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The Alt Apocalypse #4
Affliction
A RELENTLESS DISEASE. NO CURE. AND NO WAY TO STOP IT.The Alt Apocalypse is the newest ground-breaking series from Tom Abrahams.
It explores survival under the most extreme circumstances, but with a twist (and no cliff-hangers).This series, which can be read in any order, features the same core characters in each complete story. But every book dunks them into a new, alternate apocalypse; a nuclear holocaust, an earthquake, a flood, a wildfire, a hurricane, a plague, and even zombies.
Different heroes will emerge in each novel. Different characters will survive and perish. Your favorite character dies in one book? He or she will be back in the next. In the end you'll unwind the loose thread that connects every character and every stand-alone story.
In AFFLICTION, Abrahams tells the story of a mysterious team of researchers, four college friends, an ex-con, a lonely fry cook, a secretive group of prepared civilians as they each battle to survive in southern California after an outbreak of a new, deadly disease with no known cure.
Can they find a way to stop it? Can they survive in an afflicted world?
It explores survival under the most extreme circumstances, but with a twist (and no cliff-hangers).This series, which can be read in any order, features the same core characters in each complete story. But every book dunks them into a new, alternate apocalypse; a nuclear holocaust, an earthquake, a flood, a wildfire, a hurricane, a plague, and even zombies.
Different heroes will emerge in each novel. Different characters will survive and perish. Your favorite character dies in one book? He or she will be back in the next. In the end you'll unwind the loose thread that connects every character and every stand-alone story.
In AFFLICTION, Abrahams tells the story of a mysterious team of researchers, four college friends, an ex-con, a lonely fry cook, a secretive group of prepared civilians as they each battle to survive in southern California after an outbreak of a new, deadly disease with no known cure.
Can they find a way to stop it? Can they survive in an afflicted world?
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2018
126 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Tom Abrahams
71 books343 followersTom Abrahams is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award winning television journalist and member of International Thriller Writers.
He is also a Kindle Unlimited All-Star, an Audible 5 Star Favorite, and author of more than forty novels.
He writes in several genres including dystopian, sci-fi techno-thriller, post-apocalyptic, and political thrillers.
The dramatic rights for his "A Dark World" trilogy are optioned for television and film.
He's married with two children and lives in Southeast Texas.
He is also a Kindle Unlimited All-Star, an Audible 5 Star Favorite, and author of more than forty novels.
He writes in several genres including dystopian, sci-fi techno-thriller, post-apocalyptic, and political thrillers.
The dramatic rights for his "A Dark World" trilogy are optioned for television and film.
He's married with two children and lives in Southeast Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 4, 2019
Wow, this one was so great. It had so much going for it. I have read the other 3 in the series and those were great but this one really pushed the series over the top for me. It brought all of the stories together in such a unique way, which I had just accepted things were the way they were and no explaination was required... but we got an awesome one. The characters we have grown to know were all there and I still had my favourites. I loved the chaos and worry that was instilled in this scenario. The tension was there all the way through. The performance was really good as always and you just know what Pierce is going to bring. His voices stayed consistent throughout the whole series and his voice brings something great to this series. I just can't wait to see what is in store for the next audiobook.
December 2, 2018
Started Out Great ...
The book started out great but then deteriorated into nonsense about multiple lifetimes with different outcomes. Disappointing, to say the least, especially in light of earlier books in the series.
The book started out great but then deteriorated into nonsense about multiple lifetimes with different outcomes. Disappointing, to say the least, especially in light of earlier books in the series.
January 1, 2024
This is the fourth book of The Alt Apocalypse series, a series where a set of characters face different disasters ranging from surviving nuclear fallout to major flooding. This book brings a super deadly disease that originates in the Los Angeles area. That's the biggest problem I have with this book, dealing with a deadly disease just isn't quite as interesting as some of the previous disasters.
It felt like a good amount of the early chapters were just about people being sick, throwing up, bleeding all over and dying. While a natural thing to write about in a book like this, it just felt repetitive after awhile. It's only when lockdowns and forced evacuations take place that action really begins to happen as certain characters avoid pickup throughout the book.
The book is also super depressing. This may just be due to coming off of our own pandemic and things like this being a bit hard to read about. It is also that many of the recurring character die in this one, or are at least implied to have died. It just felt more hopeless than some of the other books, I felt like it was meant to be this way, but it just made it a bit of a tougher read for me.
I was also super unsure of Danny's story in this book. It just didn't quite seem like the decisions he would have made based off of the previous books. He just seemed more anti-authority here and I never really picked up on that in previous books. Maybe I just missed it, but his journey felt the most off to me, even though it did provide some of the most interesting moments.
