Book Review: Underground Airlines

by: Ben H. Winters

**I received a copy of this book from my library in exchange for absolutely nothing - and I love them for it.**

This book deserves a review. It has to be one of the most powerful novels I've read in a long time. Ben is a master at mashing up genres. The Last Policeman trilogy, which I also reviewed, was science fiction, dystopian, apocalyptic and most of all a mystery. But how to review something like this? It really has to go into what genre...science fiction? Fantasy?

It's an alternate universe story that asks, what would our reality be like if the Civil War never happened? If slavery were still legal today? And his take on that is disturbing. I'm not saying it's a bad story or he's a bad author. It's a fantastic story and he's a great author. But the level of open hostility and racism that is not only allowed, but expected. This is especially true in the Big Four - the remaining four states that still have slavery.

I think Ben really went out there to write a character that was not only a black man, but also a former slave, and a U.S. Marshall tasked with capturing escaped slaves. Just imagine the nuances of this character...how conflicted does he have to feel?

It is full of flashbacks to his childhood, his brother, and ultimately how he ended up where he is currently.

The thing that bothered me the most, is that the racism in this universe isn't that different from what we are still seeing in our own timeline. I think this book really shines a stage light on one of the most important issues with our country. There was a certain amount of hope in this story, but our main character doesn't seem to have any. He is convinced nothing will change, and his having the perspective of having been a slave and knowing how easily he could be back there colors that.

I can't do this one justice. You just have to read it. You won't find solutions, but you will find something to chew on and a great story to go along with it.

Book Reviews: The Last Policeman books 2 & 3

Countdown City

by: Ben Winters

Henry Palace is back! He is no longer officially a policeman, but he hasn't given up his detective ways. His old babysitter's husband is a missing person, in a world full of missing people and little infrastructure to find anyone. Henry knows it isn't likely he'll find the guy, and even if he does, he has no authority to force him to come back.

Everyone thinks Henry has lost it. Why is he even bothering? The end is drawing ever closer and chances are the guy just went "bucket list."

But something just feels off about this. And I think that if Henry doesn't keep busy, he knows he'll slowly go mad. I'm glad he gets to visit with his sister in this one. It really was as well paced and well written as the first book.

World of Trouble

by: Ben Winters

I read this immediately after Countdown City. The end of the world is getting even closer. There is no electricity, the water is now gone as well. People are having a hard time finding food, clean water, and anything else they might need. Henry has left the safety of his old coworkers compound and is traveling to find his sister. This really broke my heart. Henry was driving himself psychically and emotionally to the edge. You wonder if he'll even survive.

I loved the point that Henry makes, that as the end draws closer, people become frustrated with sleep. Death is literally at your doorstep, wouldn't you be frustrated at the wasted time of sleep? This book really deals with the end and how different people deal. Henry and his traveling companion mark the towns they go through. Some are deserted, some have people holed up in their homes fully bearing arms, and some people decide to just work together and enjoy the company.

I feel Henry's loneliness. Even though he's traveling with someone, it isn't someone he fully trusts. They are using each other, but to what ends?

Will Henry solve his final mystery before the asteroid hits?

Book Review: The Last Policeman

by: Ben Winters

**I received a review copy from Quirk Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Some people like Jersey Shore, and some like Survivor...me, I secretly love Post-Apocalyptic stories (movies or books). This is unique, it's Pre-Apocalyptic. There is a meteor heading for the Earth, and scientists know it's pretty much going to wipe everything out.

So the question becomes, what would you do? People that have gone off to do the things they always wanted to before they die are said to have "gone bucket list." And there are tons of suicides and people quitting their jobs left and right. Personally I enjoyed all the corporations folding.

The thing is, you still gotta eat and everything of course gets really expensive. So there are also a lot of people still working. The central character in The Last Policeman is a young man who really isn't long out of the academy. He is promoted to detective because...well...who else is there? He comes upon a suicide that just doesn't sit right with him. But we are kept guessing, is it a murder or is this cop just looking to investigate before the end comes?

It's well written, fast paced and way better than the Jane Austen mash-ups. His book Bedbugs was really good too. This guy does a much better job on his own, that's all I'm saying. So go pick up a copy if you think you can handle this dark and lonely tale.

This is the first book in the Last Policeman Trilogy - see my reviews of 2 & 3 here.

**This post was originally published on January 4, 2013, it was updated to fulfill a new review request**

Book Review: The Last Policeman

by: Ben Winters

**I received a review copy from Quirk Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Some people like Jersey Shore, and some like Survivor...me, I secretly love Post-Apocalyptic stories (movies or books). This is unique, it's Pre-Apocalyptic. There is a meteor heading for the Earth, and scientists know it's pretty much going to wipe everything out.

So the question becomes, what would you do? People that have gone off to do the things they always wanted to before they die are said to have "gone bucket list." And there are tons of suicides and people quitting their jobs left and right. Personally I enjoyed all the corporations folding.

The thing is, you still gotta eat and everything of course gets really expensive. So there are also a lot of people still working. The central character in The Last Policeman is a young man who really isn't long out of the academy. He is promoted to detective because...well...who else is there? He comes upon a suicide that just doesn't sit right with him. But we are kept guessing, is it a murder or is this cop just looking to investigate before the end comes?

It's well written, fast paced and way better than the Jane Austen mash-ups. His book Bedbugs was really good too. This guy does a much better job on his own, that's all I'm saying. So go pick up a copy if you think you can handle this dark and lonely tale.

This is the first book in the Last Policeman Trilogy - see my reviews of 2 & 3 here.

**This post was originally published on January 4, 2013, it was updated to fulfill a new review request**

Book Review: The Last Policeman

by: Ben Winters

**I received a review copy from Quirk Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Some people like Jersey Shore, and some like Survivor...me, I secretly love Post-Apocalyptic stories (movies or books). This is unique, it's Pre-Apocalyptic. There is a meteor heading for the Earth, and scientists know it's pretty much going to wipe everything out.

So the question becomes, what would you do? People that have gone off to do the things they always wanted to before they die are said to have "gone bucket list." And there are tons of suicides and people quitting their jobs left and right. Personally I enjoyed all the corporations folding.

The thing is, you still gotta eat and everything of course gets really expensive. So there are also a lot of people still working. The central character in The Last Policeman is a young man who really isn't long out of the academy. He is promoted to detective because...well...who else is there? He comes upon a suicide that just doesn't sit right with him. But we are kept guessing, is it a murder or is this cop just looking to investigate before the end comes?

It's well written, fast paced and way better than the Jane Austen mash-ups. His book Bedbugs was really good too. This guy does a much better job on his own, that's all I'm saying. So go pick up a copy if you think you can handle this dark and lonely tale.

This is the first book in the Last Policeman Trilogy - see my reviews of 2 & 3 here.

**This post was originally published on January 4, 2013, it was updated to fulfill a new review request**