The Plague Winter

The Plague Winter

Rich Hawkins

Genre: apocalypse

Sub-genre: genetipoc/alien invasion?

Novel, novella, short story: novella, set in “The Last” trilogy post-apoc world

Serial or stand alone: stand alone

Setting: United Kingdom

Characters: Eddie, Sam, Yost

Synopsis: Eddie and his grandson, Sam are just trying to survive the infestation of mutants human who have overtaken the United Kingdom. Whiskey and Sam are the two things that keep Eddie alive as winter sets in and the abominations show no signs of going away. Day by day, sip by sip, the rain falls, as the last humans fight to survive.

Thoughts: The second novella from Infected Books “Year of the Zombie.” Hawkins once again takes the reader to the dismal, desolate, apocalyptic world from his “The Last” trilogy. As with the two earlier full-length novels, The Winter Plague is a story of base survival in a land infested by human mutations bent on devouring the remnants of mankind. Eddie and his grandson Sam are two of those clinging survivors. Eddie scavenges for tins of food and bottles of whiskey, the two things he needs to survive another day in the devastated United Kingdom. One day he and Sam encounter another survivor named Yost, who adds a whole new dimension to the plague and to the future. As I’ve stated in reviews of Hawkins previous “The Last” novels, his writing style is wonderfully sparse, yet tells volumes with a minimum of words. The style adds to the bleak, hopeless setting, and the desperation of the characters. Hawkins’ work is not for those seeking happy endings or triumphant victories or the eventual re-rise of mankind as they banish the villains. What Hawkins writes is a testament to man’s ability to persevere even with no hope of winning. A day, an hour, another minute is a gift, or a hell depending upon the point of view. And what is deemed strength by some, might be viewed as weakness by others, for his characters refuse to take the easy route of suicide. There far too much going on for a three hundred word review to ever justify. I will say, Hawkins is one of the best writers I have ever read and his books are easily on-par with the best in any genre, ever.

About the author: Hawkins is from Somerset, England. A self-proclaimed “lovable rascal” he now lives in Salisbury with his wife and dog. In addition to The Last Plague he has also written The Last Outpost, Black Star Black Sun, and appeared in several anthologies.

Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Plague-Winter-Year-Zombie-Book-ebook/dp/B01B9VY8OW/

Website: http://richwhawkins.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichHawkins4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rich-Hawkins-Writer-396739907194729/?fref=ts

The Last Outpost

The Last Outpost

(“The Last” trilogy book 2)

Rich Hawkins

Genre: apocalypse

Sub-genre: genetipoc/alien invasion?

Novel, novella, short story: novel

Serial or stand alone: stand alone, book 2 of The Last trilogy

Setting: United Kingdom

Characters: Royce, George, Amy

Synopsis: Royce is a wandering survivor of the plague which has wiped out humanity. He has no goal, no destination, other than to survive another day. Each step could mean a horrific death at the claws, tentacles, and/or teeth of the mutations now inhabiting the charred, abandoned wreckage of the UK, and most likely, the entire planet. Along the way Royce meets George and Amy. But life is tenuous, friendships fleeting, and death ever-present.

Thoughts: Hawkins admittedly claims he prefers his apocalypses bleak, and The Last Outpost is beyond mere bleak. This might be the bleakest novel I’ve ever read. Yet, it is beautifully bleak. Hawkins’ writing style is as sparse as his apocalyptic United Kingdom setting. In a world overrun with hideous mutations, with giant tentacle objects floating amidst the never-ending rain clouds, with humans well on their way to extinction, the setting isn’t one of flowers and pretty landscapes. And Hawkins doesn’t write flowery. He does write with a painter’s brush, bringing this vision of death and devastation to brilliant life with a minimum of words. But those few are the only words he needs. As I said in my review of The Last Plague, the first book in this series, Hawkins’ writing is far above any genre. I’d would confidently place Hawkins word for word against any writer, living or dead. And we haven’t even gotten into the story yet, which is worthy of an essay on its own merit. Though mentally numb from months in the plague’s wasteland, fighting monsters, mutations, and other humans, all just to survive another day or another hour, Hawkins’ characters are still very much alive. Main character Royce is wracked with survivor guilt; questions why he is alive and his wife and daughter are dead; fears losing the memory of them. Old man George, has a poignant moment where he finds a copy of one his books he wrote before the plague (I loved that scene), pregnant Amy is only alive because her unborn child gives her something to fight for. I could easily write several thousand words praising Hawkins’s work, but I won’t. Not here anyway. In summation, The Last Outpost and The Last Plague are two of the best books, I’ve ever read. Period. In any “genre.”

About the author: Hawkins is from Somerset, England. A self-proclaimed “lovable rascal” he now lives in Salisbury with his wife and dog. In addition to The Last Plague he has also written The Last Outpost, Black Star Black Sun, and appeared in several anthologies. 

Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Outpost-Rich-Hawkins-ebook/dp/B013J9QNN6/

Website: http://richwhawkins.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichHawkins4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rich-Hawkins-Writer-396739907194729/?fref=ts

The Last Plague

The Last Plague

(“The Last” trilogy book 1)

Rich Hawkins

Genre: apocalypse

Sub-genre: genetipoc/instant outbreak

Novel, novella, short story: novel

Serial or stand alone: stand alone, first novel of The Last trilogy

Setting: United Kingdom

Characters: Frank, Ralph, Joel, Magnus, Florence

Synopsis: Four friends on a stag weekend wake up to a world thrown into the genetic apocalypse. Fighting off hordes of mutated humans they trek back home in search of loved ones. Along the way they get separated, and also pick up a recently orphaned young girl. Hoping to survive, hoping to reunite, hoping to escape.

Thoughts: “Her name was Florence, and she did not cry when the end of the world came.” So begins Hawkins’ tale of global apocalypse, of mutated humans on a wanton rampage of destruction and dismemberment, of four friends on a stag-weekend in the countryside just trying to survive. The Last Plague is an excellent addition to the apocalypse genre. And while there are no zombies, there are enough human mutations to put a smile on any survivor of “Resident Evil” or “Left 4 Dead.” Or any fan of horror, new and classic. One scene in particular put me in the mindset of Nemesis acting out the subway scene from King Kong. Gruesome mayhem, gory brutality, witty banter, deep characters, and a landscape of humanity self-destructing, all combine in a story of friendship, love, sacrifice, and death. Hawkins has a remarkable gift for the minimal sentence or clause, yet in those few words paints a detailed panorama of setting and mood. I’m not one for genre, or genre bias, but this writing style is what many of “lofty” views describe as “literary.” Horror of horrors that a contemporary horror novel be on such a sanctified shelf with Shelly, Poe, and Stoker. However, it deserves its rightful place. And since genres are nothing more that labels, this book does go in the library in the “H” section, right next to Hawthorne.

About the author: Hawkins is from Somerset, England. A self-proclaimed “lovable rascal” he now lives in Salisbury with his wife and dog. In addition to The Last Plague he has also written The Last Outpost, Black Star Black Sun, and appeared in several anthologies.  

Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Plague-Rich-Hawkins-ebook/dp/B00MR00JZ2/

Website: http://richwhawkins.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichHawkins4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rich-Hawkins-Writer-396739907194729/?fref=ts