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In the Shadow of Extinction #1-3
In the Shadow of Extinction: A Kaiju Epic: The Complete Omnibus
Note: The Complete Omnibus edition of IN THE SHADOW OF EXTINCTION is the entire kaiju epic in one big book. If you already bought Parts 1, 2, and 3, then you already have the full story and will find nothing new here.
The end of the world begins with sudden volcanic eruptions along the Ring of Fire, killing thousands and displacing millions. These tragedies serve only as the precursor to the epic eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano, which annihilates all life for hundreds of miles around. Ash spreads across the United States, choking the population, smothering the crops, and grinding the country to a halt.
Then the beasts begin to emerge from the new fissures in the earth.
An armored bipedal burrower crawls out of Mt. Fuji and reduces Tokyo to dust and rubble. Eel-like sea monsters terrorize ships in the busy Pacific shipping lanes. Swarms of insectoid creatures lay their eggs in a flooded California and quickly overrun the entire state. And somewhere in the dark, ashen landscape walks a predatory behemoth with a hunger that only other giants can hope to satisfy.
Weakened by both the volcanic activity and the monsters, humanity turns to the nuclear solution as a means of fighting back. Cities are destroyed beneath mushroom clouds all around the world in an attempt to kill the monsters. But this mass destruction is in vain. Mankind's final war lasts only weeks.
Governments are disbanded. Entire countries are decimated. Our once great cities are deemed potential danger zones. But there are survivors. . .
Word is spoken of a great city capable of holding off any monster’s attacks. Pilgrims from around the world make their way over the burnt landscape, walking in the shadows of great monsters, hopeful to find this safe haven in the west… They call it New Detroit.
The end of the world begins with sudden volcanic eruptions along the Ring of Fire, killing thousands and displacing millions. These tragedies serve only as the precursor to the epic eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano, which annihilates all life for hundreds of miles around. Ash spreads across the United States, choking the population, smothering the crops, and grinding the country to a halt.
Then the beasts begin to emerge from the new fissures in the earth.
An armored bipedal burrower crawls out of Mt. Fuji and reduces Tokyo to dust and rubble. Eel-like sea monsters terrorize ships in the busy Pacific shipping lanes. Swarms of insectoid creatures lay their eggs in a flooded California and quickly overrun the entire state. And somewhere in the dark, ashen landscape walks a predatory behemoth with a hunger that only other giants can hope to satisfy.
Weakened by both the volcanic activity and the monsters, humanity turns to the nuclear solution as a means of fighting back. Cities are destroyed beneath mushroom clouds all around the world in an attempt to kill the monsters. But this mass destruction is in vain. Mankind's final war lasts only weeks.
Governments are disbanded. Entire countries are decimated. Our once great cities are deemed potential danger zones. But there are survivors. . .
Word is spoken of a great city capable of holding off any monster’s attacks. Pilgrims from around the world make their way over the burnt landscape, walking in the shadows of great monsters, hopeful to find this safe haven in the west… They call it New Detroit.
- GenresScience Fiction
746 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2018
7 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 16, 2018
Man vs. Monster becomes Man vs. Self.
"A Kaiju Epic" is a bold proclamation, and IN THE SHADOW OF EXTINCTION lives up to its title. A plethora of human characters in a world that has completely succumbed to a giant monster invasion start out as disperate vantage points for the fall of man, then come together in unexpected ways to a monstrous climax. The real horror of this pitch black story, though, happens along the way. Like George Romero's zombie narratives, Warner uses the monster incursion as a backdrop to deconstruct human nature and society, show our flaws writ large, and bring our bumbling, sometimes evil tendencies as a species to the forefront. Its message, though, is positive and timely - that we need compassion and empathy to survive in a world torn asunder by sociopathic selfishness, pettiness, and greed. For those of you wondering if the monster fights get adequate "screen time," the final act will leave you satisfied with Godzilla-style rumbles. For the rest, the journey into humanity's darkness is the book's most powerful statement.
"A Kaiju Epic" is a bold proclamation, and IN THE SHADOW OF EXTINCTION lives up to its title. A plethora of human characters in a world that has completely succumbed to a giant monster invasion start out as disperate vantage points for the fall of man, then come together in unexpected ways to a monstrous climax. The real horror of this pitch black story, though, happens along the way. Like George Romero's zombie narratives, Warner uses the monster incursion as a backdrop to deconstruct human nature and society, show our flaws writ large, and bring our bumbling, sometimes evil tendencies as a species to the forefront. Its message, though, is positive and timely - that we need compassion and empathy to survive in a world torn asunder by sociopathic selfishness, pettiness, and greed. For those of you wondering if the monster fights get adequate "screen time," the final act will leave you satisfied with Godzilla-style rumbles. For the rest, the journey into humanity's darkness is the book's most powerful statement.
November 7, 2018
Extinction
The storyline was fantastic. The characters were beliveable. The drama and action intense. I really enjoyed this book. The profanity was too much too often do I could only give it four stars.
The storyline was fantastic. The characters were beliveable. The drama and action intense. I really enjoyed this book. The profanity was too much too often do I could only give it four stars.
August 23, 2019
In the Shadow of Extinction is fantastic. Kyle Warner takes the time honored practice of scifi apocalypse and laces with it the DNA of Kaiju/Giant Monster flicks. The end result is a nuanced and well constructed dissection of the world we know dissolving into one that lives on the brink of utter annihilation.
There’s a clear narrative that manages to encompass all that a reader might want to see in a world overrun by monsters. The combination of things both traditional (The Tyrant) and uniquely strange (The Breeders) all make for a special sort of experience.
Book one reads like Stephen King’s the Stand with Monsters, and it’s a beautiful and horrifying combination that drew me in completely. Book II moves the reader forward in time and takes a look at what survived the previous horrors but still exists teetering on the brink. We go on a world tour of sorts and see how civilization has flourished or festered in the last remaining strongholds of mankind.
Book III is the culmination, all the threads from the previous 2 comingling into an explosive and action-packed finale that ends the narrative in a definite and satisfying conclusion. If you’re at all a fan of giant monsters or apocalyptic fiction In The Shadow of Extinction is the perfect read. It’s grim, it’s massive, and it fires on all radioactive cylinders as it stomps through the worst scenario possible. I absolutely recommend it
There’s a clear narrative that manages to encompass all that a reader might want to see in a world overrun by monsters. The combination of things both traditional (The Tyrant) and uniquely strange (The Breeders) all make for a special sort of experience.
Book one reads like Stephen King’s the Stand with Monsters, and it’s a beautiful and horrifying combination that drew me in completely. Book II moves the reader forward in time and takes a look at what survived the previous horrors but still exists teetering on the brink. We go on a world tour of sorts and see how civilization has flourished or festered in the last remaining strongholds of mankind.
Book III is the culmination, all the threads from the previous 2 comingling into an explosive and action-packed finale that ends the narrative in a definite and satisfying conclusion. If you’re at all a fan of giant monsters or apocalyptic fiction In The Shadow of Extinction is the perfect read. It’s grim, it’s massive, and it fires on all radioactive cylinders as it stomps through the worst scenario possible. I absolutely recommend it
July 4, 2025
As a lifelong Godzilla fan, I'm always interested in all things kaiju so when the author posted about it on Bluesky I immediately purchased it as fast as my little fingers could hit the keyboard. To say I was not disappointed is an understatement. The characters are engaging and easy to like, or hate, depending on the character and their stories are compelling and realistic. I really enjoyed all of the various kaiju involved and there are enough to keep it interesting but not so many different types that it gets confusing to keep up with. It also feels like that there is potential for more to show up in this world at any given point, which may be a weird sort of "hope" on my part but these days kaiju showing up doesn't seem so outlandish or even "bad" to me (j/k, or am I?).
January 2, 2020
Great read!
This was a well thought out book. Great action and characters. I love a good monster story and this one was excellent! Keep writing like this, you have my vote. Tim. R.
This was a well thought out book. Great action and characters. I love a good monster story and this one was excellent! Keep writing like this, you have my vote. Tim. R.
April 9, 2021
One of the best kaiju stories I've ever read
Not only was the action spot on, it also serves as an AU on what happens when urges for self preservation and ideology controls us
Not only was the action spot on, it also serves as an AU on what happens when urges for self preservation and ideology controls us
July 15, 2022
Author is Kelly Warner the goodreads info has not been updated.
This was everything I wanted from a Kaiju novel. Great characters, harrowing settings, and amazing Kaiju.
The first book is reminiscent of The Stand but it takes a worldwide view of the apocalypse.
The following two volumes detail the aftermath and it was really outstanding. This is a LONG book and I dove through it in three days.
The Best Kaiju book I've ever read.
This was everything I wanted from a Kaiju novel. Great characters, harrowing settings, and amazing Kaiju.
The first book is reminiscent of The Stand but it takes a worldwide view of the apocalypse.
The following two volumes detail the aftermath and it was really outstanding. This is a LONG book and I dove through it in three days.
The Best Kaiju book I've ever read.
March 3, 2021
Perhaps the best piece of Kaiju fiction I've read. Complex, and compelling characters blended with creative giant monsters equal parts cool and terrifying. The book nods its head in the direction of it's predecessors but carves out a new, somewhat darker mythos for a world like ours beset by creatures beyond our scope and power.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews