a survivor-adventure book series detailing a post economic collapse. Divided over a political issue the United States has fallen into chaos. Eight years after the collapse, only the strong and resourceful have survived. Cataclysm follows a small group led by Stuart Knowles, who have found a way to live in a world that has lost sight of its order. When Stuart's past finds him and the secrets he once tried to hide start to surface, the group is forced to choose who's side he is truly on. The group attempts to maintain some semblance of humanity while dealing with factions that are trying to take what is not theirs. While some people try to hold on to the world they once knew, others trying to add to the chaos. How will the group handle being pushed to their limits? What will the group do to survive in The Divide?

281 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2017

About the author

Tommy was born in Carthage, MO. He spent most of his early life living in the small town called Lamar, MO, with several years spent living in Joplin and Neosho during college. He was first introduced to writing in a creative writing class while in high school. He wrote sketches for student design nights for his local theater group. Then he began to write plays and scripts while attending Crowder College in Neosho, MO.

When college was over, he married his wife, Helen Crites. Shortly in to his marriage he lost his father to complications during surgery for heart trouble. He, with his wife, returned to Lamar for a year to be near family. With the birth of his son, Dylen, He and Helen decided to move north. The decision was based on his intentions to finish college. After a short time at the University of Central Missouri (and a rough battle with Chron’s Disease), Tommy finally earned an Associate’s degree in Web development from State Fair Community College in Sedalia, MO.

During the times of dealing with Chron’s he wrote his first full novel “Mental Health Day”. It is a story of a young man struggling with life in general and the rut he has found himself in. Working at a behavioral health hospital Tommy spent hours writing a story that became “Rogue’s Phoenix: Thieves and Kings”, a fantasy-fiction novel telling the story of the inhabitants of an unusually formed world and the trouble cause by a devious thieves’ guild. Branching out into another world he started another story taking place in a war-torn America. The country, now divided, is in shambles and those still alive struggle to stay that way.

He writes in many different environments including; Fantasy-fiction, Science Fiction, alternate future, post economic collapse and every day stories in the world we live in. Tommy tries to use his real-life experience to create in-depth characters and interesting situations. Tommy still lives in Missouri with his family and friends. When he is not writing, He likes to spend his time with the family; fishing, hunting, camping and playing on the water. With his variety of works in many genres he can offer something for everyone.

For more information on Tommy, or to find other work by him, visit his website at www.tommyclarkauthor.com.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not very realistic dystopian fiction. It's likely to appeal more to fans of the Hunger Games. There's lots of violent action, a touch of romance, but little real story.

The characters are well drawn, but Joshua Saxon's performance of these characters could have been better. His character voices are not distinctive enough and it's often very difficult to tell who is speaking during dialog. Otherwise, his narration is good.

Although the story is set up for future books in the series, it does not end in a cliffhanger. I commend the author for that.

Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.