New Apocalyptic

In the wake of a devastating plague, two communities emerge as bastions of survival. One is called the City, and its people scrabble for scraps in the wasteland. The other, New Charity, enjoys the bounty of its hydroelectric dam and refuses City denizens so much as a drop of precious water. When City-dweller Cressyda inherits her father's ranch within New Charity, she becomes intent on opening the dam to all - no matter the cost.

Today is the day that Evan Berry's life will change forever. His days working construction are about to end; he is finally going to be a high school music teacher. Stephanie, his bride-to-be, even has a surprise planned for him when he gets home from work that first night. None of that matters. For several days, the news has been hinting at reports of a strange illness that appears to be global. Unfortunately, this is no regular sickness.

Former Marine-turned-author, G. Michael Hopf grabs listeners from minute one with his breathtaking blend of action, adventure, and political intrigue. The End - the first book in Hopf ’s New World series - has sold more than 50,000 copies, and word of mouth is quickly building on the series as a whole. In the fourth book, The Line of Departure, the United States is on the brink of total anarchy in the wake of a super-EMP attack. Gordon Van Zandt and his family have managed to beat the odds so far, but can they survive once war erupts?

The world is different now. There are no rules, no governments, and no guarantees that you'll be saved. Rival factions have taken over, fighting each other for survival with no loyalty to anyone but their own. At 21, Hayden has taken over Blackwing and is one of the youngest leaders in the area. In protecting his camp from starvation, raids from other factions and the threat of being kidnapped, he has enough to worry about before he finds Grace. The daughter of the head of the rival camp Greystone, she is slow to trust anyone, much less the leader of those she has been trained to kill.

Months after a super-EMP attack devastated the United States, the country is now unrecognizable. Major cities are run by gangs, survivors are dying of starvation and the government is falling victim to lawlessness. Those who were prepared for the end find that they weren't really prepared at all. While some seek vengeance for their losses, others are determined to restore the nation. Gordon, Samantha, Sebastian, Barone, Connor and Pablo are all on different paths, but they are all in search of a home away from chaos.

Cassy has joined with Frank and his group, and the group members declare themselves a clan, pitting themselves as a group against the rising tide of darkness around them. Then the death of one of their own creates new tensions that may tear the clan apart before it ever reaches the promised oasis of Cassy's homestead farm. Worse, they are followed by a man bent on their destruction, who would take her farm for his own group if he can find it.

In the Before, when the government didn't prohibit large public gatherings, Luce Cannon was on top of the world. One of her songs had just taken off and she was on her way to becoming a star. Now, in the After, terror attacks and deadly viruses have led the government to ban concerts, and Luce's connection to the world - her music, her purpose - is closed off forever. She does what she has to do: She performs in illegal concerts to a small but passionate community, always evading the law.

With supplies running low and animals scarce, not even the freezing zombies can make the future look bright for Axl's group. And as the snow grows deeper, Vivian's concern for Hadley and Jon only becomes more intense. Each day seems to bring more challenges, and every week that passes with no sign of their friends makes it more difficult for the group to believe life can ever return to normal.

The sanctuary walls were breached and through them poured screaming hordes of night runners. About to be overrun, the survivors formed a last stand against the thousands that threatened to end their existence. Inexplicably, the night runners, who were on the verge of taking one of the last vestiges of humanity, departed, carrying the limp body of Lynn with them.

Phoenix was becoming a pressure cooker nearing bursting open, as the sequestered group of savant scientists and soldiers in the glass-domed pods in Antarctica were buzzing with sexual tension. Brad McCormick figured since the limbic system associated with sexual desire is linked to libido and the part of the brain responsible for higher-level functions, like planning and thinking, he had a problem he couldn’t solve without his leadership team. To put it more explicitly, the men were extremely sexually eager.

Danger lurks in the shadows... A place where the brave tread warily... Jack Walker has returned from the rescue of his girlfriend with a small band of survivors. Their harrowing journey from the Middle East included a stop at the CDC where they learned vital information about the ferocious new species that hunt at night. The night runners dominate the landscape and a world turned upside down by the sudden death of billions.

Lynn has been rescued from deep within the heart of a night runner lair. The answer to why she was taken remains a mystery. Sandra lies in a pool of her own blood, ending her desperate measures to draw Jack to her. As Red Team celebrates their joy of Lynn's freedom, they are unaware that a sight is centered on them from afar. A bullet tears through the air, streaking their way.

Jack Walker journeyed halfway around the world and completed his daring rescue. He must now return home, traversing a world filled with endless hordes of night runners, the genetically-altered, ferocious species that now inhabit the dark recesses left over from the demise of mankind and now dominate the planet. The only things more dominant are the billions of corpses left to rot where they died.

After the devastating battle at the East Homestead, Sean’s family regroups and makes some new alliances; however, with those growing bonds, new risks arise. Colonel Harris struggles to feed the 31st Regiment while attempting to offer assistance to the locals and contemplates risking his own life for the future of his country. A stranger arrives in Tionesta with unknown aspirations, and an ominous looting force the size of a small army entrenches nearby. Despite the emerging prospects for a new beginning, a shadow looms over the fresh buds of optimism.

"A bite or scratch will turn the victims to one of the infected within 72 hours..." Those words rang in Evan Berry's head. Waking to discover he'd been scratched was a death sentence. Deciding that he would not force Carl or Betty to have to put him down after he turned, Evan said farewell to his group and slipped out in the middle of the night. Deciding that he would make one last run in the hopes that he could bring back enough supplies for his beloved Newfoundland, Chewie, Evan embarks on a quest that will show him just how fast and far society has fallen.

Dark clouds gather... A storm is breaking... With the sanctuary built, there is a respite from the nightly night runner assaults. Jack Walker and the group of survivors have bought themselves a little breathing room. Or have they? A peaceful daytime outing turns into yet another nightmare sweeping Robert and Bri up with it. The world has changed. Another danger has emerged. Ferocious packs of night runners still prowl at night and Jack must now locate and rescue his kids.

Awareness grows... The gathering commences.... The world has changed. Jack Walker and the other survivors must adjust with it if they are to have a chance. They've managed to stay one step ahead so far but the gap is narrowing. The night runners are growing and adapting. The rules are changing. Winter is coming and the survivors must ready themselves for the long season. With Robert and Bri rescued from captivity, Jack focuses on the days ahead.

Cassy and her clan have made it alive to the promised oasis of her farm and prepare for the upcoming winter. But old enemies race to catch up to them and have a different plan in mind. Meanwhile, resistance cells in New York face long odds, including betrayal from within and a tightening gauntlet from the invaders and their quislings. The 20s hint at a plot to level the playing field against the invaders, but their end-game is unclear.

At twenty-two, my existence was crusty. It was a Friday afternoon when I was racing like the Red Queen down the interstate from New York to Lexington, Kentucky, feeling like I would never reach my destination and, simultaneously, reluctant to start my life as a straight-married man and a father-to-be. When I crossed the bridge at the Ohio River, I swung my sexy sports car over to the first R&G (rainbow and glitter) establishment for a martini or three.

Nirvana. A city of opportunity and excess; where a person's rights and freedoms are staunchly protected...unless you're from the Estate. Those from the Estate live in abject poverty and are victimized by all of those around them for entertainment.