Humanity has been decimated by a violent new species that nests in any enclosed spaces, and slaughters everything unfortunate enough to come indoors. Mitch is a 'Wall Banger', an explosives expert who 'cracks' buildings, exposing them to air and sunlight to kill these invasive organisms. When a friend of Mitch's asks for help tracking down a murderer, Mitch recruits Cori, a 'Shadow Runner' who races through infested spaces to gather supplies and saleable loot. But this terrifying contagion isn't the only danger, as their world descends into a harrowing marathon against oversupplied militias, murderous gangs, self-righteous survivors, and all-out starvation.
My Review
Homeless by Nicolas Wilson, a dystopian novel named so because of the sinister and mysterious creatures which infest homes and other dark, enclosed spaces making them inhospitable. A story of survival, of societies struggle to survive in a world where normal everyday essentials and luxuries do not exist or are hard to obtain.
In this new society a number of occupations have appeared, wall bangers and shadow runners are two examples. Professionals who have the skills to retrieve the everyday essentials, required for survival, protection and to bring some sense of normality back to survivors. Both these professions use very different techniques, wall bangers opt for the more destructive form, cracking open buildings, exposing the creatures to light, in turn killing them. Shadow runners tend to be more athletic, faster and fitter, sprinting through the buildings which are infested, gathering supplies as they do. The more risky of the two, very few shadow runners exist.
I really enjoyed a post-apocalyptic setting which didn’t involve zombies or the usual epidemic but I do feel that the creatures, which I thought were going to be the main threat within the story were more of a background thing, they seemed to me more of an inconvenience than a threat. Details about the creatures were very rushed, the reader learns very little of the creatures and their origins. The main perils within the book are typical of a society governed by nothing more than spoken deals and rules. Humans who prey on the weak, hounding and raiding settlements are a far greater menace to the survivors.
Mitch is the main protagonist within the book, an individual who, to begin with, seems only concerned for his own survival, but as the story unfolds Mitch is actually a very caring individual who will go to extremes to save those he cares about. A hunt for a killer leads Mitch, a wall banger, into an encounter that could have been life threatening had it not been for the shadow runner Cori. To begin with both are sceptical of each other’s motives and there is very little trust or friendship. As the story progresses a friendship blossoms and the dialogue between the two is cheering. With their set of skills both of them must find a way to help a small settlement against the threat of raiders and militia.
A well written, enjoyable, action packed and fast paced read. The author’s attention to detail and knowledge of weapons and explosives made the story all the more interesting. Homeless is a great dystopian novel that I would recommend to fans of post-apocalyptic stories.
Homeless by Nicolas Wilson, a dystopian novel named so because of the sinister and mysterious creatures which infest homes and other dark, enclosed spaces making them inhospitable. A story of survival, of societies struggle to survive in a world where normal everyday essentials and luxuries do not exist or are hard to obtain.
In this new society a number of occupations have appeared, wall bangers and shadow runners are two examples. Professionals who have the skills to retrieve the everyday essentials, required for survival, protection and to bring some sense of normality back to survivors. Both these professions use very different techniques, wall bangers opt for the more destructive form, cracking open buildings, exposing the creatures to light, in turn killing them. Shadow runners tend to be more athletic, faster and fitter, sprinting through the buildings which are infested, gathering supplies as they do. The more risky of the two, very few shadow runners exist.
I really enjoyed a post-apocalyptic setting which didn’t involve zombies or the usual epidemic but I do feel that the creatures, which I thought were going to be the main threat within the story were more of a background thing, they seemed to me more of an inconvenience than a threat. Details about the creatures were very rushed, the reader learns very little of the creatures and their origins. The main perils within the book are typical of a society governed by nothing more than spoken deals and rules. Humans who prey on the weak, hounding and raiding settlements are a far greater menace to the survivors.
Mitch is the main protagonist within the book, an individual who, to begin with, seems only concerned for his own survival, but as the story unfolds Mitch is actually a very caring individual who will go to extremes to save those he cares about. A hunt for a killer leads Mitch, a wall banger, into an encounter that could have been life threatening had it not been for the shadow runner Cori. To begin with both are sceptical of each other’s motives and there is very little trust or friendship. As the story progresses a friendship blossoms and the dialogue between the two is cheering. With their set of skills both of them must find a way to help a small settlement against the threat of raiders and militia.
A well written, enjoyable, action packed and fast paced read. The author’s attention to detail and knowledge of weapons and explosives made the story all the more interesting. Homeless is a great dystopian novel that I would recommend to fans of post-apocalyptic stories.
About the author
Nicolas Wilson is a published journalist, graphic novelist, and novelist. He lives in the rainy wastes of Portland, Oregon with his wife, four cats and a dog.
Nic has written several short story collections and novels.Nic's work spans a variety of genres, from political thriller to science fiction and urban fantasy.
For information on Nic's books, and behind-the-scenes looks at his writing, visit nicolaswilson.com.
You can also subscribe to his mailing list, for information on new releases, as they become available. Mailing list subscribers also receive a copy of Dogs of War, an unpublished novella.
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Nic has written several short story collections and novels.Nic's work spans a variety of genres, from political thriller to science fiction and urban fantasy.
For information on Nic's books, and behind-the-scenes looks at his writing, visit nicolaswilson.com.
You can also subscribe to his mailing list, for information on new releases, as they become available. Mailing list subscribers also receive a copy of Dogs of War, an unpublished novella.
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