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Post by edwin on Feb 21, 2013 9:48:58 GMT
After the Fire by John Lockley has some good ideasbut lacks excitement. Have just finished its 436 pages and think I would rather have read Day of the Triffids and Death of Grass again apart from the fact that any new, to oneself, PA novel is welcome. Sure there is room for philosophical speculation in PA novels but not at the expense of plot and action.
People get plague, some survive, settle in a country town, mostly get on, tiny bit of bother, have a bit of interesting travel and face challenges. BIG issues of law and order and religion are dealt with to the author's satisfaction. Canals are good.
Not really a spoiler to say that the police officer was guilty.
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Post by nebogipfel on Feb 21, 2013 13:57:23 GMT
As you probably know "After the Fire" is the first book in a trilogy. I agree with your summary and as you say the book has many good ideas and a plausible scenario. It's quite a while since I read them but my main problem with the trilogy was the very heavy handed inclusion of religion. It is my understanding that the author is a very active christian and author of christian literature. I suspect the books were written less as a PA thriller series and more as a vehicle to allow his characters to explore religious and moralistic issues and eventually arrive at the correct conclusion?
Being a follower of the natural/scientific rather than the supernatural I found that part of the books a bit tedious. That said, they are worth a read and certainly lean more to the style of Christopher/Wyndham than most of the recently published PA offerings.
I have not checked availability lately but when I bought mine they were quite difficult to find....
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Post by edwin on Feb 21, 2013 15:01:01 GMT
Have ordered the second volume for 1p plus £2.80 again. Third vol is £19+ so may well pass on it.
Did puzzle me why nobody was traing as a nurse or assistant doctor and Kevin could have been usefully employed as a courier and scout.
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Post by edwin on Mar 2, 2013 23:40:34 GMT
Nearly finished vol2. More interesting book and some very strong characters, very irritated by Henry. Too many moral problems but will be looking for cheaper vol3. Some good ideas as to the practical challenges.
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Post by edwin on Mar 22, 2013 20:58:01 GMT
Good, third volume ordered at 2.71. Weirdly I find his style growing on me although he has his characters miss so many tricks. I understand that going through a PA plague might make some obsess about religion but feel that any Daily Mail type views on the great unwashed might have evaporated with the trauma. Reminiscent in a way of Dennis Wheatley's "Black August".
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