bibliocat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
When I heard this 1997 book was being republished in fall of 2022 and read the cover blurb, I thought the story sounded fantastic, almost even prophetic given what's going on politically in the U.S right now. In the story, the first black president is elected in 2012, and is assassinated within the first four days of office. This causes a political divide and riots. Along with an environmental catastrophe caused by launching space shuttles, plague and famine and apocalypse soon follows.
(Interesting that Mr. Burton originally had this published between the releases of ST:TNG First Contact and ST:TNG Insurrection , then made space exploration the environmental problem in his book...)
Mr. Burton, you are indeed a national treasure, but this book fell flat for me. It was all exposition and the characters were names on a page and never seemed come off the page as real people.
We never get to know much about the characters beyond the main one, Leon Crane. We learn about him in flashbacks, where he is the climate scientist that discovered how the space shuttle launches were negatively affecting the atmosphere. When he published the science article, his career was over, and violent backlash on him meant his family died because of that. When we meet him, it is after America has become a dystopian nightmare, and he is navigating homelessness like so many others.
The other big character is Dr. Rene Reynolds, a scientist. (Yay, the scientists are the heroes of the book, whoo-hoo!). She forms an instant connection with Leon, literally, while smashing into him as she is being chased away from her lab by thugs. She shoves the data disks into his hands with her important research about a device called a Neuro-Enhancer. This is the object that provides the hopefulness to the story, since it can help humanity heal itself. It also provides the science fiction element to the story. The data was safe with Leon, but Dr. Reynolds is captured. It's up to Leon to find her.
Normally, I like converging plotlines, but there was too much coincidence and randomness as to how the other characters came together. The other characters provide the diversity to the story - Amy is a pre-teen white girl, Jacob Fire Cloud is a Lakota medicine man, and gets transportation from Danny, a Filipino. With Amy and Danny in particular, they aren't doing much to contribute to the plot. Amy is basically there to be the peril monkey and find her mother, without that part ever paying off. All we know about Danny is that he has a family and he's driving an armored car for the post-apocalyptic version of the UPS, because that's the best job that can be had in society at the time. Jacob uses some medicinal knowledge to help a child with respiratory infection in one of the camps they pass through, but was super grumpy about having to do that. I'm guessing there all there for the human touch to the story.
None of them do much
That was what was disappointing about it. At least
The other thought I had is that maybe it was written specifically to be an audio book or spoken story, thus all the exposition.
(Interesting that Mr. Burton originally had this published between the releases of ST:TNG First Contact and ST:TNG Insurrection , then made space exploration the environmental problem in his book...)
Mr. Burton, you are indeed a national treasure, but this book fell flat for me. It was all exposition and the characters were names on a page and never seemed come off the page as real people.
We never get to know much about the characters beyond the main one, Leon Crane. We learn about him in flashbacks, where he is the climate scientist that discovered how the space shuttle launches were negatively affecting the atmosphere. When he published the science article, his career was over, and violent backlash on him meant his family died because of that. When we meet him, it is after America has become a dystopian nightmare, and he is navigating homelessness like so many others.
The other big character is Dr. Rene Reynolds, a scientist. (Yay, the scientists are the heroes of the book, whoo-hoo!). She forms an instant connection with Leon, literally, while smashing into him as she is being chased away from her lab by thugs. She shoves the data disks into his hands with her important research about a device called a Neuro-Enhancer. This is the object that provides the hopefulness to the story, since it can help humanity heal itself. It also provides the science fiction element to the story. The data was safe with Leon, but Dr. Reynolds is captured. It's up to Leon to find her.
Normally, I like converging plotlines, but there was too much coincidence and randomness as to how the other characters came together. The other characters provide the diversity to the story - Amy is a pre-teen white girl, Jacob Fire Cloud is a Lakota medicine man, and gets transportation from Danny, a Filipino. With Amy and Danny in particular, they aren't doing much to contribute to the plot. Amy is basically there to be the peril monkey and find her mother, without that part ever paying off. All we know about Danny is that he has a family and he's driving an armored car for the post-apocalyptic version of the UPS, because that's the best job that can be had in society at the time. Jacob uses some medicinal knowledge to help a child with respiratory infection in one of the camps they pass through, but was super grumpy about having to do that. I'm guessing there all there for the human touch to the story.
None of them do much
Spoiler
to get Dr. Reynolds out of lock-up. Thank goodness she was a self-rescuing princess!That was what was disappointing about it. At least
Spoiler
it didn't have a dark endingThe other thought I had is that maybe it was written specifically to be an audio book or spoken story, thus all the exposition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Confinement, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Slavery, Body horror, Kidnapping, and Violence
betanine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book has a fascinating concept and message. The story was dark and at times brutal. In places more than was good for me. The message gets 5 stars. My emotional response gives 3 stars. I didn’t fall into this needing to hear more. Overall, a good book if you like a good philosophical debate/discussion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Racism
travlnbard's review against another edition
3.0
I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. It is not a book I would normally read. It is the story of what happens after the economy tanks in the U.S. and the majority of the population is homeless. There are no public schools and police are only concerned with the most major of crimes. Walls have been erected around neighborhoods and private security keeps those with homes safe. So far so good.
It is also about a woman who has discovered the cure for cancer, diabetes, and pretty much everything else. I should be loving this book. However, it is more about a handful of people trying to help the woman after she is kidnapped than it is about the world and its survival. It is a story of these people and how they got here, not about how the technology is used to help mankind.
I guess I wanted more action and less about the individuals.
It is also about a woman who has discovered the cure for cancer, diabetes, and pretty much everything else. I should be loving this book. However, it is more about a handful of people trying to help the woman after she is kidnapped than it is about the world and its survival. It is a story of these people and how they got here, not about how the technology is used to help mankind.
