A very personal account of a man in survival mode, but not really - compared to his neighbour. Nice comparison between the survivor for the sake of surviving and a person who wants to live, not just survive. Emotions, love, memories, beauty, the little wonders of each day. And who constantly wonders if that is enough to keep him going. The writer manages to render nature incredibly beautifully in just a few words or impressions. And rarely have I read a passage of loss and grief like the one at the end of book one. And the most brilliant thing is that book two takes it up again first thing. Because that's how it is. You don't just turn a page on that. Not even half through and already loving this book very much.

Didn't finish this book. Just couldn't get interested; I guess the writing style wasn't my cup of tea. ( )

Very fun read. Good characters, nice old dog, exciting plot, nature, tactics—all good.

So good. Language is so powerful. Apocalyptic, post flu. ( )

Somewhere in Colorado, some years into the future, Hig is one of the few survivors of a global flu pandemic. Resource scarcity has caused a rise in violence as people do whatever it takes to ensure their survival. Hig has forged a partnership with Bangley and together they protect their compound from marauding gangs. Bangley's back story is not clear, although his expertise with guns and ammunition offers clues. But Hig also has a humanitarian side, and routinely uses his private plane to provide food and other aid to a Mennonite community.

Hig suffered tremendous loss during the pandemic; his dog Jasper is now his only family. But nine years after the pandemic, Jasper is showing signs of age. Hig and Jasper go out foraging, sometimes spending the night in the wilderness. Jasper also accompanies Hig on his routine reconnaissance flights. Whenever Hig flies near an airport, he uses his radio in hopes of finding other human life. On one flight he received a faint response, and ultimately decided to search for its source. This trip will be longer than usual, with a risk of running out of fuel, not to mention other potential dangers.

This marks a turning point in the novel, as the focus shifts from the bleak and violent living conditions fraught with despair, to a personal journey that offers hope. I will refrain from saying more, except that once Hig began his journey I found this book un-putdownable. ( )