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The Great Filter #1
The Great Filter
MP3 CD Format The end of the world had arrived just as many had predicted, in a global exchange of nuclear weapons.
What no one predicted was the sudden message that appeared before every living soul moments before impact, a message from "The Administrators" revealing our entire world and everything in it to be a species simulation. According to the message, Humanity had been reset over a million times and every single time we could not prevent our own extinction.
No more resets for humanity. No more chances.
They would leave our world an irradiated disaster, but to keep things interesting, they would convert our species simulation to a game for their twisted entertainment.
Digital or not, real or not, I have a family to protect. A wife and daughter who need me, universe be damned. I say bring it on. Welcome to the end of the world.
Welcome to The Great Filter.
What no one predicted was the sudden message that appeared before every living soul moments before impact, a message from "The Administrators" revealing our entire world and everything in it to be a species simulation. According to the message, Humanity had been reset over a million times and every single time we could not prevent our own extinction.
No more resets for humanity. No more chances.
They would leave our world an irradiated disaster, but to keep things interesting, they would convert our species simulation to a game for their twisted entertainment.
Digital or not, real or not, I have a family to protect. A wife and daughter who need me, universe be damned. I say bring it on. Welcome to the end of the world.
Welcome to The Great Filter.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published March 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 7, 2019
Decent
Ok I thought that the book was pretty good but the author lost my interest in the book in the ending. Overall it was good on pace and world building but killing main character in the end of book one just made me go ok that stinks. Probably will not read anything else in this series of it comes out.
Ok I thought that the book was pretty good but the author lost my interest in the book in the ending. Overall it was good on pace and world building but killing main character in the end of book one just made me go ok that stinks. Probably will not read anything else in this series of it comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
This was an interesting read I like the set up, I like the game mechanics set in place it all sounds very familiar. It had good pacing through most of the book then it got extremely rushed and several weeks flew by in a way that had me feeling either the author wrote out a ton and someone told them it was too long so they crunched it or like they were getting tired of writing it and wanted to finish. The characters are likeable enough though not super relatable to me personally. The end had a twist I didn't see coming especially with this type of book it wasn't a bad ending but the author could safely not write another book with these characters as he didn't end on a cliff hanger or leave any open plot points but he does leave enough room to continue if he chooses to which further makes me feel like half way through the writer got bored and wanted to finish it. The end was good but honestly it felt a little rushed as well. The writing style fluctuated throughout the book with early on pop ups for experience after every kill which abruptly end without any reason why and instead become a summery when the author felt like it making certain mechanics feel like an after thought. In the end I did enjoy the book and I finished it in one sitting, I hope to see more as there is potential I just hope the next one doesn't feel as rushed.
January 16, 2019
A Very Very Good Book
If you don’t like spoilers then don’t read this review, just know that this book was worth reading. I got this through KU and will shortly be buying it to keep.
I loved this book up til the last few pages. The world building, the crafting, survival tactics used etc were realistic and gritty. You are engaged from the moment you start to read. The MC and his family show such grit and courage even as they have to watch each other die in the Assessment Stages. They never gave up. Facing hostile monsters and people, fighting to retain their home and building it into a base and safe zone for themselves and others. But....
OMG, why did you have to kill the MC!?! The wife is such a good character and the daughter is brilliant, but it was the MC that just carried the whole book for me. He wasn’t perfect, in fact his wife outstripped him in managing, maintaining and building their home and family and his daughter just powers through every adversity with such determination and fire (pun intended). But he was what made the whole story solid and such a grand adventure for me.
I’m uncertain how this story is going to go but I will be buying the next book, with some hesitation, just to find out. Kudos to the author for a very good book!
If you don’t like spoilers then don’t read this review, just know that this book was worth reading. I got this through KU and will shortly be buying it to keep.
I loved this book up til the last few pages. The world building, the crafting, survival tactics used etc were realistic and gritty. You are engaged from the moment you start to read. The MC and his family show such grit and courage even as they have to watch each other die in the Assessment Stages. They never gave up. Facing hostile monsters and people, fighting to retain their home and building it into a base and safe zone for themselves and others. But....
OMG, why did you have to kill the MC!?! The wife is such a good character and the daughter is brilliant, but it was the MC that just carried the whole book for me. He wasn’t perfect, in fact his wife outstripped him in managing, maintaining and building their home and family and his daughter just powers through every adversity with such determination and fire (pun intended). But he was what made the whole story solid and such a grand adventure for me.
