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Duck & Cover Adventures #1
Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors: A Duck & Cover Adventure
The post-apocalyptic world isn't that bad. Sure, there are mutants. But, for the people of New Hope, daily life isn't so much a struggle of finding food or medicine as it is trying to find a new shortstop for their kickball team. This makes it difficult for a post-apocalyptic warrior to find work. Thankfully, an army full of killers is making its way to the peaceful town and plans to raze it to the ground. Only a fully trained post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior can stop them. Two have offered their services. One is invited to help. The other is sent to roam the wasteland. Did the townspeople make the right decision? Will they be saved? Did they find a shortstop? What's with all the bears? Find out in Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors, the first book in the Duck and Cover Adventures. It's the end of the world as you've never known it.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2011
1518 people are currently reading
2749 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Wallace
67 books394 followersBenjamin Wallace lives in Dallas, Texas where he complains about the heat—a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
November 12, 2015
This book has potential. Unfortunately it also has failure in vast amounts.
Seven years have passed since the apocalypse and the living in the wasteland is actually not that bad. Fuel and water are plentiful and local communities find together to form a new future. In these circumstances making a life as a nomad warrior is not as easy as you might think.
This is a description that makes me want to read the book. It sounds like a fun romp through the cliches and tropes of post-apocalyptic fiction, without taking itself or anything else too serious. Then the corpses pile up.
There is a wildly swinging mood in the story and while there are some scenes that work, there is a vast majority that doesn't. Lighthearted scenes of sometimes surprisingly witty dialogue take place in the burnt out ruins of settlements and that just does not mix well. Most of the humor falls flat in the face of the shockingly grim world it is set in.
The protagonist is the only character that shows any kind of interesting nuance, but he is surrounded by shallow archetypes. The villains are Evil and the others are misguided, but in the end it all fits together.
The book never finds its tone and it certainly never becomes the "fun" read we are promised. I want to read the second book despite the first one not because of it, because I hope the author took the working bits and expanded them. And because I have greatly reduced expectations now.
Seven years have passed since the apocalypse and the living in the wasteland is actually not that bad. Fuel and water are plentiful and local communities find together to form a new future. In these circumstances making a life as a nomad warrior is not as easy as you might think.
This is a description that makes me want to read the book. It sounds like a fun romp through the cliches and tropes of post-apocalyptic fiction, without taking itself or anything else too serious. Then the corpses pile up.
There is a wildly swinging mood in the story and while there are some scenes that work, there is a vast majority that doesn't. Lighthearted scenes of sometimes surprisingly witty dialogue take place in the burnt out ruins of settlements and that just does not mix well. Most of the humor falls flat in the face of the shockingly grim world it is set in.
The protagonist is the only character that shows any kind of interesting nuance, but he is surrounded by shallow archetypes. The villains are Evil and the others are misguided, but in the end it all fits together.
The book never finds its tone and it certainly never becomes the "fun" read we are promised. I want to read the second book despite the first one not because of it, because I hope the author took the working bits and expanded them. And because I have greatly reduced expectations now.
January 30, 2017
Saw this series advertised on Facebook, so yes I clicked the link, read the amazon review and bought it. So I guess FB advertising does work and now we all know my shame. That being said, I really enjoyed the book. Only issue I have is the use of the "red shirt" early on in the book. It was a short side step to show the seriousness of the impending doom but for some reason the section was so well written I actually invested in the scene and the character. Sign of good writing I guess. Anyway this book won't change your life and some things are pretty far fetched, the SSB's remind me of the ROUS's but it sure will keep you from getting bored! Loved the banter between characters. Lots of fun and very real, not all but some real gems.
March 1, 2019
This book has a certain type of humor that may not click with everyone:
But what about the good things brought about by the end of the world? Global warming? It’s no longer a problem. And with no more global warming, there are no more whiny hippies.
The book follows two post-apocalyptic nomadic warriors, the nerdy Jerry and the tough Logan. (For some reason the book is reluctant to give out Jerry’s name.) They go around trying to save towns from marauders. The book is full of action and adventure but has a light tone, plenty of laughs, and isn’t very long.
