Review: The aliens have arrived...instead of mutilating cattle, they themselves are simular to mythical Minotaurs
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 2, 2014
Referred to as "the bulls," the aliens have systematically destroyed big cities, power plants, military facilities, anything which seems weapon-like, and literally mined the rubble to leave empty areas where structures stood before.They don't bother humans unless they have weapons or act aggressively, but their actions have wiped out most of the populace.  The survivors have returned to a more primitive way of life, agrarian hunter-gatherers who send out scavenging teams for salvage that will benefit the few surviving communities in the immediate region.As I am quite familiar with the areas described in this book, it was interesting and amusing to see what Mr. Hill did with various locales.The central focus is "The Farm," a community that grew from a hippie commune into a viable way of life.  The only thing that doesn't ring true with real life is that the area where this "Farm" is located has short growing seasons and very little water in many areas.  Apparently there's a lot of greenhouse growing going on to thwart the freezes."The Farm" is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of four military men who are recruiting for their own army, resistance fighters who will use methane weapons against the bulls, which are highly susceptible to this gas and its derivatives.  They promise that they've got a pre-invasion way of life going in the Crater Lake area, hidden safely from the alien scouts, and just need manpower.The councilors which govern the farm commune believe this is too good to be true, and that it may disrupt the way of life they've achieved.  The aliens have set up devices to remove methane from the air, and pollution is much less, due to the eradication of factories, vehicles using internal combustion engines, and...the eradication of most of the people.  What's not to like?  If a subsistence existence is sufficient, let's not disturb the status quo.Interviewing the military men, one of whom was a former commune member, they learn that it's largely a farce.  The former member has gullibly shared every scrap of knowledge and data about the commune, though, and now they're on the record in every detail.  Two of the men are executed, one is allowed to join "The Farm," and the former commune member is banished, naked and without weapons or supplies, into the cold weather.Now the commune has to decide what to do for protection - launch their own spies to investigate and perhaps destroy the military compound, or just lie low and hope that's enough.I am anxious to see the next book in the series, ready to find out what comes about, and how the aliens react.