I’m uncertain how this story is going to go but I will be buying the next book, with some hesitation, just to find out. Kudos to the author for a very good book!
January 12, 2019
Pass this up
Starts off in past tense then changes to present tense. From the little I got through, this person either is not an American or is a teenager that has no clue how to write.
Starts off in past tense then changes to present tense. From the little I got through, this person either is not an American or is a teenager that has no clue how to write.
September 17, 2022
Nuclear war is initiated (doesn't matter who started it or who is to blame, we all lose). A bunch of aliens pause the world and inform everyone that human life has been a simulation.... in fact there's been over 1 million resets of the simulation and each time humanity has destroyed itself. Unfortunately, we're all out of resets, so the aliens decide that the nuclear apocalypse will go ahead but allow survivors to have access to their character sheets and gain skills and perks in a post-apocalyptic world.
The first part of the book is set in an assessment area where all survivors are judged on their skills and abilities over 5 phases whereby each phase introduces more drastic means of Death. The aliens warn that this assessment isn't survivable but death here isn't permanent as it is simply a means to quantify a person's skills etc.
We follow a guy we later learn is called Mason, his wife, and his daughter. Mason is an ex-Marine (call sign: Bearded Lady), his wife (Wildcat) is an office manager, and his daughter (Firebug) is a 17 year old high school kid.
We watch this family go through the assessment phases and then watch as they spend their experience points on different perks and their life savings (converted to simulation currency called slugs) on gear and upgrades.
For the majority of the book, they have returned to the post-apocalypse world and started to make a life, finding new friends as they search and explore their environment and develop a small compound centred around their old home. They have a few of these new friends join them.
Towards the end of the book the small group decide to visit the nearby city without doing any reconnaissance and end up being captured and tortured by a large gang. Mason escapes torture and frees his wife, but loses his life in the process. The narrative switches perspectives to the wife (unexpectedly) and she ends up leading the survivors into a brave new world.
For the majority, I liked Mason's character but everytime he was around his wife he seemed to be such a simp. Forever calling her "my love" and always letting her lead when he was the War veteran and most experienced in these matters. Infact, their whole relationship came across as the author trying to write the perfect marriage and putting himself in the role. It felt like their relationship was written by a young teenager.
With regards to Wildcat's character, I quickly learned to dislike her. It felt like she was manipulating Mason through sex and always making him feel small and he'd always tug his forlock and do as he's told. Of course, she's a strong and independent woman....
The overall story arc I enjoyed. The game system and character sheets, skills, and perks were good. Some scenes seemed dumb but I get it, the author needs to make the story interesting.
But, oh, the execution of this book. It was SORELY in need of a proofreader. At the start of the book the author thanked friends and family for reading the book; I just wish some of them had told the author of the mistakes instead of just heaping on praise (as family is prone to do). The number of grammatical errors; ranging from errors of omission to transposition and misspelling was just unbelievable.
Another pet peeve was the use of made up names and phrases. Instead of Bruce Lee we had Bruce Wee. Instead of Wallmart we had Hallmart. The list was endless and because some things had their real world names but most things didn't I was pulled out of the reading experience every time. There was no explanation for this being necessary either. A different Earth to the one I inhabit maybe?
So, if it wasn't for the lack of proofreading, The use of unnecessary name changing for obvious people or places, and the author writing about his dream marriage I would've enjoyed this book but instead I found it read like a first draft that needs a lot of work. Good ideas but poor execution.
Found it lacking - 2 stars
The first part of the book is set in an assessment area where all survivors are judged on their skills and abilities over 5 phases whereby each phase introduces more drastic means of Death. The aliens warn that this assessment isn't survivable but death here isn't permanent as it is simply a means to quantify a person's skills etc.
We follow a guy we later learn is called Mason, his wife, and his daughter. Mason is an ex-Marine (call sign: Bearded Lady), his wife (Wildcat) is an office manager, and his daughter (Firebug) is a 17 year old high school kid.
We watch this family go through the assessment phases and then watch as they spend their experience points on different perks and their life savings (converted to simulation currency called slugs) on gear and upgrades.
For the majority of the book, they have returned to the post-apocalypse world and started to make a life, finding new friends as they search and explore their environment and develop a small compound centred around their old home. They have a few of these new friends join them.
Towards the end of the book the small group decide to visit the nearby city without doing any reconnaissance and end up being captured and tortured by a large gang. Mason escapes torture and frees his wife, but loses his life in the process. The narrative switches perspectives to the wife (unexpectedly) and she ends up leading the survivors into a brave new world.