Editing was pretty good for an indie. Occasional strong language. Violence is not graphic.
Book Blog
But what about the good things brought about by the end of the world? Global warming? It’s no longer a problem. And with no more global warming, there are no more whiny hippies.
The book follows two post-apocalyptic nomadic warriors, the nerdy Jerry and the tough Logan. (For some reason the book is reluctant to give out Jerry’s name.) They go around trying to save towns from marauders. The book is full of action and adventure but has a light tone, plenty of laughs, and isn’t very long.
Editing was pretty good for an indie. Occasional strong language. Violence is not graphic.
Book Blog
April 8, 2012
I gave this book a rare five stars because it is absolutely FUN to read.
The genre is comic fiction and Wallace puts a science-fiction twist on that and the result is a book that I found myself having a difficult time putting down. It was one of the first books I bought and downloaded onto my Kindle at the recommendation of a couple of friends, and admittedly, I was dubious. A couple of chapters in and I was stupefied as to wondering where the plot was going and found the only way to scratch that itch was to keep working the "page forward thumb" on the Kindle.
There are not many books I want to end--Vince Flynn's Consent to Kill and Tom Clancy's Executive Orders are two examples of books I could just keep on reading. Post Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors is one of the few books in which I so related to the characters that I actually began to slow down my reading towards the end.
Again, it's a FUN read and it will entertain you--unless you're one of those stick in the muds who moderate various book and writers' boards and forums who take themselves far too seriously. Otherwise, if you're part of the other 99.5% of the general reading public, you'll have fun with this book.
The genre is comic fiction and Wallace puts a science-fiction twist on that and the result is a book that I found myself having a difficult time putting down. It was one of the first books I bought and downloaded onto my Kindle at the recommendation of a couple of friends, and admittedly, I was dubious. A couple of chapters in and I was stupefied as to wondering where the plot was going and found the only way to scratch that itch was to keep working the "page forward thumb" on the Kindle.
There are not many books I want to end--Vince Flynn's Consent to Kill and Tom Clancy's Executive Orders are two examples of books I could just keep on reading. Post Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors is one of the few books in which I so related to the characters that I actually began to slow down my reading towards the end.
Again, it's a FUN read and it will entertain you--unless you're one of those stick in the muds who moderate various book and writers' boards and forums who take themselves far too seriously. Otherwise, if you're part of the other 99.5% of the general reading public, you'll have fun with this book.
March 16, 2022
There are only two female characters and neither is the hero of the story. This was disappointing.
The book was billed as a cross between Mad Max and Monty Python. The Mad Max was obvious, but I would not give it a Monty Python comparison at all. In fact, it really wasn't all that funny.
The writing wasn't horrible, but it also wasn't great. It is an easy read and kept my interest for the most part. I did almost stop at one point, but kept going because it was such an easy read, and because I was hoping for a redeeming ending.
Overall, the book was full of cliches that could have worked for humor, except the book took itself too seriously for that to have worked.
The book was billed as a cross between Mad Max and Monty Python. The Mad Max was obvious, but I would not give it a Monty Python comparison at all. In fact, it really wasn't all that funny.
The writing wasn't horrible, but it also wasn't great. It is an easy read and kept my interest for the most part. I did almost stop at one point, but kept going because it was such an easy read, and because I was hoping for a redeeming ending.
Overall, the book was full of cliches that could have worked for humor, except the book took itself too seriously for that to have worked.
Read
May 23, 2025What's in a name? Sometimes, a mouthful. Sometimes, as is the case with Benjamin Wallace's Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors, it's kind of like Ragu Spaghetti Sauce: it's all in there!
This story is set in a well-conceived, broken future-world and weaves three plot lines into a nice, tangled tapestry. The story has excitement, drama, guilt, anger, and longing. It's spiced with mutant creatures, murderous marauders, a large dog, and fast cars. But, that's not all! For the aficionado, there's a nicely-pathed character evolution. Then, for that little extra kick into the endgame, there's a plot twist hidden between layers - kind of like a zesty picante sauce quietly waiting inside a familiar grilled cheese sandwich.
