The gritty concrete pressed against my cheek, cold and unforgiving. A dull, throbbing ache pulsed behind my eyes, radiating outwards to claim every muscle, every fiber of my being. My body felt heavy, leaden, as if anchored to the ground by unseen chains. The air hung thick and cloying, a miasma of decay and something else… something feral, something primal. I coughed, the taste of blood metallic on my tongue, a coppery tang that clung to the back of my throat. #Horror #Thriller #Romance #Readers #Kobo #WGSweet
The gritty concrete pressed against my cheek, cold and unforgiving. A dull, throbbing ache pulsed behind my eyes, radiating outwards to claim every muscle, every fiber of my being. My body felt heavy, leaden, as if anchored to the ground by unseen chains. The air hung thick and cloying, a miasma of decay and something else… something feral, something primal. I coughed, the taste of blood metallic on my tongue, a coppery tang that clung to the back of my throat. #Horror #Thriller #Romance #Readers #Kobo #WGSweet
Apocalyptic fiction is a genre of literature that explores the end of the world or a catastrophic event that significantly alters human society. This genre often features survivors navigating a treacherous new world, battling for resources, and confronting the unknown. One notable series in this genre is Earth’s Survivors, which I’ll discuss in more detail below.
Characteristics of Apocalyptic Fiction
Apocalyptic fiction often features:
Catastrophic events: Natural disasters, pandemics, nuclear wars, or other global catastrophes that threaten human survival.
Post-apocalyptic worlds: Devastated landscapes, ruined cities, and scarce resources.
Survival themes: Characters must navigate the new world, find food and shelter, and confront threats from other humans or the environment.
Social commentary: Apocalyptic fiction often explores themes of social collapse, government failure, and human nature in the face of disaster.
Earth’s Survivors Series
The Earth’s Survivors series is a collection of post-apocalyptic novels that follow a group of survivors as they navigate a world devastated by a catastrophic event. The series explores themes of survival, community, and human nature in the face of disaster.
Some notable aspects of the series include:
Diverse characters: The series features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique skills and perspectives.
Realistic world-building: The author creates a detailed and realistic post-apocalyptic world, with a focus on the challenges and dangers faced by survivors.
Action-packed plots: The series features fast-paced plots with plenty of action, suspense, and drama.
Themes in Apocalyptic Fiction
Apocalyptic fiction often explores themes such as:
Survival vs. Humanity: Characters must balance their need to survive with their humanity, often facing difficult choices and moral dilemmas.
Community and Cooperation: Survivors often form communities and work together to overcome challenges, highlighting the importance of cooperation and teamwork.
Loss and Grief: The series explores the emotional toll of surviving a catastrophic event, including loss, grief, and trauma.
Hope and Resilience: Despite the dire circumstances, the series offers a message of hope and resilience, highlighting the human capacity to adapt and overcome adversity.
Notable Books in the Earth’s Survivors Series
Some notable books in the series include:
[Apocalypse]: The first book in the series sets the tone for the rest of the series, introducing readers to the post-apocalyptic world and the main characters.
[Rising from the Ashes]: The second book in the series explores the challenges of building a community in a post-apocalyptic world, highlighting the importance of cooperation and leadership.
[The Nation]: The third book in the series takes the characters on a perilous journey, testing their survival skills and confronting them with new threats and challenges.
Impact of Apocalyptic Fiction
Apocalyptic fiction has had a significant impact on popular culture, influencing literature, film, and television. The genre:
Reflects societal fears: Apocalyptic fiction often reflects societal fears and anxieties, providing a unique lens through which to examine contemporary issues.
Provides catharsis: The genre offers a safe space for readers to confront and process their fears, providing a form of catharsis.
Inspires hope and resilience: Apocalyptic fiction often highlights the human capacity to adapt and overcome adversity, offering a message of hope and resilience.
Conclusion
The Earth’s Survivors series is a notable example of apocalyptic fiction, exploring themes of survival, community, and human nature in the face of disaster. The series offers a realistic and immersive post-apocalyptic world, with a focus on character development and action-packed plots. As a genre, apocalyptic fiction continues to captivate audiences, providing a unique lens through which to examine contemporary issues and offering a message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Read the books:
Earth’s Survivors series
Earth’s Survivors: Apocalypse
Earth’s Survivors Apocalypse follows survivors of a worldwide catastrophe. A meteorite that was supposed to miss the earth completely, hits and becomes the cap to a series of events that destroy the world as we know it. Police, fire, politicians, military, governments: All gone. Hopes, dreams, tomorrows: All buried in a desperate struggle to survive.
