The Survivors by T.C. Weber is a post-apocalyptic horror novella set in a grim dystopian future, where civilisation has undergone a total collapse. In a world ravaged by ecological disasters and the mass extinction of humankind by unknown events, the few survivors live in small groups like hunter-gatherers from prehistoric times. They hunt and kill just to survive. Nobody is safe. Life is tough and short.
In the beginning of this tale, a young adult – Lucy – is a reluctant member of a small group of survivors commanded by a fierce and ruthless woman called Irma. Unfortunately for Lucy, Irma is no Boudica protecting her people. She rules by fear and violence, forcing Lucy to do bad things to survive.
Lucy has two children, Mary and Isaac. She dreams of finding a better place to live with them, so she has taught herself to read the books left behind by the Vanished Ones. She has also learnt how to heal, a skill that is useful to her group.
Lucy’s only hope is to find somewhere built by the Vanished Ones – a new, safe haven – but many dangers await her on her long journey.
Reading this novella reminded me of Mad Max, The Hills Have Eyes and The 100. It’s very violent and extremely gruesome, featuring explicit descriptions of killings and cannibalism. You will need a strong stomach to read some sections. There is a lot of gore splattered on these pages, as Lucy encounters some terrible things on her way across America. The author does not shy away from showing readers his nightmarish vision of the year 2200.
There’s a strong theme in this novella about irreversible Climate Change and the horrendous damage we’re currently inflicting on our planet. It’s a stark warning of a plausibly horrific future – if we don’t do something now to stop it happening.
If you like your dystopian fiction ghoulish and brutal, you might enjoy reading T.C. Weber’s The Survivors, which delivers a disturbing and memorable story showing what could happen if we don’t fix things now.
I received a copy of The Survivors from the author for an honest review.
About the author: T.C. Weber is the author of Sleep State Interrupt, published by Sharp Press, which was a finalist for the Compton Crook award for best first science fiction, fantasy, or horror novel. He has also written two sequels, The Wrath of Leviathan and Zero-Day Rising, as well as an alternate history novel called Born in Salt. He’s a member of Poets & Writers and the Horror Writers Association.
You can find The Survivors (published by Solstice Publishing) in paperback and Kindle versions. It is also on Goodreads.
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