All this goodness is then steeped together in a slow-cooker, with humor sprinkled lightly atop. Sprinkled, like hard-packed powder on a ski slope!
No, this is not your typical post-apocalyptic tale of woe and suffering. Oh, there is plenty of that. The entertaining thing, though, is how well the humor is spirited into every nook and cranny of the story without spoiling the tale or its pacing. The humor is very much additive. It doesn't distract from the story. In fact, as used by this author, it's an effective tool to endear a certain character to us -- revealing his foibles' and idiosyncrasies.
In closing, don't make the mistake I almost did: don't judge this book by its cover! That's not a knock against the cover, by the way. This really isn't just a funny story. There is substance within. I found it to be a very enjoyable, easy read that entertained and, just as importantly, left me in a good mood.
This story is set in a well-conceived, broken future-world and weaves three plot lines into a nice, tangled tapestry. The story has excitement, drama, guilt, anger, and longing. It's spiced with mutant creatures, murderous marauders, a large dog, and fast cars. But, that's not all! For the aficionado, there's a nicely-pathed character evolution. Then, for that little extra kick into the endgame, there's a plot twist hidden between layers - kind of like a zesty picante sauce quietly waiting inside a familiar grilled cheese sandwich.
All this goodness is then steeped together in a slow-cooker, with humor sprinkled lightly atop. Sprinkled, like hard-packed powder on a ski slope!
No, this is not your typical post-apocalyptic tale of woe and suffering. Oh, there is plenty of that. The entertaining thing, though, is how well the humor is spirited into every nook and cranny of the story without spoiling the tale or its pacing. The humor is very much additive. It doesn't distract from the story. In fact, as used by this author, it's an effective tool to endear a certain character to us -- revealing his foibles' and idiosyncrasies.
In closing, don't make the mistake I almost did: don't judge this book by its cover! That's not a knock against the cover, by the way. This really isn't just a funny story. There is substance within. I found it to be a very enjoyable, easy read that entertained and, just as importantly, left me in a good mood.
February 8, 2017
All the reviews talk about how fun it is but honestly the support characters are too annoying to take. Protagonist just accepts people ripping on him non-stop despite him saving them and carrying them etc.
No real redeeming qualities, I didn't find it very funny.
No real redeeming qualities, I didn't find it very funny.
March 20, 2019
3.5. An enjoyable listen. The humor wasn't throughout the entire story but there was enough for me to continue the series.
May 23, 2016
An off-beat take on the post-apocalyptic world, where most people are actually doing pretty well, as long as they can avoid the usual assortment of cannibals, mutants, poison rain, and super smart bears. The Librarian dreams of becoming a post-apocalyptic warrior, a savior for the survivors struggling after the collapse of society. It seems like it should be pretty easy to find people begging for help, but it turns out that the survivors have settled down to a relatively quiet, comfortable life in the mostly untouched rural lands. They don't see the need for warriors of any sort, post-apocalyptic or not, despite every effort to convince them otherwise.
July 20, 2016
What to say - I got the book because it was hyped as Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams meet Fallout 4. The first few chapters had glimpses of witty writing, but those quickly fell away. The plot is about as complex as a Saturday morning cartoon and the storytelling is a bit above average.
The strength of the book is in the characters. I did care about what happened to the characters, I wanted to see the good guys win and the bad guys get what was coming to them.
Will I read subsequent books? Probably not. Should I have left this one alone? No, it was a good diversion.
The strength of the book is in the characters. I did care about what happened to the characters, I wanted to see the good guys win and the bad guys get what was coming to them.
Will I read subsequent books? Probably not. Should I have left this one alone? No, it was a good diversion.
December 6, 2016
It's essentially a nerd version of the Road Warrior. A fun diversion and a quick read.
September 17, 2025
(3.5 Stars)
So, this book ended up being a lot better than I expected it was going to be after starting it. I think the style is an acquired taste, and I'm not sure I love the style of writing.
Don't get me wrong, the story is good, it is mostly fun, and is definitely absurdist speculative science-fiction literature. The characters are well written and there is good character development. The humor is juvenile, the plot, while enjoyable, is simple, and the world is well described but stretches the limits of reality.
