More importantly, I was able to connect with and stay engaged in the narrator/writer of the journal entries that make up a large portion of the story, Kate Holland. And it’s true, there are a lot more unlikeable characters here than likeable, but I cared what happened to them, good or bad. For all I cared for the cast of World War Z, they may as well have been paper dolls.

Because of this, it’s much easier to follow and enjoy.īut the most important thing Brooks improves on here is the character development. Instead of an amalgamation of mini-events posturing as “scenes,” you get a smaller canvas and a clearer view of the story as a whole. Unlike its predecessor, Devolution takes place in a microcosmic setting rather than the vastly scattered, disjointed macrocosmic mush of settings the previous book embraces. But first, I’ll tell you what I love about this story. Note the word “just” because I’m coming back to it. Just about everything that doesn’t work in WWZ is the opposite here. I’m glad, now, I decided through my fuzzy logic process to take it on.īecause this book surprised the fuck out of me. And based on that somewhat outlandish sounding premise, I almost took a pass on it. They’re beset by a bunch of the creatures and bloody mayhem ensues. Marauding Sasquatch, anyone? Yes, that’s right. When the mountain erupts, they find themselves cut off from the rest of the world. A domed community populated by people of wealth and privilege. Greenloop is an intended environmental paradise situated in the wilds of Mt.

I had to compare and write a response to this and, honestly, was somewhat anticipating the read. Intrigued, because Bigfoot, appalled because I didn’t want to see the same travesty occur with this subject as his previous novel did with zombies. I became immediately intrigued and appalled. But then I learned that it is a similar treatment being applied to my favorite creature trope: Sasquatch. I have absolutely no love for World War Z ( WWZ) and no desire to read more. When I heard Max Brooks had a new book coming out, two things happened in succession.

Devolution by max brooks