For the majority, I liked Mason's character but everytime he was around his wife he seemed to be such a simp. Forever calling her "my love" and always letting her lead when he was the War veteran and most experienced in these matters. Infact, their whole relationship came across as the author trying to write the perfect marriage and putting himself in the role. It felt like their relationship was written by a young teenager.
With regards to Wildcat's character, I quickly learned to dislike her. It felt like she was manipulating Mason through sex and always making him feel small and he'd always tug his forlock and do as he's told. Of course, she's a strong and independent woman....
The overall story arc I enjoyed. The game system and character sheets, skills, and perks were good. Some scenes seemed dumb but I get it, the author needs to make the story interesting.
But, oh, the execution of this book. It was SORELY in need of a proofreader. At the start of the book the author thanked friends and family for reading the book; I just wish some of them had told the author of the mistakes instead of just heaping on praise (as family is prone to do). The number of grammatical errors; ranging from errors of omission to transposition and misspelling was just unbelievable.
Another pet peeve was the use of made up names and phrases. Instead of Bruce Lee we had Bruce Wee. Instead of Wallmart we had Hallmart. The list was endless and because some things had their real world names but most things didn't I was pulled out of the reading experience every time. There was no explanation for this being necessary either. A different Earth to the one I inhabit maybe?
So, if it wasn't for the lack of proofreading, The use of unnecessary name changing for obvious people or places, and the author writing about his dream marriage I would've enjoyed this book but instead I found it read like a first draft that needs a lot of work. Good ideas but poor execution.
Found it lacking - 2 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2019
I loved the premise of this novel. As a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction and an avid gamer I was excited to dig in. If The Hunger Games and Ready Player One were siblings in the YA family, The Great Filter would be their creepy uncle that you want to avoid but just can't stay away. Mostly I liked it, mostly.
Bugs:
I don't know the rules about references to real world products in print but I found it cheesy that Wilbinski changed the names of common products by one or two letters.
The names of "perks" were taken directly from Fallout 4 which I LOVE, but I felt like he could have been more creative since the rest of the novel was so great.
Bonus Points:
The story and characters are well developed.
The story isn't full of over the top torture porn and gangs of marauding rapists (looking at you, Swan Song)
The ending. No spoilers here, but OMG the last couple of chapters are great!
Bugs:
I don't know the rules about references to real world products in print but I found it cheesy that Wilbinski changed the names of common products by one or two letters.
The names of "perks" were taken directly from Fallout 4 which I LOVE, but I felt like he could have been more creative since the rest of the novel was so great.
Bonus Points:
The story and characters are well developed.
The story isn't full of over the top torture porn and gangs of marauding rapists (looking at you, Swan Song)
The ending. No spoilers here, but OMG the last couple of chapters are great!
September 29, 2025
2.75 stars. I almost DNFed this but pushed through since it was short. As I continued, my enjoyment went up, but much of the story still left me frustrated. A big issue was the way names were handled: nearly everyone uses codenames even in private, which is explained as a military measure but feels unnecessary. Instead of adding tension or realism, it made the characters feel less like believable people. The narrator often referred to others with generic labels like “my wife” or “my daughter,” and we rarely heard anyone’s real name. Paired with the first person narration, this kept me from connecting with them.
The protagonist, despite being described as experienced, often felt less capable than the story suggested, and other characters handled challenges better without much explanation. The choice to strip away character identity, along with the uneven sense of competence, made the story feel less immersive and kept it from fully working for me.
The protagonist, despite being described as experienced, often felt less capable than the story suggested, and other characters handled challenges better without much explanation. The choice to strip away character identity, along with the uneven sense of competence, made the story feel less immersive and kept it from fully working for me.
December 22, 2018
Fallout Live
An enjoyable romp in a world easily recognizable to those of us who have played fallout. The world finds out that we have just been part of an alien simulation, and due to our brutality we have lost. However we are so entertaining, that the world is changed into a post apocalyptic LITRPG world. Mason, an ex Marine, his wife and young daughter are forced to fend for themselves in a world gone well, you know.
Better written than most, a quick and fun read.
An enjoyable romp in a world easily recognizable to those of us who have played fallout. The world finds out that we have just been part of an alien simulation, and due to our brutality we have lost. However we are so entertaining, that the world is changed into a post apocalyptic LITRPG world. Mason, an ex Marine, his wife and young daughter are forced to fend for themselves in a world gone well, you know.
