by Gunguy
The Perseid Collapse is the first book in the Perseid Collapse series of post apocalyptic books by Steven Konkoly. The Jakarta Pandemic was the prequel to this series and introduced us to all of the main charachters. The book was a fast read as the action flowed quickly and the characters were further developed and fleshed out. I liked how the book went into detail about how quickly civility starts to go out the window after the collective memories of the experiences during The Jakarta Pandemic kicks in.
Throughout the book I enjoyed the descriptions of the protagonists friends and family and their interactions. They are written as believable characters who are very prepared and are either scared senseless or tactically proficient. Yet they still have moments when they want to curl up and hide, and instead step forward to do what they have to, even when that means accepting their own weakness or taking on a new role for the good of the group. They aren’t perfect but they are fiercely devoted to each other and they just keep going.
If you’re a prep minded, the moments when the characters discover they’ve made a bad gear choice or forgotten some small thing with critical results will make you reconsider your own plans. I don’t want to give any spoilers but I did find Mr. Konkoly’s approach to the militia issue to be very refreshing since he gives the reader a view of both the positive and negative aspects. The contrast between the two groups is telling and makes for exciting reading.
I highly recommend The Perseid Collapse for anyone looking for a fast paced, action-oriented thriller that will make you wonder what you would do if the lights went out. My only gripe with it is that it ends at a critical moment in the plot. I hate having to wait to find out what happens next. Luckily the next book in the series, Event Horizon, is out and next up on my reading list.