The end has come for most of the world’s population. Small groups of survivors are picking up the pieces… Learning to live again…
When the sun began to peek over the top of the ridge on the opposite shore of the Black River, everyone filed out to the two remaining trucks. It had been decided that Mike and Jan would stay behind while the others went in search of the stolen truck. They switched on and tested two sets of F.M. radios.
Earth’s Survivors: The Nation Sandy’s Diary – March 26th I should start calling this a diary not a journal. It’s funny, but we started these to leave at the cave but then we brought them with us to keep for the children. Now it’s becoming something more, although still for the children, so they can see who we were or are… or both. I was about to write when I found out we’ll have visitors in the morning. I hadn’t expected it so soon. I wonder if they are people we can make a part of us? I guess we’ll all see tomorrow. I’m excited, but I was already. Susan and I, well we’re together. As in living, as in sleeping together. I cannot believe I took the step. I didn’t know I could. I didn’t really believe there could be someone out there for me. But she made it clear to me how she felt and that she will go with me where ever I want to go. You know, up until right then, all I wanted to do was go and help Bob and Jan start this Nation. I thought that was all I had in my mind. It wasn’t though. If she asked me not to go, I wouldn’t. I’ve never known an emotion that could affect such change inside of me so quickly. I’m not sure I’ve even known this emotion before… not like this. People are coming, and that is exciting. I’m with Susan, and that is life. Do you know what I mean? And that means I’m a lesbian. I guess I knew that. It is important to me to know who I am though. To say it, to own it. In our so called enlightened society it wasn’t universally accepted. Oh, on the surface, sure. But not really. And where is that world now? Gone. I guess it’s just us now. We don’t have time to be so judgmental, or for me, to care if I am judged. I’m happy!!! …
It happened so fast, Mike told himself later, that no one had, had any time to react. They had heard nothing. Two watches were posted, Nellie and Tim on opposite ends of the circle. Nellie facing the highway, Tim looking back towards the mall.Molly had just stood up to walk over and talk to Nellie when the shot had come. The flat, loud crack of a high powered rifle. Mike’s head spun hard as it automatically turned at the sound and tried to duck at the same time: He saw Nellie falling and falling, and it seemed as though there were a fog around her head for a second and then it was gone, and in the silence he could hear blood pattering to the pavement.#ApocalypticFiction #Horror #DellSweet #Dystopian #Zombie #action #KindleUnlimited #Amazon
Earth’s Survivors: Plague
The United States of America is no more. The police are gone. The government dead. The military vanquished and the remaining people left alive after the plagues and disasters are on their own. Some have come together for protection and to increase their chances of survival. The Nation, as they call themselves is one of those groups living in the former forever wildlands area spread between the former states of Kentucky and Tennessee. The Nation makes it first major foray out into the Wastelands to search for weapons and supplies. Mike leads them, and the trip is fraught with savagery and death… #ApocalypticFiction #Horror #DellSweet #Dystopian #Zombie #action #KindleUnlimited #Amazon
Earth’s Survivors: Watertown
The book steps back to the beginning of the plagues and how it was started. The release of the plague is detailed in this book, but it is not a post plague book, and you will not find many of the characters from the main Earth’s Survivors books. I wrote this book to off an explanation of how the plagues came to be and offer up those responsible…
It is Bear and the Outrunners that will become the bridge between The Nation and its biggest rivals. It is also the Outrunners who will eventually unravel the mystery of how the Zombie Apocalypse came to be. They will protect The Nation, search out weapons and stockpiled foodstuffs, and they will fight the Zombie Plagues. Bear is the key to all of it. The one man who lives on the edge and likes the view there. With Beth he is the major force behind the Outrunners, who keep the Nation safe and allow the society there to live in relative peace in their valley. …
The battered chassis of the “Razorback,” Bear’s customized gas-guzzler, groaned under the strain. Dust devils, kicked up by their passage across the cracked asphalt, swirled around them like vengeful spirits. The midday sun beat down mercilessly on the wasteland, baking the already parched earth to a crisp. Behind them, the rusted skeletons of long-dead skyscrapers clawed at the sky, grim reminders of a world lost. This was their last run, a desperate gambit to reach Haven, a remote settlement clinging to life amidst the ruins. #ApocalypticFiction #Horror #DellSweet #Dystopian #Zombie #action
Earth’s Survivors: Alabama Island 1
The Earth’s Survivors books follow series of survivors as they awaken to the destruction of the Earth and begin to pick up what is left of their lives. This is the first book to center on the Alabama Island survivors. Set in the former state of Alabama, it begins in New York and makes its way there via the ruined roads and fields…
Joel and Haley
They both stopped short as they topped the small hill at the crest of Main Street and stared down at the downtown area on the other side of the river.
