Apocalypticon Series, Book 1

August 18, 2014
Debut author Smith relies more on concept than execution in this postapocalyptic road trip. Two 20-somethings, Patrick Deen and Ben Fogelvee, trek from Chicago to Disney World, traversing what is left of the Midwest and South after 95% of the U.S. population was killed in a baffling chemical weapons attack inflicted by Jamaica. Fellow survivors provide episodic, consequence-free conflict, then disappear from the story as Patrick and Ben foil a train mutiny, outwit a violent band of former day traders by shouting out lines from Wall Street, and flee a religious cult that has resumed crucifixions. Their geeky banter, while fun at first, becomes repetitive and disquietingly inappropriate for the situations they encounter. Smith tries to inject some heft with Homeric allusions and enigmatic nods to Patrick’s motive for the journey, but they seem like afterthoughts, and never disrupt the headlong, reference-laden dialogue or the characters’ ardent fervor for weaponry. There are some painstakingly formulated moments of humor, but both story and suspense are in meager supply. The neglect of character arc and narrative flow result in about as much tension as, well, a trip to Disney World.