My favorite part of this book was how we got some explanation of what's going on with these characters and why they're going through so many different disasters. It's an interesting concept and I'm kind of happy with how that aspect of the series is going. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything comes together in the last book of the series. Even though I didn't personally enjoy this book as much as the other series, it wasn't like it was a bad book, just perhaps a more difficult read for me due to the subject matter and the way the story went.
It felt like a good amount of the early chapters were just about people being sick, throwing up, bleeding all over and dying. While a natural thing to write about in a book like this, it just felt repetitive after awhile. It's only when lockdowns and forced evacuations take place that action really begins to happen as certain characters avoid pickup throughout the book.
The book is also super depressing. This may just be due to coming off of our own pandemic and things like this being a bit hard to read about. It is also that many of the recurring character die in this one, or are at least implied to have died. It just felt more hopeless than some of the other books, I felt like it was meant to be this way, but it just made it a bit of a tougher read for me.
I was also super unsure of Danny's story in this book. It just didn't quite seem like the decisions he would have made based off of the previous books. He just seemed more anti-authority here and I never really picked up on that in previous books. Maybe I just missed it, but his journey felt the most off to me, even though it did provide some of the most interesting moments.
My favorite part of this book was how we got some explanation of what's going on with these characters and why they're going through so many different disasters. It's an interesting concept and I'm kind of happy with how that aspect of the series is going. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything comes together in the last book of the series. Even though I didn't personally enjoy this book as much as the other series, it wasn't like it was a bad book, just perhaps a more difficult read for me due to the subject matter and the way the story went.
September 4, 2023
Dreadful contagion is the Apocalyptic affliction that rules this entry into the Tom Abrahams Alt Apocalypse series.
A disease that is a hybrid of TB, SARS and something else sweeps Southern California. Millions of people sicken and die. Martial law is enforced and people react to the situation with fear, rebellion and varying degrees of success in survival.
We follow the same cast of characters that populate the other books, but in this one we are told how they came to be involved. We are told what the experiment is and who’s running it.
Although these books are technically stand alone, they work best if read in order because details about each character are revealed throughout, like bread crumbs left as a trail through the forest.
Fascinating in the way Abrahams understands human nature and the way he illuminates each terrible detail of the spread of the disease. It’s especially poignant because we so recently witnessed a world contagion. People did react with fear, rebellion, denial and people did die, the virus did mutate and spread and the CDC did find a vaccine. I’m so glad that it never got to the point that we had mounds of dead that needed burning.
A disease that is a hybrid of TB, SARS and something else sweeps Southern California. Millions of people sicken and die. Martial law is enforced and people react to the situation with fear, rebellion and varying degrees of success in survival.
We follow the same cast of characters that populate the other books, but in this one we are told how they came to be involved. We are told what the experiment is and who’s running it.
Although these books are technically stand alone, they work best if read in order because details about each character are revealed throughout, like bread crumbs left as a trail through the forest.
Fascinating in the way Abrahams understands human nature and the way he illuminates each terrible detail of the spread of the disease. It’s especially poignant because we so recently witnessed a world contagion. People did react with fear, rebellion, denial and people did die, the virus did mutate and spread and the CDC did find a vaccine. I’m so glad that it never got to the point that we had mounds of dead that needed burning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2019
So far this is my second favorite of the series (the first still is number one book in my book). This is an interesting version and the characters have a lot more to grow in the story as it's not as quick as a flood or fire. The choices made do seem like what the characters would do since this is the fourth time interacting with them. We also learn more about the revelation from the last book and hope the next two unpack that more (seems like it will). This apocalypse feels very more apocalyptic and it never seems over the top. There is good tension and it only breaks to another character at the right time. It doesn't always end on a cliffhanger so that you want to skip the next character to see what will happen then go back. There is one interaction with three characters and maybe a bear that seems really out of left field and doesn't seem to do much. I was questioning why it was included and what it added. Yet still, I'm excited for the next one and will continue to read until the end...of the world. Final Grade - A-
January 27, 2019
An outbreak of flu-like illness is quickly spreading throughout the USA and abroad. Researchers are desperately seeking a cure or vaccine. But, it is a bacterial sickness that is immune to all known antibiotics, and it’s mutating.
Abrahams’ fourth novel in The Alt Apocalypse, Affliction follows our established set of characters and adds some new ones into the mix. The mystery behind these catastrophes is slowly unraveling. Characters that haven’t died before are swiftly taken from our grasps.
Every book in this series takes my breath away. They also leave me wanting to know more. While Abrahams claims they can all be read as standalone tales I beg to differ. There are too many unanswered questions to leave the entire series unread.
5 out of 5 stars.
Abrahams’ fourth novel in The Alt Apocalypse, Affliction follows our established set of characters and adds some new ones into the mix. The mystery behind these catastrophes is slowly unraveling. Characters that haven’t died before are swiftly taken from our grasps.
Every book in this series takes my breath away. They also leave me wanting to know more. While Abrahams claims they can all be read as standalone tales I beg to differ. There are too many unanswered questions to leave the entire series unread.