Better written than most, a quick and fun read.
January 8, 2019
Gold standard
As a litrpg story it falls a little short as xp and stats are secondary to the overall theme but it was still done well and with a lot of thought. The post apocalyptic base building though? Was top quality, deep with out being boring and enough action and drama to keep you reading. I will now be following this author to see what he puts out next. As a Marine I highly endorse the MC. 5/5 slugs would buy again.
As a litrpg story it falls a little short as xp and stats are secondary to the overall theme but it was still done well and with a lot of thought. The post apocalyptic base building though? Was top quality, deep with out being boring and enough action and drama to keep you reading. I will now be following this author to see what he puts out next. As a Marine I highly endorse the MC. 5/5 slugs would buy again.
August 10, 2021
Decent read
Just a few weapon errors in it though . First a Glock 19 or any Glock for that matter does not have a safety that you can select on or off, The safety is built into the grip and the trigger. Second and a pet peeve of mine, a automatic rifle does not use a clip, it has a magazine. The only rifle I know of that might still be around that does have a clip is the M1 rifle.
Just a few weapon errors in it though . First a Glock 19 or any Glock for that matter does not have a safety that you can select on or off, The safety is built into the grip and the trigger. Second and a pet peeve of mine, a automatic rifle does not use a clip, it has a magazine. The only rifle I know of that might still be around that does have a clip is the M1 rifle.
December 1, 2021
Starts out good and then crashes about 3/4ths the way through.
It started great, an interesting idea and game system but about 75 to 80% through it hit into almost torture porn, and after that ends we learn that much the same happened to the MC's family. The MC is killed abruptly and then with no warning we have a perspective shift to the MCs wife. By the end I was forcing myself to finish and see if it redeemed itself but it didn't.
It started great, an interesting idea and game system but about 75 to 80% through it hit into almost torture porn, and after that ends we learn that much the same happened to the MC's family. The MC is killed abruptly and then with no warning we have a perspective shift to the MCs wife. By the end I was forcing myself to finish and see if it redeemed itself but it didn't.
December 11, 2021
Not the biggest fan of LitRPG books, especially because they're usually set in a fantasy universe, but this one was in a mostly realistic post apocalypse/modern one (nuclear war happens, aliens reveal world is simulation, and they've run out of resets, so the next round is for real). It got a bit dumb toward the end (exposing hit points/character sheets/etc. in an excessive way), and the plot was quite obvious, but it wasn't bad.
December 21, 2018
Good, but not sure I will continue
The book is an interesting premise on how the world becomes a litrpg. However as I continue to read I found myself less and less enthused about finishing the book or continuing the book. Without spoiling, I don’t believe that I will read the next book in the series but that is just my own personal preference. Overall the book is well written and has a fast pace but just wasn’t my cuppa tea.
The book is an interesting premise on how the world becomes a litrpg. However as I continue to read I found myself less and less enthused about finishing the book or continuing the book. Without spoiling, I don’t believe that I will read the next book in the series but that is just my own personal preference. Overall the book is well written and has a fast pace but just wasn’t my cuppa tea.
May 1, 2019
At least its legible
Book should be listed as, When a decent writer is a poor story teller. Huge plot holes. Random plot dead ends. Even the world is cut and pasted from Fallout. The only positive was characters. They were linear, had little to no development, but they were at least interesting.
Book should be listed as, When a decent writer is a poor story teller. Huge plot holes. Random plot dead ends. Even the world is cut and pasted from Fallout. The only positive was characters. They were linear, had little to no development, but they were at least interesting.
September 20, 2019
Solid read. Lacking detail at times
A good edition to the post apocalyptic LitRPG genre. I really enjoyed the base building aspects and the team of characters that starts to come together. Near the end of the book, the author started to fast forward pretty quickly and the ending was a bit intense. Will probably read the next book if it gets released
A good edition to the post apocalyptic LitRPG genre. I really enjoyed the base building aspects and the team of characters that starts to come together. Near the end of the book, the author started to fast forward pretty quickly and the ending was a bit intense. Will probably read the next book if it gets released
February 10, 2020
Good book, decent litrpg
It’s a good story. Lots of action and a neat take on system + apocalypse. Good litrpg content and even some base building.
There are a few errors here and there (mostly missing italicization and capitalization) but very readable. It’s an interesting story and I’m glad it’s on KU.
It’s a good story. Lots of action and a neat take on system + apocalypse. Good litrpg content and even some base building.
There are a few errors here and there (mostly missing italicization and capitalization) but very readable. It’s an interesting story and I’m glad it’s on KU.
May 29, 2024
I’m a fan of post apocalyptic novels and this having litrpg in it too is extra fun. You come to empathise with the MC pretty quickly. A man wanting to protect his family in a world where you can level up and you understand why he does what he does. But where’s the rest of the series?? Was it just not done. I wanna know what happens next???
December 16, 2018
Great book, hate the ending
A great post-apocalyptic survival horror litrpg book. Would have given at 5 stars but I hate this type of ending. I'll definitely read book 2 and any more.
A great post-apocalyptic survival horror litrpg book. Would have given at 5 stars but I hate this type of ending. I'll definitely read book 2 and any more.
December 21, 2018
Enjoyed it
A promising start, good rpg mechanics but not overly crunchy, real believable people and relationships, looking forward to the next installment. I particularly like the way actions have real consequences.
A promising start, good rpg mechanics but not overly crunchy, real believable people and relationships, looking forward to the next installment. I particularly like the way actions have real consequences.
January 5, 2019
Interesting litRPG
Overall the book was well written. Towards the end the pace got rushed. Warning it had a sad ending. I'll give it bonus points for being a stand alone novel without a cliffhanger ending.
Overall the book was well written. Towards the end the pace got rushed. Warning it had a sad ending. I'll give it bonus points for being a stand alone novel without a cliffhanger ending.
January 10, 2019
A amazing setup
The book reads very smoothly with one or two misspelling. Combat was good, crafting and building the settlements was skipped over, it seemed like they could have it all from the start and that's okay, but I want to see the choices a little more.
The book reads very smoothly with one or two misspelling. Combat was good, crafting and building the settlements was skipped over, it seemed like they could have it all from the start and that's okay, but I want to see the choices a little more.
January 21, 2019
Readble
I enjoyed the beginning of this book a lot, but I t think about half way through the author lost the plot a little bit. And then the ending... The less said about that the better.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book a lot, but I t think about half way through the author lost the plot a little bit. And then the ending... The less said about that the better.
March 1, 2019
Ending took juts
some have given it low reviews because on the ending, but think it takes just for the author to take chances. plot was standard LITRPG with a few twist. worth it under Kindle Unlimited
some have given it low reviews because on the ending, but think it takes just for the author to take chances. plot was standard LITRPG with a few twist. worth it under Kindle Unlimited
March 9, 2019
Wow! I love it when an author can write a unique take on a standard genre. The MC and his family were a great mix of characters with their skillsets dovetailing nicely. There was a bit more of a horror aspect than most LitRPG and the ending was sad and unexpected, but altogether a great read.
June 20, 2019
Recommend
This books is great. The audio book is even better. Get both. Looking forward to the next one. Awesome family in this story and a man that would do anything for his wife and kid.
This books is great. The audio book is even better. Get both. Looking forward to the next one. Awesome family in this story and a man that would do anything for his wife and kid.
October 28, 2019
I really like the premise of this book, but feels as thought it could have used a few more rounds of proofreading. I got the impression that the main character was very heavily based on the author which led to the book feeling like wish fulfillment more than fleshed out character development.
January 7, 2020
Good, but....
3 stars because I enjoyed it until the PLOT TWIST right at the end, Don’t want to spoil but not sure I can recommend based on that, I feels like the time invested in reading the book getting to know a certain character was a complete wast of time.
3 stars because I enjoyed it until the PLOT TWIST right at the end, Don’t want to spoil but not sure I can recommend based on that, I feels like the time invested in reading the book getting to know a certain character was a complete wast of time.
December 15, 2018
Nice Read
I enjoyed the book start to finish. I noticed very few typos throughout the book. Seems the author had a decent editor. I'll be waiting on the second.
I enjoyed the book start to finish. I noticed very few typos throughout the book. Seems the author had a decent editor. I'll be waiting on the second.
December 24, 2018
Great book
Wonderful new entry from Russell Wilbinski. Engaging world and characters, interesting system, lots of action. Looking forward to the next one.
Wonderful new entry from Russell Wilbinski. Engaging world and characters, interesting system, lots of action. Looking forward to the next one.
December 27, 2018
Nicely done
A new twist and a well written story. Action is smooth and steady. Looking forward to book 2. Sorry the read.
A new twist and a well written story. Action is smooth and steady. Looking forward to book 2. Sorry the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews