Review: Fantastic and unique post-apocalyptic tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 5, 2014
“The Long Winter” examines what happens as society crumbles and bands of people attempt to maintain some semblance of civilization. While major governments are rising and falling and citizens despair over the chaos that grips most of America, a small village in what was once Alaska live out their lives mostly unaffected by the shifting governments in what is left of the contiguous United States.Quickly, however, it becomes clear that these rural people are not as free from tyranny as it might seem. In their desperation for a governmental system of some sort, the people of the town have given that power to a man they see as gentle and wise. As the power and responsibility take their toll on Kilaun, however, he becomes selfish, angry, and slowly becomes the tyrant that most of the world is trying to break free of.“The Long Winter” is masterfully written and examines not only the challenges of living in the brutal north, but also the challenges of surviving and thriving after the governments of the world crumble down. Alderman weaves the story together nicely, developing characters that are believable and lovable. She even manages to make the “villains” of the story lovable at times, making clear the stress and worry that drag them down the roads they thought they would never traverse.“The Long Winter” is an excellent read, and I strongly recommend it.