Customer Reviews

New Wilderness

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found the book to be an easy read. I found myself being pulled into the book and identifing with the characters. All of the characters are likable and interesting. I also found myself wanting to get to know the people in the book on a more personal level. I could not put the book down. I am looking forward to the following books from this author.

I really enjoyed this book! It's been a long time since a book has kept my interest long enough to read it through in one sitting and this was the one! It's a great story, fast paced with no lulls and the style of writing makes you think you're really there. I would recommend this book to everyone.

I found New Wilderness to be an easy read. The author leads your imagination with true character development along an unique story line. The twists and turns leave you anxious to turn the next page and a little bit sad when you've turned the last. I'm already watching for more novels from this new author.

Typically, I'll read an hour or so from a book each night until I finish it in about a week. Not this one.... Once I started to read I just could not put it down. I read it cover to cover without stopping. It's been a long time since I enjoyed a book this much! New Wilderness is now on my top shelf where I keep only my favorites.

I have written a comprehensive review at Glynn's Book Reviews blogsite (http://wwwglynnsbooks.blogspot.com.) Read it there or link to it at www.glynnsbooks.com.

Absolutely amazing book. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it, and neither could anyone else I've loaned it to. Can't wait till the next book from Mr. Matthews.

I recommend this book to basically every person I know who loves to read. When we bought the two books I had no idea how utterly enjoyable they are and how much I would get sucked in. I like the complexity of cultures, twists of how trying to live with out animals I never even thought of became interesting tid bits of information. The characters are not over the top people of destiny carrying swords the size of Texas, but you and me really just trying to find a way in a world gone mad. I re-read these rather often and loan the first book to those who want to put a toe into this world. Wonderful. Now dude. Seriously. Write the third book. Lleria and Wentra say so.

First off, I've never met Brian S. Matthews, however I'm very much aware of his work as a screen writer, as he's written all the episodes of the online web series I work on, Star Trek: Helena Chronicles. He's also scripted the feature Operation Beta Shield, which brings back major characters from the Hidden Frontier days and brings along the crew from the Scotland web series, Star Trek: Intrepid. He's also scripted the season ender of Star Trek: Odyssey, due later this year along with the first episode of the four-part miniseries, Star Trek: Federation One.

So he's prolific.

Anyways, before he became the writer of these web shows, Matthews wrote two novels he published himself. New Wilderness was released in 2005, and is the first part of a trilogy of tales about what happens on one lazy June 10 day (no year is given, but there is enough pop culture references to assume it began sometime in the late 1990's), when the animal kingdom - for some yet to be revealed reason- turned on the human race and brought about a world-wide devastation of civilization.

Over the years, I've read a few end-of-the-world type novels, and have seen many TV shows and movies about the same subject. Stephen King's The Stand is perhaps, for the modern age, one of the best. While The Stand used a virus to wipe out most of humanity (one that seemed somewhat plausible back in 1978, but more horrific today), New Wilderness uses the animals like cats and dogs, our friends, to kill us, along with a whole host of other beasties. Is the author trying to say that in some way nature will strike back for what we've taken?

While the novel opens with the Turn, its primarily set a decade after New Wilderness (which is also a wink, wink at media's attempt to title its news reports). Set in the Canadian west, near Vancouver, humanity is still trying to survive. But like any good end of the world tale, human greed seems to have survived (along with good guys and bad guys), as groups of people, holed up in various areas, are cornering the market on such necessities as technology, medicine, and gas.

The novel is, ultimately, a worthy addition to the genre, as Matthews keeps the pace going at a stride that makes you want to continue to read on, long after you should've gone to bed. There is plenty of violence and buckets of gore, but that I can forgive, if only because I believe something like this could happen to us once all our favorite things, the comfort stuff, is taken away. Mobile phones, iPods, our cars and how much money you make should not define your humanity, but God knows it will if the End of Days comes next Tuesday.

But, I also think its about 75 to 100 pages overlong -I could've done with out the flashbacks to some the characters life during the initial crisis. It wasn't that those scenes were boring, just felt they really did not add to the plot. And the creepy ending, with the perverse kids who prey on young boys and worship a very bizarre God, borders on sadistic -even if it's a plot point - and sort of reminds me that if there is one constant in the universe in novels of these kinds, homosexuality is still to be treated with universal hate.

I was lucky enough to be handed a copy of New Wilderness by a friend and when it came time to return the book, I needed to have a copy on hand which is what brings me to Amazon. Could not put this book down. An absolute must read for anyone who loves this genre as this book does it best!
My fingers are crossed for a sequel!!!

This story had me from page one. An extremely well-written book that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. I actually sat on the edge of my seat as I read the last 50 pages. I usually pass my books on to others when I finish them. One copy of this, however, will go into my permanent library.
Thank you Brian Matthews!