I guess I wanted more action and less about the individuals.
mrsgreen22's review against another edition
It was just sooooo dry......I'm so sorry Levar I really tried!
goosefarm's review against another edition
1.0
Didn’t realize this was written by a man until it was too late
exlibrislynne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
agent_friday's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Classism, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Slavery, Trafficking, and Blood
aileyotoole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
david_agranoff's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book when it came out but was motivated for two reasons to re-read this dystopian sci-fi novel again. I'll get to those in a bit. First let's talk about the origins of the book. In the 90's many of the actors working in the Star Trek franchises from William Shatner, James Doohan to Jonathan Frankes were releasing co-written sci-fi novels. I am sure they came up with the concepts but they were clearly all mostly written by the hired co-authors. Aftermath however written by actor, director and producer Levar Burton who is most known for playing Geordi Laforge on The Next Generation was different.
Aftermath felt like a book that he clearly wrote himself. I mean it has some signs of being written by a first time novelist, but I actually respect the book even more for that reason. Lavar Burton is a gifted director and anyone who listens to his excellent new podcast 'Levar Burton reads' understands that he knows a thing or two about story. His monologues talking about the stories at the end are a clear highlight of the podcast.
That was the first reason I wanted to re-read this book. I have often told my writing partner on a series of TV scripts we are turning into a novel that Burton would be my dream director for the project's pilot.
The second reason was when I saw that the date of the future this book was set in was one year away. I was interested to see how different it was from our world. When I picked up a copy of the book Trump was elected and racial protests were erupting in Virginia. It is clear that the election of Donald Trump signaled the racists to come out in the clear so a race war doesn't seem so impossible. As far as a story goes Aftermath is a breezy tale set after major collapse has resulted in an American conflict based on race and economic classism.
In this novel the race war is set up by the election of a black president in 2012. That happened by the way, and while the race war has not happened the hatred stirred up by Obama being elected happened. Slower, more subtle than in the events of this novel. In the end it was a racist president getting elected in response that really has stirred the pot. I am sure Levar Burton feels like Ray Bradbury who famously said "I wasn't predicting the future I was trying to prevent it."
Burton tells the story through the lens of multiple characters connected by a psychic link. The main Point of view is a homeless black man Leon Crane who was academic. The story kicks off when the Maguffin in the form of computer disks are given to woman he sees kidnapped. He and few other people scattered around the country with connects to the woman are by the link to follow her to Chicago. The travels of the characters practically Leon on the train are fun and suspenseful.
This feels like The Stand without the epic scope. The setting and the world building is epic, the characters are all really realized. It is impressive much much story is crammed into the short page count. That is a bit of a double edged sword.In fact one of the biggest problems with the book is that it could have been two hundred pages longer. That is something I rarely say. The events of this book come together very fast and if anything too fast. A little more room to develop the characters would have added to an already interesting story and setting. Burton is a good writer and I wanted more.
If there is any other weakness is the story is light on the darkness. I certainly understand why Burton would do so, alot of his readers followed him from Star Trek and Reading Rainbow, but we also know him from Roots. A little more unflinching look at the world would have gone a long way. That is not to say there are not rough moments. The scene where Amy is attacked in St. Louis was effectively done horror.
Really glad to have this on my shelf. Most importantly I would like to say that I want another Levar Burton novel.
Aftermath felt like a book that he clearly wrote himself. I mean it has some signs of being written by a first time novelist, but I actually respect the book even more for that reason. Lavar Burton is a gifted director and anyone who listens to his excellent new podcast 'Levar Burton reads' understands that he knows a thing or two about story. His monologues talking about the stories at the end are a clear highlight of the podcast.
That was the first reason I wanted to re-read this book. I have often told my writing partner on a series of TV scripts we are turning into a novel that Burton would be my dream director for the project's pilot.
The second reason was when I saw that the date of the future this book was set in was one year away. I was interested to see how different it was from our world. When I picked up a copy of the book Trump was elected and racial protests were erupting in Virginia. It is clear that the election of Donald Trump signaled the racists to come out in the clear so a race war doesn't seem so impossible. As far as a story goes Aftermath is a breezy tale set after major collapse has resulted in an American conflict based on race and economic classism.
In this novel the race war is set up by the election of a black president in 2012. That happened by the way, and while the race war has not happened the hatred stirred up by Obama being elected happened. Slower, more subtle than in the events of this novel. In the end it was a racist president getting elected in response that really has stirred the pot. I am sure Levar Burton feels like Ray Bradbury who famously said "I wasn't predicting the future I was trying to prevent it."
Burton tells the story through the lens of multiple characters connected by a psychic link. The main Point of view is a homeless black man Leon Crane who was academic. The story kicks off when the Maguffin in the form of computer disks are given to woman he sees kidnapped. He and few other people scattered around the country with connects to the woman are by the link to follow her to Chicago. The travels of the characters practically Leon on the train are fun and suspenseful.
This feels like The Stand without the epic scope. The setting and the world building is epic, the characters are all really realized. It is impressive much much story is crammed into the short page count. That is a bit of a double edged sword.In fact one of the biggest problems with the book is that it could have been two hundred pages longer. That is something I rarely say. The events of this book come together very fast and if anything too fast. A little more room to develop the characters would have added to an already interesting story and setting. Burton is a good writer and I wanted more.
If there is any other weakness is the story is light on the darkness. I certainly understand why Burton would do so, alot of his readers followed him from Star Trek and Reading Rainbow, but we also know him from Roots. A little more unflinching look at the world would have gone a long way. That is not to say there are not rough moments. The scene where Amy is attacked in St. Louis was effectively done horror.
Really glad to have this on my shelf. Most importantly I would like to say that I want another Levar Burton novel.