Into the Outside

Author Lynda Engler sent me an e-version of her book Into the Outside for review.

Into the Outside is a post-apocalyptic story (one of my very favorite genres). Engler has written a new twist (at least for me, but then I don't get out much) on the genre. Without giving away the whole story, the mutated descendants of the big war are presented as intelligent, caring, and peaceful people (for the most part anyway). A pretty refreshing way to tell a survivalist type story.

Into the Outside is a fairly short (160 some pages in my version, although other sites list it as 276 pages hmm), quick read. Still, the main characters are pretty well developed.

Like most entries in the genre, the government is bad (well they are usually responsible for the apocalypse in the first place), but the real difference is between the two types of survivors; shelter dwellers and those who didn't have that luxury.

The negative for me (and it is very, very, slight) is, the good guys are a little too good, if you know what I mean, almost Pollyana-ish, but again only slightly so. That said, there is stark reality, hardship, and tough choices to be made.

Into the Outside is at times heartbreaking, uplifting and thought provoking. It does make the reader think more about post-apocalyptic survival long-term than many of its genre-mates.

Oh yeah, Into the Outside is the first in a series, it did end in a bit of a cliffhanger, but not so much as to draw my cliffhanger ire.

Into the Outside by Lynda Engler is probably directed a little younger audience than other books of this genre, but was still an enjoyable read for a cynical old coot like me. If your in the mood for a thought provoking, stark, yet clean, story with action, adventure, young love, idealism and suspense; Into the Outside works well. Enjoy!

Mike