Review: Deft Character Development Makes This Particular Apocalypse Quite Survivable
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 10, 2014
With Apocalypses aplenty available from numerous authors these days, Ed Robertson manages something all too rare--a new take on an old genre--in his Breakers series. I won't bother recounting the plot here--you can read that for yourself in the book description. And as I write this, the three-volume Breakers compilation (which includes Breakers, Melt Down, and Knifepoint) is available for 99 cents from Amazon (Kindle edition). Talk about value for your reading dollar!What kept me turning the page (er, swiping the screen) was Robertson's cleverness in creating every day, relatable characters that you, the reader, care about. The specifics of Robertson's particular dystopian vision are secondary to how his characters react to their experiences; and, more importantly, grow from them. His lead characters aren't always likable right out of the chute. Walt Lawson (Breakers) is a bit of a self-pitying jerk. Ness Hook (Melt Down) is a live-in-Mom's-basement loser who could use a good shaking by the shoulders. Raina (Knifepoint)--though completely likable--is obviously immature and egocentric (perfect for her age, actually; and do I see a bit of a literary pedigree inherited from GRRM's Arya in her feistiness?). But all of them grow in reaction to their circumstances, and all in a way that invites the reader along to witness (and appreciate) that growth. That, of course, is the hallmark of all good apocalyptic fiction (e.g., Walking Dead). It's not about the particular apocalypse at hand; it's about the human survivors and their discovery (or rediscovery) of what it means to be human with "no phones, no lights, no motor cars, not a single luxury" to distract them.Robertson deftly balances action with exposition, giving the reader a break when they need it (and using that to good advantage for the above-lauded character development) but pulling no punches when the action starts. Humanity is, as Twain noted repeatedly, mostly selfish and "damnable" but occasionally (and here's where the hope comes in) downright gallant and self-sacrificing under the right circumstances. You'll find that balance in the Breakers series--a very rewarding and enjoyable reading experience--as well.