Pursuit of the Apocalypse - Benjamin Wallace

    2018; 187 pages.  Book 3 (out of 6) in the “Duck and Cover” series.  New Author? : No.  Genres : Post-Apocalyptic Thriller; Action-Adventure; Dark Humor.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

 

    The chase is on!

 

    The bounty hunter Mr. Christopher has kidnapped the lovely Erica, and is on his way Alasis, where the Evil Lord Invictus will be happy to pay him handsomely for the fair maiden.

 

    Our hero, Jerry, aka “The Librarian” (his occupation before the bombs began to fall), aka Erica’s companion, is determined not to allow that to happen.  Mr. Christopher has a sizable head start, but Jerry has a souped-up Ford Mustang that is capable of jaw-dropping speeds.

 

    Mr. Christopher is aware he’s being pursued., and has taken steps to thwart that endeavor.  He’s placed some thugs in Jerry’s path, promising them money if they bring him the head of The Librarian.  Come to think of it, Lord Invictus has made the same offer to some of his minions.

 

    And let’s not forget that this is a post-apocalyptic wasteland.  There are plenty of mean and desperate people out there who will be happy to kill a lone traveler like Jerry, for no money whatsoever.

 

What’s To Like...

    Pursuit of the Apocalypse is Book Three in Benjamin Wallace’s 6-volume, maybe completed “Duck and Cover” series.  The reader travels along with both the chaser and the chased, through what used to be the American Midwest, and what is now devastated badlands where the few survivors of the nuclear war are trying to become civilized again.  At one point the chase goes through Amarillo, Texas, but it’s now known as Bomb City.

 

    A 200-page chase scene may sound a bit tedious, but Benjamin Wallace packs it full of exciting fight scenes, fascinating characters, bizarre critters, and some great imagery of what a post-apocalyptic civilization would look like.  The author’s world-building of a metropolis called Tolerance was particularly well done; their extensive “town rules” will leave most who pass through there confused and condemned. 

 

    Several of the characters encountered will keep you guessing whether they are “black hats” or “white hats”.  The ursinologist Martha Rainford and her trio of “houseguests” were fun to meet, and Coy and Willie added a neat comedic touch (think “Dumb and Dumber”, and see the first excerpt, below) that keeps the storyline's tone from becoming too dark.  I also liked that the women characters, both good and evil, are all "strong".  In a post-apocalyptic world, if you’re weak, you’re doomed.

 

    The straightforward plotline also allows Benjamin Wallace to subtly blend in some of his own views.  I chuckled at his opinions about Nickelback and NASCAR, and was happy to see that Play Stations had somehow survived the Armageddon.  The author also comes up with some great acronyms, including “CRAP” and “SSB”.  To learn what those stand for, read the book.

 

    The ending is suitably exciting and stops at a logical place in the saga.  Several readers hated one of the final storyline twists, but I’ve seen other movies/books have made use of the plot device, so I was okay with it.  To give any details about it would be a spoiler.

 

Ratings…
    Amazon: 4.4*/5, based on 664 ratings and 177 reviews.

    Goodreads: 4.12*/5, based on 860 ratings and 70 reviews.

 

Excerpts...

    “So you’re saying a woman might get upset if she sees me looking at her boobs.  But the same woman might get mad if she sees me not looking at her boobs?”

    “Exactly.”

    Coy finally dropped his chin and, after a moment of trying to process the new information, shouted, “That doesn’t make any sense.”

    “Right.  So look but don’t look, and don’t look but do look.  But whatever you do, don’t get caught.”

    “Don’t get caught doing what?”

    “Looking.  Or not looking.  Or both.  Or either.”  (loc. 5231)

 

    A great many horrors were unleashed on the world when it ended with a bang.  Entire stockpiles of weapons were thrown about.  Everything from biological agents, experimental chemicals, and good old nuclear fallout drifted in the winds of the new landscape.  Some caused plants to grow wild and become sentient.  Others stripped the land of its vegetation altogether.  Some even turned dumb animals into brilliant tacticians.  But there never was such a thing as a dumb bomb.  (loc. 6447)

 

Kindle Details…

    Knights of the Apocalypse goes for $7.99 right now at Amazon.  The other books in the series also cost $7.99, except for Book 6, Champion of the Apocalypse, which is priced at $9.99.  You can also purchase the first three books in a bundle, for just $9.99, and which is how I read this.  Benjamin Wallace has penned several other series; those e-books are generally in the $7.99-$9.99 range.

 

“I was good at science.  I only barely failed it.”  (loc. 6782)

    The cussing is moderate.  I counted 14 instances in the first 20%, including a couple of f-bombs.  In the second half of the book, and after I had ceased counting them, the rate of profanity increases, thanks mostly to a character named Carrie.

 

    I was pleased to see that the rate of typos dropped off markedly compared Books 1 and 2.  I noted just three lapses, so kudos to whoever did the editing!

 

    That’s about all I can quibble about.  For me, Pursuit of the Apocalypse was another strong entry in this series, which I’m reading in order.  There’s plenty of action, zero slow spots, and lots of fascinating characters to meet as everyone struggles to remain alive in a world gone mad.

 

    9 Stars.  One last thing.  Coy and Willie have a brief but entertaining debate as to whether something called a “net gun” exists.  I’m happy to find out that such an apparatus does exist, much to the chagrin of another character.