It appeared to be more of a war zone than a city. The buildings that were still standing leaned crazily to the left or right and only the tallest seemed to have been as yet untouched. Haley wondered aloud at that.
“The taller ones are not that old. Built with federal monies. Earthquake proof…. To an extent: When I was a kid the tallest building was the Baptist church tower.” He pointed to a gray stone spire that reached into the air.
The Nation is growing and needs protection from the dead… …
“So… Bear and the Outrunners. This is probably the important thing before the public meeting. I like him. I think he’s level headed. He sees what we need and he’s willing to do it,” Mike said.
“And what is it we need?” Steve Choi asked.
“Protection,” Candace tossed out.
“Weapons too,” Ronnie added.
“And we need to be able to trust that person. That’s our safety net, what allows us to have this, that knowledge that there is a barrier between us and them.”
“Them… You talk about them as though they were still living … things. Still living things, Michael.” Janet added.
“They are… They are not stupid dead …”#ApocalypticFiction #Horror #DellSweet #Dystopian #Zombie #action #KindleUnlimited #Amazon
Earth’s Survivors: Los Angeles
Los Angels in the midst of the largest extinction event in thousands of years. Billions worldwide will die. Millions will die on the North American continent. The few who are left will struggle to stay alive in a vastly changed world where the worst of humankind seems to have come forward. Billy and Beth are friends who live in L.A. Beth works as a waitress in a seedy club, Billy is on the run from the authorities in two countries. He lived a dangerous life in his past. He also has a thing for Beth that is not returned, but it doesn’t matter to him: He wants her anyway. #ApocalypticFiction #Horror #DellSweet #Dystopian #Zombie #action #KindleUnlimited #Amazon
Earth’s Survivors: Alabama Island 2
The first trip to the island had gone well, but they had been unprepared for the amount of work they would need to do to be able to settle there. They needed more people, they needed more supplies, and the lists were endless. The return to the nation had taken months, but they had made it just as the snow was falling in early winter. They had been concerned that they might end up stranded outside the Nation for the entire winter months. Even so, they were stranded in the Nation, which was not really a better solution, excepting the care that could go into the planning for the return trip. What to take, who would go, who would lead the settling of the island.#ApocalypticFiction #Horror #DellSweet #Dystopian #Zombie #action #KindleUnlimited #Amazon
The schematics for the neural network were a symphony of complexity, a testament to the intricate beauty and terrifying potential of the human mind. Emily, hunched over her console, felt a profound connection to the data streams flowing before her. Each line of code, each simulated pathway, represented a step closer to her ultimate goal: the creation of a consciousness untethered by the frailties of the flesh, a mind capable of processing the universe at speeds that would leave organic brains gasping in its wake. #readers #Kindle#Frankenstein #Horror
The story of the Neanderthals, or Homo neanderthalensis, is a captivating chapter in the human saga, a tale of a resilient and intelligent hominin species that thrived in the challenging landscapes of Ice Age Eurasia for hundreds of thousands of years. Far from the brutish, simple-minded caricatures of early portrayals, modern archaeology and genetics have revealed them to be a sophisticated and adaptable people, with a history of development and cultural innovation that parallels our own. Their “rise” is not one of global conquest, but rather the story of a lineage that successfully carved out a niche in a harsh, fluctuating environment, becoming the dominant hominin population in their territory long before the arrival of modern humans.
