The Quake Cities

January 25, 2021
At the start of this so-so SF thriller from Wheaton (Emily Eternal), a woman awakes in 2025 Los Angeles with no memories of who she is or what is going on; the city, along with most other major American metropolises, has been devastated by a series of massive earthquakes, leaving only desperate survivors scrabbling to find food and water. Just as a stranger urges her to get out of bed and flee the building, she remembers her name is Alice Rhodes. Alice’s freedom is short-lived, as soon after she’s betrayed by a woman who drugs her into unconsciousness in order to sell her. Things get even stranger after Alice is fatally shot, but somehow returns to life, a development that proves connected with her unwanted popularity. Alice is somehow able to reincarnate herself, making her body and, in particular, her unique blood, a precious commodity that has set bounty-hunters on her trail. The convincing apocalyptic scenario compensates only in part for thin characters. Readers looking for mind-bending plots grounded in relatable human emotions would be better served by Blake Crouch’s Pines trilogy. Agent: Laura Dail, Laura Dail Agency.

March 1, 2021
In a bleak vision of 2025, cities worldwide have been devastated by earthquakes, with survivors fighting over what is left. Este and Wilfredo are two pathfinders in the Los Angeles Quake Zone (LAQZ), taking jobs as they come, guiding tourists through ruins. Este is haunted by a scared, naked woman she meets right after a job goes wrong, and when she and Wilfredo come across a bounty for her, they immediately accept. The woman, Alice, is convinced it's 2003 and has no memory of anything beyond that year. As they help Alice return home, Esme and Wilfredo discover other odd things about her that point to technology that could change what's left of the world. Wheaton's latest novel is a fast-paced adventure, complete with an evil maniacal doctor who harnesses power under the guise of curing illness, and moral questions surrounding what life truly is and what makes someone human. This post-apocalyptic novel will appeal to fans across genres, and the resoundingly hopeful conclusion is a welcome message.

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