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The Ark #2
The Anvil
Deadly radiation from a passing comet is about to destroy life on Earth.
In desperation, the U.S. Government constructs a series of underground shelters to protect as many people as possible. They are expected to be underground for 20 years before returning back to the surface.
But can they survive their time within the confines of the underground shelter... and what will they find when they finally emerge?
A parallel story to The Ark, The Anvil is a riveting story of survival and courage in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi setting.
In desperation, the U.S. Government constructs a series of underground shelters to protect as many people as possible. They are expected to be underground for 20 years before returning back to the surface.
But can they survive their time within the confines of the underground shelter... and what will they find when they finally emerge?
A parallel story to The Ark, The Anvil is a riveting story of survival and courage in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi setting.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2021
308 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Coates
10 books27 followersI grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and moved to Michigan in 1988 to attend Davenport University’s Paramedic school. I reside in Kent City, Michigan, with my wife of 32 years. We have an adult son and daughter who both have graduated college and live out of town.
I am a retired Firefighter/Paramedic who works full-time in Information Systems for a major West Michigan company.
In my off time, I enjoy traveling to unique places, family time, and my two dogs, who keep life fun.
I am a retired Firefighter/Paramedic who works full-time in Information Systems for a major West Michigan company.
In my off time, I enjoy traveling to unique places, family time, and my two dogs, who keep life fun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
September 29, 2022
The Anvil is the second of two books that depicts Christopher Coates’ worldwide disaster scenario. The refreshing aspect of the book is that it is not a continuation of the original story but rater an expansion of the original plot in Coates’ first book, The Ark. While The Ark focused on the preparations for the coming disaster, The Anvil focused on the people that had to live through the disaster and survive.
While interesting, one particular shortcoming in Coates’ original work continues in The Anvil and is amplified by the nature of the story. Coates does not write characters well. As such, in this novel where the characters are the focus of the plot, there is a lack of individuality imparted to any single person. Each person is identified by a name, relation, and gender and then they proceed to have life happen to them through Coates’ narrative.
The other big picture shortcomings associated with Coates’ world are still present including the nature of the mystery comet that keeps its mystery a secrete to every scientist and institution around the world. And the incredible coverup by the US government that condemns everyone not chosen to be saved to an unpleasant death.
Overall, this was another superficially entertaining and thankfully quick read.
While interesting, one particular shortcoming in Coates’ original work continues in The Anvil and is amplified by the nature of the story. Coates does not write characters well. As such, in this novel where the characters are the focus of the plot, there is a lack of individuality imparted to any single person. Each person is identified by a name, relation, and gender and then they proceed to have life happen to them through Coates’ narrative.
The other big picture shortcomings associated with Coates’ world are still present including the nature of the mystery comet that keeps its mystery a secrete to every scientist and institution around the world. And the incredible coverup by the US government that condemns everyone not chosen to be saved to an unpleasant death.
Overall, this was another superficially entertaining and thankfully quick read.
February 23, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
I love the idea of post-apocalyptic shelter living but it's difficult to find fictional books on the subject. That's what attracted me to this book. The subject matter kept me intrigued and engaged which made this book a quick read. *Spoiler-ish territory* While I did enjoy the fast paced storytelling I do wish Coates had let us sit for a bit longer with these characters. I really wanted to see what daily life in the shelter looked like and while we did get a pretty in-depth explanation of how the shelters run, we weren't given much exploration of what life in the shelter would have been. Also, much of the characters meeting and falling in love and finding out they're having children was left off the page. And I feel like that did affect my ability to really know the characters. The story instead introduced you to characters after large time jumps. For example, a chapter would state a number of years have gone by and the characters have now married and had children. As the reader, you hope to learn about their new spouse, you at least expect to know what they like about each other but Coates doesn't seem to value that in his story. I do wish we were given more in-depth views of these character's lives, a chance to see them love and care for one another, see the smaller moments that made life worth living for them. Instead, the story feels like it's being told by someone who's lived it but only focusing on larger life-changing events. It also created a lot of questions, questions that were specifically in response to what Coates had introduced into the story. For example, the story specifies that each person coming to the shelter is instructed to bring six changes of clothing. What happens to those clothes after 30+ years? What clothing are the pregnant women wearing? What clothes are the children wearing, the same clothes from 30 years ago that other children have worn repeatedly? The story also mentions that every person is instructed to bring two personal books, was there a grand library in the shelter? Why was a library not already stocked beforehand when everything else was so fully stocked? There is also mention of multiple movie theaters but only once gives us any kind of idea what movies or TV shows they're watching (children's cartoons). I guess I just felt that once you introduced these things, even one sentence more to tell me how these items were being used or how they lasted would have made the story much more rich and whole. All that said, I did really enjoy the story and see this author's great potential for storytelling. The action was well written and understandable and the story felt realistic. While I personally wish the author had focused a bit more on day-to-day life, I do recommend this book. I will definitely seek out his other works.
I love the idea of post-apocalyptic shelter living but it's difficult to find fictional books on the subject. That's what attracted me to this book. The subject matter kept me intrigued and engaged which made this book a quick read. *Spoiler-ish territory* While I did enjoy the fast paced storytelling I do wish Coates had let us sit for a bit longer with these characters. I really wanted to see what daily life in the shelter looked like and while we did get a pretty in-depth explanation of how the shelters run, we weren't given much exploration of what life in the shelter would have been. Also, much of the characters meeting and falling in love and finding out they're having children was left off the page. And I feel like that did affect my ability to really know the characters. The story instead introduced you to characters after large time jumps. For example, a chapter would state a number of years have gone by and the characters have now married and had children. As the reader, you hope to learn about their new spouse, you at least expect to know what they like about each other but Coates doesn't seem to value that in his story. I do wish we were given more in-depth views of these character's lives, a chance to see them love and care for one another, see the smaller moments that made life worth living for them. Instead, the story feels like it's being told by someone who's lived it but only focusing on larger life-changing events. It also created a lot of questions, questions that were specifically in response to what Coates had introduced into the story. For example, the story specifies that each person coming to the shelter is instructed to bring six changes of clothing. What happens to those clothes after 30+ years? What clothing are the pregnant women wearing? What clothes are the children wearing, the same clothes from 30 years ago that other children have worn repeatedly? The story also mentions that every person is instructed to bring two personal books, was there a grand library in the shelter? Why was a library not already stocked beforehand when everything else was so fully stocked? There is also mention of multiple movie theaters but only once gives us any kind of idea what movies or TV shows they're watching (children's cartoons). I guess I just felt that once you introduced these things, even one sentence more to tell me how these items were being used or how they lasted would have made the story much more rich and whole. All that said, I did really enjoy the story and see this author's great potential for storytelling. The action was well written and understandable and the story felt realistic. While I personally wish the author had focused a bit more on day-to-day life, I do recommend this book. I will definitely seek out his other works.