The lineage of the Neanderthals likely diverged from our own shared ancestor, Homo heidelbergensis, approximately 400,000 to 500,000 years ago. While our own ancestors remained in Africa, the ancestors of Neanderthals migrated into Europe and parts of Asia. It was in these northern latitudes, marked by recurring glacial periods and extreme cold, that the Neanderthal form took shape. This prolonged period of isolation and evolutionary pressure led to a distinct set of physical adaptations that set them apart from their African contemporaries. Their robust, stocky bodies, with their broad shoulders and large ribcages, were built for strength and stamina, well-suited for grappling with large prey and enduring the strenuous demands of their lifestyle. Perhaps their most striking feature, the prominent brow ridge and a large, wide nasal cavity, are believed to be specific adaptations for surviving the frigid air, helping to warm and humidify the air they breathed.
For a vast period of prehistory, the Neanderthals were the masters of their domain. From the windswept plains of Iberia to the dense forests of Siberia, they developed a complex tool-making industry known as the Mousterian. Unlike the simpler tools of their predecessors, Mousterian technology involved the systematic preparation of stone cores to create precise, sharp flakes that could be fashioned into a variety of tools—scrapers for hides, spear points for hunting, and knives for butchery. This sophisticated approach demonstrates a level of forethought and planning that challenges old notions of their cognitive abilities. Their mastery of the landscape extended to hunting, where they were highly effective predators. Evidence suggests they hunted a wide range of animals, from small game to formidable megafauna like woolly mammoths, bison, and rhinos, often using close-quarters ambush tactics that required immense strength and courage.
Beyond their material culture, mounting evidence suggests that Neanderthal society was far from primitive. Archaeological finds have revealed the use of fire for warmth, cooking, and light, and the construction of complex shelters, hinting at a settled lifestyle during certain periods. They cared for their sick and elderly, as evidenced by skeletons of individuals who survived severe injuries or disabilities long after they should have been able to fend for themselves. This compassionate behavior speaks to a strong social fabric and communal support system. There is even a growing body of evidence for symbolic thought and ritualistic behavior. A number of sites show that Neanderthals practiced burial of their dead, and although the exact meaning is debated, it implies a level of abstract thinking about life and death. The discovery of eagle talons fashioned into jewelry, ochre pigments used for body paint or decoration, and even the deliberate arrangement of stalagmites in a cave in France all point to a world of symbolic expression that was once thought to be exclusive to modern humans.
The story of the Neanderthals takes a dramatic turn with the arrival of modern humans, Homo sapiens, into Europe and Asia, beginning approximately 45,000 years ago. For thousands of years, the two hominin groups coexisted, sharing the same landscapes, competing for the same resources, and, as genetic studies have shown, interbreeding. The discovery that most modern non-African humans carry between 1 and 4 percent Neanderthal DNA revolutionized our understanding of our shared past. It confirmed that the two populations not only lived side-by-side but also had intimate encounters that left a lasting genetic legacy.
The eventual disappearance of the Neanderthals from the fossil record around 40,000 years ago remains one of the greatest mysteries in paleoanthropology. A number of theories have been proposed, and it is likely that a combination of factors led to their decline. Climate instability, a succession of rapid warming and cooling events, may have stressed their specialized adaptations. Competition with the newly arrived Homo sapiens for resources, particularly large game, may have also played a role. While the two groups coexisted, modern humans had a number of advantages, including more flexible and complex social networks, more advanced projectile hunting technology, and possibly a more varied diet. Instead of a violent confrontation, the most widely accepted hypothesis suggests a gradual process of assimilation and demographic pressure, where the smaller Neanderthal populations were slowly absorbed and out-competed by the more numerous and technologically diverse Homo sapiens.
In conclusion, the Neanderthals were not a biological dead-end, but a highly successful and sophisticated branch of the human family tree. Their rise was a testament to their incredible ability to adapt and thrive in a hostile world. While their physical form may have faded from existence, their legacy lives on, both in the enduring questions surrounding their final years and, most tangibly, in the fragments of their genome that persist in our own DNA. Their story is a powerful reminder that our past is more interconnected and complex than we once believed, and that our own journey is only a part of a much larger, shared human history.