I read the audiobook, narrated by Phil Thron, and is part of a collected set of the first three books in the series called BOOM BOX. So, that means I plan to continue the series, at least till the third book. But I am also going to be reading other books in-between these and not reading them back-to-back.
So, this book ended up being a lot better than I expected it was going to be after starting it. I think the style is an acquired taste, and I'm not sure I love the style of writing.
Don't get me wrong, the story is good, it is mostly fun, and is definitely absurdist speculative science-fiction literature. The characters are well written and there is good character development. The humor is juvenile, the plot, while enjoyable, is simple, and the world is well described but stretches the limits of reality.
I read the audiobook, narrated by Phil Thron, and is part of a collected set of the first three books in the series called BOOM BOX. So, that means I plan to continue the series, at least till the third book. But I am also going to be reading other books in-between these and not reading them back-to-back.
December 2, 2024
This is a tongue-in-cheek look at a fictional US post-apocalypse. The protagonist is a former librarian who spent the early months of the disaster locked in a library basement room subsisting on Coca-Cola and stale snacks. He used the time to read everything he could get his hands on and later, turned that knowledge into a tricked-out Winnebago and a desire to help any people he might encounter on the road, thus becoming a post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior, apparently an official job description in this world. This is an easy book to read. There is a lot of humor despite the dark setting of the book. The characters are engaging and there is a fair amount of action. And there is a dog. It's always nice to have a dog
February 17, 2019
This was a blast to read. My 3 star review is not so much a condemnation as it is just a general overall judgement, as it's essentially a funny variant of the classic post-apocalypse pulp genre. It's a send-up of Mad Max, and a great send-up it is, as it pokes fun at virtually every aspect of a hundred post-apocalypse movies. (Post apocalypse fashion - "Torn leather, torn jeans, and chunks of tires") It's a quick read and a fairly disposable one, but I'm hooked enough to look forward to reading the next book in the series now.
Note - The humor comes fast and funny for the first third, then it turns more serious. The tone changes seem to bother some folks, as it can go from almost Mel Brooks-level parodying of Road Warrior one minute and then be utterly serious the next. Some reviewers didn't like this tonal undulation but I did (It's basically like life). And ultimately, it's a happy book about the radioactive mutant apocalypse, and you gotta give it points for that.
Note - The humor comes fast and funny for the first third, then it turns more serious. The tone changes seem to bother some folks, as it can go from almost Mel Brooks-level parodying of Road Warrior one minute and then be utterly serious the next. Some reviewers didn't like this tonal undulation but I did (It's basically like life). And ultimately, it's a happy book about the radioactive mutant apocalypse, and you gotta give it points for that.
September 6, 2018
I enjoyed this step back from reality. It was definitely a comedy. Had many elements of drama, but would always bring you back to the humor.
July 6, 2024
Somewhat entertaining, but there's nothing new here. Same old post apocalyptic hero, hero turned villain, same old monsters. Its a quick read, which is its saving grace.
November 7, 2024
A fun post apocalyptic story which is part of a trilogy. Well written with good characters. On to the next one!
June 7, 2025
This just felt corny.. I was all for some fun in the post apocalyptic world. However, this was just too …. juvenile? For my taste.
December 23, 2015
What can I say about this weird book? Wait, maybe I just said it. It is a weird book. It is entertaining enough, but it isn't great. The writing is decent, but not memorable. There were no glaring mistakes or errors. The characters are fairly plain, but it could be because they are all somewhat one dimensional. The story is interesting yet not anything that got me excited. It is bland.
The author seemed to want to write a book that was comedic and out of the norm, but that feeling drifted as the situations grew a bit more dark. In the begining I thought that this might be on par with A. Lee Martinez or Robert Asprin. Halfway through the book I felt the mood of the writing had changed and I took a long break from reading it. This might have done me some good as when I picked it back up I wasn't expecting the fun romp that I was when I first started.