December 8, 2022
I liked this book, alot. No fancy pose but a good storyline.
We all think about it(warning NOT A PREPPER), finding or creating a sub-terrarium shelter, filled with supplies, sleeping areas, kitchens and such. I, myself would like to rehab a silo. Shelter big enough for several families or and entire community.
The story is about the earth surving a comet that will poison the air. In haste, the goverment puts together multiple facilities and fill them with long-term supplies. Some are small and some are enormous. We follow the story of one particular family, the years and the final hours of the shut-down.
Solid story, solid storylines branching out and coming back. An ARC, much appreciated Buy the book.
We all think about it(warning NOT A PREPPER), finding or creating a sub-terrarium shelter, filled with supplies, sleeping areas, kitchens and such. I, myself would like to rehab a silo. Shelter big enough for several families or and entire community.
The story is about the earth surving a comet that will poison the air. In haste, the goverment puts together multiple facilities and fill them with long-term supplies. Some are small and some are enormous. We follow the story of one particular family, the years and the final hours of the shut-down.
Solid story, solid storylines branching out and coming back. An ARC, much appreciated Buy the book.
April 1, 2022
interesting but disjointed.
The premise of this novel is excellent. However, it is let down by a number of factors. Firstly, for me at least, it reads like a third hand report of events. That can work but it does not on this occasion, mainly because the dialogue is stiled.
The characters are not fully developed and the time between significant events means that it is difficult to keep track of the story.
Details are also frequently lacking and much is left to one's imagination to try fill in the gaps. often the complete omission of detail leaves one guessing. Take for example the attack on the convoy by armed people on motorbikes. There in no information as to who they were, their lifestyle or even the motivation for the attack. This means that we get a one-sided view - that of those that survived in the shelters.
I appreciate that adding more detail would have increased the said size of the book but I don't think that would necessarily have been a bad thing - even dividing it onto two books, parts 1 & 2 would not have put me off.
Finally, the use of an 'organising editor' may (should) have saved the novel from its disjointed ('jumping around) nature.
BTW way think this material if treated sympathetically and rewritten more professionally would make a great TV mini series.
The premise of this novel is excellent. However, it is let down by a number of factors. Firstly, for me at least, it reads like a third hand report of events. That can work but it does not on this occasion, mainly because the dialogue is stiled.
The characters are not fully developed and the time between significant events means that it is difficult to keep track of the story.
Details are also frequently lacking and much is left to one's imagination to try fill in the gaps. often the complete omission of detail leaves one guessing. Take for example the attack on the convoy by armed people on motorbikes. There in no information as to who they were, their lifestyle or even the motivation for the attack. This means that we get a one-sided view - that of those that survived in the shelters.
I appreciate that adding more detail would have increased the said size of the book but I don't think that would necessarily have been a bad thing - even dividing it onto two books, parts 1 & 2 would not have put me off.
Finally, the use of an 'organising editor' may (should) have saved the novel from its disjointed ('jumping around) nature.
BTW way think this material if treated sympathetically and rewritten more professionally would make a great TV mini series.
January 13, 2022
"The Anvil" was a well written story that immediately sucked me in. I couldn't put the book down as I was eager to see what would happen next. The characters were relatable and the preparation was detailed. Overall a great story that is easy to get through in one sitting. The narration by Jeremy Francis was phenomenal and I will look for more books read by him. He did a good job conveying the various characters with subtle differences between their dialogue.
Disclaimer: My enjoyment of the narrator is based on my listening speed. I only leave 5 stars for books I've listened to or will listen to multiple times. I'll update my review if I listen again.
I requested this book from the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Disclaimer: My enjoyment of the narrator is based on my listening speed. I only leave 5 stars for books I've listened to or will listen to multiple times. I'll update my review if I listen again.
I requested this book from the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
July 4, 2022
The worst book I ever read to date was “The Walking” by Bentley Little. I think I have a new champion. I am the father of four kids, the youngest being 15. I am very familiar with high school Language arts seeing four people go through the process, and of course, myself. The quality of writing in this book is maybe 10th grade level. The story steadily devolves throughout the book into a boring uneventful mess. I think this may have been a YA novel and I didn’t realize it until I was halfway through. I hate myself for not quitting the book after about the 20th cringe attack. Take my advice and stay far away from this amateur laughable story book.
February 7, 2024
This is a book that I was able to enjoy in a specific context: summer holiday, mentally exhausted after a demanding year of teaching, lots of interruptions and reading on different forms of transport.
As many previous reviews have mentioned, the writing is not complicated. The drama isn’t too confronting and the science is kept simple and the descriptive prose is functional. I don’t always like it this simple but it hit the spot for me on this occasion.
I noted the attention to describing healthy human social interactions and the consequences to ignoring social cues. Has the author had a stint as a teacher perhaps? The limited interpersonal level of conflict might be seen as a negative by many readers who are used to more dysfunction in their stories but I believe this approach is refreshing. We’ve been led to believe that crisis brings out the worst in people but from my experience it’s actually the opposite.