Read more: Try these Historical Fiction novels…
A Promise across Ancient Terrains
In the ancient past, a cro magnon girl child was born and promised in marriage to a distant related tribe. She has come of age, sixteen and will now be escorted across several hundred miles of wilderness to her soon to be mate in the distant tribe.. Hunters and a medicine woman will accompany her. Once there she will begin her new life and face whatever lies ahead for them… #Prehistoric #CavePeoples #CroMagnon #Readers #HistoricalFiction
Jaquan: Child of the Neanderthals
A young Neanderthal girl is orphaned in a brutal attack and left to survive on her own. This is her story of how she survived, set on the European continent 45,000 years ago… #Readers #BookLovers #BookWorms #HistoricalFiction #DellSweet #Neanderthal
The Bone Clan: Kindle Edition
A loss for the clan starts three members on a search to find a new home for their people…
The Clan hurriedly escaped through the treacherous night. Overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion they felt defeated in the face of catastrophe #Prehistoric #HistoricalFiction #WGSweet #Paleolithic #Neanderthal #Denisovans
“I heard about this new Italian restaurant that opened up on the other side of town,” he continued, his voice still laced with that soft, hopeful tone. “Apparently, the pasta is supposed to be incredible. Handmade, authentic. I was… I was wondering if you might be interested in trying it with me sometime? Perhaps this coming weekend?” He offered a slightly self-conscious smile, a touch of vulnerability in his expression that made him all the more endearing. “It’s not exactly the gallery, but… it’s a different kind of experience. A chance to… well, to continue this conversation, perhaps, in a more relaxed setting?” #Romance #Readers #KU #Kindle #Amazon #LindseyRivers
The world exploded in a cacophony of pain. A throbbing in my skull, a dull roar in my ears, a nauseating stench that clung to the back of my throat – these were the first sensations that pierced the darkness. My eyes fluttered open, met not by the comforting glow of dawn but by a chaotic panorama of shattered concrete, twisted metal, and the horrifying tableau of broken bodies. I was trapped, bound tightly, my wrists and ankles secured by thick, rough rope that bit into my flesh.
Panic, sharp and icy, clawed its way up my throat. I tried to scream, but a choked gasp was all that escaped my lips, the pain in my head a relentless hammer against my skull. Dust, thick and gritty, coated my skin, filling my mouth and nostrils with the acrid taste of decay. The air itself was heavy, a suffocating blend of blood, vomit, and something else…something indescribably foul, the smell of death settling over everything like a shroud. #ApocalypticFiction #Horror #Readers #Kobo #Thriller #Drama
Charles Block has escaped his holding cell, and no one seems able or willing to find him…
The pattern of Block’s previous criminal activities revealed a clear progression. He started with smaller, albeit complex, financial crimes, gradually escalating to more ambitious heists that required intricate planning and the manipulation of multiple systems. The move towards physical logistics, as evidenced by his presumed involvement with the Crimson Syndicate, was a logical, albeit terrifying, evolution. It was the ultimate expression of his ability to control and manipulate the flow of resources, to operate with impunity in the arteries of global commerce. Corbin felt a chill crawl up his spine. Block wasn’t just a thief; he was a logistical architect of illicit trade, a man who could render entire borders invisible.
A look at the town of Glennville. Bobby, Moon and Lois are the central points of this book, but they will also introduce you to their parents, the Sheriff Kyle Stevens and some of the other town locals that make Glennville, Glennville. They are trying to spend the summer enjoying the beauty of the upstate New York town, camping, adventures, all the things three eleven year old kids could do for a summer in 1969. However, Glennville is no ordinary town and there is always something else going on… #Summer #Glennville #Adventure #1969 #DellSweet #Readers #KU
Glennville A look at the town of Glennville. Bobby, Moon and Lois are the central points of this book, but they will also introduce you to their parents, the Sheriff Kyle Stevens and some of the other town locals that make Glennville, Glennville. They are trying to spend the summer enjoying the beauty of the upstate New York town, camping, adventures, all the things three eleven year old kids could do for a summer in 1969. However, Glennville is no ordinary town and there is always something else going on… #Summer #Glennville #Adventure #1969 #DellSweet #Readers #KU https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FM8VC719
The email arrived on a Tuesday, nestled amongst press releases about a new city ordinance and a celebrity chef opening a pop-up restaurant. Its subject line, “Assignment: Blackwood Creek Disappearances,” was bland enough to be ignorable, but Clara’s editor, a man who subsisted on a diet of caffeine and sensationalism, had flagged it with a rare “URGENT” and a single, emphatic exclamation mark. Just another ghost story peddled by a town desperate for attention, or perhaps a clever cover for something far more mundane, yet equally grim, like serial killings or human trafficking… #Horror #Readers #KU #DellSweet #Thriller #Mystery #Kindle
