Surviving the Fall Box Set

bad set up.

the story is missing a lot of elements like segways and poor character background, however the narrator is great as always. a lot of character development needs to be expanded. overall the book series seems rushed.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

This could have been great, but it is not.

I wanted to like this post-apocalyptic series, but it is just not a finished work. I mean it proceeds like something that was written in haste and without any actual experience or research. I made it as far as Rick leaving the company of the Military, then I had to quit. I found that the story just made me mad because I wanted to rewrite nearly every single part of it. Not to mention the abysmal telling by Chris Abernathy, more on that at the end of this review.

The two main characters, Rick and his wife (don’t remember her name because the 3 kids just call her mom), conveniently have just enough experience and knowledge to get by on their own, but their common sense, something one desperately needs to survive in a post- apocalyptic world, is nearly completely missing. If you can listen to the part about going into town for the first time and find it even remotely believable, then you must not know any mom’s or not have kids of your own. It is stupid to put it bluntly.

The story plays out like a video game, the characters have to solve one problem at a time and conveniently find what they need. How Rick manages to traverse across several states and only run into a handful of people is laughable. Are we to believe that 99% of all people just stayed at home, walked single file to a shelter or died? Please.

The parts that really got to me was Rick’s interaction with the Military. There is no part of it that is believable. I was a lower enlisted that spent 90% of my time working at the Brigade and Corps level. I interacted with every rank from 1 Star General down. Officers and enlisted alike don’t act or talk the way they are written in this story. Not only is it infuriating, it is disrespectful.

The entirety of what I listened to, 7 hours and 41 minutes, leads me to believe that Mike Kraus got the itch to write this after watching a bunch of movies and doing a little research online. Good writers write what they know. Writing about topics outside your wheelhouse is risky at best and outright tragic in cases like this.

If I never hear the “name” kiddo again, it will be too soon. How am I to believe that a mom would have only 1 pet name for all of her children. Kiddo is a name you would hear coming from a long lost uncle or acquaintance. So irritating.

Chris Abernathy reads this story like he is getting paid by the minute. He…..is…..so…..frustratingly…..slow. I listened to this at 1.3 the normal speed just to keep from pulling my hair out. And the gravely voice he chose for Rick, the computer nerd, is confusing. Only hard living or screaming will give you a “gargling asphalt” voice.

I wish I could have those hours back.

11 of 14 people found this review helpful

great series<br />

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I like that Mike Kraus wrote it to be a boxed set. the narrative by him in between each book was different from others. I thought that was interesting and unique as well.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This author should stick to writing children’s books.

If you are going to write about something you should understand your subject matter. Stick to stories that don’t involve prepping, firearms, fighting,gangs, hiking..... just go write vampire romance.

7 of 10 people found this review helpful

HYPOCRITES

What is it with this genre? It's the same premise every time: the husband is stranded far away from his family when SHTF and he must get back to them - because after all, they prepped and so they're better than you. I got to chapter 18 before the wife out and out murdered a guy with her laser and strobe light rifle - because he stood next to her barn with a pea shooter (in his pocket) asking for food. She then rationalized it to herself and to her kid that she HAD to kill that guy, even though all he said was that he was hungry. He was doing exactly what her husband was doing five states away - going around trying to scrounge to stay alive. How ironic that if the husband would have encountered someone just like his own wife - he'd have been shot on sight. But "as Christians," they were blessed because they prepped - and darn it, they deserve to kill hungry people. The thought of sharing food with the hungry man never occurred to the wife - just putting five bullets in his chest. Even stupid novels like this matter because they reinforce the profound hypocrisy and fraudulent righteousness that religious people practice but don't seem to recognize.

17 of 28 people found this review helpful

great flip to armageddon

This story kept me interested the whole time. Very different reflection on what we are doing that can cause our own destruction. Amazing breath taking edge of your seat story the entire way through. thank you

author has very little knowledge of subject

the author knows little of nothing about any of the locations or technology used in his book. The entire population of every city seems to have magically disappeared from every city the hero passes through, except the bad guys. it was difficult to make me continue due to the unlikelyhood or every step along the way.

great book. you did a great job.

loved the book set. hope to read more of your books. are you going a follow up book?

Great Series!

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this series and the plot was definitely original! The series has a definite variety of action, fun and thought provoking creativity. I highly recommend this series. And as always Chris Abernathy does an amazing narration in bringing the multitude of characters to life!!

Surviving the Fall Box Set

We thoroughly enjoyed the set. We seldom watch TV anymore so this was good entertainment.