I understand that the scene was set in the U.S however as a global event I think the author could have made more of an attempt to weave more of the global response. U.S centric narratives are starting to wear thin among the global community and given the saturated market of stories with an American perspective this could work against the popularity of this book on a broader stage.
Overall a solid enough storyline. I agree with many of the points raised in previous reviews such as plot flaws, under developed characters and disconcerting leaps in time however I deem it a worthwhile read nevertheless.
As many previous reviews have mentioned, the writing is not complicated. The drama isn’t too confronting and the science is kept simple and the descriptive prose is functional. I don’t always like it this simple but it hit the spot for me on this occasion.
I noted the attention to describing healthy human social interactions and the consequences to ignoring social cues. Has the author had a stint as a teacher perhaps? The limited interpersonal level of conflict might be seen as a negative by many readers who are used to more dysfunction in their stories but I believe this approach is refreshing. We’ve been led to believe that crisis brings out the worst in people but from my experience it’s actually the opposite.
I understand that the scene was set in the U.S however as a global event I think the author could have made more of an attempt to weave more of the global response. U.S centric narratives are starting to wear thin among the global community and given the saturated market of stories with an American perspective this could work against the popularity of this book on a broader stage.
Overall a solid enough storyline. I agree with many of the points raised in previous reviews such as plot flaws, under developed characters and disconcerting leaps in time however I deem it a worthwhile read nevertheless.
July 19, 2021
Top of my list!
I love a good apocalypse story. This book sits at the top of my list! What an amazing story. It took us from before the comet was expected to arrive and took us on a journey of hardship and survival. It followed the lives of a family that was separated when the comet passed and their life's journey to try to be together again. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story.
I love a good apocalypse story. This book sits at the top of my list! What an amazing story. It took us from before the comet was expected to arrive and took us on a journey of hardship and survival. It followed the lives of a family that was separated when the comet passed and their life's journey to try to be together again. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story.
January 4, 2022
Loved it! Great companion to The Ark. I could use a little more grit and some evil, but the story and the science fiction of it makes up for it. I hope there will be more in this universe!!
June 16, 2023
Yet another poorly written book that I had trouble putting down. I guess it's because I'm such a sucker for the post- collapse story and I always need to know what happens next. I hated the stupid ending where the people in suspended animation arrive to get us all back to "normal".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2024
So much better then The Ark.
The Ark was good, but The Anvil visited more of life after.
To be honest I almost didn't read this because of how I felt about The Ark. However I'm glad I did. It's a really good book.
The Ark was good, but The Anvil visited more of life after.
To be honest I almost didn't read this because of how I felt about The Ark. However I'm glad I did. It's a really good book.
March 18, 2023
Being a fan of post-apocalyptic/dystopian sci-fi, I jumped at the chance to get both these books when Amazon was offering them on sale for $0.99 each. I gave this book 4 stars as it was tightly written, had a great premise, and great care was taken in making this feel plausible. Having said that, this book isn't without its flaws, which I will outline below as it will contain some spoilers. If it would have been possible I would have given it 3.5 stars because I feel 3 is definitely too low but it doesn't quite feel like a 4 but I didn't want to skew the ratings too much by giving it a rating I feel it doesn't deserve. It's a good book, but it's not great.
I read this book after The Ark. I think this is the best way to read this series. You have all the backstory leading up to the story that unfolds in this book. It's also nice to be able to recall events that took place at the same time and watch as the dots connect. This book (just as The Ark before it) is a quick read, easily read in a day or spread out over a weekend if you have a life. I read the Kindle version and noted some spelling errors scattered about (typically just a grammatical error and not an outright misspelling) but I don't know if that carried over into the print version so I did not take away any points for that. Just be aware that they are there and can take you out of the story for a moment as you contend with your inner voice telling you that's not how that should have been said. Now that I have gotten that out of the way, time for some spoiler-heavy pontification of what I like and felt could have been done better.
I liked how the Wilson family was written. I felt great empathy for the characters, especially for Alex and Marie as I can't imagine what it would be like to be separated from my teenage children for almost 40 years. I kinda live that life now. After my divorce I moved 300 miles away from my stepdaughters to try to start a new life. I speak to them as often as possible but now that they are both adults those conversations are fewer and shorter than when they were still in high school and I don't see them in person but once every few months. So I definitely empathize with the parents not being an active part of their children's lives as they grow into adults. And knowing that they lost all contact with them for over 8 years just guts me. I'd die if I lost all contact with my girls. But at the same time, this is one of my disappointments with this book. I feel like Lucy gets the bulk of the story's focus in the beginning before she kinda takes a background role later on. There are some chapters dedicated to the parents' experience but it doesn't feel as weighted or important. I feel like most of their chapters were just meant to provide filler between the lengthy time jumps. Which brings me to my next gripe.
I feel there are way too many jumps in time that feel almost like they were meant to quickly move the story along, like they were cut for time. I get a year here and a few years there but 20-year jumps? That just feels like laziness to speed things up. I get needing to cover 40ish years in one book but to go from being teenagers to suddenly being married and parents of their own children just felt like too much was skipped, as if nothing happened of importance during all that time. Last we knew Lucy was grieving the death of Marcus and then suddenly she's married to Chief and has 2 kids. Which segues to...
What are the spouses' stories? These are now major characters of the story but we get a cursory backstory and not much else. I'm shocked we even found out that Chief's real name was Randolph but had been called Chief since grade school. If they had left that out I would assume either his parents were hippies or super progressive. Just odd that these people are now part of the core group and yet we really just know them as their spouses.
