“Nuclear Winter Armageddon” by Bobby Akart – Dawn of Extinction
Bobby Akart Brings the Nuclear Frost
Once we managed to split the atom and observed the consequences, humanity's future took on a whole new and terrifying course. In the the first book of his Nuclear Winter Series, Bobby Akart depicted a world on the verge atomic annihilation, with one family trying to navigate such desperate times in hopes things would calm down. Considering the name of the series, they naturally didn't, and in Nuclear Winter Armageddon, the worst comes to pass.
If you haven't read the previous entry in the series, I do recommend you do so for two reasons: one, it's a genuinely pleasant read with a few thought-provoking messages, and two, to get familiar with the world and the Albright family. However, if you're only interested in this book's contents specifically, then you can go ahead and start your foray into the series with it, for the plot shifts rather drastically.
Picking things up where the previous chapter in the series left us off, everyone's worst nightmare has come to pass: nuclear warheads detonate around the entire world, killing off incalculable amounts of people, and causing even worse damage to the environment. The climate began to cool off rapidly, bringing the titular nuclear winter upon the world.
Though the United States of America weren't involved in the nuclear conflict (some suspension of disbelief is required here), the problem very much reaches their territory, and we get to witness it through the eyes of the Albright family.
The landscape around them is visibly rotting from bad to worse, as not only do the elements become increasingly hostile, but so do the people, many reverting to tribal instincts. They trek onward in search of relative safety from it all, but the obvious question stands before them: is there even such a place left in the world?
The Powerless States of America in Nuclear Winter Armageddon
For much of the twentieth and the twenty-first century, the United States of America have attempted to portray and showcase themselves as the leading country in the world, the most powerful entity on our little globe. Whether or not there might have been the case for this being true at some point, I believe the last decade or so has shown there definitely isn't anymore.
While on a political level there is still an insistence to keep the image alive, I think more and more people are coming to realize the dire state many elements of the country are in, and this is reflected in the rise of post-apocalyptic science-fiction literature dealing with realistic scenarios. I feel like based on his writing in this series, to an extent at least, Bobby Akart would agree with such an assessment.
Specifically, in this book he spends a good deal of time depicting a United States of America bereft of all the power and ability they've become accustomed to rely on, depicting the country in a state of total panic and ruin with a weak, decentralized government unable to help its people.
Akart's portrayal of this America plunged into darkness and chaos in the wake of a devastating attack is powerful, vivid and memorable. He has a real talent for producing the kinds of impactful images which can stick with you for a long time after you've finished the novel. What's more, he adds a level of logic and realism to the events and people's reactions to them which makes them feel relevant to our real world.
Speaking of the people, Bobby Akart shows an impressive aptitude for the portrayal of human psychology and instincts, at least where American citizens are concerned. Many of the villains in this story feel like victims of circumstance more than anything, and their motivations are as believable as those of our protagonists.
The Albright Adventurers
Though Bobby Akart does find the time to include numerous piercing descriptions and social commentary, the last thing one could call his novel is “slow”. With a good amount of stage already having been set in the first book, this one begins at an elevated pace straight away and it rarely takes a dip, always with a good reason.
The Albright family is strewn across the entire country, and they're all on their own journeys to make their way back home, in hopes of at least finding safety in numbers if no safe haven exists anymore. None of them are ever protected from danger, and this is the type of story where plot armour doesn't seem to exist. Thankfully, the author doesn't needlessly kill off characters for the mere shock value.
All of the different characters in the family have their own recognizable personalities, worldviews and speech patterns. I wouldn't say any among them are truly perfect, having their own flaws to contend with, but in my opinion it makes them much more relatable to us regular human beings, also fitting in with the general atmosphere of realism the author is going for.
Additionally, they are never static in their development, always being subjected to new experiences and hardships, consequently learning from and being shaped by them. While some of them do change noticeably from the beginning of the story, I thought it always remained within the confines of the justifiable.
Finally, there are also quite a few actions scenes to keep the adrenaline pumping, and the author demonstrates his remarkable talents during those as well. They always feel fast, brutal, crystal-clear and concise. Additionally, there's even an entertaining little side mystery in the form of a serial killer loose in the Florida Keys. In other words, there's never a shortage of excitement.
The Final Verdict
Nuclear Winter Armageddon by Bobby Akart is a worthy continuation of the Nuclear Winter Series, taking the story one step further and bringing the titular calamity down upon the globe. Mixing frantic action sequences, insightful social commentary, and a cast of interesting characters in an upturned world described in frightening detail, it fulfills all the expectations anyone could have of it.
If you're a fan of the first book, or are in search of a powerful series set in a world ravaged by a nuclear winter, then I highly recommend you check the book out, and the whole series as well.
 | Bobby AkartPersonal site Bobby Akart is an American author specializing in science-fiction novels, as well as religious and post-apocalyptic thrillers. Some of his better-known works include Yellowstone Hellfire, New Madrid Earthquake, and 36 Hours, not to mention the numerous series he has been updating for years now, such as the Boston Brahmin, Blackout, Doomsday, Geostorm and Nuclear Winter series. |
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