Some apocalyptic stories begin with human folly. Ashfall starts with a catastrophe that no human could ever prevent, the eruption of the supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park. Some authorities think that these supervolcanic events have occurred several times in the course of human history. They may have caused ice ages and may have caused a bottleneck in human evolution. Perhaps humans can predict supervolcanic events in the short term if we notice a rise in seismic and volcanic activity but no human power can prevent them.
In Ashfall, Alex is an ordinary teenager living in a suburb in Iowa. He argues with his mother and likes playing World of Warcraft. He is thrilled when his parents go on a weekend visit to his uncle’s farm 3 hours’ drive away in Warren, Illinois and leave him home alone for the first time.
Nobody suspected that this routine Friday would be the last ordinary day that anyone in America, and maybe the whole world, would ever see. Alex’s house suddenly explodes into flames and all the phones, internet and even the radios don’t work. He goes to a neighbor’s house and for days the world is plunged into darkness as they are surrounded by a noise so loud that they have to stuff toilet paper in their ears and wear headphones to prevent pain. At first Alex has no idea what is going on, but his neighbor connects the crazy events to a short radio news bulletin about a volcanic eruption.
Even when they know what has happened, nobody knows what it means for them in the short term or humanity in the long term. All Alex knows is that he must find his family, so he sets off with cross country skis and a backpack of food. Conditions are terrible as every water source is poisoned and it becomes so cold that it starts snowing in September, but the behavior of people is far worse. Some are kind, together in towns to look after each other, but with civilization collapsing, criminals have no restraints. Alex meets good people like sharp-tongued Darla but also murderous criminals like Target.
Ashfall can be enjoyed as a tense action adventure with fascinating post-apocalyptic problems. Who would have considered that flat-roofed buildings are a terrible choice during a supervolcanic eruption because they may collapse under the weight of the ash? But Ashfall is more than a simple thriller. Author Mike Mullins movingly and realistically portrays Alex’s growth from a spoiled teenager to a strong and mature young man, capable of surviving in the new, harsh world.
Since this book deals with future events, I will make a prediction. I think this book is destined for popularity. If sequels that are planned to complete the trilogy are as good, they are as well (Ashen Winter is due out October 2012). Yet at the same time I fervently hope Mike Mullins’ predictive skills are lacking and no supervolcanic eruptions are coming soon.
Check the WRL catalog for Ashfall
This does look good. I haven’t heard of it though, I guess it is a children’s book?
Hi ragamuffinreader
“Ashfall” is cataloged in the Young Adult section of our library. It looks like that is where it is in most libraries and that is how how it is being marketed. It is pretty violent in parts with some sex, so I would recommend it for at least 12-13 years and up. That said, I am many years away from being a young adult, but I really enjoyed Ashfall – I think a lot of adults who are interested in apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic fiction will find it compelling. For comparisons I am thinking of anything from Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” to other teen books like “The Hunger Games”.
Jan
Will add this to my reading list. My post-apocalyptic “must-reads” just multiplied in the last hour. :) Thanks for the great review!
I have quite a big pile of post-apocalyptic “must-reads” on my bedside table as well. I am being slow at getting to them as I don’t know if any of them will be as good as Ashfall!
Jan
This book, I cant stop reading! The book is amazing and i would recommend it to anyone that is into Apocalyptic stuff (like me) and for a 15 year (me) old who has nothing better to do then play M games, this is a pretty violent book and would be suited for anyone 14 and up. Im just happy I went into my highschools library for something other then a WW2 book :P
Tyrus
I agree! I read Ashfall really quickly (in one weekend when I had lots of more boring things I should have been reading…). I can’t wait for the sequel to come out in October.
For another new, exciting dystopic teen book have you tried “Variant” by Robison Wells? Another great apocalyptic book is “Life As We Knew It” by Susan Beth Pfeffer from 2006. Also look at the Category list to the right under “Apocalyptic Fiction”. Enjoy!
Jan
[…] amount of action is squeezed into less than two weeks. Like Ashfall (about which I previously posted), Monument 14 starts with a natural disaster that is beyond the control of people, but unlike […]
[…] blogged on Mike Mullin’s debut novel Ashfall in April, and I have been anticipating the release of the sequel Ashen Winter ever since. In […]
[…] https://bfgb.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/ashfall-by-mike-mullin/ […]
[…] supervolcanoes that could potentially kill most life on earth, as ably described in the teen novel Ashfall by Mike Mullin. Other good book tie-ins include nonfiction on the worldwide effects of a much […]