The characters have little to connect to the reader with. They live in a world we could not understand with horrific past stories, so the author relies on some basic emotions to draw in the reader. We can pretty much find a single emotion that identifies each character. Lonliness, love, ignorance, being abandoned, trust, mistrust... The biggest issue I had with the book was the flatness of the villains. Their explanations of why they do the things they do were thin and it felt as if they were just evil for evil's sake.
Overall it was decent. I wouldn't recomend it, but I wouldn't say it should be avoided. It was average.
The author seemed to want to write a book that was comedic and out of the norm, but that feeling drifted as the situations grew a bit more dark. In the begining I thought that this might be on par with A. Lee Martinez or Robert Asprin. Halfway through the book I felt the mood of the writing had changed and I took a long break from reading it. This might have done me some good as when I picked it back up I wasn't expecting the fun romp that I was when I first started.
The characters have little to connect to the reader with. They live in a world we could not understand with horrific past stories, so the author relies on some basic emotions to draw in the reader. We can pretty much find a single emotion that identifies each character. Lonliness, love, ignorance, being abandoned, trust, mistrust... The biggest issue I had with the book was the flatness of the villains. Their explanations of why they do the things they do were thin and it felt as if they were just evil for evil's sake.
Overall it was decent. I wouldn't recomend it, but I wouldn't say it should be avoided. It was average.
December 13, 2014
Well-timed comedic escape from the ever-growing post-apocalyptic fad
I was laughing out loud, guys, literally lol-ing, for the whole book. Wallace is a skilled writer and allows the reader to see so much of the world he's created. I immediately shared with all of my family and friends. Once my husband read it, he went out and bought the rest of Wallace's work. So happy to have discovered this gem. I love that he's taken a genre that is, quite frankly, flooding the marketplace and turned it into something that's unique and one of a kind. Stop reading reviews and just buy it already!
I was laughing out loud, guys, literally lol-ing, for the whole book. Wallace is a skilled writer and allows the reader to see so much of the world he's created. I immediately shared with all of my family and friends. Once my husband read it, he went out and bought the rest of Wallace's work. So happy to have discovered this gem. I love that he's taken a genre that is, quite frankly, flooding the marketplace and turned it into something that's unique and one of a kind. Stop reading reviews and just buy it already!
January 27, 2025
Will write a full review later but the TL;DR is this was a fantastic book in my humble opinion. It is no masterpiece that will be taught about in a college class...unless the apocalypse happens and this is used as a history of what people thought the apocalypse would be like. Hahaha. But for real. This was such a fun read that had me smiling the whole time. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.
July 5, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. The story is well-paced with action and some character development. It is fun, funny and self-deprecating like the hero, Jerry. I love Jerry, Chewy, Erica and the bear brigade. I hope we will see a sequel to this book! I am looking forward to reading more of Mr. Wallace's books.
September 13, 2024
This book was fun and entertaining with an interesting premise and likeable characters.
I'm not sure what these other reviewers were expecting, it's a book, try enjoying things maybe and be a little less.... C-wordy?
I'm not sure what these other reviewers were expecting, it's a book, try enjoying things maybe and be a little less.... C-wordy?
June 22, 2024
Author uses Generative AI to produce Instagram ads for his books. Since he supports the theft of other creators' copyrighted work, I have to suggest you find this on a piracy site and give him a bit of his own medicine. Pay artists, Ben, if you yourself want to be paid.
August 28, 2024
DNF at chapter 8. The narrator does a good job but there are zero relatable characters, the description of the dog is disgusting to the point of horrifying, and whole story appears to be just a framework for occasional one liners. It is not, in fact, funny. or interesting.
February 14, 2016
Couldn't get through it. No interest at all in finishing it.
August 12, 2016
Quick, funny and interesting. Characters are developed well and are interesting. Maybe not the "deepest" novel, but one that is enjoyable and you can fall for quickly.
August 29, 2016
A fun and easy read. I did enjoy the book. I plan to read more of Mr. Wallace
December 26, 2016
Very enjoyable, a quite fun and entertaining read. Would be a good project to develop for a cable television series or film franchise.
October 23, 2024
Sks out loud. Not funny at all. Waste of $2, waste on my time.....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews