Edgar "Ed" Hill is just going through the motions of his
drudgery of a life, drinking too heavily and doing little
to help his wife, Beth, care for their kids. The morning
the asteroids strike the United Kingdom, he awakes with a
hangover and tries to turn on the tv. Static. Slowly, he
remembers the news warnings about the imminent asteroid
strike but it's too late to prepare. Thus begins a long
journey for Ed as he tries to reunite with his family
after a series of events, even if it means he has to run
daily to do so.
Ed isn't exactly the most likable character but he's
realistic as you probably know someone just like him. His
journey character-wise is just as important as his
physical journey as we delve into his mind during the
catastrophic events. Ed is not a reliable narrator by any
stretch of the imagination and that only heightens the
uniqueness of the storyline as we question him at every
step of the journey.
The secondary characters in THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING
CLUB are an intriguing bunch. I couldn't help but like
Bryce, even as I wanted to smack him at times. Grimes is
another favorite and I wish her character had been
developed just a tad more. I won't spoil anything but be
prepared to meet an odd assortment of individuals, some
quite hideous.
And oh my, the world building in THE END OF THE WORLD
RUNNING CLUB is very well done! Adrian J. Walker's
descriptions of the world we know scarred by the
asteroids is heart-wrenching but it is his depiction of
the aftermath that stands out. I love that he includes
little details that create a sense of realism in such a
harsh, startling new scene.
I love post-apocalyptic stories so I couldn't resist
giving THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB a try, despite
my total aversion to running. And oh, what a pleasant
surprise Adrian J. Walker has in store for readers! THE
END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB has the typical things you
expect in a post-apocalyptic story (struggle for
survival, society collapsing, etc) but Adrian J. Walker
puts a unique spin on the events, making THE END OF THE
WORLD RUNNING CLUB a great new addition to the genre!
When the world ends and you find yourself forsaken, every
second counts.
No one knows this more than Edgar Hill. Stranded on the
other side of the country from his wife and children, Ed
must push himself across a devastated wasteland to get
back to them. With the clock ticking and hundreds of
miles between them, his best hope is to run ― or risk
losing what he loves forever.