5 out of 5 stars.
August 28, 2020
We. Have most of all the characters back or at least mentioned, but this time it is a bacterial plague that is resistant to all antibiotics. And Derek who interviewed Danny is back in his office and he and two others, Dr. Chang and Dr. Moss and they say that maybe this time they have gone to far with the iterations that they don’t really explain, but is why we keep seeing the same characters fighting to survive different Apocalypse’s. The series says it is 4 books but at the end it mentions another one, so I will have to check into it. But this has been a good series to read of the different kind of apocalyptic events. Mr. Abrahams continued to make you feel like you were right there with them.
November 28, 2018
Loved it!
Same characters different scenarios. The endless story.
What a fun ride. A well written, entertaining series. Yes, Maggie the dog is my favorite character.
Some books you read for entertainment-an escape from reality and some for learning...I think the author covered all three.
A few quotes I liked.
" He was now a one-man good cop/bad cop, tough one second and sympathetic the next. He wasn’t very good at it. "
“I know I’m in my underwear, Maggie. I’m aware. I don’t have a choice. And frankly, Mags, I don’t think anybody is going to care.” She blinked at him and stopped panting. “Stop judging me,” he said.
Same characters different scenarios. The endless story.
What a fun ride. A well written, entertaining series. Yes, Maggie the dog is my favorite character.
Some books you read for entertainment-an escape from reality and some for learning...I think the author covered all three.
A few quotes I liked.
" He was now a one-man good cop/bad cop, tough one second and sympathetic the next. He wasn’t very good at it. "
“I know I’m in my underwear, Maggie. I’m aware. I don’t have a choice. And frankly, Mags, I don’t think anybody is going to care.” She blinked at him and stopped panting. “Stop judging me,” he said.
January 6, 2019
Affliction. Tom Abrahams
A deadly plague, virus. Worse then the black plague of the middle ages. Source, point of origin? Unknown. Cure? Too little, too late. Survivors? Apparently some people have a natural antibody or gene. Complete chaos reigns. Was this illness introduced by man, an act of terrorism? Or a natural occurrence. No one is safe. This is an excellent read. My highest recommendation.
A deadly plague, virus. Worse then the black plague of the middle ages. Source, point of origin? Unknown. Cure? Too little, too late. Survivors? Apparently some people have a natural antibody or gene. Complete chaos reigns. Was this illness introduced by man, an act of terrorism? Or a natural occurrence. No one is safe. This is an excellent read. My highest recommendation.
January 9, 2020
Scary Stuff
Thanks Tom for making .me aware of everyone coughing, going on another cruise in all that water, never wanting to light another fire in fireplace, and now next book is going be more misery. Hoping as in first books by you I read ( featuring my Man, Battle) that these will leave us with Hope for Future. Enjoyed books but really almost hate Dr. Chang as he should know better than to play GOD.
Thanks Tom for making .me aware of everyone coughing, going on another cruise in all that water, never wanting to light another fire in fireplace, and now next book is going be more misery. Hoping as in first books by you I read ( featuring my Man, Battle) that these will leave us with Hope for Future. Enjoyed books but really almost hate Dr. Chang as he should know better than to play GOD.
January 15, 2023
It felt like, by the time the author reached this book in the series, he'd gotten tired of writing the thing. Character actions and narrative felt more unbelievable than in the previous stories, and the meta plot creeps along, growing wider with minor details but lacking much progression.
Unless the next book is intended to be the end (unlike how the marketing materials present it), I suspect there will be no denouement here.
Unless the next book is intended to be the end (unlike how the marketing materials present it), I suspect there will be no denouement here.
November 30, 2018
Excellent as always
I love how the writer is slowly revealing bits and pieces to let us know what is really going on behind the scenes while telling the story of those involved with trying to survive. The characters are well developed and the story is easy to read and well edited. I can't wait to read the next one.
I love how the writer is slowly revealing bits and pieces to let us know what is really going on behind the scenes while telling the story of those involved with trying to survive. The characters are well developed and the story is easy to read and well edited. I can't wait to read the next one.
March 30, 2020
Interesting idea
Very exciting idea - a company is creating end of the world apocalyptic events to study and see what would happen. Same group of people some die some don’t. I did not read in order and although it references the other books it does not complicate the story line,
Very exciting idea - a company is creating end of the world apocalyptic events to study and see what would happen. Same group of people some die some don’t. I did not read in order and although it references the other books it does not complicate the story line,
May 26, 2020
This frightening story of the progression and mutation of a bacterial pathogen is particularly relevant as we face the ongoing COVID-19 virus. The story deals with a group of characters fans of the series will have come to know through the previous disaster stories and a pathogen that makes SARS and COVID look like a bad cold.
A gripping, edge of your seat story that will scare you silly.
