Brian S. Vinson

Book two of the Ankara Fever series introduces the reader to the group who comprise owners of the Doomsday Farm – a self-sufficient homestead in the wilds of Arkansas.

William (Willie) Wilder, a military-man turned mercenary brings his wife and young son to the homestead fighting through the last vestiges of civilization gone beserk. Glen and his wife arer permanent residents and caretakers of the farm. Already at the farm are Joel Dunlap, his wife Rachael, and their four children. Ann, a grown daughter of another owner, arrives with her boyfriend Clay and a friend named Jason. We soon learn that several of the owners will not be coming as they are either presumed or confirmed dead from the Ankara Fever. Fate deals our band of survivors a bad hand when it is learned that Clay, who has already left of his own volition, was infected with the Fever. It soon follows that Rachael and her daughter become infected. Jan, a an ER volunteer, is most familiar with medical procedures and it becomes the one to care for the sick. One cabin in designated as an infirmary and Jan, dressed in the only HAZMAT suit available. watches as her patients (now including two of Rachael’s sons) sicken and die. In the end Jan too contracts the Ankara Fever. Towards the end of this book Roger and Jennifer (from Book 1) arrive at the compound and go into voluntary quarantine. A perfect setup for Book 3.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a continuation of the Ankara Fever saga. Well rounded characters that you will find yourself pulling for and lessons in how to deal with disaster make this book a sure fire hit. Looking forward to Book 3.… (altro)

This is one I grabbed a sample from, and then purchased. This is one of the more expensive self-published novels ($6.99), but I was impressed by the sample. The novel did not disappoint.

The story follows the protagonist, Roger Westover, and a fellow passenger at an Atlanta airport. It also follows his son, Corey, and his ex-girlfriend Ashley in Denton, Texas. There is a pandemic outbreak, and Roger is well-prepared for the fallout, as is his student, Ashley. Roger and his companion make their way to Texas and then to a commune that Roger and like-minded folks had assembled (Roger is a prepper).

I do not want to ruin the tale, but I will say that the only disappointing aspect of the novel was that regarding Corey's character. I know what the author was going for, but I found the actions and thought processes of Corey's character to be very abrupt in their change.

That was the only disappointing aspect though. There were a few typos, but not many, less than what I have seen in some professionally published novels. Although the novel is purported to be part of a series, the author successfully creates a novel that stands alone, yet does hook the reader. I was not disappointed in what I paid for.… (altro)

With the opening scene of Ankara Fever: Journeys the reader is plunged into a crowded terminal at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport where passengers are quickly restricted in their movements. Roger Westover, a disaster expert who thinks up scenarios for the government and a professor when not so employed, is checking out a beautiful woman who is seated in the same terminal when disaster strikes. Things go from bad to worse, Prof Westover recognizes the steps being put into play – they are the exact same ones from the disaster playbook that he had prepared for the government in the event of just such a situation. Roger, along with the beautiful Jenny, become cohorts when he allows her to tag along on his break out of an airport that has been secured by government troops for the protection of the people who are now being restricted therein.

Back in Texas, we meet Corey who is Roger’s son. Corey is a ne’er-do-well student who lives to play his video games and becomes violently upset when the electricity is cut off and he can’t find food. He ventures beyond his dorm room to find that his entire world has changed. He is unprepared for what awaits him. His sometimes girlfriend, Ashley, who has taken Roger’s disaster preparedness class goes to find Corey who blames her for everything that is wrong in his life now that he can’t play his video games. She has learned her lessons and together she and Corey leave a deteriorating north Texas.

What follows are the separate journeys that each couple undertakes as they seek to stay alive in a post-pandemic world gone beserk and make their way towards a hidden community that Roger and some of his friends have put together in the depths of an almost primeval forest in the heartland of the U.S.

This story gripped me from the very first scene and had me emotionally involved with the characters. Not since The Stand by Stephen King have I so enjoyed a post-apocalyptic book. The characters are complex and well-drawn. The plot is full of twists and turns. The action is gripping with rich attention to detail.

There are typos that need attention but they in no way detract from the forward movement of the plot. While I understand that there will be a second volume to the story, the ending was a bit flat. Could have been a bit better set up for segue to the next volume.… (altro)