And then that brings me to my final issue with the book: lack of context or reason for key events. We have 3 moments of adversity that occured throughout the story that felt very one-sided or lacking in information that I would have liked to know. The first was the unfortunate fire in Shelter 16 that damaged the nuclear reactor and caused a large number of inhabitants to get a lethal dose of radiation when they were forced outside to escape the smoke. Why didn't we get answers about it? What caused the fire? Why did the fire spread so far and fast when everything we've been told about the shelter is that it was all smooth concrete. Were the walls lined with flammable material? Was the actual area made of wood and we just never got that info? For all the planning they did in designing the shelter, was adequate fire suppression methods not a priority. Of all the things you DON'T want in an underground bunker/shelter, fire and smoke are very high on the list, if not at the very top. I'm what way was the reactor damaged that resulted in them constantly losing the power? Was it a lack of cooling that caused the reactor to continuously overheat and reaction had to keep being stopped, resulting in them constantly going into emergency power? This also resulted in Alex and Marie being chosen to move to Shelter 104 in what was probably one of the best sequences of the book in the trip between the shelters but then they arrive and were given another time jump without any of the story on how they were accepted by the original inhabitants of the shelter. Was there any conflict? How long did it take to acclimate to the new shelter and personalities?
The second moment was after the Wilson children and family left their shelter to head south to Florida. They were ambushed by a group of people on motorcycles. While they quickly dispatched them, we never got the motivation behind the attack. We know they were shooting at the propane tanks on the back but why? They knew one of the ORVs had a mounted machine gun on top and yet they still thought they had the upper hand? What did they hope to accomplish? At least with the 3rd moment we know that the raiders were organized and knowledgeable enough to know they needed to attack the buses propane tanks so they could get the at their supplies. That showed they had knowledge of these convoys and knew exactly what to do. But that first group? That was so random. Why didn't we get a chapter dedicated to them getting ready for the attack? To learn about their desperation or planning?
In The Ark we got a chapter dedicated to the group of raiders who tried to attack the rear entrance of The Ark. We got the names of 2 of the people involved in that assault, their plan, even a little backstory on one of those two characters. We got their perspective of the failed siege. Why didn't we get the same for either of the attacks in this book? We got a chapter dedicated to the survivor group that lived in the drainage sewers outside Grand Rapids. We got to learn some of their names and how they reacted to the drone showing up first and then the 2 scouting ORVs showing up while they went in hiding and contemplated attacking them. This was a group that were never mentioned again. What happened to them? Did they survive or did they eventually get attacked by more raiders? They really didn't further the story along aside from proving people survived for years, so what made them special enough to warrant their own chapter. The same couldn't have been afforded to the 2 groups that attacked our heroes? We know that Sam and Theresa's son and wife and the drivers of the 2nd bus died during the attack, but what about the others? How did they get the upper hand and escape? How many others perished? Did they defeat the raiders handily or did they abort their mission and flea? Again we got no answers and instead an 8 year time jump.
I know that's a lot of griping but I wanted to make sure I explained what I felt were the shortcomings of an otherwise good story. What I loved most about this book was the in-depth knowledge that went into making this story feel plausible. Nothing about this felt fanciful or far-fetched. From the use of small nuclear reactors for electricity and nearby water sources for cooling the reactors, to using the heat from the water being circulated from the reactor to heat the entire shelter to a constant 72 degrees. Including amenitiies like movie theaters, bowling alleys, and swimming pools, not to mention the televisions and computers with access to all the applications needed for entertainment and knowledge. A great amount of care went into the setting. Even the manner in which Project Anvil was carried out felt realistic. The logistics involved for such an undertaking felt very regimented, definitely the markings of a government-mandated project. Even knowing they were serving box lunch meals containing a turkey sandwich on wheat bread, chips, and a bottle of water screams a government-run humanitarian program ala FEMA's efforts post-hurricane or earthquake.
And Lucy finding Marcus dead in her childhood bed 30+ years after she left him alone to die? Masterstroke storytelling. It was so devasating. Obviously he outlived his mother and decided, in his last moments, to die surrounded by everything that reminded him of his best friend and soulmate. I actually had to take a break when I got to that part because it really touched me in a way I didn't expect. I had no real attachment to Marcus since he didn't get much time in the book but the emotional weight his choice in dying on her bed was not lost on me. It's the sort of thing I would do if met with a similar fate. My heart simultaneously broke for both Lucy and Marcus. Lucy because he was her first love and she had always assumed he died at home and she'd never see him again and for Marcus because he felt utterly alone in a dying world and his last action before he died was to leave his childhood home and die amongst his memories of his soulmate. Such a beautiful thought when surrounded by so much ugliness.
In the end, this is a book that, even with its flaws, is a good read and shouldn't be slept on....especially when accompanied by it's companion book, The Ark. If you've read that, you owe it to yourself to see how the other side of the story played out.
I read this book after The Ark. I think this is the best way to read this series. You have all the backstory leading up to the story that unfolds in this book. It's also nice to be able to recall events that took place at the same time and watch as the dots connect. This book (just as The Ark before it) is a quick read, easily read in a day or spread out over a weekend if you have a life. I read the Kindle version and noted some spelling errors scattered about (typically just a grammatical error and not an outright misspelling) but I don't know if that carried over into the print version so I did not take away any points for that. Just be aware that they are there and can take you out of the story for a moment as you contend with your inner voice telling you that's not how that should have been said. Now that I have gotten that out of the way, time for some spoiler-heavy pontification of what I like and felt could have been done better.
I liked how the Wilson family was written. I felt great empathy for the characters, especially for Alex and Marie as I can't imagine what it would be like to be separated from my teenage children for almost 40 years. I kinda live that life now. After my divorce I moved 300 miles away from my stepdaughters to try to start a new life. I speak to them as often as possible but now that they are both adults those conversations are fewer and shorter than when they were still in high school and I don't see them in person but once every few months. So I definitely empathize with the parents not being an active part of their children's lives as they grow into adults. And knowing that they lost all contact with them for over 8 years just guts me. I'd die if I lost all contact with my girls. But at the same time, this is one of my disappointments with this book. I feel like Lucy gets the bulk of the story's focus in the beginning before she kinda takes a background role later on. There are some chapters dedicated to the parents' experience but it doesn't feel as weighted or important. I feel like most of their chapters were just meant to provide filler between the lengthy time jumps. Which brings me to my next gripe.
I feel there are way too many jumps in time that feel almost like they were meant to quickly move the story along, like they were cut for time. I get a year here and a few years there but 20-year jumps? That just feels like laziness to speed things up. I get needing to cover 40ish years in one book but to go from being teenagers to suddenly being married and parents of their own children just felt like too much was skipped, as if nothing happened of importance during all that time. Last we knew Lucy was grieving the death of Marcus and then suddenly she's married to Chief and has 2 kids. Which segues to...
What are the spouses' stories? These are now major characters of the story but we get a cursory backstory and not much else. I'm shocked we even found out that Chief's real name was Randolph but had been called Chief since grade school. If they had left that out I would assume either his parents were hippies or super progressive. Just odd that these people are now part of the core group and yet we really just know them as their spouses.
And then that brings me to my final issue with the book: lack of context or reason for key events. We have 3 moments of adversity that occured throughout the story that felt very one-sided or lacking in information that I would have liked to know. The first was the unfortunate fire in Shelter 16 that damaged the nuclear reactor and caused a large number of inhabitants to get a lethal dose of radiation when they were forced outside to escape the smoke. Why didn't we get answers about it? What caused the fire? Why did the fire spread so far and fast when everything we've been told about the shelter is that it was all smooth concrete. Were the walls lined with flammable material? Was the actual area made of wood and we just never got that info? For all the planning they did in designing the shelter, was adequate fire suppression methods not a priority. Of all the things you DON'T want in an underground bunker/shelter, fire and smoke are very high on the list, if not at the very top. I'm what way was the reactor damaged that resulted in them constantly losing the power? Was it a lack of cooling that caused the reactor to continuously overheat and reaction had to keep being stopped, resulting in them constantly going into emergency power? This also resulted in Alex and Marie being chosen to move to Shelter 104 in what was probably one of the best sequences of the book in the trip between the shelters but then they arrive and were given another time jump without any of the story on how they were accepted by the original inhabitants of the shelter. Was there any conflict? How long did it take to acclimate to the new shelter and personalities?
The second moment was after the Wilson children and family left their shelter to head south to Florida. They were ambushed by a group of people on motorcycles. While they quickly dispatched them, we never got the motivation behind the attack. We know they were shooting at the propane tanks on the back but why? They knew one of the ORVs had a mounted machine gun on top and yet they still thought they had the upper hand? What did they hope to accomplish? At least with the 3rd moment we know that the raiders were organized and knowledgeable enough to know they needed to attack the buses propane tanks so they could get the at their supplies. That showed they had knowledge of these convoys and knew exactly what to do. But that first group? That was so random. Why didn't we get a chapter dedicated to them getting ready for the attack? To learn about their desperation or planning?
In The Ark we got a chapter dedicated to the group of raiders who tried to attack the rear entrance of The Ark. We got the names of 2 of the people involved in that assault, their plan, even a little backstory on one of those two characters. We got their perspective of the failed siege. Why didn't we get the same for either of the attacks in this book? We got a chapter dedicated to the survivor group that lived in the drainage sewers outside Grand Rapids. We got to learn some of their names and how they reacted to the drone showing up first and then the 2 scouting ORVs showing up while they went in hiding and contemplated attacking them. This was a group that were never mentioned again. What happened to them? Did they survive or did they eventually get attacked by more raiders? They really didn't further the story along aside from proving people survived for years, so what made them special enough to warrant their own chapter. The same couldn't have been afforded to the 2 groups that attacked our heroes? We know that Sam and Theresa's son and wife and the drivers of the 2nd bus died during the attack, but what about the others? How did they get the upper hand and escape? How many others perished? Did they defeat the raiders handily or did they abort their mission and flea? Again we got no answers and instead an 8 year time jump.
I know that's a lot of griping but I wanted to make sure I explained what I felt were the shortcomings of an otherwise good story. What I loved most about this book was the in-depth knowledge that went into making this story feel plausible. Nothing about this felt fanciful or far-fetched. From the use of small nuclear reactors for electricity and nearby water sources for cooling the reactors, to using the heat from the water being circulated from the reactor to heat the entire shelter to a constant 72 degrees. Including amenitiies like movie theaters, bowling alleys, and swimming pools, not to mention the televisions and computers with access to all the applications needed for entertainment and knowledge. A great amount of care went into the setting. Even the manner in which Project Anvil was carried out felt realistic. The logistics involved for such an undertaking felt very regimented, definitely the markings of a government-mandated project. Even knowing they were serving box lunch meals containing a turkey sandwich on wheat bread, chips, and a bottle of water screams a government-run humanitarian program ala FEMA's efforts post-hurricane or earthquake.
And Lucy finding Marcus dead in her childhood bed 30+ years after she left him alone to die? Masterstroke storytelling. It was so devasating. Obviously he outlived his mother and decided, in his last moments, to die surrounded by everything that reminded him of his best friend and soulmate. I actually had to take a break when I got to that part because it really touched me in a way I didn't expect. I had no real attachment to Marcus since he didn't get much time in the book but the emotional weight his choice in dying on her bed was not lost on me. It's the sort of thing I would do if met with a similar fate. My heart simultaneously broke for both Lucy and Marcus. Lucy because he was her first love and she had always assumed he died at home and she'd never see him again and for Marcus because he felt utterly alone in a dying world and his last action before he died was to leave his childhood home and die amongst his memories of his soulmate. Such a beautiful thought when surrounded by so much ugliness.
In the end, this is a book that, even with its flaws, is a good read and shouldn't be slept on....especially when accompanied by it's companion book, The Ark. If you've read that, you owe it to yourself to see how the other side of the story played out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
Largely an enjoyable read though there were a few holes in the story. Also, it could have used a few more plot twists and turns.
December 13, 2024
Excellent companion story to The Ark. You should definitely read both, adds sooooo much to the story. Loved them both.
May 28, 2022
Before the book, I read the summary and I read C.Coates author page. I expected a page-turner, and it was. I read a chapter or two every day for about a month. Coates always left me wanting to read another chapter to find out what happens next. That was good. I also liked the short chapters. I liked the idea of a post-apocalyptic story where humanity had some time to prepare, that was different.
The main characters never seem stretched past their limits. They seem to be able to always figure out the best choice, which is boring. Or worse, they come up with a backup plan that works perfectly.
The characters are all quiet heroes. Nobody ever has a bad day. I think there needed to be more variety in the characters. The characters who start out the book are challenged at the beginning of the book, not much in the middle, and then challenged again at that end. It's all plausible but not very dramatic.
Technically, there are lots of problems of a life-or-death nature, but they get solved with much drama. Most of the characters don't make choices. They just stumble along until things are so bad that it's obvious what to do next.
The characters are not always in character. We needed more of a character arc for the two main characters and Chief. I highlighted some spots where they were out of character.
There's little worldbuilding in this story. The main characters take a long trip post-apocalypse from near the Canadian border to Southern USA. There's little change in flora, fauna or weather along the way.
Having consumed their food stores, they are only one bad harvest away from starvation, yet no one seems to notice this. They always seem to have a backup plan or a way out of every situation.
The title is merely an acronym. I expected it to have some symbolic tie-in to the story.
There's a lot that didn't seem quite right about this book so I gave it only three stars.
The main characters never seem stretched past their limits. They seem to be able to always figure out the best choice, which is boring. Or worse, they come up with a backup plan that works perfectly.
The characters are all quiet heroes. Nobody ever has a bad day. I think there needed to be more variety in the characters. The characters who start out the book are challenged at the beginning of the book, not much in the middle, and then challenged again at that end. It's all plausible but not very dramatic.
Technically, there are lots of problems of a life-or-death nature, but they get solved with much drama. Most of the characters don't make choices. They just stumble along until things are so bad that it's obvious what to do next.
The characters are not always in character. We needed more of a character arc for the two main characters and Chief. I highlighted some spots where they were out of character.
There's little worldbuilding in this story. The main characters take a long trip post-apocalypse from near the Canadian border to Southern USA. There's little change in flora, fauna or weather along the way.
Having consumed their food stores, they are only one bad harvest away from starvation, yet no one seems to notice this. They always seem to have a backup plan or a way out of every situation.
The title is merely an acronym. I expected it to have some symbolic tie-in to the story.
There's a lot that didn't seem quite right about this book so I gave it only three stars.
March 4, 2024
This story begins well written and with exceptional realism for a dystopian plot. But things begin to break down, and eventually reveal the naivete of the author: (1) American scientists discover that a comet will destroy the earth (via radiation) in two years. The government keeps this secret while preparing survival shelters. No one figures it out. A civilization-ending comet kept secret for two years? Were there no scientists in Europe or Asia to make the same deduction? Were the hundreds (thousands) of government officials who were part of the preparation agenda able to keep this secret for 24 months? Seems incredibly unlikely. Making this more realistic would have made the story more interesting. (2) The whole world suddenly comes to the realization that all life will be destroyed within a matter of weeks. The author describes many different reactions, but not one word about God. No one prayed? No one blamed God? No one asked Why? Even 9-11 drove millions of people to their churches and synagogues, but this did not happen with the expectant destruction of all of human life? Christopher, are you really so naive? Literally, not one word about God in the entire book....Incredible.
January 11, 2023
I enjoyed this book because it was a hopeful and optimistic look at mankind's attempt to rebuild civilization after a planet-killing comet leveled all life - save for those in deeply buried bunkers or in cryogenic states.
There are a LOT of characters to keep straight in this novel. Fortunately, most of them are very likable and believable, making the job of sorting them in your mind worth the effort. The other character takeaway from this book was the importance of family (because almost all of the main characters are related to one another) and how it exceeds the value of everything else.
I would've liked to have seen a little more action but the lack of said action didn't take away from a good story. The Anvil is a satisfying conclusion to the two-book series.
There are a LOT of characters to keep straight in this novel. Fortunately, most of them are very likable and believable, making the job of sorting them in your mind worth the effort. The other character takeaway from this book was the importance of family (because almost all of the main characters are related to one another) and how it exceeds the value of everything else.
I would've liked to have seen a little more action but the lack of said action didn't take away from a good story. The Anvil is a satisfying conclusion to the two-book series.
August 3, 2022
Not bad
Good plot, but the book needed some major editing to bring it up to a more professional level of writing. The writing felt like something I'd read in a child's (10-12 yrs) book.
Good plot, but the book needed some major editing to bring it up to a more professional level of writing. The writing felt like something I'd read in a child's (10-12 yrs) book.
October 28, 2022
Youngsters might appreciate this very simplistic tale of copeing with nuclear disaster (a fairly positive approach).
April 14, 2025
Alex and Marie Wilson, from Indiana, and their children, Lucy and Sam, are part of Project Anvil. They thought they might never get called on shelter in a bunker, but when that call comes, Alex and Marie are on a cruise ship.
They raced to get to bunkers in different parts of the country. As years pass and they live their lives, they can now decide if they want to stay underground, go west or head to their parent's bunker. What follows is the extended Wilson family travelling and exploring a new world where danger could lie around the corner.
Having read the previous book and already knowing about the other bunkers, it was interesting to follow the Wilson family's journeys to their bunkers. The not knowing if Lucy and Sam will be reunited with their parents. Once the comet hits, the book skips time to a couple of points during the wait for the all-clear.
Once they get the all-clear, they decide to travel to Florida to see what happened to their parents. along the way, they meet other survivors. But they also realise other people will easily hurt people to try and take their resources for themselves.
Being a companion book to 'The Ark', this book needs to be read second as the first one does more of the story building, leaving this with more going on. For me, this book is a four-star read.
They raced to get to bunkers in different parts of the country. As years pass and they live their lives, they can now decide if they want to stay underground, go west or head to their parent's bunker. What follows is the extended Wilson family travelling and exploring a new world where danger could lie around the corner.
Having read the previous book and already knowing about the other bunkers, it was interesting to follow the Wilson family's journeys to their bunkers. The not knowing if Lucy and Sam will be reunited with their parents. Once the comet hits, the book skips time to a couple of points during the wait for the all-clear.
Once they get the all-clear, they decide to travel to Florida to see what happened to their parents. along the way, they meet other survivors. But they also realise other people will easily hurt people to try and take their resources for themselves.
Being a companion book to 'The Ark', this book needs to be read second as the first one does more of the story building, leaving this with more going on. For me, this book is a four-star read.
September 1, 2025
Este es el relato de lo que le ocurrió a aquellas personas que permanecieron en refugios después del paso del Cometa. Es muy interesante ver como se desarrollo la vida en los refugios pero en ocasiones se hace muy reptitivo y sin nada relevante que explicar. Hay solo dos episodios críticos y muy cortos (y eso que es el apocalipsis) así que esperaba un poco más de problemática social...no todos los días tienen que convivir un puñado de personas bajo tierra y eso podría haber sido un filón narrativo y dramático. En mi opinión hay demasiados personajes para tan pocas páginas. No hay tiempo para desarrollo, para protagonistas, para héroes o mártires...¿muere alguien? Vale, da igual. He leído el libro en su versión en español y empeora la historia al 300 %. Una traducción que parece hecha por una IA , que no interpreta sino que traduce con literalidad y sin conservar la esencia. La traducción elabora frases erráticas y robótizadas con una construcción más lógica del inglés que del español. Me habría enterado mejor del contenido leyendo la versión original. Frases como por ejemplo "¿eso tienen sentido?" traducido del inglés "does it make sense?" en vez de usar algo como "¿Entendido?" O bien "¿os parece bien?". Así miles de ejemplos que hacen sangrar la vista. Sin mecionar las escenas de acción, en las que no se ENTIENDE NADA.
July 7, 2023
Good Book, Despite Logic Flaw
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, but almost gave up on it because of a major logic flaw in an early chapter. Two young people are left to fend for themselves while their parents went off on a cruise ship. The activation alert came shortly after the big ship left port. They were supposed to immediately move to a shelter together, but could not get home in time.
Since the ship wasn't far from shore, they communicated using cell phones.
Why not immediately arrange to leave the ship? While the navy and coast guard could not divert resources to pull them off the ship, why did they not think to charter a private vessel to come for them? Or a charter a helicopter to fly them off the boat?
Oh, they eventually lost cellular service out in the ocean.
Ship to shore radio would obviously be an option. There would be satellite phones on board. They could have arranged to leave the ship through a variety of options.
But nooooo, they sat there like idiots waiting to reach St. Martin's.
Hello? Major plot hole big enough to swallow the whole novel.
Still, the story was entertaining once I accepted the idea their separation from their kids made no sense whatsoever.
Still worth 4 stars, IMHO.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, but almost gave up on it because of a major logic flaw in an early chapter. Two young people are left to fend for themselves while their parents went off on a cruise ship. The activation alert came shortly after the big ship left port. They were supposed to immediately move to a shelter together, but could not get home in time.
Since the ship wasn't far from shore, they communicated using cell phones.
Why not immediately arrange to leave the ship? While the navy and coast guard could not divert resources to pull them off the ship, why did they not think to charter a private vessel to come for them? Or a charter a helicopter to fly them off the boat?
Oh, they eventually lost cellular service out in the ocean.
Ship to shore radio would obviously be an option. There would be satellite phones on board. They could have arranged to leave the ship through a variety of options.
But nooooo, they sat there like idiots waiting to reach St. Martin's.
Hello? Major plot hole big enough to swallow the whole novel.
Still, the story was entertaining once I accepted the idea their separation from their kids made no sense whatsoever.
Still worth 4 stars, IMHO.
March 12, 2025
I just about finished this book and its partner The Ark. Both seemed v similar in style. I understand The Ark was his first novel and it shows and he hadn't learned much before the wrote this one.. The storyline should have allowed for the author to have come up with something interesting but instead it appeared to me as though this was fan fiction infilling an existing universe. A good chunk of the what the author chose to spend time telling us wouldn't have changed much if the main characters had got lost on a camping trip
The author alas had nothing much to say - the world almost ended but some people hid away and then they emerged and everything was OK. They found a dog. It was cute.
Also, many times something happened that wasn't paid off later. A lot of time was given to a character that got fractured ribs but this affected nothing. So why bother introducing this as a plot point? A couple of times a character was introduced as troublesome so I expected that at some point they would errr cause trouble. But no, they just went about their way.
I am stunned that most of the reviews are 4 or 5 stars. I guess there must be an audience for inconsequential happenings in apocalyptic situations. Ah well
The author alas had nothing much to say - the world almost ended but some people hid away and then they emerged and everything was OK. They found a dog. It was cute.
Also, many times something happened that wasn't paid off later. A lot of time was given to a character that got fractured ribs but this affected nothing. So why bother introducing this as a plot point? A couple of times a character was introduced as troublesome so I expected that at some point they would errr cause trouble. But no, they just went about their way.
I am stunned that most of the reviews are 4 or 5 stars. I guess there must be an audience for inconsequential happenings in apocalyptic situations. Ah well
February 22, 2024
The Anvil is a parallel / sister story to the authors first book The Ark - however both can be read as stand alones.
The Ark concentrates on the building and preparation of the comet / shelters whereas the Anvil is about the people living in the shelters. I felt more character connection to this book and enjoyed it slightly more (even though I liked both books).
It mainly follows Lucy and Sams journey and as it evolves: their ever increasing family. Some returning characters from The Ark also make an appearance. I would say the book is split into three sections - from the characters joining the shelters and their first couple of weeks, a time jump to about 10/20 years when they are still in the shelter, then when they come out of the shelter and start afresh.
I really enjoyed both books I found them to be refreshing for a sci-fi / end of the world plot and left you with a feeling of hope. Would highly recommend.
The Ark concentrates on the building and preparation of the comet / shelters whereas the Anvil is about the people living in the shelters. I felt more character connection to this book and enjoyed it slightly more (even though I liked both books).
It mainly follows Lucy and Sams journey and as it evolves: their ever increasing family. Some returning characters from The Ark also make an appearance. I would say the book is split into three sections - from the characters joining the shelters and their first couple of weeks, a time jump to about 10/20 years when they are still in the shelter, then when they come out of the shelter and start afresh.
I really enjoyed both books I found them to be refreshing for a sci-fi / end of the world plot and left you with a feeling of hope. Would highly recommend.
September 17, 2025
I liked it. Not an original premise, something is going to happen to Earth and steps are taken to protect some of humanity.
I found it a bit credulous that the US government found out about the threat from outer space and spent 2 years getting underground shelters ready without word getting out. But things like shelters failing, people not getting to a shelter, etc were more realistic.
Not big deep thoughts here, could pretty much classify it as teen / YA reading. Enjoyable, just not a lot of meat. Never gets to a lot of depth about the situation or life in a shelter, it tends to skip chunks of years rather than bog down in day to day life in a contained world. The best parts are the beginning - getting to the shelter and when they first come out and have a generation of children to introduce to a world not made of concrete.
I found it a bit credulous that the US government found out about the threat from outer space and spent 2 years getting underground shelters ready without word getting out. But things like shelters failing, people not getting to a shelter, etc were more realistic.
Not big deep thoughts here, could pretty much classify it as teen / YA reading. Enjoyable, just not a lot of meat. Never gets to a lot of depth about the situation or life in a shelter, it tends to skip chunks of years rather than bog down in day to day life in a contained world. The best parts are the beginning - getting to the shelter and when they first come out and have a generation of children to introduce to a world not made of concrete.
October 28, 2023
The overall background of the plot is very interesting and this book has a lot of potential.
I enjoyed reading it and actually finished reading it quite quickly. Also, I don't mind the occasional typo and it doesn't reduce my enjoyment of the book (like other reviewers wrote)
However, the book has many holes in it, things that don't make sense, or too much luck for some characters. At some points, it feels like the author avoided making things more realistic and just skipped them
Also, some of the skipped parts are actually quite interesting
Overall this is a fun book but I think it has too many holes and the overall story doesn't go too deep on the characters thus leaving this as a nice read but nothing more. I'd say it's a fun book but not very special
I enjoyed reading it and actually finished reading it quite quickly. Also, I don't mind the occasional typo and it doesn't reduce my enjoyment of the book (like other reviewers wrote)
However, the book has many holes in it, things that don't make sense, or too much luck for some characters. At some points, it feels like the author avoided making things more realistic and just skipped them
Also, some of the skipped parts are actually quite interesting
Overall this is a fun book but I think it has too many holes and the overall story doesn't go too deep on the characters thus leaving this as a nice read but nothing more. I'd say it's a fun book but not very special
January 20, 2026
The Anvil by Christopher Coates is a parellel story to the first book, The Ark, with its storylines weaving together. You don’t need to have read The Ark to understand it, but some characters are involved in both books.
I found the story exciting, with some solid twists and interesting ideas that kept me hooked. That said, the writing didn’t always hit the mark for me. There’s quite a bit of repetition— it keeps including things that are in earlier parts of the book. Some parts felt like filler, like adding in “she explained” after someone’s talked, or saying the same thing twice in a row but just a bit differently. To me it felt unnecessary and slowed the pace of the story down.
Overall though, if you’re after a good sci-fi book with some clever concepts, The Anvil does the job
I found the story exciting, with some solid twists and interesting ideas that kept me hooked. That said, the writing didn’t always hit the mark for me. There’s quite a bit of repetition— it keeps including things that are in earlier parts of the book. Some parts felt like filler, like adding in “she explained” after someone’s talked, or saying the same thing twice in a row but just a bit differently. To me it felt unnecessary and slowed the pace of the story down.
Overall though, if you’re after a good sci-fi book with some clever concepts, The Anvil does the job
March 28, 2024
Note to the Author: I'd suggest adding something like "33 years after the comet" to the chapter heading for Chapter 29. I was confused by "23 years later" and "We've stretched it to 32 years" until I realized the header meant 23 years since the last time marker of 10 years later, not 23 years since the comet.
Other than that, it's an interesting premise. Frequent typos and "grammos" cost it a star, though, for regularly breaking my immersion. When a word or phrase makes me stop to figure out what's wrong with it and what it should have been, it's broken my immersion, and that's the biggest sin a writer can commit.
Other than that, it's an interesting premise. Frequent typos and "grammos" cost it a star, though, for regularly breaking my immersion. When a word or phrase makes me stop to figure out what's wrong with it and what it should have been, it's broken my immersion, and that's the biggest sin a writer can commit.
January 5, 2025
Not too bad. Without revealing too much of the story, I would say the initial "set up" was generally well comprised and accurate. The "later on" had some holes here and there, whether it was plot or details, but nothing so bad it ruined the story. I did expect a bit more conflict/obstacles; those that were encountered were either wrapped up too promptly, too easily, or wasn't even really a conflict at all.
As I recall, there are other books by Coates that are similar - I don't remember if the storylines are tied together - but I'll give them a shot. Overall, this was a mildly intriguing and easy read.
As I recall, there are other books by Coates that are similar - I don't remember if the storylines are tied together - but I'll give them a shot. Overall, this was a mildly intriguing and easy read.
March 22, 2025
An extinction level radioactive comet is heading towards Earth. The US government has been secretly building underground shelters for years to try to save enough human lives to recover afterwards. This book was just unputdownable for me. The writing wasn't the most sophisticated and it had the feel of a YA novel, but the subject was fascinating. My only complaint was that too many new characters were added to the plot and I couldn't keep track of who was who. I could also nitpick about some of the technology ... like using propane in internal combustion engines would asfixiate everyone in the shelter. Solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines would have been better. C.2021.
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