A gripping, edge of your seat story that will scare you silly.
December 6, 2018
Another nail-biter by one of my favorite authors!
Action packed, with great characters that we could have sworn we have met before! I can’t wait for his next book!!
Tom, keep up the good work!
Action packed, with great characters that we could have sworn we have met before! I can’t wait for his next book!!
Tom, keep up the good work!
December 21, 2018
I am still enjoying the series but the story line about the company that is somehow generating alternate realities is starting to overwhelm the story of the actual disaster. I'm not sure this is a good thing, but look forward to see what the next in the series will bring.
March 14, 2019
Hope it never comes to be!!!
This book is scary. Considering all the viruses we have in the world today. Tom Abrahams makes it all seem so real to life and exhilarating at the same time. Keep up the great work Tom. I can't wait for the next exciting book.
This book is scary. Considering all the viruses we have in the world today. Tom Abrahams makes it all seem so real to life and exhilarating at the same time. Keep up the great work Tom. I can't wait for the next exciting book.
January 30, 2021
Too close to home
This one was a little hard to read with the pandemic that's happening right now. It's a little too real...and it's a reminder of how close we are to extinction. That said, it was a great book. And...I have also repacked my BOB.
This one was a little hard to read with the pandemic that's happening right now. It's a little too real...and it's a reminder of how close we are to extinction. That said, it was a great book. And...I have also repacked my BOB.
August 7, 2021
This fourth book takes a look at a pandemic. It also shows that there is a tie between the books. Great story line, good characters. It is the same characters but you seem the way they react to the different scenarios throughout the series! Awesome idea!
December 13, 2018
I've enjoyed the series so far but this one was grim. Not for the faint-hearted.
December 23, 2018
Awesome series!!!
I recommend the Alt Apocalypse to anyone who likes the dystopian/sci fi genre. This series is the most unique that I've read so far!!
I recommend the Alt Apocalypse to anyone who likes the dystopian/sci fi genre. This series is the most unique that I've read so far!!
March 11, 2019
Just couldn't get into this on.
May 2, 2019
Continuing with another Apocalyptic story.
Another fascinating story about another Apocalyptic event. Very interesting story line and I am looking forward to the next book.
Another fascinating story about another Apocalyptic event. Very interesting story line and I am looking forward to the next book.
August 28, 2019
Interesting twist to the series, interconnecting the various apocalyptic scenarios. Havent been a huge fan of the characters, and a little more action/intensity would have been nice.
January 26, 2020
I always start these thinking they’re grunge to be lame but then I really get into them. End of the world? Again? Maybe this is the one!
August 20, 2020
A Great Read!!!
Affliction is another great book in the Alt Apocalypse series and is probably the best one yet and I hope to see more.
Affliction is another great book in the Alt Apocalypse series and is probably the best one yet and I hope to see more.
May 17, 2021
Very good book loved the series. If I didn't I would not have gone to book 4. Keep up the good writing Tom Abrahams.
December 6, 2022
Best so far.
July 18, 2022
Best thing about this one: the razor-wire fence scene. Had my whole body tensing.
May 18, 2021
MEH. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A ZOMBIE NOVEL. THE WAY THE PEOPLE WERE FALING ILL, I ASSUMED IT WAS. IT WAS NOT. I SHOULDV'E READ THE REVIEW MORE CAREFULLY.
Second read 05/17/21: Now that I KNOW what I'm getting into, have given this book a "fair" rating. The 1st listen was on Audible, this time is was from YouTube. While the author states these books can be read in ANY order, I'd have to disagree, and here's why...........There were Too many references to the other catastrophes that would lead the reader to believe they were missing something (as if this was a continuation of another book). Also, the whole Deja Vu feelings that the main characters keeps experiencing (and they ALL speak of the same events even though they haven't met each other). If I hadn't read the other 3 books before this one, I would've felt a bit lost. Seeing as we are currently living in the time of an active pandemic, this book his close to home. It's CRAZY how the illness traveled so quickly, and cut people down in a matter of hours!! So many trying to survive, and SO many lives lost with no explanation or answers.
Second read 05/17/21: Now that I KNOW what I'm getting into, have given this book a "fair" rating. The 1st listen was on Audible, this time is was from YouTube. While the author states these books can be read in ANY order, I'd have to disagree, and here's why...........There were Too many references to the other catastrophes that would lead the reader to believe they were missing something (as if this was a continuation of another book). Also, the whole Deja Vu feelings that the main characters keeps experiencing (and they ALL speak of the same events even though they haven't met each other). If I hadn't read the other 3 books before this one, I would've felt a bit lost. Seeing as we are currently living in the time of an active pandemic, this book his close to home. It's CRAZY how the illness traveled so quickly, and cut people down in a matter of hours!! So many trying to survive, and SO many lives lost with no explanation or answers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews